CITY

Settlement Trial in Default Judgment Set for February 2026

Finding out how much Peekskill taxpayers will pay to settle a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city may have to wait until well into 2026, according to a recent court filing.

Brian Raphael, a former assistant water and sewer superintendent, was terminated in September 2021 because he “failed[ed] to follow a directive of [the] water and sewer superintendent to physically supervise [an] on-site contractor,” according to court papers. 

In his lawsuit against the city, Raphael’s attorneys allege that he was wrongfully fired because he made constant complaints about what he called unsafe conditions that Public Works employees had to endure. Matters came to a head in August of 2021 when Raphael reported the alleged safety violations to the New York state Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) department.

Former Peekskill Corporation Counsel Tim Kramer failed to respond to the lawsuit in a timely manner, leading to a default judgment against the city. The city appealed that judgment and won, but Raphael’s attorney won a reversal in the state appellate court.

A settlement offer began with Raphael demanding $6 million, but now the chance of making a deal with the city seems unlikely. The new court filing states that the case is now headed to trial to determine a settlement amount with a jury selection date of February 3, 2026.

“I’ve been waiting since March of 2024 for the city to respond. They didn’t until July 15 of this year where they refused to make a settlement offer,” said Peter Wessel, Raphael’s attorney. “So we’ve retracted our settlement proposal and asked them to make a proposal. We hope that we’ll be able to resolve it, but if we can’t we’re getting ready for a trial.”

Attorneys for Peekskill did not respond to a request for comment. – Jim Roberts

State Senator Pete Harckham Secures $604K for Community Organizations

The City of Peekskill will be receiving $50,000 for workforce training programs for young adults.

State Senator Pete Harckham announced on July 24 that he secured $604,500 in an end-of-year resolution in the State Senate for additional grant funding for important youth workforce training and community programs distributed to 15 different recipients.

“These investments are important to organizations that are providing frontline services to our most vulnerable residents,” Harckham said. “Many of these are nonprofits operating on shoestring budgets and they accomplish so much. I am so glad to have secured this funding because these programs will help empower residents and benefit them in so many ways.”

In addition, $25,000 was secured to Peekskill’s Daisy Jopling Music Mentorship Foundation for operations and programming. Its founder and violinist, Daisy Jopling, showed gratitude for the grant in a press release.

“This grant will be invaluable to our organization and will help us expand our Ovation Strings free afterschool string music lessons for underserved children to Ossining and Mount Kisco,” Jopling said.

Jopling said the foundation has served 7,000 children in the last 14 years, giving them free music lessons, exposure to music, and opportunities to perform with professional musicians on major stages.

“We have seen time and again how these opportunities can transform a child’s life, giving them lifelong learning skills and confidence, and empowering and uplifting not only the children but also their families and communities,” Jopling said.

Another recipient, CURE 100 Inc., which has a Peekskill chapter, will receive $25,000 for educational programming.

The funding was awarded at Harckham’s discretion and came from several areas in the FY2025-2026 State Budget.

Other recipients included Hope’s Door Inc., Neighbors Link Inc., Prevention Council of Putnam Inc., Putnam Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center, WMC Health Network/Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, CAREERS Support Solutions, Rehabilitation Through the Arts, My Brother Vinny Inc., Latino U College Access Inc., STEM Leadership Center Inc., Support Connection Inc., and the Ossining Micro Fund Inc. – Eric Harvey

Child Sexual Abuse Material Case Heading to Superior Court October 16

Brian Mishk, the Yorktown Heights resident and Peekskill High School permanent substitute teacher charged with promoting and possessing child sexual abuse material, is leaving local courts.

After Mishk’s case was adjourned on June 5, it was announced at the Yorktown Justice Court on July 17 that Mishk’s case is being transferred to superior court for felony screening conference on October 16.

Mishk was arrested by the Westchester County District Attorney’s office on May 30 and charged with promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child.

These materials, according to a felony complaint, involved an adult man and female child about three to five years old, as well as a child about seven to ten years old. The alleged crimes occurred in the Town of Yorktown.

