GYROGyrodyne a real estate investment trust specializing in the management and development of medical office and industrial properties has released its Form 10-Q report for the first quarter of 2025 The report highlights the company's financial performance and operational activities providing insights into its strategic initiatives and future outlook derived from rent and reimbursements during the three-months ended March 31 calculated as revenue minus operating costs of $494,805 resulting in estimated distributions of approximately $14.01 per common share reflecting an increase of $216,077 from the previous period Cash and Cash Equivalents: $5.79 million as of March 31 intended to support the strategic sale of properties and manage entitlements Real Estate Portfolio Management: Gyrodyne LLC manages a portfolio of medical office and industrial properties focusing on enhancing the value of its Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties through entitlement opportunities to increase development flexibility Leasing Activity: During the three months ended March 31 Gyrodyne executed one new lease and two renewals with annual revenue of approximately $44,000 and total commitments of approximately $100,000 there were five expansions comprising approximately 2,400 square feet generating approximately $37,000 in annual revenue and $117,000 in total commitments Entitlement Efforts: The company is actively pursuing entitlements for its Flowerfield and Cortlandt Manor properties to maximize their value This includes efforts to secure subdivision and site plan approvals which are anticipated to be completed by mid-2026 Article 78 Proceeding: Gyrodyne is involved in legal proceedings related to the Flowerfield Subdivision Application The company is defending the Planning Board’s determinations and coordinating with the Town of Smithtown to respond to appellate papers The resolution of these proceedings is expected to impact the timeline for property sales Cortlandt Manor Development: The Town of Cortlandt adopted a Medical Oriented Zoning District (MOD) that includes Gyrodyne’s property allowing for a total density of 154,000 square feet comprising 150,000 square feet of medical use and 4,000 square feet of retail use Flowerfield Subdivision: Gyrodyne is working on an eight-lot subdivision for the Flowerfield property with final subdivision approval expected in the third quarter of 2025 The company is also exploring potential buyers for the property as an undivided parcel Future Outlook: Gyrodyne plans to dissolve after completing the sale of its real property assets with proceeds used to settle debts and claims before distributing to shareholders The company anticipates completing the liquidation process by 2026 although this timeline is subject to change based on external factors such as legal proceedings and regulatory approvals Impact of Macroeconomic Factors: The company is navigating challenges posed by elevated interest rates which affect real estate market conditions and the timeline for property sales Healthcare Industry Exposure: Gyrodyne’s properties are leased to healthcare service providers making the company susceptible to regulatory changes and market dynamics within the healthcare industry SEC Filing: Gyrodyne, LLC [ GYRO ] - 10-Q - May. 05, 2025 Copyright © 2025 FactSet Research Systems Inc.© 2025 TradingView Colonial-era Residence of New York’s First Lieutenant Governor Awarded $600,000 From Regional Economic Development Council    Van Cortlandt Manor’s Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze Event Attracts Over 150,000 Visitors Each Fall   See Event Photo Here Empire State Development (ESD) announced that New York State, in partnership with Historic Hudson Valley will undertake a significant project to improve safety and accessibility at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County Addressing the National Historic Landmark’s infrastructure issues will create a more welcoming and secure environment for visitors The renovation of Van Cortland Manor will remediate the section of the former Route 9 road belt that bisects the site and reconfigure the manor’s entrance to enhance vehicular and pedestrian safety the property will welcome school groups once again cementing itself as a thriving 21st-century historic landmark New York’s funding is part of Historic Hudson Valley’s multi-million-dollar multi-year renovation effort which will create and retain sixty jobs in the region The restoration was announced at Van Cortlandt Manor this past Monday 2024 at a special event attended by Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado "The Van Cortlandt Manor National Historic Site has served as a pillar of our democracy since our country's founding," Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado said "We are proud to have invested $600,000 in this project through Empire State Development to ensure the sustainability and tourism attraction of this historic landmark."   “Sited on the frontline of the American Revolution Van Cortlandt Manor is a key part of New York State’s history Historic Hudson Valley will continue to share its story with the many thousands of people who visit this important National Historic Landmark each year This will boost the region’s economic vitality by drawing in visitors who support jobs not only at the Manor but across the Mid-Hudson region.”   New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said “Van Cortland Manor is one of the great historical treasures of New York State and an economic engine for the Hudson Valley attracting visitors from near and far for its many wonderful events including The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze during the Halloween Season The Department of Transportation is proud to support this restoration effort which will enhance safety and make it easier for motorists and pedestrians alike to visit and explore this National Historic Landmark.” “Van Cortlandt Manor is one of the most historic and culturally significant sites in the 40th Senate District as well as a major tourist destination and integral part of our local economy The major improvements planned for this much-loved Colonial-era property to ease vehicular entry and mitigate climate change effects will benefit visitors greatly I am proud to have been able to secure State Senate funding for these projects and appreciate the Governor’s investment as well.”  "Historic Hudson Valley's efforts to bring forth our area's untold stories from the past are commendable Even more so is their work to make history accessible both figuratively and literally with these new infrastructure improvements It is an honor to support this worthy organization and I look forward to returning once these renovations are complete."  “This project is a testament to the invaluable support from Governor Kathy Hochul's office New York State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg We are so pleased to be able to contribute to the economic health and cultural vibrancy of the region We extend our deepest gratitude to all our funders and we look forward to welcoming a wider audience to Van Cortlandt Manor in the future.” Van Cortlandt Manor was the home of New York State’s first Lieutenant Governor Situated on the frontlines of American Revolutionary War Van Cortlandt Manor was a pivotal hub for information exchange ranging from patriot politics to opportunities for resistance among enslaved communities Benefits of addressing infrastructure challenges include: The Historic Hudson Valley organization has received nearly $3 million in funding for this restoration project comprised of a $2.2 million appropriation from the Federal Highway Administration and administered through the New York State Department of Transportation with additional help from the Indian Point Community Fund.    the project will receive money through the Community Resiliency and Technology Program with the assistance of New York State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg in the amounts of $100,000 and $125,000 Construction is set to conclude in 2026 with hopes of welcoming the public back to the manor in time for its semi quincentennial celebrations.  the Van Cortlandt Manor is home to one of the country’s greatest Halloween celebrations This event draws over 150,000 people and is a major driver of the region’s economic development as attendees stay in local hotels and explore other attractions the Lower Hudson Valley has to offer this event and Historic Hudson Valley’s other events and programs contribute over $10 million to the region annually Renovations will have no impact on The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze which will still be taking place this fall.    For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 31, 2024 Contact: ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313  The retailing chain Floor & Decor Outlets of America wants to repurpose a now-closed ShopRite supermarket at 2094 E in Cortlandt Manor into one of its retail outlets The building offers 56,500 square feet of floor space and Floor & Decor intends to use all of it The property is owned by Kitzbuehel Realty LLC located in Scarsdale Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Atlanta Floor & Decor describes itself as a specialty retailer of hard surface flooring and related accessories and seller of commercial surfaces the company operated 221 warehouse-format stores and five small design studios across 36 states Floor & Decor says it believes that it offers the industry’s broadest in-stock assortment of tile The chain’s warehouse-format stores typically average approximately 78,000 square feet and stock about 4,500 different products The chain operates four regional distribution centers It says it sources its products from more than 240 vendors who primarily are manufacturers in 26 countries Floor & Decor has stores in Port Chester and Nanuet along with Fairfield and Danbury In its 2023 annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission when discussing the development of new stores Floor & Decor said “Most of our stores are situated in highly visible retail and industrial locations We have developed a disciplined approach to new store development research-driven method to site selection and a rigorous real estate review and approval process By focusing on key demographic characteristics for new site selection length of home ownership and median income we expect to open new stores with attractive returns.” In a traffic study prepared as part of the plans submitted seeking the Town of Cortlandt’s approval to go ahead with the repurposing of the former supermarket Corey Chase of Dynamic Traffic LLC said calculations show that while a supermarket produces 162 vehicle trips during the weekday morning peak Floor & Decor would produce only 16 trips when a supermarket is producing 487 vehicle trips Floor & Decor would produce only 26 trips The repurposing plan proposes