Eastchester REVIEW THE
December 21, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 51 | www.eastchesterreview.com
County awarded nearly $800K in grants
Happy Holidays
Westchester County has been awarded nearly $800,000 in grants from the New York State Regional Economic Development Council. The grants will go toward three projects: restoration of the Playland Carousel, Updating the Bronx River Watershed Management Plan and the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board. “This is a good day for Westchester residents as the county has received money from New York State to work on three very important projects,” County Executive George Latimer said. “I want to thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council for being so generous with Westchester County and recognizing the importance of our historic buildings, environment and workforce.” The county was awarded $450,000 for the Playland Carousel Restoration. The county will reconstruct the fire damaged 1928 Carousel building at the National Historic Landmark Playland Park. The unique octagonal building with a lamella roof houses the treasured 1915 Grand Carousel, only one of four in existence featuring handcarved horses and chariots by famed carousel maker Charles Carmel. Fire broke out in the building in the summer of 2017,
the Carousel has been closed to the public since. “Playland Carousel has been closed for far too long, the damage was devastating. But, now I am thrilled that the Carousel will once again be an essential part of summer in Westchester County,” said Latimer. For the update to the Bronx River Watershed Management Plan, the county was awarded $245,428 for work in partnership with the Bronx River Watershed Alliance. The dollars will be used to undertake a collaborative, multi-jurisdictional planning process to update the Bronx River Inter-municipal Watershed Plan incorporating a climate resilience strategy. The updated plan will identify critical management strategies and recommendations that will lead to a healthier and more resilient watershed for residents and wildlife. Additionally, $100,000 has been awarded to the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board for “Westchesters Promise.” The project will provide training to individuals seeking employment as Medical Administrative Assistances, Phlebotomy Technicians, and Electrocardiography Technicians. The program will go a long way toward closing the skills gap in the healthcare field, something long focused on in the county. (Submitted)
Bronxville priest charged with sexual abuse Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, announced Thomas Kreiser, 53, most recently of Riverdale in the Bronx, was arraigned on a charge of Sexual Abuse in the first degree, a class D felony, for touching the intimate parts of a 10-year-old child. Kreiser surrendered to authorities on Dec. 18 this afternoon and was arraigned in Bronxville Village Court. Bail was set at $10,000 cash/$20,000 bond. He
Thomas Kreiser
is scheduled to be back in court Jan. 16, 2019. The charges allege, on Sept. 20, Kreiser engaged in touching a child on an intimate part of her body while in a school building in Bronxville during the school day. The 10-year-old victim was fully clothed. At the time, Kreiser was employed as a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of New York and was stationed at St. Joseph’s Parish, which includes a
church and elementary school. As part of his duties, Kreiser was visiting the school at the time of the alleged abuse. The Archdiocese since removed Kreiser from the parish. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Mary Clark DiRusso, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau, and Janelle Armentano, both of the Special Prosecutions Division. (Submitted)
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