Sound Shore

Karen Belanger and Edward Fox are running for the Rye Board of Education, according to school district officials.

Both candidates will appear unopposed on the ballot next month.

On Sunday, we report the findings of a three-month investigation into the reconstruction of Interstate 287 through Westchester, a project two years behind schedule and millions of dollars over budget. The report examines the contractors, the bids, the overruns and an entire system that has allowed construction practices like those of the 287 project to become status quo.

Look for it in The Journal News and on LoHud.com.

Harrison Board of Education members Paul Curtis, Philip Silano and David Singer will all be challenged as they run for re-election next month.

According to the district: Joseph Magnus is running for Curtis’s seat. Robert Piliero is running for Silano’s seat. Matthew Joseph is running for Singer’s seat.

The election will be held May 17.

NEW ROCHELLE
Washington Avenue: Change was stolen from a 2008 Honda Accord that was parked on Washington Avenue between 9 p.m. April 25 and 9 a.m. April 26. It was not clear if the car had been left unlocked.

Eighth Street: A $200 GPS was stolen from a 2011 Honda Accord that was left unlocked on Eighth Street between 9 p.m. April 24 and 9:29 a.m. April 26.

Good Thursday morning. Here’s a glance at opinion content published today in The Journal News:

Paul Kreutzer: Editorial
We comment on the Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District’s hiring of Paul Kreutzer, chief of the New Berlin, Wisc., schools, as its new superintendent. Kreutzer supported Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s effort to eliminate collective bargaining for public employees earlier this year. We write:

…[Some in Westchester] wonder if Kreutzer, whose March 16 media appearance was captured on video, will bring the same brand of ill-will and shortsighted partisan politics to New York. Kreutzer insists that he will not, that his pro-Walker remarks in Wisconsin were compelled by his service to the Walker-minded school board — in other words, that he was just doing what he was told. To many of his critics, that will serve as explanation, but no excuse.

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Peter Conley of Mamaroneck scores with a behind the back shot while being surrounded by White Plains defenders during a varsity lacrosse game at Mamaroneck High School today. Conley’s goal was one of only two scored by Mamaroneck as White Plains went on to defeat Mamaroneck 6-2. Photo by Seth Harrison

Look for the coverage in tomorrow’s edition of The Journal News. View the story along with a gallery of photos from the game at Lohud.com.

MAMARONECK — While the adopted budget dominated the discussion at its meeting Monday, the Board of Trustees also cast critical votes on new attorney fees and a major labor pact.

In a 3-2 party-line vote, the board OK’d a retainer agreement for Wormser, Kiely, Galef & Jacobs LLP, the law firm replacing Silverberg-Zalantis LLP as counsel to the village land-use boards.

Under the agreement, the Elmsford firm will charge hourly rates of $410 for its work with the village Planning Board and $260 for work with the zoning Board of Appeals, officials said. In addition, Wormser will charge $245 an hour for the first two hours of work on new land-use applications.

The board’s two Republicans opposed the appointment of Wormser as new land-use counsel, noting that Silverberg-Zalantis charges a lower hourly rate of $230 for the same work. But Democrats say billing land-use applicants for the time spent reviewing applications will help the village recoup some of the extra costs it incurs from Wormser’s higher hourly fees.

Also Monday night, the board unanimously approved a four-year contract for the local Civil Service Employees Association representing village sanitation workers.

HomeGoods, which sells off-price home fashions, is opening new stores in Pelham Manor on May 5 and in Port Chester on May 22.

The 27,000 square-foot Pelham Manor store is located in The Post Road Plaza, Hutchinson River Parkway and Route 1. The 25,000 square-foot Port Chester store is located in the Port Chester Shopping Center, Boston Post Road (Rt. 1) and 287 E & W St.

Both stores will open their doors at 8 a.m. on their grand opening day. The stores are expected to fill approximately 60 full and part-time positions. HomeGoods will donate $5,000 to the Westchester Children’s Association and $5,000 to Family Services of Westchester to mark the store openings.

Here’s an event with some serious potential: “A Taste of Port Chester.”

This is a village famous for its many tastes drawing from Italy, India and just about every corner of Central and South America. It sounds like a lot to do in one day, but the Tamarack Tower Foundation, which provides grants for school programs and special projects, has organized this event for Sunday, June 5. Participants pay $25, or $30 the day of the event, to tour the village’s restaurants at their own pace. Here’s the flier for details:

Good afternoon. Here’s a look at opinion content published today in The Journal News:

Nyack’s Riverspace: Editorial
We comment on news that Riverspace Arts and the village of Nyack are poised to team on the development of an arts-based “superblock” in the Rockland village’s downtown. We write:

… At tonight’s Nyack village board meeting, the board and Riverspace will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding that allows the village to control the site and seek development proposals. Riverspace will put up $200,000 to cover costs of seeking developers’ ideas for the site. The seed money would also be used to hire a planning consultant.

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