to provide 331 parking spaces which is above the town requirement for one parking space for each 200 square feet of retail development and would be a total of 283 required spaces This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access. and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" CNN (CNN) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday while receiving the John F CNN (CNN) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday while receiving the John.. Trending Westchester A Cortlandt Manor man was driving at an unreasonable speed before he fatally struck a 42-year-old woman on Route 6 and drove off Friday night was arrested within a few hours of the collision after town and county police identified his car and found him at his Maple Avenue home Barak was charged with leaving the scene of a fatality and given summonses for unreasonable speed and failure to use designated lane He declined to comment when reached by phone Monday Police said Barak was westbound on East Main Street just after 8 p.m 3 when his car hit Jennifer Proeschel near Mohegan Avenue Mohegan Lake firefighters and Mohegan Ambulance EMTs attempted life-saving measures but Proeschel was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later According to the criminal complaint filed in court Proeschel was in the right lane on East Main Street when she was hit Yorktown detectives working with the Westchester County Police Accident Investigation Unit and Real Time Crime Center used video images of the car to determine the license plate Barak was arraigned on Saturday and released on bail 2025 at 6:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The estimated rental income from the one-bedroom unit is $899/month NY — Yet another new chance for potential homeowners and renters to combat the affordable housing crisis is here Westchester Residential Opportunities announced that there is a new chance for fair and affordable homeownership in Cortlandt Manor and applications are now being accepted The "beautiful two-family duplex detached home nestled in in the Town of Cortlandt" is move-in ready one-bathroom rental unit on the first floor New stainless steel appliances include a microwave The home has hardwood floors throughout and running heating boards The house is wired for generator backup (generator included) There is a recent roof and boiler/hot water heater (5 years old) The waterline system was updated from the street to the house The first and second level units have their own front and side patios with pavers The gross affordable sale price of the duplex is estimated to be $532,154 Estimated monthly real estate taxes will be $492 Estimated rental income from the one-bedroom unit is $899/month The occupancy for this duplex is two to five people It is required that the home be the purchaser's principal place of residence The property is available to those with a household income below 80 percent of the average monthly income in the region the household sizes and maximum incomes are as follows: The duplex is zoned to the Lakeland Central School District The property is located close to the Taconic State Parkway Nearby Metro-North stations include the Cortlandt station and the Croton-Harmon station A brochure and application, along with photos, can be found here Completed applications will be accepted on a first come Any applications received after the deadline will be waitlisted For additional information, contact Westchester Residential Opportunities at 914-428-4519 or email this address Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The national historic landmark and museum has been closed to visitors pending several infrastructure and landscaping projects aimed at improving visitor safety New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado says the renovations will mark a new chapter for the museum and allow it to reach even more visitors down the line “This site serves as a pillar of our democracy serving on the front lines during the Revolutionary War and continuing to serve as a site that educates our children on the founding for our country," says Delgado "As a proud Hudson Valley resident in Dutchess County it means a lot to me to have a site with so much history right here in our region.” The main focus of the renovations is the site’s entrance gate and “Long Walk,” an 800-foot brick walkway built in the 1950s says the main entrance gate has suffered multiple car crashes over the years due to its location at the abrupt The renovation project received $2.2 million from the Federal Highway Administration as well as $600,000 from Empire State Development and $225,000 in grant funds acquired by State Senator Pete Harckham and State Assemblymember Dana Levenberg and we have so much history here in the Hudson Valley," says Levenberg Van Cortlandt Manor dates back to the 17th Century a Dutch gentleman who served multiple terms as mayor of New York City received a royal charter permitting him to acquire a sprawling 86,000 acres from the Native Americans and establish it as “The Manor of Cortlandt.” The manor house was built in the early 1700s used it as his primary residence while serving as New York’s first lieutenant governor during the Revolutionary War the 36-acre site helps visitors and schoolchildren learn about life in America in the years during and after the Revolutionary War vice chairman of the board at Historic Hudson Valley says the organization aims to shed light not just on the Van Cortlandts but on the enslaved people who worked for the family and lived at the site Huchro has been working on new programming to launch at Van Cortlandt Manor after the renovations are done “One of the amazing stories that we want to highlight is that of Bridget," says Hucro "She was enslaved by the Van Cortlandts during the Revolutionary War and she was tasked with maintaining this property while the members of the Van Cortlandt family fled before the battles started here Bridget was an amazing woman who aided other enslaved women in escapes attempted from this site dramatically illustrates both bravery and resistance.” Also included in the renovations are improved sidewalks connecting the site to the Metro-North station at Croton-Harmon The site will remain closed to visitors while the project is underway which is celebrating its 20th year this fall Historic Hudson Valley President Waddell Stillman says annual pumpkin blaze has become a major attraction for families drawing more than 250,000 visitors to Van Cortlandt Manor last year “Van Cortlandt Manor has gone from being the least visited of Historic Hudson Valley’s sites to the most visited," he adds Historic Hudson Valley expects the renovations to complete by 2026 Be one of the first to know what's coming up on WAMC See additional subscription options NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that the Town of Cortlandt has installed new wind / solar powered lighting fixtures in the Town Hall parking lot thanks to a grant that is part of the $2.3 million municipal electrification funding he secured for communities in the 40th Senate District “I am pleased to have secured funding for this project which will benefit residents in terms of efficiency and reliability without burdening taxpayers,” Harckham said “As the Town of Cortlandt continues to work toward increasing use of renewable energy for its municipal infrastructure this investment in a combination of wind and solar lighting makes sense and is climate friendly.” representing the citizens of the Town of Cortlandt are very grateful for the assistance of Senator Pete Harckham in providing grant funding for the purchase and installation of three windmill/solar towers at Town Hall These new LED lights provide more than adequate lighting and our facility is now well-illuminated and safe This grant covered all expenses; there was no cost to the residents of the town.” The funding was available through the New York State Community Resiliency The town was able to purchase three solar powered lighting fixtures for the Town Hall parking lot The lighting fixtures will provide much needed additional lighting for the parking lot and demonstrate the Town’s commitment to a sustainable future The renewable-powered lighting will help the Town of Cortlandt maintain its Bronze Level Certification through New York State Energy Research & Development Agency (NYSERDA) and its Climate Smart Community (CSC) program through which communities are awarded points for implementing a variety of green Harckham announced in 2023 that $2.3 million in grant funding was available to local municipalities for various improvement and infrastructure projects including downtown improvements and new public safety equipment all of which would help residents without impacting local property taxes.  The CREST program is among the State Senate grant programs administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to support community and economic development Harckham has delivered more than $30 million of State Senate grant funding to municipalities and nonprofits in the 40th Senate District since taking office in 2019 Kings House of Fire Dispensary in Cortlandt Manor is the latest dispensary to offer the highly sought-after products from Silly Nice Kings House of Fire is one of the largest cannabis dispensaries in New York The dispensary is dedicated to delivering premium cannabis and cannabis-infused products in a welcoming With Silly Nice products now stocked at their store customers can experience some of the best cannabis offerings in the state Silly Nice has quickly become a top name in New York’s cannabis scene Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis enthusiast or a newcomer Silly Nice’s diverse range has something for everyone Here’s a closer look at the best-selling products now available at Kings House of Fire: Silly Nice products are available at a wide variety of locations across New York, including some of the top dispensaries in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island, and Upstate New York. Whether you’re looking for products in the bustling city or the more laid-back vibe of the countryside, Silly Nice has you covered. Use the Silly Nice DispensaryLocator to find a store near you As the demand for high-quality cannabis grows Silly Nice remains committed to providing the best in potency With more dispensaries stocking their products there’s never been a better time to try Silly Nice and discover your new favorite cannabis product Input your search keywords and press Enter Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A Northern Westchester man who earned the nickname “The Magician” for his ability to slash tax bills has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a massive $145 million fraud scheme that spanned a decade Rafael "The Magician" Alvarez owned and operated ATAX under the "El" in the Marble Hill section of the Bronx entered the plea in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday