Ridge Hill, Yonkers

Speaking of why some towns get shopping and others do not, (and thanks for your comments on the Armonk supermarket story,) with Whole Foods’ announced move into Port Chester, and Ridge Hill opening in Yonkers, Talk of the Sound recently asked what

Best Buy
Whole Foods
Fairway
Target
Barnes and Noble
and Kohl’s

had in common?

They are “some of the retailers who recently took a pass on New Rochelle. The old adage in real estate is location, location, location. Well, for the purposes of future development in New Rochelle, it should be parking, parking, parking.”

How do you think New Rochelle can begin to attract the kinds of businesses it wants, if there are any left?

Joyce Havinga and friends

A recent article in Slate reports an increase in the number of home births- mothers leaving the hospital completely out of the equation when having a baby.

It’s just not happening around here. In 2010, out of 11,104 births in the County, 34 (0.3%)  were intended home deliveries.

And on top of that, Westchester  County has among the highest C-section rates in the country. About half the births at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, Sound Shore in New Rochelle and the Westchester Medical Center are C-sections. The national average is closer to 34%.

When Joyce Havinga-Droop moved to Larchmont from Holland, she found this startling. Both her daughters had been born at home.

Two years ago (today) Joyce gave birth at home in Larchmont to her youngest daughter. “People expressed a lot of unawareness like ‘I didn’t know it was legal!’,  or ‘Is it safe to give birth at home?’, she said, “and ‘I didn’t know you could do that in the US!’ All clear indications that choices about birth are not well known.”

A few weeks later Joyce quit a career in the diplomatic world to become a doula, someone that provides non-medical support to women and their families during labor and childbirth, and also the postpartum period.She is in the process of becoming certified.

“My passion is to guide and assist pregnant women in giving them the birth they want and delivering them the empowerment it provides.”  Doulas, while rare in Westchester, are available to work in teams in your home environment to comfort, assist and work through various positions during labor.

“Being at home, precious bonding time with our newborn was the big reward,” Joyce says. “She did not have to be separated immediately to go to a warmer or to be weighed. Later her sisters came in to meet their new sibling. I would not have wanted to miss these very intimate moments with my family.”

For more information about home birth, Joyce recommends:

www.hudsonvalleybirthnetwork.com,

www.childbirthconnection.org,

www.birthingnaturally.net,

Glen Island, in New Rochelle, was built in 1879 by steamboat magnate John Starin as America’s first amusement park.

It drew visitors from all over the country and established New Rochelle’s reputation as a desirable place of residence near New York City. The park declined following the 1904 “General Slocum” steamboat disaster in the Sound and closed sometime before Starin’s death in 1909.

The 102-acre, six-island site was acquired in 1924 by Westchester County, filled in and transformed into a county park, whose Casino, built on the foundations of Starin’s Grand Cafe, hosted the top swing bands of the 1930s.

–from Larchmont Then and Now: A Photohistory, Fountain Square Press, copyright 2002 by Anne Marie Leone and Judith Doolin Spikes. Used with permission.

If you’re sticking around, there’s plenty to do. Here are some suggestions from the Journal News to do with kids, and as always, watch our Coming Up column.

If you’re leaving for the break, listen up:  In light of a marked increase in local break-ins, police say prep the house to make it look like you’re not away.

Speaking at a crime prevention workshop last week, Town of Mamaroneck police urged residents to create a “vacation plan” that includes steps like putting house lights on timers and stopping mail and newspapers. Alerting neighbors to your departure is another wise move, they said.

In addition, the Town also has a “dark house” program that under which residents can notify police that their house is going to be vacant so they can keep a closer eye on it. Residents in other municipalities can request police drive-bys as well.

Holidays, vacations times and summer breaks are burglars’ biggest opportunities, police said.

photo courtesy audobon center on flickr

Eco-friendly hybrids and sporty foreign numbers have their place, but, Nick Pagani only has eyes for Big American Cars.

“I go down to my garage at night and I sit and look at my cars,” Pagani says. “To me, they’re beautiful.”

Pagani – a guy born and raised in Pelham Manor who restores cars in the same New Rochelle shop his granddad opened in 1920 – has no shortage of stuff to gaze at.

