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County Lands at 1.72% Tax Rate; Approves Funds for Towns, & Food Insecurity

County Lands at 1.72% Tax Rate; Approves Funds for Towns, & Food Insecurity

County Lands at 1.72% Tax Rate; Approves Funds for Towns, & Food Insecurity

A group of volunteers prepares meals at Second Chance Foods in Brewster, to be distributed to pantries and other mechanisms throughout the county that distribute meals to those in need. The organization will receive a bump in funding – although not as much as it had hoped for – in the 2027 budget. Photo courtesy of Second Chance Foods, Inc. By Holly Crocco The Putnam Legislature last week adopted a 2027 budget with a tax levy of $32.6 million, which equates to a 1.72 percent

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Court: Putnam Conservative Party Broke State Law With Fake Mailers

By Holly Crocco The Putnam Conservative Party last week admitted in court to altering photos on campaign mailers, in violation of state election law, and agreed to pay the legal fees for Republican County Executive Kevin Byrne after he sued the party over the circulation of materials that contained fake images of him posing with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “There is no photo on the planet like that of me with Kathy Hochul,”

3 hours ago

County Lands at 1.72% Tax Rate; Approves Funds for Towns, & Food Insecurity

A group of volunteers prepares meals at Second Chance Foods in Brewster, to be distributed to pantries and other mechanisms throughout the county that distribute meals to those in need. The organization will receive a bump in funding – although not as much as it had hoped for – in the 2027 budget. Photo courtesy of Second Chance Foods, Inc. By Holly Crocco The Putnam Legislature last week adopted a 2027 budget with a tax levy of $32.6 million, which equates to a 1.72 percent

3 hours ago

County Lands at 1.72% Tax Rate; Approves Funds for Towns, & Food Insecurity

County Lands at 1.72% Tax Rate; Approves Funds for Towns, & Food Insecurity

Kent Considers 6% Budget Increase

By Holly Crocco The Town of Kent is considering a 5.94 percent increase to its overall budget for 2027, with $8.8 million in the general fund and $5.6 million for the police department. Both the highway and general fund budgets increase 6 percent, which amounts to $679,000 more for the general fund and $313,000 more for the highway department. “That’s considerably low compared to prior years,” said Director of Finance Cristina Cahill at the Oct. 20 Kent Town Board meeting. To

3 hours ago

Patterson Opts to Exceed Tax Cap; Seeks Fields Corners Rd. Weight Limit

By Holly Crocco The Patterson Town Board has unanimously approved moving forward with a budget that surpasses the state-mandated 2 percent property tax levy cap for 2027, with a preliminary budget of $17.2 million, which represents about $214,000 in spending beyond what is allowed by the state. It equates to a 4.39 percent tax levy increase. “This is the first year since the tax cap was initiated that we’re actually overriding it,” said Town Supervisor Richard Williams during

3 hours ago

BluePath Service Dogs Opens Carmel Campus

From left are BluePath Service Dogs Director of Marketing & Development Erica Stanzione, major supporters Bonnie Trotta and board member Steve Sprague, Vice President of Canine Program Development Caroline McCabe-Sandler, CEO Michelle Brier, Board Chair Linda Hogan, and board members Bill Beck and Jonathan Nettelfield. BluePath Service Dogs officially opened its new campus in Carmel on Oct. 17, marking a defining milestone in the nonprofit’s 10-year history. More than 150 sup

3 hours ago

BluePath Service Dogs Opens Carmel Campus

BluePath Service Dogs Opens Carmel Campus

Take the Cornell Cooperative Ext. Survey

What does Putnam County need most? More educational opportunities for young people? Greater support for local agriculture? Programs that help families stretch their budgets, protect natural resources, or develop valuable life skills? Cornell Cooperative Extension-Putnam County wants to hear directly from the people who know their community best – its residents. As the organization prepares for 2027 and beyond, it is inviting all Putnam residents to participate in its 2027 com

3 hours ago

Eagle Scout Project Brings New Kiosk to Patterson Park

Eagle Scout candidate August Bark with Scoutmaster Andrew Cooke. The Patterson Environmental Park recently welcomed a new kiosk, thanks to the hard work and community spirit of Eagle Scout candidate August Bark. The project began nearly a year ago when Park Caretaker Ed Napierkowski discussed replacing the aging and deteriorated kiosk. Rather than simply replacing it, the project became an opportunity to engage the local Boy Scouts and encourage community service. Bark took o

3 hours ago

Eagle Scout Project Brings New Kiosk to Patterson Park

Eagle Scout Project Brings New Kiosk to Patterson Park

Putnam Deputies Nab Thieves with Grappler Deployment

This screenshot from dash camera footage posted by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office shows the suspect’s vehicle tethered to the law enforcement vehicle behind it, which was put in place using a Grappler Police Bumper when the deputy bumped into the vehicle from behind. A high-speed vehicle pursuit that spanned more than 30 minutes across Putnam and Dutchess counties Oct. 22 resulted in the arrest of two Hudson Valley residents, thanks to the use of a Grappler Police Bumper.

