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Environmental Conservation

Police & Fire
Contractor, Son Illegally Dumped Materials From Northern Westchester Work Site: Authorities Contractor, Son Illegally Dumped Materials From Northern Westchester Work Site: Authorities
Contractor, Son Illegally Dumped Materials From Northern Westchester Work Site: Authorities A contractor and his son were ticketed for illegal dumping in the Hudson Valley after environmental officials found material containing an address in construction debris on the side of a road, authorities said.   The debris was discovered on the side of a road in Putnam County on Friday, Nov. 29 by New York State Environmental Conservation Officers Franz and Schuck while patrolling in the village of Brewster, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced on Wednesday, Dec. 18.  During their investigation, officers found a piece of mail among the debris…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Hochul Provides Update On Wildfires In Hudson Valley Hochul Provides Update On Wildfires In Hudson Valley
Hochul Provides Update On Wildfires In Hudson Valley As the wildfires continue to burn across the Hudson Valley, Gov. Kathy Hochul updated what's being done to mitigate and contain them. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Hochul said a multi-agency response had been deployed to fires in Orange and Ulster counties in close coordination with local fire departments and first responders.  According to Hochul, an aerial investigation shows the Orange County fire named the Jennings Creek/Sterling State Park wildfire in New York and New Jersey now encompasses 5,000 acres, half of which is in New York, and is 10 percent contained in both states. The fire in …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Open Fires Banned In Westchester Parks As Drought Watch Continues Open Fires Banned In Westchester Parks As Drought Watch Continues
Open Fires Banned In Westchester Parks As Drought Watch Continues As dry conditions continue, open fires have been banned in Westchester County-owned parks. The ban was announced on Wednesday, Nov. 6 by Westchester Parks officials, who also said it was effective immediately.  The ban follows a Drought Watch declared by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Tuesday, Nov. 5 as a result of low precipitation levels. According to parks officials, wooded environments in parks such as camping sites and remote areas have an increased fire risk because of the rain shortage.  During the ban, charcoal and propane fires are only a…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Free For All: Bee-Line Bus Fares To Be Lifted During Summer Months In Westchester Free For All: Bee-Line Bus Fares To Be Lifted During Summer Months In Westchester
Free For All: Bee-Line Bus Fares To Be Lifted During Summer Months In Westchester Those who utilize Westchester's Bee-Line bus system to get around can take advantage of lifted fares throughout the dog days of summer.  Free rides will be offered by the county's Bee-Line bus system beginning on Monday, July 1, and continuing through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 2, according to Westchester County Executive George Latimer.  The initiative is part of the county's ongoing effort to support local communities, ease transportation costs for families, and encourage residents to use public transit.  "We are excited to bring back free rides on the Bee-Line buses this …

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Westchester HS Student Leads Art Exhibition To Help Support Hudson River Westchester HS Student Leads Art Exhibition To Help Support Hudson River
Westchester HS Student Leads Art Exhibition To Help Support Hudson River A high school student from Westchester is looking to drum up support for the preservation of the Hudson River through the power of art.  To raise funds for environmental conservation efforts, Irvington High School Junior Minori Furtado has organized an art exhibition that will include works from students and seasoned artists, the Irvington Union Free School District announced on Thursday, April 4. The exhibition, titled "Ebb & Flow," will be held at the Studio 8 art gallery in Irvington at 8 North Dutcher St. from Thursday, April 11 to Wednesday, April 17.  The effort wi…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
27-Year-Old Former HS Hockey Player In Hudson Valley Dies Suddenly On His 'Dream Trip' 27-Year-Old Former HS Hockey Player In Hudson Valley Dies Suddenly On His 'Dream Trip'
27-Year-Old Former HS Hockey Player In Hudson Valley Dies Suddenly On His 'Dream Trip' A former high school hockey player in the Hudson Valley who was a well-known videographer and environmental enthusiast died while on a "dream trip" to Chile to hike the Patagonia region of the Andes Mountains. Rockland County native Brian Kilduff, age 27, of West Haverstraw, died suddenly on Friday, Dec. 29 after becoming ill while in Chile. He was born in Suffern, on Wednesday, March 20, 1996, and graduated from North Rockland High School where he played hockey, according to his obituary. "Everyone who knew Brian knew how much he loved hockey," his obituary said. He went on to recei…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Hudson Valley Man Admits To Illegal Dumping Hudson Valley Man Admits To Illegal Dumping
Hudson Valley Man Admits To Illegal Dumping The owner of a New York business has admitted to unlawfully disposing of construction and demolition debris. David Gutierrez, of Ulster County, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of the unlawful disposal of solid waste in excess of 70 cubic yards on Monday, May 23, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement. DEC said the case began in 2017 when authorities coordinated a task force to target large amounts of illegal construction and demolition debris that was being dumped across the Southern District. Officers executed …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
New Westchester Municipality To Put Restrictions On Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers New Westchester Municipality To Put Restrictions On Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
New Westchester Municipality To Put Restrictions On Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Another municipality in Westchester County has placed a seasonal ban on the usage of gas-powered leaf blowers.  The first annual ban on the loud maintenance machines will take place in the Village of Irvington-on-Hudson between Wednesday, Dec. 16 until Monday, March 15 of 2021.  Gas-powered leaf blowers can only be used for snow removal, or in the case of an emergency.  Between March 15 and Tuesday, June 1, the leaf blowers can be used by property owners between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 p.m. until 4 p.m. on weekends and federal holidays, according to Irvingt…

