Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application It is with heavy hearts we announce that Christopher W Chris was a devoted husband and an adoring father to his son Riley (22) and daughters Amanda (19) and Elaina (15).  New York and is survived by parents Arvid and Paula Johanson Chris began his life of service as an Eagle Scout and a volunteer firefighter with Valhalla Fire Department He worked as heavy equipment operator for Mount Pleasant Highway Department before achieving his long-held dream of becoming a professional firefighter.  He joined the Lake Mohegan Fire Department in August of 2000 Chris thoroughly enjoyed helping people through his work and the camaraderie that came with it with exceptional skills in carpentry and mechanics.  Chris was an avid boater of the Hudson River and Lake George He enjoyed many adventures in his RV and created cherished memories with his family down at the Jersey Shore Chris leaves behind a legacy of love and service His dedication to his family was evident in everything he did A man who found happiness in life’s simple pleasures his family being his greatest treasure of all Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors 2025 at 10:13 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Fairfield resident Erik Rahner was recently given a Life Saving award by the Board of Police Commissioners for rescuing Alicja Rydza who had fallen into icy Lake Mohegan in January CT — A Fairfield resident was recently given a Life Saving award for rescuing a woman who had fallen into icy Lake Mohegan in January Erik Rahner was walking his dogs at the lake on Jan when he heard screams for help coming from the water in the Cascades "Without hesitation, he ran toward the source of the calls, and found Alicja Rydza submerged up to her neck, clinging to the ice, unable to escape the freezing water," authorities wrote in a post on the Fairfield Police Department's Facebook page swam to Rydza and pulled her out to safety "His quick thinking and decisive actions saved her life," officials said Rahner received the Fairfield Police Department Life Saving Award from the Board of Police Commissioners "for his bravery and willingness to put another's life before his own." "His actions exemplify the very best of our community [and serve as] a reminder that true heroism is not measured by words but the willingness to act when it matters most." Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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 community is mourning the sudden loss of veteran firefighter and Hudson Valley resident Christopher Johanson who dedicated his life to service and his family Lake Mohegan Firefighter and Cold Spring resident Christopher Johanson Johanson, a 24-year veteran firefighter with the Lake Mohegan Fire Department, passed away suddenly on Thursday, Dec. 26, at his home in Cold Spring at the age of 56, according to his obituary.  joined the Lake Mohegan Fire Department in August 2000 and was most recently assigned to Station 2 the fire department described Johanson as a “great firefighter and mentor to all,” who found immense joy in helping others through his work He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and served as a volunteer firefighter with the Valhalla Fire Department Before pursuing his dream of becoming a professional firefighter he worked as a heavy equipment operator for the Mount Pleasant Highway Department Johanson’s skills extended beyond firefighting; he was a "jack-of-all-trades" with a talent for carpentry and mechanics which also said he was also an EMT and first responder known for his camaraderie and commitment to the community Johanson enjoyed boating on the Hudson River and Lake George and creating cherished memories at the Jersey Shore Johanson is survived by his wife of 24 years The Lake Mohegan Fire Department has organized a GoFundMe campaign to support Johanson’s family. As of Monday the effort had collected just over $14,000 far surpassing its original goal of $5,000 Those who wish to contribute can do so by clicking here.  Click here to read Johanson's full obituary.  the Yorktown Police Department was called to respond to the scene of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle in the vicinity of Route 6 and Mohegan Avenue The vehicle involved left the scene of the accident Despite CPR administered by the first Yorktown Police Officer on scene who was quickly assisted by Lake Mohegan Firefighters and an Empress Paramedic the pedestrian struck would eventually succumb to her injuries Through excellent police work by members of the Yorktown Police Department as well as with assistance provided by our partners in law enforcement leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death speeding and operating a vehicle in the wrong lane of traffic Barak was arraigned on the charges and remanded to the Westchester County Jail Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble thanked the following agencies and community members for their assistance:Westchester County Department of Public Safety Lake Mohegan Fire Department (Professional and Volunteer FD) Lake Mohegan Volunteer Ambulance CorpsEmpress Paramedics Office of the Westchester County District Attorney A civilian witness who remained at the scene great job by the YPD and other law enforcement for solving this shocking crime for this