Sound Shore

The New Rochelle fire department last week inspected all their firehouses and trucks for bedbugs after one firefighter thought he spotted them in the firehouse on North Avenue.

New Rochelle Fire Commissioner Raymond “Doc” Kiernan said upon further examination Sept. 26 and 27, all was clear. One of the firefighters thought he saw bedbugs on one of the mattresses. Kiernan said the department brought in some bedbug sniffing dogs to inspect the all firehouses but the animals didn’t find anything.

“We took every precaution,” Kiernan said. “We got rid of the mattresses, replaced them and fumigated all the firehouses. This is a real problem, it’s an epidemic actually (going on all over the greater New York City area). You can go to the fanciest hotels and have them.”

Back in August, we reported developer Louis Cappelli was selling the Residence Inn Hotel at New Roc City for $21 million.

The Florida based real estate firm that bought the hotel, Chatham Lodging Trust, announced today the deal is now complete. The firm also bought a White Plains hotel last month and has hinted at setting their eyes on more hotels in the area.

The full announcement from Chatham is after the jump.

The Junior League of Westchester on the Sound said their fashion show last week was a big success with over 200 people in attendance. The group put on the charity show to raise funds and encourage residents to support local businesses.

Several local merchants took part in the fashion show including Renata Donaghy, co-owner of the hip Larchmont candy show Sweet Teez.

Students in New Rochelle’s Italian dual language program at Jefferson Elementary School will be featured in the Columbus Day Parade this month in Manhattan.

Watch the school’s kindergarten through second graders march in Manhattan on Oct. 11. The parade will take place on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan from 44th street to 72nd Street.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Mamaroneck and other nearby areas today and tomorrow.

Village Manager Richard Slingerland sent me this announcement talking about what Mamaroneck is doing to prepare for the possible flooding:

For the past couple of days, we have been coordinating between the Village departments and workforce, and with the Town of Mamaroneck. (Yesterday), the Sheldrake Reservoir was 120” below the spillway (10 feet of capacity), and the Town of Mamaroneck has continued draining it down on a limited basis, to add additional storage capacity. By (today), the Reservoir will be at 130” below the spillway, which is more capacity than the Town had for the April, 2007 storm. Additionally, because of the Town and County’s dredging project for Garden’s Lake (a.k.a. the Duck Pond), Gardens Lake is virtually empty right now, having been drained completely.

The Village’s catch-basins have been checked and cleared, our heavy equipment is all in working order, and the grate-openings on the dam at Mamaroneck River are clear – in fact, (Tuesday) the water was so low it was not even going through the dam openings.

The Village will remain vigilant and keep an extremely close watch on the rising waters of the rivers. Everything we can do for preparation has been done. I would urge all of the local residents to notify everyone at this time who should begin making preparations, should make preparations now.

We will keep all our local residents informed.

The Mamaroneck village planning board is holding a special meeting thursday for the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club’s seasonal housing proposal. Expect it to be a lively meeting.

Earlier this month, the village approved an $825,000 settlement to put an end to a longstanding messy  lawsuit the club has had with the village over the plans.

The meeting will take place 7 p.m. Thursday in the main meeting room in village hall.

This week, Mamaroneck held a swearing in ceremony for the new chief and lieutenant of the village’s police department.

Christopher Leahy replaces longtime chief Ed Flynn and Dominick Falcone has been promoted to lieutenant. The ceremony took place this week during the Village Board of Trustees regular meeting.

Senate Republican candidates Bob Cohen of Scarsdale and Liam McLaughlin of Yonkers will hold a joint press conference Thursday denouncing the state bringing back the clothing tax on Oct. 1.

The 4% tax is on all clothing purchases under $110. Cohen in a release said “The regressive new tax will add a cumulative burden to lower and middle income families with children.”

The event will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday outside the Galleria Mall in White Plains.

The family of Kevin Williams, the New Rochelle resident murdered in broad daylight earlier this month, will hold a funeral service for him tonight at George Davis Funeral Home in New Rochelle.

Visiting hours will run from 6-9 p.m. and a service will be held at 8 p.m. The George Davis is located at 14 Lecount Place in New Rochelle.

Friends and family of Williams spent all last week raising money for the funeral because the family had financial difficulties. Williams was stabbed to death Sept. 18 outside 270 North Ave. downtown.

The New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce is holding “Turning Business Vision into Success” on Oct. 12 to teach people how to successfully start a business.

The seminar will be led by Paul Lewis, founder of the business consulting firm Start Me Up.

The event will take place from 8-10 a.m. Oct. 12 at the New Rochelle public library. The event is free for chamber of commerce members and $10 for non-members. Space is limited to only 35 people, so make reservations in advance. For more information, call 914-632-5700.