Putnam County Times/Press

01/10/2023

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live-updates/police-respond-to-report-of-shooting-in-putnam-county/

Reports of a police-involved shooting in Putnam that left one man dead. Details to follow...

Authorities say police were called to a report of a woman needing assistance around 9:45 a.m.

10/14/2022

Carmel Eyes 6.67% Tax Rate Decrease;
Hiked Assessments Will Affect Tax Bills

Carmel Town Supervisor Michael Cazzari presented his first tentative budget to the Town Board during its Oct. 5 meeting, saying he will continue to work to keep taxes in check.
“Although it has been a challenging year for all of us, I devoted much time and effort in the preparation of this budget to keep the costs to the taxpayers at a minimum,” he said. “Since the onset of COVID, as with the residents, business owners and taxpayers, the town continues to absorb the rising costs of insurance, utilities, material supplies and equipment, as well as having to deal with the frustration of their availability.”
According to Town Comptroller Mary Ann Maxwell, the proposed budget seeks to collect $24.7 million in taxes – coming in about $7,000 below what is allowed under the state-mandated cap on the property tax levy increase. Therefore, the budget reflects a 4.42 percent townwide tax rate, which is a 6.67 percent decrease from the current year.
However, since assessed property values went up, that does necessarily not mean property owners will see a decrease on their tax bills.
Read the full story in this week's issue.

10/05/2022

Pat the Cat and Johnny Youngblood, with Vince Leggiere and Chris Kaiser, perform at the Hudson Valley Blues Society's jam session last week in Brewster. Wanna join the fun next month? Find out how in next week's issue!

09/13/2022

Woman R***d on Bike Path

A Mahopac man was charged with r**e after allegedly attacking a woman near the Putnam bike path just before dark Saturday.
According to Carmel Police Chief Anthony Hoffmann, shortly after 7 p.m. Sept. 10, the department was notified of a possible assault on the Putnam Trailway near Weber Hill Road in Mahopac.
Witnesses told first-arriving officers that a possible sexual assault had occurred, and police were able to quickly locate and detain a suspect who was attempting to flee the area on bicycle, said Hoffmann.
After an investigation, Neftali Caal-Chocoj, 49, of Mahopac, was arrested and charged with second-degree r**e, a class C Felony. He was arraigned in Carmel Town Court where bail was set $200,000, and transported to Putnam County Correctional Facility pending further proceedings.
Hoffmann acknowledged the fast actions of witnesses who aided in the quick apprehension of the suspect.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and Putnam County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the case.

09/07/2022

Protection of State Waterways Gets Murky

The Putnam County Legislature is poised to send a resolution to the governor asking her to veto a bill that would make changes to state Environmental Conservation Law, requiring a new permit to be issued for projects that affect Class C streams —adding protections to nearly 41,000 miles of steams across the state.
The bill, which has passed through both the State Senate and Assembly, states: “Class C waterways, which are regularly used by people for boating, fishing and other activities, are not currently afforded the protection that is provided to waterways classified as streams. Because of the close contact people have with Class C waterways, listing them as streams will allow for their protection.”
However, some local lawmakers say this will only add another layer of bureaucracy and cost to municipalities and individuals who already have to go through a permitting process to complete projects along streams. Instead, Putnam legislators say steam remediation and habitat protection should be left up to the local soil and water conservation districts, which have established practices and already apply for permitting for projects along Class C streams through the Army Corps of Engineers.
“As these permits currently take four to eight months due to NYS Department of Environmental Conservation backlog, the proposed new regulations, although well intended, would create the need for more than 40 times the applications to go to NYSDEC,” the county’s resolution reads. “Based upon the current backlog and timeframe for permitting, this would delay projects at least 26 months.”
Read the fully story in this week's issue.

