WCP_010126

The Westchester County Press Post Office Box 152, White Plains, NY 10602

County Press

97

The Westchester

YEARS

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WHITE PLANS, NY PERMIT # 5069

“Documenting Our History for the Future.”

VOL. XCVII NO. 1

ISSN 0043-3373

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026

MEMBER OF NNPA

Governor Hochul Swears In Mayor and Councilmembers in Peekskill (Left to right) Councilwoman Beverley Chang, Councilman Charles DiGruccio, Councilwoman Kathy Talbot, Councilman Darren Rigger, Mayor Vivian McKenzie, Governor Kathy Hochul, Councilwoman Patricia Riley, and Councilman Brian Fassett. (PHOTO by Michelle Keller)

By Sandra T. Blackwell PEEKSKILL, NY -- Jan. 1, 2026 --On her way to the Inauguration Ceremony for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul made a special stop in Peekskill today to administer the oath of office to Mayor Vivian McKenzie and newly elected Common Council

members Charles DiGruccio, Beverley Chang, and Darren Rigger.

Attendees were told only that a special guest would be arriving. While the newly elected officials knew who that guest would be, they kept the surprise under wraps. The audience erupted in

warm applause when Governor Hochul arrived, greeting her with enthusiasm and appreciation.

The formal program was led by City Manager Matt Alexander, who served as Master of Ceremonies. The invocation was delivered by the Reverend Valerie Paul-Greenaway, Senior Pas-

PEEKSKILL SWEARING IN, Cont’d. on page 11

Complimentary Digital Copy: www.westchestercountypress.us

2 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, 20256

SUNY Westchester Community College Celebrates December Completion Ceremony, Marking Key Milestones

VALHALLA, NY -- (December 23, 2025) – SUNY Westchester Community College (SUNY WCC) celebrated its December Completion Ceremony on campus, recognizing 184 students who completed their academic requirements at the conclusion of the summer or fall semester. Participation increased from 177 students in last year’s ceremony, reflecting continued momentum in student completion and success.

The December Completion Ceremony provides students finishing their programs in December with an opportunity to celebrate this important milestone alongside family, friends, faculty, and staff. The ceremony recognizes graduates earning degrees and certificates who will go on to transfer to four-

year institutions or enter the workforce in a wide range of professional fields.

“This ceremony is about honoring achievement at the moment it matters most,” said Dr. Vanessa Morest, Provost of SUNY Westchester Community College. “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.”

“At SUNY WCC, I found more than just classes – I found professors who believed in me and helped me turn challenges into growth,” said gradu-

SUNY WCC, Cont’d. on page 11

Join the ECC & Volunteer New York! for the 6th Annual Edgemont MLK Day Walk – 1/19 @ 10AM

EDGEMONT, NY -- Dec 23, 2025 -- Please join the Edgemont Community Council, Volunteer New York!, and Edgemont High School 9th graders Maaran Song, Arjun Gupta, Shouei Yoo, and Vivaan Gupta for the 6th Annual Edgemont MLK Day Walk on Monday, January 19th from 10:00-12:30pm in the San Marco Gym at the Edgemont Jr-Sr High School.

This meaningful community tradition honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service, justice, and collective action by bringing neighbors together in reflection, movement, and hands-on service.

This year, we are excited to gather indoors before and after the walk and to introduce a family-friendly community service component for all ages.

Following the walk, participants will work together on service projects including: ⮚ Sorting donated canned goods for the Thomas Slater Center ⮚ Assembling snack packs for food-insecure children through Lifting Up Westchester ⮚ Creating cards for Meals on Wheels Scarsdale to support elderly and disabled neighbors While walk-ins are welcome, we encourage you to RSVP at https://www. volunteernewyork.org/mlk to help us plan for the service-learning portion of the morning. Registration requires creating a Volunteer New York! volunteer account, which not only allows you to register for this event but also provides

MLK DAY WALK, Cont’d. on page 11

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, ,2026 • 3

Governor Hochul Signs Fair Hiring Law — Banning Credit History Discrimination in Employment

ALBANY, NY — Dec. 23, 2025 -- Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law Senate Bill S3072, legislation authored by Senator James Sanders Jr. that prohibits employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, and their agents from using or disclosing an individual’s consumer credit history for employment decisions. The law takes effect 120 days after enactment.

