Daily Voice Reader’s Choice

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Newly Named Tropical Storm Rafael Expected To Quickly Become Hurricane As It Heads Toward US Newly Named Tropical Storm Rafael Expected To Quickly Become Hurricane As It Heads Toward US
Newly Named Tropical Storm Rafael Expected To Quickly Become Hurricane As It Heads Toward US A system in the Caribbean has just strengthened to become a tropical storm. Rafael became the latest named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season late Monday afternoon, Nov. 4. After it moves near Jamaica Monday night, it's expected to quickly become a hurricane when it passes at or around the Cayman Islands by Tuesday night, Nov. 5, when a dangerous storm surge is expected. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Jamaica Monday night into Tuesday morning, the National Hurricane Center said. Additional strengthening is expected as it advances toward western Cuba on Wednes…
Trooper's 'Inconsistencies' In Account Of NY Shooting Under Investigation By State Police, DA Trooper's 'Inconsistencies' In Account Of NY Shooting Under Investigation By State Police, DA
Trooper's 'Inconsistencies' In Account Of NY Shooting Under Investigation By State Police, DA A New York State Police trooper who suffered a gunshot wound on a roadway in the region may not have been entirely truthful about what happened. On Long Island, state police and the Nassau County District Attorney’s office are investigating “certain inconsistencies” in Trooper Thomas Mascia’s reporting of the alleged incident, a spokesperson for DA Anne Donnelly told Daily Voice. On Monday, Nov. 4, State Police executed a search warrant at Mascia’s home in West Hempstead. The agency also canceled the BOLO (be on the lookout) for the suspect vehicle. Earlier Report: Trooper Shot In W…
AD At School District In Westchester Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen AD At School District In Westchester Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen
AD At School District In Westchester Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen This story has been updated. An athletic director at a school district in Westchester County has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly extorting a teenager to send sexually explicit images and videos. Thomas James Puccini, 28 years old and employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics by the Eastchester Union Free School District, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1. He was charged with felony grand larceny in the fourth degree and was arraigned in White Plains City Court by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Puccini has been pla…
How Much Should I Spend On My First Home? How Much Should I Spend On My First Home?
How Much Should I Spend On My First Home? One of the biggest questions for first-time homebuyers is, "How much can I afford?" Before you start looking for a home, you should absolutely have your budget in mind. You don’t want to fall in love with a home that’s out of your price-range only to be disappointed that you can’t afford it. Here are some tips on how to determine your home-buying budget. Can you use your rent as a good indicator of a monthly payment? When determining a budget, there are two questions: What can I afford to pay every month? And, what can I afford to purchase? Some buyers might start their search thinking t…
Problem Voting? NY State Attorney General Has A Hotline For Help Problem Voting? NY State Attorney General Has A Hotline For Help
Problem Voting? NY State Attorney General Has A Hotline For Help As thousands flock to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5, New York Attorney General Letitia James reminds voters that a hotline is available on election day for help. Hotline staffers can help voters troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues they may encounter when they cast their ballot. To help, James issued guidance for voters ahead of the election, and a guide addressing frequently asked questions is also available. “All New Yorkers have the right to feel safe when casting their votes,” said James. “Our Election Protection Hotline will help ensure that every voice is heard – whether you’re v…
Man Found Hiding Behind Rock Wall Steals From Northern Westchester Supermarket: Police Man Found Hiding Behind Rock Wall Steals From Northern Westchester Supermarket: Police
Man Found Hiding Behind Rock Wall Steals From Northern Westchester Supermarket: Police A 34-year-old man was caught with items stolen from a supermarket in the region after officers found him hiding behind a rock wall, police said. In Northern Westchester County, Shrub Oak resident Jonathan Tozzo was arrested following an incident in Yorktown on Thursday, Oct. 24, Yorktown Police announced on Tuesday, Oct. 29.  According to the department, at around 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, a concerned citizen alerted a Yorktown officer about a man hiding behind a wall on East Main Street. When the officer approached the man, later identified as Tozzo, he quickly walked away and ignored co…