08/19/2022

Son of Former Sheriff Arrested in Child P**n Case

The Carmel man arrested earlier this summer for allegedly possessing and sharing child po*******hy was identified last week by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department as Robert Langley III, 36, son of former Sheriff Robert Langley Jr.
According to PCSD, in March, investigators assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation received information from the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that images and videos of child sexual abuse were being shared online from Langley III’s residence. Investigators executed a search warrant at his home in May, and were able to recover evidence from electronic devices that were seized, which implicated him.
He was charged with four counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, a class E felony, and arraigned before Carmel Town Judge Daniel Miller and released on his own recognizance with a future court date.
The revelation that the person arrested is the son of the former sheriff came a week after PCSD issued a press release notifying the public of the arrest, but not naming him.
Sheriff Kevin McConville, a Republican who defeated Democrat Langley Jr., in the November election, took office in January. Since then, the department has implemented a policy that it does not release the names of those arrested for various crimes.
For example, in March, the department announced the arrest of a 21-year-old Brewster man on multiple counts of “promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child.” In December, the NYSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force — the same unit that investigated Langley III — obtained information that images and videos of child sexual abuse was being shared online from a residence in Brewster, which led to an arrest in January.
That unnamed suspect was charged with five counts of promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child — the same as Langley III — and arraigned and released.
The complete story will be in next week's issue of the Putnam County Times/Press.

08/19/2022

Carmel Seeks Reduced Speed Limits on 6 & 6N

The Carmel Town Board is asking the state to reduce the speed limit on two roadways in the hamlet of Mahopac, to improve pedestrian and driver safety.
Carmel Town Supervisor Michael Cazzari explained during the board’s Aug. 10 meeting that the town is seeking to reduce the speed limit on Route 6 in the area of Villa Barone Hilltop Manor from 40 miles per hour to 35 mph.
After a Putnam County sheriff’s investigator who was directing traffic in front of the venue was struck by a vehicle in late 2019, the state Department of Transportation installed a sign near Countryside Kitchen alerting drivers that the speed limit falls to 35mph. However, the town is asking the DOT to add signage near North Veschi Lane (near Cargain Funeral Home), as well.
“The state is working with the police department and the town board to add warning signs on Route 6 for that,” said Cazzari. “Hopefully that will slow the traffic down.”

08/11/2022

Former Brewster
Golf Dome Destined
For Senior Housing?

Plans to develop the old Golf Dome property on Route 22 in Brewster into a senior housing complex, and self-storage facility, are in the beginning stages.
EE Brewster, LLC, has a proposal before the Southeast Planning Board to redevelop the 64.5-acre property at 1534 and 1550 Route 22 into a campus with two 18,000-square-foot residential buildings containing 100 units of senior affordable housing, two 16,200-square-foot self-storage buildings, and associated parking. The property would also be equipped with wells and septic, and stormwater management practices on-site.
About 19 acres will be disturbed, according to the design plans.
John Watson of Insite Engineering, Surveying & Landscape Architecture, P.C., of Carmel, said a lot of vetting has already been done at the property to make sure it is right for the project, including wetlands mitigation, septic testing and other analysis.
“We’ve got a project that we know works,” he said at a recent Planning Board meeting.
Planning Board Chairman Tom LaPerch said he would like to see the former Golf Dome site “come to life,” but that the project still has a ways to go.
For more, pick up a copy of this week's edition.

08/11/2022

Carmel Comprehensive Plan Update
Draws Mixed Reviews from Residents

The Carmel Town Board heard mixed reviews during an Aug. 3 public hearing on a draft comprehensive plan and zoning changes that were presented to the community, by Bonnie Franson of Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC, the environmental planning and consulting agency retained by the town to help with the updates.
“We’re essentially at step nine (of 10) – we’re very close to the end,” she said of the process, noting that “significant public input” is now needed to fully vet the proposed documents before they are adopted by the Town Board.
Franson said the comprehensive plan is something the town can use to determine what it may need over the next 10 to 20 years to be successful, including capital improvements. It guides immediate and long-range growth while protecting the environment, assessing development opportunities and challenges, and setting a vision, goals and policies for preservation and growth through 2035.
Once the comprehensive plan is adopted, new zoning regulations have to be initiated, in accordance with the plan.
For the complete story, pick up this week's issue.