Under the new statute, New York joins a growing number of states that have acted to close the unfair practice of using credit checks in hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, and other employment actions. Research shows that credit history has little to no correlation with job performance, yet employers frequently rely on this information — often to the detriment of workers who have faced economic hardship, medical debt, or reporting errors beyond their control.

“Your credit history should never determine your opportunity to earn a living,” said Senator James Sanders Jr. “For too many New Yorkers, credit checks have acted as invisible barriers to jobs and advancement — trapping peo-

ple in cycles of economic insecurity. Today’s law ends that discriminatory practice and expands fair access to employment across our state.”

The legislation amends New York’s General Business Law, adding clear definitions and making it an unlawful discriminatory practice to request or use a consumer’s credit history in hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, compensating, or setting terms or conditions of employment. It also prohibits state and local agencies from using credit history in licensing or permitting decisions, with limited exceptions where use is required by state or federal law or for specific law enforcement purposes.

The law includes important protections while maintaining necessary exceptions for positions that require the use of credit information by law or regulation. It also directs the Division of Human Rights to collect data on how exemptions are used and report back to the Legislature within two years.

This measure builds on local credit discrimination protections already in place in New York City and aligns state policy with efforts to broaden economic opportunity statewide.

FAIR HIRING LAW, Cont’d. on page 11

WCPR Statement on DA Cacace’s Decision Not to Pursue Charges on Peekskill Police for Beating Damar Fields The Westchester Coalition for Police Reform (WCPR) strongly condemns District Attorney Susan Cacace’s decision not to file criminal charges against the police officers involved in the violent assault of Damar Fields on December 3, 2025, at Waterfront Park in Peekskill.

Damar Fields, an unarmed man with emotional disabilities who was known by Peekskill Police, was beaten and tased three times by armed officers. The decision not to pursue charges sends a dangerous message that excessive force against vulnerable people will go unpunished.

This outcome is deeply troubling, not only for Damar Fields and his family, but for ev-

ery resident who participated in good faith in Westchester’s police reform process following the murder of George Floyd. That year-long effort, required by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order, was meant to center de-escalation, accountability, and respect for human dignity. The District Attorney’s decision undermines that work and erodes public trust.

Serious questions remain unanswered: • Why was the Project Alliance Mobile Crisis Response Team, designed to respond to mental health crises, not activated?

• Why did no officer intervene, despite a clear duty-to-intervene policy intended to prevent excessive force?

We reiterate our call for the charges against

Damar Fields to be dropped immediately. A person experiencing a mental health crisis should not be criminalized.

When prosecutors decline to act, calls for accountability must not end. We call for independent review, legislative oversight, and systemic reforms to ensure that no one, especially armed government officials, is above the law.

This is not how our communities choose to be policed. We reject policing rooted in violence and impunity, particularly toward people with emotional disabilities.

Accountability is not anti-police. Transparency creates trust. Damar Fields deserves justice.

Our communities deserve better.

4 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, 20256

State Announces $6.6 Million Available to Establish ‘Clubhouses’ Statewide

ALBANY, NY -- Dec. 29, 2025 -- The state Office of Mental Health today announced the availability of $6.6 million to markedly expand a community-based program that is providing crucial services and supports to New Yorkers living with mental health challenges. The funding will establish up to eight new Clubhouses in areas of the state outside of New York City, offering individuals social support, employment resources, and life skills training in a safe environment.

“New Yorkers who utilize Clubhouses can tap into vital support networks and strengthen their ties to the community while pursuing their own goals and dreams,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “This program is facilitating educational and vocational opportunities that participants can rely on as they continue their recovery and become more independent. Governor Kathy Hochul’s continued focus on expanding community-based programs like Clubhouses is dem-

The Westchester

County Press

(ISSN 0043-3373) is published weekly on Thursday in White Plains, New York. Copies: 40¢. Yearly Subscription: $25.00, two years: $45.00. National Advertising representative: National Newspaper Publishers Association. Local and national advertising rates on request.

Paper founded August 1, 1928 to serve the County of Westchester, New York.