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by Christina Coulter
News
Westchester Community Becomes One Of First In Northeast To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Westchester Community Becomes One Of First In Northeast To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Westchester Community Becomes One Of First In Northeast To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers In a unanimous and unprecedented decision, officials in a Westchester County municipality voted to ban gas-powered leaf blowers effective January 2022, becoming one of the first communities in the Northeast to take such action.  The Monday, Sept. 21 decision, according to the Village of Larchmont's Board of Trustees, was driven by environmental concerns.  “Larchmont is proud to be a leader in municipal green policy," said Mayor Lorraine Walsh. "Policies such as this, which ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers entirely, are essential if we are going to make meaningful progr…

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by Christina Coulter
News
Photos: Groups Of Black Bears Roams Through Backyards, Back Porch In Area Photos: Groups Of Black Bears Roams Through Backyards, Back Porch In Area
Photos: Groups Of Black Bears Roams Through Backyards, Back Porch In Area Groups of black bears have been making the rounds throughout Hudson Valley neighborhoods, with some getting caught on camera a little too close for comfort. There were multiple sightings of black bears and cubs reported in Rockland County in the past week, with some roaming through area backyards in Pomona, while others took leisurely strolls through quiet streets. One bear even got up close and personal, perusing the sights on one resident’s backyard deck. According to environment officials, residents should not leave garbage cans or any food outside to help avoid an encounter with a bear…

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by Zak Failla
News
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US As if a global pandemic and worldwide economic crisis aren't enough to occupy us, there's now news of the arrival of a vicious, freakish-looking hornet with a venomous sting in the United States for the first time. Asian giant hornets can use shark-fin shaped appendages to destroy a beehive, decapitating its victims in a matter of minutes. “It’s a shockingly large hornet,” said Todd Murray, Washington State University's Extension entomologist and invasive species specialist. “It’s a health hazard, and more importantly, a significant predator of honey bees.” That's especially concerning sin…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Regulations Finalized For NY Plastic Bag Ban To Take Effect Regulations Finalized For NY Plastic Bag Ban To Take Effect
Regulations Finalized For NY Plastic Bag Ban To Take Effect Enforcement on the ban of single-use plastic bags at New York retailers on March 1 is expected to be lenient at the start, as final regulations for the ban are finalized. As of Sunday, March 1, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s legislation goes into effect, banning plastic bags statewide. However, amid fears of a paper bag shortage, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reportedly acknowledged that retailers may not have had enough time to remove plastic bags from their stores. As a result, the NYSDEC plans to let retailers finish off their supplies of plastic bags after t…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Stop & Shop Offers Free Reusable Bags At Stores Ahead Of Statewide Ban On Plastic Stop & Shop Offers Free Reusable Bags At Stores Ahead Of Statewide Ban On Plastic
Stop & Shop Offers Free Reusable Bags At Stores Ahead Of Statewide Ban On Plastic With single-use plastic bags becoming banned from New York retailers, Stop & Shop is offering customers a new alternative with free reusable bags. In an effort to ease the transition from plastic to paper when the ban takes effect on Sunday, March 1, Stop & Shop is offering to trade carryout plastic bags for free reusable bags (while supplies last). Beginning on Saturday, Feb. 22, Stop & Shop will have information tables set up at stores to answer questions about the upcoming ban. The tables will also have giveaway items, including a free reusable bag for every customer who bri…

