Firefighters battled a fire at a Suffern synagogue that started during Sabbath service.

Congregants tell News 12 they were in the middle of their morning prayers at Congregation Bais Torah when they smelled smoke and called 911.

"We were originally dispatched for an automatic fire alarm at 9:38 this morning. Immediately after, someone called 911 stating that the building was on fire. We arrived within about 5 minutes,” says Dennis Murphy Jr., of the Tallman Volunteer Fire Department.

Tallman, Suffern, Monsey, Mahwah, Hill Crest and Spring Valley fire departments all responded.

Officials say it took about 30 minutes to get the fire under control.

“There were a lot of void spaces and access issues to the fire, so we had to make multiple cuts through the roof and the ceiling below to find the main body of the fire,” Murphy says. “It was kind of like playing Jenga with the roof because we had to cut around certain things without causing any other issues."

Officials tell News 12 two firefighters sustained minor injuries but refused medical care.

The Town of Ramapo fire inspector is still investigating the cause of the fire.

Fire breaks out at Suffern synagogue during Sabbath service

News 12 Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Jake Dollinger says it
will be a beautiful end to the weekend.

SUNDAY: Sunny and breezy. Highs near 60 degrees, lows around 40.

MONDAY: Staying dry most of the day.

TUESDAY: A couple showers, especially in the morning. Highs near
50.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny. Highs in the 50s.

THURSDAY: A few clouds. Highs around 50.

FRIDAY: Increasing cloudiness. Rain chances return late. Highs
around 50.&nbsp;

News 12 Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Jake Dollinger says it will be a beautiful end to the weekend.

Sunny and breezy Sunday in the Hudson Valley

The Women Who Dare to be Different event on Saturday honored women who have made an impact in their communities and beyond.

The 9th annual awards dinner at the Theodore D. Young Community Center in White Plains also coincided with Women's History Month celebrations.

"It's really critically important that we teach girls about being close up to power and recognizing that they belong in this spot and on this stage," said New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who served as the keynote speaker for the event.

"So we've come together this afternoon as kindred spirits to support those women among us who've made a difference -- women who think about others before they think about themselves," she added.

More than 300 people packed the community center to recognize women who excel in community service, entrepreneurship and education.

Political leaders, including State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, also attended.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman said such events honor the legacies of all women who make a difference in their communities.

"I'm just grateful that they allowed me as a man to step into this space and say a few words, not just in honor of Tish James, but in honor of all the women leaders that we have," Bowman said.

With another successful year of celebrating women on the books, organizers said they are already planning next year's event, which promises to be even bigger and better.

9th annual Women Who Dare to be Different Awards Dinner held in White Plains

Rye Playland is hosting a job fair today as they gear up for the 2023 season.&nbsp;

The job fair is being held at the Cambria Hotel in White Plains until 3 p.m.

Rye Playland is the largest summer youth employer in the county.&nbsp;

They have nearly 700 job openings this season ahead of their opening on&nbsp;May 20.&nbsp;

Some seasonal positions include ride operater, lifeguard, admissions, guest services and much more.&nbsp;

The park also offers benefits for workers, such as competitive wages, a free season pass for for workers and their families and free bus transportation.&nbsp;

For more information on how to apply,&nbsp;<a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.playland.com%2Femployment&amp;data=05%7C01%7CAlyssa.Roth%40news12.com%7C1ab4362536684b8a15fa08db2d4035c3%7Ccf535dc073fc41eaa17417f37ced7fe7%7C0%7C0%7C638153526028829439%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=1k5Ajx1u1vvSzxJMmnB1mVR2GKqnxzVlkr5XjtmtGCY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">click here.</a>&nbsp;

Rye Playland is the largest summer youth employer in the county. 

Rye Playland hosts job fair in White Plains ahead of 2023 season

A suspect has been arrested in connection to an armed robbery that occurred in Port Chester.  

Police say the suspect flashed a gun and tied up a clerk at a downtown gas station.  

Officers chased the suspect and found the weapon.  

Police have yet to identify the suspect or release details about when the incident occurred.  

Police say the suspect flashed a gun and tied up a clerk at a downtown gas station.

Police: Suspect arrested in connection to Port Chester armed robbery

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend.