after being charged with conspiracy to defraud the US and aiding the preparation of false tax returns Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York was accused of submitting tens of thousands of fraudulent federal tax returns from 2010 through 2020 Prosecutors said Alvarez and his team used fake deductions and bogus credits to illegally reduce taxes for customers costing the IRS $145 million in lost revenue prepared approximately 90,000 federal income tax returns over the 10-year period Prosecutors said Alvarez personally oversaw and directed employees to falsify returns to secure larger refunds for clients Alvarez’s tactics earned him the nickname “The Magician” among his clients for seemingly making their tax burdens vanish federal prosecutors called his actions a serious crime that deprived the government of massive sums of tax revenue in one of the largest ever tax frauds by a return preparer should serve as an important reminder to tax professionals that this Office will vigorously investigate and prosecute tax offenses,” Kim said Alvarez agreed to pay $145 million in restitution to the IRS and forfeit over $11.8 million in proceeds from the scheme Alvarez now faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy and an additional three years for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns 2025 at 2:38 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}On March 13 troopers responded to a report of three people concealing merchandise at the Kohl's store in Cortlandt Manor NY — A prolific trio connected to a string of store thefts across the region are now facing felony charges The New York State Police in Cortlandt say they have arrested three Connecticut residents in connection with an organized retail theft operation targeting Kohl's stores in the area troopers responded to a report of three people concealing merchandise at the Kohl's store in Cortlandt Manor When they tried to leave the store with $6,152.88 in stolen items the suspects were apprehended by state police with assistance from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) They were each charged with felony third-degree grand larceny and felony third-degree criminal possession of stolen property Police say that further investigation linked the suspects to a separate theft at the Kohl's store in Bedford where they allegedly stole $10,020.21 in merchandise They were then turned over to the Town of Bedford Police Department for further investigation Investigators believe that the three suspects are part of an organized retail theft group targeting Kohl's locations across the tri-state area New York State Police ask that anyone with additional information related to this case or similar incidents contact Investigator Joseph P Castellano at SP Cortlandt BCI at 914-737-7171 Georgia State Police say Katz and five other Capitol police recruits were leaving the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick when their vehicle overturned and ejected several passengers Katz died of his injuries several hours later and was the lone fatality in the crash He was a 2020 graduate of Walter Panas High School He also trained in mixed martial arts and was an avid hiker "He embraced every challenge with determination and poured himself into everything he did—whether excelling in sports or learning new skills to connect with those around him," said the Katz family in his obituary After high school, Katz went on to receive a degree in Criminal Justice from Temple University and served in the U.S. Army Reserves before joining the U.S. Capitol Police Force last November bringing joy to others with his humor and warmth and he will forever be remembered as a source of strength and inspiration." U.S Congressmembers and Capitol Police honored Katz and his fellow recruits dedication to their service with a moment of silence on the House floor Wednesday following news of the crash “It is a tragic day with the news that several USCP recruits were involved in that fatal accident while in Georgia and are dealing with serious injuries,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and House Administration ranking member Joe Morelle (D-NY) said in a joint statement Feb “Each and every day, the Capitol Police put their lives on the line to ensure that the United States Congress the crown jewel of representative Democracy Katz's uncle, Richard Ojeda, said Katz's friends and former classmates gathered to create a GoFundMe Wednesday for the family, which as of Monday, Feb. 10, has reached over $36,000. Wake services for Katz will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 and Thursday, Feb. 13 at Yorktown Funeral Home an organization that supports veterans in need and their service animals (This story was updated with new information.) Westchester local Fiona Foody loves to sing. And at just 9 years old, she recently accomplished a major music milestone: she performed at the Apollo Theater Fiona took to the world-famous stage for Amateur Night on Wednesday, Dec. 4 when she tried to win over the theater’s “notoriously tough audience,” a crowd known for not holding back when it comes to showing displeasure ‘you’re going to let her audition at the Apollo?’” said Jane Foody audience members are prohibited from booing Amateur Night's youth contestants.) Fiona charmed the Apollo’s crowd with her rendition of Alicia Keys’ ballad "Girl on Fire," a song that both showcases the power of her voice and holds personal significance While Fiona showed signs of star power at a very early age — Fiona said she’s been singing “since I was probably born" — one of her first on-stage performances was at her father’s memorial service accompanied by Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kimié Miner The choice was a hit with the Apollo crowd Fiona and her mom said people came up to her after the show to give her compliments and take pictures with her "The majority of the audience that wasn’t there for that band that was all these people that were coming up to her saying 'You were my favorite,' 'I was cheering for you,' 'I wanted you to win,'" Foody said it felt like she did win," Foody continued Local music: How Nyack blanket-collecting concert helps people without homes during the holidays Fiona has taken vocal and piano lessons with local veteran musician and teacher who owns Cortlandt School of Performing Arts and directs music for the Westchester Women’s Chorus the two worked on performance essentials like projection memorization and lyric interpretation to prepare for Amateur Night “she kind of nailed the song the minute she walked in the door.” “Fiona’s voice is so exceptional,” Arrucci said Fiona's Amateur Night performance was so well-received that she was invited to perform at the Apollo again “My mom videoed (the performance)," Fiona said Amateur Night has a reputation for launching the careers of music legends Next up for the 9-year-old is auditioning for an upcoming production of "The Sound of Music" in Yorktown she's set to sing the national anthem at a local basketball game in January Fiona has her sights set on becoming a famous singer She wants to go on tour and perform at venues like Madison Square Garden CORTLANDT — A 9-year-old girl from Westchester is set to channel her inner Alicia Keys on Wednesday as she performs at the iconic Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem at 7:30 p.m Fiona Foody, of Cortlandt Manor, will be singing Keys’ hit “Girl on Fire” as she attempts to win over the “notoriously tough audience,” and win the competition The winner of Amateur Night is decided by the loudness of crowd's cheers Rockland and Putnam counties are encouraged to attend the show in support of the young performer in the making Fiona showed signs of a powerful voice and stage presence from an early age "She was singing before she was talking," said Fiona's mom "Everything became ‘E-I-E-I-O.’ Her coos weren’t just coos Fiona started performing on stage when she was 3 years old She sang “Girl on Fire” at her father’s memorial and he used to play the song and (Fiona) would sing it," Foody said Fiona has been working with veteran music teacher Carol Arrucci, the owner of the Cortlandt School of Performing Arts and music director of the Westchester Women's Chorus Fiona has been taking piano and vocal lessons with Arrucci for about two years "I’ve worked with children a lot," Arrucci said The Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night has launched the careers of many music legends Wednesday's performance marks a milestone on her journey toward becoming a popular singer Cost: Tickets prices range from $39.85 to $69.85 plus fees For more information: To learn more and purchase tickets, check out apollotheater.org/amateur-night (This story was updated to correct an inaccuracy.) A 24-year-old Cortlandt Manor man was arrested following a hit-and-run crash that killed a Mohegan Lake woman in Yorktown on Friday night The Yorktown Police Department responded to reports of a pedestrian struck on East Main Street near Mohegan Avenue at approximately 8:06 p.m identified as 42-year-old Jennifer Proeschel of Mohegan Lake and provided aid with assistance from Yorktown Paramedics where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival who was traveling westbound on East Main Street Using resources from the Westchester County Police Department Accident Investigation Unit and the Real Time Crime Center officers identified the vehicle and the alleged operator The suspect was arrested at his home and charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury auto accident resulting in death (a Class D felony) and failure to use a designated lane (traffic infractions) The driver was transported to the Yorktown Police Department for processing and is awaiting arraignment in Yorktown Justice Court Yorktown Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact them Three Connecticut residents were found to be part of an alleged multi-state retail theft group after being caught red-handed stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from a Kohl’s store in New York The three suspects were arrested on Thursday after allegedly attempting to leave the Kohl’s store in the Northern Westchester County hamlet of Cortlandt Manor with stolen goods worth $6,152.88 Authorities apprehended the trio before they could escape New York State Police announced on Wednesday Investigators identified the suspects as Hartford County residents Tyeisha R Further investigation linked them to an earlier Kohl’s theft in the Westchester County town of Bedford the suspects were released on their own recognizance and turned over to Bedford Police for further investigation Authorities said they believe the trio is part of an organized retail theft operation targeting Kohl’s stores across the Tri-State Area State Police urge anyone with information on this case or similar incidents to contact Investigator Joseph P Perpetrated and Oversaw One of the Largest Ever Tax Frauds by a Return Preparer the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced the guilty plea of RAFAEL ALVAREZ a/k/a “the Magician,” to a two-count Superseding Information charging ALVAREZ with one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S and steal government funds and one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false and fraudulent U.S The charges arise from ALVAREZ’s orchestration of a decade-long $145 million tax fraud scheme to file tens of thousands of federal individual income tax returns that included false information designed to fraudulently reduce the individuals’ tax burden Alvarez agreed to pay the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) $145 million in restitution and forfeit over $11.84 million in fraudulent proceeds he received from his criminal conduct Kim said: “Rafael Alvarez became known as ‘the Magician’ by his customers for his supposed ability to make their tax burden disappear.  