A recent traffic incident in which New Rochelle High School swim coach Edward "Kip" Fierro caused a three car collision landing a local elementary school teacher in the hospital and him into police custody has brought to light a lucrative deal Fierro and his family have enjoyed for many years at the expense of New Rochelle taxpayers.

The staggering amounts of money involved raises serious questions as to the motivation of school officials involved.

Talk of the Sound spoke with a number of current and former employees of the New Rochelle Board of Education, parents, students and others familiar with the New Rochelle swimming pool and swim programs. They tell us that Kip Fierro has worked for the New Rochelle Board of Education as a Teaching Assistant and Swim Coach as far back as 1997, and possibly longer. He is paid a salary, benefits and accrues a pension. His school day responsibilities largely entail serving as a life guard at the pool. He coaches the boys and girls swim team. His pay and benefits are a pittance to what he makes running the Badger Swim Club out of New Rochelle High School.

A fourteen-year old freshman at The Ursuline School in New Rochelle took her own life last night amidst reports that she was distraught over being bullied at the school.

Eira Fatima Maghuyop died at her home in Yonkers.

UPDATE:(Feb 3 9:16 AM): Fox-5 is reporting that Yonkers PD has issued a statement that Maghuyop was not bullied. WSBT-11 is reporting that Yonkers PD said they have not seen any concrete evidence that bullying was a factor in the death. Calls to YPD by Talk of the Sound have not yet been returned, they will be sending a formal statement to Talk of the Sound today.

Edward "Kip" Fierro, the long-time swim coach at New Rochelle High School, was taken into custody a week ago last Thursday by New Rochelle police after he struck two vehicles in New Rochelle and left the scene of the accident. A DMV records check showed that although he had a valid Connecticut drivers license, his privilege to drive in New York had been suspended for failure to answer a summons.

Fierro was issued a 511-1a violation, an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of between $200.00 and $500.00, up to 30 days in jail, 0 points and a mandatory surcharge of $80 or $85. He was due back in court today.

New Rochelle police were called to the scene at 8:11 am on January 19th. Two drivers heading westbound on the North Avenue overpass were stopped at the yield sign at the intersection of the Elmer Miller Circle at Memorial Highway. Fierro, driving a 2004 Jeep, came up behind the two vehicles, sideswiping one and striking the rear of another, a 2001 Honda. Fierro's Jeep pushed the Honda across three lanes of traffic in the circle and onto the center grassy area of the traffic circle. The other vehicle did not suffer major damage and the drive was not hurt.

Fierro continued driving, as a New Rochelle police officer followed, before pulling over on his own at Lockwood Avenue and Warren Street. Fierro appeared disoriented and was taken into custody for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, according to police.

Westchester County Police arrested two Massachusetts men yesterday and seized more than 1,000 Oxycodone pills and a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun.

Police Officer Stephen Stromberg was on patrol on the eastbound Cross County Parkway at 10:36 a.m. when he observed a 2005 Nissan Altima that was missing its front license plate. He followed the vehicle on to the northbound Hutchinson River Parkway and stopped it in the vicinity of North Avenue in New Rochelle.

Stromberg removed the driver from the vehicle to interview him. When backup officers arrived, the driver, Ryan Carvalho, 26, of Fall River, Mass., threw a plastic bag into a nearby wooded area and struggled briefly with Officers Jaoquim Brito and Christopher Neuhs before being subdued.

The bag, which was recovered, contained 1,088 Oxycodone pills.

The Board of Trustees of the New Rochelle Public Library issued a public statement today on their 7-month long investigation into Accounting Discrepancies first reported by Talk of the Sound last June.

After an investigation of the library’s financial records and those maintained by the City School District Treasurer, the New Rochelle Public Library Board of Trustees has determined that the apparent accounting discrepancy that was brought to the attention of the Board in June 2011 was due to an inconsistency in the designation and reporting of “restricted funds” versus “assigned funds” in the library’s Fund Balance. The cash shortfall was primarily solved by transferring funds owed by the Capital Fund to the General Fund in July 2011.

To prevent future accounting discrepancies the Board has taken the following measures:

New Rochelle Resident Steve Mayo has filed a court action called an Article 78. Article 78 is a mechanism of New York Civil Law that allows a regular citizen like Steve to stop a government agency or officer from acting outside their jurisdiction. That is precisely what the Mayor and Council are attempting to do by flouting the law that prevents them from using illegal revenue sources like the Garbage Fee/Tax.

Upon filing the Article 78 action, Mr. Mayo said, “I’m just one taxpayer and taking on city government is kind of a David Vs. Goliath proposition but I believe that when taxpayers see how outrageous this fake ‘fee-tax’ is, this issue will gain attention and support. Then we can work together as an informed and mobilized citizen group to stop this ‘slight of hand’ type of accounting in our city budget.

Mr Mayo added, “The presumptuousness, the disingenuousness of the majority in masking their machinations is positively insulting, never mind being a textbook example of 'opacity in government.'"

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Moments ago, at approximately 10 am this morning, two men dressed in black clothing with black gloves and wearing black ski masks over their heads, kicked in the door to a residence at 77 Centre Avenue in Downtown New Rochelle this morning. At home was a woman with a small child.

The pair of intruders brandished handguns and forced the woman under a bed. The victim told police that the two men stole documents. A police dispatcher later said that money and jewelry was reported stolen. There was word on the child or injuries.

The two men, both described as male/black and speaking Spanish, fled the scene. Police were not sure if the men fled on foot or in a vehicle.

This is a breaking story. Police are currently searching the area for the two men. They are considered armed and dangerous. The New Rochelle K-9 Unit has been called to the scene. The NRPD Forensic Unit has been called to the scene.