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

Democrat Brett Yarris kicks off his campaign for Putnam County executive on March 1 at The Garrison. By Holly Crocco From the podium at the front of a 200-plus crowd March 1 at The Garrison on Route 9, the Democratic-endorsed candidate for Putnam’s top seat rallied the troops, saying: “My name is Brett Yarris, and today I am officially announcing by candidacy for Putnam County executive.” Yarris has earned the endorsement of not only every town Democratic committee, but every

A slide shared by Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Executive Director Peter Mullen at the March 5 Philipstown Town Board meeting. The Philipstown Town Board on March 5 approved a new advisory committee to propose amendments to the town’s “equal protection” amendment, heard a proposal for a memorial garden for suicide loss survivors, and received an update on the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail from Executive Director Peter Mullen. Town Supervisor John Van Tassel thanked HHFT for a $

By Rob Sample Facing a host of expensive infrastructure needs, the Cold Spring Village Board on Feb. 25 grappled with spending priorities for 2026-27 – the village’s next fiscal year. No decisions were made at the first of what will be several budget roundtables prior to the official budget deadline of March 20 and public hearing April 8. However, Mayor Kathleen Foley and Village Accountant Michelle Ascolillo both hinted at a modest tax increase, enabling the village to cope

Kathy Kahng Kathy Kahng recently announced her campaign for Putnam County legislator in District Three, which represents the Town of Kent and part of the Town of Patterson. The longtime community advocate has received strong backing from local Democrats, being unanimously endorsed by the Kent Democratic Committee and receiving the endorsement of the Patterson Democratic Committee. “I am honored by the support of the Kent and Patterson Democratic committees,” said Kahng. “Dist

The German American Social Club of Peekskill – located in Putnam Valley – invites the public to join in celebrating its 90 years of service and community spirit. Originally established to promote German heritage and German-American history, the club has evolved from being merely a social club, to also being a benevolent organization serving the citizens of Putnam County and the greater Hudson Valley region. According to Club President Anna Schramek, its primary purpose is to

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

Carmel school buses currently park in a lot that is partially mud and dirt, at Kent Elementary School. By Holly Crocco The Carmel Central School District is considering putting a transportation capital reserve project before voters in May, which would renovate the bus lot currently in use at Kent Elementary School – at no cost to taxpayers.. According to Superintendent of Schools Michael Plotkin, the district is seeking to use between $2 million and $2.5 million in capital re

Joseph Castellano will fill the role of Southeast town supervisor through November. By Holly Crocco The Southeast Town Board voted unanimously Feb. 19 to appoint former Putnam County Legislator Joseph Castellano as the interim town supervisor, effective March 1. He will serve through Nov. 3, when a special election will be held to fill the seat throughout the remainder of the term. According to the resolution confirming his appointment, the board found it “necessary and appro

By Holly Crocco Both the Carmel and Brewster school boards last week unanimously approved resolutions to make a boundary line change that would place an incoming development entirely within the Brewster Central School District. In exchange, Carmel Central School District will be gifted several properties. Camarda Realty Investments is in the process of developing 185 acres between Putnam Plaza and Route 312 in the Town of Carmel, with Gateway Summit to offer age-restricted se

By Holly Crocco Kent residents who live in the Lake Louise community are happy to hear that the long-awaited culvert replacement project is expected to begin construction by the fall. “It’s about time you get an explanation of what’s going on,” Highway Superintendent Richard Othmer told residents gathered at the Feb. 17 Kent Town Board meeting, who came to hear an update from project engineers. “We have 14 small bridges that we’re in charge of in the Town of Kent,” he explain

Bill Gouldman Putnam County Legislator Bill Gouldman last week announced his candidacy for Putnam Valley town supervisor, pledging to bring his record of fiscal responsibility, community service, and environmental stewardship to Town Hall. Gouldman, a longtime Putnam Valley resident, small business owner, and current chairman of the Putnam Valley Republican Committee, said his campaign will focus on protecting the character of the town while addressing the infrastructure and

Alex Sewell and his family. Alex Sewell is again running for Kent town supervisor, following a tight race for the position in 2025. Although an election for the seat was held in November, another will be held this year due to changes to state election law, as the state wants towns and villages to have two- or four-year election cycles, instead of three years, with no more local elections on odd years. Endorsed by both the Kent Democratic Committee and the Westchester-Putnam W

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

By Holly Crocco Putnam County has been chosen by the state to participate in a pilot program to address PFAS contamination in private wells. “Water quality continues to be an area of focus for the department,” said Putnam Health Department Commissioner Rian Rodriguez at the Feb. 11 meeting of the County Legislature’s Health Committee. “Whenever we can participate in programs that may assist our residents with environmental concerns, we attempt to do so.” The New York State De

Local activists packed the Philipstown Town Hall for the Town Board’s Feb. 5 meeting to discuss proposed updates to the town’s “equal protection resolution.” The town originally adopted a version of the resolution in April 2017, but with the recent civil unrest throughout the country and Immigrations & Customs Enforcement officers making arrests, a local citizens group called Joining Forces has submitted a stronger 2026 version of the resolution to the Town Board for adoption

By Holly Crocco With the proposed Putnam County mental health crisis stabilization center that was planned for Stoneleigh Avenue having been voted down by the Carmel Planning Board earlier this month, the County Legislature is now scrambling to spend $2.5 million in American Recovery Plan Act funds that were tied to the project so that it doesn’t have to be returned to the federal government. “At this point, with the ARPA deadlines, the money has to be spent by the end of thi

A New York Police Department sergeant from Putnam County was recently found guilty of second-degree manslaughter after throwing a cooler at a fleeing suspect in August of 2023, leading to the man’s death. Sgt. Erik Duran, 38, pleaded not guilty during his bench trial, in which there was no jury – just a judge hearing the arguments and rendering the verdict. He was convicted Feb. 6 by Bronx Supreme Court Judge Guy Mitchell and faces up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing is sche

A Mahopac man was arrested last week following a road rage/menacing incident in which he allegedly aimed a loaded gun at a school bus driver. New York State Police at Hawthorne received a walk-in complaint Feb. 4 from a school bus driver who reported that, while driving on the Taconic State Parkway southbound near exit 3 in Mount Pleasant, the driver of another vehicle pointed a handgun at him. In addition to the driver, a bus monitor and three children with special needs wer

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