Sandra T. Blackwell President, Publisher & Editor Carolyn B. Coleman Vice President Alyce T. Coleman Executive Editor Bruce L. Bozeman, Esq. Legal Counsel Celeste Coleman-Housey, Ed.D. Art Director/Managing Editor Editorial & Advertising Offices P.O. Box 152 White Plains, NY 10602

Telephone:(914) 953-2620 Member: National Newspaper Publishers Association

onstrating our collective resolve to build a stronger, more inclusive mental health system statewide.”

New or existing providers can apply for up to $551,175 annually for programs in rural counties; $956,765 annually for programs in suburban counties; and $1.45 million for programs in Erie, Monroe, and Westchester counties, which are considered urban. Funding for the program is over five years, with the goal of making two awards each in the Long Island, Hudson River, Central New York and Western New York regions, but only one in the urban counties.

Clubhouses are voluntary to participants and provide them with structure by focusing them on choice and self-determination. These programs offer collaboration with staff in all aspects of their operations, which fosters transparency, shared ownership, and belonging among participants.

Clubhouses must operate at least five days a week, plus offer routine recreational activities during evenings and weekends, and operate out of their own physical space. These programs are linked to improved quality of life, better self-esteem, lower hospitalization rates, and increased participation in employment.

The FY 2026 Enacted Budget signed by Governor Hochul included $8 million to establish new clubhouses and Youth Safe Spaces. The funding is part of $196 million in additional investments in strengthening the continuum of mental health care statewide.

Fountain House Chief Executive Officer Ken Zimmerman said, “We applaud New York State’s prioritization of supports for people living with serious mental illness through expanded access to Clubhouses statewide. This multimillion-dollar investment reinforces the proven impact of the Clubhouse model, where community is therapy, helping people living with serious mental illness lead meaningful lives and thrive together.

We look forward to working with the state and new Clubhouses funded through this initiative to help create the ecosystem of mental health supports that make recovery and thriving possible.”

PUBLISHER

1986-2009

M. Paul Tells All

By M. Paul Redd, Sr. August 11, 1928 - January 9, 2009

Remembering Those We Lost and Planning Ahead

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper Chairman of the Board of Directors, NNPA

DR. JOHN E. WARREN

Each year’s end, the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint publishes, with photos where possible, a list of those members of our community who transitioned during the year. For all of us, it serves as a reminder that our time on this earth is limited; that we should value how we use that time and that we know not when our time expires. For many of us, it answers the questions as to why we have not seen someone lately that we often run into in the course of our activities. But this is not a time to be saddened or depressed.

As one of those we lost used to say, “Each day is another day above ground and another opportunity to get it right.” So, let us not look at these pages with a sense of morbidity, but with appreciation of lives well lived and our own personal opportunities to do better.

As we plan ahead with that long list of things we want to do, let us not forget to include finding ways to help others as well as ourselves.

We must not focus on what is being done to us as much as we must

focus on what we can do with others to counter those attacks. Each of us has a voice and each of us has a vote.

There are times to use both if we pay attention to those things being said and done against our interest and the interest of those who share our positions and concerns in this society. We are still blessed that efforts to limit our speech, place fear in our hearts and reduce many of us to the erasure of our culture and achievements have not succeeded.

We must plan ahead our collective interest, regardless of the color of those who would join us. We must move politically and socially from permanent friends and permanent enemies to permanent interest. We must go beyond complaints about budget cuts and find ways to redirect the four trillion dollars a year we spend on everyone else’s sales to us, with no return appreciation for those dollars. We must support those who support and respect us. We must change our habits and learn the discipline of deferred gratification as opposed to buying what we want at the moment instead of focusing on what we need, both individually and collectively.

In planning ahead we must alter our attention span. Listen beyond our personal interest to understand how we might help others, and, sometimes in doing so, we unintentionally honor those who have gone before us.

We thank those of you who have supported us in 2025 both as readers, advertisers and most of all our printer.

You represent the lifeblood of our existence and the source of our survival this year. May God bless you and your many efforts.

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, ,2026 • 5

Kenneth W. Jenkins Sworn-In as the Tenth County Executive of Westchester County

Placing his left hand on the Bible and raising his right hand, Kenneth W. Jenkins took the Oath of Office administered by the Honorable Anne E. Minihan, Chief Administrative Justice for the Ninth Judicial District, as his wife Deborah Jenkins and son witnessed the historic event.

It was an incredible honor to be officially sworn in for a full term as Westchester County Executive at Purchase College yesterday.

I am grateful to everyone who joined us for the ceremony and to the people of Westchester for your continued trust.

