CITY
Valley Greens Named Best Cannabis Dispensary in County
Valley Greens in the City of Peekskill has been named ”Best of 2025” for the Dispensary category by Westchester Magazine. All the winners are announced in the magazine’s July 2025 issue.
Valley Greens, Peekskill’s first cannabis dispensary, opened at 939 Central Avenue on August 24, 2024. The annual Best of Westchester awards published by the magazine are based on the votes of its readers.
Shane Jackson, one of Valley Green’s owners, said the dispensary has marked the win with a large decal on its window.
“It feels great, especially because it’s the first time that it’s a category,” Jackson told the Peekskill Herald. “Dispensaries are rather new things, so we’re the first dispensary to win best in Westchester. This is when a lot of eyes are on the industry, so winning now is crucial. We’re happy to win in Peekskill.”
Jackson said awards typically lead to an uptick in sales and traffic, and he’s hopeful their award will do the same.
“There’s a lot of talk, you see the forums of Peekskill and stuff like that of people kind of upset with the number of dispensaries and things coming to town,” Jackson said. “We just want to show that there’s also some good in the cannabis industry, and that Valley Greens — the first one to open [in Peekskill]— is doing pretty well. To get attention from at least the county perspective is something that Peekskill should be proud of.”
Valley Greens was the only recipient in any category from Peekskill this year. A “Best of Westchester Party” will be held on July 23 at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, where awardees will receive plaques commemorating their victory.
Other local winners include businesses in Peekskill’s next-door or nearby neighbors.
Franzoso Contracting of Croton-on-Hudson was awarded best Roofing Company. Best Plumbing Tile & Stone of Yorktown was awarded best Kitchen/Bath/Fixture Store .
Michele Lisa Salon of Cortlandt was awarded best Blowout and also best Colorist, for Michele Piccolo. Le Sel Bridal of Yorktown Heights was awarded best Bridal Shop. Yorktown Stage of Yorktown Heights was awarded best Family Theater. — Eric Harvey
Neighbors Celebrate Couple’s 95th Birthdays
Neighbors at the Fort Hill apartment complex gathered on June 18 for a surprise birthday party for Dr. James Bash and Mary Bash, who are celebrating their 95th birthdays in the next two weeks. The couple have lived at the apartments off John Street for the past seven years. Their daughter Carol said she’s observed some takeaways about growing old gracefully from watching her parents.
“Never stop meeting people, have a sense of humor, be positive, give thanks by counting blessings and be kind.” Carol and her sister Pam, who was present remotely, joined about a dozen residents of the building to celebrate the milestone birthdays of the couple.
Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie was present to read a proclamation from the city recognizing their contributions to the community. Dr. Bash was the first African American anesthesiologist to practice in the area, eventually retiring in 2022. He and his wife Mary were involved in the founding of the Jeannette Phillips Health Center (now SunRiver Health), St. Peter’s Espisopal Church and the NAACP. Before the guests enjoyed ice cream cake and coffee, there were jokes about Dr. Bash putting a lot of people to sleep and Mary being the Amazon package delivery person in the building. — Regina Clarkin
914 Plays Opens in Peekskill
On June 15, families and city officials gathered at 2B John Walsh Boulevard in Peekskill to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for a new business,: 914 Plays.
Tucked behind the Holiday Inn Express, 914 Plays is a sensory play space offering “Parent and Me” playgroups designed to support children’s developmental milestones while nurturing their creativity.
Founded by Jasmine Scott – a former kindergarten teacher and developmental evaluator with over a decade of experience in early childhood education – 914 Plays was inspired by her deep belief in the power of purposeful play. As stated on the business’s website, “Every child deserves a space to explore, create, and discover the world around them.”
