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Westchester Now

Newsday Westchester's news blog, covering snippets of government, politics, crime, transportation, education and local events in Westchester, Rockland and the Hudson Valley.

Chappaqua student heads to science contest finals, $100K in reach

Left: Jiayi Peng of Horace Greeley High School,

Photo credit: Handout (left) and Xavier Mascarenas

Jiayi Peng has been drilled by doctors of physics and molecular biology. The Horace Greeley High School senior has presented her research to her teachers and her parents so many times that she can tell when their eyes are glazing over a little. 

Her science research teacher, Trudy Gessler, is firm in her belief that Peng, of Chappaqua, has what it takes to win the $100,000 grand...

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Middletown schools could net $20M in federal grants

Students in the Middletown City School District use

Photo credit: Provided by Middletown City School District

The Middletown School District beat out 75 other New York applicants to make the short list in the federal Race to the Top district grant competition.

Nationwide, 372 school districts applied for the grant and 61 finalists were announced Monday by the federal Education Department. In New York, only Middletown and New York City were selected as finalists.

"We've been doing a lot...

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In Westchester, even leaky roofs are political

The Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Training

Photo credit: Faye Murman

In Westchester County, even leaky roofs are political.

On Monday, County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, vetoed legislation backed by Democratic legislators that would fix the roof at the Department of Emergency Services Training Center in Valhalla.

Astorino wants the roof replaced, a job he estimated would cost around $640,000. Pools of water collect in the training center after...

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Westchester looks to '#GivingTuesday' for support

A woman makes a donation into a Salvation

Photo credit: Getty Images

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become post-Thanksgiving traditions, and now "#GivingTuesday" is being added to the calendar.

Only this new dedicated spending day is more about helping others than scoring a great bargain.

New York’s 92nd Street Y and partners, including the United Nations Foundation, are pushing for the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to be recognized as a national...

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Dobbs Ferry choir gets special invite to NYC concert

The Springhurst Elementary School fifth-grade choir performs. (Nov.

Photo credit: Provided by Dobbs Ferry School District

A class of fifth-graders at a Dobbs Ferry elementary school will be the youngest choir invited to sing in the Bernard Kaplan Memorial Holiday Concert in Manhattan on Friday.

The Springhurst Elementary School students will perform five original songs written by their music teacher, George Sweitlicki. The lyrics to the program, titled "We Are All America," were written by Dobbs Ferry...

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How to get over a food coma

This Thanksgiving Day menu is available at Diamond

Photo credit: Xavier Mascarenas

We’ve all experienced it: the annual Thanksgiving after-dinner food coma. When our pants feel a little tighter, our eyes feel a little heavier and the couch has never looked so inviting. Instead of giving into to the turkey nap, battle that food coma head-on.

HowCast.com offers these tips for beating the bloat:

1. Wear loose clothes.

Taking the pressure off your stomach and giving...

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How to skip the stuffed gym and get in a Turkey Day workout

People take part in a physical exercise lesson

Photo credit: File

Gyms can get nearly as crowded on Thanksgiving morning as stores on Black Friday, but there are plenty of ways to get in that pre-turkey workout without leaving your family to hang out at a packed gym. Here are a few easy ways to feel less guilty about the extra holiday calories:

Get creative

Working out on Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be another thing to try to cram into a busy schedule....

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Hudson Valley students help break world record

Goshen Intermediate School students Genevieve Babyak and Jacklyn

Photo credit: Provided by Goshen Intermediate School

Racing to stack plastic cups in pyramids -- while blindfolded or on scooters -- students from the Hudson Valley helped break a world record in sport stacking Tuesday.

Across New York, 76 elementary, middle and high schools took part in breaking the record for "Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations in One Day." More than 2,600 schools and organizations representing some...

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Black Friday shopping: Five must-have apps

There are mobile apps for smartphones and tablets

Photo credit: iStock

Black Friday can be overwhelming enough with crowds, lines and lack of sleep, so naturally navigating the best deals also can add to the strain. But never fear: There’s an app for that. Don’t miss any deals with these helpful -- and free -- Black Friday apps.

Price Check by Amazon

The Price Check app allows you to check if that in-store deal is actually your best bet. The app allows...

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Superintendents survey: Insolvency on horizon for 9% of schools

Classroom

Photo credit: Daniel Brennan

Nine percent of school districts statewide face financial insolvency in the next two years, according to a survey of school superintendents released Tuesday.

The New York State Council of School Superintendents said more of their members than ever before are warning that their districts are becoming unable to fund state and federal mandates.

Five percent of districts are already unable...

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