Driver in boardwalk crash due in court Nov. 19

Extensive damage done to the metal fencing and rails at the far south end of the Riverwalk Boardwalk along the Peekskill Bay has still not been repaired three months after an allegedly drunken driver smashed his Jeep Suburban into the fence.

Peekskill police charged Paul Dirito, 54, of Somers, with driving while intoxicated and property damage of a wooden fence, metal fence and metal guardrail owned by the City of Peekskill in the July 23 crime.

Dirito has pled not guilty and is scheduled to appear in Peekskill City Court on Nov. 14. He faces numerous charges including DWI, driving across a sidewalk, failure to use designated lane and aggravated DWI. He has retained David Robert Sachs of White Plains as his attorney and is out on bail on his own recognizance. Dirito has had two court appearances (Aug. 9 and Sept. 26) since his arraignment on July 29.

According to the police report, at 8:30 p.m. Dirito drove off the roadway at the Peekskill Yacht Club and struck wooden fence just before the entrance to the Riverwalk Boardwalk. He then continued on the Riverwalk, causing damage to the Jeep’s rear passenger fender and front driver’s side mirror as well as the sides of the vehicle as it “squeezed through the metal fencing that lined the walking path which was not meant to allow vehicles.”

Dirito then drove the length of the Boardwalk and crashed into the metal fencing at the right corner turn toward Fleischmann’s Pier, breaking through it and causing damage to the front end of the vehicle. Several pedestrians walking on the bridge said they had to jump aside to avoid being hit by Dirito.

“This easily could have been a tragedy in a place where people come to seek refuge and some peace and quiet and where pedestrians should be completely safe,” said Conor Greene of Peekskill Walks. “Based on the alarming accounts from people on the boardwalk at the time, numerous people easily could have been seriously injured or killed. We are incredibly fortunate in that regard.”

A city official did not respond to questions about why bollards were not in place to block vehicles and whether Dirito will have to pay to repair the damage to the Boardwalk. 

– By Jim Roberts

Proponents illustrate the many benefits of composting

On a bright, sunny October Saturday in Peekskill, the group Peekskill100 hosted their second tour of the Industrial Composter on Roa Hook Road in Cortlandt where Peekskill’s food scraps collected at the Farmer’s Market and the Lower South Street drop off are transformed into nutrient rich soil.

Representatives from Westchester Alliance Sustainable Solutions (WASS) and the Peekskill Conservation Advisory Council along with a dozen Peekskill residents went on the tour, led by Anthony Carbone of CRP/SSM, to see how food scraps and other compostable materials are transformed into compost. They learned how composting food scraps and compostable materials is a win for the city economy, the environment and public health.

“The most shocking thing I learned was how much money can be saved by diverting food scraps from the trash incinerator. It’s half the cost,” said Courtney Williams, Founder WASS and member of CAC. 

“And given how heavy they are, we could save a huge amount. It’s a no-brainer for Peekskill and the county to expand food scraps recycling. Save money and save the environment. Most don’t realize that the incinerator uses fracked gas to burn our trash and wet stuff like food scraps requires more gas, a major contributor to global climate change,” Williams said.

Some of the misconceptions people hold about composting food scraps were dispelled, such as that unhoused people will eat out of toters, odor is a problem or that illegal dumping is an issue. 

Carbone said his company CRP Sanitation tends 30 municipal sites for Westchester including Peekskill and has not had any problems in this area. He noted that the food scrap toters in Tarrytown are located on the water in a public square surrounded by restaurants and a large development. “We never had an issue down in Tarrytown and we are dumping 15-20 totes of food scraps a week.”

Alex Torres took part in the tour and said, “I thought the experience was wonderful and educational. The whole process seems simple, complete and inexpensive. I don’t know why we aren’t doing more of this in Peekskill. We need to be a better example as a progressive and artistic city.” 

“Composting is a low cost, high payoff, deep green strategy that can be practiced at many levels ranging from single households to housing complexes to small and large businesses to municipalities. We have people at every one of these levels excited about making it happen in Peekskill, so I say, “Let’s Go!” said Jan Melillo, Peekskill CAC Chair.

Recent million-dollar property sales in Peekskill

Two properties in Peekskill recently sold in the million-dollar range.

A commercial, residential and retail multi-building site at 702-708 North Division St. was purchased by 702 – 708 N Division LLC in Monsey, N.Y. for a reported price of $1 million.

The seller was Flatz Properties LLC of Peekskill. The Flatz website lists Monica Flaherty and Erik Contzius as co-owners of the firm. They own the Pugsley Building at 1008 Main St.

