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Jon Craig

Reporter

jon.craig@dailyvoice.com

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Pleasantville native Jon Craig is special editor for the Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Dutchess Daily Voice sites. He is also the primary reporter for Daily Voice Plus Politics in Westchester and Fairfield.

Jon graduated from Cornell University and received his master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Across a 35-year career, he's worked as a reporter for daily newspapers in Chicago, New York, Ohio & Washington, D.C and as managing editor for weekly newspapers in Rye, White Plains and Harrison.

Jon also writes periodically for the Cornell Chronicle.

Career Highlights:

  • Covered Metro-North train wreck that killed a motorist and five commuters, 2015
  • Researched state investigative project for PublicIntegrity.org, 2011-12
  • National MADD award for database analysis of repeat drunk drivers in Ohio, 2008.
  • Henry F. Guggenheim Fellow, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2010.
  • Sentenced to jail for protecting confidential sources (won on appeal), 1999.
  • Broke 30th anniversary story about Kent State shootings — using FBI records, resurrecting theory a student informant triggered fatal National Guard volley, May 2000.
  • Covered Ground Zero after Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.
  • Uncovered voting problems before & during presidential recount in Ohio, 2004.
  • Witnessed botched Death Row execution of Romell Broom in 2009, one of more than a dozen I covered; Wrote about three inmates whose death sentences were commuted to life without parole.
  • Won IRE, SDX and multiple national & state awards for series led by Erik Kriss investigating New York General Assembly. 1994.
  • Guest lecturer at universities in NY & Ohio. Taught Syracuse high school journalism class.
  • Co-authored IRE-award winning series on illegal restraints/beatings at juvenile detention centers. Gov. Mario Cuomo had NY inspector general confirm what Hart Seely and I found at Division for Youth & fired top directors, 1993.
  • Survived Air Force Kool School training at North Pole, 1996.
  • Covered Persian Gulf wars, including 2002 bomb missions from Turkey and stateside Army/Air Guard training. 1991.
  • Supervised overnight coverage of Pan Am Flight 103 after Libyan bomb killed 35 Syracuse University students over Lockerbie, Scotland, 1988.
  • Covered aftermath of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s fatal plane crash from Cape Cod, 1999.
  • Greeted Kurt Vonnegut Jr. as Cornell Sun sports editor during daily's 100th anniversary dinner in May 1980. 

Jon Craig's Contributions

Politics
Astorino Drops Plenty Of Political, Personal Jokes During Annual Speech Astorino Drops Plenty Of Political, Personal Jokes During Annual Speech
Astorino Drops Plenty Of Political, Personal Jokes During Annual Speech WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- No one can accuse Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino of making long, boring speeches -- at least not on Wednesday night. During his sixth annual "state of the county address" at the county courthouse, Astorino made a joke about his diminutive stature, saying he has directed the county Board of Legislators to lower the height requirement on Playland rides as part of the proposed deal with a new manager. Astorino also said his son handed him a note saying all three kids wanted to "opt out" of Wednesday's speech. Astorino said, "I'm happy to say, they are all h…

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by Jon Craig
News
Astorino Pledges Westchester County Will Grow 'Smarter, Safer, Stronger' Astorino Pledges Westchester County Will Grow 'Smarter, Safer, Stronger'
Astorino Pledges Westchester County Will Grow 'Smarter, Safer, Stronger' WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- During a "state of the county" address sprinkled with humor, optimism and new programs, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino also promised a sixth straight budget with no tax increase. "We're all getting squeezed, but I would rather see the county squeeze expenses, then to squeeze taxpayers,'' Astorino said on Wednesday evening to 300 in attendance at the county courthouse. The county will open a new economic development office next month at 125 Park Ave. in Manhattan, across from Grand Central Terminal, to attract companies thinking of relocating. "To those c…

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by Jon Craig
News
Hundreds Temporarily Without Power In Mamaroneck, 911 Service Affected Hundreds Temporarily Without Power In Mamaroneck, 911 Service Affected
Hundreds Temporarily Without Power In Mamaroneck, 911 Service Affected MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Due to strong winds and weather impacts, there was a brief emergency power outage affecting 655 customers in the Village of Mamaroneck on Wednesday evening. While 911 calls were temporarily transferred to the Town of Mamaroneck, normal police service and operations continued.   The power outage affecting electrical system and police calls lasted for a period over an hour. Con Edison performed an emergency transfer and repair, and all electrical service was restored by 6:30 p.m. If Mamaroneck residents have an emergency, they may call 911 and it is operational, …

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by Jon Craig
News
Newly Named Playland Manager Says His Love Of Park Will Inspire Makeover Newly Named Playland Manager Says His Love Of Park Will Inspire Makeover
Newly Named Playland Manager Says His Love Of Park Will Inspire Makeover RYE, N.Y. -- The amusement park manager picked by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino to operate Playland until the year 2030 and beyond reminisced Friday about his childhood growing up nearby. Nicholas Singer, a 1996 graduate of Harrison High School, said his father still lives on Anderson Hill Road in Purchase. His aunt lives in Purdys and other relatives have lived in Mount Vernon  and Mamaroneck. "I'm a proud Huskie," Singer said, referring to the Harrison Central School District where he attended Purchase Elementary School, Louis M. Klein Middle School and Harrison High. S…

