CITY

Peekskill Man Allegedly Stabbed by Uncle During Dispute in Cortlandt

Police say that a Peekskill man was stabbed by his uncle during a dispute in the Town of Cortlandt in June. 

On Sunday, June 15, at about 3 a.m., troopers from the New York State Police Cortlandt Barracks were dispatched to a Sunoco Gas Station in the City of Peekskill for a report of a stabbing that had occurred in the Town of Cortlandt.

Upon arrival, troopers interviewed the victim and caller, Carlos Tarma Quinde, 35, of Peekskill. Tarma Quinde reported that while visiting a private residence on Beverly Road in the Town of Cortlandt, he became involved in a physical altercation, during which he was stabbed. 

Following an investigation conducted by Uniformed Troopers and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the suspect was identified as Arsenio Coronel-Espinoza, 47, of Cortlandt Manor, reportedly the victim’s uncle.

In a press release on Thursday, August 7, New York State Police stated that investigators determined that Coronel-Espinoza stabbed Tarma Quinde with a kitchen knife during the altercation.

Coronel-Espinoza was arrested on June 15 and charged with the following offenses: assault in the second degree — intent to cause physical injury with weapon/instrument (class D felony); and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon — previous conviction (class D felony).

Coronel-Espinoza was arraigned in the Town of Cortlandt Court and released on his own recognizance.

School Board Enacts Cell Phone Policy Starting September 1

The Peekskill School District Board of Education has adopted its new policy on cell phone usage in all its buildings for the 2025-26 school year.

At the elementary school (pre-K to grade 5) level, internet-enabled devices may not be brought to school. At the middle school level, students must place their cell phones in their lockers. And at the high school level, students must place their cell phones in their lockers or in a classroom wall pouch.

“I’ll prepare everyone that September is going to be a little bit of a challenge,” said District Superintendent Dr. David Mauricio. “It will be a difficult start because people have been so used to having the cell phone in the morning and all throughout the day. It’s going to be difficult for adolescents to disconnect for seven hours.”

Board member Branwen MacDonald said the new policy is somewhat more restrictive than the board might have preferred but is necessary to comply with the state law.

The newly enacted state school education law §2803 requires each school district adopt a policy restricting the use of “internet-enabled devices” during the entire school day on school grounds.

During the school day, parents who need to communicate with their child are asked to call the school’s main office phone number for urgent matters. A student who needs to speak to their parents may go to an office to request permission. 

$100K Grant to Support Downtown Revitalization Initiative Projects

The City of Peekskill will be receiving $100,000 in discretionary grant funding to help support the Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects.

On August 4, State Senator Pete Harckham announced that $2.1 million in discretionary grant funding is heading to local municipalities to help initiate and complete important projects and upgrades related to their public space.

Each municipality in the 40th Senate District is receiving $100,000 in grants, and the funding will be focused on parks, playgrounds, municipal buildings and parking areas, ADA compliance, sidewalks, and promenades.

Harckham announced the public space grants at a press conference held at the Elephant Hotel and was joined by a bipartisan group of 16 local elected leaders, including City of Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie.

“The city will use the $100,000 in funding for creating new pedestrian and place-making amenities [to enhance functionality of public spaces]  in our downtown and/or riverfront to support its Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects,” McKenzie said in a release. 

She continued, “We are grateful for this funding to allow the city to leverage considerable investments funded by our federal, state, and county partners and to deliver a safe place for Peekskill residents and visitors.”

In addition to Peekskill, the Town of Cortlandt will be receiving $100,000 to assist with various infrastructure projects and help the town to “grow and prosper,” Town Supervisor Dr. Richard Becker said in a release.

“This revenue will allow the town to select from several ‘shovel-ready’ projects, potentially allowing renovation of a camp building at the Cook Pool, new welcoming signage at the Annsville Circle — the gateway to Cortlandt — and electronic event signage near the Cortlandt Town Center,” Becker said.

In a release, Harckham said that although people hear a lot about things happening at the federal level, it is at the local level where governments most impact the lives of residents.

“Today, our local officials are facing a number of competing challenges and priorities, which is why our partnerships with them are so vital,” Harckham said. “Knowing that too often state grants are competitive, with many municipalities left out of the queue, I am pleased to be able to fund ongoing and planned public spaces initiatives around Senate District 40. These grants will make a real difference for these municipalities while also helping to ease the property tax burdens as well.”

– Eric Harvey

Peekskill Woman Arrested Following Domestic Assault in Cortlandt

New York State Police announced on August 7 that a Peekskill woman was arrested following a domestic assault in the Town of Cortlandt in June.

