Communities across Putnam celebrated the Fourth of July – and the 250th anniversary of the signing of our country’s Declaration of Independence – with various events and festivities. While the strong storms that swept through the area foiled some celebrations. The Lake Peekskill Floatilla was one of many events that took place over the July 4 weekend to celebrate the holiday. Take a look inside for more photos from various communities. Provided photo.

By Holly Crocco The Carmel Central School District is in the process of reforming its hiring process, following a situation last month in which the school board opted not to approve a list of hires, citing a poor vetting process. During the Carmel School Board’s July 1 meeting, resident Ryan Shilling expressed concerns about transparency and consistency regarding the district’s hiring process. He stated that, a few weeks prior, two candidates who had completed what seemed to

Were political messages scrawled on the replica Declaration of Independence hanging at the Historical Courthouse in Carmel an act of vandalism, or an exercise of one’s First Amendment right? Photo provided by the Putnam County Executive’s Office. By Holly Crocco As part of continuing countywide celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne is notifying residents that another larger-than-life

By Holly Crocco School districts across Putnam are welcoming new leadership at the administrative level and the board level as they organize for the 2026-27 school year. During the July 1 reorganizational meeting of the Mahopac School Board, new Superintendent of Schools Vincent DiGrandi and board trustees Joseph Catalli, Lindsay DiCerbo, and Adam Savino were sworn into office, before elections for board president and vice president took place. Trustee Nicole Iacono nominated

Putnam County Firearm Owners Association leadership includes, from left, Director Bob Cullen from Brewster, Treasurer Helen Moss from Yorktown Heights, Director Joe Melhado from Hartsdale, Recording Secretary Cindy Trimble from Cold Spring, President and founding member John O’Connor from Brewster, Vice President and founding member Marilyn Miller from Brewster, Membership Secretary Henry Lopez from Putnam Valley, and Financial Secretary Eric Cyprus from Brewster. Missing fro

The Sybil Ludington statue was returned to its home on Gleneida Avenue in Carmel on July 3, after undergoing restorations. Photos by Chloe Wareham-Gordon. A time capsule was buried under the monument, to be opened the next time Sybil is taken away for a facelift. By Holly Crocco A crowd of spectators lined Gleneida Avenue to welcome the return of the Sybil Ludington statue July 3, as a parade escorted the recently refurbished structure from the Kent Elementary School to her p