His collection of 80 vintage cars frequently appears in period-piece movies (often with Pagani behind the wheel) such as Revolutionary Road, The Wrestler and Angel Heart. Pagani’s wheels are currently being used in the production of Inside Llewyn Davis, the latest Coen brothers’ movie.

This car will be driven in a Coen Brothers movie by Justin Timberlake

There’s usually one parked each morning in front of Aroma Coffee in Larchmont, where Nick generally starts his day.

(more…)

Python from Animal Embassy

Spend a few hours on a gray February day or evening in a great adult or kid’s program. Good ideas for Winter Break, too!

Thursday, February 16, 7:00 pm

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN (1974) – This multiple Emmy-award winning TV movie stars Cicely Tyson as a woman in the South who was born into slavery in the 1850s and lives to become a part of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.  Based on the novel by Ernest J. Gaines. Ossie Davis Theater, Free.

Saturday, February 18, 3:00 pm

Julia Breanetta Simpson performs Harlem on My Mind

Harlem on My Mind is a one-woman musical journey through the dynamic period in history known as the Harlem Renaissance. Created and performed by Julia Breanetta Simpson, Harlem On My Mind is directed by Shaunelle Perry with musical direction by Ken Levinsky. This dazzling show celebrates the music of ‘Duke’ Ellington, Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller, Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin and others. Along the way you will explore the poetry of Langston Hughes and encounter the larger than life personalities of Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters and Josephine Baker. Recommended for ages 12 and above. Ossie Davis Theater. Suggested donation: $2.00. Made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library. 

(more…)

Trooper is a 4 year old terrier mix living in New Rochelle.  His favorite thing to do is play catch. According to Loop photographer Jacki Silberbush, who captured this shot, “He may look small, but can seriously catch it every time.”

Have a pet you love, that needs a home or just know a great one? Submit a photo and we’ll feature it in “Pet Project”

The following complaints were recorded by Larchmont police during the last week:

Larceny: On Iselin Terrice someone entered a vehicle that was left parked and unlocked in the victim’s driveway, removing property valued at $500. Feb.4.

Penal Law Arrest: A man from New Rochelle was arrested after a altercation with a cab driver and hitting the cab causing damage. The 23 year old man was released on bail. Feb.5

Penal Law Arrest: In Los Angeles, a woman was arrested based on a Warrant of Arrest filed by Larchmont Police Detectives after an investigation of a Grand Larceny at Citibank on Palmer Avenue on Feb. 3.  Jacqucolyn Sanders was arraigned and remanded to the Westchester County Jail on $7500 bail.

235 Paine Avenue, New Rochelle

What would Thomas Paine think of the old neighborhood, now one of the most desirable in the area?

This listing says this 6 bedroom 2 bathroom Tudor style Colonial is full of warmth and character.

Tudor style Colonial nestled on a .39 level parcel surrounded by homes of similar stature in the desireable neighborhood of Paine Heights. The warmth & character of this light filled home is enhanced by the newer windows recently replaced in 2008. Many original details add to the charm of this home. The large fireplace in the living room awaits many memory making cozy nights. This well appointed home with hardwood flooring, awaits your signature touches. With the convenient location walk to all!

Check out all of the MLS listings in theLoop Real Estate Marketplace.

Cold turkey commute. Don’t even think about lighting up while waiting for your Metro-North train. Doing so could get you kicked off the platform, up to $50 in fines or a trip to jail.

The MTA‘s new ban on outdoor smoking starts today, following a months-long grace period the agency gave smokers to get used to the idea. The ban, which had a soft launch in November, prohibits smoking on Metro-North and Long Island Railroad outdoor platforms, as well as ticketing and boarding areas.

The ban does not apply to Metro-North stations in Connecticut.

Violators have gotten away with just warnings since November. But after several months of  leafleting, signs, announcements and electronic alerts, the MTA now expects passengers to play by the rules.

New Rochelle City Hall

It may not be romantic, but two area State Representatives will open the floor–for four hours– to Westchester residents wishing to speak out on the proposed 2012-2013 New York State Budget.

 

The Community Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 16th in the Council Chamber at New Rochelle City Hall, 515 North Avenue, New Rochelle from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. sponsored by Assemblyman George Latimer and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin.

