Podcasts about mahopac

Individual visited Mahopac tavern while contagious The Putnam County Department of Health issued a health alert on Wednesday (June 4) for an exposure to measles on May 28 at Arturo's Tavern in Mahopac. Anyone who visited the location between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on that day should call the Health Department at 845-808-1390 and ask to speak to a nurse. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes and a rash. Symptoms may start 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus. Measles is caused by a highly contagious airborne virus that spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. The Health Department said the individual is no longer contagious but that it wants to locate anyone who may have encountered the person while contagious to avoid its spread. The individual contracted the illness while abroad, Public Health Director Rian Rodriguez said in a statement. "An infected person can spread measles from four days before to four days after the rash appears," he said. "Fortunately, the positive individual was only in one local establishment while considered contagious. Measles is not a foodborne illness although the virus can live for up to two hours in airspace after an infected person leaves the area." New York now has 13 confirmed cases: six in New York City and seven elsewhere, including Putnam. There were 1,088 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of May 30, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including 738 across 35 counties in Texas. Two elementary school students in West Texas and an adult in New Mexico have died. Each was unvaccinated. Other states with outbreaks - which the CDC defines as three or more related cases - include Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. There are also outbreaks in Ontario, Canada (1,888 cases since October), Alberta, Canada (628 cases) and the Mexican state of Chihuahua (1,693 cases and three deaths). At the same time, according to a Johns Hopkins University study published on Monday (June 2), childhood vaccination rates against measles fell in the years after the pandemic in 78 percent of 2,066 U.S. counties in 33 states with available data. The study compared average kindergarten rates from the 2017-20 school years to averages from 2022-24. Where data wasn't available, the researchers used a comparable rate. New York State requires students to be vaccinated. The Associated Press contributed reporting.

Food truck brings the farm to Philipstown Ruby Koch-Fienberg has always loved farming and food systems - an interest that led her in 2022 to earn a master's degree in food studies from New York University. "I wanted to work with farms, helping them connect more with food pantries," said Koch-Fienberg. "When this job appeared on my radar, it was the perfect fit." The job is serving as ag and food systems coordinator with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) for Putnam County, which is based in Carmel. Koch-Fienberg coordinates the extension's Farm to Truck Program, which provides free produce to Putnam County residents facing food insecurity. CCE contracts with Meals on Main Street, a nonprofit in Port Chester, to deliver food each week. Farm to Truck also drops food at pantries. On Wednesday (April 16), the Meals on Main Street mobile pantry spent 45 minutes parked at the Chestnut Ridge retirement community and the Philipstown Friendship Center for seniors. It served 85 people at the two stops, said Irma Arango, who has worked for Meals on Main Street for 15 years. Another 25 people had picked up food at the Brookside Senior Citizen Coop in Philipstown earlier in the day. The truck also makes weekly stops in Putnam Valley, Putnam Lake, Patterson, Carmel, Kent and Mahopac. "I like engaging with the people," Arango said. "I see their need and I see the smiles on their faces when they see the truck." She said clients sometimes leave thank-you notes. "People are so grateful." A Philipstown woman who picked up food at Chestnut Ridge said she relied on the weekly deliveries. "It's good for so many things, especially fresh vegetables," she said. The mobile pantry that day had milk, onions, potatoes, beets, carrots, kale, radishes, apples, baked goods and frozen salmon. The selection will grow as the season progresses. CCE launched Farm to Truck in May 2024 with a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is operated in partnership with New York Food for New York Families, a division of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. The program supports regional agriculture by purchasing produce from about 20 farms in Putnam (including Longhaul and Glynwood in Philipstown), Dutchess, Columbia, Orange and Westchester counties. Mobile Pantry Schedule Monday: Putnam Valley 9:45 a.m. Library 11 a.m. Senior Center Wednesday: Philipstown 9 a.m. Brookside 10 a.m. Chestnut Ridge 11:30 a.m. Senior Center "We've spent more than $700,000 [on locally grown products] and expect to spend $1.3 million by the end of August," said Koch-Fienberg. She said Putnam residents made more than 3,000 trips to the food truck in March, which included many repeat customers. Nearly 300,000 pounds of produce, meat, eggs and dairy products have been distributed since the program began a year ago. Koch-Fienberg said it can be hard for people to ask for help, especially in communities considered wealthy. "Pockets of every community experience need," she said. "We absolutely have need in this county." The most recent data compiled by the United Way for its ALICE Project (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) indicates that 37 percent of households in Putnam are above the poverty level but below the annual income needed for basic survival, including savings for emergencies. Koch-Fienberg said that it's not clear if the federal grant that funded Farm to Truck will be renewed when it ends in August. "People have come become so reliant on the program, she said. "It's incredibly sad for it to have an uncertain future."

Spoke out against Putnam Legislature decision A Philipstown farmer who spoke out against the Putnam County Legislature's decision to add five farms to a special district has been removed from the Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board. Jocelyn Apicello, who had been a board member since 2019 and its chair since 2022, was notified of her removal in a Dec. 31 memo from Paul Jonke, a legislator from Southeast who chaired the Legislature last year, to Neal Tomann, a Philipstown resident who is interim manager for the Soil & Water Conservation District. Jonke did not give a reason for the removal and did not respond to a request for comment, but said in the memo, "I believe this to be in the best interest of Putnam County." He cited a section of state law that gives county legislative chairs the power to appoint volunteer Ag Board members, but it does not specifically address their removal. Apicello said on Sunday (Jan. 5) that the decision surprised her. "I didn't expect it," she said. "I don't think it will solve the problem." The applicants had been recommended in a 9-2 vote by the Ag Board, which consists of six farmers and representatives from the Legislature; the Department of Planning, Development and Public Transportation; Real Property Tax Services Agency; Soil and Water Conservation District; and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County. Despite the board approval, the applicants - all livestock or horse farms - failed to meet one or more of eight factors that the county determined in 2007 "shall be considered" for inclusion, Tomann told legislators in July. Those factors include an on-site assessment by the board, the absence of local, state or federal violations and adherence to best practices. Tomann said that none of the properties met another factor, despite not growing crops - that each must contain at least 50 percent of "prime farmland and/or statewide important soils" in one of the first six of the state's 10 classifications for soils. During a public hearing before the Legislature's vote, Apicello noted that the application to be included in the Agricultural District does not mention soil types as a criteria, and that the 2007 resolution only directed that the board "consider" the eight factors. In addition to "arbitrarily and capriciously" interpreting those criteria, she said the Ag Board received pushback from the Legislature in 2022 when members proposed creating a one-page information sheet on the Agricultural District that could be distributed to the public and municipal officials. Since then, the board "has been shut out from any sorts of decision-making," she said. Members of the board were not notified about nor involved in crafting a proposal to require more information from applications, including site and stormwater protection plans and a soil analysis, Apicello said. She said she supports updating the application but not "rushing it through" without input. "There's clearly an anti-farming stance among some of the Ag Board members who happen to not be the farmers," she said. Although approved on Dec. 16 by the three legislators on the Physical Services Committee, the proposal was not on the agenda for the Legislature's year-end meeting on Dec. 19. The day of the committee vote, one of the farmers rejected for inclusion, Daniel Honovich of Ridge Ranch in Patterson, sued the county and the Legislature in state court. Honovich's lawsuit alleges that the Legislature relied on a "blatantly incorrect" interpretation of state agricultural law when it rejected the applications. A veterinarian, Honovich runs Ridge Ranch with his wife, Arielle, who has a degree in animal science and teaches special education for the Mahopac school district. The couple raises and breeds Scottish Highland, Brahman Gyr and Zebu cows for sale, along with chickens, goats, mini donkeys and rabbits. They also host tours, birthday parties, goat yoga and other activities. "Making soil type a standalone disqualifying factor ma...

Putnam executive says voters should decide Some Putnam legislators are seeking for the second time in 16 years to expand their power over the county attorney, amid criticism from colleagues and the county executive and a pending ethics complaint. With Paul Jonke substituting for Toni Addonizio as chair of the Rules Committee and not voting, its other two members, Greg Ellner and Ginny Nacerino, approved a proposed local law on Aug. 26 that would allow the Legislature to remove the county attorney without cause. The position has been held since January 2023 by Compton Spain. At the monthly meeting of the full Legislature on Tuesday (Sept. 3), Jonke successfully moved to send the proposal back to the Rules Committee. The intention is to amend the language to exclude Spain through Dec. 13, 2026, when the attorney's term ends, he said. Under Putnam's charter, the county executive names the attorney and the Legislature approves the appointment. The appointee represents both the county executive and the Legislature and is required to "comply with any and all lawful and permissible resolutions" adopted by the Legislature, except when the county executive vetoes legislation and an override fails. (The Legislature also has its own attorney.) The executive can fire the county attorney but two-thirds of the Legislature must agree. Under a charter change approved by voters in 2008, two-thirds of the Legislature can remove the attorney but only when the interests of lawmakers and the executive conflict and the attorney refuses to represent the Legislature. Jonke submitted a proposal to remove that restriction, essentially allowing the Legislature to independently remove the attorney without cause. It also would prohibit the county attorney from outside work. (At the time of Spain's appointment, County Executive Kevin Byrne said Spain had left his family's Mahopac law firm.) Byrne, addressing the Rules Committee last month, said it was "shocking" that the Legislature would vote on a proposal making the county attorney "at-will." "This is essentially trying to change the charter in less than a week and a half," he said. "If you feel strongly about this moving forward, it creates a conflict between the executive and the Legislature." Last month's Rules Committee meeting began with Addonizio recusing herself because the discussion "could include issues currently before the Putnam Board of Ethics." Those issues are outlined in a complaint Spain filed in June with the Board of Ethics. It accuses Addonizio of ethics breaches, including failing to disclose that her son-in-law, Byron Voutsinas, was the buyer initially agreeing to purchase a county-owned property in Carmel. Spain's office moved to void the contract, arguing that Voutsinas failed to satisfy conditions for the sale to be finalized, including getting the Legislature's approval, which never occurred. After Voutsinas filed a claim accusing the county of breach of contract, Spain successfully petitioned a judge to have the contract canceled. The Legislature's counsel, Robert Firriolo, defended Addonizio in a response sent to the ethics board in response to Spain's complaint. He also accused Spain of lying on his employment application when he attested to not having any criminal convictions because he was found guilty in 1993 of criminal contempt of court. (A judge found Spain guilty under state Judiciary Law. Because the penalty can include jail time, Firriolo argues it is equivalent to a misdemeanor.) Legislator Erin Crowley, who represents the Town of Carmel and Mahopac, referenced the complaint in a prepared statement at the Rules Committee meeting. Nancy Montgomery, whose district encompasses Philipstown and part of Putnam Valley, and William Gouldman, who represents the rest of Putnam Valley, also signed the statement. They called the proposal "rushed," and coming as Spain "has a pending ethics complaint" before the five-person ethics board. The board's members include former Phil...

