CITY OF PEEKSKILL
Peekskill Herald Reporter Being Honored by Peekskill Hispanic Community Corp.
Peekskill Herald’s very own Jeffrey Merchan will be honored by the Peekskill Hispanic Community Corp. on Sept. 28.
Merchan, along with six others, will be honored at a fundraising gala dinner at 5 John Walsh Boulevard in a celebration bringing together community leaders, businesses, families, and friends.
General admission for the event is $120. The deadline to purchase tickets is Tuesday, Sept. 16. For more information, email [email protected], call (914) 582-3607, or click here.
Dinora Pacheco, president and cofounder of the Peekskill Hispanic Community Corp. told the Herald the evening honors people who have done a great job in the community throughout the years, including Merchan.
Peekskill native Merchan, 21, is a first-generation American born to Ecuadorian parents. A 2022 graduate of Peekskill High School, Merchan is the lead sports reporter for the Peekskill Herald, a local non-profit digital newspaper. He is currently pursuing a degree in journalism at Westchester Community College and aspires to continue his career as a journalist after graduation.
Merchan began his work with the Peekskill Herald in 2022 as a student journalist during his senior year of high school. Over the past three years, he has reported on a wide range of topics — from city government and schools to personality profiles — and has played a vital role in amplifying the voices of Peekskill’s growing Hispanic community.
Notably, during Hispanic Heritage Month in 2023, he interviewed influential local figures such as Eddie Guiracocha, owner of Peekskill Copy Center; Roy Escober, a local disc jockey; Marilyn Berisiartua of the Beris Allstate Agency; and Evelyn Romero of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services River Towns Real Estate. In 2024, Merchan transitioned to covering high school sports, where he now reports on varsity athletics across both the Peekskill and Hendrick Hudson school districts.
Outside his professional work, Merchan takes pride in his Ecuadorian heritage and in the vibrant diversity of his hometown. He credits his parents — who immigrated to the United States nearly 30 years ago — for instilling in him the values of hard work and perseverance. “They have shown me that if you work hard, nothing is impossible,” he said. Above all, Merchan cherishes his role as a father to his three-year-old daughter, Sophia, and as a partner to his girlfriend, McKenzie.
Peekskill Schools Placed in Lockout Due to Troubling Social Media Post
A concerning social media post led the Peekskill City School District to enact lockout procedures at each of its schools on Tuesday, Sept. 9, prohibiting people from entering or exiting the building.
At Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Mauricio addressed the incident, saying there was no actual threat made against the district. However, a social media account gave the district concern due to its username and the words “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Mauricio said he called Chief of Police Leo Dylewski early in the morning and he had police at each one of the schools during arrival and dismissal.
“We’re making some headway on our investigation, but we do not deem this to be a threat for our students,” Mauricio said. “Again, no actual threat was made. At that time in the morning, we felt that we would be highly cautious.”
Board of Education President Jillian Villon commented that the “threat” was deemed not credible and that the lockout was out of an abundance of caution.
“I want the community to know that we’re putting the safety of our students first and foremost,” Villon said. “I think almost everybody on this board has students in the schools, and we’re worried about them just as much as you are, and we’re definitely putting their safety and everyone else at the forefront of our attention.”
The social media post in question is part of a recent viral TikTok trend in which anonymous individuals record themselves in their city or town purportedly urinating in public spaces, including one user in Peekskill.
Just one day prior to the Peekskill incident, the Hendrick Hudson Central School District also placed all of its district buildings under a lockout protocol on Sept. 8, due to a specific post referencing the Hendrick Hudson High School and a later mention of Furnace Woods Elementary.
“Our district has been made aware of a concerning trend circulating on social media platforms such as TikTok,” Hen Hud said in an email to parents. “The trend involves individuals making threats of urination on school property, sometimes accompanied by threatening written messages.” – Eric Harvey
Peekskill Police Department Responds to Lawsuit from Former Officer
The City of Peekskill Police Department has filed a memorandum and affirmation in support of a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from a former officer against both the PPD and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
Former patrol officer Michael Henderson was decertified by the DCJS after the Peekskill Police Department reported Henderson was removed for cause in Feb. 27. Henderson claims the police department violated the terms of a settlement agreement that led to his departure from the force.