But there was no magic to what Alvarez was doing – he was committing a serious federal crime by falsifying tens of thousands of tax returns and depriving the IRS of $145 million in tax revenue.  Today’s guilty plea should serve as an important reminder to tax professionals that this Office will vigorously investigate and prosecute tax offenses.” As alleged in the Indictment and Superseding Information and statements made in public filings and court proceedings: also doing business as ATAX New York-Marble Hill “ATAX”).  ATAX was a high-volume tax preparation company located in the Bronx which prepared approximately 90,000 federal income tax returns for its customers during this period.  ALVAREZ both prepared tax returns for ATAX customers and recruited and directed other ATAX personnel who in turn prepared tax returns for customers.  During this period ALVAREZ oversaw a sweeping fraudulent scheme whereby he and his employees submitted false information to the IRS in ATAX customers’ tax returns. This false information served to fraudulently reduce the customers’ tax liability and increase the customers’ tax refunds from the IRS ALVAREZ oversaw ATAX’s fraudulent submission of tax returns on behalf of customers that deprived the IRS of $145 million in tax revenue.  ALVAREZ was so consistent at falsifying ATAX customer tax returns that he became known to ATAX’s customers as “the Magician.”  Additionally ALVAREZ agreed as part of his plea agreement that he was a leader of the scheme and attempted to obstruct or impede the administration of justice with respect to the investigation of the tax fraud scheme when he and an ATAX employee made false statements to an IRS Revenue Agent.  ALVAREZ’s operation of ATAX helped the company generate approximately $12 million in fraudulent proceeds over the duration of the fraud pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S and steal government funds, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false and fraudulent U.S which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.  ALVAREZ is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Oetken on April 11 NEW YORK – Matt Ryan needed something to do The former Iona Prep star was home during COVID spending hours every day working out while preparing for any potential basketball opportunities that could come his way Then he picked up a job at a cemetery in Yonkers “Just started a couple easy jobs that I could drop whenever to continue chasing my dream,” Ryan said in the New York Knicks locker room before a recent game Ryan has been on a basketball journey the past few years, bouncing around different organizations and spending time in the NBA and the G-League, most recently leading to a spot with his hometown Knicks whose facility is a short drive from where he grew up in Cortlandt Manor The Knicks signed the 27-year-old Ryan earlier this month after he had been waived by the New Orleans Pelicans coveting his shooting ability in particular Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau indicated this week that he could be expanding his rotation to include Ryan off the bench The competitor in me is just happy to be on a team again I went a little bit trying to figure out what was going to happen It’s been quite the roller coaster for the 6-foot-6 Ryan who as a senior at Iona Prep averaged 19 points and eight rebounds while helping lead the Gaels to the school’s first AA Archdiocesan championship Basketball” that year by the Basketball Coaches Association of New York that year where he spent two seasons before transferring to Vanderbilt and then to Chattanooga as a graduate transfer for the 2019-20 season Ryan was not selected in the 2020 NBA Draft he considered taking a financial job in the City so those talks were happening with places in the city,” Ryan said “A couple best friends of mine who owned firms in the city I would’ve went and worked with that would probably be a long-term commitment and it would take away from my training it might take away from opportunities to get up and leave right away if an opportunity popped up.” That opportunity did pop up – he played Summer League with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021 before spending preseason with the Denver Nuggets Lakers and Timberwolves before his time with the Pelicans and now the Knicks He was selected first overall by the Westchester Knicks in the 2024 G-League Draft The Knicks signed him to a non-guaranteed deal to fill out their roster about two weeks kater seeing what areas of my game I can work on,” Ryan said Last year I got a lot of film playing in New Orleans so I was able to see what I look like out there Now Ryan is prepared for whatever role he’s able to carve out with the Knicks “A lot of getting better in this league is all about the mental side of it,” Ryan said understanding how you can take advantage your strengths out there continue to stay ready and luckily continue to get more opportunities.” When the Van Cortlandt family acquired their sprawling Hudson Valley estate in the late 1600s they couldn't have imagined that it would one day host a jack-o'-lantern festival with pumpkin sculptures including a Kraken Van Cortlandt Manor is best known as the site of The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze an annual festival featuring elaborate pumpkin carvings and sculptures The entire estate measures around 125 acres and The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze spans a total of around 10 acres making it the largest Halloween event in the tri-state area It's one of many spooky events fueling a Halloween industry that is expected to reach $11.6 billion this year I attended The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in September to explore the historic mansion and grounds .. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit's preservation work and educational programming Prices range from $34 for a standard ticket to $77 for admission to the Gourd and Goblet Tavern a dining experience inside the manor's historic ferry house Blaze also offers a $129 "flex" ticket that includes a free drink and snack and is valid any day of the event Tickets can be purchased on Historic Hudson Valley's website Historic Hudson Valley provided Business Insider with a timed press ticket The organic pumpkins are grown at Wallkill View Farm in New Paltz creative director of The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze told Business Insider that his team carves over 1,000 pumpkins each week to replace the ones that rot Using some foam pumpkins doesn't just help with the longevity of the displays; it also preserves the estate "Because we're on a historical site where there are historical buildings we don't want to introduce more organic material that's going to mold or attract rodents," Natiello said When the first Blaze festival was held 20 years ago the spider web consisted of pumpkins laid flat on the ground in a web-like pattern it's a 24-foot display mounted on professional theater-grade hardware "We went from a bunch of history buffs to a pretty high-end production company in 20 years," Natiello said vice president of communications at Historic Hudson Valley told Business Insider that the organization expects over 200,000 people to attend this year including visitors from all over the world the Kraken was believed to be real and a threat to shipping," Natiello said "The Van Cortlandts were from the Dutch West India Trading Company They literally had docks right on the site where ships came The actual bridge connects Tarrytown and Nyack across the Hudson River The gallery wall included pumpkin versions of The Son of Man A sign explained the jack-o'-lantern's origin in Irish folklore from the tale of "Stingy Jack" who carved a turnip and lit it with a candle as he wandered between heaven and hell The windmill was surrounded by pumpkins carved with tulips and lit up in different colors Fog billowed out of a pumpkin blacksmith shop The pumpkin planetarium seemed to be the most popular spot to stop for photos Natiello named the Road to Infinity as his favorite part of the festival provided overnight accommodations to travelers along the Albany Post Road you're walking on what was the Albany Post Road which was the main road connecting Albany and New York City," Schweitzer said "It's essentially an extension of Broadway that ran right through the property That took a little longer back then than it does today this was a good stopping point to get some food A man in 18th-century period dress checked my ID and crossed my name off a list before admitting me to the Gourd and Goblet which came in a Gourd and Goblet Tavern cup The table also had a bar snack mix to nibble on I hadn't realized just how many courses Gourd and Goblet offered Tickets with admission to the tavern cost an extra $43 a souvenir cup of apple cider alone costs $10 at the Blaze concession stand It's a nice spot to bring a date or sit with a group of friends but I think the event would be just as enjoyable for those who skip it At the foot of the jack-o'-lantern Statue of Liberty pumpkins were carved with American flags and lit up in red Everyone around me was delighted to discover that the display included a Pizza Rat jack-o'lantern a nod to the viral 2015 video of a rat dragging a slice of pizza down the steps of the New York City subway The manor itself is temporarily closed for restoration work but its balcony was lined with smiling jack-o'-lanterns Pierre Van Cortlandt fought in the Revolutionary War and served as New York's first Lieutenant Gov served as a New York representative in Congress from 1793 to 1809 I'm not usually one for spooky Halloween outings (though I have visited some purportedly haunted places in the name of journalism) The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze felt more like an art show than a haunted house A $4.8 million restoration project has gotten underway at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson that is designed to address