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Lifestyle
New Rankings: These Westchester Locales Among Safest In State New Rankings: These Westchester Locales Among Safest In State
New Rankings: These Westchester Locales Among Safest In State A new report from Safewise.com named nearly two dozen Hudson Valley municipalities among the 50 "safest cities" in New York. Based on the latest FBI report, the state boasts a property crime rate 40 percent less than the national average, the site said. Nearly 50 New York towns have a violent crime rate that's 94 percent lower than the national average. The No. 1 safest city on the list is Lewisboro, followed by Briarcliff Manor. The following Hudson Valley towns are named to Safewise.com's report: 1. Lewisboro 2. Briarcliff Manor 5. Croton-on-Hudson 8. Harrison  9. Rye 10. Nort…

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by Cecilia Levine
Weather
Flash Flood Warning: New Round Of Thunderstorms Sweep Through Area Flash Flood Warning: New Round Of Thunderstorms Sweep Through Area
Flash Flood Warning: New Round Of Thunderstorms Sweep Through Area A new round of thunderstorms sweeping through the area Tuesday night has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Flash Flood Warnings and Flood Advisories for the region.  The Flash Flood Warning, for Westchester, Rockland and Orange counties, is in effect until 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. The Flood Advisory, for Putnam and Fairfield counties, is in effect until 9:15 p.m. Just before 7 p.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the area.  Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly. Some locations that will experience flooding include New City, Newburgh, Midd…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Avon Laying Off 100 Workers, Closing Operations In Westchester Avon Laying Off 100 Workers, Closing Operations In Westchester
Avon Laying Off 100 Workers, Closing Operations In Westchester Avon Products Inc. announced it is laying off about 100 employees in its Rye data center, closing the rest of the Rye operations over the next year and consolidating U.S. operations in Suffern. Avon CEO Jan Zijderveld cited the company’s international focus in a press release, attributing the actions to a strategy of “simplifying our U.S. operations,” “providing fuel for growth” and becoming “more fit for purpose.” A state Department of Labor notice put the number of data center employees being affected at 105. Their work in Rye will cease by the end of this month, and their jobs will be ph…

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by Daily Voice
News
Driver Strikes Home, Parked Cars After Suffering Medical Episode Driver Strikes Home, Parked Cars After Suffering Medical Episode
Driver Strikes Home, Parked Cars After Suffering Medical Episode A scary scene unfolded in Rockland County on Monday, when a driver suffered a medical episode and went ping-ponging against several cars before coming to a rest when his truck struck a Suffern home. Officers from the Suffern Police Department received a report late on Monday afternoon, of an erratic driver who struck several cars and other items before coming to a stop when it struck a Maplewood Boulevard home. Upon arrival at the Maplewood Boulevard home, police found an incoherent driver behind the wheel and provided first aid once they were able to ensure that the truck could no longer m…

