The life of George Caroll Whipple III, a Kent native, is featured in a new documentary. He has spent nearly three decades pointing a microphone at celebrities on New York’s red carpets but at the recent 25th annual Tribeca Festival, the camera finally turned on George Whipple. “Whipple’s World,” a feature documentary about the NY1 entertainment reporter, Philipstown resident, and Putnam County philanthropist held its world premiere at Tribeca with screenings June 12 through 1

A Pawling man has been arrested following a months-long investigation by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation into a public lewdness incident that occurred in Patterson earlier this year. According to Sheriff Brian Hess, on Feb. 21, his office received a report that a male had exposed himself and engaged in a lewd act while parked in the Acme supermarket parking lot on Route 22. Two occupants of a nearby vehicle reported seeing the suspect inten

A screenshot from bodycam footage recorded while making the arrest. A Southeast man is facing felony weapon charges following an alleged road rage incident in which he brandished a gun. According to Putnam County Sheriff Brian Hess, at about 8:15 p.m. June 20, deputies responded to a reported menacing with a firearm following a road rage incident in Southeast. The complainant reported that during a road rage incident on Peach Lake Road (Route 121), a male operating a black fl

A drawing of what proposed affordable housing could look like at Garden Street. By Holly Crocco The beloved Garden Street School in Brewster is again the topic of discussion in the village, with a proposal to make zoning changes that would allow the property to be developed into affordable housing under review. According to Mayor James Schoenig, the plan – which is only a concept at this point, with no formal application – is being proposed by Covington Development LLC and WB

By Rob Sample While cell phones have become ubiquitous in American life, where the transmission towers get built can become controversial. In Kent, a proposal to build a 130-foot tower has angered residents of mostly rural Hortontown Hill Road. Heading up the opposition is Chelsea Mulroy, who lives across the street from the tower site, along with her husband and two young daughters. Mulroy has found plenty of support in her opposition among her neighbors, other town resident

By Rob Sample Will Carmel knock one out of the proverbial park and give town residents a revamped – and baseball-centric – Jimmy McDonough Park? That was one of the key topics discussed by the Carmel Town Board at its June 10 work session meeting. The proposed redesign would be both ambitious and expensive and would likely require approval via a public referendum. Should it proceed, construction would begin late next year. Because the project is still in the early stages, no

Putnam County Clerk Michael Bartolotti, Veterans Service Agency Deputy Director Tanya Pennella, County Historian Jennifer Cassidy, Assemblyman Matt Slater, County Executive Kevin Byrne, veterans, and advocates at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Putnam County Veterans Museum – a permanent tribute to the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces – officially opened last week, marking a major milestone in the county’s ongoing commitment to honoring and preserving t

A Pawling man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of a well-known Brewster cab driver late last year. Santos Vasquez-Ramirez, 28, admitted to the intentional killing before Putnam County Court Justice Anthony Molé, according to District Attorney Robert Tendy. The victim, Aurelio Orbez of Danbury, Conn., was reported missing by his family to the Danbury Police Department on Dec. 1. Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, working with other law enfor

John Towners A former Stonecrop Gardens employee who was arrested April 18 and accused of secretly filming girls in 2018 and 2019 as they used a public restroom has pleaded guilty to all charges. Federal authorities say 56-year-old John Towers of Mahopac admitted to placing hidden cameras inside a bathroom at the Cold Spring park, to record women and children. According to a criminal complaint filed April 17 in federal court, the investigation began in February after the Nati

The Belden House sits at the intersection of Belden Road and Route 6 in Carmel. The future preservation, rehabilitation, and stewardship of the historic Belden House property in Carmel looks a little brighter after the Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Directors voted June 15 to authorize continued discussions with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Friends of Belden House, and other potential partners regarding the site. The boa