to happen at 8pm is another great concern Jennifer Proeschel grew up in the area and went to Walter Panas High School She was working for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown The driver was chaged with operating a vehicle in the wrong lane of traffic That likely means that he was dangerously attempting to pass or drive around another vehicle when he hit and killed Proeschel Taco Bell and several other business on Route 6 and many of our readers have experienced out of control drivers attempting to pass vehicles along Route 6 and Route 6N To have a vehicle approaching you in your lane driving directly towards you Jennifer’s sister Chris told the Journal News “We’re just struggling with the fact she was left by the side of the road for dead I understand accidents happen but for someone to just drive off like that is absolutely unconscionable.” We couldn’t agree more and our prayers go out to your family We will monitor this case to see what sentence is handed out he should NEVER be allowed to drive a car again Somers, NY Murphy's $80,000 Grant Harvests Brighter Future For Lake Mohegan Purchase of Weed Harvester Will Help Curtail Lake's Algal Growth HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected. Don’t miss what’s happening in your community.Subscribe to receive a daily digest of the people, places and things that make our community great. Copyright ©2025 HamletHub™ Two Mohegan Lake beaches reopened Thursday, July 18, after an algae bloom caused them to close for over a week The Westchester County Health Department closed the Mohegan Colony Association and Mohegan Beach Park on Tuesday after a harmful algae bloom developed in the swim area of the lake The closure was extended July 15 and ended Thursday after water testing determined the algae bloom was completely cleared For information on future beach closures, visit the Westchester County website NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced recently that he has delivered a $100,000 state grant for the Mohegan Lake Improvement District and Town of Yorktown for the installation of a new aeration system and retrofitting existing aeration systems in the lake to remove phosphorus in the lake that is causing large algae blooms each year most algae and similar single-cell organisms actually benefit marine ecosystems and pose no risk to humans and wildlife often smelly surface mats of freshwater algae blooms on ponds and lakes can harbor cyanobacteria a toxic blue-green algae that can sicken swimmers and animals that ingest the water Phosphorus leaching into the lake and warmer summer temperatures have only increased the algae blooms in the past few years “The extensive phosphorous abatement project being undertaken at Mohegan Lake will help restore this important natural resource and make it safe for recreation,” said Harckham “I am happy to support both the Mohegan Lake Improvement District and Town of Yorktown in this effort with state funding that will reduce costs that would otherwise be shouldered by local taxpayers  I am thankful to Ken Balfer of the Mohegan Lake Improvement District and all the residents for their efforts to address the challenges regarding the algae blooms and their creating models of success for other lake communities.” Wooded areas and residential neighborhoods surround Mohegan Lake blue-green algae blooms have interfered with seasonal recreation use of the 103-acre lake with the local beaches often closed down for long stretches of the summer A homemade aeration system and periodic treatments of copper compounds long-term strategy is now being employed to remediate the algae problem in the lake which will include the new and retrofitted aeration system on the lake will address phosphorus reduction at the largest stormwater inflow sites and the phosphorus released from the lake bottom sediment during the summer The rest of the project will be determined by viable strategies to reduce phosphorus entering the lake through stormwater The aeration system is expected to cost $339,000 “Lake Mohegan has been accumulating phosphorus in the lake bottom for the past two centuries followed by the large hotels and summer bungalow colonies of the early 1900s to today’s all year round dense residential development,” said Ken Balfer president of the Mohegan Lake Improvement District “Phosphorus is released from the sediment into the water column in the summer when the lake bottom becomes anoxic and feeds blue-green algae blooms which sometimes make the lake unsuitable for use harmful algal blooms not only impact the lake aesthetics and property values but also negatively impact the entire lake ecosystem and can produce toxins that can affect people and pets An effective aeration system will be an important tool to help lessen these blooms.  The $100,000 of state support for this secured by Senator Harckham will allow us to proceed with this long-planned project and is an important step forward in a partnership to improve the lake environment.”   “Yorktown is proud of its green spaces and historic communities Mohegan Lake is a regional asset that has been a leader in combating harmful algae blooms (HABs) will dramatically improve the lake quality and help us combat these threatening algae blooms.” The awarded grant funding was secured within the State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM) which is among the 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 $5,000,000 of state grant funding to municipalities and nonprofits in SD40 over the past year 2024 at 9:35 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}After thorough investigations of metering by the Mohegan Fire Department and Con Edison using handheld meters and "sniffer vehicles," no readings indicating a gas have been found (Mohegan Volunteer Fire Association)YORKTOWN NY — Reports of a strong smell of natural gas have kept fire officials busy the Mohegan Fire Department has responded to more than 15 calls about odors of gas primarily in the area surrounding Mohegan Lake The Mohegan Fire Department and Con Edison have spent countless hours investigating both along the natural gas service area (Rt 6 corridor) and in the hamlet of Mohegan Lake where there are no natural gas services After thorough investigations of metering by the Mohegan Fire Department and Con Edison using handheld meters and "sniffer vehicles," no readings indicating a gas have been found after interviewing those reporting the strong smell of rotten eggs public safety officials determined that a large blue-green algae bloom has formed on Mohegan Lake and the lake outlet into wetlands behind Route 6 has been causing the odor Although the Mohegan Fire Department and Con Edison found and fixed three minor leaks (natural gas and propane gas) unrelated to the reports the contributing factor in each of the calls reporting possible gas leaks has been determined to be the algae bloom The bloom appears to have caused the rotten egg odor which has been particularly strong in close proximity to the water It has also been found to be traveling to nearby areas depending on the wind direction The source of the alarming odor doesn't mean neighbors should ignore telltale signs of a gas leak we are unsure how long this will be occurring for " Mohegan officials said in a statement posted on social media please don’t hesitate and call 911 so that we can investigate to confirm that there is no gas leak." Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The Westchester County Health Department has closed the following beaches at Mohegan Lake until further notice due to the presence of a Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) in the swim areas: ·         Mohegan Colony Association – Mohegan Lake ·         Mohegan Beach Park District – Mohegan Lake These are the only County regulated beaches on Mohegan Lake Sherlita Amler said: “The decision to close these beaches is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and health of the public Harmful Algae Blooms are more prevalent during hot days when water temperatures rise leading to increased bacteriological growth rates.” the algae must be completely cleared from the swim area water samples will be taken and submitted for analysis Residents and visitors are encouraged to visit the Westchester County website for the latest updates on beach closures and reopening schedules The County remains committed to maintaining high standards of environmental health and safety across its recreational facilities The Facebook page from Mohegan Lake Beach Park reads “The blue-green algae is quite bad this year Complaints of a natural-gas odor have had ConEd and plenty of propane service crews literally sniffing around our neighborhood this week Some Westchester and Putnam beaches are closed because of harmful algae blooms in swim areas A Westchester health department news release said it's closed these Mohegan Lake beaches In Putnam, according to the county health department website, six beaches have been closed at various points since July 2 for algae blooms: “The decision to close these beaches is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and health of the public,” Dr “Harmful algae blooms are more prevalent during hot days when water temperatures rise Of interest: Keep cool during the heat wave at Lower Hudson Valley pools, beaches and cooling centers algae must be fully cleared from the swim area Harmful blooms are the rapid growth of algae or cyanobacteria in water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Going in or near water with a harmful algal bloom can make you and your animals sick. Stay out if water looks discolored, has scum, or smells bad," the CDC said. Some blooms make toxins that can sicken people and animals For Westchester beach closing/opening updates, go to the county's website. For Putnam, check out updates here. 2023 at 4:37 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Fairfield police have issued numerous infractions at Lake Mohegan this summer after a spate of complaints about vandalism illegal drinking and illegal swimming at the popular park CT — Efforts to quell illegal activity at Fairfield's popular Lake Mohegan are continuing and showing some signs of improvement From July 28 through the first week in August Fairfield police increased patrols at the lake which resulted in the issuing of seven infractions for littering Patch reached out to a police department spokesperson for comment the Conservation and Police departments teamed up on enforcement of the open space area a stream of rapids where swimming is prohibited Oversight of the lake falls upon the shoulders of the Conservation Department "Swimming in the Cascades is dangerous," said one official during a meeting Wednesday where