Election Day Will Bring Change In Weather Pattern: Here's 5-Day Forecast Election Day Will Bring Change In Weather Pattern: Here's 5-Day Forecast
Election Day Will Bring Change In Weather Pattern: Here's 5-Day Forecast Election Day will mark a change in the weather pattern. "High temperatures will be 15 to 25 degrees above the historical average and some places will easily break records," AccuWeather Meteorologist Emma Belscher said.  Monday, Nov. 4, started with frosty and cloudy conditions. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will rebound into the 50s and lower 60s in the afternoon as partly sunny skies develop. There's a slight chance of scattered light rain overnight. Temperatures will become unseasonably mild starting on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, with highs in …
System Expected To Become Tropical Storm Projected To Move North Toward US Coast System Expected To Become Tropical Storm Projected To Move North Toward US Coast
System Expected To Become Tropical Storm Projected To Move North Toward US Coast A system over the Caribbean now expected to strengthen could become a hurricane with its projected track taking it north toward the US coast. Click here for a new, updated story - Newly Named Tropical Storm Rafael Expected To Quickly Become Hurricane As It Heads Toward US Tropical Cyclone 18 should become Tropical Storm Rafael on Monday, Nov. 4, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory issued late Sunday afternoon, Nov. 3. The system is expected to move near Jamaica Monday night and Tuesday, Nov. 5. A tropical storm warning has been issued for Jamaica, and a hurricane watc…
New Update: 1 Killed After Car Crashes Into Guardrail In Northern Westchester New Update: 1 Killed After Car Crashes Into Guardrail In Northern Westchester
New Update: 1 Killed After Car Crashes Into Guardrail In Northern Westchester One person was killed after a vehicle left the roadway in Northern Westchester County and crashed into a guardrail. It happened around 8:45 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 in Chappaqua on the southbound Saw Mill Parkway.  The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, Westchester County Police said. A passenger was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The southbound lanes of the parkway were closed in that area for several hours for an investigation by Westchester County PD patrol officers and members of the Accident Investigation Team. The identity of the driver has not …
Nominate Your Favorite Westchester County Businesses In DV's Readers' Choice Nominate Your Favorite Westchester County Businesses In DV's Readers' Choice
Nominate Your Favorite Westchester County Businesses In DV's Readers' Choice Daily Voice is excited to announce its first-ever Readers’ Choice contest in Westchester County! Readers’ Choice is set to showcase the top businesses that make the area special. Whether it’s a cozy coffee shop, a family-run pizzeria, a boutique spa, or a dedicated local handyman, this is your chance to give them the spotlight they deserve. Who makes the best pie in Westchester? Engin Akyurt: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-pizza-2619970/ Nominations Are Open! Do you have a favorite place you love to dine at? Is there a hairstylist who always gets your look just righ…
NY Mom Jumps To Death With Her 2 Young Children At Niagara Falls NY Mom Jumps To Death With Her 2 Young Children At Niagara Falls
NY Mom Jumps To Death With Her 2 Young Children At Niagara Falls A days-long search for a New York mother and her two children was unsuccessful after police say the woman jumped with them off Niagara Falls. State Police say that 33-year-old Chianti Means, Roman Rossman, age 9, and Mecca Means, 5 months old, crossed over the guardrail and went over the falls on Luna Island, which is attached to Goat Island, on Monday night, Oct. 28. "The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation," according to New York State Police. All three were residents of Niagara Falls. New York St…
Westchester's 2024 Q3 Commercial Real Estate Market Shows 'Mixed Results': Report Westchester's 2024 Q3 Commercial Real Estate Market Shows 'Mixed Results': Report
Westchester's 2024 Q3 Commercial Real Estate Market Shows 'Mixed Results': Report Although demand for Westchester retail space and multifamily apartment complexes improved during the third quarter of 2024, the market for other commercial properties in the county did not fare as well, according to an all-new report.  The data regarding the county's commercial real estate market came from Houlihan Lawrence's Q3 Commercial Market Report, released on Tuesday, Oct. 29.  According to the real estate brokerage, demand for retail space in Westchester "continues to evolve rapidly," as consumers have healthy purchasing power and are on the lookout for "con…
TGI Fridays Files For Bankruptcy Weeks After Sudden Closures Of At Least 12 Restaurants TGI Fridays Files For Bankruptcy Weeks After Sudden Closures Of At Least 12 Restaurants