Must 'obligate' pandemic money by Dec. 31 With a Dec. 31 deadline to "obligate" funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion pandemic-relief bill enacted by President Joe Biden in 2021, Putnam and Dutchess counties are joining other municipalities in a mad scramble to avoid losing some of the millions they've received. Putnam received $19 million and Dutchess $57 million from the $350 billion appropriated for state and local governments. In addition to being obligated - meaning "contracts, sub-awards and similar transactions that require payment," according to the federal government - ARPA money must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. On Aug. 12, the Dutchess Legislature approved a resolution to reallocate to the 2024 budget $10.7 million in unspent ARPA funds that had been designated for parks, a Poughkeepsie youth center, sheriff's vehicles and other projects that will instead be paid for using reserves. Those funds, along with $9.3 million originally destined to replace reserves used for Dutchess' Housing Trust Fund and $5.7 million that had yet to be allocated, will instead be used by Dutchess Community College and for the county's share of a preschool special education program. In recent months, Putnam legislators have voted on a flurry of requests to reallocate ARPA funding, including $370,000 Philipstown had planned to use to buy water for the Garrison Landing Water District. Water purchases were deemed ineligible, so the money will instead be used on a public works project in the town. On Monday, the Putnam Legislature's Rules and Audit committees approved redirecting to the county clerk's office $31,000 from $300,000 in ARPA money for highway infrastructure studies. Michael Bartolotti, the county clerk, said he will use the funding to purchase laptops, printers, barcode scanners and other equipment from the state Department of Motor Vehicles so that staff from the DMV office in Brewster can hold regular mobile office hours in Philipstown and other parts of the county. Being able to process DMV transactions at sites outside of Brewster has been "definitely a vision and has become a priority of mine," said Bartolotti. He named the Friendship Center in Cold Spring, the William Koehler Memorial Senior Center in Mahopac, town offices and nursing homes as potential locations. "It's a really good opportunity for our DMV to extend its footprint throughout the community and get to citizens instead of always having citizens come over to us," he said. Less certain is the fate of Sheriff Kevin McConville's request to reallocate half of the $2 million in ARPA money the Legislature approved in 2022 for infrastructure projects to improve school security. In a letter to County Executive Kevin Byrne, McConville said the security projects will not meet ARPA's deadlines "because of delayed responses from vendors and manufacturers." The Rules Committee voted Monday to table a resolution shifting $1 million of the funding to construct a new building at Camp Herrlich, which a nonprofit operates on county-owned property in Patterson. The ARPA funding would be used to replace a rundown building with a dining room and kitchen that caters to Camp Herrlich's summer program and before- and after-school programs for students in the Carmel school district. Legislator Ginny Nacerino, who represents Patterson, said that although she has supported Camp Herrlich, she was "taken aback" when the request appeared on the Rules Committee's agenda and "was never brought into the fold and knew nothing about what was being considered." Nacerino, before asking to table a vote on the request, said she had "many questions" about the project, including how it relates to school safety, a dearth of details and whether the money will be spent before the federal government's deadline. "I would think a sitting legislator who represents the Town of Patterson would have some knowledge about this before it hit the agenda," she said.

A startup company is looking for investors who want to get in on the ground-floor. The idea? No more night! Mahopac gets the Live & Local treatment. One guy was caught racing at 100 mph on Route 6 and another was stealing copper wire (allegedly). A Yorktown golf fight is Exhibit A in Lou's case that golf is a breeding ground for confrontation. Comedian Donnell Rawlings checks in with the boys to chat about his careers, thoughts on Diddy and his new special.

The guys sit down with Rick Faulkner to hear about his company, Tri-County Commercial Service, and talk about how they handle snow in their all shopping plaza portfolio

Serial entrepreneur with bad back slows it down Stepping into RowSeeLee teahouse at 81 Main St. in Cold Spring is like entering a portal to another dimension. On one hand, the juxtaposed interior is sleek, modern and bright, with shiny white-and-black tile floors that resemble marble. Futuristic French jazz bounces off the brick walls and a mesmerizing digital fireplace stretches half the length of the storefront. Yet the flowing water, petrified birch trees, wooden tables and live terrarium with bright green moss lining the floor and a trough behind the wood-slatted booths smooth the harder edges. For years, Jon Koon, 41, has shaped his high-end and conceptual retail outlets to draw on all five senses. (For a quick summary, see his Wikipedia entry.) Lately, he's slowed down. Instead of jetting all over the world to make the scene at fine art and designer fashion events with bold-name celebrities, he shuttles from Cold Spring to his other tea parlor in Mahopac, which opened last year. RowSeeLee is a phonetic representation of the name Rosie Lee, a term in Cockney English rhyming slang that refers to a cup of tea. Conversing with Koon can be like pulling the rip cord on an outboard motor. In his telling, life unfolded like an action movie: He says that Hollywood exaggerated his lifestyle to create the Fast and Furious franchise after he became a millionaire at age 16 by modding four-cylinder Japanese cars and racing them on the mean streets of Queens. With the right gear, "I can beat a Porsche," says Koon, whose career also mirrors a VH1 Behind the Music episode about rise, fall and resurrection. This one stars the only child of hardworking immigrants from Hong Kong who urged him to be a doctor or lawyer but who instead became an artist helming international brands and opening buzzy retail outlets with the rich and famous. Then, he's laid low - not by drugs, in this case, just a bad back. "I worked so hard hunching over a drafting board or a drawing while designing clothes that I ruptured two-thirds of my discs," says Koon. After buying a home in Putnam County and downshifting, Koon is doing more fishing. But as a serial entrepreneur, he created the RowSeeLee brand, which includes candy, fragrances and retro T-shirts. The spiffy spot, formerly the home of Cape Cod Leather and the Cold Spring Candy Co., is a lightning rod. One merchant says: "He must've spent half a million dollars. How many cups of tea would you have to sell to pay that off?" A visitor offers: "It doesn't seem like it belongs in Cold Spring." Koon dismisses these sentiments: "Food and beverage employs more people than any other sector on Earth and, now that the pandemic is over, people are going back out to eat. I noticed that the subcategory 'alternative drinks' priced at $3 to $10 that people buy even when they're not thirsty spiked upward, and the needle sticking up the highest is alternative tea." On a recent Saturday soon after RowSeeLee opened, a parade of people skewing young plunked down $6.95 to $8.95 for fruit tea, slush tea, milk tea and fresh milk tea. Fine tea (cold and hot brew) is $4.50 to $6.50. Koon is especially bullish on bubble tea, which he said is expected to become a $6 billion global industry. The shop also offers coffee, matcha, four kinds of sandwiches and desserts. Though Koon intended the Cold Spring location to be his flagship, the venture became mired in red tape because the building's former owner, the nonprofit Knights of Columbus, had to clear the deed transfer with New York State. Koon and his team built and designed the interior, including the furnishings and artwork, based on his technical drawings for "every tile, piece of wood and sprig of moss down to the millimeter." During his heyday, "I never stayed in one city for more than 14 days straight," he says. "When my back went out, it humbled me. My body isn't a rubber band, so I can't keep running around like I did. I have to be more selective with my energy and calm down...

The boys got a flood update from Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves. Lou's itchy face interrupts a commercial read. Lou shares one of his most embarrassing moments of all time from the Bridgewater Fair this past weekend. Randy Bachman from BTO checks in for a two-part interview. The boys found out that one of the top social media influencers in America is in Mahopac.

REI Deal Breakdown Ever flipped a house with tenants still inside?

Wayne Cabot has the morning's top headlines from the WCBS 880 newsroom.