the commission heard a brief update on the situation at the lake Reports had poured into the department this summer of after hours drinking and partying at the lake in addition to property damage from vandalism Young people are not the only ones breaking the town's rules concerning behavior at its open spaces As for vandalism, much of it involves the security gate at the Cascades, which has been broken numerous times this summer 2023 at 2:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The town of Yorktown installed an aeration device to help keep Lake Mohegan healthy NY — A new environmental project that will help restore the health of Mohegan Lake was inaugurated Saturday Yorktown town officials held a ribbon cutting for an aeration device that will revive the struggling lake’s natural cleaning abilities Supervisor Tom Diana said the Town Board is committed to protecting and improving the environment “This new air pumping system will give Mohegan Lake a breath of fresh air that will improve the water quality and help wildlife,” he said the town awarded Lake Savers LLC (doing business as EverBlue Lakes) a $341,205 contract to install the aeration system at Mohegan Lake The aeration system is designed to eliminate harmful nutrients compost and pollutants that stimulate weed and algae growth This is the latest effort to protect Mohegan Lake the town replaced the Mohegan Avenue retaining wall — a $936,000 infrastructure project that included new erosion- and sediment-control devices Town officials said Mohegan Lake has high levels of phosphorus and blue-green algae blooms harmed the water quality for decades The toxic algae blooms force officials to close swimming beaches High levels of the toxins can cause diarrhea allergic reactions and breathing difficulties according to the state Department of Health state Senator Pete Harckham delivered a $100,000 state grant for the Mohegan Lake Improvement District and the town of Yorkton to help pay for the installation of a new aeration system Mohegan Lake is a natural waterway of 103 acres 2021 at 4:33 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Beach season is just around the corner in Fairfield (Shutterstock)From Fairfield Parks & Recreation: FEES: Please be advised that daily parking is available at Jennings and Penfield beaches only Fees can be paid at the gate at the time of your visit Please see fees on our website: www.fairfieldrecreation.com STICKERS: Residents may purchase a beach sticker at the Parks & Recreation Department for $25 Non-residents may purchase a beach sticker for Jennings and Penfield for $250 LIFEGUARDS: Lifeguards will be on duty 10 a.m Lake Mohegan will be staffed with lifeguards 10 a.m Regular summer hours will begin on June 19 Lake Mohegan's regular summer hours begin June 19 with lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m SAFETY & RULES: A few important reminders: INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION PARKING: This year's Fireworks Celebration will take place July 3 with a rain date of July 5 The town will only be allowing 300 cars without stickers to park at Jennings Beach and only 100 without stickers at Penfield Beach Once we have sold those allotted daily passes only cars with stickers will be allowed in .. Please visit our website to see all the Independence Day celebration details For more information, visit www.fairfieldrecreation.com Wilton, CT Snowshoe Trails Near WiltonFinally…snow is headed to much of Connecticut this weekend You don’t need to be a kid to get outside and bask in the white fluff Enjoy the picturesque backdrop of nature in New England while engaging in a low impact cardio workout "Snowshoeing is the best bang-for-your-buck fat-burning workout in winter," according to Dr Ray Browning of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado's Health Science Center and Vail Mountain Man champion "It's an exceptional way to achieve cardiovascular fitness expend energy and reduce your chance of heart disease; plus it's low cost According to two independent studies conducted by Ball State University and the University of Vermont, snowshoers can burn between 420-1000 calories per hour. Here are some snowshoeing trails near Wilton courtesy of AllTrails.com: Please visit AllTrails.com for more information about the trails at https://www.alltrails.com/us/connecticut/snowshoeing Receive unfettered access to our digital content including our Examiner+ bonus content newsletter and get other perks like free tickets to local performing arts complimentary advertising for your favorite local charity either observed and verified directly by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Elected officials and town residents gathered Saturday to celebrate the addition of a new aeration device to improve the quality of water at Mohegan Lake The unveiling of the advanced water system was part of Lake Day a day-long event set aside annually to bring attention to the lake which has been an integral part of the community for decades with Yorktown Councilwoman Luciana Haughwout leading a hike on the Tall Timbers Trail A kids’ fishing derby at Mohegan Beach Park then took place followed by an opportunity for kids and adults to paint rocks by the beach at Shrub Oak Lake Estates Beach setting up small pastimes for town residents and a bagpipe and drum performance at Lake Mohegan Park with water