Attendees may testify for up to four (4) minutes on any aspect of the State budget proposal; written testimony will also be accepted at the meeting and over the ensuing week (until Friday, February 24th). The Governor’s proposed budget totals over $130 billion; budget highlights may be viewed on the Assembly website at www.assembly.state.ny.us.

No appointment is required; speakers will be heard on a first-come, first-served basis, with a few exceptions made for unique circumstances. Latimer and Paulin will be holding the meeting open for four continuous hours to accommodate those who attend.

Testimony received will be provided to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee for inclusion in their budget review.  For further information, contact Assemblyman Latimer at 777-3832, or Assemblywoman Paulin at 723-1115.

(from Rep. George Latimer)

A survey released Monday by the New Rochelle School District, which found that preserving class size is the community’s No. 1 school-related priority, reflects concerns of parents throughout lower Westchester.

The survey, part of the district’s 2012-13 budget-setting process, found about 57% of respondents believe keeping class size in check is a critical component of maintaining school quality. About 56% of them believe preserving AP and honors classes is essential; about 47% said having up-to-date technology is a top priority.

Full results are available on the district’s website. New Rochelle residents can take the survey online until Friday.

Class size will surely be an issue in the Mamaroneck School District’s budget-setting process as well. Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps is scheduled to present his 2012-13 budget proposal on March 20.

Photo: Anthony22

Deborah Blatt at The Sharing Shelf

Deborah Blatt got the call last week from the school. A devastating fire destroyed a local house and three little boys lost everything.

Within a day, she had packed up enough clothes, in the right sizes, to get each of them through the winter.

Deborah, who lives in New Rochelle with her own family, founded the Sharing Shelf in 2009, working with Family Services of Westchester. “I was looking for a way for families in need to get clothing for free if they have no money, or in times of crisis and without too much red tape,” she says. And unlike many of the “clothing closets” at many agencies, her warehouse-full of donations are matched to the recipients by size and season.

Next week, she’s getting a donation of 40,000 diapers.

“I want to be doing this,” Deborah says. “It’s unbelievably rewarding. An idea so simple helps a lot of people.”

Donate directly at the Sharing Shelf Warehouse at 47 Purdy Ave., Port Chester, or at one of the drop-off locations in Mamaroneck or Port Chester. or email thesharingshelf@fsw..org

Mamaroneck Train Station

The armed robberies that targeted Metro-North commuters in Mamaroneck Village and Harrison last Thursday — as well as similar crimes in Mamaroneck Town, Pelham and possibly New Rochelle — are likely related, police say.

The robber behind the Thursday incidents, which occurred one hour apart, could have taken the train between crime scenes, police say.

Each incident involved individuals walking home from train stations being robbed at gunpoint by someone described as a male, 5’10 to 6″0″ with a medium build wearing a mask over his face and dark clothing.He was carrying a black or silver handgun, police say.

Police from around the area, as well as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, are joining forces to nab the robber or robbers.

New York Crime Stoppers is offering up to $2,5oo for information that will lead police to the individuals responsible for the two most recent robberies as well as the earlier ones. Anyone with information regarding any of these robberies is asked to contact NYS Crime Stoppers at its hotline number 1-866-313-TIPS.

Meanwhile, Larchmont residents report that the rash of home burglaries in the Village also continued late last week when a Birch Lane family became the latest victims of a home invasions that started in December. Police have not confirmed that report.

Photo by June Marie Sobrito

Lots of local to love in Saturday’s New York Times piece about tearooms and baked goods like pastries and waffles and scones.

The reporter writes, ” Scouting four local spots on the brink of Valentine’s Day, I narrowed the field of eligible hot drinks and, not able to resist a little matchmaking, ordered attractive sweets and savories to go with them…”

There you’ll see Bread and Cocoa, A Proper Cup (both in Larchmont) and R Patisserie in New Rochelle. Delish.

There is also Didier Dumas Patisserie in Nyack, which sounds great.

And in LoHud, a Mamaroneck resident bemoans drivers that ignore stop signs in her Village. Maybe they’re in a hurry to get hot chocolate.

photo: starshaped on flickr

Last year, Seniors got very sleeeeeepy

Get Hypnotized: tonight, February 10,  the Mamaroneck High School Student Council presents Hypnotist Extraordinaire, Tom DeLuca, 7:30 PM, McLain Auditorium. Students: $5.00 Adults: $10.00. Tickets will be sold at the door starting at 6:45. This has become a favorite event at MHS and for the entire community.