On June 24, at about 6:05 p.m., troopers from the New State Police Cortlandt barracks responded to a report of a domestic assault at a private residence on Reynolds Lane in the Town of Cortlandt.

After an investigation by responding troopers and members of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, it was determined that Amillyon Allen, 19, of Peekskill, had struck her boyfriend in the face with both a rock and a cell phone following a verbal dispute, according to police. The victim sustained facial injuries as a result of the incident.

Allen was arrested on June 25 and charged with the following offenses: assault in the second degree — intent to cause physical injury with a weapon or dangerous instrument (class D felony); and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree — intent to use (class A misdemeanor).

Allen was arraigned before the Town of Cortlandt and released on her own recognizance.

State Police Seeking to Arrest Two Men Known to Frequent Peekskill

The Wappinger Bureau of Criminal Investigation is actively searching for two men known to frequent the City of Peekskill, New York State Police announced on social media on Friday, August 8.

Gerson Miranda, AKA Jose Angel Marroquin Hernandez, and Juan Luis Bay are wanted by state police on several warrants for driving while intoxicated, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and falsifying business records.

Anyone with information relative to their whereabouts are requested to contact Troop K Communications, (845) 677-7300, or SP Wappinger, (845) 298-0952. All sources will remain confidential, according to police.

Peekskill Stadium Back in Operation After Repairs

It’s “Play Ball” again at the city’s baseball field on Louisa Street.

Peekskill Stadium had drainage issues in the summer and fall of 2023. During the spring and summer of 2024, the field repair project was undertaken, adding a new drainage system to what was existing in the original construction of the field. 

This spring, Peekskill varsity baseball was back to hosting games on their home field. The field has been full most days and nights of the week. The City’s Parks maintenance staff has been doing a “great job maintaining and grooming it,” said Peekskill City Manager Matt Alexander.  

The stadium, opened in July of 2004, is built on a former dumpsite. When constructed, a drainage system was built for the infield but not the outfield. As a result, water remained in the outfield, requiring repairs this past year. 

The repairs couldn’t be made to salvage this year’s games, so the Peekskill High School baseball team played at Torpy Field and two men’s leagues had to find other homes this summer.

The city hired Jablko Construction of Katonah to install underdrains in the outfield to fix the problem at a cost of $19,500. 

Firefighter Mike Viggiano Retires

The City of Peekskill congratulated Firefighter Mike Viggiano on his recent retirement in its August newsletter.

“Firefighter Viggiano had a distinguished career and was known for his dedication, keeping spirits high, and making the firehouse feel more like home,” the city stated. “Thank you for all that you have done for our community, and we wish you the best as you begin a new chapter.”

In a social media post on July 25, the Peekskill Professional Firefighters Local 2343 congratulated Viggiano on his retirement after a distinguished career of service and dedication.

“Mike is not just a dependable firefighter — he is the heart of the firehouse, always quick with a joke and known for keeping spirits high during even the toughest shifts,” the local 2343 stated. “Whether it’s cracking jokes around the table or showing up with a box of Flying Saucer ice creams, Mike brings humor and light to the job every single day. His presence makes long tours feel a little shorter and the firehouse more like home.”

They continued, “As you hang up your gear and close this chapter, know that your impact will not be forgotten. We thank you for your service, brother. Enjoy the next chapter — you’ve more than earned it. Like Dat!”

COUNTY

Board Approves $158.8M Budget for Westchester Community College

The Westchester County Board of Legislators has adopted the SUNY Westchester Community College (WCC) 2025–26 budget, which includes $158.8 million in total funding, a more than 10% increase over the prior year, to strengthen student services, academic offerings, and campus facilities.

The budget includes $127.5 million in operating funds and $31.3 million in capital investments, with a notable increase in the County Sponsor Contribution to $26.2 million, up $350,000 from last year. The 2025–26 fiscal year begins September 1, 2025, and runs through August 31, 2026.

The budget is funded by student tuition ($51.9M), state aid ($30.5M), county sponsor contribution ($26.2M), and additional revenue sources, including departmental income, chargebacks, fund balance, and investment interest totaling approximately $18.9M.

Westchester Community College is a public two-year institution that serves 13,000 students across more than 70 degree and certificate programs each year. WCC offers transfer programs, career training, continuing education, and workforce development for students across Westchester County and the surrounding region.

