A husband and wife from Larchmont today pled guilty to Grand Larceny and Repeated Failure to File Tax Returns.

As part of their plea, 48 year old Denise McDonald and 54 year old Christopher McDonald  who own three businesses in Larchmont and Rye agreed to pay back the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance $542,066 in unpaid State sales tax money.

Prosecutors say over a period of eleven years, between 1998 and 2009, the McDonalds collected State sales tax from customers but failed to remit the money to New York State. 

(Laura Cerna in family photograph)

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer has written a letter to the American Ambassador to Spain, Alan D. Solomont, calling on him to instruct the American Embassy in Spain to provide all necessary assistance to the family of Laura Cerna as they seek justice in her death. The 49 year old Cerna, a United States citizen from Larchmont, was brutally murdered in Spain August 30.

Coast Guard crews had their hands full Sunday after a fast-moving powerful storm tore through the Long Island Sound around 3:30 in the afternoon.Officials with the Coast Guard say they received mayday calls from no less than nine boats that were in distress as the storm blew in at 40 knots, or roughly 46 miles per hour, packing not only gale force winds but torrential rain as well. Officials say visibility was near zero.

A couple from Larchmont has been arrested and charged with Repeated Failure to File Tax Returns and Grand Larceny.  The Westchester District Attorney's office says 47 year old Denise MacDonald of 21 Jochum Avenue Larchmont and her husband, 53 year old Christopher MacDonald, same address, were arrested following a 12 month investigation by the D.A.'s office as well as the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Special Investigations Unit.

The couple's businesses were named as well. They include, Wish Home Styles Inc., a home furnishing store with a sales location in Rye and an address of 1943 Palmer Avenue in Larchmont, Twinkle Toes Baby, Inc, a baby clothing store with two stores, one in Rye, one in Larchmont, and C.W.M. Horticultural Services Inc., a landscaping company. It's alleged that over a period of eleven years, from 1998 to 2009, the couple, who owned and operated the three businesses, collected New York State sales tax and failed to remit the money to New York State.

Officials say the couple also failed to remit personal income tax to New York State since 2004.

Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore says the combined larcenies from their failure to pay for their businesses and their personal income tax, are in excess of $500,000.Bail for Denise MacDonald was set at $10,000 cash, and $5,000 cash for Christopher MacDonald.

They face up to five to fifteen years in State prison if found guilty.

Both are due back in court September 28.

A bill sponsored by Westchester Assemblyman George Latimer (D-Larchmont) has been signed by Governor David Paterson. The measure, which was sponsored in the State Senate by Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx), allows for senior citizens who hold health care insurance parties to designate a third-party individual such as a spouse, an adult child, or a friend, lawyer or advisor -- to receive urgent notices from the insurance carrier concerning policy provision changes.

Said Latimer, "In some cases, seniors may be unable to fully grasp the importance of a mailed notice, which might govern the change in a premium, possibly termination of the policy, and so forth. The expectation is that the third-paerty individual notified will be able to identify the urgency of the message and assist the senior in maintaining that policy in force."

Elections are underway today in 16 Westchester municipalities. Voters are choosing trustees, village justices, and  a new mayor in Buchanan.

Balloting is taking place in Scarsdale, Briarcliff Manor, Tarrytown, Croton-on-Hudson, Elmsford, Rye Brook, Buchanan, Pleasantville, Larchmont,  Bronxville, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Tuckahoe, Pelham, Pelham Manor, and Sleepy Hollow.

In Buchanan, Mayor Al Donohue is facing a challenge from Sean Murray.