Author Archive for Rick Pezzullo
Preservation of Rear Portion Key in State Land Rezoning
It appears any decision on the rezoning of a portion of a 100-acre site on Route 202 in Yorktown envisioned for commercial development could hinge on stipulations that preserve the rest of the land as open space During a Town Board work session last week, Al Capellini, representing property owner State Land Corporation, said his […]
Two Local Men Killed in Metro-North Train Wreck
One man from Montrose and another from Cold Spring were among the four people confirmed dead following the derailment of a Metro-North train in the Bronx Sunday morning. James Ferrari, 59, of Montrose, and Jim Lovell, 58, of Cold Spring, were killed when a train heading from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Station derailed rounding […]
Open Door in Ossining Collecting Toys
The Open Door Foundation in Ossining is collecting toys for children from needy families through December 10. With a goal of receiving 2,500 new, unwrapped toys, Open Door is seeking toy donations valued between $10 and $20 for children ages newborn to 14 years old. Online Wish Lists can be found at Amazon.com (Open […]
Changed 2014 Yorktown Budget to Raise Town Taxes 1.75%
After several hours of spirited discussion, the Yorktown Town Board approved a preliminary 2004 budget last week that includes a 1.75% town tax hike. Board members debated proposed increases in special improvement districts, the highway superintendent’s salary and the utilization of undesignated fund balance as outlined by Supervisor Michael Grace in his tentative spending plan […]
Neighbors Help Save Woman from Burning Yorktown Home
A Yorktown woman who recently had hip replacement surgery was rescued by quick thinking neighbors Sunday morning after her home on Wildwood Street was quickly engulfed in flames by high wind gusts. Maria Eliseo, 48, who was sleeping upstairs when the fire broke out at approximately 11:30 a.m., was helped down a ladder by neighbor […]
Cortlandt Gas Station Owner Pays for Price Gouging after Sandy
The owner of a gas station in Cortlandt has agreed to pay $20,000 in penalties for price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Sandy last year. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the settlement with Sammy Eljamal on Thursday. Eljamal, who owns several gas stations in Westchester, was cited for raising gas prices 85 cents […]
Winners Declared in Peekskill Common Council Race
Two running mates of Peekskill mayor-elect Frank Catalina will be joining him on the Common Council in January. According to the final results of the November 5 election that were posted on Thursday following the tabulations of 176 absentee ballots, Republican Joe Torres was the top vote getter with 2,103 votes for one of […]
Hen Hud School Bond to Cover Needed Security, Technology
Two years after district voters soundly rejected a $25 million capital projects bond, Hendrick Hudson school officials are presenting residents with a scaled down proposition next month that would pay for security, technology and infrastructure improvements. “This isn’t fluff. This is basics,” stressed Hendrick Hudson Board of Education President Mary-Pat Briggi. “This one is purely […]
Lakeland Voters Approve $14.5M School Bond
Voters in the Lakeland School District approved a $14.5 million proposition Tuesday that will pay for a variety of safety, security and other improvements in all eight school facilities and the administration building. The margin of approval for the bond was 671 to 336, with about 40 absentee ballots still to be tabulated. “It’s […]
Local Man Lends a Hand to Help Victims in Philippines
The images of the destruction and anguish of those struggling to pick up the pieces following the devastating typhoon in the Philippines is heartbreaking to most looking from afar. To others who have a personal connection to the 12th most populated country, the pain really hits home. Yorktown resident Patrick Van den Bergh is United […]
Raveis Real Estate Celebrates New Office in Yorktown
The top family-owned real estate firm in the Northeast and the third largest in the United States celebrated the opening of its newest office in Yorktown last week. A ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Yorktown officials and local agents at 1820 Commerce Street officially marked the 11th real estate office in New York State for […]
Cortlandt Musician Scheduled to Release Debut Album
Like many people, Joe Duraes’ day job as a publicist was paying the bills, but it wasn’t personally fulfilling. So, six years ago, Duraes returned to his passion, music, and began writing songs. The feeback the Cortlandt resident received about his music was so positive that he decided to aim higher and create an entire […]
Beloved Peekskill Priest Remembered as ‘Gentle Soul’ at Mass
‘There was something about the way he loved that stood out, and people gravitated to that.’—Rev. Michael Morrow Reverend Monsignor Francis J. Ansbro was given a heartfelt sendoff Friday morning at Church of the Assumption in Peekskill fitting for someone who dedicated 47 years to a parish and community that was more than appreciative. Church […]
Lakeland Residents to Vote on Safety, Security and Health Bond
Residents in the Lakeland School District will be asked on Tuesday, November 19 to support a $14.5 million proposition that would pay for a variety of safety, security and other improvements in all eight school facilities and the administration building. School officials said they have been reviewing existing safety and security measures in the district […]
Everyday Heroes Celebrated at Hudson Valley Hospital
A dozen employees at Hudson Valley Hospital Center were recognized last week as everyday heroes by their peers. Hospital officials unveiled the eighth annual Wall of Heroes at a ceremony in the lobby of the medical facility in Cortlandt. Portraits of the employees will hang in the front corridor for the next year. “This is […]
Morrissey Clobbers Robbins to Win Supervisor Seat in Somers
