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Philipstown also approves zoning for solar Philipstown is planning to bill the Garrison Landing Water District's nine users for the first time in over a decade and require them to reimburse the town for some of the $2 million it has spent buying water and digging a new well. The Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for June 24 on a proposal to borrow $500,000 for the Garrison Landing Water District, whose residents and businesses are receiving water from the new well drilled and connected at town expense when the existing wells failed. Philipstown also purchased water for the district and repaired leaks in its system to the extent that it has "basically repaired every single water line in Garrison Landing at this point," Supervisor John Van Tassel said when the board met on June 5. Now it is looking to recoup some of those expenses through the bonding, which will be repaid by water district users. "We will stretch the bond payments out for as long as we can to make it easier for them, but they will ultimately be responsible for paying back a good portion of this," Van Tassel added on Wednesday (June 11). Part of the proposed borrowing will fund meters. The existing meters have not worked in 15 years, said Van Tassel. The town did not have money for the meters, he said, and had been mistakenly told that state law prohibited billing users more than the $20,000 annually they've been paying collectively since the town acquired the system in 1998. "We will come up with a flat rate for residential use, we're going to come up with a flat rate for commercial use, and then there will be a rate per gallon for the water usage," said Van Tassel at the June 5 meeting. "Everybody will pay their fair share for water." A state audit released in May calculated that Philipstown spent $2.4 million between 2018 and 2023 to fill Garrison Landing's water needs, shrinking its general-fund balance from $1 million to $53,137. Annual expenses for the district rose during the same period from about $85,000 to $975,000, "the most significant factor of the town's financial decline," the audit said. Solar guidelines The Town Board on June 5 approved zoning for private and commercial solar systems. Under the guidelines, property owners who want to install roof- or ground-mounted systems for personal use can do so if they follow the regulatory process required for accessory structures, such as garages. The zoning limits the height of panels on pitched roofs to 8 inches, flat roofs to 2 feet or the height of parapets, and ground-mounted solar systems to 12 feet. Panels must have anti-reflective coating and ground-mounted systems cannot be larger than 5,000 square feet and must be shielded from neighbors. Commercial solar farms are allowed everywhere except the Ridgeline Protection District and only in the Scenic Overlay District with a special permit. The guidelines specify that solar farms, "to the greatest extent possible," be installed on industrial properties; Superfund sites that have undergone environmental cleanup; mining sites; abandoned parcels; landfills; parking lots; and the roofs of commercial buildings. In addition, companies building community solar projects, which allow residents to buy shares of the electricity they generate, must target Philipstown residents for subscriptions, particularly low- and moderate-income households. Requests for variances can be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Solar farms capable of generating up to 5 megawatts of electricity need 7-foot-high fencing with a self-locking gate to secure the mechanical equipment. Systems over 1 megawatt need a plan for decommissioning, removal and site restoration.

There are four Democratic candidates for two open seats on the Philipstown Town Board - Ben Cheah, John Maasik, Nat Prentice and Ned Rauch. They will compete in a primary on June 24 for the two Democratic lines on the general-election ballot in November. Cheah and Rauch, who were endorsed by the Philipstown Democratic Committee, also filed independent nominating petitions and will appear on the November ballot on the Philipstown Focus party line regardless of the primary outcome. There are no candidates from other parties. We asked each candidate to answer four questions in a total of 500 words or less. The responses are below, presented in alphabetical order by last name. For information on voting and a link to reader endorsements, see below. What in your background makes you the best candidate? Ben Cheah: I believe that a great board member brings passion, dedication, teamwork and expertise - and I'll bring all of that to the Philipstown board. Ten years ago, my wife Megan and I chose to raise our two sons in Philipstown. We love this community and feel lucky to call it home. Both of us have always been active volunteers. I've served on the Philipstown Recreation Commission, Cold Spring Planning Board (current), as Cub Scouts Pack 137 treasurer and on the Putnam County Industrial Development Agency board. Running for Town Board feels like a natural next step - one I'm genuinely passionate about. I'm especially focused on the challenges of rising costs and tightening budgets. I plan to be hands-on with budgeting and long-term planning to help keep costs and taxes under control. I bring to the table an MBA in finance from New York University's Stern School of Business; 25 years of project management and executive experience in the film and TV industry; and a strong creative background in sound design for film, with credits on Men in Black, The Big Lebowski, The Birdcage and The Wire. John Maasik: I've lived in Philipstown for over 20 years: 10 in Cold Spring and 10 in Garrison, where my wife and I raised our two sons. I've spent thousands upon thousands of hours volunteering with community-based organizations, including the Philipstown Recreation Commission, Philipstown Soccer Club, Friends of Philipstown Recreation and Scouting America, in addition to participating in the Haldane turf field effort and the Garrison School Safety Committee. I also helped launch events such as the Castle-to-River Run and Winter Carnival, raising thousands in non-taxpayer dollars and donations for town programs. These efforts have helped me build strong relationships across Cold Spring, Continental Village, Garrison and Nelsonville. Professionally, I've led large teams and managed multimillion-dollar budgets in the private sector, experiences that have shaped my ability to listen carefully, act with integrity and lead without ego. The values that guide me most deeply come from my family's story. My parents were Estonian refugees who fled Soviet occupation after my grandfather was killed by the Russians. My grandmother brought her three children to the U.S. in search of safety, freedom and a new beginning. I was raised with a deep respect for civic responsibility, community and the promise of American democracy. Nat Prentice: Experience, experience, experience. I have had a career in finance and investments. I grew up in Garrison and moved back here 25 years ago. Since moving back, I have attended most of the Town Board's monthly meetings, so I know the commitment that is required to address Philipstown's challenges and opportunities. I helped create the Town's 2007 Comprehensive Plan, and in 2018 I was appointed chair of the Comprehensive Plan Committee that published an update adopted in 2021. Working on the plan meant partnering with a multitude of people from the North Highlands to Continental Village. I know the town's goals and priorities really well. In addition, I work with emergency services (commissioner, Garrison Fire District; me...

Guidelines cover residential, commercial panels The Philipstown Town Board will hold a public hearing June 5 on a proposed law that would establish zoning guidelines for the installation of solar panels and commercial solar farms. A Climate Smart Task Force committee crafted the rules with five goals: (1) to establish a siting process; (2) lessen the cost of electricity; (3) mitigate the impact of solar systems on the environment and wildlife; (4) support the town goal of carbon neutrality; and (5) regulate the decommissioning of commercial solar projects. The conservation and planning boards, the building department and the town engineer and attorney each reviewed the proposal, said Jason Angell, a member of the Town Board and the task force, during a May 1 meeting. "All of that process is probably what took some time but made it a lot stronger." