Sound Shore

For two decades and counting, the City of New Rochelle’s finance gurus have earned a gold star for excellence. Last week, the Government Finance Officers Association awarded the city a certificate of achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This is the 21st consecutive year the city has earned the organization’s praise.

City Manager Charles Strome III said, “We commend our Finance Department for once again receiving such a distinguished honor. This award is a tribute to their professionalism and integrity.”

The Government Finance Officers Association has offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

UPDATE: I’ll be on the 8:43 from White Plains, due in Grand Central at 9:23. If you’re on the same train and going to the parade, let’s talk Giants!

Looks like I’ll be riding a train into NYC tomorrow morning to cover the Giants parade. If you’re among the Giants fanatics who will be doing the same, let me know what train you plan to take (I’m not sure yet whether I’ll take the Harlem or New Haven line) and where you plan to watch the parade. I’ll be looking to talk with folks from the area.

Write me at erauch@lohud.com if you’re interested in connecting. You can follow me on Twitter, too: @NPRauch.

The Ursuline School this morning released its second statement on the suicide of a 14-year-old student earlier this week. The school’s statement is apparently in response to the Yonkers police department’s own press release last night.

Here’s the statement, attributed to Principal Eileen Davidson:

The Ursuline School has lost a wonderful young member of its close-knit community of students. Our grief is overwhelming. Eira Maghuyop loved our school and was fully engaged in Ursuline’s campus life. Our staff continues to take care of our students as they mourn, and we pray for Eira’s family. Those are our priorities.

Unfortunately, our grief has been compounded by the erroneous reports on the Internet and among some news organizations that Eira’s death was in part the result of bullying at Ursuline. We are reassured by the Yonkers Police Department statement that their investigation “has not revealed any evidence to support that bullying was a factor in this incident.”

We thank the community, our alumnae and friends for the outpouring of support. We continue to offer our students counseling, peer mediation, a personal development program, and peer ministry. We will also continue our chapter of Teenangels, a nationwide program of specially trained teens who promote Internet safety and cyberbullying awareness and prevention.

From New Rochelle School District Spokesman Paul Costiglio, the following:

“On a recent trip to Washington DC, 33 AP US Government and Politics students from New Rochelle High School visited the White House, Supreme Court and were on the Hill in the House chamber for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ emotional resignation. The delegation also met privately with Congresswoman Nita Lowey. One student, Benjamin Helfand, was Representative Lowey’s guest at a meet and greet with House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi and then attended the State of the Union Address.

(Helfand and Pelosi. Photo provided.)

Yonkers Police said late Thursday afternoon that their investigation into the death of a 14-year-old Ursuline School student Tuesday night in a home on Newkirk Road “has not revealed any evidence to support that bullying was a factor in this incident.”

Police said their investigation remains open and asked anyone with relevant information to call the department’s Detective Division at (914) 377-7724.

Some media reports had suggested bullying triggered or contributed to the girl’s apparent suicide; an anti-bullying page on Facebook set up in her memory had collected more than 13,000 supporters as of Thursday afternoon.

Also, prior to the Yonkers police department’s statement, State Sen. Jeff Klein, citing the media reports, issued a press release noting his interest in anti-bullying efforts. Klein said he planned to deactivate his own Facebook page for 24 hours, starting Thursday at 6 p.m., to “stand in solidarity” with the girl’s friends and others who seek to combat bullying.

The Ursuline School, in a statement Wednesday, said it was “deeply saddened” by the death and had made extra counselors available to students and staff.

The Journal News generally does not identify the victims of suicides that occur in private locations or report in detail on such incidents.

The Ursuline School, an all-girls school in New Rochelle, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon in response to the unexpected death of one of its students.

The full statement reads: “The Ursuline School is deeply saddened by the loss of a fine young member of our school community. 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 students and staff. Our hearts and prayers are with the young woman’s family in their grief.”

Anyone with additional information about the victim is welcome to contact Staff Writer Ned P. Rauch at 914.694.5063 or erauch@lohud.com.

Assembly members George Latimer and Amy Paulin will host a community meeting about the state’s 2012-13 budget on Wednesday at New Rochelle City Hall. The meeting, at which members of the public may air their thoughts on the budget for up to four minutes, will take place in the Council Chamber from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Written comments will be accepted until Feb. 24. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget calls from more than $130 billion in spending.

The pig’s still looking for a home. The New Rochelle Humane Society remains in care of Peyton, a 2-year-old potbelly porker it took off the hands of a group of Iona College students on Sunday. Click here for our initial story on Peyton’s adventure.

(Photo of Peyton the pig by Ned P. Rauch)

The Mamaroneck Artists Guild in Larchmont is featuring 75 pieces by students from Mamaroneck High School, New Rochelle High School and the French American School in its “Young Artists on the Rise” exhibit, which opened Tuesday.  A special opening reception and awards ceremony will be held at the gallery next Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The work runs the gamut of media, including photography, ceramics, sculpture, drawing and painting. Juried members of the Larchmont-based Guild will judge and select one Best of Show piece, along with 1st , 2nd  and Honorable Mention winners in various categories.

The exhibit continues through Feb. 11. MAG Gallery is a not-for-profit space located in Larchmont, and is open five days a week.

At right, artwork by Mamaroneck senior Julia Rosenfeld that will be on exhibit.

 Scarsdale’s Ian Klein celebrates with James Nicholas following Nicholas’s third goal on the night against New Rochelle at The Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon Jan. 31, 2012. Scarsdale’s won 6-4.