Republican Somers Councilman Rick Morrissey easily defeated Democrat Christine Robbins to become the new town supervisor. According to 94% of the votes tabulated, Morrissey received 3,066 (59%) to 2,088 (41%) for Robbins. He will replace longtime Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy who declined to seek reelection, choosing instead to vie unsuccessfully for Westchester County Clerk. […]
Grace Wins Second Term as Yorktown Supervisor Besting Bianco
Yorktown Supervisor Michael Grace won a second two-year term last night defeating Councilman Nick Bianco. With 86% of the votes cast, Grace, running on the Republican line, received 4,006 votes, while Bianco, running on the Democratic, Conservative and Independence lines, totaled 3,319 votes. “I really loved that we brought the issues forward,” Bianco said. “I […]
Catalina Defeats Mayor Mary Foster in Peekskill
By Janine Bowen Three-term Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster was narrowly defeated Tuesday night by Republican challenger Frank Catalina in the Peekskill mayoral race, according to unofficial results. “It looks like there will be a new mayor and I will congratulate him,” Foster said after learning the results. “He’s got a lot of work and […]
Local Activists Protest Indian Point at NRC Hearing
Local activists protested the continued operation of the Indian Point nuclear power plants last week at a hearing hosted by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Tarrytown. The NRC, which oversees the Indian Point reactors in Buchanan and more than 100 locations in the United States, was receiving public feedback on a proposal to extend […]
Governor Signs Law Named After Yorktown Girl
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill last week named after an eight-year-old Yorktown girl who suffers from a potentially fatal condition that doesn’t allow her to eat most foods. Hannah’s Law, which state Senator Greg Ball (R,C,I/Patterson) first introduced when he was an assemblyman in 2008 and named for Hannah Devane, will amend the insurance […]
Yorktown Chamber Breaks Tradition Endorsing Candidates
The Yorktown Chamber of Commerce opted to break a 20-year tradition last week by endorsing candidates in the upcoming town election. Last month, the majority of the Board of Directors voted to change a policy giving the chamber the option of getting involved in the political process, a decision that led to the resignation of […]
Grace Proposes Tax Decrease in Proposed 2014 Budget
Ten days before voters will go to the polls, Yorktown Supervisor Michael Grace proposed his tentative 2014 budget last week that includes a 1.65% tax decrease for the majority of town residents. This year, the town benefitted from an $800,000 savings by switching to a new garbage company. Next year, Grace is proposing using more […]
Police Bust 12 in Northern Westchester Heroin Ring
Four area police departments joined forces to dismantle a ring of drug dealers that was allegedly selling heroin in multiple communities in northern Westchester. Following a four-month investigation, officers from Westchester County, Peekskill, Yorktown and Buchanan arrested 12 people by going undercover to make purchases of heroin. Additional arrests are expected. Westchester Public Safety Commissioner […]
Paramount Operators Defend Soliciting $1M from Investors
Several eyebrows were recently raised in Peekskill after it was learned the operators of the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater were seeking $1 million from investors by next year. However, the principals of Red House Entertainment, which took over the former Paramount Center for the Arts on Brown Street in July, and city officials maintained it […]
JV Mall Expansion Plans Okay with Residents, Officials
The Jefferson Valley Mall, Yorktown’s premier shopping center, is planning a substantial facelift, much to the delight of residents and town officials. “I think the redevelopment of the mall is a good idea. Making it people friendly is really great,” said Paul Moskowitz, a resident of Hunterbrook Road. Representatives of Simon Property Group, managers of […]
Insurance Carrier Accuses Peekskill of Neglecting Dams
The longtime insurance carrier for the City of Peekskill has alleged officials are putting some residents in grave danger by neglecting structural issues with the Wiccopee Dams in Putnam Valley that the city owns. Mike Vanderwerker, president of MHB Insurance, which has served Peekskill since Mayor Fran Gibbs was at City Hall, maintained Mayor Mary […]
Peekskill Facing 3% Tax Hike in Proposed 2014 Budget
Peekskill City Manager Anthony Ruggiero has submitted a proposed 2014 budget that calls for a 3% tax increase. At the same time last year, the city was facing a $4.9 million deficit and the Common Council ended up eliminating nine full-time positions (three of the individuals have since returned to the city’s payroll) while raising […]
Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze Electrifying Fun in Croton
There is nothing else like it in the tri-state area, which explains the record crowds of nearly 100,000 visitors who descended upon Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson last year to gaze at the spooky spectacular. Now in its ninth year, The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, which started out as a small event for Historic Hudson […]
Yorktown Police Alert Public to ATM/IRS Phone Scams
The Yorktown Police Department is making the public aware of two scams in town that took place this month. On October 7, an “ATM skimmer” was detected on an ATM machine at the 7-Eleven store on Commerce Street. An investigation revealed the device may have been on the ATM for as many as 10 days […]
Peekskill Music Teacher Nominated for Latin Grammy
In his day job, Larry Del Casale is choral director at Peekskill high school and middle school, a position he has held for the last six years. The Cortlandt resident spends most of his other time making sweet music as a classical guitarist, a hobby the 54-year-old picked up as a teen ager. “I’m a […]
