Yorktown News 12.30.21

Vol. 10 No. 41 Visit TapIntoYorktown.net for the latest news. Thursday, December 30, 2021

Town Board honors outgoing councilmembers

BY NICK TRUJILLO Patel began serving the has been a true honor to

STAFF WRITER Town Board in 2010 and serve with you these past

held his position for three two years. You’ve been a

In front of a large au- terms. Prior to that, he great partner, you’ve been

dience at the Albert A. worked as an accomplished an incredible advocate,

Capellini Community scientist for IBM for 36 and I’ve seen how you’ve

Center, Yorktown’s Town years, playing a major role taken your success in the

Board made sure to honor in the creation of the Wat- private sector at IBM and

outgoing council members son robot and was named how you’ve turned it into

Vishnu Patel and Alice Inventor of the Year in a great asset for the resi-

Roker for their contribu- 2011 by the Eastern New dents of Yorktown.”

tions and years of service York Intellectual Property Roker served the town

to the town as their terms Law Association. In the long before her term on

come to an end. community, Patel advises the Town Board began in

Patel and Roker were local students on science 2018. She was the town

given proclamations from projects, volunteers with clerk for 25 years start-

both Westchester County Scout groups, and served ing in 1989, being the

and the town of Yorktown, as the board’s liaison for rst Black person in Yor- FILE PHOTOS/DEENA BELL

with members of the Town Yorktown’s housing, en- ktown’s history to hold Councilwoman Alice Roker and Councilman Vishnu Patel
Board, County Legislator ergy, senior citizens, tree a town government seat,

Vedat Gashi, County Ex- conservation, and utilities and served as the interim

ecutive George Latimer, committees. town supervisor for three Her long career as town freed prior to the Emanci- always has what’s best for

Yorktown Democratic “It’s really a special months in 2007. Before clerk and commitment to pation Proclamation, and a Yorktown in her heart.”

Committee Co-Chairman honor for me to serve this her public service career, preserving the history of register of children born to In 2022, Roker will serve

Mark Lieberman, and town, and I’m very proud she held many roles at Yorktown are highlighted slaves. as the town historian and

many individual residents I was able to do so many, NBC and became a televi- by two projects. In 2003, “Councilwoman Ro- chairwoman of the newly

o ering their words of many good things in the sion producer. she co-authored the book, ker has been a trailblazer created Local History Ad-

gratitude. schools, for 21,000 stu- “I do want to thank the “Images of America: Yor- of this community,” Slater visory Committee, further-

“ e Town Board is los- dents I have reached,” Pa- residents of the town of ktown,” with former town said. “She has severed with ing her commitment to the

ing people with tremen- tel said. “We started the Yorktown for allowing me supervisor Linda Cooper. incredible passion, both in history and preservation of

dous knowledge, tremen- program in the West Point to work here for as long Roker also created Yor- the town clerk’s o ce and Yorktown’s records.

dous commitment, and schools and Yorktown and as I have,” Roker said. ktown’s Record Center, here on the town board, Roker and Patel, both

tremendous dedication, but many, many counties, also “I think one of the best unearthing and preserving she has been a leader on Democrats, will be re-

the town will continue to all around the Tri-State things you can do is to say the town’s Book of Manu- so many initiatives that re- placed on the council

have the kindness, charity, area. ank you.” that I served my commu- missions, a record of all the ally leave a lasting impres- by Republicans Sergio

and love of both Alice and Town Supervisor Matt nity and I hope I served it people who were owned sion. She’s been a genuine Esposito and Lucianna

Vishnu,” Lieberman said. Slater said to Patel, “It well.” as slaves in Yorktown and friend, a true mentor, and Houghwout.

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Page 2 – Yorktown News Thursday, December 30, 2021

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Thursday, December 30, 2021 Yorktown News – Page 3

A conversation with Sal Lagonia

Town justice leaving the bench after 12 years

BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER know. If you’re doing it for the do you hope people remember
EDITOR
money, that’s the wrong reason to you as?

do this job. I hope people remember me as

Sal Lagonia wears many hats (Fact check: Town justices are one who gave both sides an entirely Town Justice Sal
(and robes). paid $33,126.) good amount of time to be heard Lagonia plays
and considered.Not just be heard— the trumpet at a
But on Saturday, Jan. 1, the long- What did you enjoy most about be considered. charity event in
time Yorktown town justice will February 2020.
be surrendering one of his respon- the job? What did you like about at’s all you can ask a judge to
sibilities. After three terms and 12 do. You’re not going to get it right
being a Yorktown town justice?

