Longtime physician and former Emergency Department Director at Hudson Valley Hospital Center, John A. McGurty Jr., was honored today with the dedication of a new hospital conference room in his name.

Dr. McGurty, who served as HVHC's Director of Emergency Medicine from 1996-2003, has served tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan and as a U.S. Navy reservist and Medical Corps Captain. He has also served as Navy flight surgeon and is due to return overseas later this month for a third military deployment. 

About 100 people were on hand for today's dedication ceremony in the hospital lobby to unveil the plaque that will be placed outside the hospital's new Dr. John A. McGurty, Jr. Conference room.

Those on hand included Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi, Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster, members of the U.S. Marine Corps, New York State and City of Peekskill Police as well as hospital staff and physicians. 

"I am both surprised and extraordinarily humbled to have been selected for this honor," said Dr. McGurdy.  "I am also very grateful to our local community for allowing me to serve them and for my fellow physicians,nurses and employees at Hudson Valley Hospital Center for their years of loyal service."

After 15 year old Jordyn Phillips learned that her Mom needed heart surgery in September, she decided to turn the heart-wrenching news into a heartwarming story.

The Peekskill High School student said the thought of possibly losing her mother was a terrifying experience. Her mother's heart valve surgery inspired Jordyn to send a message to parents, "Take care of your heart. You owe it to your children."

Some anxious moments in Cortlandt today after a burglary suspect faked a seizure and then tried to escape while being treated at Hudson Valley Hospital Center.

Westchester County police say the incident happened around 11 a.m. Friday when 22 year old Michael Pelaccio of Buttonwood Road, Cortlandt Manor allegedly pretended to have a seizure while in a holding cell. Officials transported Pelaccio to the hospital for treatment, despite suspecting that he wasn't having an actual seizure.

When emergency room personnel reached the same conclusion, Pelaccio, cops say, decided to make a run for it, fleeing down a hallway.He was captured shortly after that in the hospital lobby.

Pelaccio, who has initially been arrested on Burglary, Bail Jumping and Probation Violation charges, was ordered held without bail at the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla. 

Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi announced today that the State Department of Transportation (DOT) has given the green light for construction to begin on several dangerous intersections along the route 202 corridor.

They will include, she says, traffic signals at Lafayette Avenue and Route 202. The move, according to Puglisi, will allow for "Safer egress and ingress onto Lafayette Avenue and into and out of the newly expanded Hudson Valley Hospital Center."

In addition, further east  on Conklin Avenue and Route 202, a synchronized traffic signal will be installed there.

A Town of Cortlandt man is under arrest on rape charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman on Saturday.

State Police say they were called to Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt after a woman was brought in saying she had been raped. The woman identified 42 year old Kevin Peeples of Cortlandt, a known acquaintance, as her alleged attacker.

Police arrested the suspect after conducing interviews and evidence. 

Peeples is charged with 3rd Degree Rape. The Westchester County District Attorney's office recommended that Peeples be remanded to the Westchester County Jail without bail. In addition, an order or protection, police say, was to have been ordered for the victim. 

A fast moving snowstorm has dumped upwards of 14 inches of snow on some parts of Westchester County and forced the closure of hundreds of schools and area businesses. 

Armonk and Somers received the most snow, 14" while Harrison and Mount Kisco clocked in at 11", Yorktown Heights 10.5 and White Plains 10" of the white stuff.

Forecasters say we can expect areas of blowing and drifting snow until noon, then a chance of snow and blowing snow between noon and 3 p.m.

Chance of additional precipitation 40%. 

There were some anxious moments in Peekskill today after a van careened out of control, hit a parked car, and crashed into a home sending four people to the hospital.

The incident happened around 9 a.m. at 838 McKinley Street. Four adults were inside the van at the time. They were the only injuries. No one was hurt in the home.

All four victims were transported to Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt with what's described as "minor injuries." No tickets were issued.