Drivers caught illegally passing face $250 fine The next time you illegally pass a stopped school bus in the Highlands, say "cheese" and take out your wallet. That's because two of the three local public school districts have adopted for their buses a high-tech system that videotapes violators who ignore stop-arms and fines them $250 for the infraction. Last month, Haldane decided to employ the camera system, which Beacon has used for over a year. Haldane expects to have the cameras installed on the district's 15 school buses by next fall, said Philip Benante, the superintendent. (So far, Garrison has not adopted the system.) The stop-arm cameras are part of a statewide attempt to crack down on an estimated 50,000 motorists who each day illegally pass stopped school buses, according to the New York Association for Pupil Transportation. A state law authorized school districts and municipalities to begin using the cameras in 2019. They capture and transmit footage to local authorities, who then decide whether to issue a citation, according to BusPatrol, the company that operates the systems in Dutchess, Putnam and other New York counties. BusPatrol funds the artificial-intelligence-powered cameras and keeps a percentage of the fines as compensation, with counties and local municipalities receiving the rest. Drivers who receive more than one violation face increasing fines. Dutchess first offered it to school districts in 2021, and more than 750 buses now have stop-arm cameras installed, said Eoin Wrafter, the commissioner for Dutchess' Department of Planning and Development. Beacon's school district has outfitted 53 of its buses since January 2023, he said. So far, more than 30,000 citations have been issued countywide, including over 700 to cars registered in Beacon, said Wrafter. After receiving a citation, car owners may either pay or dispute the violation with the issuing county. In 2023, Dutchess County received $240,000 in proceeds from the program, said Wrafter. The county has also seen a drop in illegal school bus passings, which are down 28 percent over the last year in the participating school districts, according to BusPatrol. "Our bus drivers have seen a marked improvement in motorists obeying the state law," said Dwight Bonk, the superintendent for the Wappingers Central School District, one of eight Dutchess County districts that have opted into the program in addition to Dutchess County BOCES. Whether Putnam, whose school districts have only had access to the cameras since April, will see the same results is to be determined, but Benante hopes to improve safety for students. Brewster, Carmel and Mahopac have also joined the program. Putnam just completed a "warning phase" in April, when 219 warning citations were issued in Brewster, 62 in Mahopac and 51 in Carmel, said Capt. Michael Grossi of the Putnam Sheriff's Department. Putnam began issuing citations with actual fines on April 28. In the past, bus drivers have attempted to catch violators by trying to quickly record license plates or reporting a description of the car, but "to get a license plate when someone is passing you is difficult," said Grossi. The camera system "gives us a lot of extra eyes out there," he said. But some drivers have successfully challenged the tickets. A New York State appellate court has overturned citations issued in Suffolk County after finding that the video did not prove that the buses were properly equipped and marked, and had stopped to pick up or discharge students. In response, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature expanded the list of evidence required to include images of an activated stop-arm and an electronic indicator showing activation of a bus' flashing red lights. Those images are needed to create a "rebuttable presumption" that a bus was stopped to load or unload students, according to the amendments, which were included in the 2024-25 budget enacted last month. The changes also include requiring that municipaliti...

Get ready to dive into the chaotic and often misunderstood world of biography writing with the ever cynical yet oddly endearing, NYT best-selling product of Mahopac, NY Jeff Pearlman. This episode of "Talent Chasing" isn't just another polite exchange of niceties and anecdotes. Oh no, we're here to ruffle some feathers! Join us as Jeff, a man who's interviewed everyone from the disgraced to the dazzling, spills the beans on the gritty challenges of capturing the full spectrum of human messiness. From John Rocker's rage to Dwight Gooden's struggles, no stone is left unturned. Jeff dissects the importance of keeping your biases in check and shares his secret sauce for hunting down stories that are as untold as they are scandalous. We're talking hundreds of interviews per biography and he's written 10! And just when you think it can't get more Californian than this, Jeff waxes poetic about how living in the land of sun and underdogs has colored his narrative lens. Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride filled with truth bombs and reality checks!

Get ready to dive into the chaotic and often misunderstood world of biography writing with the ever cynical yet oddly endearing, NYT best-selling product of Mahopac, NY Jeff Pearlman. This episode of "Talent Chasing" isn't just another polite exchange of niceties and anecdotes. Oh no, we're here to ruffle some feathers! Join us as Jeff, a man who's interviewed everyone from the disgraced to the dazzling, spills the beans on the gritty challenges of capturing the full spectrum of human messiness. From John Rocker's rage to Dwight Gooden's struggles, no stone is left unturned. Jeff dissects the importance of keeping your biases in check and shares his secret sauce for hunting down stories that are as untold as they are scandalous. We're talking hundreds of interviews per biography and he's written 10! And just when you think it can't get more Californian than this, Jeff waxes poetic about how living in the land of sun and underdogs has colored his narrative lens. Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride filled with truth bombs and reality checks!

Get ready to dive into the chaotic and often misunderstood world of biography writing with the ever cynical yet oddly endearing, NYT best-selling product of Mahopac, NY Jeff Pearlman. This episode of "Talent Chasing" isn't just another polite exchange of niceties and anecdotes. Oh no, we're here to ruffle some feathers! Join us as Jeff, a man who's interviewed everyone from the disgraced to the dazzling, spills the beans on the gritty challenges of capturing the full spectrum of human messiness. From John Rocker's rage to Dwight Gooden's struggles, no stone is left unturned. Jeff dissects the importance of keeping your biases in check and shares his secret sauce for hunting down stories that are as untold as they are scandalous. We're talking hundreds of interviews per biography and he's written 10! And just when you think it can't get more Californian than this, Jeff waxes poetic about how living in the land of sun and underdogs has colored his narrative lens. Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride filled with truth bombs and reality checks!

Get ready to dive into the chaotic and often misunderstood world of biography writing with the ever cynical yet oddly endearing, NYT best-selling product of Mahopac, NY Jeff Pearlman. This episode of "Talent Chasing" isn't just another polite exchange of niceties and anecdotes. Oh no, we're here to ruffle some feathers! Join us as Jeff, a man who's interviewed everyone from the disgraced to the dazzling, spills the beans on the gritty challenges of capturing the full spectrum of human messiness. From John Rocker's rage to Dwight Gooden's struggles, no stone is left unturned. Jeff dissects the importance of keeping your biases in check and shares his secret sauce for hunting down stories that are as untold as they are scandalous. We're talking hundreds of interviews per biography and he's written 10! And just when you think it can't get more Californian than this, Jeff waxes poetic about how living in the land of sun and underdogs has colored his narrative lens. Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride filled with truth bombs and reality checks!

Charged with installing cameras in a restroom A former Stonecrop Gardens employee was arrested on April 18 and accused of secretly filming girls in 2018 and 2019 as they used a public restroom. A criminal complaint filed in federal court accuses John Towers, 54, of Mahopac, of making more than 800 hidden-camera videos that also captured women inside stalls as they used the toilet. The complaint describes the scene of the alleged crimes only as a "privately owned, public park in Putnam County" and states that Towers had worked there for 20 years, since 2004. A Facebook profile for John Towers identifies him as a Mahopac High School graduate employed at Stonecrop since August 2004, and archived Stonecrop material, such as a newsletter from 2007, identifies John Towers as a part-time horticulture assistant. Towers was arraigned April 18 and released on a $200,000 bond until his next court date, scheduled for May 15. Stonecrop did not respond to an email or phone message seeking comment. The park was created in 1958 by Frank Cabot and his wife, Anne, on their 60-acre property on Route 301 and opened to the public in 1992. Towers' attorney, Michael Burke of White Plains, also did not respond to an email or phone message. In the criminal complaint, filed April 17, a Putnam County Sheriff's Office investigator assigned to an FBI task force said that, during a raid at Towers' home, officers seized a desktop computer with a 2-terabyte hard drive that contained 816 videos taken with cameras hidden in a park restroom, including 78 with the word "yung" in the title and at least 15 that depict children. According to the complaint, the videos were created between July 2018 and October 2019. According to the complaint, the investigation began in February after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children passed along a tip from an internet service provider that a customer with a phone number associated with Towers had uploaded 57 files depicting child pornography to its cloud storage. Responding to a search warrant, the company provided more than 6,000 images and videos that had been uploaded by the customer, including photos that depict girls and women in stalls in a restroom with blue-and-white tile walls. At least one image was embedded with GPS data that indicated it had been taken at the privately owned, public park. Mark Tunney, the Putnam County investigator, said in the complaint that he visited the park and noted its restrooms have blue-and-white tile walls. During an early morning raid on March 29 at Towers' home in Mahopac, police seized 10 spy cameras, including three that resembled ballpoint pens; 20 DVDs with explicit content; a cellphone and the desktop computer. Towers was arrested and arraigned in Carmel Town Court on six charges related to the DVD images and sent to the Putnam County jail before being released on bail. According to the complaint, investigators searching the computer found a folder with the 816 videos, whose titles included the word "visitor" and a date, that were focused on a toilet in a restroom with blue-and-white tile walls. A number of the videos appear to show the same person from different angles, suggesting multiple cameras, the complaint said. Towers allegedly captured screen shots from the videos. Investigators said they identified the mother of a 7-year-old whose genitals were filmed as she used the park restroom in July 2018. The woman showed police a photo taken of her daughter on the same day in which the girl was wearing the white tank top shown in the video, with the word "Summer" across the front.

