Teen familiar with Peekskill area reported missing again
The New York State Police have issued a call for assistance from the public in their search for a person reported missing.
Daisyana Suscal, age 16, was reported missing by her family on Thursday, Dec. 12, according to New York State Police. Suscal is described as 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has dark eyes and hair with red highlights. She is known to frequent the areas of Cortlandt and Peekskill, police said.
She was also reported missing nearly three months ago on Sept. 17 but found and returned to her family the next day.
Anyone with information is asked to call State Police at 914-769-2600 and refer to case No. NY2400983747.
High school students explore trade career options
The boys of Peekskill’s My Brother’s Keeper had an opportunity to explore career path alternatives to college when the high school welcomed Michael Cruz from the Universal Technical Institute. The boys learned about the institute’s HVAC, automotive tech, aviation mech, and industrial maintenance programs.
Former President Obama began the MBK initiative in February, 2014 to address persistent opportunity gaps confronted by young men of color in order to make sure that all young men reached their full potential.
This initiative seeks to establish a commitment from community leaders to assist in reaching that goal. To date, Peekskill City School District has identified over 50 student mentees at the middle and high school levels. These young men have been paired with mentors that span from district employees to community partners and business owners. Community partners include Arts10566, Be First Boxing, New Era Creative Space, the Peekskill Chapter of the NAACP and the Peekskill Youth Bureau.
Peekskill kids receive thousands of books from 914Cares
Members from the Peekskill School District team visited the 914Cares headquarters in Armonk last week to pick thousands of books for the district’s children. Each elementary child will bring home new books to grow their home libraries. 914Cares Literacy Library provides books to families and school districts in under-resourced communities. All books distributed are in good, clean condition and inspected by resident librarian for age-appropriateness.
Every family and every classroom in Westchester deserve to have a sufficient supply of age-appropriate books to foster literacy, learning, and a love of reading.
Each month all Community Partners can request as many books as they need for the children they work with. Teachers from all over the county come into the 91Cares Library and pick specific books for each of their students. Volunteer librarians Miriam Minor and Maxine Marks look through every page of every book to make sure there are no rips, writing on or missing pages.
City looking for members at Housing Authority, Zoning Board, and other advisory bodies
Do you have an interest in becoming more involved and would like to help make a difference? Please consider joining one of Peekskill’s Boards and Commissions.
There are currently vacancies for the following: Artist Certification Committee, Conservation Advisory Council, Historic Landmarks & Preservation Board, Human Relations Commission, Parks Advisory Board, Peekskill Housing Authority Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.
If you are interested in serving on any of these Boards and Commissions, please send a letter of interest and a resume to City Clerk Cassandra Redd, 840 Main Street, Peekskill, NY 10566 or via email to [email protected].
Fines can reach $200 for violating winter parking rules
The Peekskill City Winter Parking Ordinance is now in effect through April 1.
Parking is prohibited on city streets from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. except in designated areas where signs are posted for Winter Alternate Side of the Street Parking.
If signs are posted, follow the instructions that are listed on the sign. Vehicles in violation of this ordinance may be issued a parking ticket with fines starting at $100. Fines will increase to $200 if a State of Emergency is declared.
Vehicles may also be towed at the owner’s expense anytime a vehicle interferes with snow plowing and snow removal operations.
Free parking in two city parking garages until Jan. 1
The holiday season has arrived. Support local businesses and enjoy complimentary four-hour parking in the Nelson Avenue and James Street parking garages through Jan. 1, 2025.
Parking meters in the city including lots and street parking are still in effect and must be paid. The only free parking is in the two designated parking garages.
Job for heavy-duty equipment operator in Peekskill
The City of Peekskill is seeking a heavy motor equipment operator to operate heavy-duty trucks, or trailer trucks in connection with the transporting or collection of large quantities of materials or heavy-duty supplies.
Other duties include regularly driving operating complex automotive equipment which require the CDL-A, heavy duty steam roller, power shovel, front end loader, bulldozer, road grader and other types of heavy equipment and heavy-duty crane at construction sites.
The job pays $91,896 and the closing date to apply is Dec. 20. More information and the application are available here.
New law increases food donations, recycling of scraps
Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to expand New York’s food donation and food scraps recycling program, which provides high-quality food to low-income New Yorkers. Since launching in 2022, food waste generators have successfully diverted tens of millions of pounds of food to those in need, according to state officials.
New York currently requires businesses and institutions that generate an average of two tons of waste food per week to donate the edible food and recycle the remaining scraps. The latter requirement only applies to generators within 25 miles of an organics recycler.
The new law changes that threshold to one ton per week effective January 2026, and half a ton per week effective January 2028. The bill also removes the distance exemption for all generators. New York City is not covered by the current or proposed law.
Hospitals, K-12 schools, nursing homes and adult care facilities are exempt from the law. Stop & Shop at 1831 Main St. is the only Peekskill facility listed on the state list of food generators impacted by the law.
With funding from DEC, Feeding New York State, the state association of New York’s 10 Feeding America member food bank, has been able to increase new food donations, reporting an average of two million pounds of food donations each month. The program reached a record 32 million pounds of food since launching in 2022.
“So many people in communities statewide still face food insecurity, which is why we cannot let up our fight against hunger,” said state senator Pete Harckham. “The success of the food donation law has been truly remarkable, and by expanding this law we address sustainability and climate accountability as well the need to lessen waste in our landfills. Most of all, I thank the many volunteers who are fighting hunger in New York.”
