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Mercy College

News
High School Teacher From Westchester Sends Sexual Pictures To Undercover Agent: Feds High School Teacher From Westchester Sends Sexual Pictures To Undercover Agent: Feds
High School Teacher From Westchester Sends Sexual Pictures To Undercover Agent: Feds A 34-year-old high school teacher from Westchester faces child pornography charges after sending sexually explicit pictures to an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl, federal officials said. Hartsdale resident Kostas Fekkas, age 34, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 14 on child pornography charges and presented in White Plains federal court, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.  According to federal officials, before his arrest, Fekkas, also known as “Constantine Fekkas" and “C.J. Justice" had been a teacher at a public c…

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by Ben Crnic
News
College In Westchester Changes Name After 75 Years: 'Natural Evolution' College In Westchester Changes Name After 75 Years: 'Natural Evolution'
College In Westchester Changes Name After 75 Years: 'Natural Evolution' A college in Westchester has decided to change its name after almost 75 years to reflect the expansion of its programs at both an undergraduate and graduate level.  Mercy College, located in Dobbs Ferry, has changed its name to Mercy University, officials announced on Tuesday, Aug. 22.  The name change, which has been approved by the New York State Board of Regents, reflects the institution's growth and comes as the university adds a School of Nursing to its offerings, which also include other schools of Liberal Arts, Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, and…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Teacher From Westchester Dies At Age 54: 'Loved Her Students As Her Own' Teacher From Westchester Dies At Age 54: 'Loved Her Students As Her Own'
Teacher From Westchester Dies At Age 54: 'Loved Her Students As Her Own' A teacher who lived in Westchester her entire life is being remembered for her devotion to her students and her caring heart.  Lifelong Yonkers resident Darlene Fata died on Wednesday, May 31 at the age of 54 after a battle with cancer, according to her obituary.  Born in 1969, Fata earned her bachelor's degree from Mercy College and master's degree in Elementary Education from Long Island University before enjoying a 29-year career as a first-grade teacher at School 5 in Yonkers.  There, she was adored by colleagues and students alike and "loved her students as her own…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Interim Superintendent Named At School District In Northern Westchester Interim Superintendent Named At School District In Northern Westchester
Interim Superintendent Named At School District In Northern Westchester As a Northern Westchester school district's superintendent prepares to take over at a neighboring village, officials have named his temporary replacement.  Mary Fox-Alter will take over as Interim Superintendent of the Ossining Union Free School District beginning on Saturday, July 1, district officials announced.  She will replace Raymond Sanchez, who will depart to begin leading the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns on the same date.  Earlier Report - Tarrytown Public Schools' New Superintendent Comes From Neighboring District The former superintendent of th…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Westchester Native Who Was Longtime Sales Rep Dies At Age 91 Westchester Native Who Was Longtime Sales Rep Dies At Age 91
Westchester Native Who Was Longtime Sales Rep Dies At Age 91 A man who grew up in Westchester County and spent more than 50 years working at an insurance company in Connecticut has died at the age of 91. Fairfield County resident Anthony “Tony” Ragusa, of Wilton, died at Danbury Hospital on Thursday, Aug. 4, following a brief illness, according to his obituary. He was born in Port Chester and graduated from Port Chester High School. Ragusa went on to study at Mercy College and serve in the United States Army from 1954 until 1956 when he was honorably discharged, his obituary said. According to his obituary, he worked at the Metropolitan Life I…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
School District In Hudson Valley Names New Superintendent School District In Hudson Valley Names New Superintendent
School District In Hudson Valley Names New Superintendent A school district in the Hudson Valley has just named a longtime educator in the region as its new superintendent. In Ulster County, the Marlboro Board of Education announced that it has appointed Michael Rydell as the district’s new superintendent of schools. He will be replacing Michael Brooks, who is retiring this summer. The appointment was made during a board meeting on Wednesday, July 6.  "It concludes a nearly three-month superintendent search process, led by Orange-Ulster BOCES," the district said in a statement on the hiring. "The process, which sought to collect feedback fro…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Man Admits To Burglarizing Schools In Westchester Man Admits To Burglarizing Schools In Westchester
Man Admits To Burglarizing Schools In Westchester A man with a lengthy rap sheet will spend time behind bars after admitting to burglarizing multiple schools in Westchester, the District Attorney announced. Mount Vernon resident Donald Bennett, age 62, pleaded guilty this week to burglarizing schools in communities throughout Westchester after he unlawfully entered several buildings between 2020 and 2021. Original story - Suspect Arrested For String Of Westchester School Intrusions Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah said that between Feb. 20, 2020, and Feb. 28 this year, Bennett illegally entered and stole items from Imm…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
White Plains HS Names New Principal White Plains HS Names New Principal
White Plains HS Names New Principal Appointed via Zoom meeting amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Emerly A. Martinez bested more than 60 candidates and earned his position as the new principal of White Plains High School.  He will replace Ellen Doherty, who held the position for eight years.  “I am deeply humbled and full of excitement at the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing school community," said Martinez of his Tuesday, Aug. 18 appointment. "I look forward to supporting the already-great work happening at White Plains High School, while ensuring a safe and successful 2020-21 school year.” Prev…