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by Zak Failla
News
Plastic Bag Ban Will Soon Take Effect In This Westchester Town Plastic Bag Ban Will Soon Take Effect In This Westchester Town
Plastic Bag Ban Will Soon Take Effect In This Westchester Town While the ban on single-use plastic bags in New York State begins in March, a Westchester town is taking the initiative and will begin a town-wide ban beginning next month. Beginning on Sunday, Dec. 1, the Town of Mamaroneck will institute a ban on single-use bags and a 5-cent fee on paper bags in local stores, after the Town Board passed the “Mamaroneck Bag Waste Reduction Law.” The legislation was agreed upon unanimously by the Town Board in September. The statewide ban takes effect as of March 2020. When the ban takes effect, restaurants will still be permitted to provide plastic bags …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Rare Sighting: Man Walking Dog Captures Photos Of Beaver Swimming In Hudson River Rare Sighting: Man Walking Dog Captures Photos Of Beaver Swimming In Hudson River
Rare Sighting: Man Walking Dog Captures Photos Of Beaver Swimming In Hudson River A New York attorney out for a walk with his dog Hunter was enjoying the view of the Hudson River near West 70th Street in Manhattan when he spotted a fun and rare sight, a beaver out for a swim. At first Ralph Stone, 53, thought the little guy, or maybe girl, was a log floating near other pieces of wood in the area, then he saw it's head move.  Being the official New York State animal, and a rare sight, Stone did what all would do, he whipped out his phone around 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 5, and snapped a few shots of the beaver swimming along enjoying the morning.  A rare sighting: A beav…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Stop & Shop To Ban Plastic Bags At All CT Stores Stop & Shop To Ban Plastic Bags At All CT Stores
Stop & Shop To Ban Plastic Bags At All CT Stores In just days, Stop & Shop will become the latest retailer in Connecticut to ban the use of single-use plastic bags. After Big Y announcing that it is eliminating the use of plastic bags in its Connecticut stores, Stop & Shop said that that, beginning on Thursday, Aug. 1, stores will begin eliminating the use of plastic bags at checkout. The store also announced that it will begin charging 10 cents per paper bag as of Tuesday, Sept. 3. The move is part of a statewide effort. “We know that the environmental impact of plastics is something our customers and communities care about he…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In The Area Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In The Area
Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In The Area A  family enjoyed an unexpected guest when a black bear was caught taking an afternoon stroll through their backyard and into the woods. The bear was caught on surveillance camera in Putnam County at approximately 8:11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, in the backyard of a home in the Millpond Lane area in Kent, the family said. It could be seen sniffing along the ground as it made its way through the yard. In the video, the bear leisurely takes in the lay of the land, looking around while heading towards the trees in the backyard. Other recent sightings in the area have happened in North Cas…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Severe Storms Bring Big Change In Weather Pattern Severe Storms Bring Big Change In Weather Pattern
Severe Storms Bring Big Change In Weather Pattern The latest round of severe storms accompanying a cold front to move through the region has led to a big change in the weather pattern. It will become gradually less humid on Sunday, July 7 as clouds gradually give way to sun. The high temperature of around 82 degrees will be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Saturday.  Sunday will also start a stretch of dry days. Monday, July 8 will also be mostly sunny with a high temperature around 80 degrees. It will get warmer on Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10 with a high temperature in the upper 80s and plenty of sunshine both days. The…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Westchester Moves To Supplement Airport Master Plan Westchester Moves To Supplement Airport Master Plan
Westchester Moves To Supplement Airport Master Plan After “unprecedented public input,” Westchester officials are moving forward to supplement the master plan for the county’s airports. The Westchester County Department of Planning has issued a “request for proposals” (REP) to supplement the airport’s master plan and environmental impact study. The proposals incorporate public recommendations while focusing on economic impact, environmental concerns, and safety for passengers and staff. “The Westchester County Airport is a vital part of our economy and the way we do business in Westchester,” Westchester Economic Development Director Bridget…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Voters Heading To Polls To Vote On School District Budgets In Westchester Voters Heading To Polls To Vote On School District Budgets In Westchester
Voters Heading To Polls To Vote On School District Budgets In Westchester Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 21 to vote on their school districts’ budget, proposed bonds and Board of Education races. In Westchester, no school districts are proposing budgets that override the cap on increasing property tax levies, a cap that was made permanent by Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this year. Multi-million dollar bond proposals will be voted on in four school districts - Briarcliff Manor, Irvington, Pleasantville and Somer - though there is expected to be limited tax implication. Briarcliff Manor’s nearly $3 million proposal would include a roof replacement at…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Storm System Winds Down With Big Change In Weather Pattern Coming This Week Storm System Winds Down With Big Change In Weather Pattern Coming This Week
Storm System Winds Down With Big Change In Weather Pattern Coming This Week A storm system that brought a mix of snow, sleet and rain to the region will move out by midday, starting a week that will see a big change in the weather pattern. Precipitation will wrap up around noontime Sunday, March 10 on a cloudy and windy day in which the high temperature will be in the low 40s with a wind-chill factor between 25 and 35. Here's how the rest of the week shapes up: Monday, March 11: Mostly sunny with a high in the mid 40s. Tuesday, March 12: Sunny with a high in the low 40s. Wednesday, March 13: Sunny with a high in the mid 40s. Thursday, March 14: The ch…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Vote Now: What Do You Think Of Dutchess' Ban On Plastic Bags? Vote Now: What Do You Think Of Dutchess' Ban On Plastic Bags?
Vote Now: What Do You Think Of Dutchess' Ban On Plastic Bags? Dutchess County is going green, and plastic bags will soon be a relic of the past at area retailers. Elected officials in Dutchess County have voted to eliminate single-use carryout bag at retail stores, joining several other counties in New York looking to ban plastic bags. The ban will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. Between 500 billion and one trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Less than 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled in the United States and they are not acceptable at certain recycling centers. "T…