The Ridge Hill Mall in Yonkers is hosting a birthday weekend celebration full of activities and surprises. They held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday alongside some special guests, complete with giant LEGO scissors.

The celebration also included a meet and greet with LEGO costume characters.

"We're the first to open on the Northeast. It's been a wild ride ever since. We're proud to be located right here in Westchester County in Yonkers and yet hopefully many more years to come," said the center's Johnathan Diaz.

The celebrations continue on Sunday at 10 a.m. and run until 7 p.m.

The Ridge Hill Mall in Yonkers is hosting a birthday weekend celebration full of activities and surprises.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester celebrates 10th anniversary

A Yonkers bar held a fundraiser Friday to help people who were impacted by a deadly fire.

Dozens of people who were left without a home after the fire were at the event to have a moment of fun amidst a lot of heartbreak.

<a href="https://westchester.news12.com/1-person-dead-over-20-injured-in-massive-yonkers-fire">One person was killed and several others were hurt in early March in a fast-moving fire</a> around 1 a.m. at the Mona Lisa Co-op building on Bronx River Road.

"Even when I talk about it now, it just gets me sad," said Keith Marcus, who had lived at the building for 20 years with his family.

Eventually, officials found an electric heating lamp for marijuana plants likely sparked the fire.

The fire-impacted neighbors were so thankful for the help they have received from so many, but there is still so much they need.

That is where this "Hearts and Hands" benefit came in.

The owner of Burke's Restaurant and Bar, who already hosted a food and clothing drive, had planned this fundraiser since the day of the fire.

The event also featured music and a raffle, with proceeds going to the neighbors who consider the bar like the one on "Cheers."

The neighbors just ask others not forget them as time moves on, even if all they can give is a hug.

Some of the attendees said they have stayed with family for the last several weeks and are starting to find their own places.

However, they added that they have not been able to get back into their old apartments to collect their belongings. They explained that it is hard to start over without what for some of them are decades of memories in material items.

One person was killed and several others were hurt in early March in a fast-moving fire around 1 a.m. at the Mona Lisa Co-op building on Bronx River Road.

Yonkers bar holds fundraiser for tenants displaced by deadly apartment building fire

A 21-year-old&nbsp;shooting victim&nbsp;is alive, thanks to the quick work of staff at the Mount Vernon neighborhood health center.

Jaheim Vassel was shot&nbsp;down the road from where 14-year-old Zyaire Fernandez&nbsp;was shot and killed&nbsp;two weeks&nbsp;earlier.

Security footage outside the Mount Vernon neighborhood health center seems to show a silver car slowing down.&nbsp;That vehicle’s&nbsp;passenger and the driver both&nbsp;appear to&nbsp;start shooting at&nbsp;Vassel.

He runs out of the frame, and then just a few minutes later runs right into the health center.

The medical staff at the center already went home, except for&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Judith Watson, who also happens to be a nurse.

She said it's been a while since she practiced, but she sprang into action, calmed&nbsp;Vassel&nbsp;down and applied a cold compress.

"I get downstairs and the gentleman is standing. He had been shot in the right thigh. He was able to tell me everything. He was chased, they fired multiple&nbsp;shots&nbsp;and he ran into the health center," she says.&nbsp;

Paramedics&nbsp;arrived shortly after&nbsp;and took him to Jacobi Medical Center.&nbsp;

"These folks shot multiple times, they intended to kill him and because we were here, he ran into the health center and we saved him and rescued him and stabilized him. It makes me so proud," says Watson.&nbsp;

Jaheim Vassel was shot down the road from where 14-year-old Zyaire Fernandez was shot and killed two weeks earlier.

Mount Vernon health center CEO springs into action after 21-year-old shot, seeks help

The District Attorney's Office is urging the New York State Board of Parole to reconsider releasing a man who was sentenced to killing his parents and brother.

It says there is new evidence that could change their decision about Brian Britton.

Britton is heard in a recorded prison interview with his fiancé describing in detail what he says happened the morning he fatally shot his parents and 8-year-old brother in Poughkeepsie in 1989.&nbsp;

“I pulled the trigger the first time and that was the shot that hit him in the chest,” said Britton.&nbsp;

That interview was recorded in 2022 and is <a href="https://youtu.be/HJHwFCkH6Q0">posted to YouTube.</a>

“What would you say the motive was to sum it up," asked his fiance, Heather.