I think what I liked the most was

years on the bench, Judge Lagonia what I expected to like the most, all the time.

did not run for re-election this year, and that was, you sit up there, and About this job, is there any- Town Justice
Sal Lagonia
meaning his time at Yorktown Jus- you really make a di erence. You thing that comes to mind that and his wife,
tice Court will end when the clock make a di erence in people’s lives. people might not know or would Loretta, walk
strikes midnight and rings in the And sometimes it’s frustrating that be surprised by? in the 2021
new year. you’re not making a good enough Memorial Day
di erence. But a lot of times it’s just One thing is the amount of parade.
In addition to serving as town knowing that you can. time that the judges do put in. It’s
justice, Lagonia, a retired police of- a full-time court. But my clerks are
My favorite case, I call her the best. I was involved with hiring
cer, operates a law o ce in York-

town Heights, is an aviation expert Rosie—that’s not her real name— every one of them, so I know. Ma- PHOTOS: BRIAN
who regularly appears as a guest on but she was a drug addict and we ria Ricci is our chief clerk, and she MARSCHHAUSER

cable news shows, and is a musician could see what was going on with has just got the right combination

who plays trumpet and other in- her. She was getting arrested con- of how to handle everything. ere

struments with Class Action. stantly. are days when I go to the court-

He will be succeeded on the She would get arrested for petty house at 8:30 a.m. just to do some

bench by Aviah Cohen Pierson, larceny in Macy’s, and then get ar- work,and they’re there already. ey do a lot of paperwork for my po- Are you allowed to have an opin-

who was uncontested in election. rested for drugs the next day. We don’t start until 9.Where do you get lice department. So, I was good at ion on that?

What are you going to miss the saw this happening over a period of people like that? With that kind of that stu . I knew it. In the middle I don’t think yet. In a week I will.

most about being Yorktown town time, and we really worked hard at dedication? Without them, I would of that, I went to law school, and But I will say this: e one person

justice? getting her help, getting her away have no success. I opened my own practice where I who knows best as to what the

It’s going to start and stop with from the people she was hanging e other thing people don’t real- did a lot of criminal defense work, status of the defendant is at an ar-

my sta . ere have been a lot of with. And she wasn’t a kid; this was ize is we handle all kinds of cases. so I knew the other side. raignment is the judge. Why? Be-

tears shed the last couple of weeks— an adult woman. I hear people say, “You do a lot of I did not want to ever run for cause he has in front of him or she

by all of us. ey were a part of my We tried our best, we think we tra c tickets.” We do probably judge. I was asked three times, and has in front of her a rap sheet which

family, and they still are. at will maybe hit the right combination, like 150 a night. But that’s not all in a weak moment, I said yes. tells me how many times that per-

stay. But it won’t be the same not and about four to six months later, we do. We do the initial steps of all I sat at court the rst night, and son’s failed to appear in court, how

being with them every day. her lawyer came to the bench and felonies, we do misdemeanors, we I had my clerk next to me—it was many times they’ve been arrested

Why now? What was the said, ‘Can I give you something, do town code, we do violations, we a di erent person at the time—and for crimes, what the status of that

reason you decided not to run for Judge?’ It was a card. And he said do landlord/tenant, and we do civil I looked at her and I said, “I don’t crime is—a felony, a violent felony,

re-election? someone would like to address the cases. We handle such a diversity know what to do.” I practiced in or a misdemeanor—all of that has

I couldn’t a ord the time any- court. at’s very unusual, but I’m of cases that no other court does. that court for a lot of years. But to be considered when you consider

more. is is a full-time-e ort job. happy to do it. I open the card and You go to family court, they handle now you’re the one that everybody’s bail. When you put that in some