Another property, 939-943 Diven St., was sold for a reported $1.4 million. The buyer was not disclosed. The multi-family apartment complex includes 19 bedrooms, nine bathrooms and totals 7,636 square feet.

The sellers are three principals from a large New York City drywall contractor who purchased the property in 2016 for $645,000 from the previous owner S & H Big LLC based in Carmel, N.Y.

In other real estate news, the former Shoprite property at 2094 East Main St. in Cortlandt is back on the market.

This past May, Oakland Realty Company LLC of South Hadley, Mass., purchased the site from Kitzbuehel Realty LLC of Scarsdale for $6.5 million.

The Curry Automotive Group was believed to have an interest in the property but did not wind up completing a deal. Now, Oakland Property has put the 6.33 acre site with 55,447 square feet of space for sale at an asking price of $8.825 million. Thomas M. Cervone of CR Properties Group is the listing agent.

– By Jim Roberts

Natural gas bills in New York could rise 11 percent this winter

Electricity prices this winter could fall about 2 percent from the prior year, while natural gas prices could jump by 11 percent, according to an estimate from the state Public Service Commission (PSC) released last week.

The state agency that regulates utilities in New York is estimating that winter costs of electricity during the November-March heating season could decline slightly this year, while natural gas could rise by double digits.

“We are closely monitoring the utilities serving New York state to make sure they have adequate sources and supplies of electricity and natural gas to meet expected customer demands this winter,” said PSC Commissioner Rory Christian in a prepared statement.

The average New York electric customer using 600 kilowatt hours-per-month faces an estimated monthly bill of $58, down about 2 percent, while the cost for natural gas customers using 700 therms of natural gas is pegged at $202 per month.

Natural gas costs are impacted by hedging strategies used by utility companies when they buy futures contracts from suppliers in the summer that set the price in advance for the following winter. Some utilities have also built up stockpiles of oil reserves at set prices.

Approximately half of New York’s electricity comes from power plants burning natural gas or a combination of gas and oil.

New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program or HEAP, opens on Nov. 1 and can assist low-income households with heating bills. More information can found be at the program’s website.

Peekskill Rotary funds PHS new recording studio

One of the largest grants the Peekskill Rotary has given in its 105-year history was presented at the group’s Sept. 12 weekly luncheon to fund a state-of-the-art recording studio at Peekskill High School.

The $14,538 grant, approved by the Peekskill Rotary Club and Foundation, includes funding for an audio interface, microphones, a drum microphone kit, headphones, studio monitors, MIDI controller, digital audio workstation, computers and other instruments and tools, hard drive for storage, sound board, sound dampening boards, accessories, cables and more.

The school will bid out, buy, and assemble the studio, with Rotary help if requested.

In July of 2023, Richard Swann, the then new Peekskill Rotary President (July 2023-June 2024 year), stated his goal was to give a major grant to benefit Peekskill youth. Rotarians agreed, but what would that be? Determined to get it right, Rich went to the Youth Bureau and other student groups, and asked what they would like.

One answer stood out from many students – a recording studio at the high school. “It would give students who may not be super athletes, or high academic achievers, but creative types, a reason to keep looking forward to coming to school every day,” Swann said.

Working with Peekskill High School and with Peekskill Rotarian Adrienne LaValley, a voiceover artist in the industry, Swann scouted a location in the chorus room to place the 10’ x 10’ studio. LaValley’s professional contact, Liam Wade, shopped and priced what would be needed for a high-quality, recording environment, suitable for educational purposes, including all the necessary equipment, cabling and accessories.

“Studio time is very expensive, hard to get, hard to get to. This will provide a no cost way for students to build skills, showcase their talents, and maybe become a producer one day.”

For more information about Peekskill Rotary, please visit PeekskillRotary.com.

Local districts join effort to combat illegal bus passing

In a proactive effort to combat reckless driving behavior around school buses, Westchester County has partnered with BusPatrol to launch a new school bus stop-arm photo enforcement program to reduce the number of illegal passings of motorists and protect students.

The program is focused on student safety equity. Every bus in participating district fleets will be equipped with bus stop-arm cameras which utilize artificial intelligence to detect cars that illegally pass stopped school buses.

Local districts participating include Lakeland Central School District, Ossining Union Free School District, Hendrick Hudson Central School District and Croton Harmon Schools.

 “Permitting stop-arm cameras for school buses was an important priority for us in the State Legislature,” said State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg. “Kudos to Westchester County for their implementation of this critical safety program. 

