Sam Barron

Community Editor

[email protected]

An (almost) lifelong Westchester resident, Sam has reported on all facets of Westchester since he graduated from Ryerson University with a degree in print journalism, including stints at North County News and The Examiner. A film columnist for WAG Magazine, Sam's moviegoing expertise has been profiled in the New York Times and he was a featured guest on VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live.

Sam was formerly a community editor at Daily Voice.

Sam Barron's Contributions

Death Of Pleasantville Student Shane Howe, 17, Is Under Investigation Death Of Pleasantville Student Shane Howe, 17, Is Under Investigation Death Of Pleasantville Student Shane Howe, 17, Is Under Investigation
Death Of Pleasantville Student Shane Howe, 17, Is Under Investigation PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. -- Pleasantville High School is remembering senior Shane Howe, who died Sunday at the age of 17. A cause of death for Howe was not released. The Westchester County Medical Examiner's Office said his death is under investigation and they still were working to find out what happened. Howe's funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 at St. John's Episcopal Church, 8 Sunnyside Ave. in Pleasantville. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking donations be made  to St. John's Children's Research Hospital. Pleasantville High School was open on Sunday for students …
Westchester Is No Stranger To Large-Scale Tragedies Westchester Is No Stranger To Large-Scale Tragedies Westchester Is No Stranger To Large-Scale Tragedies
Westchester Is No Stranger To Large-Scale Tragedies VALHALLA, N.Y. -- The train crash that killed at least seven people in Valhalla Tuesday night is the not the first large-scale tragedy to befall the county. In July 2009, 36-year-old Diane Schuler was driving the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway when she collided with a minivan in Mount Pleasant near Briarcliff. Schuler, her daughter and three nieces were killed in the accident, along with the three people in the minivan, who were from Yonkers and headed to a cookout in Yorktown. Schuler's son was the only person to survive the crash. In Oct. 2013, a family of four was killed in a Mount…
Garrison Woman, Former Broadway Singer, Performs In Peekskill Garrison Woman, Former Broadway Singer, Performs In Peekskill Garrison Woman, Former Broadway Singer, Performs In Peekskill
Garrison Woman, Former Broadway Singer, Performs In Peekskill GARRISON, N.Y. -- Joni Lanza, who previously performed on the Great White Way, is taking her musical talents closer to home. Lanza is the lead singer of the Joni Blondell Band, a country rock cover band that regularly performs at Peekskill's  Hudson Room. "We're having a great time," Lanza said.  Performing on Broadway on and on for 13 years, Lanza was in "Copacabana," "42nd St," and "Thoroughly Modern Millie." "It was an amazing experience," Lanza, who played the lead in "42nd St" approximately 80 times, said.  Lanza left Broadway when she started her family and moved to Garri…
Chappaqua's Clinton Appears Likely To Join 2016 Presidential Race Chappaqua's Clinton Appears Likely To Join 2016 Presidential Race Chappaqua's Clinton Appears Likely To Join 2016 Presidential Race
Chappaqua's Clinton Appears Likely To Join 2016 Presidential Race WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Two potential presidential candidates in 2016 have ties to Westchester. Former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton of Chappaqua served as U.S. senator from New York and U.S. secretary of state. She is considered the frontrunner for the 2016 presidential campaign. She previously ran in 2008, losing the Democratic Party nomination to President Obama. According to a report in Politico, Clinton is expected to launch her campaign in July and has made decisions on her top aides. The report said the time will allow Clinton to develop her message, policy and organizati…
Garrison's George Pataki Continues Exploring Possible Presidential Run Garrison's George Pataki Continues Exploring Possible Presidential Run Garrison's George Pataki Continues Exploring Possible Presidential Run
Garrison's George Pataki Continues Exploring Possible Presidential Run GARRISON, N.Y. -- George Pataki, former three-term New York governor and former mayor of Peekskill, has been discussing openly the possibility of a presidential campaign in 2016. Pataki lives in Garrison and his wife, Libby, is Putnam County tourism director. Pataki was in New Hampshire in January and canceled a visit to the state last week due to a snowstorm. Pataki considered running for president in 2008 and 2012. The former governor recently launched a super PAC called We The People, Not Washington and has been highly critical on twitter of President Barack Obama and his policies. P…