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by Zak Failla
News
State Warns Hudson Valley Residents 'Free Dirt' Might Actually Be Contaminated State Warns Hudson Valley Residents 'Free Dirt' Might Actually Be Contaminated
State Warns Hudson Valley Residents 'Free Dirt' Might Actually Be Contaminated The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is warning Hudson Valley residents to be cautious when offered free fill material for use to level or grade their properties.  The Buffalo News reported that radioactive waste had been discovered in fill near the entrance to Niagara Falls State Park, in this article.  State officials confirmed to the Buffalo News that tests by the DEC found low levels of radioactivity, along with petroleum waste and traces of benzopyrene, a cancer-causing chemical found in coal tar, cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust. There are only two tiny signs m…

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Abinanti Breaks With Other Democrats, Endorses Cynthia Nixon Over Cuomo For Governor Abinanti Breaks With Other Democrats, Endorses Cynthia Nixon Over Cuomo For Governor
Abinanti Breaks With Other Democrats, Endorses Cynthia Nixon Over Cuomo For Governor State Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti of Mount Pleasant endorsed Cynthia Nixon’s bid for governor on Friday, Aug. 10 at the Greenburgh Health Fair. Nixon, a television actor and education activist, is challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle in the September Democratic Party primary election.  Abinanti, who also represents Greenburgh, cited Nixon's "bold agenda that focuses on a New York for the many."  Nixon, best known for her TV acting on "Sex And The City," joined  Abinanti at Pierson Park where they discussed community concerns about the new "Governor Mario M. …

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
Aw, Shucks: Oyster Found In Hudson River Described As 'Largest Ever' Aw, Shucks: Oyster Found In Hudson River Described As 'Largest Ever'
Aw, Shucks: Oyster Found In Hudson River Described As 'Largest Ever' Just in time for National Oyster Day on Sunday, Aug. 5 comes word that a massive oyster “the size of a small shoe” was picked up under a pier in the Hudson River. The River Project, an organization that works to provide the Hudson River, posted a picture of a 22-centimeter oyster, which was found by a construction worker working on Pier 40 near the Hudson River Park. On Facebook, the organization shared photos of the oyster, which easily trumped the size of a standard oyster found in a restaurant, which can be seen above. Officials said that the increase in marine wildlife shows that the wa…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Community Foundation Announces $506,500 In Grants Westchester Community Foundation Announces $506,500 In Grants
Westchester Community Foundation Announces $506,500 In Grants The Westchester Community Foundation has announced grants totaling $506,500 awarded to 20 local nonprofits. Four of these focus on the health of the county’s rivers and streams.  Awards totaling $126,000 provide continued support for agencies working to protect local watersheds and remediate invasive species in local forests: the Bronx River Alliance will coordinate watershed management efforts for the Bronx River; Groundwork Hudson Valley will revive the Saw Mill River Coalition; the Wildlife Conservation Sociey will improve fresh water passage for American eels in the Hutchinson River; an…

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by Jon Craig