Over the past year, we have worked hard to strengthen our financial foundation, invest in housing and infrastructure, support working families, and keep our communities safe. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and ready to keep building on that progress.

This is a new chapter but the same mission: leadership that listens, acts, and delivers for every Westchester resident. I look forward to working side by side with our County team, legislators, and community partners to keep moving us forward.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve. Let’s get to work.

Ken Jenkins Westchester County Executive

Black DEMS of Westchester to Host Annual Reception

Join the Black DEMS of Westchester at their Annual Holiday Reception, on Sunday, January 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., at the Greentree Country Club, 538 Davenport Avenue, New Rochelle, NY. Four distinguished honorees will be celebrated on this occasion: Taylor Palmer, Past President of Westchester Young Democrats, who will receive the May Morgan Robinson Award;

Annie Willis, Chair of the NYS Young Democrats Women’s Caucus, who will receive the David Ford, Sr. Award; trhe Honorable Darcel D. Clark, Bronx District Attorney, who will receive the Thurgood Marshall Award; and the Honorable Jewel Williams Johnson, Westchester County Legislator-District 8, who will receive the M. Paul Redd Award.

Tickets are $175 for individuals, $400 Friends, $750 Sponsors, and $1500 for a table of 10. Digital journal ads are $100. Tickets are available on line, or make checks payable to Black Democrats of Westchester, P.O. Box 9, White Plains, NY 10602. The Honorable Terry Clements is Chair of the Black Democrats of Westchester.

6 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, 20256

NNPA is Saddened by the Passing of One of the Black Press of America Icons Thomas H. Watkins

By Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., President & Chief Executive Officer National Newspaper Publishers Association

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is saddened by the passing of one of the publisher icons of the Black Press of America, Thomas H. Watkins. As a former NNPA Chairman and publisher of the New York Daily Challenge, Afro Times, New American, Jersey City Challenge, PattersonPassaic Challenge, and the Newark Challenge, Thomas Watkins was a decades-long trailblazer who published New York’s first Black-owned daily newspaper. We salute the legacy of Thomas H. Watkins and we express our sincerest condolences to the Watkins family. May his memory be a blessing to all.

Thomas H. Watkins, 1937-2025, the founder, CEO and publisher of the New York Daily Challenge. The first Black daily newspaper in New York City.

At its height of operation, Watkins’ flagship publication reached thousands of readers, brought in nearly $30M per year and employed dozens of African-Americans from its corporate headquarters in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. But even in year one, it deviated to a broad audience garnering advertising support from juggernauts including Pfizer, General Electric, and Ford. This year, the New York Daily Challenge celebrates its 56th Anniversary as an award-winning outlet that fearlessly breaks controversial news, candidly reports on high-ranking politicians and prominent figures, and provides a global outlook on the Black experience.

An advocate for the power of the Black voice and dollar, Wat-

is noted for saying, “The question isn’t why do we have one AfricanAmerican newspaper. It’s why don’t we have more?”. Over the decades, Watkins became a Black print media mogul founding and acquiring titles including the Afro Times, New American, Jersey City Challenge, Patterson-Passaic Challenge and Newark Challenge. “When you talk to Thomas Watkins, Jr., you sense a force of will that cannot be diverted from its goal,” The Atlanta Daily World wrote in a profile of the entrepreneur. “For Watkins, the ultimate goal is the economic independence of Afro-Americans.”

THOMAS H. WATKINS

kins comes from a long line of African-Americans seeking to elevate the Black community. His grandfather argued before Congress for federal protections for Black Americans from lynching. His father helped more than triple the circulation of the Amsterdam News, New York’s oldest and the first completely unionized Black newspaper in the United States. Watkins

From 1989-1992, Watkins served as president of the National Newspaper Publishing Association and continued to serve decades after.

A successful entrepreneur, visionary and activist, Watkins offered keynote speeches for international non-profit organizations (such as The United Way) and esteemed institutions (including historically Black colleges like Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, and The Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina). A member of the Omega Psi Fi fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi fraternity, Comus Club, and Reveille Club. He lived in Brooklyn, New York, when he continued to advocate for the financial empowerment of African-Americans.

