Drop off Christmas gifts for kids at Peekskill County office
Westchester County’s annual Holiday Gift Drive got underway last week, kicking off with a special event at the Michaelian Office Building in White Plains.
The Drive runs through Monday, Dec. 16, collecting gifts and monetary donations to provide a brighter holiday for more than 1,000 children in Westchester who are in foster care, the homeless system, and receiving other protective and preventive social services.
There are six drop box locations throughout Westchester including the Peekskill District Office at 750 Washington St. They are accessible during business hours, where new, unwrapped toys, appropriate for newborns through 21-year-olds can be donated. (Please, no stuffed animals or violent toys.)
“Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, or another celebration, every kid in Westchester deserves to feel excitement and love this holiday season,” said Westchester County Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins. “It’s especially important for kids who find themselves in tough family and financial circumstances.”
Changes coming from Albany to Foundation Aid formula
The formula New York state uses to send money to local school districts each year could change dramatically, impacting local school budgets, including Peekskill.
“Foundation Aid” comprises the vast majority of state money the districts get each year. For the current year Peekskill received nearly $69 million in state money, $55.11 million coming from Foundation Aid. The total Peekskill school budget is $123 million.
Last year Gov. Kathy Hochul tried to change the amount of Foundation Aid money districts would receive. Her original proposal would have set Peekskill’s amount to $54.9 million but instead the district got an increase of $3.5 million over the previous year’s $51.63 million.
Now a study by the Rockefeller Institute will form the basis of a potential complete overhaul of the Foundation Aid formulas.
“At the five Foundation Aid Study public hearings conducted by the Institute in July and August, themes emerged about the technical aspects of the formula that needed to be addressed: weightings for English Language Learners (ELLs), outdated poverty data, the accuracy and specificity of regional costs, and that school districts are being asked to do things now that weren’t expected of them and weren’t even part of the funding equation nearly two decades ago,” the report states.
“The hearings also reinforced what advocates and administrators have been saying for years: school district leaders and communities need reliable, predictable funding.”
One proposal in particular could impact Peekskill.
Replace the single 0.5 weighting for English Language Learners (ELLs) with a scaled adjustment based on the instructional service hours needed as determined by the incoming assessment given to ELL students to determine proficiency levels.
The current 0.5 weighting treats all ELL students alike regardless of their differing service needs. Recent surges in students needing high levels of services underscore the urgency to distinguish this subpopulation and provide relatively higher supplemental aid.
The New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL) given to all incoming ELL students measures English proficiency levels and classifies students into one of four different levels of instructional service.
One approach to consider would have students needing the most assistance (including Students with Interrupted Formal Education) counted with a weight of 0.65; the next lowest tier of services, a weight of 0.50, and the lowest level of needed services and ELL students in their second or beyond year of services could receive a 0.4 weighting.
The battle in Albany this year will pit the Governor’s office trying to rein in state spending on schools while individual legislators will all fight for more money for their districts. The Executive Budget called for $34.5 billion in total School Aid for SY 2024, the highest level of State aid in history. Stay tuned.
– By Jim Roberts
Holiday shoppers – head to Railroad Avenue next weekend
Complete your holiday shopping at the Peekskill HOLIYAY! Market on Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15 from noon to 4 p.m. along Railroad Avenue.
Enjoy two days of holiday cheer, entertainment, and shopping with over 40 different vendors. Their goal is to bring fun markets to Peekskill. YAY!
The market was created by POME Florals and Peekskill Exurbanist. The mission is to create a platform that puts Peekskill on the map as destination for creativity and community and to create an dynamic offline and online hub that brings the best of our regional makers together with our supportive local community in an engaging way to build a strong, more resilient, and more enjoyable Peekskill.
For additional information, please visit the market website.
State will cover children up to age six through Medicaid
Children up to six years old are now automatically eligible for continuous health care coverage under Medicaid in New York state.
Early in November, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a plan to expand continuous eligibility for children for a handful of states, including New York. Federal law requires all states to provide continuous health care coverage for children up until they are 12 months old.
Under a broad 1115 Medicaid waiver, the federal government authorizes the use of billions of dollars in federal health care funding for states to pitch novel health projects or programs. New York is set to receive up to $6 billion of federal funding through the waiver, which it can use for various Medicaid-related spending.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the program, which was also adopted by Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, will give 17 million children new protections from any disruption.
“Continuous coverage is good for children, families, and the economy,” the federal agency said in a new release earlier this month. It cited research showing that non-disrupted Medicaid coverage helped contribute to better educational and health outcomes, leading to reduced spending on public assistance programs.
Nearly half of New York’s children are covered under Medicaid or another state health insurance program called Child Health Plus.
City manager ‘look back and year ahead’ report
Peekskill City Manager Matt Alexander posted his wrap-up of 2024 and look ahead to 2025 in a message to the community.
Dear Residents,
As we wrap up 2024, I wanted to share a few updates on what’s happening at City Hall. Please review the following and if you have any questions, please contact me via email at [email protected]. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year
Peekskill Police hold ‘Shop with a Cop’ for local youngsters
This year’s Shop with a Cop Event was on December 3 and the department once again collaborated with Walmart of Cortlandt Manor, the Peekskill Youth Bureau, members of the New York State Police, Mohegan Fire and EMS and Community Partners, Inner Being LLC. Nearly 100 youths received Walmart gift cards to go shopping with the community’s First Responders.
It was all smiles, holiday cheer and jolly laughs as they cruised the aisles of Walmart selecting gifts with the kids and enjoying the spirit of Christmas.