infrastructure issues and improve safety and accessibility The state’s Empire State Development (ESD) is partnering with Historic Hudson Valley in the project and has provided $600,000 to help cover the costs Antonio Delgado visited the manor to help launch the effort and said “The Van Cortlandt Manor National Historic Site has served as a pillar of our democracy since our country’s founding We are proud to have invested $600,000 in this project through Empire State Development to ensure the sustainability and tourism attraction of this historic landmark.” and additional funding from the Indian Point Community Fund and Technology Program with the assistance of New York State Sen Pete Harckham who has arranged for $100,000 and Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg who is providing $125,000 The manor is closed during the construction period which is expected to conclude some time in 2026 The work will include reconfiguring the manor’s entrance to enhance vehicular and pedestrian safety Other work includes enhancing drainage and storm water management removing invasive species of plants and replanting native trees and shrubs and improving pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to the Metro-North/Amtrak station and downtown Croton-on-Hudson “Van Cortlandt Manor is a key part of New York state’s history This will boost the region’s economic vitality by drawing in visitors who support jobs not only at the manor Cortlandt's former assistant general foreman and the owner of a Peekskill landscaping company pleaded guilty Monday to an illegal dumping scheme and have agreed to pay $2.4 million in restitution Robert Dyckman gave Glenn Griffin access to the town's Environmental Services site on Arlo Lane The company was then paid by the town to remove the material Attorney Damian Williams assailed Dyckman for using "his important public position to enrich himself and damage public lands" by allowing Griffin to dump the harmful material Griffin turning around and billing the town to remove what he had illegally dumped was "brazen," Williams said Griffin also pleaded guilty to a separate bid-rigging scheme that bilked Croton Harmon schools and the Verplanck fire district out of $133,000 Court documents detail several occasions when Griffin would text Dyckman to see if his company could dump material and Dyckman would facilitate it by making sure nobody was around on Arlo Lane Can we dump a few loads first thing only tmrw??” Griffin texted on Dec "Yes just give me a time and I will pull him out," Dyckman responded and I want to take care of u guys I don’t want it for nothing Dyckman texted an associate "I’m seeing Glenn today I’ll have money for food today.” after Dyckman directed a worker to be on site one weekend to help Griffin he logged the worker's overtime hours as occurring on a weekday to hide the illegal dumping non-competitive bids from companies he was not associated with for work at Croton schools and the Verplanck firehouse That ensured his company would be the low bidder and he got the contracts Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznick to bribery conspiracy and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces up to 10 years in prison pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud The restitution will be paid to the town of Cortlandt and the Westchester Land Trust to cover remediation of the Arlo Lane facility and the land trust's damaged wetlands abutting the facility was fired in the fall of 2019 after town officials reviewed surveillance videos that showed him at the yard when Griffin's trucks were dumping The matter was referred to the Westchester District Attorney's Office and federal authorities Although he was under federal investigation Dyckman sued to get his job back in early 2021 Both men were arrested on the federal charges in July 2022 and Dyckman's lawsuit was dismissed last year and these Hudson Valley lights displays are just the thing to make your season bright Check out these seasonal attractions, sure to warm hearts this winter, and be sure to bookmark our Holiday Lights Map to see the best of holiday hues in the Hudson Valley Holiday Lights Map: Where to see holiday, Christmas lights in the Lower Hudson Valley NY What to do Thanksgiving weekend: Westchester Winter Wonderland to Small Biz Saturday This 1.2-mile drive-through lights display features a 100-foot-long light tunnel Cost: General admission (one vehicle) starts at $35, fees not included. Reserve tickets online at feverup.com/m/249901 More info: Check out more info online at wwinterwonderland.com Indulge in a merry walk through a dazzling holiday lights tour at Monteverde Cost: Tickets start at $25 per adult, $20 per child, plus fees. Buffet dinner add-on is available for an additional cost More info: Learn more at monteverdeatoldstone.com/holiday-lights-tour The merry masterminds behind holiday displays in New York City, American Christmas have once again opened their headquarters in Mount Vernon to the public to spread Christmas cheer Check out dazzling custom displays at Holiday Lane and support a local charity in the process proceeds from Holiday Lane go towards Northeast STEM Starter Academy More info: Learn more at bit.ly/3YXZYfJ Head to Goshen for this "dreamland adventure" drive-through display More info: wattchristmaswonderland.com has once again decked the halls with boughs of holly for the holiday season Check out their lush seasonal displays in this year's Christmas Store while you shop for holiday decor and make merry Cost: Free to walk through and browse the Christmas Store More info: Go to bit.ly/4ibvlfF to learn more Annual Keeler Christmas Light Display in Putnam ValleyThe Keeler Christmas Light Display as featured on ABC's "Great Christmas Light Fight" in 2023 returns for the holiday season starting Nov According to the display's Facebook event page Shuttles will be available from the German American Club (at 11 Kramers Pond Road) starting at 5 p.m. the Keeler's have partnered with United for the Troops," the event page says "so donation boxes and monetary donations will be accepted to support our troops." You can also don festive Keeler Christmas Light Display apparel, designed by Chris Gallello. Order the t-shirts online here And don't forget to write a letter to Santa Any letter received will be answered if you include your return address When: Celebrate the first night of the display More info: Check out the event's Facebook page here (This story was updated to add new photos.) A two-car crash in front of a historic Northern Westchester manor-turned-museum caused injuries The crash happened in front of Van Cortlandt Manor a Revolutionary War-era living history museum on South Riverside Avenue in Croton-on-Hudson.  The incident happened in Croton-on-Hudson on Saturday when two vehicles collided in front of Van Cortlandt Manor on South Riverside Avenue according to the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department Arriving fire crews dealt with a fluid spill from one of the cars while EMS treated a driver injured in the crash 2024 at 8:38 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}To help you fit it all in your 4th of July calendar Patch has put together a guide to what's going on throughout Westchester County so it's time to find out where you can celebrate in and around town To help you fit it all in your 4th of July calendar Patch has put together a guide to what's going on throughout Westchester County Peekskill: Fourth of July schedule, Tuesday, July 4. Kickoff at 10:30 a.m. Peekskill Volunteer Fire Association in downtown Peekskill. Parade route is Crompond Road to South Division Street, First Street, Union Ave., South Street, North Division, Main Street, North Broad Street, ending at the Central Fire House. More information here Riverfront Summer Concert Series with First Class Band will be followed by fireworks display at 9:15 p.m Croton-on-Hudson: July 4th Revolutionary War Living History Presentation. July 4, 10 a.m. - noon. Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 S. Riverside Ave. Find more information here Parking at waterfront lot on July 4 will be for Dobbs Ferry residents only (Rain date for fireworks is July 7.) Mister Softee and Latusion food trucks Hastings-on-Hudson: 4th of July Kayaking Celebration with NY Paddle Destinations. 6:30 p.m. "A scenic sunset paddle, a delicious BBQ, and a front-row seat to the fireworks display stretching from NYC to Tarrytown." Full details and tickets, here Katonah: July 4, 8 p.m. Caramoor's Pops & Patriots. Westchester Symphonic Winds annual tribute with program including The Star Spangled Banner, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, and Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever. Fireworks return this summer. Find out more here Larchmont: The Dixie Dandies will be playing July 4 Fireworks will be visible all along the Long Island Sound Mount Vernon: July 4, 10:30 a.m. St. Paul's Church. The annual Independence Day celebration, featuring a reading of the Declaration of Independence and tolling, 13 times, of the historic St. Paul's church bell. Find more information here Ossining: RiverJam 2024 on Fridays start July 3. Concerts on July 3 only are at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks. Live music, food trucks, craft beverages. Louis Engel Waterfront Park. Find more information here Port Chester: The 2024 Fireworks Celebration on July 4 will take place at Port Chester H.S Somers: Independence Day Celebration for Somers residents & guests. July 3. 