Kwanzaa, the African-American cultural holiday that aims to apply traditional African values to modern-day challenges, doesn't begin until the end of December.

So you might say that yesterday's Kwanzaa celebration, held at the Kiley Youth Center on Main Street in Peekskill, ushered in the "Kwanzaa season."

The holiday season, after all, is well under way, judging from the lights and decorations already strung across every downtown.

"The main thing we want the kids to take away is that we need to unite and   more »