07/13/2022

‘Team Up for School Safety’ to Address Mental Health

Members of the Putnam County Legislature heard from Sheriff Kevin McConville and Department of Social Services, Mental Health & Youth Bureau Commissioner Mike Piazza recently about a new initiative to improve school safety throughout the county.
“It’s an inclusionary program involving many disciplines – law enforcement, mental health and school personnel,” explained McConville, at the county’s June 23 Protective Services Committee meeting.
The county announced recently that it will invest $2 million of its American Recover Plan Act funding for Team Up for School Safety, which will bring all members of law enforcement — including the sheriff’s department, New York State Police and municipal police departments — together with representatives from the county’s six school districts, as well as private schools and day cares, and personnel from DSS to address preparedness, response training and planning.
“It’s a critical assessment and review of existing school safety programs,” said McConville. “It’s a school assessment and intervention program review, as well,
Team Up for School Safety seeks to identify trends and needs at the various schools, unify technology so all districts and law enforcement are using the same security platform, provide response training, monitor social media, identify threatening behavior and emotional distress, and maybe even address infrastructure changes that could benefit police response, to name a few.
To read the whole store, pick up this week's Times, in stores now.

07/13/2022

Four-Story Hotel Proposed in Patterson

A Pawling company is seeking a height variance to build a four-story hotel on Route 311 in Patterson.
Rome-American Holdings LLC has submitted a site plan application to construct a 119-room hotel of about 47,000 square feet, and a 6,000-square-foot retail building, as well as a parking lot with 229 spaces, on 16.4 acres of property at 293 Route 311, east of Interstate-84.
The project, which should disturb about 11 acres, would have a private septic system and well.
Site plans for Towners Inn depict a 44-foot building with a tower reaching 75 feet. Since that exceeds the 35-foot maximum height permitted in the town’s industrial district, the applicant has to apply for a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
For more, pick up this week's issue.

06/30/2022

County GOP Gets New Elections Chief

The Putnam County Legislature on June 23 unanimously approved the appointment of former Deputy Board of Elections Commissioner Kelly Primavera to the position of Republican elections commissioner, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of long-time GOP Elections Commissioner Tony Scannapieco.
“We received a letter a couple of weeks ago that the existing Board of Elections commissioner for the Republican Party, Anthony Scannapieco, is going to be retiring June 30,” said Legislature Chairman Neal Sullivan, R-Mahopac, during last week’s special meeting.
“We’d like to thank him for all his years of service to the residents of Putnam County – over 30 years,” continued Sullivan. “He’s done a terrific job for the residents and everyone, and I want to thank him for his dedication and his long-term work for the county.”
Scannapieco, who has been the Republican elections commissioner in Putnam for 31 years, has stated in the news that his resignation stems from acrimony in county politics. He still currently serves as head of the Putnam County Republican Committee.
Primavera’s appointment is to fill the remainder of Scannapieco’s term, which expires Dec. 31. In New York State, commissioners are recommended by the county party committee, and appointed by the County Legislature.

06/30/2022

County Lawmakers Split on Use of ‘Rescue’ Funding

Putnam County is moving forward with allocating American Recovery Plan Act monies, with the County Legislature’s Rules Committee unanimously approving certain town, village and county projects during its June 21 meeting — despite some lawmakers asking for more time to consider all the options.
According to Finance Commissioner Bill Carlin, the county is receiving $19.1 million in ARPA funds, $5 million of which it has committed to divvying up among the towns and villages. These local municipalities also received a combined $11 million of their own ARPA funds.
In addition, the county will also be sharing $5 million in sales tax revenue with the municipalities.
So far, the county seeks to use $2 million of its funds to enhance school safety; $1.5 million to enhance public safety by purchasing a new Computer-Aided Dispatch System for its 911 call center, and other software; and $2.5 million toward the ongoing police and fire EMS radio enhancement project.
“So that’s $6 million — 30 percent, or a third of our ARPA money — that we’re allocating to public safety,” said Carlin. “That is our highest priority, we feel, and therefore we’ve put our money where our mouth is, so to speak.”
For the complete story, pick up this week's issue.

