Today, October 26, 2026, we have a small agenda.

Um, and then a celebration and then an executive session for discussion of matters concerning the medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person, persons, or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person, persons, or corporation.

So at this time, I'll turn it over to our city manager.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

So before we get to the Otario and American Heritage recognition, um actually, I think we'll start with the Italian American recognition and come back.

So we're gonna do that first, and then we'll go.

Uh we've got four items for you, which should be very fast.

Okay.

Definitely need these.

Okay.

Well,

would

the homestyle bakery family please come forward?

Okay, stand right here, and I'm gonna read your proclamation.

So, whereas the city of Peakskill proudly recognizes and celebrates Italian American Heritage Month, a time to honor the immense contributions, rich traditions, and profound impact that Italian Americans have made on the cultural, social, and economic fabric of our community.

And whereas for more than four decades, the Homestyle Bakery family, Rosenka, Laura Timmins, Teresa Timmons, and Gianna Deegan has stood as an essential pillar of Peakskill's identity, demonstrating how family heritage and hard work can shape and uplift an entire city.

And whereas since establishing the bakery on Water Street in 1984, this remarkable family has built far more than a successful business, creating a beloved local institution where Italian American tradition traditions, family values, and the art of traditional baking are fiercely protected, preserved, and passed down from one generation to the next.

And whereas in a world increasingly dominated by mass-produced food, homestyle bakery remains dedicated to the craftsmanship of authentic baking, offering an astonishing and delicious variety of pastries, cookies, cakes, and specialties that honor a heritage that could easily be lost without their devotion to time-honored recipes and techniques.

And whereas, beyond their culinary talents, the homestyle bakery family represents the true spirit of community through their extraordinary extraordinary generosity, regularly donating treats to local charities and community events, and serving as welcoming permanent fixtures along our waterfront.

And whereas for our their exceptional artistry, Homestyle Breakery has bought positive national recognition to Peak Scale, earning prestigious commissions from New York Yankees to create the official cakes for a consecutive Yankees old timers events, as well as a custom cake for Derek Jita's historic retirement celebration.

And now therefore I, Vivian McKenzie, mayor of the city of Peakskill, on behalf of the Common Council, do here do hereby recognize 2026 Italian American Heritage Month Honoree, the Homestyle Bakery Family, and extend our deepest appreciation for their 40 plus years of sweetness, heritage, and service to our community.

Congratulations.

I

just want to say thank you.

This is really nice, and it means a lot to us.

He spends a lot of time here.

It's like our second family, Peakskill.

Very um supportive of us in many ways, and we really appreciate it.

And Gianna has been working at the bakery, and she's the happy face everybody's been seeing a lot of lately, and we'll continue to see for a while.

That's it.

Thank you so much.

This is not

Mr.

Dominic Volpe Jr.

It's

good to see you when I'm not dropping off a beacon of clothes.

We're down here picking up cookies.

So whereas Dominic Volpey Jr., the op the owner of Dominic's Cleaners and Taylors on DePew Street perfectly exemplifies this spirit as a dedicated small business owner, committed civic leader, and generous neighbor.

And whereas for decades, Dominic has successfully carried on a cherished family business that has served Peakskill for generations, proving that a truly successful business is measured by how deeply it invests in the people and the community that sustained it.

And whereas Dominic has quietly provided free dry cleaning, expert tailoring, and clothing to those young those going through difficult times through partnerships with the Peak Skill Youth Borough and other local organizations.

And whereas Dominic has extended his warmth and resources to the residents of the Jan Peak Homeless Shelter, providing them with professional clothing for job interviews so they may step into new opportunities with the dignity and confidence they deserve.

And whereas his profound respect for our nation's heroes reflected in his years of organizing winter coat drives for veterans, including those receiving care at the FDR Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Montrose, service that earned him a prestigious citation from the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

And whereas his leadership extends deeply into the civic civic fabric of Peaksgale, Cortland area, where he has volunteered his time as chairman of the Pride in Courtland Committee and served on the board of directors for the Jam Peak Homeless Shelter, earning his business the well-deserved Courtland's Best Business Award in 2013.

Now therefore I, Vivian McKenzie, Mayor of the City of Peaksville, on behalf of the Common Council, to hereby recognize and commend 2026 Italian American Heritage Month honoring Dominic Volpe Jr.

for his lifelong dedication to service, his immense generosity, and his enduring contributions to the city of Peakskill.

Congratulations.

And uh he had called up the city.

And at that time, a fellow named Bill Merton, who was the judge, actually had a connection to the Salvation Army.

So he picked him up on a Monday morning, goes down there, and he says, you know, we'll go see if we can make an offer.

So he rattled up a $15,000, something like that.

And they went and sat into a room with about 12 of those salvation army fellows.

And after about an hour, came back and they said, We're sorry, that's not that's not enough.

That's not gonna cover it.

And if anyone knows Bill Merton, it wasn't the end of the story.

Um Bill had a somewhat uh contemptuous uh uh vocabulary.

So my dad was ready to get up and leave.

I mean, we figured it's over.

And uh Bill at that time swore up and down every one of those people to the point that he said, and when I get back to Peak School, we're gonna condemn the building or just the court for at least 20 years of anything else.

So the group got scared.

So they said, why don't you go outside and step out in the hallway?