He is survived by Kevin Thomas Watkins (brother), Kerri Watkins (daughter), Thomas H. Watkins, III (son), eight grandchildren, six greatgrandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, ,2026 • 7

Westchester Prepares for OMNY Rollout with Full Bee-Line Installation (VALHALLA, NY) – Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins toured the Bee-Line Bus garage in Valhalla to view newly installed OMNY fare scanners on the Bee-Line fleet. The visit marked a major milestone ahead of the official County-wide launch of OMNY on January 4, 2026 at 5 a.m., when the Bee-Line bus system will fully adopt the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) contactless fare payment system.

Beginning January 4, Bee-Line fares will also be adjusted to align with MTA’s new fare rates. The changes include a 25-cent increase to the base and on-board cash fare, a 15cent increase for reduced fares for seniors and people with disabilities and a separate adjustment for the BxM4C express route. Aligning fares allows Bee-Line riders to continue receiving free transfers between Bee-Line buses and MTA subways and buses and to benefit from the seven-day OMNY fare cap of $35 for unlimited trips, excluding the BxM4C. The fare cap for

reduced-fare riders is $17.50.

Jenkins said: “Westchester deserves a transportation system that works the way people live today.

Installing OMNY across our entire Bee-Line fleet is about making transit easier, faster and more reliable for riders while ensuring access for everyone. This is a smart investment in modern public transportation

Westchester County Executive Kenneth Jenkins disembarks from onne of the Bee-Line busses.

that strengthens mobility across our County.”

Liberty Lines Transit President Thomas Murphy said: “Our staff has worked closely with the County to support the installation and launch of OMNY for Bee-Line riders. The new fare payment option is designed to enhance convenience and modernize the boarding process, contribut-

ing to an improved overall payment options and experience for the many customers who rely on the Bee-Line system each day.”

Department of Public Works and Transportation Commissioner Hugh Greechan said: “This was a fleet-wide effort that required coordination, testing and hands-on work across all Bee-Line buses. Our team

worked closely with Liberty Lines to install the OMNY equipment efficiently and safely so riders can benefit from a modern fare system starting day one.”

Department of Planning Commissioner Blanca Lopez said: “The Department of Planning played a key role in coordinating logistics of the OMNY rollout, including work on the back-end databases critical to OMNY operations on Bee-Line, integration with the system’s on -board technology, and coordination of program timing and public outreach.

OMNY brings Westchester in line with transit systems across the region and helps ensure riders have access to a simple, consistent fare payment experience.”

While OMNY officially launches on January 4 at 5 a.m., riders may continue using MetroCards on BeeLine buses as long as the cards are not expired. MetroCard sales will end on December 31, 2025, and cards will no longer be reloadable after that date. Riders may transfer remaining

BEE-LINE, Cont’d.on page 11

8 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, 20256

Governor Hochul Swears In Mayor and Councilmembers in Peekskill Photos by Michelle Keller

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, ,2026 • 9

Governor Hochul Swears In Mayor and Councilmembers in Peekskill Photos by Michelle Keller

10 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, 20256

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The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, ,2026 • 11

SUNY WCC, Cont’d. from page 2

BEE-LINE, Cont’d. from page 7

ating student Maricielo Carolain Huanca, Accounting & Finance A.S. “Overcoming the language barrier wasn’t easy, but SUNY WCC gave me the tools MetroCard balances to OMNY cards through the OMNY Mobile Sales Van, which continues to visit locations across Westchester. and support to keep moving forward and succeed.”

For riders who use weekly or monthly MetroCards, those cards must be This year’s December Completion Ceremony held special significance as SUNY Westchester Community College marked the 10th anniversary of activated by January 31, 2026, in order to be valid. Passengers can purchase its winter completion ceremonies, an initiative launched to ensure that stu- OMNY cards at select retail locations. To find the nearest store that carries dents completing their academic requirements in December receive timely OMNY cards, visit: https://omny.info/retail-locations.

In addition to OMNY, riders can continue paying with coins on Beeand meaningful recognition. Established to align with transfer timelines and workforce entry opportunities, the winter ceremony reflects the College’s Line buses. This ensures flexibility and continued access for those who prelongstanding commitment to celebrating student achievement year-round fer using cash fare. For more information on the OMNY rollout in Westwhile reinforcing momentum toward degree completion and continued aca- chester County, visit http://www.westchestergov.com/beelinebus or call the Bee-Line customer service center at (914) 813-7777. demic and professional success.

