Newark, NJ
News
W. Orange Middle School Student's 'Lesbians' Shirt Draws Punishment, Praise W. Orange Middle School Student's 'Lesbians' Shirt Draws Punishment, Praise
W. Orange Middle School Student's 'Lesbians' Shirt Draws Punishment, Praise An eighth-grader from West Orange caused a stir when she wore a shirt proclaiming "We're All Lesbians" to class at Liberty Middle School -- but the school district is now praising the girl's gesture for prompting a healthy dialogue about tolerance.  Justice Cillo-Smith, who identifies as lesbian, was told by a guidance counselor that the shirt violates school district policy prohibiting clothing containing sexual innuendo or inappropriate language, her mother, Gwen Wu, wrote on Facebook.  Wu added that the school's principal said officials were trying to prevent the girl from becoming a tar…

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by Paul Milo
Mount Pleasant, NY
Obituaries
Paula Rollins, Deputy Commissioner, Clerk In Westchester, Dies At 63 Paula Rollins, Deputy Commissioner, Clerk In Westchester, Dies At 63
Paula Rollins, Deputy Commissioner, Clerk In Westchester, Dies At 63 Paula Rollins, whose political career includes service to Westchester County as both a deputy commissioner and deputy county clerk, died Tuesday, July 9 at age 63. Rollins, of Harbor Island, was a lifelong Democrat. She was appointed Deputy County Clerk of Westchester County by then County Clerk Andrew J. Spano and served through the end of his term.  She next served as Deputy Commissioner of the Board of Elections for Westchester County and then as Westchester County Commissioner of Human Resources.  Rollins was the Commissioner of Human Resources for the City of Yonkers before …

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by Donna Christopher
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
Former Westchester Priest Suspended For Sexual Misconduct, Cardinal Timothy Dolan Says Former Westchester Priest Suspended For Sexual Misconduct, Cardinal Timothy Dolan Says
Former Westchester Priest Suspended For Sexual Misconduct, Cardinal Timothy Dolan Says A New York priest who began his career in Westchester has been suspended from the ministry after sexual allegations with an adult were reported to the Manhattan's District Attorney's Office. Father John Duffell, the former leader of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Manhattan, was directed on July 1, by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, "not to publicly exercise his priestly ministry due to an allegation from the past that he abused his position of authority in a violation of his promise of celibacy," the Cardinal said in a letter to the parish. Immediately following the…

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by Kathy Reakes
Hackensack, NJ
News
County Executive: Hackensack BOE Trustee Who Called LGBTQ Teaching 'Repugnant' Should Resign County Executive: Hackensack BOE Trustee Who Called LGBTQ Teaching 'Repugnant' Should Resign
County Executive: Hackensack BOE Trustee Who Called LGBTQ Teaching 'Repugnant' Should Resign Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco on Monday called for the resignation of a Hackensack School Board trustee who called new state laws that require teaching about LGBTQ history “repugnant.” “Bergen County’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and the thousands of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender help make us all stronger, and help make all of our 70 communities stronger," Tedesco said. “It is important that we stand in solidarity against bigotry, violence, and discrimination and continue to reaffirm our commitment to equal rights for everyone, especiall…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Elizabeth, NJ
Events
'What If My Child Is Transgender?' Free Workshop For Parents In Scotch Plains 'What If My Child Is Transgender?' Free Workshop For Parents In Scotch Plains
'What If My Child Is Transgender?' Free Workshop For Parents In Scotch Plains A sociologist will be leading a talk for parents about transgender and LGBQT individuals, tackling issues of gender and sexual identity.  Dr. Paula Rodriguez Rust will answer questions including the definition of LGBQT, what to do if a child's classmate is transgender and what to do if one's child identifies as transgender.  The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Union County Vo-Tech Campus at the John H. Stamler Police Academy, 1776 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains. The talk is sponsored by the Union County Human Relations Commission.  Admission and parking are both …

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by Paul Milo
New Rochelle, NY
News
Here Are Westchester County's 2019 Public Health Award Winners Here Are Westchester County's 2019 Public Health Award Winners
Here Are Westchester County's 2019 Public Health Award Winners Several people and organizations were recognized for their industry contributions at the 2019 Public Health Awards, presented by Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the Westchester County Board of Health on Monday, April 8 at White Plains High School. The event is meant to celebrate National Public Health Week, which is observed from April 1 to April 7. Stephanie Marquesano, an Ardsley mother and co-occurring mental health disorder awareness advocate, was given the Dr. Harold Keltz Distinguished Public Health Service Award by Board of Health President Robert Baker, MD. “The tra…

