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

By Rob Sample The Garrison Union Free School Board voted unanimously Jan. 7 to approve an amended district-wide safety plan. The amended plan adds a special patrol officer for the district, through a contract with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, as well as a cardiac-response plan crafted in response to new state legislation. The newly adopted safety plan can be viewed at www.gufs.org . A special patrol officer is a retired police officer who is responsible for school secu

By Holly Crocco A former Lake Peekskill man who was convicted in 2010 and again in 2017 of the murder of a Philipstown man, and attempted burglary of his business, has again had his conviction overturned and will receive a second retrial in Putnam County Court. On Nov. 25, the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division reversed the 2017 conviction of Anthony Grigoroff, who is accused of killing John Marcinak, 49, on Dec. 31, 2008, outside the Garrison Garage on Route 9,

Legislature Chairman Dan Birmingham. Putnam Legislature Deputy Chairman Bill Gouldman By Holly Crocco Returning Legislator Dan Birmingham, R-Southeast, was nominated by his colleagues to serve as chairman of the Putnam County Legislature for 2026, during its Jan. 6 organizational meeting. In addition to serving as deputy county executive during the Bondi administration (1995-98), Birmingham served on the Legislature from 2004 to 2012, when he decided to forego seeking a fourt

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. “

A missing person investigation has concluded with the discovery of a dead body, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Just before 6 p.m. Jan. 6, the sheriff’s office received a report of a missing person. While deputies and investigators conducted follow-up efforts to locate the individual, the next day at about 8:40 a.m., the body of an individual was discovered in a wooded area in the vicinity of Eastview Court in the Village of Brewster. At this time, the person

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

By Holly Crocco After a few weeks of speculation, Republican Carmel Town Councilman Frank Lombardi has announced that he is running for Putnam County legislator in District Eight, since current Legislator Amy Sayegh, R-Mahopac Falls, is not seeking re-election in November. “As a 23-year resident of this town and specifically this legislative district, I have raised a family, paid the taxes, and pay a mortgage,” he said. “I know the difficulties families are having affording t

Last month, Putnam County had the highest rate of flu cases compared to all other counties in the state, according to the NYS Department of Health. For the week ending Dec. 20, Putnam’s rate was 918 cases per 100,000. This incidence rate was not only the highest in the state, but also 61 percent higher than the next highest county – Nassau, on Long Island. For residents with challenges accessing flu vaccines, the health department will offer the shots to both children and adu

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

By Holly Crocco The man who killed a teenager in a Somers apartment complex last year, also shooting the boy’s mother and brother, before leading police on a manhunt that ended in Putnam Valley, was sentenced to 37 years to life in prison last week. In a plea deal reached in October, Fernando Jimenez, 41, pleaded guilty to shooting his girlfriend and her two sons in their Baldwin Place apartment Oct. 28, 2024. One of the sons, 15-year-old Michael Raimondi, was killed. A Westc

By Holly Crocco A Carmel man was recently found guilty of the 2022 murder of a Putnam woman he allegedly thought was stealing drugs from him. According to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Philip Halpern, a jury found Dwayne Pulliam, 63, guilty of Travel Act murder, participating in a conspiracy with intent to distribute and possess heroin and 28 grams of crack cocaine, and possession and dis

By Holly Crocco Local elected officials have begun circling an open seat for Putnam County Legislature after it was reported that Legislature Chairwoman Amy Sayegh, R-Mahopac Falls, will not be seeking re-election next year. Sayegh allegedly notified party leaders Dec. 18 of her decision not to run again. Within hours, Mahopac School Board Trustee Tanner McCracken announced his candidacy “I’m a lifelong conservative Republican and a proven fighter for lower property taxes, re

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

Players, coaches, and parents of the Brewster Bruins 10U Football Team were recognized during the Dec. 4 Southeast Town Board meeting for another undefeated season. Provided photo. By Holly Crocco The Brewster Bruins 10U Football Team was recently recognized by the Southeast Town Board for another undefeated season – making three consecutive years that the team has not had a loss. “What I’ve been told about this team from more than one person is that they play together as a t

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.

By Rob Sample Putnam Valley residents turned out in force for a Nov. 19 public hearing on zoning changes that aim to facilitate the creation of small businesses in residential areas and neighborhoods. Almost unanimously, residents spoke opposed the changes, saying the town needs to preserve its semi-rural character and find occupants for the many vacant commercial structures in town. Town Supervisor Jacqueline Annabi described the plan as a framework for enhancing the aesthet

From left are Mahopac High School Principal Patrick Keevins, Mahopac School Board Trustee Tanner McCracken, Acting Superintendent Frank Miele, and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Matthew Lawrence. A proposal by Mahopac School Board Trustee Tanner McCracken to make personal financial literacy a graduation requirement for all students was approved unanimously at the board’s Nov. 18 meeting – making Mahopac the first school district in New York State to hav

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

Ceremonies, parades, wreath-laying commemorations, and many other events took place across Putnam on Nov. 11 to mark Veterans Day. From service organizations, to schools, local governments, and even individual communities, these guests of honor were celebrated for their service and sacrifice. Here, Brewster American Legion Post 71 and VFW Post 672 hosted a ceremony at Veterans Park/Electrozone Field.

From left are Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne, Kent Highway Superintendent Richard Othmer, Assemblyman Matt Slater, Kent Town Board member Shawn Boyd, Town Supervisor Jaime McGlasson, and Town Board members Anne Campbell and Christopher Ruthven – with a few future leaders – during the unveiling of a sign commemorating the new “Lake Carmel Veterans Memorial Bridge” at South Terry Hill Road. A walking bridge that was completed last year in Lake Carmel was dedicated Nov. 11

By Holly Crocco The absentee ballots have been counted and the results are in, with Democrats officially gaining victories in a couple of key town races in Putnam County. While the 2025 election took place Nov. 4, absentee ballots were accepted by the Putnam County Board of Elections through Nov. 12. According to the numbers posted Nov. 14, Putnam Valley incumbent Republican Town Supervisor Jacqueline Annabi was defeated by Democrat Alison Jolicoeur by 23 votes (1,477 to 1,45

By Holly Crocco Whether you blame the Democrats or the Republicans for the current federal government’s shutdown – the longest in U.S. history – what is undisputable is the bipartisanship and compassion shown by the local community that steps up when neighbors are in need. In this case, it’s to support the nearly 3,000 individuals in Putnam County who are not receiving their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  benefits, as – also for the first time in history – funding

Republican Jake D’Angelo celebrates his win for County Legislature, with friends, family, and supporters. Come January, he will become the youngest Putnam legislator in the county’s history. By Holly Crocco Editor’s Note: The following ballot counts are as of Friday, Nov. 7. Absentee and mail-in ballots are still being counted – and received – by the Putnam County Board of Elections, and with several extremely close races, many winners are still undecided from the Nov. 4 elec