taxis available to go to other beaches along the lake for various activities organized for Lake Day elected officials gathered in front of a newly built shed housing the celebrated aeration device and New York State Assemblyman Matt Slater all were in attendance to commemorate the new system in support of the Mohegan Lake Improvement District The shed is home to a compressor system that connects to various EverBlue aeration diffusers that are specifically designed for lake use as an alternative to chemicals to clean the lake The EverBlue unit sends air to 32 aeration diffusers placed around the lake to oxygenate the water while using minimal energy The diffusers connect back to the compressor as EverBlue president and founder John Tucci described with a heavy-duty sinking airline that connects to all 32 of the diffusers and to an additional 12 diffusers at Mohegan Colony Beach Harckham secured a $100,000 state grant for the estimated $340,000 project It took three days for the EverBlue crew to get into the lake “We had some tough issues going down the line,” Belfer said “but we all worked together to make it happen.” while Harckham had the honor of turning on the aeration device Lake Day continued with several other events from 5 to 9 p.m Wrappers Delight Food Truck was accompanied by a live DJ and karaoke to celebrate hip hop’s 50th anniversary and the Mohegan Colony’s 100th residents set off Chinese floating lanterns before showing an outdoor movie at 9 on the water Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/ We'd love for you to support our work by joining as a free, partial access subscriber, or by registering as a full access member. Members get full access to all of our content, and receive a variety of bonus perks like free show tickets. Learn more here. Copyright © 2025 The Examiner News 2022 at 9:04 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Steve Batista was recently charged with stalking in Fairfield CT — A man was recently charged with stalking in the Lake Mohegan area Steve Batista was sitting in a pickup truck on March 30 near the cascades section of the lake but police warned him not to be there during certain hours due to a protection order in place The 38-year-old was charged with stalking and disorderly conduct When a popular local store shutters its doors after 51 years That loss will soon be experienced when The Rugged Boot & Shoe Co in Mohegan Lake permanently closes next week The family-owned store has been known for being the go-to quality shoe store attracting customers from throughout the area “We decided to close about a month ago,” co-owner Barrie Katz said last week “We originally planned to close the store and retire when approaching the store’s 50th business year but somehow kept the doors open It was when my mother passed away a month ago that we finally decided to close.” The building was originally purchased by their parents “My parents originally owned a clothing store on the other side of Brodie’s,” an Irish pub and restaurant located on the adjacent parcel The white building on Route 6 near Lexington Avenue was originally a two-room schoolhouse Above the tall columns that grace the front door is the original bell tower that still houses the bell Below that the portico sign still says “Mohegan Lake School District No Notable is the store’s signature red caboose anchored on heavily rusted rail tracks It was where children’s clothes had been sold and was a fun attraction Nancy Reinstein recalled the store being a focal point in her life “All of our high school friends came to work at the store,” she said The store stopped selling kids’ clothes by 2008 The Rugged Boot was known for its personal service The store specialized in large sizes and widths and carried work boots as well as socks and accessories for men and women The interior has natural pine walls as a backdrop to shoes and boots displayed on small wooden platforms including an old barber’s chair (for sale for $600) and an early 20th century sewing machine which opened in 2021 less than a mile away did not impact business at The Rugged Boot “We sold different products than DSW so we were not affected,” Katz said “We did have a rough time during COVID with the online ordering Before publicly announcing that they were closing “We wanted to give them first dibs on the remaining merchandise before we put out our closing sign,” Katz said 15 a large sign announcing the store’s pending closure was posted outside the building There was an uptick in business shortly thereafter customers filling the store to make final purchases Plans to sell the building haven’t been finalized Customers continue to stop by and buy shoes and say goodbye Paying for his last purchase last week was Jerry Anzalone who said he was going to miss The Rugged Boot “It’s a family-run business and they personally know their customers,” Anzalone said Anzalone said he came to The Rugged Boot years ago when his son was in elementary school and was having orthopedic problems “The folks at The Rugged Boot were so accommodating and helped my son so much “Now my son is a chiropractor and has been recommending his patients to buy footwear here.” there seemed to be a sweet sadness in the old schoolhouse “We feel we have made a real difference being here and it’s bittersweet and heartwarming to see all our loyal customers wish us well,” Katz said Abby