From left are Putnam Valley Town Councilwoman Sherry Howard, Supervisor Alison Jolicoeur, and Councilmen C. J. Brooks and Christian Russo, with Lt. George Hyatt’s sword and scabbard. Contributed photo. Contributed Article A special presentation at a recent Putnam Valley Town Board meeting marked the closing of a historic mystery – one left unsolved for the last 162 years. During public comment at the end of an otherwise typical meeting, Putnam Valley resident Michael Bennett

The cast rehearses for its upcoming production of “Middletown.” Middletown, USA. It’s anywhere, everywhere. The Brewster Theater Company invites the public to spend time with the characters of its own “Middletown” – a comedy/drama written by Will Eno, where everyday life is centered upon an intriguing place of laughter, life, entertaining people, and ordinary citizens. Experience familiarity and endless surprises as you journey through the play from the local library to outer

Students and staff cut the ribbon to officially debut the new mural on the corridor that connects C.V. Starr and H.H. Wells schools. Brewster students, teachers, administrators, and PTA members got together April 6 for a ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of a new mural – “Journey of a Brewster Bear” – at the intermediate and middle school. What began as a simple idea to bring color to the walls and create a meaningful give-back opportunity for students grew into a large-scale

The county will forgo collecting its 4 cents per gallon on gasoline, capped at $3 per gallon, starting in June. By Holly Crocco The Putnam County Legislature last week unanimously moved forward a resolution to reduce the county’s portion of sales tax collected on gas through the end of 2027, starting in June. During the March 30 Budget & Finance Committee meeting, lawmakers approved the suspension of its 4 cents per gallon tax on anything over the $3 mark. The state will stil

Little Stony Point in Cold Spring held its annual Maple Syrup Day on March 22. Hot pancakes, sticky syrup, and live music warmed up the atmosphere – almost making up for the chilly weather – at the annual Maple Syrup Day on March 22 at Little Stony Point in Cold Spring. There were maple lollipop drops, raffles, and dancing as a team of volunteers with the Little Stony Point Citizens Association served up more than 2,000 flapjacks, and local bands regaled the crowd with music

Firefighters battle the blaze on West Lake Boulevard on March 18. Photos by Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department. By Holly Crocco The community is coming together to support a Mahopac family whose home was destroyed by fire last week. Just before 6:30 a.m. March 18, the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department was called to a residential structure fire on West Lake Boulevard. Upon arrival, crews found an active fire involving a garage that had extended to the residence. “Fi

The temperature rose, the sun came out, and people lined Route 6 in Mahopac on March 8 for the 49th annual Putnam/Northern Westchester St. Patrick’s Day parade. As always, dozens of marching bands, twirlers, scouts, elected officials, civic organizations, and others participated in the festive event. Photo by Chloe Wareham-Gordon.

Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne delivers his State of the County address March 2 at the Joe Palumbo Soccer Academy in Putnam Valley. Photo by Chloe Wareham-Gordon. By Holly Crocco A more affordable, accountable, and accessible county government that serves every resident was lauded by Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne during his State of the County address March 2 at the Joe Palumbo Soccer Academy in Putnam Valley. “From day one of this administration, we committed ours

This rendering by CPL Architects shows the vision for an outdoor educational learning space at the Garrison Union Free School District. By Holly Crocco The Garrison Union Free School District is considering developing an outdoor educational learning space on forested property that has been deeded to the district over the past 70 years. “This is something that, obviously, there is a lot of interest in and the board is very excited about,” said Garrison School Board President D

JFK students who are celebrating a birthday or half-birthday line up to get a book from the Bear-thday Book Vending Machine. Students at JFK Elementary School in Brewster hear a special announcement come over the PA system Friday afternoons: “Students who are celebrating their birthday or half-birthday, please go to the cafeteria for your bear-thday book!” The Bear-thday Book Vending Machine will eventually allow every student in the school to choose a birthday book to keep f