"Rage. Anger,” Britton replies.&nbsp;"I went into my room and grabbed a 20-gauge shotgun that was on the rack."

In the interview, Britton claims his parents’ alleged abuse led him to commit the killings.&nbsp;

Britton also shot his sister, Sherry, twice during the brutal attack but she survived.&nbsp;

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.&nbsp;

On March 6, <a href="https://westchester.news12.com/dutchess-county-man-who-killed-parents-brother-in-1989-granted-parole">the now 50-year-old was granted parole.&nbsp;</a>

“I would describe this as a family massacre. It goes beyond heinous in nature," said acting Dutchess County District Attorney&nbsp;Matthew Weishaupt.

Weishaupt says Britton filed an appeal with the parole board and that his office wasn’t notified of the special hearing.&nbsp;

“We believe the record is clear here and that parole should be denied," said Weishaupt.&nbsp;

The district attorney’s office sent a letter to parole asking them to reopen Britton’s case. They included evidence prosecutors say should have been considered that News 12 also found online.

In one post, Britton wrote on Facebook that his sister bludgeoned their 8-year-old brother with a shotgun while attacking Britton and says he shot her twice in self-defense.&nbsp;

Another post says, “You should’ve played nice, Sherry.”&nbsp;

Prosecutors say Britton is lying and victim blaming.&nbsp;In fact, Britton offers a different version of events about how their brother died in his YouTube interview.

"I don’t know how he got the head injury. I didn’t even know he had a head injury until weeks later," said Britton.

News 12 reached out to the couple but didn’t hear back. Britton's attorney had no comment.&nbsp;

Britton’s fiance shared a petition online saying he’s not at risk to reoffend because of their “love.”&nbsp;

The DA’s office disagrees, saying Britton doesn’t meet the criteria for release and is at risk to reoffend.&nbsp;

Britton is heard apologizing for the murders in his YouTube interview.

“I’m sorry. I can’t take back what happened," said Britton.&nbsp;“I’m looking forward to being given a chance to come home.”&nbsp;

Britton has served 34 years of his life sentence.&nbsp;He's scheduled to be released as early as April 10.

Brian Britton has served 34 years of his life sentence. He's scheduled to be released as early as April 10.

Prosecutors urge parole board to reconsider release of Poughkeepsie man who murdered his family

The 14th annual Katonah Chili Cook-Off on Friday night featured two winners for the first time. 

One of the winners was chosen by the people, and the other by a panel of guest judges.

Participants competed for the highly sought "golden ladle".

The event also featured live music by School of Rock Bedford, as well as raffle and auction prizes.

Returning winners from last year's competition were also at the event and went up against others who claim to cook the best chili.

To up the ante, local businesses also got in on the action as well, like The Blazer Pub, which is known for its delicious chili throughout the region.

2 winners selected for the 14th annual Katonah Chili Cook-Off

Investigations into school threats in&nbsp;Brewster&nbsp;and Carmel have led to two separate arrests by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

Police say reports came in of violent social media threats&nbsp;aimed&nbsp;at four different schools in the Carmel district, including the George Fischer Middle School.

Investigators say they arrested a student from the middle school for&nbsp;making&nbsp;the threat.

Hours later, officers were called again but for the Brewster school district.

They say they found a social media threat directed to a specific student at Brewster High School.

Investigators say they quickly identified and arrested a former Brewster High School student for allegedly making the threat.

Police say they are adding more patrols at all schools in the Brewster and Carmel districts.&nbsp; &nbsp;

RELATED:&nbsp;<a href="https://westchester.news12.com/officials-former-brewster-hs-student-arrested-for-making-threats-against-current-student">Officials: Former Brewster HS student arrested for making threats against current student</a>

RELATED:&nbsp;<a href="https://westchester.news12.com/threat-of-violence-puts-george-fischer-middle-school-on-2-hour-delay-arrest-made">Student arrested in threat to Carmel middle school</a>

Police say they are adding more patrols at all schools in the Brewster and Carmel districts.   

Police increase presence at Brewster, Carmel schools Friday following recent threats

Newburgh police have arrested a repeat offender&nbsp;accused of&nbsp;larceny at a Walmart.

Jeffery Odom was arrested&nbsp;in&nbsp;12 previous larcenies in 2023 alone.