TGI Fridays Files For Bankruptcy Weeks After Sudden Closures Of At Least 12 Restaurants Casual dining chain TGI Fridays has filed for bankruptcy several weeks after at least 12 of its restaurants suddenly closed. The company filed the Chapter 11 petition on Saturday, Nov. 2, in Texas, near its Dallas headquarters. Founded in New York City in 1965, TGI Fridays has 95 restaurants in the US, 39 of which the company owns and operates. The other 56 are independent franchises not involved in the bankruptcy petition. The company said that all those locations will remain open. According to the TGI Fridays website and other reports, the following locations are now listed as permanent…
Trooper Suffers Serious Injuries After Being Struck By Pickup Truck On NY Thruway Trooper Suffers Serious Injuries After Being Struck By Pickup Truck On NY Thruway
Trooper Suffers Serious Injuries After Being Struck By Pickup Truck On NY Thruway Police are investigating a midday crash on a stretch of the New York Thruway that left a trooper severely injured. It happened around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 on I-87 in Albany County just before the Exit 6-7 off-ramp in Colonie. The investigation has determined that the trooper had stopped a vehicle, and due to a vehicle and traffic Law violation, the vehicle was being towed, New York State Police said. While loading a vehicle onto the tow truck, both the trooper and tow truck driver were outside their vehicles when they were struck by a passing pickup truck.  The trooper su…
Winning Numbers For Saturday, Nov. 2 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $54M Jackpot Winning Numbers For Saturday, Nov. 2 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $54M Jackpot
Winning Numbers For Saturday, Nov. 2 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $54M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Saturday, Nov. 2 Powerball drawing. The estimated jackpot is $54 million with a $25.5 million cash option after it was reset when a player in Georgia won big last week. If no winner claims the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4 with a $64 million prize up for grabs. The winning numbers for Saturday's drawing were 10-45-48-58-61 with a Powerball of 02 and the Power Play was 3X. Lottery players have a 1 in 292,201,338 chance of winning a Powerball jackpot by matching al…
Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation
Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation Outrage is swirling after New York wildlife officials seized and later euthanized beloved social media sensation “Peanut” the squirrel. Chemung County resident Mark Longo, of Elmira, took to Instagram Wednesday, Oct 30, telling his 581,000 followers that Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers had seized the animal, which he rescued in 2017 after its mother was struck by a car. “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness,” he wrote. “To the people who called (DEC), there’s a special place in hell for you.” In a…
Showdown Of 30-Somethings In Westchester District Labeled 'Race To Watch' By Politico Showdown Of 30-Somethings In Westchester District Labeled 'Race To Watch' By Politico
Showdown Of 30-Somethings In Westchester District Labeled 'Race To Watch' By Politico The race for New York's 17th District seat is drawing national attention, as it may play a large role in what party ends up securing a majority in the House, according to a new report by Politico. The race between incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler, a 38-year-old Republican, and Democrat Mondaire Jones, age 37, has been labeled a "race to watch" by Politico in a new report from Sunday, Oct. 27.  The 17th District consists of all of Rockland and Putnam counties, most of Northern Westchester, and portions of southern Dutchess County. According to the outlet, the seat is one of a handf…
Drunk Driver Leads Officers On Short Chase In Hudson Valley: Police Drunk Driver Leads Officers On Short Chase In Hudson Valley: Police
Drunk Driver Leads Officers On Short Chase In Hudson Valley: Police A 40-year-old drunk driver was apprehended after fleeing a traffic stop in the region, police said. The incident leading to the man's arrest began in Putnam County just before 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, when a Kent Police officer saw a vehicle driving erratically on Route 311, according to the department. The officer soon tried stopping the vehicle on Terry Hill Road. However, the car ignored the officer's emergency lights and sirens and kept going, authorities said. The vehicle was later stopped with help from the Carmel Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, and New Yor…
Construction Scammers Targeting Residents In Westchester: Here's Where Construction Scammers Targeting Residents In Westchester: Here's Where