Fulmar Road Elementary School students in Mahopac try their hand at “Ice hockey." Professional athletes aren’t the only ones who want in on the Olympics excitement. Fulmar Road Elementary School kindergartners in Mahopac recently celebrated the Winter Olympics with an opening ceremony parade through the school hallways, greeted by cheers from older students along the way. Representing their home classrooms, students wore blue, red, yellow or green and proudly waved paper flag

Kathleen Sutherland from Putnam AdvoCATS and Andrew Evans from Evans Septic Tank Service visit the animal five days after her rescue. Photo by Chloe Wareham-Gordon. By Holly Crocco When a Marshalls employee heard a cat’s cry coming from somewhere outside the Brewster store on a bitter cold day last month, they coul dn’t just keep walking. Instead, they called the Putnam County SPCA to report what they believed to be a trapped feline, likely in a storm drain, and what happened

Here, St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac is cleared during the height of the storm. Whether you had to put on your, boots, hats, and gloves and brave the storm to shovel snow or head out to a job you couldn’t phone-in for, or if you stayed in your PJs and slippers and sipped cocoa while watching the snow fall from the great indoors, there was not a person in Putnam County who could avoid the dose of winter weather the region saw Jan. 25. A state of emergency was declar

The Mahopac School Board rose to its feet in announcing that it unanimously supported a member who works for ICE, and who some community members said should be removed. By Holly Crocco The Mahopac School Board was unanimous in stating last week that it would not be seeking to remove a board member due to his day job. “The board of education stands united behind Trustee Chris Harrigan and will not be entertaining his removal,” said President Michael Mongon at the board’s Jan.

Southeast Town Councilman Eric Larca has presented a concept to transform the former Garden Street Elementary School into a town and village municipal building, as well as community center. By Holly Crocco There’s no denying the former Garden Street Elementary School in Brewster holds a special place in the hearts of many village residents who either attended the school themselves, or whose children walked those halls. However, since its closure in 2012 due to building deteri

The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail would run along the eastern shore of the Hudson River between Beacon and Cold Spring. Photo courtesy of Scenic Hudson. By Holly Crocco With the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation having released the Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement for the planned Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, the Village of Cold Spring has acted quickly to request that State Parks hold a public hearing on the controversial matter. “

Matthew Paterson students show off their projects. Provided photos. Learning about the Middle Ages is part of the fourth grade curriculum at Carmel Central School District. To bring that curriculum to life, students at Matthew Paterson Elementary School recently showed one another what they learned about the medieval period. The students had to pick a topic – castles and knights, lord of the manor or serf, medieval village, etc. – and decide how to present it to the class. Th

Chabad of Putnam has been making the rounds across the county to celebrate the Festival of Lights. The menorah lighting on Lake Gleneida in Carmel kicked off Chanukah, and was well attended despite the cold. The community joined together through song and prayer, and enjoyed goodies. The menorah was lit in solidarity with the Jewish brethren in Australia. Rabbi Aviv Korer shared a powerful message of hope and resilience, reminding attendees that even a small flame can dispel g

Santos Vasquez Ramirez, 28, is escorted out of the Putnam County Correctional Facility following his arrest for the murder of taxi driver Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez. Photo provided by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. By Holly Crocco A Pawling man was arrested last week and charged with the murder of a Brewster cab driver whose body was discovered in the Croton Falls Reservoir five days earlier. Santos Vasquez Ramirez, 28, was arrested outside his residence by Putnam County sheri

Eagle Scout Connor O’Reilly, far left, with members of Somers Boy Scout Troop 228, Putnam County Historian Jennifer Cassidy, Southeast Historic Sites Commission Chairperson Cathy Croft, former County Legislator Joseph Castellano, Southeast Town Supervisor Nick Durante, Southeast Town Historian Jack Alcott, and others at the sign unveiling. By Jack Alcott Connor O’Reilly’s Eagle Scout project celebrates the 1891 opening of the East Branch Reservoir and Sodom Dam in Southeast.