PennySaver Community Will No Longer be Published

The PennySaver Community, formerly the North County News, is experiencing yet another change. As of Monday, officials announced that four people in the news and editorial departments are being let go and the PennySaver Community as it is known now will no longer be published.

Director of News and Information Services Bruce Apar said it was in their best interest to go back to their "strength" -- commerce-- which is what the PennySaver was known for. He said that Chase Media Group listened to the feedback from its readers and advertisers who had said they referred the smaller format of the PennySaver. 

"The economy is also very challenging for everyone," Apar said of some of the reasons that led to the changes. "Community news has become a commodity. People want community news and it doesn't mean it pays for itself. Not all community news organizations can survive."

The changes, he said, would go into effect Aug. 3. They would continue to provide a once a week free publication. 

In addition to the PennySaver, Apar said, the company offers commercial printing, marketing and mobile services, apps for garage sales and is in the process of developing a website to include news through freelance work and contributed content. 

In April, the local newspaper for a once-a-week free publication, which became known as the PennySaver Community. It was mailed to 300,000 homes in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, Apar said. It featured local news along with PennySaver ads. 

Carla Chase is the CEO and president of Chase Media Group, founded by her parents John and Christa Chase as the Yorktown PennySaver in 1958. The name of the company was changed to the Chase Media Group in January, 2009. It owned and published North County News (a successor to the Yorktowner) for 44 years.

Apar had served as the publisher of North County News since July, 2006, and is the creator of Bruce the Blog. 

He said the company now will be working in terms of "content, commerce and comment."