Federal court documents dated July 17 state Mishk waives his right to a speedy hearing and to a speedy trial for the period of this adjournment, as well as any subsequent adjournment requested by or consented by Mishk, his attorney, or occasioned by the conduct of Mishk.

In addition, Mishk consents to every further adjournment of the case except to those he specifically objects, either on the record, or in writing filed with the court, on or before the adjournment date.

Mishk had his bail posted in the amount of $15,000 in cash on May 30.

A prosecutor previously said Mishk faces four to seven years of prison time and is considered a flight risk. – Eric Harvey

IDA to Rebid Contracts for Kitchen Incubator Project

Officials from the Peekskill Industrial Development Agency (IDA) expect to go to bid again to build their proposed kitchen incubator at the former firehouse on Washington Street.

Bids opened last week wound up being nearly 50% higher than expected, so the agency will try again with a slightly revised package hoping to draw offers closer to the estimated $6 million cost. The project will convert the 8,000-square-foot building into a 4,500-square-foot space holding five fully equipped and licensed commercial kitchens, complete with stations for preparation, storage, packaging, shipping, and receiving, along with office space.

The project could create 552 skilled culinary jobs, 378 new businesses, and $132 million in total food production over a five-year period, according to the IDA.

Bids on the kitchen equipment and coolers and freezers were acceptable, but the single general contractor bid was not. “The general contractor bid was not remotely within the vicinity including substantial inflation,” said Matthew Rudikoff, executive director of the IDA. Rudikoff said he is optimistic a new round of bids will be closer to estimates allowing the IDA to award the contract and get to work.

The revised bid package is expected to go out in the next few weeks. Officials will reach out to more contractors to try and get better prices.

– Jim Roberts

Rotary Club Seeking Food Trucks and Craft Vendors for Fall Festival

The Rotary Club of Peekskill is calling all food trucks and craft vendors for its fall festival taking place at the Peekskill Riverfront on October 4.

In a social media post, the club said, “If you’re a local maker, artist, or foodie looking to showcase your creations, this is your chance to be part of one of Peekskill’s favorite events.”

The club encouraged those interested not to wait, as spaces are filling fast.

Inquiries can be made to [email protected]. 

Firefighters Extinguish Car Fire in Front of Parking Garage

The City of Peekskill Fire Department extinguished a car fire on Thursday, July 24.

In a social media post, the department said firefighters were dispatched to Central Avenue for a reported car fire, where they found a vehicle parked in front of a parking garage entrance with flames visible underneath.

The department said crews quickly extinguished the fire, minimizing damage to the vehicle and preventing any damage to the building. The fire department returned to service after the vehicle was removed from the scene.

Volunteers Needed at Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps

The Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps (PCVAC) is seeking new volunteers, the organization shared in a social media post on July 20.

The PCVAC is a nonprofit volunteer organization founded in 1964 that provides Emergency Medical Services to the City of Peekskill and a portion of the Town of Cortlandt and the surrounding communities.

The PCVAC responds to over 3,000 calls per year, operating two command vehicles, three BLS (Basic Life Support) ambulances, a special operations truck, and an off-road UTV (utility task vehicle).

No experience is needed. The PCVAC provides all training.

Advertised benefits include:

• Free training, CPR certification and CME credits
• Free EMT courses for qualifying members
• Driving opportunities
• Flexible hours
• State of the art facility, vehicles, and equipment
• A pension-like service award
• A youth program for ages 14 to 17

Those interested in volunteering and joining can go to the PCVAC website and fill out an online application.

Lincoln Postage Stamps Displayed by Local Collector

Historian and collector Rob Kaplan shared his collection of postage stamps featuring Abraham Lincoln at the latest exhibition hosted by the Lincoln Depot Museum on South Water Street. Kaplan’s collection encompasses over 2,000 stamps from around the world that have used Lincoln’s likeness.