Board Approves County Fight Against NYSEG’S “Steep” Rate Hikes

The Westchester County Board of Legislators voted unanimously to advocate for Northern Westchester residents against “substantial” rate increases recently proposed by New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG).

The bipartisan decision authorized the county to join NYSEG’s rate proceedings before the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates the utility.

In a press release dated August 5, the board stated the action continues its efforts to challenge the utility rate increases that they say burdens residents and safeguards access to affordable electricity and gas for working families, older adults, and small-business owners.

According to the release, on June 30, NYSEG proposed rate increases that would raise residential utility bills by an average of 23.7% for electricity and 33.5% for gas, starting May 2026.

By obtaining party status in the rate case, the county gains legal standing to conduct discovery, submit testimony, and participate in hearings to advocate for residents.

In a statement, Democratic Legislator Colin Smith, who represents Cortlandt, Peekskill, and Yorktown, said the members of the board are joining NYSEG’s rate case to stand up for residents and businesses.

“Westchester ratepayers deserve reliable service and fair pricing, not repeated outages, billing problems, and steep increases,” Smith said. “We’re taking this step to hold NYSEG accountable and ensure our communities are not left in the dark, literally or financially.”

The PSC will determine final rates after a months-long administrative process, according to the board. Public input sessions will be held by the board in Northern Westchester Municipalities in NYSEG’s coverage area, giving residents the opportunity to share their experiences and submit comments for the public record in NYSEG’s rate case before the PSC.

County Seeking Nominations for 43rd Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins has opened nominations for the 43rd Annual Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, a press release announced on August 6.

“It’s a great honor to kick off the nomination process for the 43rd Annual Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame,” Jenkins said. “This treasured tradition allows us to recognize the remarkable seniors who continue to make a lasting impact across our communities.”

Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services Mae Carpenter said the hall of fame shines a light on individuals whose dedication has helped build a better Westchester.

To be nominated, a person must:

• be at least 60 years old or older, live in Westchester, and not be a past Hall of Fame inductee (a list of past honorees may be found online here);
• have made significant contributions to improving life in Westchester County;
• be an outstanding leader or advocate; and
• have done professional work that reflects innovative solutions to fulfill unmet community needs (if a nomination is based on paid professional work).

Nominations are due by Wednesday, Sept.ember 10, 2025, and will be reviewed by a judging committee. To download and complete a nomination, click here. 

This year’s Senior Citizens Hall of Fame will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Westchester Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown. The Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS), Westchester County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation, and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services will be hosting this celebration, which will include an induction ceremony and a festive luncheon. 

HVAC, Power Washing Companies Must Have County License

All HVAC professionals and power washing operators in Westchester County must now be licensed through the County’s Department of Consumer Protection. 

“These new legal requirements help us prevent bad actors from taking unfair advantage of homeowners and give our inspectors better tools to protect the rights of consumers,” said County Director of Consumer Protection Jim Maisano.

The new legislation passed unanimously by the Westchester County Board of Legislators and was signed into law in June.

To operate legally in Westchester County, all home improvement contractors must complete the licensing process as set forth in the Westchester County Consumer Protection Code. The necessary requirements can be found on the Department’s website: Consumer.WestchesterGov.com.

The licensing requirement is part of a larger overhaul of Westchester’s Consumer Protection Code, which also includes enhanced enforcement through stronger legal standards to combat abusive and unfair actions by contractors, as well as increased penalties to hold contractors accountable for law violations. 

STATE

Police Issue Warning to Be Cautious of Pop-Up Alerts on Your Computer

The New York State Police are warning the public to be cautious of pop-up alerts on their computers after receiving an increasing number of complaints from victims of computer and phone scams. Most recently, several citizens have been targeted in the Otsego County area.

In a press release on August 6, state police said:

“Troopers have learned that several victims have lost thousands of dollars and some have even lost their life savings.

“A victim recently reported to investigators in Sidney that they got a pop-up alert on their computer monitor and it appeared to be from Apple. The pop-up message appeared with a phone number to dial for help. When the victim called it, the scammer on the other end told the victim that their account was linked to child pornography, that the victim’s identity was compromised, and that their personal information was on the dark web. The victim was then told to contact another number, which was allegedly to the U.S Department of Treasury’s Anti-Fraud Division. The scammers even sent a “courier” to the victim’s house to pick up payment to allegedly fix the problem.

“Please do not fall for these scams. The scammer is trying to manipulate your emotions and create urgency to push you into giving them money, gold bars, bitcoin, crypto currency, or gift cards. A real tech company will never ask you to call a phone number. Please do not share your personal information.”