Peekskill Ambulance Corps receives Narcan kits to save lives

New York State Senator Pete Harckham delivered over 100 emergency naloxone kits on July 29 to the Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps, where Chief Steven Sniffen, President and Life Member Fran Deak, and other officers accepted the delivery of the life-saving medication.

Often known as Narcan®, one of its trade names, naloxone can reverse an overdose from opioids, including heroin, fentanyl. and prescription opioids drugs like Oxycodone. It is fast-acting and can usually restore normal breathing in 2-3 minutes.

“In order for someone to enter recovery for substance use, first and foremost, they must be alive,” said Harckham. “A person equipped with naloxone and the training to use it properly can literally give someone a new lease on life and the opportunity to enter recovery. I thank the state’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports for being a terrific partner in our efforts to prevent overdoses and save lives.”

Youth Bureau holding School Supply Giveaway August 22

The City of Peekskill Youth Bureau is holding its annual Back to School Supply Giveaway on Thursday, August 22 from 4:00-6:00 P.M. at the Youth Bureau located at 828 Main St. 

If you would like to become a community partner or make a donation for this year’s event, please complete this form. For those who would like to receive book bags and supplies this year, please click here to register by August 16. 

Incoming PHS freshmen to get supplies from HOPE for Youth

Jim Witt’s HOPE for Youth Foundation is donating backpacks for the entire incoming freshmen class at Peekskill High School.

Each of the 280 backpacks will include the recommended school supplies on the list provided to students by the school district. They will be distributed to students on Sept. 3, the first day of school.

Founded in 1986, the HOPE for Youth Foundation, a 501(c)(3), has distributed more than $6.8 million to support youth in the Hudson Valley through activities that include funding charities that focus on children, scholarships to local high school students and local programs that promote academic, vocational, emotional, or athletic programs.

Gilleo faces 40 years to life after murder conviction

Shane Gilleo of Peekskill was convicted on August 6 by a Westchester County jury that found him guilty of second-degree murder in the Sept. 14, 2022, death of Edward Reeves, and also of third-degree arson for setting fire to his mother’s home hours after the killing.

Westchester County Judge Robert Prisco scheduled sentencing for Sept. 24. Gilleo, 32, faces up to 40 years to life in prison.

At the time of the killing Gilleo was wearing an ankle monitor while under home confinement after violating federal supervised release terms from prison for a robbery conviction.

The victim, 48-year-old Reeves, who was Gilleo’s stepfather, was stabbed seven times in the parking lot of 7 North James St., where he and Gilleo were staying with Reeves’ mother.

The arson convictions followed the jury’s verdict that Gilleo set three fires at the home where he was eventually arrested by Peekskill police. Video from the arrest scene showed him taunting police and daring them to kill him.

Gilleo denied killing his stepfather when he testified at the trial. He said he ran outside after hearing Reeves calling for help and found him stabbed and bleeding in the parking lot. An aunt who testified at the trial said Gilleo told her he argued with Reeves and Reeves tried to stab him.

The tip line is always open at the Peekskill Herald

Have a story idea that you’d like to see a reporter from The Herald check out? Ever think of a question that you wish someone would answer?

We always want to hear from our readers and here’s your way to reach us. Whether it’s a question regarding a specific event, an economic development project, or just a trend you’ve noticed, we want to hear it.

Send us your questions. We’ll review and evaluate the submissions and select those we can answer. We’ll publish the story. Send your question to [email protected].

More federal money for Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival

A grant of $1.5 million in federal funding is pending in Washington D.C. to complete the expansion of the long sought new open-air Shakespeare style amphitheater overlooking the Hudson River in Garrison, according to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. 

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) has sought funds for the construction of an open-air Shakespeare style amphitheater. Once completed, the new facility will be fully open to the public, offering more than 98 acres of ecologically restored native green space for recreation and additional spaces for local use such as blood drives, community meetings, and farmers markets. 

HVSF will expand its programming and offerings for new productions that were inhibited by the limitations of space. The avant-garde theater will be the first purpose-built LEED Platinum certified theater in the country and was developed for the Hudson Valley by the architectural firm Studio Gang, who has designed worldwide renowned projects such as the Richard Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the Tour Montparnasse in Paris, France, and the new O’Hare Airport Global Terminal in Chicago. The construction is funded by grants, including a $10 million grant provided by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) in 2023.

HVSF was gifted a 98-acre property, formerly a golf course, in Philipstown to build a permanent home in 2019. Founded in 1987, the HVSF, a designated nonprofit, has presented repertory theatre each summer for over 30,000 audience members, while also reaching over 30,000 students, families, and educators in schools and communities throughout the Hudson Valley. Until the construction of the new facility is complete, HSVF will perform productions in an open-air Theater Tent.

“Thanks to support from Majority Leader Schumer, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival will soon break ground on our first ever permanent home in our 37-year history,” said HVSF Managing Director Kendra Ekelund.

“Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival is a vital cultural institution in my district. I am grateful to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for providing these critical funds to help establish a beautiful, permanent home for the festival. For my part, I will continue to advocate for state assistance to ensure the success of this project,” said New York State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg.

State considering waiver process on pot store location law

The New York state law that prevents cannabis shops from opening within 1,000 feet of each other is under review by state regulators.

At a recent Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) board meeting, officials announced they are considering creating a “public convenience and advantage” waiver to allow more marijuana stores to win state licenses to sell retail products.

Current law requires a 1,000-foot buffer between stores in municipalities with more than 20,0000 people and a 2,000-foot limit for communities with fewer than 20,000 residents. 