Construction Scammers Targeting Residents In Westchester: Here's Where A police department in Westchester is warning residents to be on the lookout for potential scammers claiming to be associated with local construction work.  In an announcement on Friday, Nov. 1, the Tarrytown Police Department described an incident involving possible scammers approaching residents in the area of Wilson Park.  According to the department, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, an unidentified man approached a homeowner in the area and said he was associated with local construction work, also mentioning "police" presence.  When the resident asked for more details about his co…
Woman Killed, 1-Year-Old Hospitalized After Jeep Crashes Into Amish Buggy In NY Woman Killed, 1-Year-Old Hospitalized After Jeep Crashes Into Amish Buggy In NY
Woman Killed, 1-Year-Old Hospitalized After Jeep Crashes Into Amish Buggy In NY A young woman was killed and an infant hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an Amish carriage on a New York road. The incident happened around 4:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, in Herkimer County in the village of Newport, located about 70 miles west of Sarasota Springs. New York State Police say a preliminary investigation revealed that a 2017 Jeep Renegade operated by a 36-year-old Newport man was traveling east on Butler Road when it struck the rear portion of the Amish Buggy traveling in the same direction. As a result of the collision, Rebecca Swartzentruber, age 31, from Newport, and 1…
NY Native Melissa Joan Hart Touts Relief Fund After ‘Devastating’ Fire At Hometown Businesses NY Native Melissa Joan Hart Touts Relief Fund After ‘Devastating’ Fire At Hometown Businesses
NY Native Melissa Joan Hart Touts Relief Fund After ‘Devastating’ Fire At Hometown Businesses Actress Melissa Joan Hart is showing some love for her hometown on Long Island following a fire that damaged several businesses. The “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” star, who grew up in Sayville, took to Instagram to share a relief fund created to help the half dozen businesses that were damaged in the blaze along the beloved Main Street on Friday, Oct. 25. “The town I grew up in, Sayville, New York, had a devastating fire yesterday and many small businesses suffered big losses,” the 48-year-old Hart wrote. “I'm donating to the chamber of commerce to help them get back on their feet hopefully i…
Here's Where This Year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Is Coming From Here's Where This Year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Is Coming From
Here's Where This Year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Is Coming From With Spooky Season over, attention is turning to the holidays and New York’s iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. This year’s tree is a 74-foot tall Norway Spruce from Massachusetts that was grown in Berkshire County in West Stockbridge, Rockefeller Center announced on Instagram. Weighing in at around 11 tons, it’s the first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to come from the Bay State since 1959. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rockefeller Center (@rockefellercenter) The colossal tree will make the 136-mile journey to Manha…
Overpass Bridge Where Fallen Officer Was Killed Renamed In His Honor In Westchester Overpass Bridge Where Fallen Officer Was Killed Renamed In His Honor In Westchester
Overpass Bridge Where Fallen Officer Was Killed Renamed In His Honor In Westchester Nearly two years after the death of a beloved police officer, the Westchester County bridge where he was fatally struck in a head-on crash is now forever named in his memory.  In a ceremony held on Wednesday, Oct. 30, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the renaming of the Tuckahoe Road Bridge over the Sprain Brook Parkway in Yonkers after Yonkers Police Detective Sergeant Frank Gualdino, who was killed in a crash in December 2022 at the age of 53. On Dec. 1, 2022, Gualdino, a Putnam County resident who lived in Mahopac, was driving on Tuckahoe Road while on duty when a speed…
Man Accused Of Selling Drugs, Fleeing Police Nabbed On Outstanding Warrants In Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Selling Drugs, Fleeing Police Nabbed On Outstanding Warrants In Hudson Valley
Man Accused Of Selling Drugs, Fleeing Police Nabbed On Outstanding Warrants In Hudson Valley A 33-year-old Connecticut man accused of selling controlled substances and fleeing from officers was jailed in the Hudson Valley after being apprehended on multiple outstanding warrants, police said. Hartford County resident Luis Flores of New Britain was arrested at Connecticut's Derby Superior Court and extradited back to Putnam County on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Monday, Oct. 28.  According to the Sheriff's Office, Flores had an outstanding bench warrant in the Town of Southeast Court for failing to appear to answer the following charges: Se…
Multiple Systems Have Potential To Be Next Named Tropical Storm Of Hurricane Season Multiple Systems Have Potential To Be Next Named Tropical Storm Of Hurricane Season
