By Holly Crocco The Kent Town Board voted unanimously Nov. 18 to override the state-mandated 2 percent property tax cap and approve the 2026 town budget, which includes an approximate $1.5 million tax levy increase over the current year, but not before hearing from residents, business owners, and department heads – some of whom denounced the spending plan, and some who defended it. “Unfortunately, we have to go over the 2 percent this year for the budget,” explained Superviso

By Holly Crocco Not for the first time in recent years, residents of the Carmel Central School District were drawn to a school board meeting to address inflammatory comments made by a board member that seemingly attacked minority members of the community. Following the Nov. 4 election of Zohran Mamdani as the first Muslim mayor of New York City, Trustee Michael Torpey posted a video on Facebook in which he stated: “So New York City, congratulations and thank you for doing you

By Holly Crocco Impassioned residents gathered at the Nov. 13 Carmel Planning Board meeting to voice various opinions, concerns, comments, and insights into the potential placement of a Putnam County crisis stabilization center at 1071 Stoneleigh Ave., which would provide walk-in services to people facing a mental health or substance abuse issue. While some implored the board to allow the center to come to fruition, others begged it to consider how it will affect neighboring