Clean Energy jobs available in Westchester County
Westchester is offering expanding career opportunities in clean energy. A recent Clean Energy Job and Resource Fair featured more than 25 organizations focused on providing job and training opportunities in solar energy, heat pumps, and geothermal solutions. The job fair, hosted by the Westchester County Office of Economic Development, Sustainable Westchester, and New Yorkers for Clean Power, took place on Nov. 19 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
“This event [was] an opportunity for all Westchester residents who have an interest in starting a career with a clean energy company to learn more about training and employment opportunities,” said Bridget Gibbons, the director of economic development for Westchester County.
Westchester County partnered with the nonprofit Sustainable Westchester in 2023 to establish a Clean Energy Careers Accelerator Program. The program helps create well-paying jobs in the green industry, says Yasmin Najjar, Sustainable Westchester’s program manager for environmental justice and workforce development.
“A lot of my work has been directed towards workforce development,” says Najjar. “The problem is that individuals from disadvantaged communities aren’t equipped with the talent and skills they need to enter the industry. So the goal is to increase training and hiring opportunities in Westchester County within the coming two years.”
Some other organizations attending the fair included Brightcore Energy, Family Services of Westchester, Quest Solar, Untapped Solutions, and Mothers Out Front.
Program for job candidates offers stipend for support
Registration is open for the JOBS program, offered by Homeless Remedies, Inc. The JOBS program is based on education and learning from others, as well as practical experience working in teams, a skill increasingly important in today’s work environment.
The program is not designed to teach a better way to live or to teach participants a great deal of new information. Rather, it is designed to involve participants in their learning experiences and to help them discover their own values, needs and skills and how those might help them fulfill their employment desires.
Upon completion of the 12-week course, participants will receive a stipend. Register at [email protected] or call 212-804-7645 or register in person on Jan. 14 at either the Field Library or the Peekskill Youth Bureau.
The bilingual program is offered from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Peekskill Youth Bureau. The English program is offered on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Field Library.
City Democrats send out call for candidates
The Peekskill Democratic City Committee is interviewing candidates interested in running for Mayor or Common Council on the Democratic line for the General Election to be held in November 2025.
Interested parties must be registered to vote in the City of Peekskill and be a resident of the City of Peekskill for a minimum of three years.
You may submit your resume and letter of interest to the Nominating Committee at: [email protected] no later than Dec. 20, 2024. Please make sure to include contact information.
Firefighters, Salvation Army will fulfill Christmas wishes
Peekskill Professional Firefighters Local 2343 has partnered with the great folks over at The Salvation Army- Peekskill and are participating in their “Angel Tree” program which benefits struggling families of our community by providing gifts to children and granting their Christmas wishes.
The Firefighters have taken on 35 “tags” each of which includes the wishes of a specific child, while keeping them anonymous. There are a large variety of items that can be purchased.
These wishes will be fulfilled by a few different approaches:
- We’d love the help of our neighbors, friends and followers, whether it be monetary donations, or donating a gift off of the list that we can forward.
- The Firefighters of Local 2343 and their families will purchase some of the items.
- Our organization will pledge to purchase any gifts that may remain after donations by the community or our individual members.
The gifts are all to be delivered to our friends at the Salvation Army by Dec. 11, so we have to move quickly! We have a list of over 100 items. Entire tags (preferred) or individual items can be purchased, your choice.
If you’re interested in helping, we ask that you send us a private message on Facebook and we can forward a list of items needed or a donation can be made.
Please consider helping out a neighbor and making a donation to this great cause, every child deserves to have a Merry Christmas. Email [email protected] for more information.
Peekskill Arts Alliance Holiday gift shopping at Ford Piano
The Peekskill Arts Alliance (PAA) is hosting a Holiday Boutique and Big Art Show at The Old Ford Piano Building, 15 South Division St. this coming weekend.
Show hours are Saturday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Local artisans will present handmade gifts perfect for holiday shoppers looking for unique presents – pottery, jewelry, wearable art, cards, prints, photos and more. Artists will include Michelle Blundell, Jennifer Larrabee. Liz Peterson and many more.
Please join us at the reception after Peekskill Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 7 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Peekskill Arts Alliance promotes and serves the vibrant and diverse arts community in Peekskill and the Hudson Valley. The PAA presents arts events; fosters collaboration among artists, businesses, regional partners, and the public; engages new audiences; identifies sources of funding and raises public awareness, appreciation, and recognition of the value of arts in the community.
School District hosts first Early College Saturday Academy
Dr. Melanie Roman, Director of Early College Secondary Programs at the Peekskill City School District, kicked off the district’s very first High School Early College Saturday Academy.
The event brought together P-Tech (Pathways in Technology) and Smart Scholars students and families from Peekskill and Ossining for a morning of discovery. Students learned about building academic skills for success and how to manage stress. They also explored career pathways and future opportunities.
Family members also joined the event and learned how to manage stress alongside their student while also learning about how they can support their child’s future career goals.
Kyle Rourke State Farm in new office on Central Avenue
Kyle Rourke – State Farm Insurance Agent – Peekskill, NY and Oakland, NJ has moved. It was a busy week, but the firm finally made the move to 638 Central Ave (formerly Zeph’s and Journeyman Bakery).
Kyle Rourke State Farm spent nearly eight months renovating the two buildings that date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s but it was well worth the wait.
An official grand opening will be held in the new year once everyone is settled, but in the meantime friends and neighbors are invited to stop in for a peek at the new digs. There are plenty of snacks, coffee and other refreshments for guests.
