County Warehouses Covid19-Positive Homeless With Healthcare Workers In Elmsford

We all know that the County Executive has said that keeping our healthcare workers safe keeps all County residents safe as they put their lives on the line to treat patients during the coronavirus pandemic. He also said, “I am proud of these efforts by the Westchester County Office of Tourism & Film and the Westchester Hotel Association to support those on the front lines.”

While it’s great to have housing for these workers provided for at area hotels, an alarming trend has developed. While the County is supplying housing for medical staff, they are also housing just-released homeless patients confirmed positive with Covid19! In fact, an entire wing of the Days Inn Hotel on Valley Avenue has been designated for only those just released. One nurse staying there was in disbelief when she learned of this.

The Village of Elmsford’s all-volunteer Fire Department operates the ambulance service for the Village. While standard precautions are always taken when dealing with infectious patients, it’s unfair to subject these valued first responders to the unnecessarily dangerous situation such as this. While everyone is entitled assistance when needed, the County should be contracting and staffing an ambulance service that can be used specifically for these patients.

Next, the County should remove all healthcare workers from this and any other hotel being used for Covid19-positive patients. In fact, we’ve learned that some of the cleaning staff are reluctant to enter these rooms, which will increase the intensity of contamination and chance of exposure and spread to others.

The County has set up five huge tents that are being built with rooms inside. We presume it is for Covid19 infected patients but have been unable to confirm this. If the tents are completed, why aren’t they being put there? Surely not every tent is still under construction and is ready to be used.

Benefit Car & Truck Show Honors Firefighter

John Constantino Passes

John P. Constantino Sr. 70, of Elmsford, NY passed away on July11, 2019. John was born on May 25, 1949 to the late Vito and Gloria (nee DeLeonardis) Constantino in the Bronx, NY.  John was predeceased by his devoted wife Tina Constantino and his sister Angela Constantino.

John is survived by his son John P. (Cheryl) Constantino Jr. of Putnam Valley, NY, his daughter Maria (Pete) Mrsich of Milford, CT, his brother Richard (Marie) Constantino of Lake Monticello, VA and his partner Maria Castori of Elmsford, NY. He cherished his five grandchildren; Grace, Jay (John III), Christopher, Bella and Scarlett. He is also loved by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

John dedicated his life to serving the Village of Elmsford as a foreman for the Water Department and as a 50 year active life member of Elmsford Fire Co. #1 in which he served as Chief four times. John was an avid NY Giants and Yankees fan. Reposing, Hawthorne Funeral Home on Friday from 3-8 PM. Funeral Mass, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (Elmsford) on Saturday at 10 AM. Interment, Rosehills Memorial Park, Putnam Valley to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s name to https://maria-fareri-childrens-hospital-fund.everydayhero.com/us/tina-s-kids 

HAWTHORNE FUNERAL HOME

21 West Stevens Ave

Hawthorne, New York 10532

914-769-4404

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Donations may be made to:

Tina's Kids
Web: https://maria-fareri-childrens-hospital-fund.everydayhero.com/us/tina-s-kids

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Elmsford's September 11th Remembrance

Yvette Quinones-Eannazzo Seeks Position on Elmsford School Board

As a candidate for School Board, I want to make our great schools even better and be a voice for all the children. Many parents may already know who I am. Some may have no idea who I am . I have been part of the Elmsford Community for the past 17 years. I was a member of the Elmsford Fire Department for 4 years, during which time I ran our Junior Fire Fighters organization. This is where I met my amazing husband who is a former Fire Chief for the Elmsford Fire Department. In 2004 we had our first child, Olivia and in 2006 we had our second child AJ.

Olivia and Aj attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel until last year. For personal reasons, we transferred both children to Elmsford Public Schools. While we were at OLMC I was President of the Parents Guild. I worked with other parents to organize and run fundraisers. Some of the events we ran were: as Babysitting night, Movie Nights, Bunko Night, Valentines dance, 5th, 6th and 7th grade dance, Teacher appreciation Breakfast, back to school BBQ End of the year BBQ Christmas fair, monthly bake sales and the Annual Parents Guild dinner. Although it was important for us to fund school projects we also wanted to run events that would bring the school together and create a family at mosphere.

I also helped coach both my kid's basketball teams at OLMC.

Since we started EUFSD in September I have Volunteered at International Night, Grady's Carnival and both book fairs. Both of our children have done very well academically and have taken advantage of many of the after-school activities. They have adjusted to their new school and still stay in touch with their wonderful OLMC fr iends.

If elected, I will work hard for every student, parent, teacher and resident. I believe in being fiscally responsible and to make sure every tax dollar is used appropriately . It is important not only to continue the great work the current board is doing but it is equally important to make our school district even better.