06/09/2022

Putnam Using Rescue Funds to Convene School Safety Team

In the aftermath of the massacre in Texas and a seemingly endless cycle of school shootings, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced last week that the county will earmark $2 million for the sheriff’s department to work with the Department of Social Services and Mental Health and Putnam’s six school districts to protect schools in the county.
The funding will come from the $19.1 million the county received from the American Rescue Plan Act,.
“We need to acknowledge that school shootings can happen anywhere, even in Putnam — the safest county in the state — and we need to prepare in order to prevent a tragic event from occurring here,” said Odell. “Our schools are the biggest employers in Putnam County and our children, of course, are our most precious resource. There is no better use for ARPA money than to protect our schools and find ways to identify and help students who might be experiencing a mental health crisis before it’s too late.”
The effort, called “Team Up for School Safety,” will start with Sheriff Kevin McConville and DSS Director Michael Piazza Jr. working with school superintendents countywide to identify what is already in place, and gaps that districts might need to fill.

06/07/2022

Patterson Rotary hosted its Touch-a-Truck for Heroes event Saturday at the Patterson Fire Department grounds, where kids and kids at heart were able to see what it’s like behind the wheel of a big rig.

06/07/2022

The Mahopac School Board unanimously approved a revised 2022-23 budget June 2 that reduces the tax rate increase from the originally proposed 3.35 percent to 2.75 percent, to be voted on by district residents at the end of the month.
If the new budget is rejected by voters, the district will be forced to defer to a contingency budget that does not raise the tax levy and implements $3million in cuts.
After voters shot down the originally proposed $133 million budget June 17, the district issued a survey, seeking input from district taxpayers to determine the driving force behind the failed vote.
“The board of education and district leaders took this result to heart and we have worked together to determine how to proceed,” said School Board Vice President Adam Savino. “We were determined to fully understand how people voted the way they did.”
To read the entire article, pick up this week's issue.

05/25/2022

With census numbers from last summer putting Putnam’s legislative districts over the 5 percent variation from district to district that is permissible by law, the County Legislature is putting together a bipartisan redistricting committee to adjust the district lines.
According to Legislative Counsel Robert Firriolo, the law used to allow for a 10 percent variation from the largest populated district to the smallest, but that was reduced to 5 percent — bringing the variable to only about 700 people.
“It’s much tighter than it was before,” he said.
Firriolo said that even without the change in the law, the drop in Putnam’s population and the way the population is dispersed would have required some adjustments of district lines.
Overall, Putnam lost 2,042 residents, with District 1 (Philipstown and Putnam Valley) gaining 106 people and District 8 (Carmel) losing 526 people.
For the full story, pick up this week's issue.

05/25/2022

Mahopac was the only school district in Putnam County to have its budget defeated — by only eight votes — at the polls during last week’s budget vote and school board elections. The tally was 1,217 in favor and 1,225 opposed, with absentee ballots yet to be counted.
The proposition allowing the purchase of school buses passed by a vote of 1,331 to 1,102.
Incumbent Adam Savino was re-elected to the school board with 1,182 votes, and newcomers Jonathan Schneider and Fernando Martinez were each elected to three-year terms, with 1,234 and 1,110 votes, respectively.
Roger Duran received 1,027 votes, Mark Kadan received 999 and Chris Harrigan received 974.
Carmel Central School District’s budget passed with a vote of 1,910 to 1,657.
Elected to the school board were Dawn Dall with 1,765 votes, Valeric Crocco with 1,667 votes and incumbent Jason Paraskeva with 1,658 votes.
Hans Bernier received 1,605 votes, Beatrice Moore received 1,066 and incumbent Eric Mittelstadt received 1,012.
Brewster Central School District’s budget passed by a vote of 842 to 602, with its bus proposition also passing, 881 to 559, and a proposition allowing the district to create a capital reserve fund passing 821 to 615.
Elected to the school board were Jamie Callanan with 932 votes and incumbent Leonor Volpe with 844. Incumbent Scott Seaman received 662 votes.

05/17/2022

Plans are still underway for a new multi-sports complex to be constructed on Pugsley Road in Southeast.
ProSwing Sports Realty, Inc., proposes to build a commercial youth recreation complex to include an approximately 35,000-square foot recreation building; various smaller concession/restroom and maintenance buildings of 3,700 square feet or less each; nine synthetic turf, fenced and lighted baseball fields with amenities; one synthetic turf multi-sport field; and associated utilities including two or more wells, a septic system and stormwater management areas.
While the property encompasses 82 acres, only about 10 acres would be developed and 72 would be dedicated as open space.
According to the Southeast Planning Board/Architectural Review Board, as part of the project, a portion of Barrett Road/Zimmer Road on the east side of Pugsley Road would be widened.
“We’re still in the beginning stages and there’s still a lot of work to be done,” said Planning Board/ARB Chairman Tom LaPerch during an April 25 review of the most updated plans. “This is another big project.”
For more, pick up this week's edition.