Holidays and the spirit of giving on ‘Giving Tuesday’
“Giving Tuesday,” this year on Dec. 3, is dedicated to supporting non-profits and community groups. Since 2012, nonprofits worldwide have used the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to galvanize fundraising, rally volunteers and add momentum to their causes.
The online news source, Patch has compiled a list of local nonprofits to consider when you’re looking for the place to offer your support. Here’s four they suggest:
Caring for the Hungry & Homeless of Peekskill: “Every person is entitled to safe, affordable housing and healthy, nutritious food. Our work focuses on housing and food equity in Peekskill and the surrounding communities and supports people living with domestic violence, veterans experiencing homelessness, immigrants, people with mental health issues, and other lower-income households.”
Peekskill Arts Alliance: “To promote and serve the vibrant and diverse arts community in Peekskill and the Hudson Valley. “
The Peekskill Education Foundation: “Focused on enriching our schools by raising funds, supplying cultural experiences, & fostering community partnerships “
Rotary Club of Peekskill: “Committed to helping meet the charitable and humanitarian needs of Peekskill, Cortlandt and internationally.”
The complete list is available here.
Pearl Harbor Day recalled Dec. 7 at Neighborhood Center
The City of Peekskill and the Captain Oliver C. Chase, Jr. American Legion Post 274 is hosting a National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Senior Room at the Peekskill Neighborhood Center located at 4 Nelson Ave.
On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack included torpedo planes, dive bombers, and fighters launched from six Japanese carriers. The attack destroyed or damaged 188 aircraft and 21 military vessels, killing 2,403 service members and civilians and injuring 1,178. The USS Arizona and the USS Utah were permanently sunk.
The following day President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke before a joint session of the Congress and delivered his historic speech.
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
Gathering to remember family and friends lost
The Dorsey Carlone Funeral Home family is inviting you and your family and friends to an “Always in Our Hearts Luminaria Gathering” on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the grounds of Dorsey Carlone Funeral Home at 1100 Cortlandt St., Peekskill.
This is an opportunity to be together to remember and celebrate the life of your loved one who has died, and to find comfort in the support of others who are going through a similar experience. This gathering will provide a safe and comfortable space to gather and honor the memory of those we have lost through words of welcome, a message of comfort from one of our pastors, luminaria placement and lighting, and music. There will be warm drinks and cookies and the opportunity for fellowship and healing. Please dress warmly as we will be outside for the service and lighting.
Losing someone close to us can be a difficult and trying time, and the Dorsey Carlone family wants you to know they are always here to support you in any way we can said Stephanie Carlone.
Multi-family house for sale on North Division Street
Another multi-family house offering an investor an opportunity for development has come on the market.
The asking price for 931 N. Division St. is $1.15 million. The building has 10 bedrooms and four bathrooms and contains 3,091 square feet.
The listing reads:
Discover a prime investment opportunity in Peekskill, offering incredible upside potential along with a possible property subdivision for additional future income. Well-maintained property with hardwood floors, four separate heating units and hot water heaters. All utilities paid directly by tenants with the exception of water. Each unit features spacious layouts and outdoor space. All units currently rented on a month-to-month basis at below market rates. Off street parking for tenants located at back portion of property on Kossuth Place.
Planet Fitness donating gym equipment to Fire Dept.
Peekskill’s Common Council unanimously passed a resolution on Nov. 25 accepting a donation from the local Planet Fitness of $40,000 in fitness equipment on behalf of the city’s Fire Department.
Alissa Mosca, the Regional Manager of Planet Fitness located within the Beach Shopping Center, recently contacted the department informing them the facility was in the process of going through an equipment re-equip and was interested in donating equipment.
On Monday, Nov. 18, Fire Chief James Seymour requested a resolution asking for the Common Council to accept two machines estimated at $20,000 each. According to Seymour, the department inspected the equipment to evaluate it for functionality and determined it would be a great fit at the fire headquarters fitness room.
“Cardiovascular continues to be the number one cause of firefighter deaths in the line of duty in the United States every year,” he said. “So certainly, this was a great opportunity at no cost, to add to our cache of equipment in the fitness room.”
Fire Department deploys new ATV to access remote areas
The Peekskill Fire Department (PFD) reported recently on their newest equipment acquisition:
If you were on or near the trails in Depew Park or Blue Mountain this month, you may have encountered an unusual sight – a large motorized ATV navigating the trails. While there was definitely some fun had, we can assure you that it was strictly for business, not recreation.
PFD purchased a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV), to be used to access remote areas of the city, not accessible by a regular fire apparatus or passenger vehicle. The majority of our career firefighters received their initial in-service training on this new vehicle.
This training required several hours of operating the vehicle under a variety of conditions on several different types of terrain. Members climbed hills, overcame obstacles, drove over rocky and through muddy terrain, and practiced recovery operations of the vehicle when it becomes stuck. This UTV is extremely versatile and capable, however, it is very different from driving a normal passenger vehicle, requiring several hours of training for each member.
The UTV, designated as “Mini-Attack 36” (MA-36), will soon be fully outfitted for firefighting, EMS, and rescue purposes, and be placed in service. This vehicle will enhance our capability to keep our city’s residents and visitors safe, and maintain our dedication of high-quality & well trained service to the city.
Here is the video of our training exercises. Thanks to all the park users for your patience!
Officer Corporan newest member of Peekskill’s Finest
Please welcome the newest member of the Peekskill Police Department, Police Officer Christopher Corporan.
PO Corporon brings his prior law enforcement experience, having previously served with the City of New York, DEP Police Department. The department looks forward to the great things PO Corporon will do for the community.
PO Corporan is currently assigned to the Field Training Program, guided under the tutelage of PO Rivera. PPD wishes him all the best for a safe and successful career ahead.