Police calls include fire, disorderly group, investigations
The City of Peekskill Police Department responded to nearly 700 calls for service during the period from Dec. 1 through Dec. 7. Many of the calls involved officers conducting a check of a specific area for any unlawful activity, usually determined as a result of community complaints.
Other calls include a repossession on Dec. 3 at 12:05 a.m. on Belden Street, larcenies on Dec. 2 at 10:25 p.m. and Dec. 3 at 10:36 p.m. on Washington Street.
There were police investigations on Dec. 3 at 2:19 a.m. on Lincoln Terrace and 7:30 a.m. on Washington Street; Dec. 4 at 6:50 p.m. on Frost Lane and Dec. 5 at 2:31 p.m. on Main Street.
Follow-up investigations were conducted on Dec. 3 at 7:07 a.m. on Diven Street, 7:16 a.m. on Smith Street, and 5:40 p.m. on Wooddale Avenue; also Dec. 6 at 9:31 a.m. on Belden Street, 11:48 a.m. on North Division Street and 7:07 p.m. on Depew Street.
Calls for response to disputes were answered on Dec. 3 at 12:23 a.m. on Crompond Road, 10:28 a.m. on Paulding Street and 3:09 p.m. on Chauncey Place; also Dec. 4 at 10:49 a.m. on Paulding Street.
Other calls included a report of fire on Dec. 3 at 5:49 p.m. on Main Street, an unwanted party on Dec. 3 at 8:06 p.m. on Park Street, a disorderly person on Highland Avenue on Dec. 4 at 3:06 a.m. and a disorderly group at 4:18 p.m. on Main Street.
Calls for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident were answered on Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street and at 9:11 p.m. on Second Street, and a Dec. 7 call at 1:25 a.m. for an intoxicated person on John Walsh Boulevard.
The blotter for the week is available here.
Order your Military Tribute Banner for 2025
Orders for 2025 are now being accepted for the Military Tribute Banners in the city of Peekskill. If you would like to order a banner honoring someone who is serving or has served, please visit the Military Tribute Banners website and complete the form by Saturday, March 29. All ordered banners will be displayed throughout the City of Peekskill from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.
For those who have already purchased banners in prior years, there is a $15 non–refundable rehanging fee. If you do not want your banner rehung, please contact the City Clerk’s office before Feb. 15.
For additional information about Military Tribute Banners, please contact City Clerk Cassandra Redd at (914) 737-3400 or email [email protected].
Santa and Friends at Peekskill Central Firehouse Dec. 20
Anyone who missed Santa at the city’s tree lighting will get a second chance when Old Saint Nick makes one more visit here before heading back to the North Pole.
The City of Peekskill Fire Department will host Santa at the Peekskill Central Firehouse on Dec. 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Come out to join the fun and bring your best wishes for Christmas, Santa and his friends and get ready for the big day.
West Point manager charged with stealing $563,393
A civilian employed as an assistant program manager for extracurricular activities at West Point is out on $150,000 bail and faces federal charges of stealing more than half a million dollars from the United States Military Academy.
Diana Martucci of Lagrangeville was arraigned on Dec. 5 in White Plains federal court on charges of money laundering and theft of government funds. She pleaded not guilty. Martucci has also been known under the last names Battaglini, Lindell and Rossetti.
Martucci was an authorized user of two government-issued credit cards for the cadets’ activities. From October 2021 to June 2024, the indictment states, she made $362,393 in payments to a PayPal account that she controlled under a fictitious business name.
According to the allegation, Martucci disguised the payments by submitting falsified credit card statements to her supervisor, and by wiring PayPal funds to layers of bank accounts she owned.
She also used the West Point credit cards to spend $201,377 on vehicles she rented from Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Poughkeepsie, according to the indictment. Her job did not require her to drive rental vehicles.
Obituaries
Karen Borich
Karen Borich, a devoted daughter, cousin and community advocate, died peacefully on Dec. 9, 2024, surrounded by her family and trusted caregiver. She was 69 years old.
Born on Jan. 6, 1955, Karen grew up with a deep sense of compassion and dedication to helping others. She earned her degree from Bellarmine University in Kentucky and went on to have a distinguished career as an ICF Program Manager at the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.
Throughout her career, Karen worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those with developmental disabilities, a cause to which she remained passionately committed.
A longtime resident of Peekskill and Cortlandt Manor, Karen was deeply involved in her local community and church, offering her time, energy, and support to a variety of causes. Her kindness, dedication, and commitment to service left a lasting impact on all who knew her including close friends, neighbors, and coworkers.
Karen was predeceased by her father, George Borich, and her mother, Janet Borich. She is survived by her cousins: the Blomberg family, the Chiulli family, the Di Mascia family, the Melfi family, and the Tringali family. Karen’s legacy of love, service, and kindness will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Thomas Cummins
Thomas Cummins, 74, of Peekskill died Dec. 10, 2024.
Born July 11, 1950, in Queens, NY to Patrick and Annie Gillett Cummins. When young, Thomas and his family moved to Brooklyn, NY. Thomas married Frances Blake on Feb. 14, 1975. They moved to Peekskill and raised their family here.
Thomas was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Peekskill. After retirement, he joined the Peekskill Senior Club where he enjoyed playing Pokeno. Among his family and friends, he was known for his tie-dye shirts.
Thomas is survived by his wife, Frances, daughters Melissa Cummins and Lori(Jamie) DeShon, and grandchildren Logan and Olivia DeShon. He is also survived by his siblings Margaret Kinane, Patrick Cummins, Eileen Cummins, Anne Marie Lynch, Stephen(Tiana) Cummins, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Patrick and Annie, and his brother Michael.
