The former head of the Ice Skating School at Rye Playland has been indicted on Grand Larceny charges and charges of falsifying business records to allegedly  cover up her tracks.

Westchester D.A. Janet DiFiore says 40 year old Kristen Vangsness, of 64 South Regent Street, Port Chester over a two year period is accused of stealing $9,218 from Playland Ice Casino by failing to deposit cash payments made to her for skating lessons.

The Ice Casino has three indoor rinks and the Playland Skating School has figure and hockey skating programs.

Police in Rye Brook today shot and killed a female coyote who attacked three people Sunday night as well as  several trappers who eventually corraled her today.

Police say the  attacks began  around 7 p.m. Sunday night when the coyote attacked a  14 year old boy near Eagles Bluff , but the boy fended it off by hitting it in the muzzle. 

With the number of coyote sightings in Ossining on the increase, the Town's Police Department is out with a warning  as well as a list of things residents can do to minimize contact with the animals.

Officials say residents should take care to keep garbage containers tightly sealed and make dog, cat and even bird seed from being made freely available, as coyotes will feed even on bird seed.

In addition, coyotes are predatory animals that  can prey on small dogs and cats. Residents are urged to keep all small cats and dogs inside if at all possible  and leashed when outside.

If approached by a coyote, police say there are a few things you can do to avoid an attack. Be agressive. Do not cower or run away as this can provoke an attack. Shout loudly and possibly throw something at the animal.

Westchester Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester-Rockland) today announced that the House-passed Transportation Appropriations Act contains $3.3 million for roads, bridges and public transportation in Westchester County.

Lowey says as a result of the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act (THUD), $600,000 will be used to replace the Locust Avenue Bridge in the City of Rye, which has fallen below the floodplain, resulting in diminished structural integrity and serving as an unintended dam along the Blind Brook waterway.

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.

Rye Police are warning residents not to allow small children to play outdoors after coyotes attacked two small girls in the past four days. Police Chief William Connors announced Wednesday that Police and wildlife officials have been authorized to shoot coyotes on sight and to kill any that are trapped.

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner says the recent attack of a 6 year old Rye girl by a pair of coyotes is prompting the town to issue an informational bulletin regarding coyote facts.

He says coyotes are spotted in the town on a regular basis and that residents need to realize that coyotes are wild animals that are regulated by the State Department of Environmental Conservation.  If a coyote appears to linger in an area and does not move when you make a noise, or if it aggressive  it should be reported to police.

Greenburgh officials are also urging residents not to feed coyotes, not to allow pets to run free, not to feed pets outside and to make garbage inaccessible to coyotes.

Authorities remind residents that coyotes can and do kill  pet cats and that small dogs are especially in danger of attack, due to their size.  Coyotes killed a pet poodle in Rye back in April belonging to a woman living at the senior living community, The Osborn.