The Glass Menagerie at CNR

The Glass Menagerie at College of New Rochelle:  CNR Drama will present Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie from February 9 – February 12, 2012, on the Main Campus of The College of New Rochelle.

photo: John Vecchiolla

Children perform Guys and Dolls at the Sandbox

Guys and Dolls at the Sandbox Theatre: Tickets are $15 for all ages. You can purchase tickets by phone at 914 630 0804 or at the door.

The Science of Yoga Book Signing- A reminder that local writer and New York Times reporter William Broad will have a book signing at Anderson’s 2:00 Saturday.

The Poetry of Flowers Book Signing- with local photographer Camille Rankin 11:00 am, at Anderson’s.

Harrison Train Station

Mamaroneck Village And Harrison police report two more armed robberies involving local residents walking home from a train station at night.

According to Mamaroneck Village Det. Sandra DiRuzza,  at about 8 pm, a 59 year old man reported he was approached from behind on Stanley Avenue and robbed at gunpoint. The suspect demanded his (undisclosed) property and fled on foot with it. The victim called 911. He was unharmed.

In Harrison an armed robbery was reported on the South Road Bridge about 9:00 pm Thursday near the train station. Police say the same man is assumed to be involved in the two robberies last night, and possibly all of them. Harrison police say he wore a light colored bandana mask and had a silver handgun.

“Ours does appear to be similar to the crimes in Mamaroneck, Pelham, New Rochelle and Harrison,” said DiRuzza.

The suspect, like that in recent similar crimes in the Town of Mamaroneck, Pelham and New Rochelle (see summary below) is described as approximately 6 ft tall and approximately 185 lbs; in those crimes he was wearing all black including a black mask covering his face.

• On January 12th a Pelham commuter was approached from behind while walking home from the train on Cliff Avenue at 12:10 a.m.
• On January 17th a Mamaroneck commuter was approached from behind on Glenn Road near Chatsworth Avenue at 10:20 p.m.
• On January 29th, two females, one a student at Iona College, was followed into a building on Eastchester Road and White Oak Street at 4:45 a.m.
• On January 31st a commuter was approached while walking home from the train on Monterey Avenue in Pelham at 8:20 p.m

The Town of Mamaroneck held a crime prevention workshop this week.

Crimestoppers has offered a reward for any information. Anyone with information is also asked to call the Village of Mamaroneck Detective Division at 914-825-8541.

Hurricane Irene devastated parts of Mamaroneck

Anyone who’s lived around here long enough knows that flooding is part of life in lower Westchester.

On Thursday, the County said it’s going to help us keep our heads above water. Flood control projects in Larchmont, Mamaroneck and New Rochelle are going to receive funding through a special $9 million county fund dedicated for stormwater management.

The County will pay $2.3 million toward drainage improvements along Pine Brook at Boston Post Road in Larchmont and $2.5 for water management upgrades along the Hutchinson River in New Rochelle.  The municipalities are expected to pay the remaining costs.

Flood control projects in Mamaroneck Village, which is often hit hardest by flooding, will receive $2 million of the money. Parts of Mamaroneck, home to some of the neediest members of our larger community, were devastated by Hurricane Irene last year and the immensely destructive  2007 Nor’ Easter, both of which left families homeless.

photo: Polly Kreisman

They come on upon you suddenly when you walk the trails in Ward Acres, the one closest to Pinebrook Parkway in New Rochelle.

Four graves of famous racehorses.

Ward Acres is all that’s left of a 400 acre farm owned by the Robert Ward family of the Baking Company fame. His son, Jack, established the nationally reknown American Saddle Company and began breeding racehorses in the 1940′s and 50′s.

Some of his champions rest here under enormous carved stone slabs, connecting to an era of glory, excitement and prosperity.

Later, Robert’s widow would donate the land that became Ward School and the Albert Leonard Middle School.

(information from New Rochelle historian Barbara Davis)

photos: Polly Kreisman

You may recall our conflicted feelings about the new M-8 rail cars on the Metro-North Red Line.

Your chances of riding a cleaner, more comfortable | more sterile, computer-voice   train between Connecticut and Grand Central just increased. Metro-North and the State of Connecticut added more new cars to the New Haven Line.