Westchester-Putnam chapter holds first meeting Charlie Roberto says he lost track of his age after he turned 60; he's counting again, but now it's butterflies. Roberto, who grew up in Mahopac and lives in Croton-on-Hudson, is a true conservationist. He advises the Putnam Highlands Audubon Society and has participated in its annual Christmas bird count since the 1980s. He also advises the Saw Mill River chapter of the National Audubon Society, Fahnestock State Park and Croton Point Park, and serves on the board of Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining. He is now the driving force behind a new Westchester-Putnam chapter of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). He had tried to start the chapter in 2020 but was sidetracked by the pandemic. Butterflies are important, he says, because their health "relates directly to the health of our overall environment. They're like the canary in the coal mine." Along with birds, honeybees, bats and other animals, butterflies help pollinate everything from apples and strawberries to peaches and coffee. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 75 percent of flowering plants and about 35 percent of global food crops rely on animals to pollinate them. But butterfly populations are declining worldwide as a result of habitat loss, especially due to changes in land use, along with the use of pesticides and insecticides, and climate change, including increases in severe weather. Invasive plant species are also contributing to the decline. "Japanese stiltgrass, for example, has been here since the 1980s and entered Fahnestock within the last 10 years," Roberto says. "It crowds out and eliminates many plants that host butterflies." At the same time, milkweed, which monarch butterflies rely upon as a host plant, is declining, putting further stress on that species. Signs of Trouble Studies indicate that populations of 17 butterfly species declined by almost 50 percent across the European Union between 1990 and 2011. In 2021, Science reported that, over the four previous decades, the populations of more than 450 species of butterflies in the western U.S. declined by an average of 2 percent per year. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that the number of eastern monarch butterflies that migrated south to winter in Mexico in 2023-24 decreased by 59 percent from the previous year. In an article in American Butterflies, NABA President Jeffrey Glassberg recalled the annual butterfly counts that began in Westchester County in 1984. "There were butterflies everywhere; it was thrilling," he wrote. "Some years, the absolute numbers were amazing." But the species began to disappear from northern Westchester County by the 1970s, and at least six species were extirpated by 2013. The more than 8,000 butterflies tallied in a one-day count in 1989 decreased by half. In counts near the Teatown Lake Reservation, spotters have documented as many as 60 types of butterflies, including giant swallowtail, monarch, tiger swallowtail and great spangled fritillary. The diversity has held steady, Roberto says, but the total number of butterflies has been dropping, even as the number of people counting them has increased. Roberto notes an unusual behavior called "hill-topping" that butterflies adopt as their numbers fall. "They fly up to the highest point of land and circle, waiting for the opposite sex," he said. The Westchester-Putnam chapter plans to conduct its first count in July, Roberto said, adding that counts have been moved earlier in the month to account for species whose movements have shifted due to climate change. The chapter's inaugural meeting on March 21 drew 22 participants. The group plans to meet about eight times yearly, with summer field trips to local habitats such as Pound Ridge in Westchester and Shenandoah Mountain along the Appalachian Trail in East Fishkill. Over the past four years, the Philipstown Garden Club, in partnership with 11 other environmental organizations, has been teaching ...

Wooded properties are common in the Highlands, but I bet many people don't know a lot about what's growing on their land or how to care for it. To be fair, we don't have many opportunities to learn, and ecological blind spots are common. When I moved to a forested site 14 years ago, after living for decades in cities, I couldn't identify more than a few grasses and flowers. Wanting to be a responsible steward, I became a Master Gardener volunteer through Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County. In 2021, I also completed CCE's Master Forest Owner training. The point of the MFO program is for volunteers to visit woodland owners and point them to resources to meet whatever goals they have for the land, says Shane Stevens, the CCE regional director for our area. It started in 1991 because Cornell University recognized that private landowners have a huge impact on the environment. Of the 20 million acres of forest in New York state, 75 percent is privately owned. "The decisions made about those acres are key to sustaining biodiversity and keeping forests healthy and resilient to natural disasters and pests," Stevens says. There are 140 Master Forest Owner volunteers across the state, and they have joined for many reasons. Angela Attia, who lives in Philipstown, completed the training in 2022. "I was interested in gardening and started learning about native plants," she says. "Then I wanted to understand how to better support the forest on our land. Through volunteering, I can disseminate the information and help others." Greg Clarke, who lives near Pawling and has been a volunteer for 15 years, says that peer-to-peer learning is a key to the program's success. "When you go out into the field, there's credibility in meeting with someone who is dealing with the same challenges." Clarke primarily visits sites in Dutchess County, where woodland owners tend to have larger tracts of land than people do in Putnam and logging is a source of income. Janis Butler, who has been a volunteer since 2018 and lives in Mahopac, said that in her experience, people are concerned about making their properties beneficial for wildlife and habitat. She also came to the program from a personal interest in managing her forest. "There are global consequences to the choices we make about our lands," she says, adding that she's developed a greater appreciation through her site visits for the incredible amount of beautiful property in our area. All agree, and I concur, that invasive-species management is the topic that every landowner brings up during visits. These are tough plants and pests to deal with and they are impacting forest health in every way. Deer are another big part of the picture. Their presence determines what grows and if trees can regenerate. Unless you know what is missing in a forest ecosystem, you might not even know what role it plays. For anyone interested in becoming a Master Forest Owner volunteer, the application deadline for the next training is March 19. See blogs.cornell.edu. It includes topics such as understanding what makes a healthy woodland, earning income from trees through timber harvesting or food production, and how to access state and regional resources. The training can be completed online. Volunteers can also attend field training and webinars and workshops that cover the latest research on tree diseases, invasive species and the safe use of chain saws, for example. I get a steady stream of emails from CCE. To request a site visit from a MFO volunteer, visit blogs.cornell.edu/ccemfo.

Planning organization will share expertise Over the next few months, Cold Spring will receive professional help in dealing with its pressing transportation, traffic and pedestrian safety issues, at a cost even a municipality with a tight budget can afford: It will be free. The details were shared at the Feb. 21 meeting of the Village Board. The Community Planning Workshop Program is provided in counties that are members of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC), in conjunction with the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University. Miriam Salerno, the senior research manager at Voorhees who has been meeting with Mayor Kathleen Foley for several months, said the program will help the village find "ways to reduce traffic and allow more free movement by pedestrians," taking into account the influx of visitors during peak seasons. Salerno said the program will recommend improvements in four parts of the village that pose traffic and pedestrian safety problems: (1) The intersection of Routes 9D and 301; (2) Main Street at the Visitor Center; (3) Lunn Terrace at Market Street; and (4) Fair Street. The initiative will also examine the trolley service operated by Putnam County, which for years has underperformed in terms of ridership. The process, which Salerno expects to be completed by late summer, will include four components: (1) Development of a "story map," a website illustrating the program and related data; (2) a survey of residents and businesses; (3) facilitated workshops for residents; and (4) a summary report with detailed recommendations. David Drits, program manager for the NYMTC, said the report will be similar to preliminary engineering being done for projects recommended in the final report. It won't provide design or construction details. Foley said, "This is a huge capacity expansion for the village," which does not have its own planning staff. She said the report "will help Cold Spring be a competitor for state and federal infrastructure money that we've been unable to unlock in the past." At the meeting, Trustee Aaron Freimark noted that the Village Board is planning a survey of residents about the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail and asked about coordination with the NYMTC program. The HHFT is also surveying residents in the lower village and on Fair Street, areas that could be affected by the trail's potential routes. Foley said she hopes the NYMTC survey can go out by late April. Trustee Tweeps Phillips Woods observed that the village has struggled to address the issues that will be examined. "These are questions we have to ask and have answers to," she said, regardless of whether the process coordinates with HHFT initiatives. In an email, the mayor said Cold Spring is under tremendous pressure from tourism and the proposed Fjord Trail. "We need all the tools we can fit into our kit to make solid decisions," she said. "We don't have an option to sit back, let decisions be made around us and hope they serve our best interests. We have to be proactive in our planning." NYMTC, established in 1982, is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for New York City, Long Island and Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties. Federal law requires that all metropolitan areas with populations greater than 50,000 have an MPO to address regional transportation planning. Foley said the village was unaware of the program until last summer, when John Tully, then the county planning commissioner, told her about it at a meeting regarding the Cold Spring Trolley, a session also attended by county Transportation Director Vincent Tamagna. She said she decided to pursue having Cold Spring participate when she learned that the Village of Mahopac had benefited from it. It requires neither a formal agreement with NYMTC nor a resolution by the Village Board.

