Current Events
Members of the Peekskill and Cortlandt Manor Rotary Clubs recently funded and constructed a beautiful garden for veterans living at the Montrose Campus of VA Hudson Valley Health Care System. The two Clubs, along with local public officials and VA administrators, held a ribbon cutting ceremony October 21 to commemorate the space known as the Healing Garden.
 The Healing Garden, complete with seasonal plants and shrubs, stone walking paths, and sitting areas will be used by veterans in their treatment towards recovery.
Work on the garden began last spring and continued through this summer and fall. In addition to labor provided by the Rotarians, numerous local businesses such as Manzer Landscaping, Home Mason Supply and All Weather Home and Building Improvement contributed goods and services to make the garden a reality.
 “It is this kind of collaboration with the VA community and the surrounding communities that make Veterans feel appreciated and acknowledged for their sacrifices,” said Elaine Cottle, a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist at VA.
The project was led by former Peekskill Rotary Club President Bruce Prehal who believed this was the kind of service project that Rotarians cherish.
“I can not be more proud of our membership and they manner in which they took on this project from start to finish,” said Prehal. “Our motto of “Service Above Self” was demonstrated throughout from the design, to the donations of labor, stone, plants and shrubs. We just want the veterans to know how proud we are of them.”
 Peekskill Rotary Club President Joseph Lippolis and Cortlandt Manor Rotary Club President Sharon Irving spoke during the ceremony. Local elected officials, Linda Puglisi, Supervisor for the Town of Cortlandt, Mary Foster, Mayor of Peekskill and a Peekskill Rotarian, and Don Bennett, Deputy Mayor of Peekskill also a Peekskill Rotarian, also attended.
The Peekskill Rotary Club meets every Thursday at 12:15 and the Cortlandt Rotary Club meets at every Thursday at 7 p.m. Both clubs meet at the Colonial Restaurant in Cortlandt Manor.
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