CITY OF PEEKSKILL

2024 Audit Financial Statement Highlights

The City of Peekskill has a significant bucket of money in a restricted category, a certified public accountant told the Common Council during a 2024 audit financial statement presentation on Jan. 5.

Jeffrey Shaver, a partner with PKF O’Connor Davies, said the city had about $5.6 million in excess over the debt service payments it needed to make for the firehouse building fund, as of Dec. 31, 2024.

Shaver added that when Peekskill enacted a 1% transfer tax years ago, it was restricted to only be used for the fire house building fund, budgeted at $900,000. There was a revenue of $1,249,420 for real estate transfer tax in 2024 according to the presentation, $349,420 more than was budgeted.

Shaver said he spoke to the comptroller about using the excess money, currently tied up in restricted funds, for repairs and maintenance at the firehouse building, in addition to debt service.

Other reports from the presentation included revenues being $2,127,841 higher than budgeted and expenditures being $338,559 lower than budgeted. Major general fund revenues primarily came from real property taxes at $18,667,521, compared to the projected $19,146,032. 

The city continues to tackle its debt service, which according to the 2024 audit was over $36.5 million, including general obligation bonds and notes payable. About 82% of the debt is projected to be paid off in ten years.

Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie thanked department heads for ensuring they did not come in over budget, as well as City Manager Matthew Alexander and Comptroller Toni Tracy for their work on the budget.

“I think we’ve done well,” McKenzie said. “It’s nothing to hurrah about, because this is going to be another tight year, and we really have to watch our dollars as we’re moving forward. But I think this shows that if you really do the job and watch how you’re spending money, that shouldn’t come out on top.”

– Eric Harvey

Fire Department Surpassed 3,000 Responses in 2025

The City of Peekskill Fire Department made 3,041 emergency responses in 2025, up over 1,000 from 2024.

During a fire department presentation at a committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 5, Fire Chief James Seymour IV credited the uptick in calls to a recent change in procedure for how 911 calls are routed, which now more immediately dispatch the fire department alongside Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

In addition, Seymour said 2024, which had 1,994 responses, was a down year compared to 2023, which had 2,689 responses. Those responses include structure fires, brush fires, motor vehicle fires, gasoline leaks, people trapped in confined spaces, and assisting the ambulance corps with medical aid, as well as false alarms from callers.

“When you pick up the phone and dial 911, you are having one of the worst days potentially of your life,” Seymour said. “Our mission is to respond to you expeditiously and exceed your expectations. Whether it’s a fire, an EMS call, a gas leak, a water leak, whatever it is, we want to respond expeditiously, mitigate the situation, and leave you in a better situation than before you had to pick up the phone and dial 911.” 

Upcoming fire equipment to be delivered this year include a new ladder truck, a new engine, a fire/rescue vessel, and a new rescue truck. Also in progress are the acquisition of a hazardous materials decontamination trailer, several grants, and a new engine slated to arrive in 2029.

Future needs reported by Seymour included self-contained breathing apparatus replacement, command staff expansion, continued development of the department’s operations manual and building pre-plans, technical rescue expansion, and staffing expansion.

– Eric Harvey

Local Students Complete Studies at SUNY Westchester Community College

SUNY Westchester Community College (SUNY WCC) celebrated its December Completion Ceremony on campus on Dec. 23, 2025, recognizing 184 students who completed their academic requirements at the conclusion of the summer or fall semester.

“This ceremony is about honoring achievement at the moment it matters most,” said Dr. Vanessa Morest, provost of SUNY WCC. “By recognizing students as they complete their academic journeys, we affirm their hard work, reinforce their sense of accomplishment, and help sustain the momentum that carries them forward into their next academic or professional chapter.”

Local students who attended the ceremony were: Xavier Arias, Remy Espinal Paulino, Adrienne Fauntleroy, Sheila Guiracocha, Domique Mair, Sara McGougain, Nathally Ramon, Derek Sanchez, and Jonathan Solano of Peekskill; and Benjamin Appleyard and Ryan Rupasinghe of Cortlandt Manor.

