Othmer Steps Down as Legislative Chair



The big, bold and sometimes brassy chairman of the Putnam Legislature stepped down Friday night with nary a whimper. Richard Othmer chaired the year-end meeting before a handful of residents in the County Office Building in Carmel. During Othmer’s five year tenure on the board, he was often known for his “one liners” and sometimes “off-color” remarks. The only “Othmerism” […]

Perspective

Conservation Easements: ‘Deduct’ This Needless Loophole

Growing up in the Dakotas, I learned firsthand about the value and many uses of land — from family farms and real estate development to the spectacular protected wilderness of our national parks. Responsible land development is foundational to economic growth, but the federal tax code actually disincentivizes development by encouraging the creation of “conservation easements,” which permanently bar land […]

Sifting Through the Sands of Time

BIG RUSH FOR 1929 LICENSES EXPECTED

No Days of Grace Will Be Allowed This Year for Drivers after January 1st In the week between Christmas and New Year’s more than 40 per cent of the motorists of the State apply for license plates, although the distributing agencies of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles were in a position to register cars since November 19. The habit of […]

Word of the Week



foo·fa·raw frills and flashy finery

FROM THE CHAMBER

Economic Development Awards Bring Putnam Optimism But Also A Challenge

The annual round of state economic development awards are in and the Mid-Hudson Region received $59.6 million for 87 projects. That is far behind some regions but still a hefty amount of economic development support. Thanks to some hard work, spearheaded by Putnam Economic Development Corp. President Meghan Taylor, Putnam County will receive state funding for three major initiatives totaling […]

Woman Accused of Stealing Dead Mother-In-Law’s Identity



A New Fairfield woman is facing felony charges of forgery for allegedly using her dead mother-in-law’s identity by forging a check and using it to pay for a prescription at a Brewster pharmacy. State Police reported the arrest last Wednesday of Angela Cioffi, 37, in connection with the incident. Brewster State Police Station Commander Sgt. Joseph Malorgio said following a […]

Brewster-Cornell Tradition Continues

Students learn from top scientists

Forty-eight Brewster High School students had a onceina-lifetime experience when they attended Cornell University earlier this month to learn from some of the most brilliant scientists in the world. Under the direction of Brewster High School biology teacher Jordi Douglas who is a member of the Cornell Institute for Biology Teachers, the students participated in the outreach program designed to […]

Search On for New Brewster Super



Now that Jane Sandbank has left the Brewster School District following her retirement after 37 years in public education, the Brewster Board of Education must find a permanent replacement. Earlier this month, trustees named Tim Conway, the district’s current Deputy Superintendent, as Interim-Superintendent effective January 1. On January 8, the official process to name a permanent chief school administrator will […]

Crashes Snarl Traffic in Patterson



Two crashes—one involving a car that burst into flames— snarled Friday afternoon traffic on Route 22 in Patterson. The back-to-back mishaps occurred at 4 p.m. on the heavily traveled highway. The first took place on Route 22 at the intersection of Route 311 and minutes later, the second crash was reported on Route 22 south of the Putnam-Dutchess county line. […]

Discount Prescription Card Saves $600K



Putnam’s participation in the ProAct Prescription Discount Card Program has reaped tremendous benefits for local residents this year. Since the county joined the initiative last February, Putnam residents have filled more than 10,000 prescriptions saving $600,000. County Executive MaryEllen Odell lauded the program describing it as a “financial success story for our residents who are not only uninsured but those […]