It truly is. I knew that going in. I there’s this lady walking up, I didn’t family law. You go to county court, looking at to make decisions, and kind of formula that’s arti cial, it

was warned. But it’s gotten worse know who it is, because I couldn’t they handle criminal law. We’re do- it’s a little di erent, and it was un- makes it a whole lot harder.

since then because the laws have recognize her. It was [Rosie[. She ing it all,and it’s a tough job for that nerving for the rst few weeks until Do you have any advice for your

put more and more on the court had gotten a job, learned how to reason. You have to develop a very I got used to it. successor?

and, speci cally, on the judges. dress herself properly, was crying— broad knowledge of the law. What are some of the biggest Plan on spending days and

Where we used to be able to divest and so was the judge, I might add. What does it take to be a judge? di erences between now and nights at the courthouse, because

some of that into our clerks, some it We had turned her around. It’s interesting because it’s an when you started—other than that’s what it takes. You have to be

now has been turned back to us by You don’t have a million success- elected position, so I guess the Zoom? hands-on. ere’s no other way to

the state. And the state says no-no; es, unfortunately. e ones you do, quali cations are getting more e laws and the discretion of do it.

judges have to make all these little you’ll never forget. And I’ll never votes than the other candidate. the court have certainly come un- I think that’s all the questions I

decisions that really eat up a lot of forget her. I nicknamed her Rosie But what does it really take to be a der attack by the legislature and have. Do you have anything else

your time. because whenever I was feeling judge? e pre-requisite skills? by the executive branch. ere are to add?

And it’s not compensated like frustrated, I would say, “Remember I don’t think you’re ever really three branches of government, and I’m going to miss it. at’s the

a full-time job, right? You make Rosie.” prepared for it. I spent 20 years in people seem to forget that. biggest thing. I’m purposely empty-

around $40,000? When people look back on a police force, so I know the pros- What are your thoughts on the ing my desk after hours so the girls

It’s 30-something. I don’t even your 12 years, what kind of judge ecution side pretty good. I used to conversation around bail reform? don’t cry and so I don’t cry, either.

Wishing all our readers and advertisers a

Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2022!

2
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Page 4 – Yorktown News Thursday, December 30, 2021

The Staff COVID-1S9 later optimistic despite rising cases
Town o ers 64th vaccine clinic
EDITORIAL TEAM
BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER However, to hear Town Supervi- “We want to make sure the gov- hosted its 64th vaccine clinic. Lo-
EDITOR: 914-302-5628
[email protected] EDITOR sor Matt Slater tell it, the town is in ernment continues to operate and cal pharmacies supply the vaccines

VIM WILKINSON a better position to stave o the virus provide services,”the supervisor said. and the health care professionals
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
[email protected] A feeling of déjà vu might be and its impact on the community “ e only way to do that is to make to administer them, and the town

ADVERTISING TEAM washing over residents as Yorktown this time around. sure my employees stay healthy.” supplies the space and apparatus.
PAUL FORHAN
deals with yet another holiday spike “Being able to track the peak of e second plan of attack comes e clinics have been hosted at
(914) 806-3951
[email protected] in Covid-19 cases. last winter helps us understand what in the form of vaccines, which were the Albert A. Capellini Center in

BRUCE HELLER e town’s active caseload pla- we’re dealing with,” Slater said. Ear- not available last time Yorktown ex- Yorktown Heights, at the John C.
(914) 486-7608
[email protected] teaued in January 2021, when 545 lier this year, for example, the town’s perienced a spike in cases. Hart Library in Shrub Oak, and at

LISA KAIN cases were reported. A precipitous caseload nearly halved from mid- In mid-January, when the state’s Je erson Village.
(201) 317-1139
[email protected] decline followed, with the town re- January to mid-February.“We know Mid-Hudson region was experienc- “I’m not here pounding my
CORINNE STANTON
(914) 760-7009 porting just two active cases in early that we’re in for a three-week hit, ing its biggest spike in cases, hos- chest, but we have emerged as a re-
[email protected]
July. and it’s how do you manage those pitalizations peaked at 1,107 while gional model,” Slater said. “Go nd
JAY GUSSAK
(914) 299-4541 Just four months later—due in three weeks.” ICU patients reached 159. With another municipality that’s doing
[email protected]
SHELLEY KILCOYNE part to the highly contagious Omi- For starters, the town has restrict- the same region now experiencing this. We have found a way to part-
(914) 924-9122
[email protected] cron variant—the town once again ed access to its buildings and facili- a similar uptick in cases, hospital- ner with the county government

