Week In Review

Though the week started off on Labor Day, it wasn't the holiday that had the attention of Rye Brook residents.

On Sunday evening, a coyote lunged at 14-year-old Eric Mandel and 28-year-old Jared Zuckerman and his 2-year-old daughter, grazing the girl on the arm and biting Zuckerman on the back of his upper thigh. Police believe that the smell of backyard barbecues in the neighborhood where the attacks occurred may have attracted the coyote, which also beheaded its own pup and lunged at a trapper and a police officer before being shot on Monday morning. Authorities learned on Wednesday that in addition to mange, the coyote also had rabies, which may explain its overly aggressive behavior. 

Students in Blind Brook and Rye also started school this week. We did a story about kindergarteners and their parents dealing with nerves and excitement on the first day of school. A few schools in Rye, such as Milton, held ice cream socials a few days before the opening of school to help kids get adjusted. On the first day, the students participated in a spirit assembly to get the year off to a good start.

Freshmen in Rye also kicked off the school year in spirited fashion with a freshmen barbecue. Many first-year students we talked to said the first day of school went well and that they were looking forward to participating in activities and clubs.  For many students, the barbecue gave them the opportunity to mix and mingle not only with fellow freshmen, but also faculty and staff, which they said was a great way for them to get to know their teachers. 

One of the most interesting stories I covered this week was a truck carrying frozen fruit bars getting stuck under the Purchase Street Bridge. Truck strikes are a common occurrence on the bridge ( another truck strike happened in January), thanks to truck drivers who say that their GPS led them off the highway and that the bridge's clearance sign wasn't at all visible. Luckily for the driver, none of the All Natural Gourmet Fruit Bars he was delivering melted while authorities used tools like a sledgehammer and buzz saw to pry the vehicle from under the bridge.

Some other favorites this week included a story on a mother-daughter book club in Blind Brook. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares and  Matilda by Roald Dahl are some of the group's favorite reads. We also did a story about the county giving a demonstration on the new voting machines in advance of primary day. On  Tuesday, voters will cast their ballot and some officials expect bedlam and confusion, while others say the new machines will simplify the voting process. So, we'll just have to wait and see what the outcome is.

We've covered lots more this weekend, so feel free to search the site for other engaging stories from the past week. Rye Patch will be your source for everything that is happening in the Rye area, from local government and school board meetings to sports and arts and entertainment.

We'll be doing a "Week in Review" every Sunday, so if you missed anything during the week, we've got you covered.