Yorktown and Cortlandt region

Now that the weather has turned warm, the bounty of the farm has returned.
The farmer’s market in Croton will begin Wednesday on Riverside Avenue and Municipal Place. It runs every Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. until  6:30.
The farmer’s market in Ossining is also up and running, taking place on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. until 2. It is held on Main Street.

Good Tuesday morning. Here’s a glance at opinion content published over the holiday weekend in The Journal News:

Saturday, May 28
Westchester County government: Commentary
May Krukiel and Carlla Horton of the Westchester Women’s Agenda are strongly critical of County Executive Rob Astorino’s proposal to merge the county’s Office for Women with the Youth Bureau in a Community View.

Sunday, May 29
Marriage equality: Editorial
We call on the Legislature to make marriage equality a reality in New York. Such an effort failed in the state Senate in 2009 — we conclude public opinion merits is success in 2011. We write:

… Proponents of same-sex marriage are hoping for better in 2011, inasmuch as public opinion, along with the political and legal landscape, have changed since lawmakers last considered the issue. Public support for gay marriage in New York has shown a steady creep in the direction of fairness: a recent Siena Poll had proponents leading opponents, 58 percent to 36 percent; supporters led 56 percent to 37 percent in a recent Quinnipiac Poll. About the time the Senate came up short two years ago, the margin was 51 percent to 42 percent favoring gay marriage, according to a Marist survey.

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At 2 p.m. today on Editorial Spotlight, health advocates discuss how New York lags in establishing a “health insurance exchange,” as required by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The exchanges provide a “marketplace” for individuals and small groups to compare and join health plans. Blair Horner of the American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey, Bill Ferris of AARP and Elisabeth Benjamin of Community Service Society explain best practices for setting up the exchanges, and how state legislators’ lack of action could leave New York out of the running for federal grants.

Watch LIVE at www.lohud.com/editorialspotlight, and join the discussion by engaging the “CoverItLive” feature. To view the discussion later, go to www.lohud.com/ editorialspotlight and click “videos” and choose the video from the menu.

Matthew Lorber of Nanuet, a veteran of the war in Iraq, pauses before the annual Watchfire on the banks of the Hudson River at the VA Hospital in Montrose this evening. The Vietnam Veterans of America lights Watchfires in several locations in Rockland County as well as the one in Montrose every Memorial Day weekend. The Watchfire is symbolically set to guide prisoners of war and those missing in action home. Photo by Seth Harrison

Look for the story and photos at Lohud.com and in tomorrow’s edition of The Journal News.

Lakeland’s Kaitlin Simmons, left, is congratulated for a good play by teammate Shannon Scavelli during a section 1, class A first-round softball playoff game at Tappan Zee. Tappan Zee won 1-0.

See more photos of Lakeland at Tappan Zee softball

Fahey, 23, died in Kandahar province from injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device. He had been in Afghanistan since June 2010 and was due to return home next month.

CORTLANDT: After a ceremonial ground-breaking, roadwork to improve a dangerous intersection on Route 202, or Crompond Road, will begin in about a month’s time. The state Department of Transportation will spend roughly $2.5 million to add traffic lights at Conklin and Lafayette avenues, install a left turn lane along Route 202 and realign the Hudson Valley Hospital Center’s exit with Lafayette Avenue. “It will be a safer intersection for the entire community,” said Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi. The work is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

Good Friday afternoon. Here’s a glance at opinion content published today in The Journal News:

Rob Astorino’s appointees: Editorial
We comment on a special report from staff writer Gerald McKinstry that documented raises and promotions given by the administration of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino to supporters who are county employees. We write:

This week’s report on the big-dollar pay boosts to Westchester County government staff will not surprise taxpayers who are mindful of the real world: the political spoils system lives on, notwithstanding the recession and sky-high property taxes. Who gets what, and how much, though, might stick in the craw of taxpayers who have been rooting for Rob Astorino, who was elected on a platform of thrift and frugality, and continues to sound those themes. He hasn’t exactly slain the political-payout monster either, despite making significant gains in downsizing the government. …

Yorktown Republican Chris Sciarra is putting his political plans on hold on the expectation that Winery at St. George owner Tom DeChiaro is poised to make a run for Town Board.

Sciarra, owner of C.S. Construction and the project manager overseeing renovations needed for the winery’s building permit, said he planned to collect petitions next month in hopes of forcing a primary for the Republican Town Board nomination. The town GOP nominated Councilman Nick Bianco and Traveler’s Rest owner Dave Paganelli last month.

But Sciarra said he had confirmed with DeChiaro that the winery owner, who lives in Mahopac, planned to rent a home in Yorktown in order to establish residence for a Town Board run. Sciarra said that waging a primary campaign alongside DeChiaro would be a conflict of interest for him professionally.

“I’m stepping out because he’s stepping in,” he said.

“I don’t agree with his taking up residence in this town, but that’s his right,” Sciarra added. “He’s already got the residence, the house he’s renting. I just feel like let’s keep our eye on the ball in getting the winery open.”

DeChiaro has yet to comment publicly on his political plans. In 2008 he sued the town in federal court alleging corruption and retaliation targeting him in his bid to open the winery with county approval as an agricultural operation. The suit, which specifically named Bianco, was thrown a year later, and DeChiaro began pursuing local approvals soon after.

The winery secured zoning board approval for a special exception use permit in February, but that came with a checklist of items that need to be addressed before a building permit can be issued. Sciarra said the main issue remaining is a sprinkler system that will require a water main be installed across Route 6.

That’ll be his focus as he leaves the campaign trail for 2013.

“I feel bad for the people that want to vote for me, that tell me all the time,” he said. “But there’s always down the road.”

File photos: Sciarra, left; DeChiaro, right. The Journal News

Yorktown’s Justin Mabus, left, is pressured by John Jay’s Brian Kass during the class B championship lacrosse game at Suffern Middle School. Yorktown won 14-5.

See more photos of Yorktown vs John Jay lacrosse