The milestone also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the College’s Missed your printed copy of school-based academic structure, a transformative model introduced to The Westchester County Press? strengthen advising, clarify guided pathways, and better align academic programs with transfer and career outcomes. Over the past decade, this structure has evolved to support expanded career-aligned programs, deeper transfer Get a COMPLIMENTARY DIGITAL COPY partnerships, and a sustained focus on completion, equity, and student sucsent to your email cess. Together, these initiatives underscore SUNY Westchester Community College’s forward-looking approach to academic excellence and its continued investment in helping students achieve their educational goals and move conType your email fidently into the next stage of their journey.

The December Completion Ceremony complements the College’s annual commencement exercises held each spring, ensuring that all graduates—regardless of when they complete their academic requirements—are formally SUBSCRIBE recognized for their perseverance, dedication, and accomplishments.

MLK DAY WALK, Cont’d. from page 2

access to hundreds of volunteer opportunities across Westchester County.

Families are also encouraged to bring donations such as canned tuna, cereal, oatmeal packets, mayonnaise, granola bars, and crackers.

We look forward to welcoming you to this impactful morning as we come together to honor Dr. King through service and community.

FAIR HIRING LAW, Cont’d. from page 3

Senator Sanders continued: “Credit reports often contain errors that unfairly lower a person’s score and create barriers to employment. This new law recognizes that life happens — medical emergencies, family crises, and economic downturns should not determine whether someone can support themselves and their family. New York is once again leading the nation in promoting fairness and dignity in the workplace.”

Senate Bill S3072 passed both houses earlier this year with bipartisan support and was delivered to the Governor’s desk on December 8, 2025.

“This is a great win for the people.” - Senator James Sanders Jr.

PEEKSKILL SWEARING IN, Cont’d. from p. 1

tor of the Peekskill United Methodist Church. Former Councilwoman Drew Claxton led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moving performance of the National Anthem by the Westchester Women’s Chorus.

Following the opening program, Governor Hochul was escorted into the Peekskill Firehouse, which had been arranged in a classroom-style setting.

She greeted the assembled audience and formally administered the oath of office to Mayor McKenzie and the three new councilmembers.

The celebration continued with artistic performances by local violinist Daisy Jopling and poets Hana Qaiser and Max Markarian. Emotions ran high as the Just the Play Dancers concluded the program with a powerful and moving dance performance that left few dry eyes in the room.

The Reverend James Perry, Senior Pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Peekskill, offered the benediction to close the ceremony. Guests were then invited to remain for a reception with light refreshments following the adjournment of the Meeting of the Whole Council.

12 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, 20256

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The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, ,2026 • 13

Youth Collect Over 230 Gifts for Annual Holiday Gift Drive

We’re so happy to present over 230 gifts to the Westchester County Department of Social Services for their annual Holiday Gift Drive. Thank you to our Youth Board Chair, Dr. Alexandria Connally, Southern Westchester BOCES, and the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Fellows for going above and beyond in collecting gifts. You set a great example of community spirit and leadership for your peers, and your efforts brightened the holidays for so many young people.

Rev. James Perry Named 2025 Champion of the People

“What a way to end the year!”

Reverend James Perry, Senior Pastor of Mount Oliver Baptist Church in Peekskill said. “I am humbled and grateful for the honor. Thank you, Lord, MOBC, Sisters In Support, the City of Peekskill, Mayor Vivian McKenzie, and Westchester County Legislator Colin Smith.”

FB

14 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, 20256

Community Calendar

CALENDAR SUBMISSION: Please use a brief paragraph to describe your event. The paragraph should include event name, date(s), time, location and contact information. Send calendar information via email to westchestercountypress@yahoo.com. Please type “CALENDAR EVENT” in the subject bar.

Friday, January 2

The pleasure of your company is requested at the Annual Statutory Meeting of the Mount Vernon City Council on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. The ceremony will be held in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, One Roosevelt Square, Mount Vernon, NY at which time the Hon. Caitlin B. Gleason, Hon. Cynthia Turnquest-Jones, and Hon. Andre Wallace will be installed as members of the City Council and the Hon. Derrick Thompson will be installed as City Council President.

Saturday, January 3

District Attorney; and the Honorable Jewel Williams Johnson, Westchester County Legislator, District 8, Tickets are $175 for individuals, $400 Friends, $750 Sponsors, and $1500 for a table of 10.