At the heart of the experience are 45-minute sensory classes held weekly. According to Scott, each session introduces a new theme and features six thoughtfully designed sensory stations. Currently, classes are offered on Sundays, but Scott shared at the ribbon-cutting that weekday sessions and special pop-up events will be added this summer. Those interested in booking a class or learning more can visit 914plays.com. — Jeffrey Merchan
State of Emergency Declared in Peekskill Due to Excessive Heat
The acting city manager declared a State of Emergency for the city on Monday, June 23, due to the excessive heat. The city said it will be working with county, state, and federal emergency agencies to respond to the needs of residents.
In anticipation of this week’s heat wave, the City of Peekskill’s cooling center policy will be in effect starting on Monday, June 23rd through Friday, June 27 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the Neighborhood Center Dining Room, with free wi-fi for anyone seeking an air-conditioned environment. The library will be open during normal hours, and the City Office of Emergency Management will be checking that the senior apartment building managers are also taking appropriate measures.
TOWN OF CORTLANDT
Top Students Honored at Cortlandt Town Board Meeting
The valedictorians and salutatorians from three of the school districts in Cortlandt attended the June 10 Town Board meeting. The students are an outstanding example of all that can be accomplished with hard work and dedication. Wishing them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.
Croton Harmon High School – Sonia Mukherjee, valedictorian; Ava Andrews, salutatorian. Walter Panas High School – Tova Jean Louis, valedictorian; Ronak Kumar Das, salutatorian. Hendrick Hudson High School – Catherine Wright, valedictorian; Simon Eichenholtz, salutatorian. Lakeland High School – Lara Villard, valedictorian; Adam Schaff, salutatorian.
Dr. William X. Toro Named New Principal of Blue Mountain Middle School
The Hendrick Hudson School District recently announced the appointment of Dr. William Toro as the next principal of Blue Mountain Middle School. His selection was formally approved at the district’s Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, June 18, held at Blue Mountain Middle School library. Dr. Toro will succeed current principal Anthony Giovinazzi, who will retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year.
According to a press release by the district, Dr. Toro arrives at Hendrick Hudson with more than 15 years of experience in education. He most recently served as assistant principal at Peekskill Middle School and Peekskill High School for seven years.
Dr. Toro holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Saint Joseph’s University, a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Stony Brook University, and a Doctorate in Educational Learning from St. John’s University.
“Dr Toro brings a strong, student-centered vision to Blue Mountain Middle School, one rooted in his own powerful journey through education,” said Hendrick Hudson Superintendent of Schools Michael Tromblee. “His commitment to thoughtful and collaborative leadership style; and his track record of working closely with staff to enhance supports and enrichment opportunities, make him an ideal fit for our school community. We are excited to welcome him to the Hendrick Hudson team.”
According to district documents, Dr. Toro’s appointment will take effect on July 1, 2025. He will earn an annual salary of $190,000. — Jeffrey Merchan
Children’s Village Starts Summertime Backpack Campaign
The Children’s Village has launched its annual backpack initiative, aiming to fill over 2,000 backpacks with essential school supplies and empower youth with the tools necessary to achieve their educational goals.
“All students deserve to walk into school on day one feeling prepared and confident,” said Jeremy Kohomban, president and CEO of The Children’s Village. “Our friends and donors look forward to providing 2,000 beautiful backpacks so we can deliver them with one clear message: that we believe in every student’s potential to succeed.”
The campaign offers multiple ways for people to get involved and directly impact the lives of children and families:
Shop on CV’s Amazon Registry: Visit CV’s page HERE to purchase school supplies directly, making it easy and convenient to support the cause.
Make a Financial Donation: Generous financial contributions go a long way in providing essential school supplies. Visit CV’s donation page HERE to learn more and donate.
Host a Supply Drive: Rally friends, family, or coworkers to join the cause by hosting a supply drive. CV will provide support every step of the way to ensure a drive is successful.
Contributions are requested by August 20 to ensure all items are delivered in time for the upcoming school year.
The Children’s Village is committed to the wellbeing of children, teens, and families by advocating for, strengthening, and reuniting families; building community partnerships; creating innovative programs; and connecting people to resources.