“I am so pleased that four school districts in Assembly District 95 have already signed on, and encourage all districts to get on board as soon as they can. This program will save lives while making all drivers more mindful of their behavior on the road.”

For the first 30 days, only warning violations with no monetary penalty will be mailed to vehicle owners whose cars are observed illegally passing a stopped school bus. The warning period will run from October 15 until November 18, when ticketing will begin.

“New York State law is clear — motorists must stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus when its red lights are flashing and the stop-arm is deployed,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

“This is a crucial measure to ensure the safety of our children. The technology, installation, and maintenance of these safety systems come at no cost to school districts or taxpayers, making it an essential and cost-effective way to protect our students.”

New York State law states that the penalty for breaking the law as captured by the school bus stop-arm camera is assigned to the vehicle owner, and it comes with a minimum civil penalty of $250. Driver’s license points or insurance rates cannot be affected through the stop-arm camera civil enforcement. Every incident is reviewed by law enforcement before a violation notice is issued to the offender.

Hen Hud to hire transportation supervisor consultant

The Hendrick Hudson School District’s search for a replacement for the long-time supervisor of transportation who retired in June will extend through the current school year while the district conducts a search for the right permanent candidate.

The district plans on hiring a consultant to fill the position until June 30, 2025 and is collecting responses to its request for proposals until Nov. 1. 

The firm that wins the bid will provide a staff member in the Hen Hud offices during peak busing hours to make recommendations for any modifications, additions, or deletions on runs, routes, number of vehicles; and may review each driver’s record to ensure they possesses all licenses, certifications, and qualifications required under applicable Federal and NYS laws, among other tasks.

The contract will be for a period of eight months commencing on Nov. 11, 2024 through June 30, 2025. 

Currently the district has hired Orange County Transit LLC based in Montgomery, N.Y. to serve as a consultant on a month-by-month basis at a cost of $20,000.

However, that temporary solution will come to an end unless Orange County wins the RFP. That seems unlikely now as legal problems of a principal of that firm have surfaced.

On Oct. 2, John B. Mensch, the former owner and operator of East End Bus Lines, Inc. and its affiliated entities including Orange County Transit, pled guilty in connection with a nearly year-long bank fraud conspiracy.  When sentenced, Mensch faces up to five years’ imprisonment as well as financial penalties, including restitution to two victim banks of approximately $9.6 million.

Legal problems at Orange County Transit did not impact the firm’s ability to provide services to Hen Hud during its two months as a consultant to the district according to Superintendent Michael Tromblee. The firm did not provide any drivers to the district. The buses are driven by custodians employed by Hen Hud.

Hen Hud operates a fleet of 54 buses that travel over 600,000 miles in any given year. In addition to providing transportation to the five Hendrick Hudson schools, they also provide service to 15 out-of-district private, parochial and special needs schools. 

– By Jim Roberts

Play will examine Episcopal Church’s role in slavery

“A New York Lamentation” a play about slavery in New York and the Episcopal diocese’s role in it, will be performed at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 137 N. Division St. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m.  

“A New York Lamentation” brings to life historical characters from within the diocese who lived in and were affected by the slavery era. In a series of monologues with music, each character tells their story and the impact their actions had on our part of New York State. Professional actors and musicians from across New York’s theatrical world portray those who were enslaved, those who fought for abolition, and those who justified the practice.  

Written by the Rev. Chuck Kramer, rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, and directed by Jeannine Otis of St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery, there is no admission to the event, but free will offerings will be accepted. The prologue and epilogue are written by Bettina Wilkerson, a poet activist who was the Poet Laureate of Dutchess County from 2017 to 2018. 

The play was originally presented during the Year of Lamentation sponsored by the Diocese of New York in collaboration with the Reparations Committee.

This piece is a reminder of the on-going commitment the Episcopal Diocese of New York has to building and sustaining the “beloved community” as Martin Luther King called it.

The presentation of this piece is an important step in the process of moving forward toward psychological reparations and acknowledgment of the role the Episcopal Church in New York played in perpetuating the enslavement of men, women and children, according to the church. 

Hen Hud student Numeroff to perform at famed venues

Hendrick Hudson High junior Alexandra Numeroff has been accepted into the Worldstrides Honors Performance Program as a member of the Honor Choir and will perform at two world-renowned concert venues, next month at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, and again in July 2025 at the Sydney Opera House.

