The Examiner

Kittredge Funeral to Air on Public Access After Controversy is Resolved

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North Castle Councilwoman Becky Kittredge's funeral will air twice a day on NCTV.
North Castle Councilwoman Becky Kittredge’s funeral will air twice a day on NCTV.

The funeral service of former North Castle Councilwoman Becky Kittredge is ready to air on the town’s public access channel this week after town officials battled over whether videotape of the event should be broadcast.

The latest controversy to engulf the town board erupted when Town Clerk Anne Curran sent out an email blast on Sept. 3 informing residents that the board majority of Supervisor Howard Arden and council members Diane DiDonato-Roth and John Cronin had scuttled the request to show the funeral on NCTV, North Castle’s public access station.

Curran said dozens of residents had contacted her office requesting that the hour-long service, which was held in front of town hall on Aug. 30, be shown on the channel. Private donations had been raised for the town’s part-time video technician to tape and edit the service and have it aired.

By the next day Arden had responded with his own email chastising Curran for “deliberately mischaracterizing the nature of our discussions” and accusing her of politicizing the situation.

Curran maintained that it is her duty as town clerk and North Castle’s public information officer to explain issues surrounding access and information, and in this case, why Kittredge’s funeral would not be airing. She said there was no agenda on her part other than to keep the public informed.

“There was no political intent,” Curran said. “I was responding to the dozens of inquiries from people wanting to know. I felt that it was my responsibility to let the public know what had happened here.”

The funeral is now scheduled to be seen on NCTV every day at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. for about two weeks. It will also be in the video archives on the town’s web site, she said.

Arden said he and DiDonato-Roth and Cronin had discussed in communications with the entire board what they thought was a more appropriate tribute, a video montage that would honor Kittredge’s life and celebrate her accomplishments during her 32 years on the town board. The montage would have used video footage and photographs from town events such as parades, Frosty Day and other functions, he said.

Arden acknowledged that his initial reaction for balking at the idea was that it seemed “a little morbid.” With at least two other tapings of the event, there were ample opportunities for people to watch through other outlets, he said.

There was also little doubt that Curran, a Democrat, whose party would like to see he and his running mates ousted from office, tried making political inroads, Arden charged.

“I can only assume that her effort was an attempt to paint the three of us in a negative light and inflame voters’ passions,” Arden said.

Democratic Councilman Michael Schiliro, a candidate for supervisor and Arden’s likely November opponent, countered that Arden, DiDonato-Roth and Cronin were off base to “double down” with the supervisor’s scathing email of Curran once public clamor to air the service was known.

He said that some residents, including many older seniors, don’t have access to a computer. Plus, many residents were away for the Labor Day weekend or at work and couldn’t attend.

Schiliro also added that there was nothing morbid about the service, which featured close friends eulogizing Kittredge with stories and humor.

“To do what they did, to me, just shows an incredible lack of respect all around,” he said.

However, DiDonato-Roth said she was “upset” and “flabbergasted” at accusations that the board majority was politicizing Kittredge’s funeral. The board, she said, had made sure that all of Kittredge’s requests were granted.

DiDonato-Roth also said everyone in town loved and respected Kittredge and that attempts at political maneuverings will fail.

“I think it will have no effect on the election because people see through this,” she said.

 

 

 

 

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