5 p.m. until fireworks at end. Basketball tournament, hot dog eating contest, Somers Lions bbq, concession stand, activities for kids and adults, town-sponsored axe throwing. Reis Park, 82 Primrose St., Katonah. More information here Tarrytown: July 4th Celebration at Pierson Park there will be a kids fun zone with face painting Fireworks may be seen from any of the village parks in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown Heavy traffic is expected and parking is limited Valhalla: The Westchester County Music Fest and Fireworks, Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla, Monday, July 3. Pre-concert entertainment starts at 5 p.m.; fireworks, about 9:15 p.m. Tailgate party at Clove Road Field from 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Find more information here White Plains: Independence Day Celebration, July 2, 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at White Plains High School. Music, rides, and food. More information here Yonkers: 4th of July Fireworks by Grucci on the downtown waterfront Americans celebrate the birth of a new nation with fireworks predate by centuries the designation of Independence Day as a federal holiday During the pivotal summer of 1776, the pre-Revolutionary celebrations honoring King George III’s birthday were replaced with mock funerals as a symbolic break from the crown It was an exciting time in Philadelphia — the Continental Congress voted to break from the crown and the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the original 13 colonies — New Hampshire South Carolina and Georgia — to adopt the Declaration of Independence The first annual commemoration of the nation’s independence was in Philadelphia on July 4 Fireworks have been part of Fourth of July festivities since the first celebration in Philadelphia 2025 at 2:16 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}New York State Police announced that they conducted an undercover operation with the FBI the Rockland County Sheriff's Office and the Town of Ramapo Police Department targeting those involved in the online exploitation of children child exploitation undercover operation has led to half a dozen arrests New York State Police announced that they conducted an undercover operation with the FBI the Rockland County Sheriff's Office and the Town of Ramapo Police Department The dayslong operation resulted in the identification and arrests of several suspects engaged in child exploitation and trafficking Police said the operation deployed highly trained investigators to infiltrate online platforms where these types of crimes often start investigators were able to identify people attempting to exploit vulnerable children online and meet them in person The operation resulted in six men being arrested and charged with various offenses Police say that a historical investigation will continue into each of the men who were exposed during the investigation was charged with felony first-degree attempted rape and misdemeanor attempted endangering the welfare of a child He was remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash $150,000 partially secured bond and ordered to appear in Montebello Village Court on Friday was charged with felony first-degree attempted rape misdemeanor third-degree attempted patronizing for prostitution and misdemeanor attempted endangering the welfare of a child He was remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $7,500 cash $30,000 partially secured bond and ordered to appear in Montebello Village Court on Friday was charged with felony first-degree attempted rape and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child was charged with felony second-degree attempted rape felony first-degree attempted disseminating indecent material to minors was charged with felony first-degree attempted disseminating indecent material to minors NJ was charged with felony second-degree attempted rape misdemeanor attempted endangering the welfare of a child and midemeanor seventh-generation criminal possession controlled substance SEE ALSO: Latest Undercover Child Exploitation Op Leads To New Arrest: NYSP Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. A late July morning shower did not dampen enthusiasm at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson municipal sponsor for the Manor’s multi-million-dollar site restoration project Historic Hudson Valley welcomed Croton Village Manager Bryan Healy as well as local and New York State officials to announce the makeover of the 36-acre property best known as home of The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze The restoration will reflect a distinctly modern sensibility honoring the historical significance of the Van Cortlandt family and their property while also paying homage to the enslaved people who maintained the property as part of an exploration of life following the Revolutionary War “The Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council is happy to be here to launch the start of Historic Hudson Valley’s restoration project,” said Dr Co-Chair of Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council and CEO of Business Council of Westchester “As Westchester County’s largest cultural organization Historic Hudson Valley educates and entertains hundreds of thousands of visitors a year through school programs striking a balance between tradition and vision from preserving the past to contextualizing it in creative ways for 21st century audiences.”  The restoration project received a 2.2-million-dollar appropriation from the Federal Highway Administration through New York State Department of Transit and an Empire State Development grant of $600,000 There also is support by way of New York State Senator Pete Harckham ($100,000) and Assemblymember Dana Levenberg ($125,000) both of whom secured those amounts through a state Community Resiliency Built around pedestrian and vehicular safety at the property’s cul-de-sac main entrance the project will address ease of visitor accessibility most notably through the 800-foot brick path approach to the house and modernizing an underground pedestrian walkway between the historic site and Metro North Also planned is the addition of electric car-charging stations and extensive landscape maintenance Historic Hudson Valley Director of Marketing said she is looking forward to the “expanded attractions and play strategies that the restoration will provide for school children Visitors to the updated historic site will be able to explore life after the Revolutionary War Addressing the media from the elevated porch of the Manor House amidst native greenery and lamp-post-lined brick pathways public officials expressed their enthusiastic support for the project and for Historic Hudson Valley’s vision for the future Governor Antonio Delgado pointed out that the Manor House where he stood addressing attendees was the residence of New York State’s first Lt Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg embraced “celebrating history,” and said that facts and stories of slavery have been overlooked Deputy Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins added “It is important to tell accurate history—good or bad.”   Tree maintenance throughout the site is underway “There will be a pause in the project for The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze as it celebrates its 20th year in 2024,” Waddell Stillman President of Historic Hudson Valley,” told River Journal “Restoration and site maintenance will resume at year’s end and is expected to ramp up at the start of the new year.”    Estimated completion date for the project is 2026 Hudson Valley magazine and other publications RiverJournalOnline is the online publication of River Journal and River Journal North No part of River Journal or River Journal North including photos ads and text may be reproduced without the written consent of the Publisher 2025 at 8:18 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}After processing he was arraigned and remanded to the Westchester County Jail without bail NY — A drunken driver who managed to cause two separate car crashes The Yorktown Police Department says that 62-year-old Vasel Balbona was arrested last week and charged in connection to the two crashes Yorktown police received a report of a two-car accident on Route 118 shortly followed by a report of a second accident nearby on Route 100 Balbona was identified as the driver of the vehicle that was involved in both accidents police say that Balbona was traveling on Route 100 when he struck another vehicle from behind and fled the scene of that accident on Route 118 He then failed to maintain his lane and drove left of the pavement markings After a DMV check of Balbona's license status police found that he operated a vehicle while his privilege to do so was revoked for previous DWI convictions he was operating a vehicle without an interlock device installed They also alleged that Balbona was driving while intoxicated by alcohol and had a BAC of .18 percent or more Balbona arrived at the Yorktown Police Department headquarters on January 16 His charges included felony DWI with 2 prior convictions; felony aggravated DWI with a BAC of .18 percent or more with 2 prior convictions; felony first degree aggravated unlicensed operation; misdemeanor operating a vehicle without an interlock device installed; and three traffic infractions: leaving the scene of a property damage accident Balbona is due to appear in the Yorktown Justice Court on February 6 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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Friday the 13th marked the unofficial start of spooky season in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with the opening of the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze made up of thousands of intricately carved Jack-o-lantern displays Read on for your guide to one of Westchester's most wondrous and whimsical Halloween attractions U pick: Your seasonal guide to pumpkin picking in the Hudson Valley The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze started Friday so be sure to snag yours for the time you want Tickets were listed as "limited" availability for Sept There are different levels of tickets to choose from so you can customize your Blaze experience Standard admission online tickets start at $20 for adults and $20 for children (ages 3-17) Standard tickets require you to choose a date and time Flex time tickets allow you to visit on any day and include a drink and snack from Cafe Blaze Standard Blaze plus Gourd & Goblet combo tickets start at $55 for adults Historic Hudson Valley members can attend for free for only $20 in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Hudson Valley Blaze See available dates and times, and buy your tickets online at hudsonvalley.org or pumpkinblaze.org. The Hudson Valley Blaze is at the historic Van Cortlandt Manor (525 S There is a second Blaze event out on Long Island at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Nassau County Brains behind The Blaze: Pumpkin carvers gear up for Halloween season in Croton-on-Hudson and its billed as a VIP experience for adults 21 and older The Gourd & Goblet Tavern at Van Cortlandt Manor gives visitors access to an 18th century-style tavern speakeasy located at the midway point of the Blaze path Enjoy cocktails and food items not available elsewhere at The Blaze The experience requires a separate ticket and is only available with a corresponding Blaze ticket in the same time slot New for 2024 is the Twilight Village at Sleepy Hollow experience visitors can stroll through the village and enjoy a night of Halloween fun such as having their fortune read Behind the scenes: Here's how carvers prep thousands of pumpkins every year for Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze expert carvers prep thousands of pumpkins for The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in Croton Pumpkins included in the sculptures are a mix of real and fake pumpkins Fake pumpkins are used to reduce the number of pumpkin replacements needed during an event and to allow for more intricate designs with thinner walls carvers can average around 35 pumpkins a day per person in a six-hour time frame during the carving phase of Blaze prep When it comes to live pumpkins for carving the team uses howden pumpkins grown by Wallkill