The Peekskill Police extend tremendous thanks to the members of the Peekskill City School District and Inner Being Yoga and Wellness for helping with the selection process. Last, but certainly not least, they extend a HUGE thank you to the entire Walmart crew. News12 Westchester reported last week on the event sponsored by the Peekskill Police Department to bring some holiday cheer to local kids.
“This is the second year for us and we’re happy to collaborate with everybody and bring some Christmas cheer to the little ones,” said Sgt. Khalia Carter.
Many of the guardians that News 12 spoke with also seemed to be grateful for the giveaway, too. “It gives them the opportunity to see how other people donate and give out of the goodness of their hearts,” said parent Darryl Francis. You can view the report here.
Nominees sought for honor in Black History Month 2025
Nominations are now open for Black History Month in the City of Peekskill to recognize residents for their contributions to the community.
Every February, the City of Peekskill celebrates Black History Month by honoring outstanding African American members in our city for their personal or professional achievements, civic contributions, or general good deeds that have favorably impacted our citizens.
The honorees in 2024 were Lisa Alexander, Ted Bitter, Margie Daniels, LeRon Getter, Mack Godbee and Pete Peterson, recognized for their exemplary leadership and dedication to the community. Each was given a proclamation from the city of Peekskill.
If you would like to nominate someone, please complete this form by Tuesday, Dec. 31.
School district adopts paid lactation breaks policy
The Peekskill Board of Education affirmed a state law last week that gives employees a 30-minute paid break to pump breast milk in the workplace.
While state employees were able to express breast milk in the workplace beforehand, they were expected to do so either on their own paid time or lunch. However, in June a state law went into effect giving those employees a paid break.
The law adopted by the Peekskill Board of Education mandates employers give 30 minutes of a paid break for employees that have a reasonable need to express breast milk and as often as an employee reasonably needs to do so. This paid break time is provided for up to three years following childbirth.
If employees need additional time, they must use other existing paid breaks or mealtime. The number of paid breaks an employee needs to express breast milk is unique to each employee and employers must provide reasonable break times based on the individual, per the policy. Employers must also provide a private room or space.
For more information on the policy click here.
– By Eric Harvey
Peekskill’s RameNesque a Westchester’s top noodle spot
If you’re noodlin’ for some tasty ramen on a cold winter night, Westchester magazine has a list of the top choices in the county.
Westchester restaurants heat up the dining scene with steamy bowls of slurpable, twirlable noodles topped with all the fixings. Here’s where to go the next time you’re craving an order of the good stuff.
One of their choices is Peekskill’s own RameNesque.
15 N Division St, Peekskill; 914.402.4288
RamenNesque is a Greenwich Village-styled ramen restaurant with several iterations of ramen on the menu in northern Westchester. Noodle-slurping diners have a tough time choosing between divine ramen options such as classic shoyu, rich miso, and kimchi. Those who can tolerate the heat love the tom yum for its fiery, tangy, Thai-inspired broth. All dishes are made with fresh produce and natural flavor enhancers.
You can see the entire list here.
Brady wins SheInspires Agent of Change Global Award
Lauren Brady, co-founder and executive director of This Is Me Foundation, has been named the winner of the 2024 SheInspires Awards Agent of Change – Global Award. This international accolade honors women who have brought about positive global change through their dedication, hard work, and inspiration in championing diversity, culture, heritage, environment, workplace transformation, or a specific cause.
Brady was one of ten finalists from nine countries vying for this prestigious award, presented during a ceremony held in Bolton, England on Nov. 21 which she attended virtually via Zoom.
Her recognition stems from her work with This Is Me Foundation, a nonprofit she and her sister, Caitlin, founded in 2012 to raise awareness about the autoimmune disease alopecia and provide hope to individuals facing adversity.
Under her leadership, the foundation has awarded over $70,000 in scholarships to 143 recipients in across the United States and hosted innovative community events like the annual New Year’s Day Polar Plunge in Peekskill which has seen year-over-year growth in both participation and fundraising. You can support the 12th Annual event on January 1, 2025 at the Peekskill Riverfront.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Agent of Change – Global Award,” Brady said. “This recognition reflects the collective effort of everyone who has supported This Is Me Foundation and its mission to inspire resilience and create meaningful change.”
Brady, a nonprofit leader, advocate, and changemaker from Peekskill, is currently living in Stuart, Fla.
For more information about Lauren Brady’s work, visit This Is Me Foundation. To learn more about the SheInspires Awards, visit SheInspires Awards.
Obituaries
Catherine A. Brown
Catherine A. Brown passed away quietly on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. She and her twin sister, Alice, were born on Jan. 16, 1921, to Mary and Joseph Kelleher in Peekskill, NY.
She was educated in the Assumption School and graduated from Peekskill High School. After his return from World War II, Catherine married Clarence A. “Pete” Brown on May 19, 1943, at the Church of the Assumption in Peekskill.
They enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage until Pete’s passing in April 2003. They resided in Buchanan for all those years. She was a devoted homemaker and volunteer with Scouts, PTA and Lions Club endeavors.
After retirement, she and her husband enjoyed cross-country travel, cruises, and hosting family gatherings at Queechy Lake.
Catherine was a faithful parishioner of St. Christopher’s Parish in Buchanan and Holy Spirit Parish in Cortlandt Manor after she moved back to Peekskill in 2005.
Catherine was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, a loving sister and aunt. She is survived by her children, Linda Coulter, Susan (Robert) Winchester, Clarence III “Larry” Brown, and Mary Ellen (John) Robertson. “Nana” will be missed by her by her seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and spouse, she was predeceased by her brother, Joseph (Alice) Kelleher, her twin Alice (Clarence) Napier, sister Irene (Bill) Balluff, son-in-law Wayne Coulter, niece Jean Alice Napier, and great-granddaughter, Addison Robertson.