Henderson agreed to resign in a settlement on Feb. 17 after he was caught on Feb. 8 blocking a department security camera and swiping an article of clothing from the women’s locker room to satisfy a “sexual addiction.”
In an affirmation in support of dismissing the case, Peekskill Police Lt. Adam Renwick wrote on Sept. 10 that Henderson’s claim that the department wrongfully reported his resignation from employment was misplaced.
At about the end of February/start of March, Renwick deleted Henderson’s name from the police department’s list of active police officers through a web-based portal, which is used to share information with the DCJS.
Renwick wrote the city was obligated to report the reason for Henderson’s separation of service and to respond to subsequent requests for information and documentation from the DCJS. A memorandum submitted said the department was required by law to respond to questions raised by the DCJS. – Eric Harvey
Community Members Rally in Peekskill Against Proposed Gas Pipelines
Community members, elected officials, and climate activists gathered at Peekskill’s downtown gazebo on Tuesday, Sept. 10, urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject the fracked gas pipeline proposals tied to the Trump administration and backed by the fossil fuel industry.
Protesters chanted “Stop the pipeline, Hochul,” as speakers warned that the projects — the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline (NESE) and an expansion of the Algonquin Gas Transmission system — would increase utility bills and deepen reliance on fossil fuels, causing “irreparable damage” to the environment.
“It is a horrible decision for New York to even consider,” said Melissa Hoffman, Hudson Valley organizer at Food & Water Watch. Hoffman added that more than 130 elected officials across New York have already spoken out against the projects, warning that approving them would cement Hochul’s legacy of siding with polluters over the people she represents.
Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg stressed the broader stakes, telling the crowd, “We need to make sure our planet survives.”
Westchester County legislator Emilijana Ulaj highlighted the financial pressures facing local residents. “I am hearing firsthand how difficult it is for families to afford living in Westchester County,” she said. “Expanding the pipelines is not the way to affordability.”
Speakers urged attendees to call the governor’s office and make their opposition clear. Organizers also announced a march scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. at Charles Point Park to continue pressuring Hochul to block the pipeline projects. – Mya Guardino
School District Welcomes Two Student Board Members
The Peekskill City School District Board of Education held a swearing-in ceremony for two new student board members at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Peekskill High School students Thalia Martin and Ella Morel joined the board as student representatives, Martin as the ex-officio student board member and Morel as the alternate student board member.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Mauricio said both students will join a virtual training as student board members next week, as well as an in-person full-day training hosted by the Westchester Putnam School Board Association.
Martin is a senior, the treasurer for the class of 2026, and a member of six honor societies and seven clubs. Outside of academics, she loves spending time with family, reading, and watching sports.
“I am honored to become a member of this board to represent the perspective of the student body on issues and upcoming events to continue the incredible legacy of our school district,” Martin said.
Morel is a junior, the treasurer of the student council, and a mentor for a girls empowerment group through New Era Creative Space. She hopes to go to school for public policy and lawmaking.
“I find that this will really help me [to] build my future career,” Morel said. “I am so honored to be part of this board because I’ve been in Peekskill my entire life. It’s been wonderful to see how it’s grown, especially under Dr. Mauricio’s leadership. I truly hope to make a difference being on this board for my fellow peers.”
Board members welcomed the new student representatives and encouraged them to share their input at meetings.
“We would love input from the students and also to have this be a continual conservation, to make sure that this position is not beneficial just for the board members but also for the student body, and that they really feel heard,” said board president Jillian Villon.
She continued, “So if you all have opinions, if the students at the high school have opinions, if you have any ideas, we really do want to solidify a situation in which you feel like your voice is truly heard.”