Snow Blankets Region, Up To 7 Inches In Northern Westchester Snow Blankets Region, Up To 7 Inches In Northern Westchester Snow Blankets Region, Up To 7 Inches In Northern Westchester
Snow Blankets Region, Up To 7 Inches In Northern Westchester CORTLANDT, N.Y. -- Putnam and Northern Westchester residents woke up to another round of snow Monday morning. The snow closed schools and many government buildings. Up to 7 inches of snow was reported in Cold Spring. Montrose received 6 inches of snow. In Putnam, County Executive MaryEllen Odell announce that Putnam County Offices were closed today, including its public transit system and Office for Senior Resources. "Highway and emergency crews have been out making sure roads are in the safest conditions with the current snow storm," Odell said. "If you must travel today, give yours…
Murphy Lays Out Plan To Combat Heroin Problem At Forum In Valhalla Murphy Lays Out Plan To Combat Heroin Problem At Forum In Valhalla Murphy Lays Out Plan To Combat Heroin Problem At Forum In Valhalla
Murphy Lays Out Plan To Combat Heroin Problem At Forum In Valhalla VALHALLA, N.Y. -- With the heroin problem continuing to plague the Hudson Valley, Sen. Terrence Murphy unveiled a seven-point plan to combat the drug at a forum Jan. 29 at Mount Pleasant Town Hall in Valhalla. The forum was attended by County Legislator Michael Smith, Mount Pleasant Schools Superintendent Susan Guiney and Susan and Steve Salomone of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard in Carmel, among others. "This is really an epidemic in the Hudson Valley region," Murphy said.  Murphy said Westchester and Putnam were among 28 counties in the county labelled for having high intensity drug t…
Mahopac Resident Celebrates Almost Five Years Running Freight House Cafe Mahopac Resident Celebrates Almost Five Years Running Freight House Cafe Mahopac Resident Celebrates Almost Five Years Running Freight House Cafe
Mahopac Resident Celebrates Almost Five Years Running Freight House Cafe MAHOPAC, N.Y. -- For almost five years, Mahopac residents have enjoyed having The Freight House Cafe as a place where they can go to relax. The restaurant, run by Mahopac resident Donna Massao, will be celebrating its fifth anniversary in June. Freight House Cafe is tucked away on Route 6 in a building built in 1872 that was first used for the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Branch. "I love food, cooking and serving the community," Massaro said. "This has been a dream of mine for a long time." Freight House recently obtained its liquor license and is hosting live music …
Schedule Changes Discussed For Furnace Woods Elementary School Schedule Changes Discussed For Furnace Woods Elementary School Schedule Changes Discussed For Furnace Woods Elementary School
Schedule Changes Discussed For Furnace Woods Elementary School CORTLANDT, N.Y. -- Furnace Woods Elementary School could be starting a bit later next school year. The Hendrick Hudson School District has been working with Fiber Fundamentals to conduct an audit of its transportation department for the last 14 months. Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter said the goal is to provide efficient, cost-effective and safe transportation services for the district. In the first phase of the audit, Fiber found up to $75,000 in savings for the district in the next three years. One of the ideas to save money was to have Furnace Woods Elementary School start at 9 a…
Man, 24, In Custody After Shooting Injures Two In Peekskill Man, 24, In Custody After Shooting Injures Two In Peekskill Man, 24, In Custody After Shooting Injures Two In Peekskill
Man, 24, In Custody After Shooting Injures Two In Peekskill PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- Peekskill Police have a man in custody after he allegedly shot two people Thursday morning. Romell Tukes, 24, was arrested on the 1200 block of Crompond Rd. and charged with assault in the first degree, robbery, criminal possession and use of a firearm, Police Chief Eric Johansen said. Police recovered the .38 caliber handgun used in the shooting. A man and a woman in their 20s were sitting in a parked car on the 700 block of South St. when they were each struck by a bullet at 2 a.m., the woman in the shoulder and the man in his left hand, Johansen said. The two dr…
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