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COVID-19: Westchester Family's 'Bake Back' Effort Becomes Nationwide Movement COVID-19: Westchester Family's 'Bake Back' Effort Becomes Nationwide Movement
Covid-19: Westchester Family's 'Bake Back' Effort Becomes Nationwide Movement A family is "Baking America Great Again," with its “Bake Back America” campaign designed to spread random acts of kindness for essential workers and first responders during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Westchester County residents' initiative has not only caught on in the region, but it's become a national movement. Last month, 16-year-old Scarsdale resident Brianna Subin, and her teenage brother Benjamin, delivered homemade baked goods to area first responders to thank them for their work during the pandemic. Not satisfied, the Subin family took “Bake Back America” …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: See Them? Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Take Flight Over Area COVID-19: See Them? Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Take Flight Over Area
Covid-19: See Them? Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Take Flight Over Area A formation of U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flew over New New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to salute first responders on the frontlines of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic early Tuesday afternoon, April 28. The New York flyover began at the George Washington around noon and lasted for 40 minutes. The path was across all five New York City boroughs, Newark, Long Island, White Plains and Stamford. The Trenton and Philadelphia flyover began at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakenhurst at approximately 1:45 p.m. The path was over Trenton, a large part of the metro…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
COVID-19: Grocery Workers Should Be Classified As First Responders, Stop & Shop, Union Say COVID-19: Grocery Workers Should Be Classified As First Responders, Stop & Shop, Union Say
Covid-19: Grocery Workers Should Be Classified As First Responders, Stop & Shop, Union Say Stop & Shop and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union are calling on federal and state governments to designate associates at grocery stores as “extended first responders” or “emergency personnel.” Stop & Shop and UFCW additionally announced that a 10-percent increase in pay for union hourly store associates would be extended through Saturday, May 30.  Stop & Shop and UFCW first announced the pay increase on Sunday, March 22, along with flexible hours for associates and up to two weeks of additional paid sick leave for associates required to quarantine …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
COVID-19: Northern Westchester Car Wash Offers Free Service To Healthcare Workers, Responders COVID-19: Northern Westchester Car Wash Offers Free Service To Healthcare Workers, Responders
Covid-19: Northern Westchester Car Wash Offers Free Service To Healthcare Workers, Responders As support for front-line health workers and first responders during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, is coming in all forms, an area business is doing its part by offering free car washes. Bedford Hills’ Russell Speeders Car Wash, at 527 Bedford Road/Route 117, has been able to reopen under a state directive after closing in late March. The reopening comes with the requirement that service is currently limited to exterior car washing only, and disallows any personal contact with the car wash staff, nor the use of self-serve vacuums, mat washers, etc. until the enti…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
COVID-19: BJ's Offers Special Shopping Hours For First Responders, Medical Workers COVID-19: BJ's Offers Special Shopping Hours For First Responders, Medical Workers
Covid-19: BJ's Offers Special Shopping Hours For First Responders, Medical Workers BJ’s Wholesale Club is paying it forward to the essential workers on the frontlines battling the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The wholesale giant is showing its appreciation for first responders and healthcare workers by providing a free four-month Inner Circle membership to the warehouse club, including a special “appreciation hour” on Sundays. From 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Sundays, BJ’s will have an “appreciation hour” when those workers can shop at BJ’s outlets without any membership, as of Sunday, April 19. First responders and healthcare workers can sign up for their complimenta…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Police Chief, Nearly 20 Percent Of Force Test Positive In Westchester Town COVID-19: Police Chief, Nearly 20 Percent Of Force Test Positive In Westchester Town
Covid-19: Police Chief, Nearly 20 Percent Of Force Test Positive In Westchester Town A police force in one of Westchester's largest towns has been especially hit hard by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with some 20 employees testing positive, including the chief. Town of Greenburgh Police, made up of 112 officers, have battled the virus right along with residents with 20 of 54 officers, EMS, and general personnel testing positive for COVID-19, said Greenburgh Police Lt. Kobie Powell. But the department is still up and running and ready to protect residents, Powell said. Chief of Police Bryan Ryan himself tested positive and worked from home as he battled what was…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Police, Fire Departments Roll Out Curbside Birthday Drive-Bys For Children, Elderly COVID-19: Police, Fire Departments Roll Out Curbside Birthday Drive-Bys For Children, Elderly
Covid-19: Police, Fire Departments Roll Out Curbside Birthday Drive-Bys For Children, Elderly While residents across the region stay home to stay safe as the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continues to grow, special events such as birthdays, anniversaries and others are not being celebrated in the normal way. To help, first responders, including police, fire, EMS, and others, are stepping forward to make the day special, especially for children and the elderly, with drive-by parades and other "social distancing" ways in areas farther north in the suburbs. In the Hudson Valley, deputies from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office are performing drive-bys with plenty of fanf…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: Here's When Latest Metro-North Schedule Change Starts COVID-19: Here's When Latest Metro-North Schedule Change Starts
Covid-19: Here's When Latest Metro-North Schedule Change Starts As ridership continues to plummet to historic lows amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the MTA announced it will once again be altering the schedule for Metro-North trains. Beginning on Monday, April 13, Metro-North will operate on an hourly schedule on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines during both the weekdays and weekends. The Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines will remain on Saturday schedules, with hourly service at some points of the day. Changes also include Harlem Line trains to operate every two hours on weekdays between Southeast and Wassaic. There is no service …

