2020-10-06 E-Edition

Odell Unveils $164.2 Million Budget for 2021


The Putnam Legislature meets this evening (Tuesday, Oct. 6) to conduct a public hearing on the county’s tentative $164.2 million budget as proposed by County Executive MaryEllen Odell. The fiscal spending plan represents a spending increase of $477,000 or less than 1 percent over the current budget, and despite the unprecedented times that the county and country are facing, it […]

COVID Spikes in Putnam – 39 New Cases Reported


An alarming number of new coronavirus cases have been reported in Putnam County within recent days. The Putnam Health Department announced Saturday that 39 new cases had been confirmed countywide with one COVID-19 patient hospitalized at Putnam Hospital Center. Since the pandemic erupted in March 1,819 residents of the county contracted coronavirus. The county’s death toll remains the same as […]

Putnam County’s Donald Trump State Park–Another Trump Write-Off


President Donald Trump has paid virtually no income taxes in 10 of the last 15 years, and just $750 to the IRS in 2016 and 2017, the New York Times reported on Sept. 27 and 28. And among those many, many write-offs and losses in his voluminous tax returns is a 436-acre parcel of land in Putnam County. In 2006, […]

Forest Rangers Rescue Local Residents Upstate

Brewster Woman, 60, Croton Falls Man, 76

Two local residents were rescued by New York State Forest rangers last week when injured while hiking in upstate New York. DEC officials said on Sept. 29, a call was received reporting a 60 year old woman from Brewster had dislocated her shoulder on the Phelps Mountain Trail in the town of North Elba in Essex County. The victim’s fellow […]

Anonymous Donor Aids Landtrust

Putnam Land Trust, challenged by an anonymous donor to a matching grant to assist the non-for-profits stewardship programs, has turned $5,000 into $10,000. Land Trust President Judy Terlizzi put it this way last week: We reached our goal with no hedge funds, no casinos and with no magic tricks–just the generosity of our members and supporters.” Terlizzi described the Land […]

Police Review Panel Seeking Members


Interested in assisting Putnam County advance a police reform plan? The county’s Police Review Panel is seeking residents from all walks of life who desire to help shape the discussion of policing issues within the county’s six towns and three villages. The 21-member panel is being chaired by County Executive MaryEllen Odell and includes representatives of the Sheriff’s Department, Carmel […]

Two Injured in Mahopac Crash


Wet leaves and slippery roads contributed to a headon crash in Mahopac that sent two drivers to Danbury Hospital. Carmel Police investigated last Tuesday’s wreck that occurred on Croton Falls Road near Sandy Street around 9 am. Lt. Stephen Kunze said a Hyundai driven by Raisa Garcia, 33, of Danbury collided with a pick-up truck operated by Victor Sagastume, 42, […]

Two Drive-Thru Flu Clinics Planned Within Next Week

The Putnam County Health Department has scheduled two drive-thru flu clinics within the next week as world health officials are predicting a nasty flu season this year. A clinic is planned for Wednesday, Oct. 7 at the Garrison Firehouse on Route 9 and a second on Friday, Oct. 16 at the Putnam County Health Department headquarters located off Routes 312 […]

Brian Lockhart, 44, of Carmel Charged with Sharing Child Sex Abuse Materials

Law enforcement from Putnam County and Texas, working together with the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force operated in conjunction with the New York State Police, arrested a Carmel man last week for allegedly sharing child sexual abuse materials through a chat room. Sheriff Robert Langley identified the suspect as 44-year-old Brian Lockhart. Langley said members of his department became […]