Revolutionary Putnam County Committee Co-Chairpersons George Whipple III and George Pataki are joined by Putnam Historian Jennfer Cassidy, County Executive Kevin Byrne, Elizabeth Whipple, Universal Commander Joe Ryan of the Fourth New York Regiment, and County Legislators Bill Gouldman, Amy Sayegh, and Laura Russo at the opening ceremony. Photo by Chloe Wareham-Gordon. Staff Reports “From Constitution Island to the Great Chain that kept the British from controlling the Hudson

Provided photo. Hundreds of mourners gathered May 31 for a candlelight vigil at the remains of a housefire on Sherwood Road in Cortlandt Manor to honor and remember siblings Alina and Jeremiah Toone, who were killed May 27. During the 2 a.m. fire, the teens were reportedly pulled from a second-story window, both pulseless and not breathing. Firefighters and EMS provided CPR at the scene before the two were transported to area hospitals. Alina was pronounced dead a few hours b

Residents of Brookside Senior Park in Philipstown line up for a distribution provided by the Regional Food Bank last week. Photo by Kelly Marsh. The Regional Food Bank last week launched the expansion of its senior food distribution program in Putnam County, providing 100 meals to residents of Brookside Senior Park, a 55-plus resident-owned mobile home community in Philipstown. In addition, the organization is delivering monthly meals to Gleneida Court, Hillcrest Apartments,

Mahopac School Board Trustees Tanner McCracken and Nicole Iacono have introduced a comprehensive “Parents’ Bill of Rights” aimed at strengthening transparency, parental involvement, and communication between families and the school district. “Parents are not obstacles to education – they are the foundation of it,” said McCracken. “This proposal reaffirms the principle that parents have a first and foremost right to the upbringing of their children. We want to send a clear mes

Drew Kinash Drew Kinash has been appointed deputy commissioner of the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services, effective June 8, contingent upon the County Legislature’s approval. Kinash previously served as manager of the bureau’s fire training center, overseeing operations at the county’s newly rebuilt, state-of-the-art facility. He has also served as a Putnam fire instructor since 1999, helping train generations of firefighters across the county. A longtime public serva

Alina Toone, 17, and Jeremiah Toone, 15, were killed May 27 when investigators believe a power strip failed, causing an electrical fire that consumed their home. The raised ranch home on Sherwood Road was consumed with flames when firefighters arrived just after 2 a.m. May 27. Photo courtesy of Westchester Fire Wire. By Holly Crocco Two Putnam Valley High School students were killed in a home fire May 27 in Cortlandt Manor. The fire began just after 2 a.m. May 27, in a raised

The Bookends Band performs during last year’s series. Photos by Shot By Jessy. The Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition recently announced the lineup for its 2026 Brewster Summer Music Series, once again bringing a mix of musical talent and community spirit to Brewster Village. The free concerts take place Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Southeast Veterans Park gazebo on Railroad Avenue in Brewster. This year’s lineup reflects a range of genres and perf

By Holly Crocco With reassessment notices having recently been mailed out to Kent residents, Town Assessor Seth Plawsky was asked to speak at the May 19 Kent Town Board meeting to address concerns and answer questions. “Most people seem to think if your assessment is going up, it means your taxes are going up, and that’s not the truth,” he said. Plawsky explained that last year the town underwent a reappraisal because there were properties that were grossly over- or under-ass

Angel Elektra and Shay D’Pines will once again lead the celebrations at Putnam Pride. Photo by Jessy Dunn. The seventh annual Putnam Pride Celebration is scheduled Saturday, June 13. This rain-or-shine event will kick off at 1 p.m., at the Historic Courthouse in downtown Carmel, with a rally and march. A photo booth, 40-plus local vendors, face painting, entertainment, food trucks, ice cream, and a kids’ tent will round out the day at Veterans Memorial Park. “I can’t believe

Early voting by mail and absentee ballots may be obtained from the Putnam County Board of Elections, 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, during normal business hours, as well as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, June 13 and 20; and until 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 16 and Thursday, June 18. Putnam County will also be participating in in-person early voting for the primary election, with two voting sites: The BOE offices; and American Legion Post 275, 10 Cedar St, Cold Spring. Registered voters who ar