05/17/2022

The Putnam County Times/Press has received emails and phone calls from readers over the past few months asking why the names of persons arrested for various crimes by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office are not being printed.
That information is no longer being provided to us. When asked why, Captain Michael Grossi of the sheriff’s Civil Bureau stated in an email March 16, “In consultation and agreement with the County Attorney’s Office, it has been decided not to release the names of the arrested parties.”
In a follow-up conversation with Sheriff Kevin McConville, who took office Jan. 1, we were told there was an incident that took place prior to his administration in which the name of a suspect was released when it shouldn’t have been and it led to litigation.
When asked for further elaboration on this new policy, Putnam County Legislator Ginny Nacerino, R-Patterson, chairwoman of the Protective Services Committee meeting, explained that “this matter does not fall under the purview of the Legislature.”
“One of Sheriff McConville’s professional approaches to his position is to communicate with the public,” she wrote April 11, in a prompt response to my email inquiry. “I defer this matter to his authority and trust that his actions and policies are those that he deems are in the best interest of the county and its residents.”

05/12/2022

Developers have submitted an “application for concept review” for a cannabis cultivation warehouse to be created on 7.22 acres on Ballyhack Road off Route 22 and Old Route 22 in south Patterson.
The property for the proposed “Ballyhack Farms Cannabis Cultivation” facility is owned by a Queens resident who seeks to build a two-story, 200,650-square-foot building with 162 total parking spaces and 10 dock spaces.
According to the statement of use filed with the town, the applicant seeks to lease the development to “an industry leader in the cannabis industry, which currently operates a cannabis farm and manufacturing facility in Michigan.” This joint venture seeks to grow cannabis plants, produce ma*****na products and distribute those products from the proposed facility, which would be equipped with an odor control system.
For the full story, pick up this week's issue, in stores now!

05/12/2022

The Putnam County Legislature has unanimously approved a suspension of its sales tax on gasoline.
During an April 25 special meeting, the Legislature approved the suspension of its 4 cents per gallon tax, capped at $2 per gallon, effective June 1 through Dec. 1. This coincides with the state suspending its excise tax on gas of 8 cents per gallon, as well as the state sales tax on gas of 8 cents per gallon, also effective June 1 through Dec. 1.
“People are hurting right now,” said Legislator Bill Gouldman, R-Putnam Valley, at the Audit Committee meeting that preceded the full Legislature meeting. “It’s a difficult time for many individuals, and whatever we can do to help individuals save money is a good thing.”
Legislator Toni Addonizio, R-Kent, agreed. “We need to do what we can for the people of Putnam, and I hope this does result in savings at the gas stations,” she said.

04/20/2022

Putnam County lawmakers are considering joining the state in offering consumers a break at the pump by eliminating its portion of gas tax for the next few months.
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced the suspension of the excise tax on gas of 8 cents per gallon, as well as a sales tax on gas of 8 cents per gallon, effective June 1 through Dec. 31.
Now, counties across the state are deciding whether to also suspend their share of gas tax to provide an even greater break to consumers.
During the county’s April 12 Rules Committee meeting, Legislator Neal Sullivan, R-Mahopac, said the county’s sales tax revenue far exceeded what was budgeted last year, with the same trend showing this year.
“You can see in our sales tax numbers from last year how far over-budget we were — about $18 million over-budget — and I bet a pretty substantial piece of that had to do with gas,” he said, noting that the county is already $1.8 million above what has been budgeted for the first quarter of the year."
However, Putnam Commissioner of Finance Bill Carlin disagrees with suspending the gas tax.
“The problem you have is, yes, it would be nice if you could guarantee the savings goes to the customer, but you can’t do that,” he said, explaining that tax is not what drives the price of gas, and some stations inflate their prices when the tax is suspended. “It doesn’t mean that the price of gas is going to drop 16 cents.”
For the full story, pick up this week's issue.