I respectfully ask for your vote on May 16.

Tyler Rush Memorial Scholarship Car and Truck Show Today

For more information, please visit: http://www.ElmsfordFD.com.

Tyler Rush Memorial Scholarship Car and Truck Show

For more information, visit http://elmsfordfd.com

Car Wash To Benefit Pets

Crane Collapse Confirms Two Injured

 

Like a scene out of a New York City construction mishap, a crane collapsed while driving pilings for the new section of the bridge being built along side of the current Tappan Zee Bridge. While the likelihood of greater injury existed, only two (an unconfirmed third is possible) people are known to be injured. This was remarkably lucky given the amount of workers and traffic that are regularly on the two bridges. The crane, working from the newly built section, fell across the span between the new and the old bridges and across both the north and south bound lanes of the old bridge.

OSHA inspectors are being dispatched to the scene to initiate an investigation as to what went wrong. There are two people confirmed injured, one construction worker and one motor vehicle passenger. We are still awaiting confirmation on the third possible victim. The County’s Special Operations’ Technical Rescue Team was dispatched along with the Rockland Technical Rescue Team to the scene along with numerous area fire departments and personnel from both sides of the Hudson.

9A Crash with Multiple Injuries

At approximately 12:30 PM this afternoon, a small red car was speeding northbound on 9A, according to witnesses we interviewed at the scene. That speeding small red car made a bad maneuver as the red light on 9A changed from red to green. Because the driver of the red car was speeding, he pushed the dark blue car, shown in this photo, into the ConEd truck. The ConEd truck had three passengers sitting on the front bench seat. The ConEd truck had just started to move with the green light and was going no more than ten miles per hour when the blue car struck them.

Once the red car hit the dark blue car, the dark blue car slammed into the front of the ConEd truck. Two people from the red car, one from the green and one passenger from the Con Ed truck were taken to Westchester County Medical Center. Three ambulances assisted from Hawthorne Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Valhalla Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the all-volunteer Elmsford Fire Department. None of the injuries were reported to be life threatening.

Passing of Former Chief Dennis Bolger

Dennis Andrew Bolger, Age 82, of Elmsford, NY, passed away on February 28, 2016. Born in the Tottenville Section of Staten Island, NY., to the late Edward and Rose (nee Golomb) Bolger. Mr. Bolger graduated from St. Peter's Boys High School. He was an Installer for New Telephone and then AT&T. Dennis was a Life Member of Live Oak Engine Company # 1, Former Chief of Elmsford Fire Department, Alarm Superintendent Village of Elmsford for over 50 years, Member of the American Legion Post 104 and the Korean War Veterans of Florida. He was a Korean War Veteran and retired Reservist at Steward Air National Guard Base (105th Airlift Wing) Retired with the Rank of Master Sergeant and he was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Elmsford, NY. Dennis is survived by One Daughter Maryanne Romero, Three Sons William, James and Kenneth Bolger, Twelve Grandchildren, Two Great Grandchildren, a Brother Thomas Bolger, and his longtime Companion Beatrice Bouchard and family. Reposing Friday 4 PM Thru 8 PM at Hawthorne Funeral Home, Hawthorne, NY. Funeral Mass10 AM Saturday Sacred Heart Church, Hartsdale, NY. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, New Rochelle, NY. In lieu of flowers donations to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, for Student Scholarship in Memory of Dennis A. Bolger, Attn: Sr. Stephen, 59 E Main St, Elmsford, NY 10523 or The Firemen's Home, 125 Harry Howard Ave, Hudson, NY 12534 

Service information below:
Wake:
Friday March 4, 2016 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Hawthorne Funeral Home
21 West Stevens Avenue
Hawthorne, N.Y. 10532
769-4404 
Funeral Mass:
Saturday March 5, 2016 10:00 AM
Sacred Heart Church
Central Avenue
Hartsdale, N.Y. 
Cemetery:
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
New Rochelle, N.Y.
http://elmsfordfd.com/

Elmsford FD Hosts Safety Seminar

It started as a simple, indoor, winter drill for the Elmsford Fire Department, in January. Limited by the severely cold weather, it was decided to have a guest speaker come to teach the department’s members in the Alexander Hamilton High School’s auditorium. That was sixteen years ago, when Lieutenant Andy Fredericks, a member of the New York City Fire Department, became the first speaker for what would become a department tradition.  

On Saturday, February 6th, approximately 410 firefighters from primarily the New York metropolitan area, as well as out of state, attended the Annual Lt. Andy Fredericks, FDNY, Memorial Seminar and Exhibits. All of the attendees, firefighters, EMS and some police personnel were treated to an excellent presentation by Captain Mike Gagliano of the Seattle Fire Department with his “Go/No-Go” presentation, about decision making on the fireground: interior versus exterior operations.