Putnam sidelines Legislature's sole Democrat Nancy Montgomery is not only the lone Democratic member of the Putnam County Legislature, she is now also the only legislator without a committee appointment. Although the Legislature's eight Republicans appointed Montgomery, who represents Philipstown and part of Putnam Valley, to several boards during an organizational meeting on Jan. 2, Chair Paul Jonke of Southeast kept her off the seven Legislature committees whose rosters are filled by appointments. Nearly all resolutions that reach the Legislature must first be approved by at least one of the three-person standing committees. While each Republican legislator received assignments to two or three committees, Montgomery will sit in 2024 only on the Budget and Finance Committee, which includes every legislator. Montgomery is not the first legislator to be shut out of committee assignments. In January 2017, Ginny Nacerino of Patterson, who chaired the Legislature, did not assign a fellow Republican, Dini LoBue of Mahopac, to any committees. LoBue, who lost her bid for reelection later that year, often sparred with her colleagues. Montgomery, who is in her second, 3-year term, said on Wednesday (Jan. 24) that her exclusion "confirms that this Legislature continues to chip away at the very tenets of democracy." "Regardless, I will be present at these committee meetings as I always have, making my voice heard as I always have, and always pulling back the curtain for a more transparent government," said Montgomery, who is urging supporters to speak up at the Legislature's next meeting on Feb. 6. In a letter to Montgomery dated Thursday (Jan. 25) that Jonke shared with The Current, he said he had not assigned her to any committees because of what he claimed was her "inability to work collaboratively, and to act professionally and collegially." He accused Montgomery of eight violations, including "flagrantly disregarding" the rules of order, "failing to confine your comments to the merits of the question"; "failing to maintain a courteous tone"; "injecting personal notes into debate, including personal attacks"; and "speaking more than once on a subject before every other legislator choosing to be heard on the subject has spoken without having received the permission of the chair to do so." Further, he said, Montgomery had disparaged past actions by the Legislature and engaged in unspecified activities that "disturbed meetings or that hampered the transaction of business." He also accused Montgomery of impugning the integrity of the Republican legislators by "accusing them of acting solely for political reasons, when it is glaringly obvious that so many of your actions are entirely political." Citing the fact that the eight Republican members meet in caucus outside of public meetings, he said Montgomery had been guilty of wrongly accusing the majority of "improper conduct even after you have been provided with conclusive authority that such discussions are entirely proper, ethical and protected by state law." Jonke concluded that Montgomery's training and experience "were outweighed by your lack of professionalism" and that she was "unfit" for any standing committee. Montgomery has battled for committee appointments since she began representing District 1 in 2019. In February 2021, the chair, Toni Addonizio of Kent, removed her from the Personnel Committee, one of two she served on, along with Economic Development & Energy, in 2019 and 2020. Successive chairs have ignored her requests to be appointed to the Health, Social, Educational and Environmental Committee and the Protective Services Committee. She argued she was well qualified for them based on her experience managing group homes for the developmentally disabled, volunteering for the Philipstown Ambulance Corps and dispatching 911 calls. She was re-appointed to the Economic Development & Energy Committee in 2021 and 2022 and then removed and appointed to Physical Services in ...

New York Times best selling author, Jeff Pearlman, shared stories from his time as a sports writer, being a father & some of his hobbies/interests away from being a successful writer.He has written books about the 1986 Mets, Bo Jackson, the Dallas Cowboys & Brett Favre to name a few. Jeff's book, ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty', was turned into a TV series on HBO.Jeff is also currently working on an autobiography on the late Tupac Shakur.For more exclusive content, follow the Jim on Base Show on social media (Twitter/Instagram/TikToK): @JimonBaseShow

Chrissie Mayr Podcast with Riss Flex - January 6ers face serious jail time, Proof that Vivek Ramaswamy is compromised, Rapper YG confirms the Black community is coming around on Trump, A sneak peek into Riss's interview with Border Patrol Deputy JJ Carrell, NYC Migrant Crisis and more! SEE CHRISSIE ON TOUR! 9/23 - MAHOPAC, NY https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-fundraiser-to-benefit-yorktown-diamond-thistle-lodge-tickets-682169646777?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/21 - SARTELL, MN https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chrissie-mayr-live-tickets-698167466687?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/27-10/28 - BELLMORE, NY https://brokerage.govs.com/events/78469 12/3 - TAMPA, FL https://ci.ovationtix.com/35578/production/1175040?performanceId=11340983 1/5-1/6 - SAN DIEGO, CA https://www.micdropcomedy.com/shows/229610

SimpCast is back! Chrissie Mayr is joined by That Tugg Life, Carmen Studer and LeeAnn Star!   SEE CHRISSIE ON TOUR! 9/23 - MAHOPAC, NY https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-fundraiser-to-benefit-yorktown-diamond-thistle-lodge-tickets-682169646777?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/21 - SARTELL, MN https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chrissie-mayr-live-tickets-698167466687?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/27-10/28 - BELLMORE, NY https://brokerage.govs.com/events/78469 12/3 - TAMPA, FL https://ci.ovationtix.com/35578/production/1175040?performanceId=11340983 1/5-1/6 - SAN DIEGO, CA https://www.micdropcomedy.com/shows/229610

SimpCast is back! Chrissie Mayr is joined by Candice Horbacz, Brittany Venti, Radix Verum, Melonie Mac and Anna TSWG!   SEE CHRISSIE ON TOUR! 9/23 - MAHOPAC, NY https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-fundraiser-to-benefit-yorktown-diamond-thistle-lodge-tickets-682169646777?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/21 - SARTELL, MN https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chrissie-mayr-live-tickets-698167466687?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/27-10/28 - BELLMORE, NY https://brokerage.govs.com/events/78469 12/3 - TAMPA, FL https://ci.ovationtix.com/35578/production/1175040?performanceId=11340983 1/5-1/6 - SAN DIEGO, CA https://www.micdropcomedy.com/shows/229610

Chrissie Mayr Podcast with Az (Heel Vs. Babyface). We discuss the chaos caused by YouTuber Kai Cenat giving away a free gaming system, Are we headed towards a cashless society?, Barbie movie, and his personal health and fitness journey!   SEE CHRISSIE ON TOUR! 9/23 - MAHOPAC, NY https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-fundraiser-to-benefit-yorktown-diamond-thistle-lodge-tickets-682169646777?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/21 - SARTELL, MN https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chrissie-mayr-live-tickets-698167466687?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/27-10/28 - BELLMORE, NY https://brokerage.govs.com/events/78469 12/3 - TAMPA, FL https://ci.ovationtix.com/35578/production/1175040?performanceId=11340983 1/5-1/6 - SAN DIEGO, CA https://www.micdropcomedy.com/shows/229610  

Chrissie Mayr Podcast with Vic Mignogna! Anime Matsuri in Houston!  VISIT VIC MIGNOGNA https://twitter.com/vicmignogna https://www.startrekcontinues.com/ https://www.vicsworld.net/ https://www.risemboolrangers.com/ Check out the Star Trek Continues Studio! https://neutralzonestudios.com/ SEE CHRISSIE ON TOUR   9/23- Mahopac, New York https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-fundraiser-to-benefit-yorktown-diamond-thistle-lodge-tickets-682169646777?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/27-10/28- Bellmore (Long Island), New York https://brokerage.govs.com/events/78469   

Chrissie Mayr Podcast with Comedian and Ventriloquist April Brucker! We discuss her experience on reality TV, the difficultues of dating, puppet maintanence and more! SEE CHRISSIE LIVE! 9/8-9/9- Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks), California https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sanctuary-comedy-show-presents-chrissie-mayr-tickets-682592692117?aff=oddtdtcreator 9/23- Mahopac, New York https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-fundraiser-to-benefit-yorktown-diamond-thistle-lodge-tickets-682169646777?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/27-10/28- Bellmore (Long Island), New York https://brokerage.govs.com/events/78469  

A whack job with three names scares the bejesus out of Drew Barrymore. Corrections officers at Newtown prison stabbed by inmate . A Goose is murdered on a Mahopac golf course. The CT real estate market is no good for buyers.

Chrissie Mayr Podcast with Comedian Leonarda Jonie. We dicuss how she got into comedy, performing in NYC during the pandemic, moving to Austin Texas, Kill Tony Show and more! SEE CHRISSIE'S STAND UP LIVE:  9/8-9/9- Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks), California https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sanctuary-comedy-show-presents-chrissie-mayr-tickets-682592692117?aff=oddtdtcreator 9/23- Mahopac, New York https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-fundraiser-to-benefit-yorktown-diamond-thistle-lodge-tickets-682169646777?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/27-10/28- Bellmore (Long Island), New York https://brokerage.govs.com/events/78469  

Chrissie Mayr Podcast with Roger Stone! Donald Trump, Biden family corruption, Ron DeSantis, the 2024 Presidential Race, plus we get into the very suspicious death of Obama family chef Tafari Campbell and more! The 2024 Election Season is starting to heat up and there are many candidates and prospective candidates who are throwing their hat into the ring on all sides! Incumbent President Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Ron DeSantis, Robert F Kennedy Jr., Mike Pence, who else?! SEE CHRISSIE'S STAND UP LIVE: 9/8-9/9- Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks), California https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sanctuary-comedy-show-presents-chrissie-mayr-tickets-682592692117?aff=oddtdtcreator 9/23- Mahopac, New York https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-fundraiser-to-benefit-yorktown-diamond-thistle-lodge-tickets-682169646777?aff=oddtdtcreator 10/27-10/28- Bellmore (Long Island), New York https://brokerage.govs.com/events/78469    

A man known only as "Tank" shared his experience as a man born with two penises. The guys marvel at Tank's willingness to talk about it and the genitals of his entire family. Gas prices are on the rise in CT. Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito tells us people may be living at the Danbury Fair Mall in the future. A missing Mahopac man was found prompting the guys to wonder how long the public would look for them if they went missing.

Alice from Mahopac asked about the evidence against Hunter Biden. Dave in Chicago asked why the submarine wasn't e4xamined by NASA or the NAVY. Vincent from Brooklyn talked about fishing and the imploded submarine.

Michael Wallace has the top stories from the WCBS newsroom.

Former Carmel-Mahopac Town Supervisor Ken Schmitt joins the show. He talks about the upcoming Mahopac mascot name change. We also got him to divulge the real pronunciation of Mahopac. Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito makes a guest appearance and we learned how the stop lights went out on Main Street Wednesday. New York State wants people to kill bugs and a couple is celebrating 80 years of marriage.

A dispute between two Mahopac women over a guinea pig turns violent. New Milford Theater Works will be doing a production of Pippin. Lou thought this had something to do with Scotttie Pippen. Ridgefield announces another self-improvement construction project. New Jersey needs to stop reminding us all that Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Southside Johnny are from there. We all know, we get it, we wrote it down and made a mental note. STOP!

