Levenberg seeks comments on proposed state budget
State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg is inviting residents to weigh in as New York State shapes its budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Levenberg and her staff are digging into the details of the Executive Proposal to find areas of agreement with the Governor, as well as items where improvements can be made to better serve residents of the 95th state assembly district.
In the coming weeks, she will be sharing more of her opinions on different aspects of the budget online. You can sign up for her e-newsletter to receive updates.
There are a variety of ways for you to express your thoughts on the state budget during this process. A contact form continues to be the best way to share opinions, available here. Or, call the office at (914) 941-1111 during normal business hours.
Upcoming Town Halls will include a 2 p.m. meeting on Saturday, Feb. 8 at The Field Library focused on general interest topics. Affordability-focused town halls will be held on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. (virtual, RSVP here) and Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Croton Free Library.
Republican challenger for County Exec plans to repeal Sanctuary Law
Republican Christine Sculti, the former chief advisor to former County Executive Rob Astorino, will oppose County Executive Ken Jenkins in the special election for the position on Feb. 11.
For eight years, Sculti, who lives in Mamaroneck, was the highest-ranking woman in Astorino’s administration. She also served as chair and CEO of the Westchester County Taxi & Limousine Commission, as assistant to the Mayor of Yonkers, as regional director and statewide troubleshooter for the New State Consumer Protection Board, and in economic development for New York State as Mid-Hudson regional director.
Sculti currently works as deputy commissioner of the Westchester County Board of Elections and is vice president of a family-owned business.
Her campaign will focus on repealing the county’s Sanctuary Law, “reining in out-of-control county spending,” and establishing an Office for Parental Rights to ensure Westchester parents maintain oversight of the health and well-being of their children.
Sculti’s first run for elected office in 2021 was unsuccessful campaign she lost to former County Executive George Latimer.
Early voting to fill the balance of Latimer’s term began on Feb. 1 and runs through Feb. 9 at the Neighborhood Center and the Lincoln Depot Museum prior to Election Day on Feb. 11. Polling times are available here.
An election for a full term for county executive will be held in November.
Lithium scooter battery causes fire outside Peekskill home
Just after 3 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2, members of Local 2343 of the Peekskill firefighters were dispatched to a fire involving an electric scooter outside a residence in Peekskill.
The blaze, which was contained quickly, was determined to have been caused by a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery.
Lithium Battery Safety Tip: Always charge lithium-ion batteries on a non-combustible surface, away from flammable materials, and avoid overcharging. Ensure the battery has no visible damage before use, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper care.
Employment, house prices stay strong in December
For the 12-month period ending December 2024, the private sector job count in the Hudson Valley rose by 9,700, or 1.2 percent, to 833,800 according to the New York State Department of Labor. The largest gains were in private education and health services (+8,200), other services (+3,800), leisure and hospitality (+2,400) and financial activities (+800). Job losses were centered in mining, logging and construction (-1,900), professional and business services (-1,700), trade, transportation and utilities (-1,500), and information (-500).
Private education and health services remained the region’s leading jobs generator. Year-over-year in December 2024, the sector climbed 3.6 percent or 8,200 to reach 233,800, its highest December employment count on record.
For the first time in several months, December single-family home sales experienced double-digit growth in all areas of the lower Hudson Valley compared to the same period in 2023, including the Bronx. Sullivan County reported the highest sales gains at almost 50 percent according to the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS®.
Westchester County still held the lead for the highest median sales price at $911,500, up 6 percent from last year’s $860,000. Median sales prices for co-ops were mixed, but Westchester’s prices grew 13.1 percent to $225,000 from $199,000 last December.
Learn about maple sugaring at Parks and Rec workshop
Peekskill Parks and Rec is holding a maple-sugaring workshop led by John Neering on Feb. 8, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Maple sugaring workshops teach people how to tap maple trees, collect sap and make syrup. Some workshops also cover how to identify maple trees, design a sugarhouse and process the syrup.
For more information and to register, please call the Parks and Recreation office at (914) 734-7275.
Celebrate Lincoln’s Peekskill inaugural stop Feb. 22
The Lincoln Society in Peekskill’s annual Lincoln Remembrance Day will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22 with a full slate of traditional activities.
The day begins with a wreath-laying ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Lincoln Exedra on South Street, dedicated in 1925 to mark Abraham Lincoln’s speaking stop in Peekskill in 1861.
Following that, a reenactment of Lincoln’s speech to the citizens of Peekskill will take place at the Lincoln Depot Museum at 10 South Water St. Then at noon a special showing of the Emmy Award-winning documentary “The Hidden History of Slavery in New York” featuring executive producer Larry Epstein will be held at the Museum.