“Having the opportunity to perform at internationally-known venues is such an honor for me and I am so excited for the experience,” Numeroff said. “I have always wanted to work alongside musicians as passionate as I am, and being able to perform with them on top of exploring the wonders of New York City and Sydney with them will be life-changing for me.”

The Honors Performance Series accepts students based on their talent, dedication and achievements demonstrated in their application and audition recording, according to Erica Denler, the director of choral music at Hen Hud.

“Alexandra is such a talented, dedicated student,” Denler said. “Watching their talent grow these past few years and now seeing them take the stage in both Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House feels me with such immense pride. It’s a testament to their hard work, passion and dedication. I know Alexandra will make Hen Hud proud.”

During the Honor Choir’s performance next month at Carnegie Hall, Numeroff will perform with talented singers from all over the world and will work under the direction of renowned master conductors. Numeroff will also have the opportunity to tour New York City before performing at the historic venue.

Then, next summer, Numeroff will travel to Sydney, Australia, where the selected students will again rehearse and perform with student-musicians from all over the world and at the direction of master conductors.

 Reunion members recall PHS on their 60th anniversary

Fifteen members of the Peekskill High School class of 1964 gathered at Taormina Restaurant on Oct. 19 to reminisce and reflect on their days at PHS on Ringgold Street, now the current Middle School. Two graduates traveled from Florida (Carole Pressick) and Pennsylvania Linda (Marallo) Heimann. 

In her remarks welcoming the group, Barbara Katz noted she was speaking on behalf of John Burke and herself as she remembered those days some 60 years ago when they were seniors. “What a wonderful time we had … and fast forward 60 years, we have come full circle. Yes, we are, once again seniors – seniors of a different sort. 

“Yes, we still have our drivers’ licenses, but now can’t drive at night. We can remember the marching band, but probably would not be able to hear it. Yes, we think back to the football games, but who can navigate the bleacher stairs?  Hip Hop was a popular music genre, now we know that without a good hip, we cannot hop.

“We left behind the beautiful center staircase at Drum Hill, never allowed to climb those stairs. Now we return, when we are finally allowed to visit and climb those stairs, but would probably prefer the elevator.

“The building we called PHS was but 32 years old in 1961, where we stayed for three years. A mere eight years after we left in 1964, it was considered a relic, an artifact of days gone by, obsolete, ready to be rebuilt and modernized. The building that replaced it is now 52 years old.

“We are well beyond those years as well, because we are resilient, we are invincible, we may be partially rebuilt with new knees and hips, but we can never be replaced. We are PHS strong, both individually and collectively. So, as we gather here today, remembering the past, updating the present, looking toward to the future, and Father Time willing, we will do the same next year.”

 Restrooms renovation done at Hendrick Hudson Library

A project funded by a $50,000 state grant to renovate two children’s restrooms has been completed at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library.

New York State Senator Pete Harckham secured the grant through the state’s Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) Program, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to support community and economic development.

“Senator Harckham has always been an advocate for libraries,” said Library Director Jill Davis. “With his assistance, the Hendrick Hudson Free Library has been able to improve the infrastructure of our beautiful building with needed improvements to two of our original restrooms. Not only has this made our building more efficient, but patrons from our littlest to our seniors will be delighted at the aesthetically pleasing changes.”

Originally built in 1997, the two-story library features four restrooms, two for adults and two for children. While the adult restrooms were renovated in 2018, the children’s restrooms have not seen any major upgrades since the library’s opening. 

The recent renovations included aesthetic redesign and sustainability enhancements, including low-flush toilets, low-flow faucets, improved ventilation, and eco-friendly materials whenever possible.

Sisters give birth one hour apart at Hudson Valley Hospital

Marielle and Kathleen, two sisters close in age and best friends, never imagined in their wildest dreams that they would both give birth at the same hospital one hour apart in rooms right next door to each other.

Both sisters recently gave birth at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital to two adorable healthy babies – Leon and Adalyn.

During their emotional birthing experiences, the two sisters were able to comfort one another, according to Marielle. “The experience felt very surreal but calming at the same time. I cried when I saw the message that my sister’s water broke and couldn’t believe I would be an aunt later that day! 

“Kathleen and I have stayed connected throughout the pregnancy and checking in with one another after appointments or when new symptoms would come. It was both of our first-time giving birth so there were so many unknowns and uncertainties, but having someone who you trust wholeheartedly in there makes it much smoother.” 

Reflecting on the birthing experience, Kathleen is grateful for her decision to give birth at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital. “After comparing a few different hospitals, we decided that NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital was clearly the best choice due to its wide variety of providers and state of the art facilities. I have always had a huge respect for healthcare workers, but after being cared for by them personally, I have an increased respect and gratitude for these professions.”