This year’s December Completion Ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of its winter completion ceremonies, an initiative launched to ensure that students completing their academic requirements in December receive timely and meaningful recognition.

Conservation Advisory Council Heralds 2025 Accomplishments

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? The world may never know, but the City of Peekskill has a rough idea of how many trees are standing in its city thanks to a street tree inventory project in 2025.

That project, which inventoried a total of 2,373 trees, 92 stumps, and 368 planting sites, was conducted by the Eocene Urban Forestry after the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) identified it as a need for the city. CAC chair Jan Melillo touted the inventory during an annual CAC report to the city on Jan. 5.

Of those trees, 171 were in very good condition, 1,103 good, 719 fair, 285 poor, 46 critical, and 48 dead. The project did not inventory woodland trees, unmanaged park trees, trees along private roads, or trees on private property, according to a Dec. 2 presentation by consultant Sarah Lilley of Eocene Urban Forestry.

“It was to provide information to increase the tree canopy in Peekskill, particularly in the downtown area, to mitigate climate change, reduce the heat island effect, and beautify city streets and urban parks,” Melillo said, adding the council helped address concerns raised by the tree inventory by increasing budget lines available to plant trees and by forming a tree board.

Other highlights included the CAC holding a ribbon-cutting for the launch of a food scraps drop off program in Peekskill, the CAC remaining involved in drinking water source protection, the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge initiative, working with Peekskill 100 and Peekskill Pride to offer a zero-waste center at an annual event held at Pugsley Park, and the first annual Mothapalooza event.

City Manager Matthew Alexander added another accomplishment: a $1.8 million grant was awarded in December for the Paramount Theater for HVAC as a result of the work of the sustainability coordinator from the Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, a partner of the CAC and city.

– Eric Harvey

Ribbon-Cutting Held for Anytime Fitness

Community members and electeds kicked off the new year with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 3 for Anytime Fitness, located at the Crossroads Shopping Plaza.

Business partners Wilson Narvaez and uncle Ivan Narvaez were joined by Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, City of Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie, Common Council members, and members of the Peekskill Business Improvement District and Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce. 

In a video posted by the City of Peekskill, Narvaez said there is currently a promotion for the remainder of January to join the gym for $1.

“We are a 24/7 gym,” Narvaez said. “You can come at any time of the day you want. The trainers here are young. They’re ambitious. There [are] three of them, and they want to help you achieve [your] goals.”

Peekskill Business Improvement District executive director Bill Powers happily welcomed the family-run business, noting the site, a former Rite Aid, has been vacant in the downtown for a long period of time.

“We’re really excited to see all the development on this side of the Business Improvement District,” Powers said. “We have the Mid Hudson Federal Credit Union right across the street. You guys are here, a new apartment building, new firehouse. Peekskill’s really on the move.”

– Eric Harvey

Annual MLK Interfaith Service to Be Held Jan. 18

The Mount Olivet Baptist Church, in partnership with Peekskill Area Pastors Association, is presenting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. annual interfaith service at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18.

The service will feature guest Dr. Adolphus C. Lacey and celebrant Sr. Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church. The service features the Harmony of Thanks Community Choir. A flier advertises that all churches and community members are invited to be part of the choir.

The event will be held at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church at 11 G. Franklin Wiggins Plaza in Peekskill, headed by Rev. James Perry.

For more information, contact the church office at (914) 737-7657.

Free Naloxone Training Jan. 15

A community naloxone training will be hosted in the City of Peekskill by New York state Sen. Pete Harckham from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, to educate participants on how to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

The training will take place at the Peekskill Fire Department headquarters, located at 1141 Main St., free of charge.

Over the course of the training, participants will learn to identify the signs of an opioid overdose and how to administer naloxone, a nasal spray medication and opioid antagonist often known by its brand name, Narcan. By the end of the training, all participants will leave with a two-year naloxone certification and a free emergency kit with two doses of naloxone and other safety equipment. 

To RSVP for the Jan. 15 naloxone training, or if you have any questions about the training, click here or call Sen. Harckham’s district office at (914) 241-4600.