The public is welcomed to all these events that commemorate an important event in Peekskill’s history.
Call for submissions for Peekskill Film Festival
Submissions are now open for the Peekskill Film Festival. This year’s Film Festival will take place on June 27 and 28 at the Paramount Theater.
Founded in 2015, the Peekskill Film Festival (PFF) screens a first-rate mix of features, shorts, documentaries, and animation. In addition to screening the best and brightest in indie film, the PFF hosts workshops with Emmy-Award winning artists and filmmakers, parties, panel discussions, and an entire day dedicated to student film — all centered in the historic Hudson Valley Paramount Theater.
The PFF is pleased to showcase NY filmmakers in its “New York State of Mind” block on Saturday, where all films featured are proudly made in the Empire State. Diverse voices from the world over are welcome.
For more information and to complete your submission, please visit the festival website.
Gov. proposes $252 state budget in fiscal year 2025-26
The Albany Times-Union published an in-depth analysis of the many parts of proposals in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2025-26 fiscal year state budget plan that totals $252 billion, an increase of nearly $10 billion over last year’s spending.
You can read the paper’s entire article here.
Some highlights include:
Public safety
- $8 million to bolster State Police enforcement at the northern border. Hochul said the border has “experienced elevated levels of drug, weapon, and currency seizures from transnational criminal networks.”
- In the wake of the death of inmate Robert L. Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility, Hochul has called for expediting the allocation of $400 million to install more fixed cameras in prisons, as well as $18.4 million for the expansion of the body-worn camera program.
Economic development
- The executive budget proposes regional economic funding through $150 million in new capital grants and $75 million in new Excelsior tax credits through Empire State Development to fund regional priority projects.
- A new “POWER UP” program seeded with $300 million over three years to develop dozens of “power-ready” sites to attract new businesses.
Health and mental health
- Increase spending on Medicaid to $35.4 billion, $4.3 billion over the state’s latest spending projection for the current year.
- Implement a new tax on managed care organizations projected to generate $1.4 billion in revenue over the next fiscal year.
K-12 education
- Increase state aid for schools by $1.7 billion to $37.4 billion.
- Use Census Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates data and numbers on economically disadvantaged communities to determine the amount of Foundation Aid, the main form of state aid, for each school district in place of older data.
- Enact a statewide ban on the use of smartphones in classrooms, with reimbursement from the state to local school districts for implementation.
Higher Education
- Pay for community college tuition, books and fees for students ages 25 to 55 entering in-demand career fields, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering using $47 million.
Housing
- Give local governments new tools to acquire vacant and abandoned buildings that can be redeveloped for housing.
- Change the eligibility rules for the School Tax Relief program to consider only the income of the primary property owner and make it easier for those who don’t file tax returns to retain their status.
Arts and culture
- Allots $34 million for library construction grants, as well as $104.6 million of aid to public libraries.
- Funding of $73.1 million to the Office of Cannabis Management, including funding for 29 new staff members to enforce efforts against illicit cannabis operations.
Environment
- Includes $1 billion for emissions-reducing initiatives, including building thermal energy networks throughout the SUNY system, retrofitting private homes, expanding heat pump installation and supporting businesses on their “decarbonization journey.
- Supports clean water infrastructure with an additional $500 million to improve municipal water distribution and wastewater treatment.
Child care
- Provides $100 million in capital grants to incentivize the construction and renovation of child care centers.
State HEAP program re-opens after brief shutdown
New York state’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which helps low-income households pay energy bills, re-opened following a brief shutdown after the federal money allocated ran out two months earlier than forecast.
Gov. Kathy Hochul committed $35 million in state funding to keep the program open through the end of the winter.
Regular HEAP is offered to people based on their household income and the number of people who live there. More than 1.7 million households received benefits from HEAP last winter totaling $397 million.
A person living alone is eligible if they earn $3,322 or less each month. A family of four is eligible if they bring in less than $6,390 each month. The amount of assistance depends on how the applicant’s home is heated.
The program is also available for people who receive food stamps, temporary assistance, or live alone while receiving supplemental security income. Approval is ultimately up to the state.
A different benefit program, Emergency HEAP, also continues to take applications. The state has money for that program, but conditions for eligibility are narrower. Emergency HEAP is used for electricity to heat the home, people who have run out of fuel or are close to running out, or have had their services shut off or threatened to be turned off for lack of payment. The amount available for a household also depends on how the home is heated.
More than 1.3 million New York households hadn’t paid energy bills for more than 60 days as of December, according to the state Department of Public Service. More than 462,000 households also received a final termination notice that month from energy providers. That adds up to more than $1.8 billion in unpaid bills, according to the agency.
