With the summer fast approaching, the Cortlandt Community Coalition wants to safeguard our community with our Safe Summer initiative, with a focus on promoting the safety and well-being of our community's youth. There has been an uptick in teen crashes throughout Westchester County, with a fiery crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway killing five children in March, and four other teens who were left fighting for their lives after a head-on collision with a bus in April.

The Hendrick Hudson PTSA is hosting Hang Up and Drive with Jacy Good and her husband, Steve Johnson, who are advocates for distraction-free roads and provide education on the dangers of using a phone while behind the wheel. In 2008, a crash caused by a distracted driver left Jacy partially paralyzed and took her parents’ lives. To keep the Town of Cortlandt community healthy and moving forward, The Westchester County police will continue enforcement, including educating teens on the dangers of distracted driving and driving under the influence and compliance checks. Hendrick Hudson and Walter Panas High Schools will have a crashed car at each school to see the impact of distracted driving.

With the support of our community, the Town of Cortlandt Supervisor's Office, the Town of Cortlandt Recreation Department, the Westchester County Police, Hendrick Hudson Central School District, and Lakeland Central School District, we hope to have a Safe Summer 2023!