View Farms in New Paltz Learn more about the process, and pick up some tips for carving your own gourd-geous masterpiece, by reading this story. It's never too early to start planning for spooky season home of Sleepy Hollow and the legend of the Headless Horseman Here's eight words you've been waiting for: Tickets are on sale now for The Blaze Halloween enthusiasts know the story by Washington Irving (one of the area's most famous former residents who now calls Sleepy Hollow Cemetery home) during which the beloved antagonist Headless Horseman throws a pumpkin at Ichabod Crane Fans of the tale will want to heed the call to Croton-on-Hudson this fall for the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor which is returning for its special 20th anniversary with plenty of new thrills Great Jack 'O Lantern Blaze: 3 things to know ahead of the annual Blaze attraction The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor is sure to delight with its numerous installations of elaborately-carved jack o' lanterns This year's Blaze out on Long Island features glowing jack o’ lanterns in elaborate displays throughout the Old Bethpage Village Restoration New this year for the Hudson Valley is a special "speakeasy" experience called the Gourd and Goblet where visitors can relax in an 18th-century inn on the Pumpkin Trail a news release from Historic Hudson Valley reads Ticketed admission for the Gourd and Goblet includes table service with choice of one alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink in a souvenir cup This is experience is recommended for adults 21 and over Also new this year is the addition the Twilight Village at Sleepy Hollow experience Other festivities include The Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country Irving's 'Legend' and Legendary Tours of Washington Irving’s Sunnyside home Blaze events have limited capacity and typically sell out so purchasing tickets in advance is recommended Standard admission online tickets start at $20 for adults and $20 for children (aged 3-17) Blaze plus Gourd and Goblet combo tickets start at $55 for adults All children’s (3-17) tickets are $10 all night The Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country: A Night of Legendary Magic- September 27-29; October 4-6 Online tickets start at $65 and Historic Hudson Valley members receive a 15% discount Twilight Village at Sleepy Hollow- September 27-29; October 4-6 Historic Hudson Valley members receive a 15% discount on tickets Irving’s ‘Legend’- September 27-29; October 4-6 Online tickets start at $35 for adults and $30 for children (aged 3-17) Legendary Tours of Washington Irving’s Sunnyside- September 13-15 27-29; October 2-7; 9-14; 16-21; 23-28; 30-31; and November 1-3 $18 for seniors and young adults; $16 for children (aged 3-17) Tickets can be purchased online at hudsonvalley.org or by calling 914-366-6900 there is a $2.50 per ticket surcharge when ordering over the phone 2025 at 10:54 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Yorktown Police Department said that with help from neighboring jurisdictions NY — Yorktown police say that an arrest has been made in connection to a Friday evening hit-and-run that left a Westchester woman dead officers were called to the scene of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle on East Main Street near Mohegan Avenue The vehicle left the scene of the accident Despite CPR administered by the first Yorktown police officer on scene who was quickly assisted by Yorktown Paramedics the Mohegan Fire Department and Mohegan Ambulance The victim was identified as 42-year-old Jennifer Proeschel After an investigation by the Yorktown Police Department Accident Investigation Unit the Yorktown Police Department Detective Bureau the Westchester County Police Department Accident Investigation Unit and the Westchester County Real Time Crime Center a vehicle belonging to Jake Barak was identified Yorktown police and New York State Police found the vehicle at Barak's Cortlandt Manor home and arrested him The 24-year-old was charged with felony leaving the scene of personal injury auto accident-resulting in death a traffic violation of speed not reasonable and a traffic infraction of failing to use designated lane The Great Jack-O’-Lantern Blaze got off to a gord-geous start last weekend On Friday the 13th, the Historic Hudson Valley’s annual Halloween event kicked off its 2024 season with jack-o'-lanterns made from over 9,000 pumpkins intricately carved and placed into elaborate structures Twilight created the perfect backdrop as guests lined up just before 7:30 p.m Since the Blaze has a reputation as one of the area’s biggest and brightest activities of the season we headed out to Van Cortlandt Manor on the opening night of its 20th year to see what this experience is all about what seemed like a series of creatively carved jack-o’-lanterns was transformed into a vast land of twinkling lights and thoughtful scenes as far as I could see I was transported to the Netherlands by a Dutch lighthouse surrounded by tulips then crossed a jack-o’-lantern overpass that looked suspiciously similar to the Governor Mario M Then I gazed at the stars in a pumpkin-fied planetarium an experience I can only describe as breathtaking There was a MoMA-inspired art museum with pumpkin versions of famous works like "The Scream" and the "Mona Lisa." There was also a vignette of the Headless Horseman and a moving merry-go-round made by William Dentzel a descendant of one of the country's first carousel makers These pieces were favorites of Yonkers resident Keri Jenkins “It sparks the Halloween tradition," Jenkins said when asked about the experience "It's something for everyone because it's a little spooky Next on the path was The Gourd & Goblet Tavern The Tavern provides visitors with Halloween-themed bites in a historical space that was once an inn for travelers making stops along Albany Post Road Visitors can choose between a pumpkin or vegetable empanada a non-alcoholic beverage or cocktail in a souvenir cup and a sweet treat to go (The Tavern experience requires an additional admission fee Then I giggled at a scene of New York City so detailed that it had its very own Pizza Rat adorned with accompanying pumpkin gravestones carved with the names of real Van Cortlandt family members who once lived at the estate "This year, the house is my favorite," said Michael Natiello, Blaze's creative director “We kind of went a little old school on this And this is the original design from the first year of pumpkin placement -- with a little more embellishment and better “You can’t believe the art and the work that goes into creating all these pumpkins and the vignettes,” said Askew a Somers resident who was attending Blaze with her daughter Kelly Lynch of Pleasantville fawned over the experience cousins visiting from the Philippines and numerous other family members attended Blaze together noting their favorites as the Statue of Liberty the Kraken emerging from the Croton River — a new installation for 2024 — and Blaze's resident alicorn (also known as a unicorn with wings) When: There are two locations of the Great Jack-O'-Lantern Blaze one in Hudson Valley and one on Long Island Hudson Valley Blaze is open on select dates from September 13 to November 17 Long Island Blaze is open on select dates from October 4 to November 3 Where: Hudson Valley Blaze is located at Van Cortlandt Manor Long Island Blaze is located at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration A standard ticket begins at $20 per adult and $20 per child over the age of 2 The Gourd & Goblet Tavern experience requires an additional admission fee For tickets and more information: Check out hudsonvalley.org or pumpkinblaze.org and most people are savoring the summer season for as long as it will last But Halloween fans in the Lower Hudson Valley are already planning trips to haunted attractions and other spooky locations Tickets for the Great Pumpkin Blaze go on sale in August, so be sure to keep an eye out as this popular event sells out fast. Tickets can be found at the Historic Hudson Valley website Here are three things to know for those interested in finding out the buzz about the Blaze Each Pumpkin Blaze seems to get bigger and better every year the Hudson Valley location debuted the first ever fully-operational pumpkin Ferris wheel and many other interactive sculptures the Blaze is celebrating twenty years of Halloween magic in the Hudson Valley “We’re so grateful for the community's support these past twenty years – and we’re thrilled to be able to launch this landmark year of The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze with some incredible new experiences that highlight the historic features of Van Cortlandt Manor Blaze’s longtime home,” said Rob Schweitzer the non-profit educational organization that produces the Blaze the Great Jack 'O Lantern Blaze will be open on select dates from Sept The Blaze is introducing a new VIP experience for adults 21 and older for 2024 The Gourd & Goblet Tavern at Van Cortlandt Manor will give a handful of visitors access to an 18th century style tavern speakeasy located at the midway point of the Blaze path The Gourd & Goblet Tavern offers exclusive cocktails and food items not available anywhere else at the event as well as tavern games and a special souvenir Historic Hudson Valley says tickets for the tavern will be very limited It requires a separate ticket and is only available with a corresponding Blaze ticket in the same time slot all visitors can meet our pumpkin version of classic movie monsters an homage to the Starlight Drive-In that existed here in the mid-20th century," Schweitzer said "Our anniversary celebration also includes special pricing of $20 tickets on selected weeknights.” Historic Hudson Valley has sponsored intricate colorful sculptures made from thousands of pumpkins at the 17th Century Van Cortlandt Manor estate in Croton-on-Hudson Over 2 million people have visited the attraction since it opened Last year, over 7,000 pumpkins were used for the sculptures which vary from prehistoric dinosaurs several feet tall to scenes from colonial Hudson Valley to a bright cityscape fit with plenty of twinkling lights So, who exactly is behind all of these intricate sculptures? Schweitzer says local artists from across the state spend months sculpting and perfecting their designs to be showcased at the annual event which typically runs from September to early November Each Pumpkin Blaze event takes about 45 to 90 minutes to walk through and takes you on a colorful and sometimes educational journey Locations include Croton-on-Hudson and Bethpage on Long Island The shocking outbreak of violence in Cortlandt Manor in 1949 surrounding performances by Paul Robeson the renowned Black bass-baritone and civil rights activist Attacks on concert venues and concertgoers postponed a first scheduled concert which was to benefit a Harlem-based civil rights group