Digital journal ads are $100. Tickets are available on line, or make checks payable to Black Democrats of Westchester, P.O. Box 9, White Plains, NY 10602.

The Honorable Terry Clements is Chair of the Black Democrats of Westchester.

Link: https://secure.actblue.com/ donate/2026bdwreception

Monday, January 5

The Westchester County Board of Legislators will officially welcome new legislators Jenn Puja and Anant Nambiar and hold a start-of-term leadership vote for 2026 at our Organizational Meeting and Inauguration on Monday night in the Board’s Legislative Chamber, 148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor, White Plains, New York 10601. Monday, January 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM EST. The meeting will be streamed live and archived on our meeting webpage: westchestercountyny.legistar.com. No Sunday, January 4 registration is required. Visit the Join the Black DEMS of West- link, scroll down to find the meetchester at their Annual Holiday ing, and click on “In Progress” or Reception, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., “Video” in the video column. at the Greentree Country Club, 538 Davenport Avenue, New Thursday, January 15 Rochelle, NY., as they celebrate SAVE THE DATE: The honor of the 2026 Honorees / The distin- your presence is requested at the guished individuals are Taylor Swearing-In Ceremony of DaniPalmer, Past President of West- elle R. Brown, as Judge of the chester Young Democrats; Annie Mount Vernon City Court, Ninth Willis, NYS Young Democrats Judicial District. The Ceremony Women’s Caucus Chair; Hon- will be held on Thursday, January orable Darcel D. Clark, Bronx 15, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in Mount Happy Holidays! Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam members will be celebrating Kwanzaa as a community for the First Annual Putnam County Kwanzaa ceremony. Please bring dry foods, such as hot cereals, granola, boxed rice (no cans) for the food drive. Tomorrow, Saturday 1/3 at 2PM (new date)WHERE? Arts on the Lake, 640 NY 52, Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512. Please join us this is community building! Thank you!!!

Vernon City Hall, City Council event are Chambers, 2nd Floor, 1 Roosevelt Monday, January 19 Square, Mount Vernon, NY. Re- The Westchester County (NY) ception to follow.

Chapter of The Links, IncorpoSaturday, January 17 rated cordially invites the public The Cooperative Scholarship to its 2026 Rev. Dr. Martin LuFund of Ossining will sponsor ther King Jr., Day Literary Tea on “A Celebration and Tribute to Monday, January 19, 2026, from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: In 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Doors open the Spirit of Unity and Service”, at 2:30 PM) at 500 Main Street, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., in the Os- New Rochelle, NY 10801. Feasining High School Auditorium, turing a Fireside Chat with Abby 29 South Highland Avenue, Os- Phillip, CNN Anchor and Author sining, NY. Neil Reynolds, Com- of “A Dream Deferred: Jesse missioner of the New Rochelle Jackson and the Fight for Black Police Department, and Micaela Political Power,” in conversation Henry, Greenburgh School Lia- with: Lisa Loury Lomas, PHD, son, will be the keynote speakers Eastern Area Director/The Links, for the program. Entertainment Incorporated. The Links will also will be provided by winners of the present a Special Tribute to WestWestchester Region ACT-SO pro- chester County Authors:Bryan gram, the major youth initiative of Collier. CJ Farley and Cheryl the NAACP. General admission McKissack Daniel. Admission: for the event is $45.00; $50.00 is $50 per person: (Includes after January 1, 2026. The Coop- High Tea experience and a copy erative Scholarship Fund is a 501( of the featured book https://www. c) 3 organization whose mission eventbrite.com/e/rev-dr-martinis to provide scholarships to Afri- luther-king-jr-day-literary-teacan American students graduating tickets-1978788226854 from Ossining High School.

Sunday, January 26

Monday, January 19

The African American Men of Westchester (AAMW) will sponsor their 25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Youth Awards Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Sleepy Hollow Conference Center, South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY. Youth from throughout Westchester will be recognized and rewarded for their community service and their commitment to the teachings of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. John Tuller is President of the AAMW. Tickets for the

Join the New Rochelle Branch of the NAACP as they celebrate Jubilee Day at Bethesda Baptist Church, 71 Lincoln Avenue, New Rochelle. Rev. Allen Paul Weaver III, former interim Pastor of Bethesda, will serve as host for 4:00 p.m. the event. The celebration will include installation of officers and Executive Committee members of the Branch, There will be reflections through readings, song and music. Aisha Cook is President of the New Rochelle Branch of the NAACP.