is a local journalist who has reported on breaking news for more than 20 years. She currently covers community issues in The Examiner as a full-time reporter and has written for the paper since its inception in 2007. Read more from Abby’s editor-author bio here. Read Abbys’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/ab-lub2019/ Nassau County real estate developers have asked Westchester Supreme Court to dissolve three companies claiming that their partner diverted $914,487 and other funds from projects in Mohegan Lake and Cortlandt Manor “It is no longer possible to carry on the business,” Bert and Muriel Brodsky state in petitions filed in Westchester Supreme Court against partner and co-manager William Catucci Sr Several family trusts controlled by Muriel Brodsky own half of Lake Mohegan Mansion LLC, the developer of a 22-acre property known as Fieldstone Manor. Catucci owns the other half and co-manages the property with Bert E. Brodsky, the founder and chairman of BEB Capital of Port Washington Lake Mohegan Mansion bought the property for $2.3 million in 2002 from the Missionary Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis It includes a mansion house and 14 lots on 22 acres at Lexington Avenue and Strawberry Hill Road The Brodskys allege that Catucci recently received $914,487 on an insurance claim for damages to the Mansion House Catucci never advised his partners about the damages or the insurance claim and he deposited the money in his personal bank account rather than in the company account They also claim that Catucci altered a document The letter of intent had given Catucci the option to buy the 14 lots for $150,000 each but he changed the price to about $35,700 each lowering the total price from $2.1 million to $500,000 Catucci also had a 25% interest in two companies that own bungalows on Regina Avenue and on East Main Street in Cortlandt Manor but is allegedly refusing to give the payments to the companies The Brodskys are asking the court to order a financial accounting of the enterprises order the properties to be sold and distribute the net assets to the owners Tureaud of Keane & Beane PC in White Plains Update: The parties discontinued the lawsuit by stipulation on March 10 Details of the settlement were not disclosed 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 The Lake Mohegan Fire District has taken delivery of a custom Seagrave 100-foot aerial ladder built on a Marauder chassis The Marauder chassis is powered by a Cummins X12 500-HP engine with a 141” stainless steel cab and Whelen LED warning light package The pump is a Waterous CSU 2,000-GPM and the rig has a 500-gallon water tank Features include FRC LED scene lighting package The 100-foot steel aerial ladder has a 500-lb tip load Charlie died two days after being attacked by a Labrador-pit bull mix on Sept The Citizen reports the owner of the other dog, Parag Patel, was issued infractions for having a roaming dog, a nuisance dog and for failing to license the dog. (To sign up for Fairfield breaking news alerts and more, click here.) Charlie was on a leash at the time of the attack Dogs are allowed to be off-leash at Lake Mohegan when away from the parking lot told the Citizen that dogs should be required to be on a leash at all times at Lake Mohegan and she is hoping that something good could come out of the tragic event Read the full detailed report at the Fairfield Citizen here 2017 at 11:48 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}FAIRFIELD CT — While we’ve been dealing with 90-degree weather the past few days but it soon will be and town officials are reminding residents that stickers/passes will be required at all town beaches beginning on Saturday Officials advise residents that daily parking fees are available at Jennings and Penfield beaches and can be paid at the gate at the time of your visit. The parking fee is $20 on weekdays and $50 on weekends and holidays. (To sign up for Fairfield breaking news alerts and more, click here.) Lake Mohegan season passes are $10 for residents and $20 for non-residents. There are also daily passes available. For the daily fees for Lake Mohegan and to renew a season pass online, visit the Parks & Recreation website here Residents may purchase a beach sticker at the Parks & Recreation Department for $25 Non-residents may purchase a beach sticker for Jennings and Penfield for $170 Regular summer hours will begin on June 17 with lifeguards on duty daily 10 a.m Officials remind residents that no alcoholic beverages or private grills are permitted on the town’s beaches officials ask that you only swim in regulated swimming areas and obey all lifeguards INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION PARKING: This year’s Fireworks Celebration will take place on Sunday Only 300 cars without stickers will be allowed to park at Jennings Beach and only 100 without stickers at Penfield Beach Once the allotted daily passes have been sold only cars with stickers will be allowed in… “so buy your Beach Stickers!!!,” officials said For more information, visit the Parks & Recreation website here The Lake Mohegan Fire District paid firefighter Patrick Grogan more than $63,000 in 2012 part of the $816,886 he has collected from the department since 1990 But Grogan hasn't responded to a fire in 24 years since claiming back injuries — including one suffered from