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by Christina Coulter
Obituaries
Westchester Native Kerri Ann Kennedy-Tompkins, Beloved Teacher, Dies Of COVID-19 At 48 Westchester Native Kerri Ann Kennedy-Tompkins, Beloved Teacher, Dies Of COVID-19 At 48
Westchester Native Kerri Ann Kennedy-Tompkins, Beloved Teacher, Dies Of Covid-19 At 48 Westchester native and Putnam County resident Kerri Ann Kennedy-Tompkins, a beloved longtime teacher, died on Friday, April 10.  She was 48. She was a breast cancer survivor and suffered many illnesses as a result of it and died due to complications of COVID19. Born on Aug. 4, 1971 in Yonkers to Eileen (Kilduff) Kennedy and Paul T. Kennedy, Sr. she was a longtime resident of Garrison (Continental Village). She graduated from Franciscan High School in 1989 and then from Mercy College in 1993 and worked as a special education teacher for many years. Kerri was predeceased by her father (…

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by Daily Voice
Police & Fire
Train Station Robbery Puts Schools On Lockout In Westchester Train Station Robbery Puts Schools On Lockout In Westchester
Train Station Robbery Puts Schools On Lockout In Westchester A robbery near a Westchester Metro-North station on Wednesday morning forced an area school district to enter its lockout protocols while police investigated. The Irvington School District announced at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5 that it called for a lockout due to a safety concern following a robbery near the Ardsley-on-Hudson train station by the Mercy College campus in Dobbs Ferry. The district announced at 10:21 a.m. that it had lifted the lockout. “We have been advised by law enforcement that the public safety concern has been resolved. Therefore, the lockout security…

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by Zak Failla
News
Services Set For Putnam County Judge James Reitz, Who Died In Court Services Set For Putnam County Judge James Reitz, Who Died In Court
Services Set For Putnam County Judge James Reitz, Who Died In Court Click here for an updated story: Putnam County Judge Reitz Was Handling Family Law Matter When He Suffered Fatal Heart Attack Funeral arrangements have been scheduled for Putnam County Judge James Reitz, who died suddenly after suffering a heart attack. A Mahopac resident, Reitz, 57, suffered a heart attack in court on Friday, June 14, and court officers were unable to revive him after performing CPR and using a defibrillator in an attempt to resuscitate him. Visitation for Reitz will be held from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 17 at the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services on Old …

