Camille Botello

3 weeks ago | ryerecord.com | Camille Botello

Westchester County officials said they still haven’t finalized a plan for running Playland Park this season and they no longer have a firm opening date. On Tuesday, Catherine Cioffi, the county’s communications director, told The Record that the county still intends to open the park this year. The park was originally scheduled to open on May 17.   “As we look ahead to the 2025 season, our intention is to open the park,” Cioffi said.

3 weeks ago | ryerecord.com | Camille Botello

Playland will remain tax exempt for 2022, a court ruled last week, seemingly tying up one of the outstanding legal issues facing the historic amusement park.   Since the county, which owns the amusement park, had yet to officially hand over management of Playland to private operator Standard Amusements in 2022, the public park had to therefore maintain its tax-exempt status as a public park for that tax year, the state appellate court decided on April 16.

3 weeks ago | ryerecord.com | Camille Botello

Interim Rye Neck High School Principal Melinda Folchetti will start her permanent role as the head of the high school this summer, according to an announcement from the school. Folchetti, who has been the interim principal since the summer of 2023, told The Record she’s grateful for the opportunity. “I’ve learned so much over the past couple of years – and am reminded, almost daily, of how much our students can accomplish given the opportunity, encouragement and support,” she said.

3 weeks ago | thecordovatimes.com | Camille Botello

While much of the coverage ahead of the March 4 General Election featured the candidates running for office, two lesser-known figures too young to vote played a big role on Election Day.  Rory Ensweiler and Gregorio Landaluce, both elementary school students at Mt. Eccles, are the brains behind the two “I voted” stickers that poll workers handed out during the election.

3 weeks ago | thecordovatimes.com | Camille Botello

Cordova Times columnist Hank Nuwer won first place for the Susan Nightingale Award for Best Columnist at the Alaska Press Club award ceremony in Anchorage on April 12. The UAF adjunct professor and avid community theater actor is the author of the Times’ “Last Frontier Days” column, where he delves into different historical tidbits about our great state. “Interesting history from the archives, with well told stories that will engage the community,” Alaska Press Club judges said.