Sifting Through the Sands of Time

Indian Corn Crop

It is stated that recent investigations show that the Indian corn crop of the United States is of more value than any other agricultural production, not even excepting cotton. The culture of corn has wonderfully increased of late years—its ratio of increase being far greater than any other product. From 1839 to 18,949, as per census returns, the increase was […]

Ridership Hits Record High on Metro-North RR



The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced last week that MetroNorth Railroad is seeing record ridership numbers, as is the Long Island Rail Road. Metro-North Railroad carried approximately 86.5 million customers in 2016, the highest ridership in Metro-North’s history. Metro-North has two rail lines that traverse Putnam County: The Hudson Line, along the river, and the Harlem Line that makes its way […]

Molloy Charged with $10 Theft of Newspapers



The chairman of the Putnam County Visitors’ Bureau, Barney Molloy, is facing larceny charges for allegedly stealing copies of the New York Times from bundles outside the Cupoccino Café in Cold Spring. Cold Spring Police Dept. Officer-in-Charge George Kane told the Courier and PCNR Sunday the alleged thefts occurred on the mornings of Nov. 18, 21 and 29 in addition […]

Putnam Unemployment Remains as Lowest In Region and Third Lowest In State



The NYS Department of Labor reported last week that for the month of December, Putnam’s rate of unemployment was not only the lowest in the region but the third lowest in all of New York State only behind Columbia, Tompkins and Albany counties. In 1998, Putnam’s 2.2 percent rate of unemployment was the lowest in all of New York. NYS […]

Cunningham’s Corner

Business in New York – Not So Fast

I am beginning to have an acute appreciation for being a business person in New York State, as we enter Week 7 of our new entrepreneurial life here at the Courier and PCNR. Not only that, but this: I now have considerable admiration for everyone, of whatever stripe or enterprise, who seeks to run a small business in this state. […]

Toni Barni, Career Carmel Educator, Loses Battle With Cancer



Antonette ‘Toni’ Barni was a fighter who battled for her children’s welfare both in and out of the classroom. The quarter-century Carmel School District educator and 51-year resident of Mahopac sadly lost the fight of her life January 22 at the age of 73 following a six-year battle with breast cancer. Barni was remembered by family, friends and colleagues as […]

Theft of Donkey and Cart Planter Saddens Carmel Family



Gloria Maloney expressed great heartbreak Monday when lamenting the theft of a sentimental concrete donkey and cart planter taken from her yard off Fair Street in Carmel. Thieves stole the 300-pound statue, valued at $1,000, between 11 pm Saturday and 4 am Sunday. The statue was given to Maloney by her husband following the death of Gloria’s mom last April. […]

O’Keefe Back in Jail After Agreeing to Plea



The case against a retired Carmel police officer, former Carmel town councilman and previous member of the Mahopac Board of Education will be the subject of a court hearing in February – after a plea deal was reached in connection with the case ordering Richard O’Keefe back to jail. The 57-year-old Mahopac resident is facing felony charges of aggravated vehicular […]

Sales Tax Revenue Soars in 2016



What a difference a year makes! After taking a 1.44 percent hit in the sales tax department in 2015, county coffers are reaping the benefits of a more robust Putnam business climate in 2016, since sales tax revenue collected in the county’s six towns totaled $59 million – the largest amount in Putnam history. Commissioner of Finance William Carlin issued […]

Former Treasurer Of Patterson FD Facing Sentencing Friday



The former treasurer of the Patterson Fire Department, Albert Melin, who pleaded guilty last fall in U.S. District Court to charges of wire fraud and false submission of tax returns related to embezzling more than $1.1 million, is to be sentenced Friday in White Plains Federal Court. He wrote in excess of 130 fraudulent checks. U.S. Attorney for the Southern […]