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by Zak Failla
News
Putnam County Judge James Reitz Of Mahopac Dies Suddenly In Court Putnam County Judge James Reitz Of Mahopac Dies Suddenly In Court
Putnam County Judge James Reitz Of Mahopac Dies Suddenly In Court Updated stories: Putnam County Judge Reitz Was Handling Family Law Matter When He Suffered Fatal Heart Attack Services Set For Putnam County Judge James Reitz, Who Died In Court  Putnam County Court Judge James Reitz died after suffering a heart attack. A Mahopac resident, Reitz, 57, suffered a heart attack in court on Friday, June 14, and court officers were unable to revive him after performing CPR and using a defibrillator in an attempt to resuscitate him. Reitz was reportedly taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A former lawyer who practiced at a private firm…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
It's Official: College Of New Rochelle Sets Date For Closure It's Official: College Of New Rochelle Sets Date For Closure
It's Official: College Of New Rochelle Sets Date For Closure The College of New Rochelle is officially shuttering its doors at the conclusion of its summer semester and an agreement has been finalized to transfer students to Mercy College for the beginning of the fall semester. Amid a three-year financial crisis, CNR and Mercy announced on Tuesday that they’ve entered into an Agreement of Mutual Cooperation that will “ensure a seamless transition for CNR students to continue their education at Mercy.” According to Mercy College, the agreement allows CNR students in good standing the opportunity to transfer to Mercy College, as CNR’s designated prefer…

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by Zak Failla
News
Schools Announce Closures, Delayed Starts For Monday Schools Announce Closures, Delayed Starts For Monday
Schools Announce Closures, Delayed Starts For Monday The following school districts and schools have delayed starts and closures for Monday, March 4 as a result of the latest winter storm. Westchester County Bedford Central School District, closed Blind Brook Public Schools, three-hour delay  Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District, three-hour delay Byram Hills Central School District, three-hour delay Chappaqua Central School District, three-hour delay Croton Harmon School District, two-hour delay Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District, two-hour delay Eastchester Union Free School District, two-hour delay Edgemont Union…

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by Daily Voice
Schools
Schools Announce Closures, Delayed Starts For Monday Schools Announce Closures, Delayed Starts For Monday
Schools Announce Closures, Delayed Starts For Monday The following school districts and schools have delayed starts and closures for Monday, March 4 as a result of the latest winter storm. Westchester County Bedford Central School District, closed Blind Brook Public Schools, three-hour delay Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District, three-hour delay Byram Hills Central School District, three-hour delay Chappaqua Central School District, three-hour delay Croton Harmon School District, two-hour delay Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District, two-hour delay Eastchester Union Free School District, two-hour delay Edgemont Union Free Schoo…

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by Daily Voice
Police & Fire
Old Croton Aqueduct Stabbing Suspect Remains At Large Old Croton Aqueduct Stabbing Suspect Remains At Large
Old Croton Aqueduct Stabbing Suspect Remains At Large The search is on for a suspect who stabbed someone near the Old Croton Aqueduct in Dobbs Ferry on Tuesday. Shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, police received a report of a verbal altercation that turned physical, with one party stabbing the other before fleeing, police said. The incident prompted a manhunt that was joined by several area law enforcement agencies on Tuesday afternoon. The victim was treated for the stab wound before being transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s who was wearing a hooded …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Manhunt For 'Possible Violent Offender Armed With Knife' Causes Lockdown In Westchester Manhunt For 'Possible Violent Offender Armed With Knife' Causes Lockdown In Westchester
Manhunt For 'Possible Violent Offender Armed With Knife' Causes Lockdown In Westchester Police are investigating a potentially violent, knife-wielding offender who was spotted near the Mercy College campus, causing a lockdown. Mercy College issued an alert at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, of a "possible violent offender armed with a knife" in the area of the Old Croton Aqueduct. Police could be spotted on the college’s campus as they investigated the report. The incident led to a temporary lockdown at Mercy College’s Dobbs Ferry campus, though police quickly gave the “all-clear” to resume the day normally. It was not immediately clear if there were any victims o…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Bernice Feldman, 94, Briarcliff Native Bernice Feldman, 94, Briarcliff Native
Bernice Feldman, 94, Briarcliff Native Bernice K. Feldman, a resident of Briarcliff Manor for more than 50 years, died on Jan. 6 in Texas. She was 94. A graduate of Hunter College, Columbia University and New York University, Dr. Feldman specialized in speech pathology and rehabilitation, serving as a speech therapist, pathologist and teacher at numerous health and educational institutions, including the Dobbs Ferry School System, Lehman College, the College of New Rochelle, Mercy College, Westchester Community College, Phelps Memorial Hospital and the Mount St. Ursula Speech Center.  She was a past president of the Westchester …

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by Sam Barron