Rasheed Oluwa
Local Editor: WhitePlains.Patch.com
Email:Rasheed.Oluwa@patch.com Phone: 914-217-6135
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PeekskillPatch
Bio: My name is Rasheed Oluwa and I'm a contributor for Patch. I am a New York City native who moved into the mid-Hudson Valley about 20 years ago. I'm the oldest of seven children
I have 10 years of experience as a reporter and I have written on a wide range of topics ranging from crime and politics to education and the environment.
I am an avid N.Y. Mets fan, which means I don't usually watch a lot of baseball when September rolls around. I also root for the N.Y. Giants and the N.Y. Knicks.
I began working for Patch in May 2010 and I look forward to hearing and writing about the concerns of the residents in this community.
Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
* How would you describe your political beliefs? Social libertarian.
* Are you registered with a certain party? No. I'm still open.
Local Hot Button Issues
* What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? I believe taxes are one of the biggest issues facing communities across the country. Our state and local representatives must come together to develop a taxing mechanism that is fair and doesn't place undo burden on property owners.
Counselors will be available to assist students at Peekskill schools Monday following the tragic shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School Friday.
Here's a look at some of the homes that were listed in the Peekskill/Cortlandt area this week.
Schools in Cortlandt and Peekskill react to the news of today's school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
![[UPDATE]Local Schools Respond to Tragedy in Newtown, Conn.](https://patch.com/img/cdn/users/740479/2012/12/raw/367fdf28ace48d55c3921debab76f331.jpg)
A roundup of upcoming events in the Peekskill and Cortlandt area.
Patrick Conlon's "Speakeasy Tattoo Studio" is tentatively scheduled to open in February.
Peekskill residents Mario Alava and Stacy Hernandez have reenlisted with the New York National Guard.
Peekskill city officials take steps toward finding a new operator for the Paramount Center for the Arts.
Heather Rose, a 19-year-old Hendrick Hudson High School graduate and singer/songwriter. Her debut song is called "No Substitute."
Heather Rose's song "No Substitute" will make its radio debut on WHUD Friday.
Jarrett Wright, 29, of Peekskill, is scheduled to be arraigned today after he impersonated a police officer and caused a bomb scare on Main Street Wednesday.
Five things you should know for today, Dec. 13.
The following is the Cortlandt police blotter from the Westchester County Police Department submitted for the week of Dec. 3.
Peekskill resident Leslie Lawler thanks retiring Peekskill Police Chief Eugene Tumolo for his years of service to the community.
Angel Fernandez was arrested for felony DWI on Dec. 7 after a traffic stop in the City of Peekskill.
The local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and the Archonettes held intergenerational Christmas Christmas Part at the BeanRunner Cafe Tuesday night. Donations of toys for ‘Toys for Tots’ and gift cards senior citizens where also collected.
The Cortlandt town board agreed to continue its partnership with the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department to provide drug education courses to the town's elementary schools.
Five things you should know for today, Dec. 12.
Police are reaching to anybody who may have been victimized by Anthony Vecchio, 50, Peekskill. Police said Vecchio charged clients for home financing and foreclosure processing, but he never submitted any paperwork.
The Cortlandt town board agreed to continue its partnership with the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department to provide drug education courses to the town's elementary schools.
Mohegan volunteer firefighters extinguished a fire at 14 Puckey Dr. in Cortlandt Manor earlier this evening. The house was empty when the fire started.