State officials will seek public input, including from their own cannabis advisory committee, before making any changes to the rules.

“OCM is in the process of developing guidance to establish the criteria under which to consider requests for public convenience and advantage,” the agency said in a release after the board meeting.

“Stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed on how to submit comments on the proposed regulation and guidance to ensure their voices are heard. This initiative ensures an adaptive and responsive regulatory approach, fostering a dynamic and equitable cannabis industry in New York.”

In Peekskill, while two stores have all approvals to operate and are expected to open soon, two others are suing in state court to win licenses. Cloud 914 and Valley Greens, on Washington Street and Central Avenue, expect to be ready to open this month. Two others without approvals, Gracious Greens and Papi’s Secret Stash, are suing the OCM in state court to get the state licenses they need. 

On a state map showing pending license requests, two other applicants have popped up to operate retail stores. The pending applicants are Brow & Body LLC at 63 Welcher Ave. and Piffords Inc. at 500 Highland Ave.

Visit the Field Library and ask about Museum Passes

The Field Library has a variety of passes available for museums located in Westchester, Putnam, Manhattan, and more. To check them out (for free) all you need is your library card. Some of the museums include: 

• Storm King Art Center: Storm King Art Center passes are valid for the admission of one car with up to six people, limited to one vehicle per day, per Museum Pass. Children under 5 years old are not counted towards the vehicle total. 
• Westchester Children’s Museum: Free admission for 4 people (at least 1 adult). 
• Hudson Valley MOCA: The Field Library has two family membership cards that entitles you to reduced general admission, discounted admission to special programs and free admission to all museums in the Fairfield Westchester Museum Alliance including the Bruce Museum, Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Hudson River Museum, Wave Hill, Neuberger Museum of Art, MOCA Westport, and the Katonah Museum of Art.

More information about the museum passes available with a library card is here. 

Yoga at the Riverfront for the final summer session August 14

Join “Inner Being Yoga” at its 6th Annual Yoga at the Riverfront for its final session of the summer on Wed., August 14 from 5:30-6:30 P.M. 

The event is presented by Karen D. and the Inner Being Team in collaboration with the City of Peekskill. All are welcome to attend and make sure to bring a yoga mat, water, and an open mind! For more information, visit the Inner Being website.

Annual Oz Land Festival this Saturday on South Street

Follow the yellow brick road to South Street for the Oz Land Festival on Saturday, August 17 from 1:00-7:00 P.M. Enjoy a day that will include music, dance, vendors, a costume contest, and more presented by Antonia Arts.

There will be live entertainment at the festival by an array of performers celebrating diversity by having different characters band together as friends. (being the Lion, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and Dorothy, of course!)

The festival will take place right outside “The Artist Spot” at 925 South St. Participants are encouraged to dress in costume as their favorite “Oz” character to compete in the prize-awarded costume contest.

Donations received for the Oz Land Festival go to Antonia’s nonprofit organization, Antonia Arts, Inc., which supports Peekskill by teaching and mentoring artists of all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.

Nominations open for County Senior Citizen Hall of Fame

Westchester County Executive George Latimer has opened nominations for the 42nd Annual Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. 

Celebrate a senior who has made a positive difference in Westchester County through their contributions by nominating them for this year’s Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.

Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) Commissioner Mae Carpenter said: “Our Senior Hall of Fame is an important tradition as we recognize those who have made a difference in the lives of senior citizens throughout Westchester County through their significant contributions. The Senior Hall of Fame is one of our most empowering events and I look forward to being in attendance as we celebrate our older generation.”

To be nominated, a person must:

• Be at least 60 years old or older, live in Westchester, and not be a past Hall of Fame inductee (a list of past honorees may be found online at: https://seniorcitizens.westchestergov.com)
• Have made significant contributions to improving life in Westchester County
• Be an outstanding leader or advocate
• Have done professional work that reflects innovative solutions to fulfill unmet community needs (if a nomination is based on paid professional work).

Nominations are due by Friday, Sept. 13, and will be reviewed by a judging committee. A nomination should be submitted for each person, with organizations and individuals to be allowed one nomination only. To download and complete your nomination, please visit the website. If you have questions about the nomination process, please contact Amanda Seebeck at (914) 218-3968 or email [email protected].

This year’s Senior Citizens Hall of Fame will be held on Friday, Dec. 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Westchester Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown.

House sales enter new world of rules on commissions

New rules on how consumers compensate buyer or seller agents and brokers mean sellers still can offer compensation to buyer brokers, which can make the listing more attractive to buyers. 

“Consumers need to be fully aware of their options when choosing a listing agent to sell their home or working with a buyer’s agent when searching for a home,” said Lynda Fernandez, CEO of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. “The key takeaway is that commission compensations are always negotiable.”

Agents must also disclose in writing and obtain approval for any payment or offer of payment that the listing agent will make to the buyer’s agent. The amount must be specified in writing. For example, if the total commission the seller pays is 5 percent and the seller’s broker is splitting that with the buyer’s broker, that must be disclosed.

Or a seller can choose to only pay their agent, leaving the buyer to pay a commission to the agent who represents them.

On the buying side, home seekers will need a written agreement with their agent before touring a home. Buyers can negotiate the terms of the agreement, which must include a written disclosure from the agent or broker stating that fees and commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law. 

The homebuyer and agent must also sign an agreement about the specific amount or percentage of compensation that the buyer’s agent will receive. Written agreements apply to both in-person and live virtual home tours.

These new rules are a result of a $418 million class action lawsuit settlement involving the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) where a jury found in favor of the plaintiffs and awarded $1.8 billion in damages, agreeing that previous commission rules were illegal.