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Metro-North To Cut Service With Ridership Falling To All-Time Low COVID-19: Metro-North To Cut Service With Ridership Falling To All-Time Low
Covid-19: Metro-North To Cut Service With Ridership Falling To All-Time Low With commuters staying home due to the novel coronavirus outbreak that’s gripping the nation, the MTA announced it will be cutting down its service amid historically low ridership numbers. Beginning on Friday, March 27, with the MTA reportedly losing weekly losses of more than $100 million with ridership down more than 90 percent, the organization has laid out a new “Essential Service Plan.” The plan calls for extra trains during peak commuting hours for first responders and health care workers, though the MTA will be cutting services throughout the rest of the day, MTA Chair Patrick Foye …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Hero Off-Duty Firefighter Rescues Man Trapped In Car After Rollover Crash On Saw Mill Parkway Hero Off-Duty Firefighter Rescues Man Trapped In Car After Rollover Crash On Saw Mill Parkway
Hero Off-Duty Firefighter Rescues Man Trapped In Car After Rollover Crash On Saw Mill Parkway A firefighter on his way to work did what most firefighters do in a flash, rush to help someone in need, no matter the circumstances. That's what happened on Sunday, Nov. 17, when Danbury Firefighter Jeff Nolet was driving on the Saw Mill Parkway in Westchester reporting for duty on his night shift, said James A. Gagliardo, spokesman for the Danbury Fire Department. On his way, Nolet happened upon a single-vehicle crash on the parkway and a gathering of cars and people on the shoulder of the roadway and stopped to offer assistance, said Gagliardo. The bystanders informed him that…

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by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
Ex-Fire Chief From Hudson Valley Dies of 9/11-Related Illness Ex-Fire Chief From Hudson Valley Dies of 9/11-Related Illness
Ex-Fire Chief From Hudson Valley Dies of 9/11-Related Illness The ex-chief of the Pine Bush Fire Department and a former New York City Fire Department firefighter, has died from 9/11 related injuries at the age of 65. Richard “Ricky” John Tanagretta died on Tuesday, Sept. 24, surrounded by his family, said his obituary. Tanagretta worked as an FDNY firefighter for 26 years. He was also an instructor for the New York State and Orange County Fire Academies, mentoring many generations of first responders.   He was a past chief of the Pine Bush Volunteer Fire Department, where he was a member for 27 years, touching the lives of many.  Th…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Westchester Honors First Responders Who Served Nation Westchester Honors First Responders Who Served Nation
Westchester Honors First Responders Who Served Nation During the last week of National Veterans and Military Families Month, County Executive George Latimer and other County Legislators have presented pins to Westchester First Responders as a symbol of recognition and gratitude for their ongoing services. Officials urge any veteran first responders to reach out to their county legislator if they are interested in receiving a pin. The presentation occurred on Monday, Nov. 26 and was announced on Westchester Gov’s Twitter page. To watch the full presentation ceremony, click here.

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by Valerie Musson