Applications can be submitted to the state on the website of the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance or in person at each county’s social services agency.
Firefighters’ Winter Windows contest winners
Peekskill Professional Firefighters Local 2343 presented the winners of its Winter Wonderland Art Contest with their prizes.
Students from the Advanced Art programs at Peekskill High School spent a day at the firehouse to decorate windows for the annual contest. The students painted winter scenes on clear panels attached to windows. The artwork may be seen from Main Street.
Arianna Jones, Dulce Guevara Carrion, Dianelis Alvarez Marroquin, and Lissandra Sanchez Benalcazar all received a sweatshirt and gift card for having the winning window as voted by the public.
The firefighters are looking forward to continuing this tradition next year.
City recognizes Getter for dedication, service to city
After 26 years of service, City of Peekskill employee Rhonda Getter is moving to a new opportunity. But not before first being recognized for her dedication and service to the community at last week’s Common Council meeting.
Mayor Vivian McKenzie presented a proclamation, saying Getter demonstrated “unwavering commitment and exemplary performance in various roles as food service helper, intermediate clerk and recreation assistant.”
Her dedication to Peekskill seniors significantly contributed to the success of the city’s Senior Nutrition Program and positively impacted how the city delivers services to the senior population, McKenzie said.
– By Eric Harvey
District board agenda lists seven teachers retiring
Seven teachers from the Peekskill City School District system are retiring at the end of the current school year.
- Mark Andujar, social studies teacher, Peekskill High School
- Stephanie Garcia-Antonio, dual language elementary teacher, Woodside Elementary School
- Lisa Norton, mathematics teacher, Peekskill High School
- Rita Rosa, pre-kindergarten teacher, Uriah Hill Elementary School
- Frank Cancro, English teacher (Grade 6), Peekskill Middle School
- Timothy Murphy, physical education teacher, Oakside Elementary School
- Richard Flacinski, science teacher, Peekskill High School.
Blind Tiger Improv invites actors to the stage in Peekskill
Blind Tiger Improv recently began its second full year of shows at Hudson Valley Books for Humanity in Ossining. At this show, they debuted new teams and players to the audience.
Blind Tiger’s mission is to create a space where everyone, regardless of background or experience, can explore the art of improvisation.
In November 2023, they began playing at Hudson Valley Books for Humanity in Ossining, making it the home for their monthly Mainstage shows in 2024. Blind Tiger continues to perform at other venues across the Hudson Valley, including Side Stage shows every other month at the Artist Spot in Peekskill.
Blind Tiger offers multi-week classes and drop-in workshops, training many people in the art of improv. After every Mainstage show is The Mixer, where audience members can sign up to play in a scene with one of the ensemble members.
Monthly shows happen on the second Saturday of every month at 8 p.m. at Hudson Valley Books for Humanity with Monthly Drop-Ins on the last Sunday of every month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Antonia Arts/The Artist Spot, 925 South St. in Peekskill.
Last call at another brew pub in Northern Westchester
A year and a half after Peekskill’s own brew pub closed its doors for good, another restaurant and beer-brewing spot in Northern Westchester has gone out of business.
Argonne Rose Brewing Company in Mohegan Lake is closing on Feb. 9. Argonne opened in December 2022 replacing The Winery at St. George in the building, formerly home to St. George’s Church with its beamed ceilings, stained glass windows, a bar made out of two pews and majestic chandeliers.
Peekskill Brewery, formerly located on Water Street, opened in the waterfront neighborhood 17 years ago, a pioneer in Peekskill’s entertainment scene and an integral component of the community. The first craft beer company in Northern Westchester, they began in a small space on Railroad Avenue and expanded across the block to the Water Street facility.
Peekskill Brewery closed for good in November 2023. Several potential tenants have looked at the property, including one that would have featured axe-throwing, but the building remains empty.
Peekskill is home to River Outpost Brewing Company at Charles Point with a variety of beers made with unique recipes and brewed onsite in Peekskill along with live musical entertainment.
On an Instagram post, the owners of Argonne Rose Brewing Company wrote “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure. From the beginning our goal was to create a space where great food, drinks and community came together through events and live music — and we are proud to have achieved that.
“A huge thank you to the amazing team we’ve had the privilege of working with … A special thank you to the New York/Westchester brewing community for being such a welcoming, supportive and amazing group.”
Peekskill Police calls Jan. 20 to Jan. 26
Peekskill Police responded to over 850 calls during the period from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26. Here are some of those calls.