sneezing while he sat on a firehouse toilet Those claims got him a disability retirement which still has taxpayers paying most of his salary Part one of this series: Police, firefighters off the job but on the payroll Interactive: Fire and police disability spending by town The payments are made under a state law that applies only to disabled firefighters — not police — and calls for them to be paid the difference between their pension amount and their regular including any raises that might be awarded over the years The state covers the pension but funding the gap pay falls to local taxpayers Westchester County municipalities and fire districts paid out more than $43 million over the past decade to supplement the disability pensions of local firefighters including a high of $13.3 million for Yonkers Fire Department retirees since 2005 Rockland and Putnam are not included because there are no paid fire departments there "I don't think that anyone involved in enacting (supplemental pay for firefighters) had or could have had a clue as to just how expensive that unique benefit was going to become," said Richard Zuckerman a veteran labor lawyer who represents dozens of municipalities across the state in police and fire disability cases."No one could have anticipated that (the) statute could result in the payment of literally millions of dollars to a long-term disabled firefighter." One Mount Vernon fire captain has received nearly $500,000 in gap pay since retiring on disability in 2002 at age 42 which augment his $55,000 annual state pension James Gresis has received nearly $700,000 in supplemental pay over the past nine years — and won a court battle when the department tried to lower his payments His payments will now continue until he reaches age 70 in 2018 when he will have amassed about $1.65 million since retiring in 1990 The supplemental pay statute was an amendment to a 1941 law that created provisions for firefighters injured in the line of duty to receive full salaries while out on leave — mirroring the statue that provides for injured law enforcement officers the amendment was meant to reduce costs for local municipalities and fire districts by providing an incentive for disabled firefighters to retire firefighters who retired on disability received only a state pension of 50 or 75 percent of their salaries "At the time everybody agreed that this was a good cost-saving measure," said Ronald Dunn a prominent attorney who represents firefighters in disability cases "The fact (is) that now that they've saved the cost on that they now want to go back and renege on their deal The amendment had some strings: it prohibits retired firefighters receiving supplemental pay from earning other income something disabled law enforcement retirees are allowed to do president of the New York State Professional Firefighters Association said that gap pay allows local departments to retire and replace disabled firefighters sooner to the benefit of the communities and firefighters "The formula was that the more (firefighters) you have on the line the less likely an injury would happen," he said "It preserved the fact that they're not going to be on the soup line because they put their lives on the line every day it's necessary and it should continue forever." supplementing the salaries of retired firefighters still has local taxpayers paying millions in many cases with gap payments that far surpass the first responders' state pension payments the retired Lake Mohegan firefighter whose $31,624 annual state pension in 2012 was less than 37 percent of his $86,875 salary Taxpayers will be picking up the difference for the next seven years — until he reaches retirement age of 70 — kicking in another $400,000 on top of his pension Grogan reported back injuries for years before Aug A fire captain who opposed his disability pay request referred to the injury as "the dastardly sneeze" in court papers which provides fire protection to parts of Yorktown and Cortlandt has paid out nearly $1.6 million in gap pay since 2003 it pales in comparison to Yonkers and other communities including $10 million for Mount Vernon taxpayers since 2004 $5.3 million for New Rochelle over the past six years and nearly $3 million for Fairview Fire District residents in the town of Greenburgh Pension, gap pay protected despite $150G embezzlement Injury cuts short career, chance for supplemental pay Municipalities move to close loopholes in the disability, retirement process 2021 at 4:13 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Jonathan Goldfarb (left) and Matthew Goldfarb have received the Carnegie Medal CT — Two brothers have received the Carnegie Medal North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism after rescuing a man and his dog from the icy waters of Lake Mohegan were out walking with family the afternoon of Dec and found a man and his dog struggling to stay above water about 100 feet from shore “Jonathan and Matthew both entered the water without hesitation knowing their own safety and lives were at risk,” police said in a news release The brothers moved ice from their path as they swam according to a news release from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission Jonathan grasped the man and Matthew grasped the dog who had been in the lake’s freezing water about 10 minutes The brothers also recovered after receiving