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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
News
Celebrity Chef's Westchester Market Closes Amid Sexual Harassment Claims Celebrity Chef's Westchester Market Closes Amid Sexual Harassment Claims
Celebrity Chef's Westchester Market Closes Amid Sexual Harassment Claims A popular gourmet food market in the area has closed its doors. One of a group of hotspots owned by celebrity chef Mario Batali, the Tarry Market on Main Street in Port Chester, which offered European and local artisanal products to Westchester and Connecticut foodies, closed on June 28, following a swirl of sexual harassment allegations against its famous owner. Tarry Wine, located next door, and the popular Tarry Lodge restaurant in Westport will remain open, for now.  Batali has been accused of harassment by a number of former colleagues and fans. He was fired as co-host on "The Ch…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
FOUND! Missing At-Risk Rutherford Man Wanders 45 Miles To Westchester FOUND! Missing At-Risk Rutherford Man Wanders 45 Miles To Westchester
Found! Missing At-Risk Rutherford Man Wanders 45 Miles To Westchester Authorities found a missing at-risk Rutherford man early Monday in Port Chester, 45 miles from home. John Willey, 60, apparently was intent on visiting a friend in White Plains when he walked off from his West Passaic Avenue home around 5:30 p.m. Saturday without his cellphone, police said. A New York Metropolitan Transit Authority worker found him near a bridge in the Westchester village at 7:45 a.m. Monday, roughly 38 hours later after he went missing, Rutherford Police Capt. Patrick Feliciano said. "The MTA worker called 911 because Willey was described as being disoriented and sta…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Lifestyle
Westchester Man Named President, CEO Of 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Westchester Man Named President, CEO Of 2022 Special Olympics USA Games
Westchester Man Named President, CEO Of 2022 Special Olympics USA Games A finance and technology expert from Port Chester has been named president and chief executive officer for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.  Special Olympics Florida and Special Olympics North America announced they proudly hired Dzaluk to head the USA Games in Orlando from June 5 through June 10 in 2022.  In this role, Dzaluk will oversee a team that will help showcase the power and joy of sports for athletes with intellectual disabilities through the largest humanitarian event in Florida’s history. Prior to this endeavor, Dzaluk served as the chief financial officer of AA Metals, whe…

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by Jon Craig
News
Senate OKs Bill To Add 'TZB' To Official Bridge Name, But Assembly Adjourns Senate OKs Bill To Add 'TZB' To Official Bridge Name, But Assembly Adjourns
Senate OKs Bill To Add 'TZB' To Official Bridge Name, But Assembly Adjourns The debate over naming rights at the new Tappan Zee Bridge continues to rage, as officials remain split on the matter. The New York State Senate voted by a count of 40 to 20 in favor of a compromised bill to add the Tappan Zee Designation to the seldom-used official name of Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, but the Democratic-controlled State Assembly ended its annual legislative session without even putting the bill to a vote, leaving its future status uncertain at best. The bill was first introduced by State Sen. John DeFrancisco (R-District 50/Syracuse area). The Senate’s vote came late on Wed…

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by Zak Failla
News
110K-Signature Petition To Restore TZB As Official Name Delivered To Cuomo 110K-Signature Petition To Restore TZB As Official Name Delivered To Cuomo
110K-Signature Petition To Restore TZB As Official Name Delivered To Cuomo What’s in a name? The battle over naming rights of the new Tappan Zee Bridge came to a head on Thursday, as several members of Save Our Tappan Zee, a group dedicated to preserving the bridge’s namesake, printed out a change.org petition that garnered nearly 110,000 signatures from local residents lambasting the name “Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.” On Thursday, the delegation traveled to the State Capitol building in Albany to drop off a printed out list of the signatures, which called open state legislators and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to restore the previous name of the span connecting Rockland…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Students At Middle School In Westchester Asked To Create 'Runaway Slave' Ad Students At Middle School In Westchester Asked To Create 'Runaway Slave' Ad
Students At Middle School In Westchester Asked To Create 'Runaway Slave' Ad Parents and school administrators at a middle school in Westchester were caught off guard by a recently distributed extra credit assignment that invoked 19th Century slavery. A photo of an assignment given to students at the Port Chester Middle School, in which they would have to create a “runaway slave ad” has gone viral on Facebook, and has drawn the ire of local parents and school administrators. According to school officials, the assignment was related to a unit of curriculum on American slavery that asked students to create the advertisement.  The ad was intended to mimic original 19t…

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by Zak Failla
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
Obituaries
Popular Owner Of Westchester Restaurant Dies At 47 Popular Owner Of Westchester Restaurant Dies At 47
Popular Owner Of Westchester Restaurant Dies At 47 A popular restaurant owner in Westchester has died at age 47. Robert “Robbie” John Luiso of Harrison, who owned and operated the Copacabanna Brazilian Steakhouse in Port Chester, died suddenly on Friday, March 30. Born in Port Chester on Dec. 31, 1970, Luiso looked up to his father, who gave him his direction in life and was his shining star who he continuously admired.  Just like his father, Luiso started his business career owning a bakery and investing in real estate. He developed into a successful restaurateur and entrepreneur with a tireless work ethic. Well-renowned in the food serv…

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by Daily Voice
News
These Hudson Valley Communities Awarded Millions In State Grants These Hudson Valley Communities Awarded Millions In State Grants
These Hudson Valley Communities Awarded Millions In State Grants Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that more than $8 million has been awarded to six Hudson Valley municipalities as part of his Restore New York initiative. Nearly $81 million was awarded to 71 municipalities statewide. "Downtown communities are vital to keeping our economies thriving and to attracting businesses and families to put down their roots in New York," Cuomo said. "The Restore New York Communities Initiative recognizes communities teeming with potential and invests in their transformation and their future, and turns them into neighborhoods New Yorkers are proud to call h…

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by Jon Craig
News
Westchester Residents With Alleged Mob Ties Indicted For Loan Sharking Westchester Residents With Alleged Mob Ties Indicted For Loan Sharking
Westchester Residents With Alleged Mob Ties Indicted For Loan Sharking Seven men from Westchester County and one from Fairfield County are among 10 alleged members of the Lucchese Crime Family facing criminal charges for their involvement in the “largest loan sharking operation ever investigated by the New York Attorney General’s Office.” Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the arrests and indictment of 10 alleged members of the Lucchese Family on charges related to the alleged operation of a “lucrative loan sharking and gambling activities” following a long-term investigation. Schneiderman said that during “Operation The Vig Is Up” involved “the alle…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Thief Gets 3 Years In Fed Pen For Swiping $500,000 From Michaels' Customers Thief Gets 3 Years In Fed Pen For Swiping $500,000 From Michaels' Customers
Thief Gets 3 Years In Fed Pen For Swiping $500,000 From Michaels' Customers A 28-year-old man received three years in federal prison Wednesday for his role in stealing information from 94,000 credit and debit cards used by customers at Michaels stores in New York State and elsewhere and then pulling nearly $500,000 from the victims' accounts. Angel Angulo of Riverside, California, previously admitted that he and his co-conspirators replaced swipe terminals with imitations that they used to record the bank account numbers and PINs. They used the information to create bogus cards that were then used to withdraw money from hundreds of victims' accounts, he said. The …

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by Jerry DeMarco