ended with another round of brutality against the concertgoers Those events, long known as the Peekskill riots, will be remembered this week in Cortlandt Manor and Peekskill the Robeson in Peekskill Project will hold a fundraising dinner and concert at the Hollow Brook Country Club the site of the first planned Robeson concert the property along Oregon Road was a private picnic grounds and swimming facility called Lakeland Acres More: Signs of Paul Robeson in Peekskill, one flight up and possibly on the horizon On Sunday, a concert of Negro spirituals, folks songs and classical masterpieces featuring Grammy Award-winning singer Mark S. Doss and Pegasus: The Orchestra, will be reprised at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theatre in Peekskill at 3 p.m Attendees under 18 years old can attend for free by contacting the Paramount The Robeson in Peekskill Project aims to raise awareness of the civil rights struggle in northern Westchester County in the late 1940s and the calamitous events that took place under the sway of anti-Communist fervor during the Red Scare in the years following World War II Robeson in Peekskill Project Director Wendy Talio founder of the Living Artist Society in Cortlandt Manor began putting the event together a year ago after she learned what happened in 1949 and there are lessons to be learned from it,” she said “We hope to raise some money so we can create something visible in terms of public art was sold to golf course developers decades ago But the family retained the adjacent farm stand — now called Homestead Floral Designs — along Oregon Road The farm stand for years was named Curt’s Fruits and Vegetables for Curt Conklin Conklin said the family was aghast at the events that unfolded at the site on Aug More: Ex-Cortlandt employee and Peekskill landscaper plead guilty in illegal dumping scheme Robeson's legacy and what led to 'Peekskill Riots'Robeson a football standout and scholar at Rutgers University emerged as a singer and actor in the 1920s after studying at Columbia Law School He was the first African American to play the lead in Shakespeare’s drama "Othello," played lead roles in numerous theatrical productions and by 1928 was singing “Ol’ Man River,” which became his signature song He became a lightning rod in the 1940s when he became more deeply involved in the struggle for workers rights in Wales and then the nascent civil rights movement in the U.S Robeson frequented the Soviet Union as a performer in the 1930s and 1940s He also appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee to oppose a bill that would require communists to register as foreign agents Robeson became a villain among anti-communist forces as well as those who opposed civil rights 1949 unfolded on the grounds of Lakeland Acres which had rented out the site for the concert including veterans affiliated with the American Legion Veterans of Foreign Wars and Catholic War veterans crashed the venue before the concert began Printed music from the bandstand was tossed in the pyre The New York Daily News reported 13 injuries that day including one person in critical condition from a stabbing Progressive groups mobilized to reschedule the concert on Sept 4 — further north by what’s now the traffic circle at Oregon Road and Red Mills Road including local members of the Communist Party and those affiliated with left-leaning unions keeping safe Robeson and an estimated 20,000 concert goers One historical account noted that Pete Seeger gave one of the first performances of his peace anthem veterans and critics of Robeson coalesced into an angry mob that lined the exit routes The attackers threw rocks that had been placed there at departing cars and buses as they chanted racial epithets Among those attending the fundraising gala will be Robeson's grand nephew pastor of Mount Hope AME Zion Church in White Plains He hopes the events this week lead to a deeper understanding of race relations in Westchester County during the 1940s and a growing appreciation for one of our nation's artistic and civil rights icons “We hope this can be embryonic so other parts of this country understand why it happened when it happened and think about where we are now,” said Smith in a recorded interview with Talio and from the smallest acorn a mighty oak can grow." Sign up for Wilson's weekly newsletter for insights into his Tax Watch columns David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com The Town of Cortlandt has assembled a $40 million infrastructure package that could transform 40 acres of undeveloped land from the Annsville Circle north into housing retail shops and a hotel over the next several years The chance to turn this stretch along Route 9 into a thriving portion of Northern Westchester is the result of several years of planning and economic development work by town officials “It’s a tremendous opportunity This area is ripe for development,” says Cortlandt Town Supervisor Dr those properties are mainly contractors’ yards and not the appropriate entrance to Westchester County Peekskill and Cortlandt for people coming down here on Route 9 or the Bear Mountain Extension and the bridge.”  Cortlandt officials began the process by rezoning the area from highway commercial to mixed-use in 2022 to fit the goals of the town’s comprehensive plan The rezoning now allows housing and retail development in four zones that were created in the town’s new Annsville Waterfront Enhancement District “We have extensive waterfront from Buchanan and Verplanck all the way to the Annsville Circle,” Becker said “There’s a beautiful Annsville Creek on Route 9 and along the Bear Mountain Extension “We’ve even had interest for a hotel resort type of property because of the Annsville Creek where you can access the water and engage in water sports The new Waterfront District faced two obstacles before development could occur — constant flooding and no utility hookups for sanitary sewers and water “The problem with the Annsville Circle itself is that it floods,” Becker said “The $24 million federal grant arranged through Senator Schumer’s office will provide the money to the New York State DoT to do the work.”  United States Senate Majority Leader Charles E Schumer announced in April that $23.96 million will be given to the New York State Department of Transportation [DoT] to raise a small segment of Route 6 in the town of Cortlandt — from Roa Hook Road to Camp Smith — by about seven feet The Senator said the funding with ensure the roadway remains passable when sea levels rise and to reduce the risk of roadway closures due to flooding during severe weather “By raising this critical stretch of roadway a vital corridor for Camp Smith where our New York Army National Guard train,” Schumer said “we are helping keep our communities safe from flooding ensuring emergency vehicles will still be able to service these areas laying the foundation for a more resilient Westchester.”  Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative Efficient and Cost-saving Transportation Grant program which was funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law Becker explained that this new project will follow a current one that is rebuilding the bridge on the Bear Mountain Road near Camp Smith He said that in addition to ending the flooding problems the new project will create a tighter rotary at the Annsville Circle “It’s poorly designed and very scary and never would be approved that way today.” The work is expected to begin this spring or summer and could last up to two years The $14 million project to bring sewers to the Annsville and Continental Village area is also critical for development The money is coming from a $7 million Westchester County grant $1 million in federal money through Congressman Mike Lawler and a $6 million 20-year bond paid for by property owners in the newly-created sewer district The sewer district will run from Annsville Circle and Table 9 restaurant north to the Rock Cut “For Sale” signs are posted on several of the properties along the Route 9 corridor just north of Table 9 With such great potential for a rare opportunity to develop prime land in Westchester County “There are over 40 lots that can be redeveloped,” Becker said “We had a meeting at Table 9 with owners about a year or so ago and they are all interested in connecting and they are all interested in redeveloping their properties.”  Expressions of interest aren’t confined to local property owners “We’ve met with at least three developers who have successfully developed in other communities that are interested in putting mixed-residential and commercial retail space there.”   Samples of possible development illustrated in the town’s District plans (shown here) include a four-story plus penthouse mixed-use building a six-story hotel and restaurant with brick and glass facade and wide promenade to create a waterfront attraction with space for multiple users Brick and Colonial-style architecture is featured Several large multi-family apartment buildings would be a prominent part of the development accompanied by retail stores to serve the new community Cortlandt’s affordable housing rules require that 10% of new projects be designated as affordable “I hope to see even more affordable housing,” Becker said “I think this will allow schoolteachers public employees and full-time employed people with dual incomes to afford our community.”   reaction to creation of the new Annsville Waterfront Enhancement District is positive “I think all the local businesses are thrilled They all either want to expand or they have failing septics that need to be replaced,” Dr Jim Roberts is a veteran journalist whose Peekskill roots stretch back generations I wonder if you’ll be able to connect to the new public waterfront area from the Peekskill train station Tourism is best when tourists can leave their car at home Have you seen the teacher salaries of Lakeland CSD All the above comments are completely valid the traffic is too much now and you want to add more people And if you think a teacher can afford a penthouse or luxury housing Didn’t the Cortlandt Colonial Manor attempt to construct a hotel in the vicinity of the rockcut on Highland Avenue Seems the plans for a hotel there were abandoned after the western side of the rockcut was dismantled and hauled away Low tide in that area is an olfactory nadir while high tide in that area is problematic I don’t know about this project when the cant fix two lanes of traffic by Camp Smith While we can appreciate improvements to the area around the Annsville Circle it’s hard to fathom how this area can handle any additional traffic which this development will add to the already atrocious traffic in this area Yes let’s address the flooding issue and the redesigning of the traffic circle but let’s not bring more traffic to this area Yorktown, NY HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected. 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