As of Monday, 78 new cars are operating on the line — enough to cover about 24% of regular weekday rides.  The new M-8 railcars will cover an even higher percent of weekend travelers.

It will be years, though, before the entire existing fleet is replaced.  There are a total of 380 new cars on order. More sticky floors to enjoy for years to come.

You can build your own waterfront home, up to 7000 square feet, right on Echo Bay in the Long Island Sound,  New Rochelle. A little more than half an acre is available. There’s a private dock and a beach association just waiting.

Have a look at this listing in theLoop Real Estate Marketplace.

Top photo: Scott Wiley

Photos taken February 5, 2012 in New Rochelle (top) and Larchmont.

submitted to the Looppool on flickr by Mockba1_1999

He aint nuthin’ but a Hound Dog. Presley was recently rescued after wandering into the backyard of a local resident to play with their dog. No one has stepped forward to claim him, so this sweetheart is now looking for a new home.

Presley is quiet and calm, and would be best matched with a family who has a house. You can meet this dog today! We are open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm and Thursdays from 2pm to 8pm!

For information about how to adopt, contact the New Rochelle Humane Society or visit their website. Open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm and Thursdays from 2pm to 8pm.

Have a pet you love, one that needs a home, or just know a great one? Submit a photo and we’ll feature it in “Pet Project.”

New York State Crime Stoppers has offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest in armed robberies in Mamaroneck, Pelham and New Rochelle in January.

The Mamaroneck and two Pelham incidents involved commuters walking home from the train station being held up at gunpoint; the New Rochelle robbery victim was a female Iona College student.

The Journal News reports a fourth robbery occurred on Eastchester Road near White Oak Street in New Rochelle on Jan. 29.

In the Mamaroneck, Pelham and New Rochelle robberies, a black man, 5 foot 10 to 6-feet and weighing 175 to 200 pounds, showed a black semi-automatic hand gun, officials said. The suspect, or suspects, was said to have worn a black ski mask and dark clothing.

Crime Stoppers’ announcement came after another weekend touched by the crime wave.

Town police say five cars were broken into while parked overnight Friday at the Carlton House, a North Chatsworth Avenue condominium apartment building in the Town of Mamaroneck.

Car vandalized in lot at Carlton House apartments

News 12 reports New Rochelle had multiple robberies over the weekend. Police arrested a suspect in a Monday afternoon robbery.

The Town of Mamaroneck and Larchmont Gardens Civic Association will host a crime prevention workshop at 7 p.m. Wednesday  at the VFW/Senior Center, 1288 Boston Post Road in Larchmont.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents is asked to call NYS Crime Stoppers at 1-866-313-TIPS(8477).

Broken glass from vandalized cars at Carlton House

PCRA Girls Varsity team

It started, about ten years ago, with a few neighbors who wanted to take advantage of the coastline and do some rowing.

Now the Pelham Community Rowing Association (PCRA) is the only community rowing program in all of Westchester, and its competitive high school rowing team draws students from Mamaroneck High School, Pelham Memorial High School, Ursuline, Harrison High, Fordham Prep, The Masters School and Scarsdale High School and others.

They hit the fall’s largest regional regattas including Head of the Charles, Head of the Housatonic and Head of the Fish. PCRA took home the prestigious Joe Marfuggi Cup as the most outstanding youth program at the Head of the Riverfront Regatta in Hartford, according to spokeswoman Jean Ippolito.

She added that this year also marked PCRA’s most successful college recruiting and admission season to-date. Seniors gained early decision admittance to Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Williams College, Syracuse University, and University of Virginia, among others.

The New York State Scholastic Rowing Association (NYSSRA) awarded the Varsity Team the coveted Scholar Athlete designation for maintaining a team-wide grade-point average of 90% or above during the highly competitive fall season.

PCRA rows out of Glen Island State Park on the 1964 Olympic Time Trial Course that they share with the New York Athletic Club.

For more information about Pelham Community Rowing Association email jippolito.ny@gmail.com.

Charcoal, a standard poodle, waits patiently to be let in

If you’re not crazy about dogs, to the point where you will stand in a muddy field full of them in the cold, in the rain or in the blazing heat, please read no further.

