Peekskill
Man Charged with Blocking Bike Path
A Peekskill man was charged with placing tree limbs and debris along a trail used by mountain bikers at Blue Mountain Reservation.
Jeffrey Jarvis, 44, was charged with misdemeanor criminal nuisance and released pending a May 19 court date.
Westchester County Police said the investigation began in the fall, when the agency received complaints about debris placed at the bottom of a descending rock face, or “granite roller.” An association of mountain bikers placed a trail camera that recorded a suspect. Blue Mountain Reservation is a 1,538-acre county park in Peekskill and Cortlandt with 20 miles of trails for mountain biking.
Storm King
Art Center Completes $53M Expansion
The Storm King Art Center reopened on May 1 with new buildings, landscapes and parking. The $53 million project was supported by $11.3 million in state grants.
Located in New Windsor, the 500-acre art center specializes in outdoor sculpture. It now has a ticket and information pavilion, restroom pavilion and group pavilion united by an outdoor lobby. It also opened the David R. Collens Building for Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance and reclaimed two former parking lots to create 5 acres of new landscape for art and programming.
Chester
Highway Supervisor Charged in Shooting
The town highway superintendent was arrested May 3 on charges that he shot a DoorDash delivery driver.
According to the New York State Police, John Reilly fired his weapon while the victim attempted to deliver an order to a residence at about 9 p.m. The driver became lost and approached several homes for directions. According to police, Reilly told the driver to get off his property, then shot at him as the victim attempted to drive away. He was struck once in the back.
Reilly, 48, a federally licensed firearms dealer, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of assault, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon and was remanded to the Orange County Jail.
Fishkill
Former HR Director Sues Town
A former human resources director has sued the town, claiming she was improperly fired. Suzanne Puma held the job from May 2022 until Jan. 2, when the Town Board eliminated the position.
In her lawsuit, Puma charges she was dismissed because she pointed out salary discrepancies between male and female employees. She said she met with Supervisor Ozzy Albra on Oct. 16, but that he refused to review a chart she had made. At a Town Board meeting, she suggested the board go into executive session to review the chart, but it did not.
Puma alleges in court documents that the Town Board diverted her duties to another position in violation of civil service rules. Albra told Mid Hudson News that he offered Puma a part-time position, but she did not respond. “This was a cost-saving measure implemented by the town,” he said.