treatment at a hospital The dog survived the accident in good health The incident began when the dog ran out onto the ice and fell into the water but had a hard time getting back to shore due to the extreme cold His girlfriend yelled for help and entered the water herself in an attempt to assist “The actions of both Jonathan and Matthew Goldfarb represent an outstanding act of heroism,” police said the Fairfield Police Department nominated them for the Carnegie Medal and Canada to those who enter mortal danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.” The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced its 18 honorees March 24 Each of those recognized will receive a financial grant YORKTOWN - A 70-year-old Mohegan Lake woman was killed in a three-vehicle crash Monday night on Crompond Road Gabrielle Long was driving west on Crompond Road 28 when she collided with an eastbound 2019 BMW was treated at Westchester Medical Center for injuries that were not life-threatening COVID-19: NY Attorney General: Watch out for these vaccine scams YORKTOWN: Going solar: Horse farm, utility customers and government seek savings Route 202 was closed between Garden Lane and Lexington Avenue while police investeigated with assistance from the Westchester County Department of Public Safety's accident investigation unit  It was not immediately known what caused the crash Monday night.  Empress EMS and Lake Mohegan Volunteer Ambulance Corp. assisted at the scene.  Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call town police at 914-962-4141 McKinney covers breaking news for the Journal News Poughkeepsie Journal and the Times Herald-Record. Ryan Santistevan is the breaking news reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal, Journal News and Times Herald-Record Reach her at rsantistev@gannett.com; 845-437-4809 or follow her on Twitter, @NewsByRyan_ 2018 at 1:36 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}MOHEGAN LAKE NY — Ginsburg Development Companies has acquired The Landing on Mohegan Lake for $54 million The rental community features 207 one- and two–bedroom apartments on the border between Cortlandt and Yorktown It's the newest addition of the company's multifamily portfolio GDC plans to integrate this community to its new development under construction in Peekskill called Fort Hill Apartments at the Abbey Inn Shuttle service will be implemented to connect the two communities and the service to the Metro North train station the complex was built in the 1990s and is home to many young families with children It was acquired from New Chalet Apartments With units recently upgraded by the prior owner the apartments feature kitchens with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances and vaulted ceilings with skylight in select units The apartments range in size from 712 to 1,215 square feet and rent from $1,860 to $2,595 per month GDC plans to modernize existing amenities and add more amenity space including a children’s playground gazebo/BBQ area on the lake and lakeside clubhouse swimming pool and landscaping will also be upgraded There's a tennis court and half-basketball court There is also lake access for fishing and boating “We are very pleased to have acquired this beautiful lakefront community in the heart of northern Westchester The improvements we plan to undertake will make this community a long-term place for residents and families to call home and come home to vacation every day,” said GDC Principal Martin Ginsburg Ginsburg Development Companies is a premier residential developer in the northern suburbs of New York City with over 50 years of experience and market leadership GDC has built and manages several of the region’s luxury developments many with a Hudson River and/or transit-friendly focus GDC owns and manages a portfolio of commercial properties For more information about The Landing on Mohegan Lake, click here or call 914-528-7718 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2013 at 2:55 am ETIt runs in the family for Peggy Mulleady her son Danny Mulleady and daughter Erica Michaud who say their volunteer work for the Mohegan Lake Volunteer Ambulance Corps is addicting and the three share a passion for it The mother-son-daughter team visited Yorktown Head Start students on Tuesday to talk to them about what an EMT does and show them the different apparatus and devices inside the ambulance Some children even got to hear a call that came through so EMTs could be dispatched for help The visit was extra especial because Michaud's two son who was gleaming after he got to sit inside the ambulance who joined the Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps at age 14 before joining the Mohegan Lake Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the recipient of a Life Saving Award said it was important for her to make children feel comfortable inside an ambulance we are very friendly," she told children who sat inside the ambulance a volunteer firefighter who also joined the ambulance corps when he was 14 years old said he followed the foot steps of his family and enjoys being able to give back to his community "We just do it because we love it," Peggy Mulleady an EMT volunteer for more than two decades and the recipient of the Westchester County EMT of the Year award Let Patch save you time. 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