This section of New Rochelle’s vast 62 acre Ward Acres Park is a 3-acre fenced-in dog run, and run they do, dozens of them at a time. Since it was formalized as a dog park in 2008, many humans in the area visit weekly, daily or even more frequently, and some have organized various campaigns to keep access to the area free of charge.

The City of New Rochelle asks you to buy an annual license to bring dogs here (but we have never seen this enforced.)

More about other Cool Finds in historic Ward Acres soon.

send us your Cool Finds!

This is one of those houses built right in the middle of (what’s left of) the American Dream. Bonnie Crest is the very neighborhood that spawned Rob and Laurie Petrie , and just down the block on Lord Kitchener Road, lived Norman Rockwell in his later years.

The 120 Verdun Avenue listing shows lots of interior shots, so there may not be much of a yard out back.  It will be interesting to see if the seller gets full price of just under a $ 1 Million for 4 bedrooms with taxes of $24,000.

Still, if the suburban idyll is why you came here, you can’t do much better.

Are those pink flamingos by the front door?  Sure hope so.

Take a look at the listing in theLoop’s Real Estate Listings Marketplace.

Yonkers police indicated they have no evidence that bullying fueled the Tuesday suicide of a freshman at the Ursuline School in New Rochelle, according to a story in LoHud‘s Sound Shore blog.

Reports that 14-year-old Eira Fatima Maghuyop was distraught over bullying before taking her own life in her Yonkers home by hanging, sparked an outpouring of sympathy and anti-bullying sentiment, particularly on social networking websites and blogs like this  on Tumblr.

The Ursuline School issued a statement yesterday: “Today we have visited our student’s family and offered comfort. We have held special assemblies for all of our students, who are in mourning. We have made available extra counselors to the students and staff.”

By Thursday night, more than 14,200 users joined in an anti-bullying Facebook page established in Eira’s name.

Police are asking anyone with information that can help in the investigation to call (914) 377-7724.

Photo: Facebook

Below is a page from  storify with social media reaction to the suicide Tuesday of a 14 year old student at the Ursuline School in New Rochelle.

According to The Talk of the Sound,  Eira Fatima Maghuyop killed herself in her Yonkers home Tuesday night after reportedly becoming despondent over bullying.

Friends have established an anti-bullying Facebook page in Eira’s name.

Ursuline, a private all-girls school, released a statement saying the school offered students grief counselors and “is deeply saddened by the loss of a fine young member of our school community.”

Olive Oyl is kinda delicious. Frisky and fun-loving, the year-old girl was found under the porch of a local home before being brought to her temporary digs at the New Rochelle Humane Society.  But spending her youth out on the streets has not hurt this one’s spirit. The loves to play and will keep whoever becomes her lucky new owner on his or her toes.

Olive Oyl is already spayed, vaccinated, tested negative for Felv & FIV, & microchipped. Adoption fee $90 also includes carrier, collar & ID tag, bag of Science Diet cat food and free vet exam.  For more information visit newrochellehumanesociety.org

Have a pet you love or just know a great one? Submit a photo and we’ll feature it in “Pet Project” along with adoptable pets

The former Loew’s Theater at 585-599 Main Street in New Rochelle was built in 1926. Architect H.J. Krapp (really) designed it in the Eclectic Style, with elements of Spanish and Rococo design.

New Rochelle historian Barbara Davis says the Loews is a particular ornate example of 1920s movie house design. The theater originally accommodated 2,500 theater-goers and required a staff of 75, including 25 – 30 ushers.

Its last incarnation in the early 2000′s was as a nightclub.

In June, the Wall Street Journal reported it sold for $2.6 million. Mayor Noam Bramson says the new owner will upgrade the property for storefront retail and small office use.

Loew's in May 1938, courtesy New Rochelle Public Library local history collection

Victim's car - courtesy WABC

The driver in a fatal wrong way-crash on I-95 in New Rochelle last summer is facing eight to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty today to all nine charges against her.

Police say Queens resident Tanisha Gomez drove at least six miles northbound on the wrong side on Interstate 95. She struck a 2005 Nissan on the southbound side of I-95 at about 4:30 a.m. on Sunday in New Rochelle. A passenger in the other car was killed in the July 24 accident.

Gomez’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.