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by Zak Failla
News
Youth Gymnastics Coach From Westchester Arraigned On Sex Abuse Charges Youth Gymnastics Coach From Westchester Arraigned On Sex Abuse Charges
Youth Gymnastics Coach From Westchester Arraigned On Sex Abuse Charges A popular local coach who owned gyms across the area has been arraigned on three counts of sexual conduct against a child and five counts of felony sexual abuse. Joseph Lewin, 67, of Port Chester, also known as Joseph Lewandoski in the 1990s, was arraigned on the counts Tuesday for abusing children over a seven-year period, said the Rockland County District Attorney's Office. “The defendant preyed upon children entrusted to his care and destroyed their innocence to satisfy his own sexual desires,” said District Attorney Thomas Zugibe. “The courage shown by these victims and their families t…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Hudson Valley Teacher Apologizes For Now Deleted Facebook Post Hudson Valley Teacher Apologizes For Now Deleted Facebook Post
Hudson Valley Teacher Apologizes For Now Deleted Facebook Post A Hudson Valley teacher is apologizing for a statement he made on Facebook addressing the recent controversies surrounding comments by talk show host Samantha Bee and comedian Roseanne Barr. In a post that has since been deleted, Suffern Middle School music teacher Aaron Minsky posted last weekend that while women can be called vulgar names, blacks cannot be referred to as animals. Suffern Central's Deputy Superintendent Stephen Walker said the district was made aware of the post on Tuesday, and that although the post was made outside of his work day, the district has spoken to Minsky about…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Love A Parade? Here Are Memorial Day Ceremonies In Hudson Valley Love A Parade? Here Are Memorial Day Ceremonies In Hudson Valley
Love A Parade? Here Are Memorial Day Ceremonies In Hudson Valley Here is a list of Memorial Day celebrations in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Rockland counties: Monday, May 28  Ardsley: Parade starts at 10 a.m. on Park Avenue and ends at Pascone Park where a ceremony will follow. Blauvelt: Blauvelt Lions Club holds a ceremony at noon at Lions Park near the Blauvelt Firehouse, Blauvelt Road. Bronxville: Parade will start at Leonard Morange Square Park at 8:45 a.m. and proceed to the Bronxville School where a ceremony and wreath laying service will be held. Services will conclude at the Bronxville Cemetery. Brewster: VFW Post 672 hosts parade at 10 a.m.…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Rockland Gangsters' Associate Gets 65 Months In 'Cabjacking,' Bar Holdups Rockland Gangsters' Associate Gets 65 Months In 'Cabjacking,' Bar Holdups
Rockland Gangsters' Associate Gets 65 Months In 'Cabjacking,' Bar Holdups A fellow member of a gang from Rockland was sentenced Wednesday to 65 months in federal prison for his role in carjacking, kidnapping and leaving a local cab driver for dead in Orange County after he and four others robbed a North Jersey bar. Wilbur J. Barahona, 22, of Ridgewood was the last of six defendants to accept a plea deal from federal prosecutors in Newark in connection with the separate crimes, which occurred within hours of one another. The others: Guillermo Carillo-Iraheta, Balmore Carrillo-Iraheta and Juan Chiliseo-Vega, all of Suffern,and the getaway driver in the Hawthorne, …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Westchester Gymnastics Coach Charged With Several Sex Offenses Westchester Gymnastics Coach Charged With Several Sex Offenses
Westchester Gymnastics Coach Charged With Several Sex Offenses A popular local gymnastics coach who owned gyms across the area has been arrested on five counts of sexual conduct against a child under 13, according to Ramapo police. Police said Joseph Lewin, 67, of Port Chester, also known as Joseph Lewandoski in the 1990s, abused children from 2001 to 2014. They also suspect that he may have sexually abused teens 16 and up as well. In addition to the sexual abuse charge, Lewin was charged with the sexual abuse of a child, police said.  Over the years, Lewin owned Joe’s Gym in Hillburn, The Gym in Suffern, was co-owner and director of Universal Gymnast…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Nine Nabbed In Rockland Drug Ring, DA Says Nine Nabbed In Rockland Drug Ring, DA Says
Nine Nabbed In Rockland Drug Ring, DA Says Nine people, including eight Rockland County residents and one from Bergen County, were arrested on felony drug and conspiracy charges as part of a large-scale narcotics investigation into a Village of Nyack-based cocaine distribution ring. The investigation, along with the Orangetown Police Department, began last July when District Attorney Thomas Zugibe's Drug Task Force received information about a close-knit cocaine trafficking network operating from local bars and restaurants in Nyack and Pearl River with more than 150 area customers. “This sweep is the latest step in our ongoing campa…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
New Photos: Westchester Students Take Stand On National Walkout Day New Photos: Westchester Students Take Stand On National Walkout Day
New Photos: Westchester Students Take Stand On National Walkout Day Hundreds of Hudson Valley students, teachers and administrators participated in the National School Walkout on Wednesday to call on Congress for tighter gun control laws. Students joined their peers around the nation at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14 as part of the ENOUGH National School Walkout, which is “to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.” Many schools allowed students to walk out of class for 17 minutes with increased security to ensure the actions were organized and safe. Other …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Westchester Schools Will Participate In National Walkout Day These Westchester Schools Will Participate In National Walkout Day
These Westchester Schools Will Participate In National Walkout Day Hundreds of Hudson Valley students, teachers and administrators are planning to participate in the National School Walkout on Wednesday to call on Congress for tighter gun control laws. Students are planning to join their peers around the country at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14 as part of the ENOUGH National School Walkout, which is “to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.” Many schools are allowing students to walk out of class for 17 minutes and are increasing security to ensure the …

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by Zak Failla