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by Jon Craig
Sports
Rye Athletic Director Rob Castagna Hired At Byram Hills Schools Rye Athletic Director Rob Castagna Hired At Byram Hills Schools
Rye Athletic Director Rob Castagna Hired At Byram Hills Schools RYE, N.Y. -- Robert Castagna, director of health, physical education and athletics for the past 12 years in Rye has been named athletic director at the Byram Hills School District. The Byram Hills Board of Education approved Castagna's hiring at a meeting last week. Effective July 1, Castagna will succeed Mike Gulino, who is retiring after 34 years. Castagna, who lives in Ridgefield, Conn., could not be reached for comment. Gulino confirmed the impending change of command for the Bobcats. Castagna received his bachelor's degree in education from Iona College. He has worked for …

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by Jon Craig
News
Funeral Services Scheduled For Rye Grad Found Dead In Sorority Bedroom Funeral Services Scheduled For Rye Grad Found Dead In Sorority Bedroom
Funeral Services Scheduled For Rye Grad Found Dead In Sorority Bedroom RYE, N.Y. -- Funeral services will be held on Saturday for Marisa Gail Curlen, the 2013 graduate of Rye High School who was found unresponsive in her Virginia sorority bedroom early Friday. An investigation is under way in the cause of death for Miss Curlen, the 20-year-old daughter of Julie A. Curlen of Rye and Steve Curlen of New Rochelle. The family will receive friends during Friday calling hours at Graham Funeral Home, 1036 Boston Post Road in Rye, from 2 to 4 p.m., and from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Rye Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Virginia o…

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by Daily Voice
Politics
Playland, Affordable Housing Among Topics In State Of County Address Playland, Affordable Housing Among Topics In State Of County Address
Playland, Affordable Housing Among Topics In State Of County Address This story has been updated. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Last week's tentative agreement with a new manager for Playland Amusement Park and Westchester County's progress in building affordable housing are among the topics expected in Wednesday's "state of the county" address. County Executive Rob Astorino's annual speech is planned for 7 p.m in the Central Jury Room of the County Courthouse, 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains. Astorino also is expected to announce a fifth straight year of no county tax levy increases and a new initiative to recruit new businesses to Westche…

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by Jon Craig
Schools
Rye College Student Travis Misarti Is Invited To Screen Film At Cannes Rye College Student Travis Misarti Is Invited To Screen Film At Cannes
Rye College Student Travis Misarti Is Invited To Screen Film At Cannes RYE, N.Y. -- A college student from Rye has been invited to France next month to screen his short movie at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival. Travis Misarti, a 2012 graduate of Scarsdale High School, is a junior at the University of Tampa in Florida, where he's majoring in film and media arts. Misarti moved to Rye with his parents after graduating from Scarsdale High. Misarti co-directed "Tea Time'' with another UT student, Alexandra Di Giacomo. The film was a Jury Award winner in the annual Campus MovieFest competition at UT this year and is advancing to the CMF finale…

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by Jon Craig
Neighbors
Larchmont Congregation To Honor Jewish Teen Leaders Saturday Larchmont Congregation To Honor Jewish Teen Leaders Saturday
Larchmont Congregation To Honor Jewish Teen Leaders Saturday LARCHMONT, N.Y. -- Congregation Sulam Yaakov announced the selection Thursday of two teen advocates who will receive 2015 Jewish Commitment Awards during a reception Saturday in Larchmont. Brooke Goldstein, of Briarcliff Manor, and Sam Roth, of Croton-on-Hudson, "have committed themselves to the values of service and learning that Sulam Yaakov holds so dear," said Rabbi Alfredo Borodowski. "These youths point to a bright future for the Jewish people." Goldstein is a senior at Briarcliff High School. She plans on studying biology in college and going to medical school. She has wanted to …

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by Jon Craig
Neighbors
Harrison Resident Named 'Best Volunteer Friend' Of Westchester County Parks Harrison Resident Named 'Best Volunteer Friend' Of Westchester County Parks
Harrison Resident Named 'Best Volunteer Friend' Of Westchester County Parks HARRISON, N.Y. -- Robert DelTorto of Harrison was honored as "Best Volunteer Friend" of Westchester County Parks during an April 8 gala at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle. DelTorto was recognized by Friends of Westchester County Parks for his many years of service to the county parks and his unwavering dedication to invasive vine cutting, which helps to free native trees and increase the health and sustainability of growth. This year's theme was "Celebrate a Year of Growth with Friends." In addition to DelTorto, this year's honorees were Westchester Medical Center, Busin…

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by Jon Craig
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