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, ,2026 • 15

New Postal Service Rule Could Quietly Void Ballots and Delay Healthcare

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

A quiet clarification by the United States Postal Service is drawing renewed scrutiny after health care advocates and voting rights observers warned that the change could carry serious consequences for millions of Americans who rely on postmarks to meet legal deadlines.

Under new USPS guidance that took effect late last month, the date printed on a postmark no longer reflects when a letter or ballot is dropped into a mailbox. Instead, the postmark now reflects the date the mail is first processed at an automated sorting facility, which can occur days after the item is mailed. The Postal Service says the change is intended to clarify how postmarks are applied, particularly as transportation schedules and regional processing systems evolve.

For voters in states that count mail-in ballots based on postmark deadlines, and for patients navigating appeals, authorizations, and Medicare paperwork, the distinction is anything but academic.

“In recognition of the importance that the election laws in some states place on postmarks, it has been the longstanding policy of the Postal Service to try to ensure that every return ballot mailed by voters receives a postmark, whether the return ballot is mailed with postage pre-paid by election officials or with a stamp affixed by the voter,” officials wrote in a release. “A voter can ensure that a postmark is applied to his or her return ballot by visiting a Postal Service retail office and requesting a postmark from a retail associate when dropping off the ballot.”

The issue gained wider attention after a detailed explanation circulated to millions of viewers on social media from the account @cjnlegalnurse, a health care advocate who outlined how the rule shift moves risk away from institutions and onto individuals.

“The postmark rule changed quietly, and it affects voting and health care. Let me explain what just happened at USPS because this is not minor and it’s not theoretical,” the

user said. “So as of this week, the United States Postal Service clarified that a postmark date is no longer tied to when you drop your mail off. It’s tied to when that mail is first processed by an automated facility.”

As the user explained, a letter placed in a mailbox on Monday may not reach a sorting center until Wednesday, making Wednesday the official postmark. For ballots and legal filings governed by strict deadlines, that delay can mean rejection despite timely mailing.

“Many states say a mail-in ballot counts if it’s postmarked by election day,” the user said. “Under this rule, you can mail your ballot before election day and still have it postmarked after. So that’s not voter fraud, that’s logistics quietly overruling intent.”

USPS guidance confirms that most postmarks are now applied at large processing plants rather than local post offices and that mail may sit before receiving a postmark due to updated transportation schedules.

The agency recommends that cus-

tomers with deadline-sensitive mail bring items directly to a post office counter and request a manual local postmark.

Health care advocates say the implications extend far beyond elections.

“Health care runs on mail deadlines, appeals, prior authorizations, Medicare notices, and prescription paperwork,” the user said. “If an appeal has to be postmarked by a certain date and USPS processes days later, it looks late. So late appeals get denied. Denied appeals delay care.”

The user said the shift places the burden squarely on individuals navigating already complex systems.

“In nursing and health care advocacy, timing is everything,” the user said. “And this rule shifts the risk from the institution back to the patient. The system didn’t get faster, the rules just got tighter.”

“So if you’re mailing anything time-sensitive now, ballots or health care documents, dropping it in a box is not enough,” the user said. “Go

inside the post office for deadline mail. Ask for a manual postmark or receipt. Use certified mail for appeals and legal documents, and do not rely on blue mailboxes for last week’s deadlines. So, this isn’t panic; it’s adjustment.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stacy M. Brown is a veteran jour-

nalist and author of the new book, “Celebrity Trials: Legacies Lost, Lives Shattered, So What’s the Real Truth.” https://www.amazon.com/ dp/B07V3338PJ/ref=sr_1_3?

He’s also the author of “Blind Faith: The Miraculous Journey of Lula Hardaway, Stevie Wonder’s Mother,” “Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask,” and “Fighting Temptation: The Damon Harris Story.” He’s appeared on “Today,” “NBC Nightly News,” “Good Morning America,””CNN with Don Lemon,” “Anderson Cooper,” “Wendy Williams,” “Howard Stern,” and other shows.

16 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, JANUARY 1, 20256