Winter Parking Remains in Effect

The City of Peekskill issued the following notice on winter parking:

“A reminder to all residents that winter parking is in effect through April 1, 2026. Parking is prohibited on city streets from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., except in designated areas where signs are posted for winter alternate side of the street parking. Vehicles in violation of our winter parking ordinance may be issued a parking ticket, with fines starting at $100 and increasing to $200 if a state of emergency is declared. Vehicles may also be towed at the owner’s expense anytime a vehicle interferes with snow plowing and snow removal operations. To view our winter parking map, please click here.”

TOWN OF CORTLANDT

Savannah & Company to Close After 10+ Years

Savannah & Company, a barbecue restaurant on Route 202, announced its closure on a Jan 5 social media post with the following message:

“We have sad news to share with you. After nearly 12 years, we’ve made the difficult decision to close Savannah & Company. This decision did not come easily. Like many small, family-run businesses, we’ve faced changing circumstances in the last few years, and after much thought, we believe this is the right moment to close this chapter with intention and gratitude.

What started as a dream around a kitchen table grew into a room full of regulars, a second home, and a constant reminder of how good food can bring people together. We are grateful for so many memories that we’ll carry forever. Every meal, every smile, every familiar face meant the world to us.

Thank you for trusting us with your dinners, your birthdays, your quiet weeknights, and big moments. Thank you for coming back, for bringing your family, for telling friends about us, and for making this a special place, day after day. Your support carried us for over a decade!

Our last day of service will be brunch on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Until then, we’d love to see you, enjoy your favorite meal, and say goodbye the best way we know how — around the table.

After Jan. 25, 2026, gift cards will continue to be accepted at Little Sorrento through  Dec. 1, 2026. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for letting us be part of your lives for nearly 12 years. 

Forever grateful,

The DiPaterio Family”

NEW YORK STATE

Democratic Primary Candidate Puts $5 Million into His Own Campaign

After putting $5 million into his campaign, Peter Chatzky says he now has more than five times the cash on hand as any other candidate in the race for Congressional District 17. The Democrat is one of seven running in an attempt to unseat incumbent Republican US Rep. Mike Lawler.

Chatzky, a CEO of a software company and Briarcliff Manor deputy mayor, announced on Jan. 6 that he was putting $5 million of his own money into his congressional campaign and was launching a major paid media campaign. He said this is amid DC insiders sending money to their favored candidates. 

“The same DC elites who lost this seat two cycles in a row with handpicked candidates are hoping the third time’s the charm,” Chatzky said in a release. “Voters should decide which candidate is best suited to represent the district, not party insiders who have repeatedly let us down.”

According to the release, Chatzky has emerged as “one of the top candidates thanks to a strong anti-establishment campaign. The release said Chatzky has openly criticized leadership after Democrats “caved on the shutdown,” swore not to take money from AIPAC, and was the first in the race to call on Democrats across the country to embrace universal healthcare.

“I have never been a business-as-usual kind of guy,” Chatzky said. “Uness we have the courage to fight back against status quo politics, Democrats will lose yet again.”

Chatzky’s release said that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee invited only Cait Conley, “their top choice,” and Beth Davidson, “their backup,” to DC to meet with campaign advisors and high dollar donors. In addition, the release said a candidate forum held by the Westchester Democratic Party only selected four candidates to participate, which Chatzky said “happened to include the national party’s favorites.”

Other candidates in the race include John Sullivan, Mike Sacks, Effie Phillips-Staley, and John Cappello.

Cait Conley, a 16-year Army combat veteran and national security expert, announced on Jan. 5 that her campaign capped off 2025 with $1.9 million raised total and over $1.2 million cash on hand heading into the new year. 

“Our campaign is powered by people who are ready for new leaders committed to delivering results, and I am humbled by the coalition we have built,” Conley said in a release. “I believe to my core that America’s best days are still ahead of us, but only if we put in the hard work to get us there. The politicians who got us into this mess are not going to be the ones who lead us out of this. We are building a campaign ready to take the fight right to Mike Lawler and hold him accountable for failing the Hudson Valley.”

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