The closure of The Westmore News, although seemingly abrupt, was not due to the general trend of local newspapers closing around the country. This newspaper had an extremely successful run covering articles on local town news in Port Chester for the past 60 years and Rye Brook for the last 43 years. It was initially founded by Bernard Abel in 1964. He was a real estate broker, and although he was not a newspaper man by trade, he began this strictly local independent weekly publication as he was unhappy with the daily Port Chester newspaper. He felt that they had frequently distorted the facts and wanted to tell the news as it was. After many years, he passed the business down to his son Richard Abel and his wife Jananne.
The couple maintained the paper for many years, but it came time for them to retire after all they had contributed. With no one to pass the business down to, they wanted to sell the paper to keep it alive for the dedicated fan base in the two towns who relied on this paper for their local news in sports, elections and other crucial events. Soon enough, they had arranged a deal with a prospective buyer and everything looked like it was set in place for the Westmore News to be continued. However, when the prospective buyer backed out of the deal at the last minute, the Abels made the difficult decision to shut down operations. They planned to retire, as they had hoped to move in and live with their kids in California. After operating the company for all these years, they felt it was time for them to move on, even if it meant closing the beloved newspaper. This was a tough blow for many as they had truly used this paper to further immerse themselves in the local community and stay up to date with town events. This paper also employed many local kids who had an interest in journalism to write for the paper, fueling their passion for writing. In almost every sports article you could see a local high school student’s name in the byline.
In their farewell editorial, they emphasized the importance of community journalism and urged residents to continue supporting local news sources. They also reflected on the paper’s long history of covering local government, schools, businesses, and community events—stories that might now go untold without a dedicated local publication. The loss of The Westmore News has raised concerns among residents about how local news will be covered moving forward. Some have turned to online forums and social media, but these platforms often lack the depth and journalistic integrity of a traditional newspaper. Others have called for new efforts to establish alternative local news sources, whether through nonprofit models or digital-first publications. This closing of the Westmore News, however, leaves an opening for other newspapers to report on the local news which is something that FOCUS is looking forward to expanding into down the line to report weekly on all the local Rye Brook news. Ultimately, the closing of The Westmore News is a reminder of the critical role that local journalism plays in keeping communities informed, engaged, and connected. Without it, residents may find themselves with fewer reliable sources for important news about their town’s governance, schools, and local events.