Stay Local for County’s Sake



One of America’s leading media minds, Roger Ailes of Putnam County, believes that though newspapers across America are traveling rocky roads, “local papers will prevail because they have tremendous growth potential.” Ailes’s made his comments Wednesday at the 5th annual Putnam County Economic Development Corporation Business Recognition Breakfast attended by more than 200 regional movers and shakers. The breakfast kicked […]

Putnam Joins National Day of Prayer



In 1952, Congress, in a resolution signed by President Harry S. Truman, proclaimed the National Day of Prayer. Every year since, federal, state, and local governments have marked the occassion with public ceremonies recognizing the religious heritage of the nation. Putnam County will join in this year’s May 7 observances with a ceremony at noon at Cornerstone Park, at the […]

Historic Patterson Baptist Church a Fitting Site for Patriotic Prayer



The historic Patterson Baptist Church will open its doors to the public all day Thursday, May 7, for the National Day of Prayer. The pastor, Dr. Larry Maxwell says, “It is important to pray for our leaders, so we’ve been involved in the National Day of Prayer for 15 years now.” Patterson Baptist seems a fitting site to host such […]

Female Felons Fill Jailhouse to Capacity



Putnam County is running out of jail space and officials at the Putnam Correctional Facility believe the time is right for the county to begin thinking about jail expansion. The discussion was aired at last week’s meeting of the Putnam Legislature’s Protective Services Committee when Legislators Mary Ellen Odell, Mary Conklin, and Sam Oliverio welcomed Undersheriff Peter Convery and Jail […]

County Coffers Need Boost, Say Legislators



A one quarter of one percent mortgage tax would have generated more than $1 million for county coffers during the past six months during a downturn in home sales. Legislator Mary Ellen Odell told her colleagues and an audience of some two dozen gathered at the historic Putnam Courthouse Tuesday evening for the regular monthly meeting of the Putnam Legislature: […]

Amid Challengers, Sheriff Seeks Third Term



Sheriff Donald Smith calls himself a “uniter, not a divider.” The West Point graduate and retired brigadier general who is completing his second fouryear term as Putnam’s chief lawman announced his intention to seek reelection last Thursday evening before more than 200 supporters gathered at the Putnam Veterans Memorial Hall in Carmel in a party-like atmosphere. Red, white, and blue […]

It’s Official: Greg Ball Versus John Hall in 2010



State Assemblyman Greg Ball has let the cat out of the bag to a group of students attending the John F. Kennedy High School in Somers. The 99th District lawmaker who represents constituents in Carmel, Southeast and Patterson along with Pawling, North Salem, Somers and Yorktown will be running for the 19th Congressional District seat now held by Representative John […]

Courier Reporter Wins Journalism Fellowship



Courier journalist Michael Brendan Dougherty has received the prestigious Phillips Journalism Fellowship, and will be honored at a dinner along seven other winners Tuesday, May 12, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Dougherty impressed a panel of longtime Washington journalists and publishers with his proposal, “Blowup: The Contradictions of the Financial Crisis.” The project, which was awarded a […]

Water Relief Coming to Southeast’s Springhouse Estates



A partnering effort spearheaded by State Senator Vincent Leibell and Southeast Town Supervisor Michael Rights will result in clean drinking water to 54 families residing in the Springhouse Estates subdivision in Southeast. In April 2008, the New York State Health Department determined that drinking water in the community’s water district failed to meet state specifications due to an underground aquifer […]

It’s All About Healthy Babies



Tears of joy were evident in Carmel Sunday when dozens of participants walked the Carmel High School track for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica. Anka Roberto of Southeast and Nina Ilardi of Mahopac were especially grateful holding their “miracle” daughters— both born prematurely with severe health problems but both on the way towards leading normal lives thanks to research spearheaded […]