The accident was one of three high-profile wrong-way crashes on Westchester County highways over the course of two years.

A day after we first reported the New Rochelle Humane Society rescued Payton the pot bellied pig from North Avenue student housing, we’re learning more about how everybody’s new favorite porker ended up in the hands of the Iona College students in the first place.

According to NRHS  shelter manager Dana Rocco, the guys who had Payton in their small backyard on Monday had retrieved the pig from its original Long Island owner over the weekend after reading online that Payton might need some pig placement.  Apparently, Payton and his owner’s dog did not get along. There was even talk of sending the affable guy to slaughter, she says.

“They were trying to do the right thing,” Rocco says.

The students, however, didn’t have a concrete plan of what they were going to do with Payton next, which is when the Humane Society showed up.

Although people with farms have already offered to adopt Payton, the Humane Society is going to first put him in the hands of a pot bellied pig rescue group in hopes that his story will ultimately help other pigs find homes, too.

“If you’re considering a pig as a pet, you really have to do your homework first,” Rocco says, adding the swine can grow up to 800 pounds. “It’s really important to find out what you’re getting into.”

Payton gives us a smile

Wedding, Alison Maletz, College of New Rochelle

At the College of New Rochelle  a free screening of the documentary  The Human Experience, Wednesday, February 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Castle Gallery.

(from the promotional materials: – the story of a band of brothers who travel the world in search of the answers to the burning questions: Who am I? Who is Man? Why do we search for meaning? Their journey brings them into the middle of the lives of the homeless on the streets of New York City, the orphans and disabled children of Peru, and the abandoned lepers in the forests of Ghana, Africa. What the young men discover changes them forever. )

This screening is in conjunction with an exhibit in the Gallery called  (un)COMFORT(able) ZONE: Reflections on Home, Hearth, Memory and Loss. This exhibit will feature an artists’ panel in Romita Auditorium on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, from 6:45 to 8:00 pm.

images courtesy College of New Rochelle

This little piggy went to Iona.

Police were called Sunday with a report of “a pig on North Avenue.”

The New Rochelle Humane Society responded, and found this pig in the backyard of a fraternity across the street from Iona College on North Avenue.

“A group of students claimed the pig ‘just wandered into their yard’ a few days prior”, says NRHS Shelter Director Dana Rocco. “They were feeding it Cheerios. At least it was the unsugared type.”

The students also just happened to have a crate the right size for him, and a name: Payton.

Payton is now hanging out at the NRHS Shelter, where we photographed him. The staff is in contact with Farm Sanctuary, which will find it a more appropriate home. We are told he’s a pot bellied pig. Aw.

Now I want him.

We’ll alternate daily between animals for adoption and your fun or interesting animal and pet photos.  Just email editor@theloopny.com with ‘Pet Project’ in the subject and include the name of your pet and your town. Or upload your photos to the looppool on flickr .

Right in there with lockers, classrooms and teenagers cruising down corridors, a hidden gem of an art museum makes its home at New Rochelle High School.

The only state-chartered museum in a school in New York State, the Museum of Arts & Culture exhibits art created by students and outside artists alike.

The exhibit featured in these photos showcases the creations of graduating senior CJ Senerchia. The culmination of CJ’s artistic efforts throughout high school, the exhibit ends with a closing reception from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday.

“This was years in the making,” says fine arts teacher Marc Schneider.

The museum is a joint project of the High School and the non-profit New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, visit the museum’s website.

Here’s an oldie: Five things you may not know about the neighborhood.

Loop TV: Believe it or Not from looptv on Vimeo.

We’ll alternate daily between animals for adoption and your fun or interesting animal and pet photos.  Just email editor@theloopny.com with ‘Pet Project’ in the subject and include the name of your pet and your town. Or upload your photos to the looppool on flickr .

From Shelter Manager Dana Rocco at NRHS:

Ears! Yes, that is her name. Ears is a Whippet mix (??) That is our best guess. Ears is a spayed female sweetie that is five months old. When fully grown we are estimating her to be about 20lbs. Ears is a very playful dog that loves meeting new people.

The New Rochelle Humane Society transferred her from the Brooklyn Animal Care and Control to help alleviate their crowded shelter and help Ears find a home. Adoption fee $200 includes spay, microchip, vaccines, heartworm test, collar, ID tag and food.