In September 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law a bill requiring every school district and Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in the state to have at least one ex-officio student representative. – Eric Harvey
Peekskill Fire Department Moves to Clean Energy Equipment
The City of Peekskill Fire Department is receiving State Senate funding to purchase an array of new battery-operated emergency equipment to replace old and obsolete gasoline-powered equipment, a press release from state Sen. Pete Harckham’s office announced Sept. 9.
The purchase is part of the department’s mission to modernize its firefighting operations and lessen harmful emissions while realizing cost savings on fuel use. The total cost of equipment is $52,788.
The new equipment includes hydraulic rescue tools, thermal cameras, portable scene lighting, high-speed ventilation fans, and rechargeable lithium battery units, all of which will be purchased with a $50,000 grant Harckham secured through the Senate’s Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) program).
“Firefighters and first responders require up-to-date equipment that helps ensure their rapid response and deployment during emergencies,” Harckham said. “The fact that the Peekskill Fire Department has chosen to replace its old and non-complaint equipment that relied on fossil fuel-powered generators and compressors with battery-operated equipment shows that its leadership is focused on protecting residents and the environment while also providing a safer and healthier workplace for firefighters.”
Fire Department Chief James Seymour said the modernized battery-operated equipment will be utilized during on-scene emergency operations.
“Not only will this equipment provide our firefighters with some of the most advanced technology in the industry, it also reduces emissions by replacing older more obsolete gas-powered equipment,” Seymour said. “Most importantly, it improves the on-scene safety of our members and the public.”
He noted that the “jaws of life” vehicle extrication equipment includes high-powered shears to cut through metal and a hydraulic spreader with two arms to create or widen an opening into a vehicle. Thermal imaging cameras will give firefighters the ability to visually penetrate smoke and superheated gases as they search for the seat of the fire and unaccounted people trapped by fire.
DPW Superintendent and City Engineer Positions Being Separated
A month after Christopher Gross left his combined positions as City Engineer and Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent, the City of Peekskill is looking to divide the roles into separate positions.
At Monday’s Sept. 8 council meeting, City Manager Matthew Alexander said he believed splitting the positions would allow the DPW superintendent to focus on what’s right in front of them and take care of streets and infrastructure.
The Common Council unanimously passed a resolution to appoint architectural design firm CPL as the city engineer, effective immediately, through Dec. 31, 2025.
CPL’s billing rates for 2025 are $205 per hour for the project manager and $170 per hour for the senior engineer civil/structural. The Common Council passed a resolution on Jan. 6 to authorize an agreement with CPL for the 2025 calendar year to support the DPW.
Alexander previously announced at the Aug. 18 council meeting that DPW general foreman Mark Fetzer was appointed as acting DPW superintendent.
A list of other resolutions passed Monday night can be viewed here. – Eric Harvey
Pop-Up Community Shop Hosting Fall Shopping Experience Sept. 19
Mend by Me, the pop-up community shop, is hosting its fall shopping experience at the Elks Lodge at 1038 Brown Street on Friday, Sept. 19, from 3:30 to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Founded by Johanna Reed in 2019, the free community closet offers clothing, shoes, and textiles for those who could use them. The organization is run by and staffed with volunteers who embody the spirit of kindness, compassion, and humility, as the motto for Mend by Me states.
TOWN OF CORTLANDT
Indian Point Decommissioning Oversight Meeting Sept. 25
The Indian Point Decommissioning Oversight Board will be meeting on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Town of Cortlandt Town Hall at 1 Heady Street.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting live or virtually. Topics to be discussed at the September 2025 meeting will include presentations and updates regarding the decommissioning of Indian Point.
Any person wishing to deliver a statement during the meeting must pre-register by noon on Sept. 23. Any person who plans to attend the meeting but does not wish to deliver a statement is asked, but not required, to pre-register to inform meeting hosts of seating capacity needs.
For more information, click here.