JAN. 20: Unwanted party at 11:54 a.m. on Main Street; person down at 2:23 p.m. on North Division Street; domestic at 3:22 p.m. on Main Street; medical at 3:37 p.m. on Crompond Road, 4:04 p.m. on Nelson Avenue and 4:14 p.m. at Hudson Valley Hospital; officer is dispatched for investigation at 6:57 p.m. on Nelson Avenue; harassment at 11:37 p.m. on Nelson Avenue.
JAN. 21: Check of a specific area as a result of community complaints at 12:55 a.m. on Hudson Avenue, 1 a.m. and 1:02 a.m. on John Walsh Boulevard, 1:33 a.m. through 2:20 a.m. on Railroad Avenue, Welcher Avenue, Main Street, Washington Street, Brown Street and Highland Avenue; police investigation at 4:40 a.m. on Franklin Street; unwanted party at 6:40 a.m. at Waterview Estates; vehicle booted at 10:01 a.m. on South Division Street; larceny at 2:27 p.m. on Spring Meadow Lane; police investigation from 7:04 p.m. through 7:27 p.m. on Water Street, Hudson Avenue, Railroad Avenue, John Walsh Boulevard, Highland Avenue and Diven Street.
JAN. 22: Police investigations from 12:58 a.m. through 1:56 a.m. at John Walsh Boulevard, Welcher Avenue, Washington Street, Main Street, Robin Drive, Chapel Hill Drive, North Division Street, Riverview Avenue and Maple Avenue; traffic stop at 1:36 a.m. on Park Street, 2:02 a.m. on Elm Street and 2:18 a.m. on Main Street; altercation at 5:23 a.m. on Old Bay Street; leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident 8:45 a.m. on Park Street; internal affairs investigation at 2 p.m. at Police Headquarters; harassment at 5:25 p.m. on Nelson Avenue; larceny, motor vehicle break-in at 9:32 p.m. on South Street, 9:37 p.m. on Central Avenue and 11:01 p.m. on Hudson Avenue.
JAN. 23: Suspicious activity at 1:10 a.m. on Washington Street; check of a specific area as a result of community complaints from 12:30 a.m. through 6:03 a.m. on South Division Street, North Division Street, Washington Street, Shenandoah Avenue, Franklin Street, Roosevelt Avenue, Smith Street, Hudson Avenue, Highland Avenue, Main Street, Elm Street, Ringgold Street, Park Street and Union Avenue, Welcher Avenue, John Walsh Boulevard, Requa Street and Depew Street; vehicle booted at 9:27 a.m. on Nelson Avenue; suspicious activity at 11:29 a.m. on Main Street; welfare check at 2:11 p.m. on Main Street; intoxicated person at 3:59 p.m. on South Street; domestic at 8:09 p.m. on Smith Street.
JAN. 24: Vehicle and traffic law enforcement at a specific location as a result of community complaints from 5:58 a.m. to 6:58 a.m. at Railroad Avenue, Benefield Avenue North Division Street and Orchard Street; follow-up investigation at 10:35 a.m. on Paulding Street; leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident at 11:12 a.m. on Highridge Court; subpoena service at 11:39 a.m. and 11:54 a.m. on Park Street; emotionally disturbed person at 2:59 p.m. on Hudson Avenue; person down at 4:37 p.m. on Brown Street; harassment at 9:12 p.m. on Welcher Avenue.
JAN. 25: Fire at 12:11 a.m. on Main Street; unwanted party at 12:15 a.m. on South Division Street; dispute at 3:06 a.m. on North Division Street; traffic stop at 9:30 a.m. on North Division Street, 10:02 a.m. on Railroad Avenue and 12:49 p.m. on Main Street; missing person at 1:44 p.m. on Nelson Avenue; motor vehicle accident with personal injury on Constant Avenue; fire at 5:12 p.m. on Depew Street; traffic stops from 4:34 p.m. to 5:57 p.m. at Depew Street, Highland Avenue, Dyckman Street, Park Street, Welcher Avenue, South Street, Route 9 and Central Avenue; subpoena service at 6:05 p.m. on Depew Street and 6:11 p.m. on Elm Street.
JAN. 26: Traffic stops from 12:16 a.m. to 7:11 a.m. at Brown Street, Main Street, Bear Mountain Parkway, Depew Street, Highland Avenue, South Street, Phoenix Avenue, Highland Avenue and Brooke Hollow Lane; foot patrols from 11:26 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. on Main Street; medical at 5:27 p.m. on Nelson Avenue; emotionally disturbed person at 6:44 p.m. on Crompond Road; larceny at 6:51 p.m. on Main Street; domestic at 8:01 p.m. on Elm Street; motor vehicle accident with property damage at 8:46 p.m. on Ridge Street.
