2023-02-14 E-Edition

BIRTHING CENTER REOPENS IN CARMEL

Babies on Board

Return of Birthing Center Big Step for Hospital Putnam Hospital Center’s refurbished Birthing Center opened with great fanfare last Tuesday evening when the hospital’s President Dr. Mark Hirko cut the ceremonial ribbon welcoming expectant parents to deliver their children in a modern, 12,000-square-foot facility. With some 100 guests attending the ribbon cutting, Dr. Hirko described the center as “key to […]

In the End, Deputy County Executive Pay Hike OK’d


County Executive Kevin Byrne won the battle but the question remains: Will his credibility be tarnished by granting a $24,000 pay hike to his deputy county executive, someone who has been on the job for just six weeks? The Putnam Legislature last Tuesday evening approved the salary increase by a 6-2, vote with only Legislators Toni Addonizio and Amy Sayegh […]

A Break for Emergency Responders

On Property Taxes

Putnam County lawmakers have approved legislation that allows volunteer firefighters a 10 percent exemption on their property tax bills. A public hearing was held last Tuesday evening at the Putnam Legislature’s regular monthly meeting, during which one speaker, Gerald Schramek of Southeast addressed the forum. Schramek thanked the legislators for having the “foresight to honor the men and women of […]

Suicide Prevention Summit Held


The message reverberated, urging those with suicidal thoughts to seek help. But the challenge is whether Putnam County can drive its suicide total down; it’s currently almost exactly tracking the national rate of 13.42 per 100,000 people annually. The number is concerning, and in the wake of the 13 residents of Putnam County who died by suicide last year, the […]

Putnam Sales Tax to Remain at 8.375%


Sales tax will remain at 8.375 percent in Putnam County for at least the next three years following action taken by the Putnam Legislature. Meeting last Tuesday evening at the historic Putnam Courthouse in Carmel, the lawmakers approved the extension due to what a resolution stated: “In light of the current and ongoing fiscal challenges facing Putnam County government, it […]

Putnam HS Graduation Rates Surpass State Average


Graduation rates at Putnam’s five high schools continue to climb. The NYS Education Department released graduation data for the 2021-22 school year last week, indicating statewide 87 percent of all high school seniors in New York’s 678 school districts received their diplomas in June 2022. The totals included students who earned local diplomas, Regents diplomas and Regents diplomas with advanced […]

CUNNINGHAM’S CORNER

FREE Lots of Room on Either Side of the Middle

All in all, I’d rather every reader was happy and content, able to sit down with a beverage in an easy chair after a good day’s work and read the Courier or PCNR, serendipitously noting this advertisement or that curious story. But we live in the real world. Some are happy – a Courier reader renewed for three years last […]

From the Archives FERUARY 15, 1929

SKATE FOR YOUR HEALTH

It has been a good year to provide skating on the lakes of the county of Putman. We have had but little snow to spoil the ice for skating and what snow we did have was generally followed by rain to give the skaters smooth ice for the best of winter sports as well as one of the most healthful […]

Political Cartoon