04/20/2022

The Town of Kent is considering using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to breathe life back into the long-dormant former Town Hall building on Route 52, as well as start a food pantry and distribution program for residents in need.
While the town has been awarded $1.3 million from the federal government, the county has also allotted the town $660,000 of its portion of ARPA funding — with the caveat that the county must approve how that share is spent.
“So right now we’re really focusing on getting the county approval of $660,000 on their portion of the ARPA money,” said Councilman Christopher Ruthven at the April 5 Kent Town Board meeting.

04/07/2022

A Mahopac woman will spend the next six to 18 years in state prison for killing a pedestrian she struck with her vehicle while driving drunk last year, according to Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy.
On June 25, James “Jimmy” Crecco Sr. was getting into his car that was parked in front of his brother’s house on Route 6N along Lake Mahopac when Maggie Deperna struck him with her vehicle and fled the scene, said the D.A.
Crecco was transported to Westchester Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
According to Tendy, an exhaustive search throughout the night for the driver conducted by members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and the Carmel Police Department led them to Deperna’s home, where drone surveillance revealed her Jeep Cherokee hidden in the brush and trees behind her home, with extensive damage to the front passenger’s side consistent with having struck a person.
Specifically, her vehicle was missing the right-side rear-view mirror that had been recovered at the crash scene.
To read the story in its entirety, pick up this week's issue.

04/07/2022

The Mahopac School Board has hired Christine Tona, currently the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction of the Riverhead Central School District, as the new superintendent of Mahopac schools beginning July 1.
The vote took place during a special March 31 meeting.
A local school district leader with a year’s experience as an interim superintendent, Tona said she was attracted to Mahopac’s success, initiatives and commitment to meeting the needs of all students.
“From the moment I stepped into Mahopac, I felt the warmth and respect from the community and the shared desire to do what is right for students,” she said.

03/31/2022

Putnam County lawmakers welcomed representatives from New York State Electric & Gas last week for a discussion about the skyrocketing rate increases for natural gas and electricity.
“Obviously, times are tough, and we definitely understand the struggles of the daily household,” said NYSEG Government and Community Relations Program Manager Dylan Miyoshi at the county’s March 23 Economic Development Committee meeting.
While NYSEG services most of Putnam County, Central Hudson also offers electricity to Philipstown residents and natural gas to Carmel residents.
Last month, Central Hudson reported a 19 percent increase in natural gas bills, a 46 percent increase in electric bills, and a 29 percent increase in combination natural gas and electric bills, with NYSEG reporting similar hikes.
For more information, pick up a copy of this week's Putnam Times, in stores now.

03/31/2022

As the deadline to approve a school budget for the 2022-23 school year approaches, the Carmel School Board is continuing to debate what percentage of tax levy increase to present to votes — if any.
During the March 22 school board meeting, Superintendent Mary-Margaret Zehr and Assistant Superintendent for Business John Fink presented some budget options for the board to consider, along with the types of cuts they would impose.
“We’re throwing ideas at you,” said Zehr. “It is not meant that this is exactly what is going to happen, but through conversation at the district office and with principals, these are some suggested things.”
All options presented include the use of $1.1 million from the fund balance.
According to Fink, if the district were to keep the tax levy where it currently is, meaning a 0 percent increase, it would need to realize about $3 million in cuts.
For the whole story, pick up this week's issue, in stores now.

03/15/2022

The 45th annual Putnam/Northern Westchester St. Patrick’s Day parade took place Sunday along Route 6 in Mahopac, where crowds braved the cold, albeit sunny weather to celebrate their Irish heritage. Photos by Holly Crocco.

03/15/2022

The Carmel School Board voted unanimously at its March 8 meeting to discontinue pursuit of the construction of a proposed bus maintenance facility that was approved by voters three years ago.
“We have had numerous meetings over the past several months after we’ve tried to realign the building to be within the cost parameters of the original vote and we’re not able to do it, so we’re going to go forward with not having the transportation facility built,” explained Superintendent Mary-Margaret Zehr.
For more information, pick up this week's Putnam Press/Times.