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Construction Starts On New $51 Million Housing Development In Northern Westchester Construction Starts On New $51 Million Housing Development In Northern Westchester
Construction Starts On New $51 Million Housing Development In Northern Westchester Construction has begun on a new affordable housing complex in Northern Westchester with 82 energy-efficient apartments. According to Governor Andrew Cuomo's office, work on the $51 million dollar development in downtown Peekskill at 645 Main Street began on Wednesday, Sept. 9.  The project is a part of his five-year, $20 million dollar affordable housing plan, which began in 2016 and is carried out by New York State Homes and Community Renewal. "Every New Yorker deserves a safe, decent and affordable place to call home," Cuomo said. "This new, energy-efficient development builds upon …

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by Christina Coulter
News
Video Shows Bobcat Closing In On Bunny Rabbit In Hudson Valley Video Shows Bobcat Closing In On Bunny Rabbit In Hudson Valley
Video Shows Bobcat Closing In On Bunny Rabbit In Hudson Valley Someone let the bobcat out of the bag. A bobcat was caught on camera on Wednesday, Aug. 26 making the rounds in Putnam County, prowling through some backyards near the intersection of Wayacross and Vineland Road around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26  in Mahopac before taking off. In a video shared by a Mahopac resident, the bobcat can be seen slinking through the fenced-in yard before it grabbed a bunny rabbit, whose fate is uncertain. The homeowner said that the bobcat waiting around a minute before pouncing and attacking the bunny.  It remains unclear how the bobcat made its way…

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by Zak Failla
News
Injured Hawk Rescued By State Police Off Taconic State Parkway Injured Hawk Rescued By State Police Off Taconic State Parkway
Injured Hawk Rescued By State Police Off Taconic State Parkway A fast-acting New York State Police trooper came to the rescue of an injured hawk in danger on the side of the Taconic State Parkway. The trooper on patrol in Dutchess County spotted the hawk that was unable to fly on the side of the road in Pleasant Valley this past week. The trooper was able to safely coerce the hawk into his police cruiser, and with an assist from Deputy Ryan Griffin of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the bird was safely delivered to the Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center in Greene County. According to the New York State Department of Environmental…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
It's A Bear Fact: More Sightings Reported, Including One Taking Stroll At A Cemetery It's A Bear Fact: More Sightings Reported, Including One Taking Stroll At A Cemetery
It's A Bear Fact: More Sightings Reported, Including One Taking Stroll At A Cemetery They're here, there - everywhere. At least it seems that way. After all, in the span of just a few days, there have been more than a half dozen reported black bear sightings in the area. Including at a golf course. And now, even a cemetery. Police in Westchester responded on Friday, June 12 as a bear strolled through St. Mary's Cemetery in Rye Brook. (See first image above.) On Sunday morning, June 14, a Northern Westchester family observed a pair of bears on the front lawn. (See second images above.) On Thursday, June 11, a large black bear was spotted at the Maple Moor Golf Cour…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Bear Sighting Forces Temporary Closure Of Golf Course In Westchester Bear Sighting Forces Temporary Closure Of Golf Course In Westchester
Bear Sighting Forces Temporary Closure Of Golf Course In Westchester Click here for an updated story: It's A Bear Fact: More Sightings Reported, Including One Taking Stroll At A Cemetery For the fourth time in as many days, a black bear sighting was reported in Westchester. This time, the bears took a trip to an area golf course. The large black bear was spotted at the Maple Moor Golf Course on North Street in White Plains on Thursday, June 11, forcing the club to temporarily shut down for the safety of golfers playing rounds. It marks the fourth sighting this week, after reports of similar instances in Hastings, Greenburgh, and Scarsdale. Earl…

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by Zak Failla
News
Four Baby Squirrels Rescued After Tails Found Stuck Together In Hudson Valley Four Baby Squirrels Rescued After Tails Found Stuck Together In Hudson Valley
Four Baby Squirrels Rescued After Tails Found Stuck Together In Hudson Valley Four baby squirrels found tied together by their tails were rescued by a wildlife officer after receiving a report of the squirrels in distress. The babies were discovered in Dutchess County last month when the state Department of Environmental Conservation responded to the call from the hamlet of Verbank, in the town of Union Vale. Conservation Officer Kevin Wamsley responded to the location and discovered that the juvenile squirrel tails were stuck together with a mass of nest debris and a tar-like substance later determined to be pine pitch.  The baby squirrels.DEC New York State Th…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Massive Dead Whale Found On Long Island Shore Massive Dead Whale Found On Long Island Shore
Massive Dead Whale Found On Long Island Shore A massive whale was found washed up on a Long Island shore over the weekend. Members of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society responded to Amagansett late on Saturday, May 30, where there was a report of a 35-foot female humpback whale on the beach. The whale was originally reported just offshore of Amagansett by the United States Coast Guard and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Saturday night after it was seen in the surf at approximately 8 p.m., officials said. Shortly before 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 31, members of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society were…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Black Bears Stuck In Shed Rescued By Troopers, Environmental Officers Black Bears Stuck In Shed Rescued By Troopers, Environmental Officers
Black Bears Stuck In Shed Rescued By Troopers, Environmental Officers Two black bears stuck in a shed in the area were saved with help from a few law enforcement officers. The bears were located in Sullivan County on Wednesday, April 15, in Rock Hill, said officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. DEC Officers Glen Parker and Ricky Wood responded and found two yearling black bears stuck inside a shed.  The bears had knocked over a number of items inside the shed and were trapped inside.  With assistance from two New York State troopers, the officers were able to open the shed doors just wide enough for the bears to escape …

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Video: Bobcat Gets Up Close, Personal In Backyard Of Area Home Video: Bobcat Gets Up Close, Personal In Backyard Of Area Home
Video: Bobcat Gets Up Close, Personal In Backyard Of Area Home An area family got an unexpected visitor when a bobcat was caught on camera making the rounds. The bobcat was captured slinking through the backyard of the Putnam County home on Long Pond Road in Mahopac at approximately 7 p.m. on Friday, April 17, before trotting off into a neighbor’s yard. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, “Bobcats are about twice the size of a domestic cat and usually smaller than the Canada lynx.  "Their fur is dense, short, and soft and is generally shorter and more reddish in the summer and longer and more gray in the wint…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: State-Run Campgrounds, Cabins, Cottages Closed COVID-19: State-Run Campgrounds, Cabins, Cottages Closed
Covid-19: State-Run Campgrounds, Cabins, Cottages Closed The spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has now hit some of New York’s most-popular recreation hubs. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced over the weekend that all state-operated campgrounds, cabins, and cottages will be closed to overnight visitation through at least Thursday, April 30. Come April 30, officials will reassess the situation and determine if the closures should be extended further, pending the spread of the virus. All reservations for the 2020 season have also been suspended until further notice. Those who already have made reservations wil…

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by Zak Failla
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
Police & Fire
Area Man Admits To Illegally Hunting Deer Area Man Admits To Illegally Hunting Deer
Area Man Admits To Illegally Hunting Deer An Ulster man paid $605 in fines and surcharges after he admitted to baiting and illegally hunting deer. Ulster County resident Robert Nelson, of Esopus, was charged with the misdemeanor of illegally taking a deer and a violation of hunting with the aid of bait in November 2019, after the state Department of Environmental Conservation received a tip, the state DEC said on Thursday, Jan. 9. After receiving the tip, EC Officer Jeannette Bastedo responded to the area, that was known to be baited in the past, and located a pile of feed approximately 15 yards from a tree stand, as well as a bloo…

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by Kathy Reakes