Sound Shore

Back in July we told you about the nightmare-level construction set to hit the heart of New Rochelle: the replacement of the North Avenue bridge over Interstate 95. While the timing of the main portion of the work was not yet certain, preliminary work was expected to begin at the end of this year.

Well, breathe easy; even the prep-work has been pushed back. City Manager Charles Strome III said earlier this week that the relocation of utility lines to a secondary pedestrian bridge would be put off till spring. Some time after that, work on the bridge will begin, though Strome said that could be at the end of 2012 or later.

When it does happen, “That’ll be a disaster,” Strome said. “Long periods of time where North Avenue will be shut down near the train station.”

But again, nothing to worry about now.

A New Rochelle man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison today for the brazen midday slaying of a rival in downtown New Rochelle last year.

The sentence for 21-year-old Laurell Smith (left) was five years less than the maximum for first-degree manslaughter, the felony charge that he was convicted of in June.

Smith fatally stabbed Kevin Williams on Sept. 18, as he was walking along on North Avenue with his uncle at 2:30 p.m. Smith yelled at Williams from an apartment window, and the two began arguing. Smith, who was already on probation, ran out of the apartment building and confronted Williams on the street, asking him at one point if he was scared. Williams reportedly replied, “No, I’m not scared.”

Smith then pulled an 8-inch knife from his waistband and forced it into the left side of Williams’ abdomen, stopping an inch from his right kidney, prosecutors said. Williams died an hour later at Sound Shore Medical Center.

Smith was charged with second-degree murder, but a jury acquitted him after his lawyer argued that Smith only wanted to hurt Williams, not kill him. The murder charge carried a life sentence.

Smith also was sentenced to serve one to three years in prison for violating his probation by committing another crime. The sentence will run concurrently, or at the same time as his manslaughter sentence, according to the Westchester County District Attorney’s office.

Williams’ aunt, who spoke briefly at the sentencing, told Smith that she hoped God would forgive him for killing her nephew.

Two of Smith’s accomplices pleaded guilty to their role in trying to cover up the attack and protect Smith. Rico Johnson, 20, and Krista Leggieri, 18, pleaded guilty in March to second-degree hindering prosecution and evidence tampering, felonies, for helping to hide Smith’s clothes and the knife. Johnson was sentenced to five years’ probation, with four months in the Westchester County jail. Leggieri was sentenced as a youthful offender; her file has been sealed.

Westchester County Judge Barry Warhit sentenced all three defendants in the case.

Colin Muldoon, who is graduating from Scarsdale High School, has been doing an internship here for the last month or so. Besides sorting the mail (really) and getting me coffee (not really), he’s been writing a few pieces. (You may have seen last week’s advance on the Greek festival in West Nyack?)

Today in the food section, Colin has a terrific story on his recent quest to see what kind of meals he could get on North Avenue for under $5. The story is entertaining, very informative, and, especially if you’re on a budget, a must-read. I’m posting it, after the jump. Here’s Colin: