Harrison
Police, DEC in Dispute Over Black Bear Killing
A police officer shot and killed a black bear on Monday (June 2) that the department said endangered residents of a neighborhood on Columbus Avenue.
Harrison police and an officer from the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) responded to the sighting. Earlier, a bear seen in the same area had retreated into the woods.
The DEC said in a statement that it determined that “the bear should be left alone to leave the area on its own, as it posed no immediate threat to residents and had access to reasonable escape routes to nearby wooded areas.” It said it advised the Harrison police “to take action if they believed the bear became a threat to public safety.”
The police, in response, said they could not get the bear to leave a backyard and that DEC officers “were unable to provide any assistance whatsoever, up to and including non-lethal services, such as tranquilizing or trapping the bear to relocate it.”
Peekskill
Teacher Arrested on Child Porn Charges
A substitute teacher who worked in the middle and high schools was arrested on May 30 on felony charges related to child pornography.
Brian Mishk, 28, of Yorktown Heights, was charged with felony counts of promoting and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child. He was arraigned and held on bail. According to the Peekskill Herald, citing district records, Mishk was a permanent substitute teacher from 2022 to 2025 for social studies grades 7 to 12.
In Lagrangeville, meanwhile, a 68-year-old Hyde Park man was arrested on Tuesday (June 3) and charged with improper conduct with three high school students during the 2024-25 academic year.
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office said it had investigated the case for a month before detaining Robert Siniscalchi, known to students as “AV Bob.” He was charged with three counts of forcible touching and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors.
Siniscalchi was released until his next court date on June 17. Superintendent Philip Benante said Siniscalchi has been placed on administrative leave.
Brewster
Green Chimneys Cancels Birds of Prey Day
Green Chimneys canceled its annual Birds of Prey Day, scheduled for June 2, because of concerns about avian flu.
The popular event, first held in 1992, typically included over 100 raptors. The 2026 event is scheduled for June 7. Green Chimneys (greenchimneys.org) is soliciting donations for its Avian Flu Emergency Appeal and plans to convert a large pond into a $75,000 enclosed aviary to prevent exposures from migrating birds.
Peekskill
Residents Battle Over $5M Lottery Win
Two people who both claimed ownership of a $5 million scratch-off lottery ticket settled out of court last year, according to the Peekskill Herald.
Lottery officials said in late 2023 that Daniel Piamonte, 69, of Cortlandt Manor had claimed the prize. But in February 2024, a Peekskill resident filed a lawsuit claiming that Piamonte conned him. The resident, who said he did speak or read English well, claimed he bought the ticket at Valley Brook Market on Aug. 26, 2023, and asked Piamonte, an acquaintance, to assist him getting the prize.
According to the court documents, Piamonte told the man he would cash the ticket for him but signed his own name. The man sued, and Piamonte settled by paying $1.33 million but admitted no wrongdoing.