Captain Gagliano focused his presentation on a number of different scenarios, which included numerous action videos and involved a lot of audience participation. Attendees also visited a large number of vendors, including Firefighting and EMS equipment, medical screening, FD communications equipment, FD jewelry, FD t-shirts, Firefighters for Christ, Con Edison, The New York State Firemen’s Home, Burn Care Everywhere, etc. Members of Andy Frederick’s company, FDNY Squad Company 18, were in attendance, as always, selling company t-shirts and interacting with the seminar attendees.

In addition to the training and vendors, substantial funding was raised for the four charities that the all-volunteer Elmsford Fire Department support:  Lt. Andy Fredericks Scholarship Fund, Lt. Tyler Rush Scholarship Fund, the New York State Firemen’s Home and Burn Care Everywhere. All proceeds raised are donated after expenses. The Marriot Hotel graciously allows the use of their Grand Ballroom for this event. Steve Rossi of AAA Emergency in North White Plains said, “Elmsford has set the bar for all seminars for the New York Fire Service.” Walter Ferguson, of Burn Care Everywhere said, “This has become the premier firefighting event in New York State.”

Next year’s 2017 Seminar will be with Battalion Chief Jim Silvernail, of the Metro West Fire Protection District of St. Louis County, who will be speaking on “Suburban Firefighting.” Congratulations to the Elmsford Fire Department for all they do and to helping these other organizations.

 

A Different Type of Memorial Day

The Elmsford Fire Department, led by Chief David Signor, participated in church services, a parade followed by a ceremony held at Village Hall to honor our fallen heroes. Numerous groups were in attendance and everyone seemed to be enjoying the festivities. Except one couple. They were busy in a different way.

At approximately 1:30PM, after the last hot dog was consumed and the tables and chairs put away, the Elmsford Fire Department received a call for an ambulance to respond to Ichi Riki’s Japanese Restaurant for a woman in labor. Upon arrival, firefighters and police officers found a young woman, who works at the restaurant, moaning with labor pains. Paramedics arrived shortly after and assisted as firefighters put the young woman onto the stretcher and wheeled her into the fire department’s new ambulance, which was recently just put into service.

As the young woman’s labor pains increased she became quite loud. Instructions from the paramedics could be heard between her breathing and screaming. The father who also works at the restaurant, had pulled his car behind the ambulance prepared to follow them to the hospital. Assistant Chief Nelson Diaz suggested he turn off the van and join his wife in the back of the ambulance. Protocol and safety reasons warrant letting the child be born in a stationary vehicle. Since this was her third child, it was assumed that labor might be swift. Just as the husband had gotten into the ambulance and joined his wife, she gave birth to a boy. This is the first birth in the Elmsford Fire Department’s new ambulance and truly a Memorial Day for at least one growing family. Best of luck to them all.

Elmsford Fire on North Goodwin Avenue

Top to bottom: View of fire scene
View of White Plains Avenue facing north

At approximately 10 PM last night, the Elmsford Fire Department was called out to a structure fire in at 88 North Goodwin Avenue just north of White Plains Avenue in Elmsford. Arriving fire crews witnessed flames coming through the roof. As hose lines were stretched from hydrants to the trucks for water supply, an aggressive interior attack of the fire was mounted by fire crews while a 10-75 was broadcast across the County from the Richard A. Flynn Fire Training Center’s 60 Control, the radio operations arm of that facility. Elmsford firefighters, battled not only the fire, but the cold weather and difficult conditions. They had the fire knocked down and the scene under control approximately 20 minutes after their arrival. No injuries were reported. Numerous fire departments assisted including Irvington, Tarrytown, Ardsley,Valhalla, Hawthorne, Fairview, and Hartsdale.

Greenburgh Fire Claims 2-Year Old

Fire was already raging through the two story home at 107 Sears Avenue when numerous 911 calls were received at about 10:03PM on Saturday night. The fire department responded to find the upper portion of the home engulfed in flames. It was estimated that about 75 firefighters would ultimately respond to this fire call.

Reports were that some family members had gone out shopping or were out of the house when the fire started. Those who were still there quickly exited the home and tried to make re-entry to no avail.

Aftermath of the home on 107 Sears Avenue.

While firefighters continued to fight the fire, interior attack crews attempted to find the 2-year old child on the second floor. They were forced to retreat after the roof collapsed and the volume of fire increased. It was believed the child was in a second floor attic bedroom. His body was later found on the second floor after the fire was extinguished. Investigators will continue to investigate the scene, however, the volume of fire and damage may make identifying the cause almost impossible.

Our hearts and prayers are with this family.