Ousted Mt. Vernon council candidates appeal ruling, plan new ballot line

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • August 15, 2009

MOUNT VERNON — Four City Council candidates have appealed a court decision denying them a spot on the Democratic primary ballot and are also planning to run on an independent line called One Mt. Vernon.

Collie Nathan Edwers, Jennifer “Anne” Sampson, Eileen Justino and Debra Stern said they would pursue both strategies to get back on the ballot. The candidates, who were endorsed by the Democratic City Committee, were dropped from the ballot due to a mistake in their petition.

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Mount Vernon inspector general seeks to seal records

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • August 12, 2009

MOUNT VERNON – The city’s inspector general wants to change the City Charter to block public and press access to records and files collected and produced by his office.

The change is among several Inspector General Harry Stokes has asked the City Council to approve in a charter amendment. Stokes said the changes were based on recent recommendations from the national Association of Inspector Generals and were meant to clarify the jurisdiction and duties of his office.

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Mount Vernon seniors: 2 years without elevator

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • August 6, 2009

MOUNT VERNON – A light rain was falling outside, causing Gloria Pagonico’s arthritis-ridden knee to act up again. Even with the nagging pain, she decided to walk the 18 steps down to her art class.

“It’s very difficult to walk up and down the stairs. I got a bum knee, a real bad knee,” said Pagonico, 80, as she added brush strokes to a landscape painting.

Like other city residents who use the senior center at the armory on North Fifth Avenue, Pagonico is upset that the elevator has been out of order for two years. Seniors said they have complained about the elevator many times to the city, which owns and operates the building.

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Fate of four Mount Vernon candidates lies with court

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • August 4, 2009

Four aspiring candidates for Mount Vernon City Council sat side by side yesterday on a courtroom bench in White Plains, hoping for news that could change their political fates. There were no such assurances.

Jennifer “Anne” Sampson, Debra Stern, Eileen Justino and Collie Nathan Edwers were dropped from the Democratic primary ballot two weeks ago because of a mistake in their petitions. They were in court asking a justice to reverse the county Board of Elections ruling.

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Memorial Field stadium is city icon

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • August 2, 2009

MOUNT VERNON – With its tall archways, red-brick façade and classic bleacher seating, the 78-year old stadium at Memorial Field has long been an icon for the city.

It’s where families gathered to watch ball games, danced in their seats during a 1975 Jackson Five show and saluted veterans during parades.

 The stadium is now expected to be demolished as part of a $12.7 million overhaul of Memorial Park. City officials have said the structure, which seats some 4,000 people, is decrepit and crumbling and needs to be replaced.

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Temporary restraining order bans pastor from Mount Vernon church

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • July 30, 2009

MOUNT VERNON – A judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring a pastor from his church after a group of deacons voted not to renew his contract and sued in court to keep him out when he wouldn’t leave.

The dispute at Macedonia Baptist Church, one of the city’s largest congregations, has led to sharp divisions and heated confrontations over the leadership of the Rev. Jimmie Hardaway.

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Mount Vernon school district considers cuts in wake of $5 million veto

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • July 24, 2009

MOUNT VERNON – Teaching jobs, school sports and pre-K could be on the chopping block after the governor vetoed a bill that would have given the city’s school district $5 million in state aid.

The unexpected veto has left school officials scrambling to compensate for the loss of the funds six weeks before the start of the school year. Schools Superintendent W.L. “Tony” Sawyer said the district anticipated getting the money and now must return furniture and technology that were already ordered and in the classroom.

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Mount Vernon buildings commissioner announces retirement

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • July 23, 2009

MOUNT VERNON – Ralph Tedesco, the commissioner of the city Department of Buildings who faced allegations of misconduct last year, has announced his retirement.

Tedesco, 63, told city officials he was stepping down to spend more time with family and that his last day would be Aug. 14. A longtime operative for the city’s Democratic party, Tedesco was appointed buildings commissioner in September 2002.

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4 Mount Vernon council candidates kicked off ballot

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • July 22, 2009

WHITE PLAINS – The four candidates for City Council in Mount Vernon endorsed by the Democratic City Committee have been tossed from the ballot because of a mistake in their petitions.

Collie Nathan Edwers, Jennifer “Anne” Sampson, Eileen Justino and Debra Stern were dropped from the ballot because the Democratic City Committee failed to indicate on the petition that one of them was running for a separate, unexpired term.

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Anti-violence Initiative fights for peace in Mount Vernon

By Hannan Adely • hadely@lohud.com • July 20, 2009

MOUNT VERNON – A 25-year-old man was shot in the chest and shoulder while sitting in a parked car on a city street on a recent Saturday, leaving him in critical condition. For the weary, it was another day, another crime in the city.

For Sarah Yitzchak, it was a heart-wrenching reminder that the violence hasn’t stopped, six months after her own son was shot and killed, and five months after a major initiative was launched to stop the bloodshed in Mount Vernon.

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