This was the way we announced the arrival of the Gazette on the local media scene back in May, 2002:
(May, 2002) Two Larchmont residents, Judy Silberstein and Paula Eisenberg, are collaborating to publish Larchmont Gazette. “We saw a void in local news coverage,” said Silberstein. “Larchmont Gazette is going to be an independent, exciting new source for local news.” Eisenberg added, “We’ll be a real community paper, and we plan to publish local writers, writing on local issues. And that means the entire 10538 area, not just Larchmont Village.”
Regular content includes feature stories, breaking news (updated throughout the week), a community calendar, dining reviews, and forums. The 10538 Guide will be a resource for residents and visitors, offering maps, a tour of Larchmont’s attractions, and a rich history section culled from the holdings of the Larchmont Historical Society.
As the online journal grows, it will include a directory of local businesses and updates on the local political scene. “We will report what’s really happening in the 10538 area, free of any party politics or advertising-driven constraints,” Silberstein said. “Paula and I have very different political views, which we’ll confine to the Commentary section.”
Taking advantage of the interactive nature of the website, Larchmont Gazette’s forums will give readers a chance to communicate directly with their neighbors. “We think local politicians will want to read what’s going on in our Speak Up forum,” Eisenberg said. “We expect people to behave with basic courtesy, but aside from that, they can say what they really think about local issues.”
Writing an email letter to the editors is another way for local residents to let their views be known. Gazette readers are invited to submit opinion columns, ideas for articles, even photographic “essays” of local interest.
Eisenberg and Silberstein were founding members of the official Village of Larchmont telecommunications and technology committee. The committee created the Village’s official website in 1997 and helped the Village cope with Y2K issues. Eisenberg, with a background in journalism and Internet consulting, co-wrote a guide to going online. She has lived in Larchmont since 1980. Silberstein, who moved to Larchmont in 1979, holds a Ph.D. in psychology and has written a book on business. She is a past member of the Mamaroneck School Board.
Larchmont Gazette’s publishers invite local writers, reporters and photographers to approach them about writing for the Gazette. “We’re blessed with a large population of talented, creative people here,” Silberstein said. “The Gazette can be a great way for them to get exposure and have fun in the process.”
Paula Eisenberg and Judy Silberstein