He also had 10 open charges from previous incidents&nbsp;in which&nbsp;he was said to have fled after stealing from various stores in the Town of Newburgh.

Authorities say&nbsp;Odom&nbsp;had&nbsp;a female accomplice at the scene that fled the store during&nbsp;his&nbsp;arrest.

Odom faces multiple charges, including four counts of burglary and eight counts of petty larceny.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Jeffrey Odom faces multiple charges, including four counts of burglary and eight counts of petty larceny. 

Newburgh police arrest man who had 12 previous larcenies in 2023

A Rockland County therapist pleaded guilty to assaulting a female patient.

Daniel Dresdner, 34, admitted to third-degree assault, according to the Haverstraw Town Court.

He was originally charged&nbsp;in the abuse of&nbsp;two female clients

Dresdner will be sentenced on June 22.

Daniel Dresdner was originally charged in the abuse of two female clients.

Rockland County therapist pleads guilty to assaulting female patient

A volunteer has filed a lawsuit against a Spring Valley ambulance agency and one of its volunteer members, claiming abuse at the workplace.

Spring Hill Community Ambulance is at the center of a lawsuit recently filed in State Supreme Court by Joel Weberman, an Orthodox Jewish man who volunteered there.

The suit names the agency as well as one of its volunteer members Reginald Anderson as defendants.

Weberman is claiming negligence, assault, battery, statutory sexual harassment and a hostile work environment based on sex and religion.

It accuses Anderson of sexually assaulting Weberman and putting him in a chokehold, then making other sexual remarks on Sept 25 2022.

It goes on to state that Weberman was briefly knocked unconscious and was treated and had X-rays taken at a hospital.

News 12 was able to confirm a police report was filed with Ramapo in regard to this incident.

According to the lawsuit, Anderson had been suspended for 30 days and returned to volunteering.

Weberman also claims Anderson had assaulted other Orthodox Jewish men at the ambulance company before his accusations.

News 12 spoke with Tzvi Needleman, the ambulance agency’s president, who told the station no comment and that the allegations are false and Weberman has not been terminated.

Weberman is seeking compensation for physical and emotional damages. The amount would be determined in a trial.

News 12 reached out to Anderson for comment but had not yet heard back as of Friday night.

Joel Weberman, an Orthodox Jewish man who volunteered at the Spring Hill Community Ambulance, is claiming negligence, assault, battery, statutory sexual harassment and a hostile work environment based on sex and religion.

 Volunteer files lawsuit against Spring Valley ambulance agency claiming sexual, physical harassment

Students in Warwick Valley Middle School's ukulele club started a drive to add 250 people to a national bone marrow registry. 

The club's donor drive is especially meaningful to seventh grader Callie Romig.

"My uncle had a bone marrow transplant in 2022, and that's the reason he's with us today," Romig says.

Registering more donors helps doctors more quickly find matching donors for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and other diseases.

Romig says her uncle had to wait three months for his transplant.

"It's made me mature faster, like, this thing can actually happen, and it's not just my family that's going through it. A bunch of other families are going through it," Romig says.

Club advisor Shane Peters says philanthropy is part of the ukulele program.

Last year, the group raised $6,000 for cancer research after Peters' mother was diagnosed with cancer.

"Never really think there's a bad time, not just to teach them music, but to show them the power that they have to help those around them when they come together," Peter says.

So far, for this year's campaign, the club has signed up 70 new bone marrow donors. To get those last 180, they are planning events at school and setting up tables at sporting events.

Romig says this group has a lot of heart.

"It feels really good that everybody's learning about what happens and how to help people. It just feels really good," Romig says.

Registering as a donor just takes a signature and a cheek swab. The donor might get called on later to donate bone marrow and save someone's life.

If you are interested in helping the Warwick Valley Middle School's ukulele club, follow this <a href="https://www.dkms.org/get-involved/virtual-drives/warwickvalleyukuleleclub">link</a>.

Warwick Valley Middle School's ukulele club advisor Shane Peters says philanthropy is part of the ukulele program.

Warwick students in ukulele club aim to add 250 people to national bone marrow donor drive

A viewing and celebration of life service was held Friday for a Mount Vernon teen who was fatally shot two weeks ago.