Dr. Christine's introduction Dr. Christine comes from a family of healers on both sides. Being raised with no medication and an understanding of how the body heals itself with the proper natural tools and remedies is her lifelong passion. As a well-known and sought-after speaker, she holds many degrees in the healing arts and continues to study. Her Ph.D. degree is in Naturology which is the study of how our internal and external environment affects us. Dr. Christine and her team use EDS (Electro Dermal Screening) to find root causes and remedies that eliminate them. This method is safe, non-invasive, accurate, and effective. Dr. Christine is the founder of the Alternative Healing Clinic in Mahopac NY and they are expanding to Florida. Their clients come from all over the planet and typically suffer from chronic conditions. They love how accurate EDS is in determining root causes, and how rapidly they achieve results. Connect with Dr. Christine Jordan Email of the clinic: info@alternativehealingclinic.com Website of the clinic: https://alternativehealingclinic.com Phone number of the clinic: +1 914 330 5594 Location of the clinic: 78 Secor Rd, Mahopac, NY 10541 (off Taconia) Get full access to Gemma's Gem blog & Real Talk Real Women podcast at gemmasgem.substack.com/subscribe

Cults have become infamous through the years for so many reasons and unfortunately this cult is like that. With allegations of child abuse, sexual abuse and controlling every aspect of someone's life. They have been through court many times but still are surviving to this day. We explore the OSG cult and their obscure teachings with a narcissistic leader. We hear different stories and help to really understand how the New York Elite fell into the trap. Our featured podcast this week is The Activity Continues @theactivitycontinues Check them out on Social media and wherever you get your podcasts. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Tiktok Join me next week as we explore Massachusetts!! Thank you so much for your support! Kay https://nypost.com/2022/07/09/odyssey-study-group-cult-still-going-strong-after-sharon-gans-death/https://culteducation.com/group/1190-odyssey-study-group-osg-fourth-way-school.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahopac,_New_Yorkhttps://activerain.com/blogsview/1445733/the-history-of-mahopac--new-york-10541https://culteducation.com/group/1190-odyssey-study-group-osg-fourth-way-school/36762-nyc-judge-tosses-suit-accusing-secret-cult-of-using-women-as-unpaid-servants.htmlhttps://culteducation.com/group/1190-odyssey-study-group-osg-fourth-way-school/37004-blamed-and-shamed-leader-of-cult-that-adam-driver-s-mom-in-law-belonged-to-once-victim-blamed-member-for-abuse-and-quizzed-his-sexuality.htmlhttps://culteducation.com/group/1190-odyssey-study-group-osg-fourth-way-school/35130-rosie-o-donnell-recalls-brush-with-alleged-cult.html

Two teens arrested in Danbury for firing a gun. CT lawmakers want to suspend the sale of recreational weed just weeks after it was legalized. A beer loving Canadian won't stop calling soda "pop." Where will the low income people of Mahopac watch porn? Why did Lou stop going to the New Milford Big Y? The answers to all of those questions and more will be answered when you listen.

Lou makes Matt Carey the prime suspect in the missing XMAS tree case. The rest of the Grinch story falls into place. Lou and Dave institute "Tickle Tuesday" and Mahopac residents weigh in on the nickname debate.

Joe Rizzo brought on NY Times Best-Selling author Jeff Pearlman to talk about his new masterpiece, "The Last Folk Hero - The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson" in a lively half-hour episode. First off, buy the book because you're gonna love it. Listening/watching this show ought to convince you, anyway. https://www.amazon.com/Last-Folk-Hero-Life-Jackson/ Riz and Jeff dove into the making of the book and some of the interesting pieces behind it. Off the bat, Riz became the first of myriad hosts to have listened to the audiobook and was able to provide the author valuable feedback. There was also talk about Jeff's Mahopac, NY roots (if you know anything of Mahopac, this is the episode for you), and some unforeseen connections with people to whom Jeff interviewed in writing it. Since Jeff has done about 150-200 similar spots, we tried to bring something different to the table, so hopefully we succeeded. There are a lot of podcasts out there, and we try to be a little better and a little different! Support Diamond Diehards! Join the Facebook group to be part of the action when they're live! And subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube - wherever you get your podcasts. Pain got you down? Gatto Acupuncture & Wellness might be the elixir for your woes. Book online at GattoAcu.com or call 551-212-3845 to find the path toward feeling great with Dr. Melissa! Please check out FMS Graphics (https://www.fmsgraphics.com) for all your print and promotional needs. For all your real estate needs in the Northern Valley, Pascack Valley and North Jersey areas, you need to contact Gary and Michele at the Mascolo Group. For more information, go to GaryMascolo.com or call 201-615-3665. Big Ed's Car Wash http://www.bigedscarwash.com/ is the place to go if you're in Bergen or Passaic Counties, NJ. Get over to Fair Lawn and get your automobile cleaned and your oil changed. Tell Big Ed that Diamond Diehards sent you! We need you to subscribe to the podcast! Please hit the SUBSCRIBE or FOLLOW button from wherever you get your podcasts. Watch, Listen Subscribe: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2JzUd5e Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KPgZq9 Amazon: https://amzn.to/3M1Puny Youtube: https://bit.ly/3pBAvFE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DiamondDiehards Interact: Website: https://DiamondDiehards.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@diamonddiehards? LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/diamond-diehards Twitter: twitter.com/DiamondDiehards, twitter.com/JeffHealy8

Overview In today's episode Kate shares her career journey, and talks about how Web3 will unlock value for consumers and brands and provides examples of this through her team's work at Pepsico. Kate has been a leader in digital innovation for many years. About Kate Brady Kate is a seasoned marketing veteran with over 20-years media and marketing experience, 12+ of those years within PepsiCo. Kate now leads Next Gen D2C Consumer Experience and Direct Digital Marketing Capabilities, a newly formed team within PepsiCo's global Strategy and Transformation organization driving growth for PepsiCo through the lens of consumer data and experiences. Kate's team is responsible for creating value and enabling consumer centricity through current and next generation platforms by delivering meaningful consumer experiences through direct consumer engagement and activation across a connected direct-to-consumer network. A key part of this work is driven through the establishment of PepsiCo's Web3 & Metaverse Center of Enablement, leading the coordination and global strategy development across all PepsiCo sectors. Prior to this role Kate has worked across PepsiCo's global portfolio of brands driving media strategy, investment, innovation and partnership development. Kate lives in Mahopac, NY with her husband Ryan and 2 daughters Ava (15) and Liv (13). Social Handles LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/katebrady1007 Twitter: @katebrady1007 Learn more about our mission and become a member here: https://www.womenindata.org/ All Data Bytes listeners get 20% off of WiD membership by using the code: DATABYTES20 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/women-in-data/support

Mario, a retail worker from Mahopac, is ready to take on Sid in today's game! Will Mario seal the deal or will he sell out against Bernie? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Beat Bernie: Phil, a retired police officer from Mahopac, plays today's expert level game of Beat Bernie! Will Phil lock up a win? Or will Bernie throw the book at him? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The boys are back and choppin it up. There's a lot to talk about. The meta-verse, Tom Brady retires, there's a Mahopac man. Ohhh Cannnadaaa , Ohhh Cannnadaaa. There's a test tube baby mix up out there in the world. A lot to talk about. Like, Comment and Subscribe For More Exclusive Content from Jack Lemmens on the What's Pac'n Podcast!

Today on Beat Sid: Buddy, a truck driver from Mahopac, NY, tries to hand Sid his first loss of the new year. Do we have a battle between two giants on our hands? That's a 10-4. BANG!

If there was ever a guarantee, you'd want Ali from Mahopac to make it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is it! Hudson Valley Horror Month (plus) comes to an end this Sunday! For the grand finale, we're headed down to Mahopac in Putnam County! You won't believe this one. In 1952, escaped convict, Donald Synder, took a young girl hostage as the police were closing in on him. In the midst of a standoff, he murdered that girl. He was later found guilty and sentenced to death. What happens next is bizarre. Synder hatches a plan to get his death sentence, by electric chair, commuted to life in prison. How you ask? By eating his way out of it!! That's right, Synder balloned up to well over 300lbs during his stay in prison. A far cry from the 150lbs he went in at!! Did this violent criminal's plan work? We'll tell you all about it!   Patreon Page: https://patron.podbean.com/betweenthecrackspodcast   Merch available at : https://btc-5.creator-spring.com/?

Mr. Tikki Day himself! Dom Cappelletti came in sat down and chopped it up. Jack and Dom talked about lake Mahopac's biggest party, when, where, and how it all started. The guys touched on topics of lifestyle, tattoos and finding passion in careers.Like, Comment and Subscribe For More Exclusive Content from Jack Lemmens on the What's Pac'n Podcast!

Casey Carbone is the pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Mahopac and an IT/Communications Facilitator with the Hudson River Presbytery. Casey and Debbie talked about creativity, spirituality, and non-traditional daily meditative practices. — “I like a lot of different kinds of music, but I really have a heart for songs and artists that tell stories with their music. Both stories that are hopeful and stories are upbeat, but also ones that can be vulnerable and authentic.” -Casey Carbone — Everyday Spirituality is a podcast from connect.faith; which is a new worshiping community of the Presbyterian Church (USA) unbound by location coming together at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and justice. Learn more about connect.faith at our website - https://connect.faith Donate to support our mission.