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by Valerie Musson
White Plains, NY
Politics
Video: Cuomo Says After Anti-Semitic Incident In Hudson Valley Rise In Hate Crimes A Concern Video: Cuomo Says After Anti-Semitic Incident In Hudson Valley Rise In Hate Crimes A Concern
Video: Cuomo Says After Anti-Semitic Incident In Hudson Valley Rise In Hate Crimes A Concern Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett joined forces to make a strong statement following the arrest of a Saugerties man for an anti-Semitic hate crime. "If you attack a Jewish person, you attack me. If you attack a Muslim person, you attack me. You attack an LGBTQ member, you attack me,” said Cuomo during the Friday, March 22 address. “That's the New York credo...Bias-related crimes, hate crimes, are not just wrong, they're not just unethical, they're not just immoral - they are illegal and we will prosecute every case to the fullest extent of the law. And …

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by Valerie Musson
Bedford, NY
Politics
It's Time For Disney To Get A Major Gay Character, Maloney Says It's Time For Disney To Get A Major Gay Character, Maloney Says
It's Time For Disney To Get A Major Gay Character, Maloney Says Is it time for an LGBTQ character starring in a Disney movie? A Hudson Valley Congressman thinks so. TMZ ran into openly gay Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney on Capitol Hill earlier this week, and asked him about his feelings of the LGBTQ community being represented in a Disney movie. “I think it’s great if there’s positive LGBT characters on Disney movies and shows and everywhere else,” he said. “We are part of this American family and there’s no reason they shouldn’t be represented.” The question arose after an online debate cropped up stating that Elsa, the main character in the cult-hi…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
Lifestyle
Actor Igby Rigney Returns To Northern Westchester To Perform 'Out of My Comfort Zone' Actor Igby Rigney Returns To Northern Westchester To Perform 'Out of My Comfort Zone'
Actor Igby Rigney Returns To Northern Westchester To Perform 'Out of My Comfort Zone' “Out of My Comfort Zone” is a rock musical-turned-film exploring the effects of bullying and the struggles many members of the LGBTQ community face during their youth. The show debuted off-Broadway in 2015, but the cast — including Ossining High School Class of 2017 graduate Igby Rigney, who portrays “Brad” - is returning to Northern Westchester for a live performance and exclusive discussion of the show’s core issues. Described by The Huffington Post as “a singing, dancing powerhouse punctuated by dialogue that rings true and real,” the event, which is scheduled for Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m…

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by Valerie Musson
White Plains, NY
Politics
Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay: Chappaqua's Hillary Clinton Unloads On Trump Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay: Chappaqua's Hillary Clinton Unloads On Trump
Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay: Chappaqua's Hillary Clinton Unloads On Trump Hillary Clinton unloaded on President Donald Trump, charging her former presidential rival with being racist, sexist and anti-gay rights. 'He has been racist, he's been sexist, he's been Islamophobic, he has been anti-LGBTQ, I mean, there's a long list,' Clinton told the Atlantic Events Festival last week. She also said there's "a lot to be concerned about" over Trump's Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh. The former presidential candidate and Secretary of State from Chappaqua cited Trump's behavior in the wake of Charlottesville, Virginia, riots in 2017, which were provoked …

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by Jon Craig
Mount Pleasant, NY
Politics
HS Basketball Coach Throws Hat In Ring For Westchester Assembly Seat HS Basketball Coach Throws Hat In Ring For Westchester Assembly Seat
HS Basketball Coach Throws Hat In Ring For Westchester Assembly Seat "When an opportunity presents itself, we need to take it," Anthony Nicodemo, Saunders High School basketball coach and social studies teacher, said in announcing his candidacy for New York state Assembly.Nicodemo, an openly gay Democrat, is seeking the 90th District seat vacated by Shelley Mayer of Yonkers, who just won the state Senate seat vacated by County Executive George Latimer. "A chance to represent and fight for my community is something I could not pass on," Nicodemo said on Twitter. Nicodemo, who's been Saunders Trades and Technical High School's head boys bas…

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by Jon Craig
Mount Pleasant, NY
Politics
Cuomo Hits Back As 'Sex And The City' Star Mulls Primary Challenge Cuomo Hits Back As 'Sex And The City' Star Mulls Primary Challenge
Cuomo Hits Back As 'Sex And The City' Star Mulls Primary Challenge This story has been updated. A day after news broke that "Sex And the City" star Cynthia Nixon was talking with Democratic strategists about entering this year's primary race against Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle, the two-term incumbent wasted no time denigrating Nixon as a B-rated celebrity backed by his longtime Democratic critic, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. In a conference call with news reporters on Wednesday, Cuomo laughed at his own answer to a question about whether de Blasio, a longtime friend of Nixon, is behind her candidacy. “I think it was probably either th…

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by Jon Craig