Multiple Systems Have Potential To Be Next Named Tropical Storm Of Hurricane Season Three areas are being monitored for the potential to become the next named tropical storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, with one of them having a strong chance. In particular, an area in the southwest Caribbean has a high chance of development, according to an update Friday morning, Nov. 1 by the National Hurricane Center, rating the chance at 70 percent. It's expected to develop by the weekend with a depression possibly forming by early next week.  It's moving to the north/northwest slowly and and is expected to advance into the Gulf of Mexico next week.&…
Winning Numbers For Friday, Nov. 1 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $281 Jackpot Winning Numbers For Friday, Nov. 1 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $281 Jackpot
Winning Numbers For Friday, Nov. 1 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $281 Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Friday, Nov. 1 Mega Millions drawing. The estimated jackpot is $205 million with an $97.5 million cash option. The winning numbers were 11-22-42-46-51 with a Mega Ball of 04 and a Megaplier of 2X. MegaMillions If no winner wins the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, where there will be an estimated $303 million prize with a $141.8 million cash option. Lottery players have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance of winning a Mega Millions jackpot by matching all …
Driver Freed From Flipped Car On Busy Westchester Road Driver Freed From Flipped Car On Busy Westchester Road
Driver Freed From Flipped Car On Busy Westchester Road A driver had to be freed from their vehicle after it flipped and landed on a sidewalk alongside a busy Westchester road.  The crash happened on Friday, Nov. 1, when a vehicle crashed on South Broadway (Route 9) in the village of Irvington-on-Hudson and became wedged between a telephone pole and a wall, according to Irvington EMS. Thanks to teamwork between the village's police, fire, and EMS departments, the driver was successfully taken out of the wrecked car and placed into medical care using the Jaws of Life, fire officials said. Information about the cause of the crash was not rel…
Trooper Shot On NY Highway Released From Hospital As Reward For Suspect Info Grows Trooper Shot On NY Highway Released From Hospital As Reward For Suspect Info Grows
Trooper Shot On NY Highway Released From Hospital As Reward For Suspect Info Grows A New York State Police trooper who was shot and injured while trying to help a highway motorist is back home with his family. Thomas Mascia, age 27, was released from Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow on Friday morning, Nov. 1. Law enforcement officers from across Nassau and Suffolk counties gathered outside the hospital for a “walk-out” ceremony honoring the injured trooper. Earlier Report: 'All-Out' Manhunt Underway After Trooper Shot In West Hempstead; Cash Reward Being Offered “I’m feeling good,” he told the crowd. “I’m going home.” The jubilant scene came two d…
Body Of Northern Westchester Man Found In Neighboring Town Body Of Northern Westchester Man Found In Neighboring Town
Body Of Northern Westchester Man Found In Neighboring Town Authorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was found along a Hudson Valley road.  The body of  Northern Westchester County resident Charles Flowers, age 81, of Somers, was discovered on Stoneleigh Avenue in Putnam County on Wednesday, Oct. 30 around 1 p.m. in the town of Carmel, according to Trooper AJ Hicks of the New York State Police. Hicks said that Flowers had been a patient at Putnam Hospital in Carme but had been discharged before his death.  Authorities are now investigating the circumstances of Flowers's death along with the Putnam C…
Westchester Locale Selects New City Manager Westchester Locale Selects New City Manager
Westchester Locale Selects New City Manager A Westchester County city's new manager ended up being quite a familiar face despite an extensive recruitment effort that spanned multiple states.  In an announcement on Thursday, Oct. 31, New Rochelle officials revealed that Wilfredo Melendez was unanimously selected as the new City Manager and will begin serving on Sunday, Dec. 1. Melendez had previously been serving as Acting City Manager since April following the sudden resignation of his predecessor, Kathleen Gill.  Earlier Report - New Rochelle City Manager Kathleen Gill Resigns Suddenly The city's decision …
New Update: Accused Killer Of 15-Year-Old Northern Westchester Boy In US Illegally, ICE Says New Update: Accused Killer Of 15-Year-Old Northern Westchester Boy In US Illegally, ICE Says
New Update: Accused Killer Of 15-Year-Old Northern Westchester Boy In US Illegally, ICE Says A 40-year-old man who allegedly shot his girlfriend and her two children in Northern Westchester and then led authorities on a 12-hour manhunt is in the United States illegally and has had past encounters with Border Patrol, officials said. Fernando Andres Jimenez Meza, who allegedly shot and killed 15-year-old Michael Raimondi and injured his mother and brother during an incident in the Baldwin Place section of Somers on Monday, Oct. 28, is an unlawfully present citizen of Chile, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson said on Friday, Nov. 1. He entere…