Open everyday for adoption including Saturday and Sunday.

Built in 1920 at 415 Huguenot Avenue, New Rochelle.

City Historian Barbara Davis says that when commercial buildings were constructed in the late part of the 1800s and early 1900s, no expense was spared.

“This was certainly the case when the owner of the J. A. Mahltstedt Lumber and Coal Company (incorporated 1895) erected a handsome Neo-Classical Revival style building for his thriving enterprise’s offices. The limestone two-story structure was prominently sited just opposite the Soldier’s Monument at the west junction of Huguenot and Main Streets.”

The lumber yards were located directly behind the building.  The Mahlstedt family had deep roots in the community including running the ice manufacturing business on the lake that is now the Twin Lakes in front of New Rochelle High School.  The pink family home on the lake is now the Huguenot branch (the Childrens Library) of the Public Library.

Mahlstedt Ice House where the High School lakes are now, c. 1920.

New Rochelle High School, opened in 1926, originally called Woodrow Wilson High School

The Mahlstedt businesses closed following The Depression. The building served as a temporary site of the Post Office, offices for the New Rochelle Water Company, and the Landis Hardware Store. At some point the upper part of the facade was covered with an aluminum cap, hiding the lettering.

Those letters again appear.  After purchasing the property in 2008, the current owner invested money and in expertise to restore it.

I included the photo with the UPS truck because it shows how far the building now tilts to the right. (Correction: the building’s owner says it is the street, not the building, which is uneven.)

Black and white images courtesy New Rochelle Public Library Local History Collection

Have a pet you love or just know a great one? Submit a photo and we’ll feature it in “Pet Project”

Really, now. BFFs at the New Rochelle Humane Society .

These picture-perfect pooches include Anne May, on the right, a 5-year-old sweetheart of a girl who showed up terrified at the shelter after being bred several times, and then heartlessly abandoned. While at the shelter, Anne-May has come into her own, becoming the gentle and affectionate dog she is today.

She loves hanging out with tiny Wolfe, a teacup Chihuahua who was rescued from a home where dozens of Chihuahuas were hoarded. Wolfe, just seven months old, has an eye condition that requires daily drops.

Both fun-loving animals are ready, willing and anxiously awaiting a home or homes of their own at the New Rochelle Humane Society, 70 Portman Road. Call 632-2925.

U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, who represents most of Westchester and parts of Rockland Counties in Congress, made fast friends with a group of New Rochelle High School seniors during a classroom visit Monday, inviting them to meet again online Tuesday night during President Obama’s State of the Union address.

“I don’t want to talk at you,” Congresswoman Lowey, a Democrat who represents New York’s 18th District, said.  ”I want to have a conversation.”

Lowey’s visit to teacher Darren Gurney’s AP macroeconomics class was a precursor to the virtual Facebook and Twitter chat with students she has planned for before and after the President’s speech. Students can participate by going to Lowey’s Facebook page  or using the hashtag #LoweyChat on Twitter.

She also will meet with New Rochelle High AP government students in Washington later this week.

Lowey reiterated several times her commitment to staying non-partisan during the classroom discussion, which touched on her priorities: creating jobs, investing in education and tax relief.

She did, however, come right out and say how important she thinks it is for young people to get involved in their government as soon as they are old enough.

“It’s sad to me that in this great country of ours such a small percentage of people vote,” she said.

“Whatever you do with your life, I hope you will take some time for public service because it is very rewarding.”

Photo courtesy of Paul Costiglio

Can you imagine? This sweet-natured guy, Norman, was so mistreated by his previous owners that they didn’t even bother to bring him into an animal shelter when they gave him up; He was left in a dirty carrier on the steps of a local facility.

Even after being transferred to the New Rochelle Humane Society, Norman showed signs that he was “quite neglected.” His wiry coat was dirty; Hair loss on his back meant that, at some point, he probably suffered from fleas.

But Norman is ringing in 2012 with a new lease on life, thanks to a grooming, vaccinations and the TLC every dog deserves. He is friendly, playful — and downright adorable. Now all he needs is a home of his own where he can enjoy life the way he is meant to.

Norman’s $140 adoption fee covers the costs of his heartworm test, micro-chip, collar, ID tags, starter bag of food and training classes.