PRODUCTION TEAM nds itself dealing with a spike in ties. Starting Tuesday, Dec. 21, town izations are considerably lower. As and with health care professionals
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL
cases. In less than two weeks, the hall and other town o ces were of Dec. 20, there were 428 hospi- to provide an essential service to
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHER town’s caseload more than doubled closed to the public.All town boards, talizations and 72 ICU patients. this community. And that’s what

[email protected] from 214 cases on Dec. 8 to 489 commissions, and committees are According to Slater, two-thirds of government is all about.”
GABRIELLE BILIK
DESIGNER on Dec. 21. If the trend contin- also going back to meeting virtually. Westchester County’s hospitalized Right now, the town is host-

[email protected] ues through the holidays, the town e policies will be re-evaluated next patients are unvaccinated. ing clinics for booster shots and

EXECUTIVE TEAM seems poised to break its own record. week. On Tuesday, Dec. 28, the town pediatric vaccines (Moderna and
BRETT FREEMAN
CEO & PUBLISHER P zer). Residents who want their
845-208-8151
rst or second inoculations can con-
[email protected]
tact their local health care providers
Deadlines
or local pharmacies. e town can
YORKTOWN NEWS DEADLINE
THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS also arrange to administer a rst or

AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR second dose at one of its clinics, but

YORKTOWN NEWS IS THE THURSDAY they need to be told in advance.
BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE.
Servicing the Community for over 20 years “We knew that the vaccine was
FOR MORE INFORMATION, a critical weapon in order for us to
CALL BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER AT
914-302-5628 OR EMAIL get past this virus,” Slater said “We
[email protected].
made it as accessible as possible.
Subscribe
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WEEKLY DELIVERY, CALL 845-208-8503 option.”
OR EMAIL [email protected].
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR e data from last winter com-
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN.
OUT OF TOWN MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE bined with the vaccine “puts us in a
$150 PER YEAR FOR FIRST CLASS MAIL.
much, much stronger position,” he
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT
SOMERS, NY AND AT added.

ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. Chronic Heel Spur • Plantar Fasciitis MASK MANDATE
POSTMASTER: Earlier this month, Gov. Kathy
STATE OF THE ART
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO ESWT/Shockwave TREATMENT AVAILABLE Hochul mandated masks to be
YORKTOWN NEWS AT worn inside all public places, in-
Yorktown Footcare Group Cortlandt Footcare Group Brewster Footcare Group cluding businesses, unless a vac-
118 N. BEDFORD ROAD (914) 245-7888 (914) 739-2800 (845) 278-2020 cine requirement was in place. e
SUITE 100 governor put the onus on the coun-
2050 Saw Mill River Road 2050 East Main Street Clock Tower Commons, ties to enforce the mandate and is-
MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 Suite 314 sue penalties. Almost immediately,
most county executives in New
(ISSN 2329-8693) Brewster, NY 10509 York said they would not comply,
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY with one exception being West-
HALSTON MEDIA, LLC AT www.hudsonpodiatryassociates.com chester County.
118 N. BEDFORD ROAD
As a town that borders Putnam
SUITE 100 County, which is choosing not to
MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 enforce the mandate, Yorktown is
in a precarious position, Slater said.
©2021 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC
“Over 50 percent of counties said
they are not doing this,” Slater said.
“For whatever reason, people who
had a problem with the mandate
said they’re going to shop in Put-
nam County. All that does is hurt
the businesses.”

Slater, in a letter addressed to
Hochul, asked the governor to re-
evaluate the mandate and “provide
municipalities with the authority to
make decisions that make sense for
them.”

“It wasn’t so much that I’m anti-
mask; I’m anti-inconsistent policy,”
Slater said.

Thursday, December 30, 2021 Yorktown News – Page 5

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