Winners
Martin Ocampo. The 45-year-old Port Chester resident struck it rich with a $1 million scratch-off ticket from the New York Lottery—the fourth winner of $1 million or more in Westchester this year.
White Plains residents in public housing. The city was awarded a $3.5 million federal grant to move forward with the construction of a $5 million education center that will give job training to low-income residents. White Plains was one of only five cities in the U.S. to be awarded such a grant.
Metro-North commuters. In response to rider requests, the MTA will begin testing a “quiet car” program, in which select cars on some peak-hour trains will be designated no-noise.
Losers
Westchester County homeowners. For the fourth year in a row, the county earned the dubious distinction of being the highest-taxed county in the entire nation. In fact, the median tax bill for county homeowners grew by 10 percent in 2010 from the previous year, to a record high of $9,945. Meanwhile, Rockland County climbed to the No. 4 spot on the list, and Putnam came in at No. 11.
Matthew McDevitt. The 51-year-old Tuckahoe resident was charged under the new Leandra’s Law for driving drunk with three children (his own daughter and two other teenage girls) in his vehicle. McDevitt crashed his car into a construction barrier with reportedly more than double the legal limit of alcohol in his system. Leandra’s Law makes DUI in such circumstances an automatic felony.