Support for Addonizio

To the Editor: There is a Primary Election scheduled for June 23rd for Putnam County Legislator District 3 (early voting begins on June 13th). The Republican Committees in both Kent and Patterson have unanimously voted to support the re-election of our current Legislator Toni Addonizio. Although Toni is the Republicanendorsed candidate for the November election, she is being forced into […]

Elderly Lake Carmel Man Rescued from Smoke-Filled Home


An elderly Lake Carmel man was overcome by smoke last Monday afternoon after fire broke out in the kitchen of his wood-frame house while he was taking a nap. Authorities said Robert Short was preparing a meal when he fell asleep. Kent Police and Lake Carmel FD personnel were summoned after several calls were made to the county’s 9-1-1 Center […]

Triple Challenge: Crossword, Jumble & Sudoku

Hudson Valley Furniture Service Back in Business


It’s been a long three months for Jim Caione, proprietor of Hudson Valley Furniture Service located in Patterson. Like scores of other local entrepreneurs, Caione’s business was forced to close due to the Executive Order issued in March by Governor Andrew Cuomo in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Last Tuesday, when businesses were permitted to reopen, Caione was hired […]

‘Virtual’ Veterans Wellness Fair Taking Place Throughout June


In conjunction with Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Month, the Joseph P. Dwyer Vet2Vet Program, the Putnam County Veterans Service Agency and the Putnam County Suicide Prevention Task Force, are hosting a daily ‘virtual’ Veterans Wellness Fair throughout the month of June. Megan Castellano, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Putnam, said the shared effort resulted from a “three-year […]

Paint Putnam


A call to artists has been issued by the Putnam Arts Council and the Putnam Tourism Bureau. Both agencies have challenged the public to paint “beautiful Putnam through the ‘#paintputnamcontest.’” Arts Council Executive Director Joyce Piccone said the competition was intended to “engage artists while celebrating their talents and showcasing the beauty of our county.” The Paint Putnam contest is […]

Battle over Personnel Records of Sheriff’s Employees


The Putnam Legislature’s Protective Services Committee battled with Sheriff Robert Langley last week regarding the sharing of disciplinary records. Committee Chairman Paul Jonke of Southeast initiated the hour long discussion via a remote hook-up due to the COVID-19 pandemic by telling the sheriff and his fellow lawmakers: “We have been demanding disciplinary records for quite some time. The legislature has […]

Statement by Board of Education President Sonia Mesika

The Board of Education recognizes that Board Trustee Berardi has free speech rights as an individual, which prevents the Board from taking legal action to seek her removal. However, I would like to say personally, for Ms. Berardi to continue as a Trustee is disruptive to the Board and hinders the work of our administration, faculty, and staff. We will, […]

Brewster School Trustee Berardi Resigns; Inappropriate Facebook Posts on Protesting & Police Brutality Caused Outrage

Brewster School Trustee Krista Berardi resigned late Friday night after causing a firestorm in the community, suggesting on Facebook that George Floyd’s death in Minnesota at the hands of a police officer charged with his murder was “staged” and insinuating that protesters gathered along I-84 in Danbury, forcing the closing of the highway and backing up traffic to the state […]

Prayers for Peace


Parishioners attending St. Lawrence O’Toole Church in Brewster and Sacred Heart Church in Putnam Lake gathered outside their church a week ago Saturday evening against the backdrop of a glorious sunset to pray for peace. One hundred fifty men and women listened as church pastor, the Rev. Richard Gill and Deacon Mark Shkreli spoke of today’s troubled times throughout the […]