Hundreds paid their respects forZyaire Fernandez&nbsp;at Mount Vernon's L.I.V.E Church, which was under heavy security.&nbsp;

Pastor Damon Mack says the viewing and celebration of his life was positive and full of life - just like Fernandez.

"At 14 years old, we didn't get an opportunity to realize his full potential, because he was snatched away from us so early. But he was full of life, and that came out through his family and through his friends, that Zyaire was literally just an overall joyous person," he says.&nbsp;

Pastor Damon Mack gave the eulogy, which included a call to action.

"We can do better than this, and this situation of our young people being tragically taken from us doesn't have to be the norm. And we can all collectively come together and do better than this," he said.&nbsp;

The Mount Vernon STEAM Academy ninth grader was&nbsp;shot in the courtyard of Mount Vernon's Levister Towers apartment buildings.

Police arrested 21-year-old Tyrese Coghiel. He has since been charged and pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://westchester.news12.com/funeral-services-announced-for-slain-mount-vernon-teen-zyaire-fernandez">Funeral services announced for slain Mount Vernon teen Zyaire Fernandez</a>

<a href="https://westchester.news12.com/his-life-mattered-vigil-held-for-slain-mount-vernon-ninth-grader">'His life mattered.' Vigil held for slain Mount Vernon ninth grader</a>

<a href="https://hudsonvalley.news12.com/it-does-not-bring-zyaire-back-arrest-made-in-mount-vernon-teen-shooting">'It does not bring Zyaire back.' Arrest made in Mount Vernon teen shooting</a>

Zyaire Fernandez was shot in the courtyard of Mount Vernon's Levister Towers apartment buildings.

Hundreds pay respects to slain Mount Vernon teen 

Middletown police say they recovered guns, drugs, cash and ammunition during two home searches.&nbsp;

Officials say they had a search warrant for 30-year-old Noah Stark-Morris's house in the Town of Wallkill.

Stark-Morris was the target of a&nbsp;monthlong&nbsp;investigation into drug trafficking, specifically cocaine, in and around Middletown.

Officers say they found guns, fentanyl, cocaine, nearly $1,000 in cash and drug packing materials,&nbsp;including&nbsp;a scale.

Stark-Morris faces several charges and will not be able to get out of jail on bail.

Another search by police Friday targeted 25-year-old Kenneth Middleton's home in Middletown.

Police have been investigating him for months in connection to heroin trafficking.

Police say they found drugs, gun ammunition, scales and about $250 in cash.

Middleton's has also been arrested, along with 25-year-old Montana Stephenson.

Police say they went to that neighborhood earlier this week for a shots fired call and&nbsp;that&nbsp;the two cases aren't definitively related but could be.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Officers say they found guns, fentanyl, cocaine, nearly $1,000 in cash and drug packing materials at one home. They say they found drugs, gun ammunition, scales and about $250 in cash at the other home.

Middletown police say they recovered guns, drugs and cash in 2 home searches

A driver has been issued three summonses after a truck that was packed with bananas slammed into the Wilmot Road overpass on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale.

County police say the bananas did not spill out, but they had to be off-loaded so the truck could be towed.

The driver was issued summonses for unauthorized use of a restricted vehicle on the parkway, driving an overheight vehicle and disobeying a traffic control device.

Driver issued summonses after truck filled with bananas slams into overpass

A caseworker with Westchester County Adult Protective Services was charged in the theft of more than $300,000 from a 95-year-old woman with dementia.

The state Attorney General's Office says 46-year-old Chantel Chenault, of Danbury, Connecticut, is charged with grand larceny and identity theft.

The theft allegedly happened between March 2017 and April 2022.

Authorities say Chenault transferred funds from the elderly woman's retirement accounts to her own checking account and would bring the woman to the bank to make withdrawals multiple times per month.

She also allegedly used the woman's ATM card at casinos without permission.

Chenault was arraigned Friday in Westchester County Court.

Authorities say the woman transferred funds from the victim's retirement accounts to her own checking account and would bring the woman to the bank to make withdrawals multiple times per month.

Caseworker accused of stealing over $300K from elderly woman with dementia in Westchester

A blown fuse is to blame for a crossing gate malfunction Friday morning in Valhalla, according to MTA officials.

News 12 was told the fuse was replaced and that the gate was back in normal operation about an hour and a half later.