A storm is bringing heavy rain and strong, gusty winds to Westchester today, knocking out power to thusands of customers. Forecasters say there will be rain today, heavy at times, with winds gusting up to 55 miles per hour, resulting in downed trees and power lines.

Rain is expected to continue through the afternoon  with 2-3 inches predicted. That could result in mild to moderate stream and river flooding.

The Business Council of Westchester is partnering with Con Edison and Westchester County to launch phase two of the so-called Westchester Green Business Challenge. The challenge is a pro-active educational program aimed at sensitizing the County's businesses to improving the environment while at the same time spurring economic development.

Powerful Summer storms wreaked havoc Tuesday  across Northern Westchester County.

Thousands of NYSEG customers in the communities of Bedford, Bedford Hills, Cross River, Goldens Bridge, Katonah, Pound Ridge and North Salem remain without power as of midnight after thunderstorms and gusty winds took down trees and power lines, forcing many local roadways to close. There was even a report of a tree falling on a house in Bedford, but no injuries were reported. Several cars sustained severe damage after large trees toppled onto them at the Katonah train station.

White Plains firefighters have their hands full with a massive blaze that started around 3 this afternoon at the Bengal Tiger Indian Restaurant at 140 East Post Road.

Officials say the fire started in the basement of the eatery and then quickly spread, engulfing three other neighboring stores.

A citizens group in Cortlandt Manor is protesting Consolidated Edison's plans to drain its ten acre lake that runs along Furnace Dock Road.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has ordered the utility to make repairs on the dam, but Con Ed has decided to drain the lake, saying it's best to bring it back to its "natural state."

Railroad Pond was originally a stream that was dammed up by New York Central Railroad, a precursor to Metro North, in 1892, created as a means of servicing locomotives at the former Montrose train station and to supply water for the railroad's steam engines.

Railroad Pond was purchased by Con Edison in 1958 to build power lines from Indian Point to New York City. It has since maintained the dam and madeCitizens Group Joins Fight to Preserve Pond in Cortlandt changes to the Railroad Pond over the years. It has lowered the water table over the past 20 years, decreasing Railroad Pond's size to ten acres. It was originally double that.

Con Ed spokesman Chris Olert says the State DEC deemed Railroad Pond, a "high hazard dam," and ordered the utility to remove the dam altogether, a move he says was endorsed by environmental group, American Rivers. According to Olert, "What we are proposing to do is swap one habitat for another, return the site to its original condition, make the whole area safe,add parkland and hiking trails and public access, something which it does not currently have."

Olert claims the pond is six feet deep at the most, and is not home to any significant number of  fish.

The citizens group that calls itself "Save Railroad Pond," is accusing Con Edison of trying to cut maintenance costs without regard for  the environment. The group's spokesman, Radu Dumitrescu insists that is not the case. Said Dumitrescu, "There is no public benefit by removing the dam altogether, only loss of land, water and biodiversity. This is something that once done, cannot be undone."

Dumitrescu added, "We are sure there are endangered species of plants and animals in the area and we are hoping to order, if need be, a biodiversity study."

Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi and members of the Town Board support efforts to keep the lake as is. The Town Board recently passed a resoulution calling for the State DEC to prevent Con Ed from draining the lake. Opponents of the proposed change also argue that the dam serves to prevent flooding in surrounding communities as swollen small streams flow into it and it diverts the excess water into the nearby Hudson River.

Any changes made to the lake must be approved by the State Public Service Commission (PSC) and a public hearing must first be held in the Town of Cortlandt.

The group has launched a petition drive opposing Con Ed's plan to drain Railroad Pond. To date, it has more than 500 signatures.

Police are investigating the death of a tree cutter who was killed Thursday morning while trimming trees for Con Edison  in Yorktown.

Yorktown Police spokesman Lt. Kevin Soravilla says the worker has been identified as 34 year old John Burke of Buchanan, who worked for the   Asplundh tree removal company, was in the turck bucket trimming trees on Route 132 and Wren Place when he was killed.

He was transported to Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt where he was pronounced dead.

Governor David Paterson has announced that President Obama has issued a major federal disaster declaration for Westchester,Rockland,Orange,Nassau,Suffolk and Richmond Counties as a result of last month's devastating Nor'easter.

The storm that began March 13, produced torrential rains and near- hurricane force winds that uprooted thousands of trees, toppled utility poles, took down power lines and blocked roadways.

It also led to the death of a man in Westchester after a tree crashed onto his car. At the height of the storm, more than 270,000 customers were without power.