Boomer tries to explain why he owns a painted portrait of himself and you better not have picture of you & your family in your home if Gio ever comes to visit, (8:45) wondering who might give the Booms a ring for his birthday, led to his radio partner digging into his bag of impressions and eliciting laughter, (21:58) Gio finally gives into temptation, then Boomer reads some birthday wishes he received from the staff, all of this before another update, courtesy of Jerry Recco and (32:31) more impressions, as our buddy Sour Shoes/Mike from Mahopac called in with all his friends to wish the Blonde Bomber the happiest of birthdays!!! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See if Mike from Mahopac can outduel Sid and win a Bernie and Sid lid!

Mike and Nick talk with NY Times best-selling author Jeff Pearlman. From Jeff's early days on the "mean streets" of suburban Mahopac, NY, to how he got his start as a writer, to the famous sports stars he has written books on (Kobe, Shaq, Bonds, Clemens, Favre to name a few), Jeff takes us through his journey as a writer, acclaimed author, fellow podcaster, and tells us what book he is working on, about a sports megastar, that he thinks tops them all!For bonus content from this episode & more like merchandise from our show, patron shout-outs & more, check out our Patreon page and become a subscriber! - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=52915535&fan_landing=trueEmail us at canwepleasetalkpodcast@yahoo.com if you have a take on the topic discussed, or if you have a topic in mind you want us to discuss on the program!Follow us on social -IG- @canwepleasetalkpodcastTwitter - @CANWEPLEASETALKTikTok - @canwepleasetalkpodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/can-we-please-talk. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How to Be A Successful Wrestler With Empire Wrestling Academy Owner John DeglWelcome back to the Fitness, Wellness, and Longevity Podcast! In today's episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with owner and head coach of Empire Wrestling Academy John Degl. John is a New York State High School wrestling champion and in 1992 John packed up his things and drove from Mahopac, New York to the famed University of Iowa intent on pursing his academic and athletic career. With grit and determination, John made the team for Coach Dan Gable went on to qualify for and wrestle at the NCAA Championships for the Hawkeyes, and participate in four National Championship teams. He has coached multiple state champions and All-Americans and has a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to be a champion in one of the most grueling sports.In today's podcast, we cover:0:00 The Lock Down2:30 Pivoting After Lock Down7:30 Being an Aging Athlete9:30 Shaping his business after NCAA13:00 The risks of travel in 202123:00 The difficulties of laying off employees24:15 The strength of the wrestling community26:30 John's wrestling career32:00 How John went from not being allowed to wrestle to becoming a state champion35:00 The freedom of being broken37:00 The wrestling camp experience38:00 There is no excuse to miss practice43:20 You Don't Need Permission to Succeed44:30 Work and Sacrifice= success45:00 If you to be exceptional, you have to be obsessed47:00 Long Island Wrestling51:00 Making the best of what you have53:00 Better, Worse, and Equal in the wrestling room54:30 Peaking 55:30 Getting destroyed by Kurt Angle58:30 Coach Dan Gable60:01 Once you have been broken60:03 Leaning about coaching60:06 Changing mentalities to gain success60:08 Trusting the people who love you60:19 Trust someone else until you have enough info60:10 Parents as mentors?60:12 Eliminating winning as the goal60:13 Improving as the goal

Jamie O'Connor, a teaching assistant professor at the University of Illinois, speaks with 2019 SHAPE America Teacher of the Year, Donn Tobin of Lakeview Elementary in Mahopac, New York.

Adam Mitchell holds a 6th degree black belt in a traditional martial arts school and a 3rd degree black belt in Judo. He built and launched the first fully interactive online training resource for martial arts, and is currently teaching over 450 students, including having taught the Barbaro kids, out of a 900 square foot school in Mahopac, NY. One of Adam’s passions is about how young people can build cruelty free environments in school. In this episode, we are going to dive into the seven principles, which include:   The Dwyer Effect Gift of Time Trauma Triangle The Jock Stick - law of escalation Stop/don’t stop The Sword of Proven Peace Freeze Factor Social Proof To learn more about Adam, click on these links: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRCntPNj3sk1hJRWFa7JLAg https://closequarterdad.com  

Give a listen to hear how 'Scott from Teterboro' turned into 'Sour Shoes' (aka Mike from Mahopac) and the pride that came along with the discovery.   See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Born in the small town of Lubbock, Texas, Steven Skybell knew at the age of 10 as Pavel the peasant boy in the local theatre version of Fiddler on the Roof that the stage was where he belonged. A graduate of both Yale University's undergraduate and graduate theatre studies programs, in 1988 Steven stepped right off the stage at Yale Repertory and onto the boards at the Neil Simon Theatre for his broadway debut in Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! Classically trained in Shakespeare, ironically Steven does not think of himself as a musical theatre performer. But to everyone else? His performance as Tevye in the Yiddish version of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF directed by Joel Grey is a tour de force and the performance of a lifetime. The show was sold out and seen by celebrities and politicians such as Hillary Clinton, Hugh Jackman, Baryshnikov, Lin-Manuel Miranda (to name a few).The production won the 2019 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Revival, the 2019 Critics Circle Special Citation Award and Steven won the 2019 Lucille Lortel for Best Lead Actor in a Musical. The show was the brain child of both Joel Gray and the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's (NYTF) Artistic Director, Zalmen Mlotek. Steven has appeared on broadway in shows such as, Love! Valour! Compassion!, WICKED, and The Full Monty. He and his husband, Michael Cole (who is Stephen Schwartz's personal assistant), live a couple of hours north outside the city in a little town known as Mahopac, NY. They have 2 children "fur babies" named MacKenzie and Caleb both are Blue Merle Australian Shepherds. If you ever find yourself on the lake in this lovely little hamlet, you might even see Tevye slaloming across the wakes and doing some tricks.I will tell you that that Steven is as lovely to converse with as he is on stage. Honest. Charming. Kind. Funny. Interesting. He says the trick to acting is If the thought is clear then the actor's message will get across. Steven Skybell is truly a very rich man!

Just got off the phone with Franke Previte who wrote "I've Had the Time of My Life"... a song that was born on a highway in New Jersey! Franke is a great guy with a heart like Johnny Castle. His latest song "One World" will bring healing to many. Thank you, Franke. Saturday September 12 Franke will zoom into the drive in movie screening of Dirty Dancing and answer your questions at Putnam Golf Course in Mahopac, NY Get tickets at www.putnamcountygc.com

Dooner’s World – Episode 25 – Daniel Cullen 1k Subscriber Celebration!! Thanks to my awesome guests: Ike Willis – Frank Zappa’s Lead singer and Guitar Player Andre Chomoneley – Project Object Yoda Ed Palermo – Ed Palermo Big Band Roger Capps – Pat Benatar Band Bobby Figueroa – Beach Boys Joe Lally – Fugazi, CorikyLiberty Devitto – Billy Joel Band William Hung – American Idol and Personal Coach JB Frank – Vally Girl (Josie cotton Band) and Kingdom Come Prescott Niles – The Knack, Population 5, Lelvert Turner Band, Missing Persons Bob Nelson – Rodney Dangerfield star and Brain Donors genius Shout Outs: Brandon MillerKT WelteLois at Xtrachange.com in Mahopac, NY Ryan Stanley Guest: Daniel Cullen – RAWK U Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=39941006&fan_landing=true)

Mike Wacker is a 3rd-degree black belt. Mike has been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since he was twelve years old, and has been teaching since 2004. At the age of seventeen, Mike began instructing a small group of friends in the basement of his parents' house: the original “Black Hole”. Today, Black Hole Jiu-Jitsu Academy is located at , 1285 U.S Route 9, Wappingers Falls, New York 12590. The facility is large, well-lit, fully-matted, and climate-controlled. He also has three affiliate locations located in the Hudson Valley area that he oversees and instructs at. This includes New Paltz, Mahopac and Westchester.  Through the many changes Black Hole has seen, one constant that has remained through the years is the passion that Mike has for jiu-jitsu and his dedication to his students. Mike still teaches the vast majority of the jiu-jitsu classes at Black Hole himself, and his expertise for coaching and instruction is evident in the many high-caliber competitors Black Hole has produced. Black Hole Jiu-Jitsu team members have won or placed at almost every level and rank in world-wide competitions. Mike makes every effort to be available to coach his students in competitions and has traveled extensively in this endeavor.

An interview with Chris Przymylski, a brown belt under Mike Varley at Black Hole JJ in Mahopac, N.Y. We discuss his introduction to the art, it's positive effects, the importance of timing and competition, as well as trusting the process.

Join Mike "Dooner" Muldoon on his journey through the current crisis living 1 hour north of NYC. His cousin is a nurse in Westchester, her partner a Police Officer, and Dooner's wife has been redeployed to call COVID-19 patients back with test results. How do we grounded and positive amidst a crisis while pre-paving the way for the New Frontier as we watch the day to day lives we once knew drift further and further into the past? Come join Mike "Dooner" Muldoon as he forges his way through Mirkwood. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=39941006&fan_landing=true)

Scott Weiss is the owner of Weiss Financial Group, a fee only firm in Mahopac, NY. In today’s episode, we discuss Scott’s previous career as an art director in the magazine world, as well as why he decided to leave that industry and enter into the financial planning profession. Listen in as we delve into Scott’s story: what it was like joining a family firm, how they broke the business into a tax firm and a financial planning firm, the experience of earning his CFP®, and what he’s doing to stay relevant to his ideal client base. We recorded this episode March 20, 2020, when the world started to spiral into this state of uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott talks about where we are today as a country and as an industry, and he shines light on how he's been able to leverage a community, his network, and his education to ensure that he can show up for his clients, himself, and his family. If you're interested in how to grow a family business or how to just keep your head above water during these wild times, this show is for you. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/250  

In this episode recorded on Nov 3rd, 2019, we sit down with Mikey & Nico to discuss our most recent bus trip to Holy Smoke BBQ in Mahopac, NY. We review the trip, food, bus ride trivia, and feats of fitness amongst other things.