Next up at the Lincoln Depot Museum is a discussion about General Gouverneur K. Warren, the Civil War’s “Misunderstood Hero,” presented by historian and former Ardsley Mayor Jay Leon on August 2 at 2 p.m. Warren, who was born in Cold Spring and owned the West Point Foundry, led his troops to victory at Little Round Top, and was then removed from command by General Phil Sheridan.

Wrong Way! Vehicle Towed Away from Admin Building Steps

On Friday, July 25, a driver took an accidental cruise down the pathway connecting Hudson Avenue and Elm Street by way of the Peekskill Administration Building. After passing by the basketball and tennis courts, the vehicle’s course ended in an abrupt stop at the steps, where the car was towed.

TOWN OF CORTLANDT

Cortlandt Extends Contract with Westchester Public Safety

The Town of Cortlandt has extended its contract with the Westchester County Police for another five years through 2029. The town will pay $1.89 million in 2025 with annual increases that rise to $2.2 million in 2029.

Approximately two decades ago, Cortlandt removed its own municipal police force after securing contracts for police personnel with both the State of New York and Westchester County.

In the resolution approving the new contract, the town stated, “The Westchester County Department of Public Safety has done an excellent job … and added a Community Resource Officer and an officer focused on traffic enforcement.”

The arrangement with the state police is different than with the Westchester County Police. The state police have a lease with the town to use the barracks located at Memorial Drive near the Cortlandt train station. The money that is paid to the New York State Police is from state taxes.

The Village of Buchanan, located in the town of Cortlandt, still has its own police force. The village’s 2025-26 budget includes $1,098,391 for total police department expenses, including a chief at $165,887, a sergeant at $139,603, a detective at $134,071, and three patrol officers at $130,166 each. The village also paid $340,000 in police retirement benefits. – Jim Roberts

Man on Parole for 1980 Murder Accused of Groping Woman

A Verplanck man who served 40 years in prison for murder was once again arrested on July 5 after police say he forcibly touched a woman at Cortlandt Dog Park.

Robert McCain, 64, was on parole for the murder of 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky in Rockland County in 1980.

The Westchester County Police Department charged McCain with a misdemeanor forcible touching related to the groping incident. Authorities reportedly said the two involved knew each other and were talking when McCain allegedly groped her.

McCain was charged and arraigned in Cortlandt Town Court and is being held in Westchester County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler criticized the parole board’s decision to release McCain in the first place in a press release dated July 25, stating they should resign.

“This disgraceful and utterly predictable incident highlights precisely why Robert McCain never should have been granted parole,” Lawler said. “As an assemblyman, I led the charge against Robert’s release, demanding the parole board keep this hardened criminal behind bars, but they tragically prioritized pro-criminal ideology over the safety of our community.”

Lawler, a former assemblyman representing portions of Ramapo and Orangetown in Rockland County, previously joined local officials and residents in opposition to McCain’s release in 2021.

“The parole board’s decision to release McCain was irresponsible and reprehensible,” Lawler said. “Their negligence has now created another victim at the hands of this monster, and they need to be held accountable.”

COUNTY

Harriet Tubman Scenic Byway Resolution Passes Unanimously

The Westchester County Board of Legislators passed a resolution supporting the designation of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Scenic Byway on Tuesday, July 22.

In a release, the county stated the proposed 544-mile route across 22 counties honors sites tied to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. 

If adopted by the state, Westchester will partner with neighboring counties to promote heritage programming, boost local tourism, and protect the historic corridor by prohibiting new off-premises outdoor advertising along the route.

The resolution follows a letter of tri-partisan support signed by all 17 legislators in June, demonstrating the board’s commitment to honoring New York’s pivotal role in the fight for freedom, the county stated.

Legislator Colin Smith, a Democratic member who represents Peekskill, Cortlandt, and Yorktown, shared his support in the county’s release:

“As Chair of the Board’s Legislation Committee, I am proud to share that Westchester County’s support for designating this route as a scenic byway helps honor Harriet Tubman’s remarkable contributions while also promoting local tourism and educational opportunities. It’s the kind of initiative that unites communities by celebrating our collective history.”