Both sisters are hoping for the same unique bond and closeness for their children, now cousins. The sisters are already picturing sharing milestone events such as birthday parties, their children having a best friend on the first day of school and even one day learning how to drive together.

– Information courtesy of NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital

Peekskill Police receive Bronze Traffic Safety award

The City of Peekskill Police Department received the Bronze Award at the 2024 AAA Community Traffic Safety Awards Program. This recognition underscores the department’s commitment to proactive traffic enforcement and road safety initiatives, according to the PPD.

The AAA Community Traffic Safety Awards Program (CTSAP) is an AAA club-based awards program for communities of all sizes. Awards are given to outstanding communities based on their efforts to improve local traffic safety for all modes of travel.

AAA clubs make applications available to cities, counties, towns and villages, asking officials to describe their traffic safety activities of the previous year. It’s not a competition – any community that completes the application and earns the required scores will receive an award.

Initiatives may include everything from pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, school bus safety, teen driving, senior safety, checkpoints to monitor seat belt use, preventing distracted driving and impaired driving, along with roadway safety projects and emergency response innovations.

Award levels are Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Points are awarded for having an active Traffic Safety Committee, participation in AAA Traffic Safety Programs, efforts in Education, Engineering, and Enforcement (the 3 E’s), and statistical measures of success. The size of the community also factors into a sliding scale towards a final score.

• Platinum Awards are given to communities that have documented new, perhaps innovative, traffic safety programs, projects or initiatives for the previous year. These communities have also demonstrated outstanding success with high scores in all scoring categories.
• Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards are given to communities that have implemented programs and projects, have varying degrees of success from superior to substantial, in all scoring categories.
• Pedestrian Safety Commendations and Citations are given to communities for consecutive years without pedestrian fatalities.
• Special Traffic Safety Awards are presented each year to one individual and to one organization for exceptional efforts to improve traffic safety.

Obituaries

Harold (Harry) G. Pio

Harold (Harry) G. Pio of Verplanck passed away on Oct. 21, 2024, at Westchester Medical Center.

Pio was born in Yonkers on May 10, 1944, to Eugene and Dorothy Irene Pio. He attended Gorton High School and worked at The Herald Statesmen newspaper in Yonkers, then for the Middletown, NY Times Herald-Record. Pio then moved to Verplanck and retired from Cablevision, Ossining, NY.

On his off time, he enjoyed motorcycles, fishing and boating, and spending time with his friends on the CB radio and HAM radio.

Pio is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Burns, his daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Eric Smith, his daughter, Barbara Pio, his son, and daughter-in-law, Michael and Antoinette Pio, and his grandchildren: Douglas Smith, Michael, Alex, Daniel, and Dominic Pio. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Alan and Karen Pio of Yorktown, NY, and sister; Cindy Pio of Florida, and also nephews and grand nephews and nieces.

Hugh Joseph Murphy

Hugh Joseph Murphy passed away in the Bronx on Oct. 23, 2024, at the age of 94.

Joe was born in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City on Oct. 21, 1930. His family later moved to Inwood in northern Manhattan, where he met and married Sheila Downing, a girl from across Post Avenue. Sheila and Joe were married on May 23, 1959, and remained so for 63 years until Sheila’s passing in March 2023. They moved up to Cortlandt Manor in 1965, where they lived ever since.

An outstanding athlete, Joe spent his early 20s playing third base across the baseball diamonds of Europe as part of his Air Force base baseball team. He later spent 15 years sharing his knowledge and passion with hundreds of kids as a beloved coach at every level of baseball in the town of Cortlandt.

Joe worked for CitiBank for over 25 years before starting his own banking consulting company, Trinity Associates, in the 1980s. There, he spent a decade providing employment and mentorship to dozens, helping many recent graduates get their careers off the ground.

During his retirement years, he enjoyed playing golf and pool with his friends, rooting for the Mets, and following the horses to Saratoga with Sheila, often accompanied by his grandchildren.

Joe was predeceased by his wife Sheila and daughter Mary Ellen Lawlor. He is survived by his three sons, Joseph (Doreen) of Cranford, NJ, Thomas of Tampa, FL, and Bill (Carolynn) of Manhattan.

Joe’s happiest times were spent as “Pop” to his seven grandchildren: Tara, Kelly, Thomas, Daniel, Colleen, Kathryn, and Brendan; and three great-grandchildren: Cole, Miles, and Declan.