Local business co-owner of Training For Warriors Mahopac,  John Praino , sits down with Dr. Tony Tanzi to discuss what has gone into building the Training For Warriors culture, what its like to experience a workout and how TFW differs from crossfit.On this episode we discuss what its like to be a part of TFW.John dives into the FAQ that he commonly answers such as:-Are you a crossfit?-What kind of nutrition help do you offer?-What if I’m scared I’m going to get hurt?Interested in having Training For Warriors guide you to transforming your life? Be sure to check out their special upcoming promotion by clicking HERE!​If knee pain is stopping you from exercising the way you want, be sure to check out our FREE E-book “5 Ways To End Knee Pain, Without Living on Pain Medication” by clicking HERE!Thanks for listening to the Hudson Valley Health & Sports Podcast!

In this week’s Quick Hits we talk about Industrial Arts Brewing in Beacon, Peekskill revitalization, and a roller skating pop-up at the Cross-County Shopping Center. Our restaurant spotlight is Countryside Kitchen in Mahopac.

Kevin Coughlin has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows. He inspired a CNN story chronicling his experience living as a blind person in New York City which was instrumental in establishing its first blind advocacy program. His story, Blind Injustice, was featured on the CBS evening news. He lives in New York City with his beloved dog, Elias. Contact Kevin at www.kevincoughlinunblinded.com Traci Medford-Rosow is an award-winning author of the Amazon bestseller, Inflection Point: War and Sacrifice in Corporate America. She is also the author of Data Exclusivity and numerous op-eds published by Pharmaceutical Executive. Traci is a partner in the New York City law firm, Richardson & Rosow. Previously, she worked at Pfizer for thirty years as Senior VP and Chief Itellectual Property Counsel, Global Head of IP Litigation and General Counsel of Europe. She is the founder of The College Education Milestone Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping high-performing students attend college. Traci lives in New York City and Mahopac, New York with her husband. They have two adult children. Contact Traci at www.tracimedfordrosow.com 

We sat down with Bob Dumas at Mahopac News on our recent northeast tour for a Q+A with our hometown newspaper. Bob is an interview veteran and offered several parallels with what he has witnessed within the music industry over his own career. We talk about how we define ourselves musically, along with individual personal influences, growing in the present-day music industry, touring, and an update on what we’ve been up to. Enjoy!*First couple of minutes is our classic band origin story, if you’ve heard it all before feel free to skip to about 10 minutes in.PS: We were all a bit jet lagged for this one. Don actually overslept so we were only 4/5 strong.Tweet (@Official_FATF) or DM (@friendsatthefalls) us and let us know whatcha thought!

In this episode of "#HVpucks," I chat with Tim Donaghy, Head Coach of the Mahopac Indians. Enjoy!

7 years ago, Jake Stenziano, a drug rep from Rochester, NY moved to Knoxville, TN. Gino Barbaro, a restaurateur in Mahopac, NY was reaching the end of his rope. Both craved financial freedom and were determined to achieve it. Introduced by Ginos brother, Mark they quickly hit it off and in 2013 made their first investment, a 20 unit deal in Knoxville. Since then, they’ve amassed over 1,100 units worth $75M. In 2014, they started the property management business focusing on customer service. The education program, Jake & Gino and the Wheelbarrow Profits Podcast came next in 2015. 2018 has been a banner year as well, eclipsing the 1000 mark, founding Rand Partners the syndication company and Rand Cares, a charitable organization focused on feeding hungry children. And 2019 doesn’t look to be slowing down as we look forward to Rand Capital, the live event in Orlando and much more! In this episode, the guys reminisce about those years, talk about the mistakes they made as well as the wins they had. They talk ideas for the coming year as well as the future at large. jakeandgino.com Register on the investor portal and fill out the investor portal form: Create an Account – Rand Partners Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for lots of great content! Learn More About Our Mentorship Programs Get tickets to our next Multifamily Mastery Event in Orlando!

Do you think that the way you were put to sleep as a kid impacts the way you sleep now? Shoboy realized this last night when he told his wife to tell him her daily highlights and half way through, he fell a sleep! That’s because when he was a kid, his mom would read him bedtime stories!   We helped a listener named Joey call his “crush” who he met down the Jersey shore this past weekend. He was out partying and made out with the bartender and now he wants to have her all to himself! How do you think she reacted? You know what they, never fall in love at the shore…  How did you find out you were the side piece in your relationship? Jessica from Mahopac started hooking up with her high school ex again, but later found out that his house had a woman’s touch to it! Wonder why…

The smoke lifted through the air as the houses burned, undoubtedly seen across the border in Dutchess County, New York. Earlier that day 2,000 British soldiers, marching from Fairfield, Connecticut under the command of Willian Tryon, Royal Governor of New York and Major General of the Provincials, had arrived in Danbury. Searching for rebel weapons and supplies, they would start to mark the homes of Loyalists. It wasn’t just that were going to deprive the enemy of guns and food. No, they were going to send a message. The unmarked homes, homes of Patriots would be set on fire. As word reached Colonel Henry Ludington, commander of the local militia, fresh returned from a three-day ride with his troops to shore up supplies, a sinking feeling had to come over him. The Patriots had only recently moved their supplies to Danbury in the belief that they would be safe there. Now they gone. Worse yet though, the veteran of the French and Indian Wars had to know that it was only a matter of time before the British Army crossed the border. Had the 400 men under his command been assembled they could perhaps, at the very least, put up a fight. But they weren’t. They were furloughed, on leave at their homes, believing little, if nothing had changed. He had to gather the troops. Yet the messenger who brought word at about nine that evening didn’t know the terrain, not well enough to bring word to the men scattered throughout the county. No, this task had to fall on the shoulders of someone who knew the territory and terrain, someone who knew the homes and the families along the road.The task would fall on the shoulders of the oldest of Colonel Ludington’s eight children, the 16 year old Sybil. Fiercely independent, she had watched her father train and drill his soldiers, and felt her own patriotism to the cause grow. Brave beyond her years, she had often served as a sentinal for her father. More than that though she knew the countryside, well versed in the terrain and the towns a messenger would have to ride. She would be the only choice. As the rain fell amidst the thundering of that night on April 26th, 1777 she would mount her horse with her father’s musket at her side, and she would ride. She would ride hard into the night. The ground beneath would have been soft and murky, having stormed all day, but she wouldn’t let it slow her. Her route would take her as far south as Mahopac and then to the North to Stormville. A treacherous path, she not only would have to avoid loyalists, but also roaming bandits with no allegiance to either side of the war. Yet she would be undeterred and undaunted. Not even the attack of a highwayman she would have to fend off would stop her. As she reached Carmel yelling “The British are burning Danbury” the Church bells would ring the alarm. Knowing the treacherous road she faced one of the men of Carmel would offer to ride the rest of the route with her. She knew the territory, and she had no fear for what might come. Dispatching him to spread word to the East, with the words “Tell them to join my father at Ludington Mill”, she would continue alone. Even as she rode word would reach Tryon that the Revolutionary forces were on the move. By this point, having found supply of whiskey, order broke down as the British troops stumbled through the streets of Danbury, looting homes as the people of the town watched in horror. Knowing that it wouldn’t be long before General David Wooster, and General Benedict Arnold arrived from Bethel, Tryon ordered they burn even more of the houses. The sky would burn orange into the night as the smoke lifted higher. Yet what they would soon find is that Arnold and Wooster were not their only problems as Ludington’s men began to assemble. In the course of that night, through mud and mist, rain and dark, against all obstacles, Sybil would cover forty miles before returning home in the early hours of that morning. Just over two years to the day of Paul Revere’s famous ride into the countryside of Boston she had rode twice as far to raise up the 400 men that would chase the British as they hurriedly exited Danbury that morning. Though they would not be able to save Danbury from the British they would be a part of the larger forces that would engage them at the strategic American victory at the Battle of Ridgefield. A short time later Colonel Ludington would receive praise from General Alexander Hamilton for his efforts, writing, “I congratulate you on the Danbury expedition. The stores destroyed have been purchased at a pretty high price to the enemy” with his daughter receiving personal notes of thank you from both the Comte Rochambeau and General Washington. Never really claiming her share of the glory a short time later she would slowly fade to the realm of the obscure, a part of lost history of the American Revolution, for over 100 years. Even today, while names like Paul Revere or William Dawes invoke a stir, hers remains largely unknown in the pantheon of early American heroes.

In celebration of my first (and very successful month as host of the show; this is a special edition of "The Hudson Valley Hockey Podcast" featuring player interviews with Alex Herman (New Rochelle), Peter Siolas (Mahopac) and Kieran Varga (Nyack/Tappan Zee). Enjoy!

Astorino reports on State of the County; teamsters agreement reached. Feds withdraw billions from Tappan Zee project. Croton resident arrested in silly bomb threat misunderstanding. Faith saw emergency plane landing in Yorktown, and we discuss the proper pronunciation of "Mahopac."

Astorino reports on State of the County; teamsters agreement reached. Feds withdraw billions from Tappan Zee project. Croton resident arrested in silly bomb threat misunderstanding. Faith saw emergency plane landing in Yorktown, and we discuss the proper pronunciation of "Mahopac."