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Sam Barron

Community Editor

sbarron@dailyvoice.com

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An (almost) lifelong Westchester resident, Sam has reported on all facets of Westchester since he graduated from Ryerson University with a degree in print journalism, including stints at North County News and The Examiner. A film columnist for WAG Magazine, Sam's moviegoing expertise has been profiled in the New York Times and he was a featured guest on VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live.

Sam was formerly a community editor at Daily Voice.

Sam Barron's Contributions

Neighbors
Briarcliff Boy Is A Pokemon Whiz Kid Briarcliff Boy Is A Pokemon Whiz Kid
Briarcliff Boy Is A Pokemon Whiz Kid BRIARCLIFF, N.Y. -- When it comes to playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game, Sebastian Male-Diaz is a child prodigy.Male-Diaz,  a 10-year-old who lives in Briarcliff and is in 5th grade, is ranked 11th  in the country for his age group, regularly traveling across the country competing in tournaments.  He has been invited to compete in tournaments in Australia. He recently finished in 2nd at a tournament in Virginia and last weekend competed at a tournament in Toronto. In Pokemon, players use their Pokemon to battle their opponent with the goal of winning knocking out their opponents cards.  …

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by Sam Barron
Neighbors
Former Server At Poughkeepsie Olive Garden Rises To GM Former Server At Poughkeepsie Olive Garden Rises To GM
Former Server At Poughkeepsie Olive Garden Rises To GM The Olive Garden has been like family for Jeffrey Babineau. Babineau has been working for the Italian restaurant chain for more than 20 years, starting in Poughkeepsie in 1996 as a server. He was recently promoted to general manager of its new location in Yonkers at the Cross County Shopping Center. "It feels good," Babineau said. "It's something I've been striving for. I'm very happy about it." At Olive Garden, Babineau has filled many different roles at many different roles. As general manager, he is responsible for leading his team, including hiring and interviewing …

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by Sam Barron
Schools
Pocantico Students Reap Sweet Reward For Community Service Pocantico Students Reap Sweet Reward For Community Service
Pocantico Students Reap Sweet Reward For Community Service POCANTICO HILLS, N.Y. -- Students at Pocantico Hills recently learned the value of doing a good deed. Students donated more than 1,500 food and toiletry items to help six nearby needy families. The classes that brought in the most contributions were rewarded with an ice cream party. The program is a project of the Student Council Government organized by Family and Consumer Science teacher Ilana Brennan, who is also student government advisor.  The Student Government members and many other middle school students spent countless hours collecting, sorting and tallying the donations.  “I am s…

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by Sam Barron
Schools
Croton Teen Honored As 'Student Of Distinction' Croton Teen Honored As 'Student Of Distinction'
Croton Teen Honored As 'Student Of Distinction' CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.-- Ben Lewis is always happy to lend a hand. The Croton teen, who attends the Walden School, was recently honored as a Student of Distinction by Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES. At Walden, Lewis leads his classmates in their “Calming Group” activity, guiding them through breathing, stretching and other exercises. “He takes total charge of that group,” teacher Lisa Fuentes told the Croton-Harmon Board of Education. “It’s amazing to watch.” Faculty members at Walden praised Lewisfor his friendly demeanor and his willingness to help. Walden School Principal Michael So…

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by Sam Barron
Business
Dutchess Contractor Aims To Simplify Kitchen Remodels Dutchess Contractor Aims To Simplify Kitchen Remodels
Dutchess Contractor Aims To Simplify Kitchen Remodels WAPPINGER, N.Y. -- Trevor Kaftan is here to make sure your kitchen remodel goes off without a hitch. Kaftan runs N-Hance in Wappinger, a franchise, which offers a unique way to refinish cabinets by using wood that's cleaner and simpler and done without sanding. "It's all about making everything more convenient and using more non-toxic products," Kaftan, a Poughkeepsie resident, said. Before he started his own franchise, Kaftan would consistently meet with people who were considering a refacing, only to get sticker shock when they got the bill. "They thought it might cost $5…

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by Sam Barron
Neighbors
Ossining Soldier Deployed In East Africa Ossining Soldier Deployed In East Africa
Ossining Soldier Deployed In East Africa OSSINING, N.Y. -- Drew Young, who graduated from Ossining High School, has served his country in the Army for more than 30 years. Young is currently deployed in East Africa about 100 miles from Somalia. This is Young's sixth combat deployment. He was recently awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his service as a Senior Counterintelligence Officer in the Horn of Africa.  Young got commissioned into ROTC after graduating from Ossining. He served in the Persian Gulf War and has been to Iraq three times and Afghanistan twice. This is his second deployment to Africa.  "I was d…

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by Sam Barron
Schools
Ardsley Jazz Trumpeter Wins National Award Ardsley Jazz Trumpeter Wins National Award
Ardsley Jazz Trumpeter Wins National Award ARDSLEY, N.Y.-- An Ardsley High School senior is being nationally recognized for his jazz skills. David Sneider won the 2017 DownBeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Performance in Jazz Trumpet. DownBeat is a jazz magazine that gives out a handful of solo awards to exceptional high school jazz musicians.  Sneider has been playing trumpet since he was a third-grader at Concord Road Elementary. He has been named Best Soloist in the Sleepy Hollow Jazz Festival three years in a row and was chosen for the New York Conference All-State Jazz Band in 11th and 12th grades. He is the principal tr…

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by Sam Barron
Schools
Educators Tackle Thorny Issues At Future School Leaders Academy Educators Tackle Thorny Issues At Future School Leaders Academy
Educators Tackle Thorny Issues At Future School Leaders Academy Educators who want to move up the ladder got a crash course at the Future School Leaders Academy at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES.The educators are about to graduate the two-year, 30-credit FSLA program, which leads to dual New York State certification as a school building and school district leader. The academy is a program of the Center for Educational Leadership at BOCES and is offered in partnership with the Bank Street College.  Twelve different school districts displayed their projects at BOCES headquarters in Yorktown Heights. They explored topics including closing a foreign langu…

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by Sam Barron
Neighbors
Croton Actress Stars In New Short Film Croton Actress Stars In New Short Film
Croton Actress Stars In New Short Film Jennifer Jiles, a Croton-on-Hudson actress who grew up in Poughkeepsie, is ready for her closeup.  Jiles' stars in the new short film, "The Waiting Room." She plays Janet who is in purgatory waiting for her husband to join her. To Janet's surprise, when her husband joins her, he shows up with his new wife. The movie was written and directed by Debra Markowitz.  "Waiting Room is dramedy, which is new for me," Jiles said.  "It's really fun to make people cry. Last year at the Peekskill Film Festival, Jiles screened "Mother of the Week", a short film she wro…

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by Sam Barron
Schools
Putnam Voters Head To Polls For School Elections Putnam Voters Head To Polls For School Elections
Putnam Voters Head To Polls For School Elections It is school budget season in Putnam. Voters throughout the county will head to the polls Tuesday to vote on whether to approve school budgets and elect trustees to the school board. Several school districts have propositions on the ballot. In Carmel, incumbent Tara DeTurris is being challenged by James Reese, Tara Eacobacci and Mary Smith for two open seats. The $123.1 million budget increases spending by 1.71 percent with a tax levy increase of .97 percent. In Brewster, the $95.4 million budget increases spending by 2.88 percent and increases the tax levy by 2 percent. Voters will also b…

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by Sam Barron
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