3 hours ago

Putnam Deputies Nab Thieves with Grappler Deployment

Putnam Deputies Nab Thieves with Grappler Deployment

Putnam Mom Group Builds Community

As the rising cost of living pushes more young families out of New York City and Westchester, Putnam County is seeing a quiet boom – more strollers than there are sidewalks, more new faces at the library, and more moms looking for their people. The Putnam County Moms Collective was created for this exact moment. PCMC is a supportive, non-judgmental, and growing community where moms – expecting, new, seasoned, working, and stay-at-home – can make friends, schedule playdates, a

3 hours ago

Putnam Mom Group Builds Community

Putnam Mom Group Builds Community

Podcast Focuses on 30-Year Cold Case from Carmel

By Holly Crocco More than 30 years after 17-year-old Robin Murphy vanished from Carmel, her case is again in the spotlight as a Hudson Valley podcaster highlights the man who he believes may be behind the mystery. After the success of season one of “The Devil’s Quarry,” which highlighted the 1994 murder of 12-year-old Josette Wright of Carmel and the cases of Anthony DiPippo and Andrew Kirvak, “Rolling Stone” journalist Paul Solotaroff is back with season two, which focuses o

3 hours ago

Castellano, Eckardt Face Off for Southeast Supervisor

Joseph Castellano Lynne Eckardt By Holly Crocco Interim Town Supervisor Joseph Castellano, a Republican, is being challenged by Lynne Eckardt, a Democrat, in the November election. Joseph Castellano Southeast Town Supervisor Joseph Castellano was appointed by the Town Board in February to serve in an interim role, after the former supervisor resigned. Prior to that, he served on the Zoning Board from 2004 to 2012 before being elected Putnam County legislator for District 7 in

6 days ago

Castellano, Eckardt Face Off for Southeast Supervisor

Castellano, Eckardt Face Off for Southeast Supervisor

Jolicoeur Challenged by Gouldman for Put Valley Super

Alison Jolicoeur Bill Gouldman By Holly Crocco For the position of Putnam Valley town supervisor, incumbent Alison Jolicoeur, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Bill Gouldman. Alison Jolicoeur Putnam Valley Town Supervisor Alison Jolicoeur’s commitment to public service began long before she was elected last year (changes to New York’s local election cycle triggered another vote this year). In 2016, she founded Second Chance Foods alongside Martha Elder and Jean Mc

6 days ago

Jolicoeur Challenged by Gouldman for Put Valley Super

Jolicoeur Challenged by Gouldman for Put Valley Super

Sewell Challenges McGlasson for Kent Town Supervisor

Jaime McGlasson Alex Sewell By Holly Crocco For the position of Kent town supervisor, incumbent Jaime McGlasson, a Republican, is being challenged by Alex Sewell, a Democrat. Jaime McGlasson Kent Town Supervisor Jaime McGlasson has served nearly five years in the position, spending six years prior on the Town Board. In addition to elected office, she has served as the St. James CYO basketball coordinator for the past several years. “My commitment to public service began with

6 days ago

Sewell Challenges McGlasson for Kent Town Supervisor

Sewell Challenges McGlasson for Kent Town Supervisor

County OKs Tourism Impact Study

When asked what brought them to Cold Spring, recent visitors said they saw coverage on social media, while others asked ChatGBT for a fall weekend plan. Photo by Chloe Wareham-Gordon. By Holly Crocco Tourism brought in nearly $92 million to Putnam County in 2025 – a $3.4 million increase from the year prior, according to Tourism Director Tara Keegan. That equates to $309 per household in revenue, or a total annual savings of $11 million for taxpayers. Or does it? During the C

6 days ago

County OKs Tourism Impact Study

County OKs Tourism Impact Study

County Scrambles to Get $$ to Towns; May Be Too Late for 2026

By Holly Crocco Putnam County government has a surplus of money, and the towns and villages want some of it. The County Legislature last week debated whether there is time to act on County Executive Kevin Byrne’s proposal to distribute $6.5 million to the municipalities by the end of 2026, or if they are better served by distributing $10 million to the towns and villages over the next two years. During the Oct. 20 Budget Committee meeting, Legislator Toni Addonizio, R-Kent, i

6 days ago

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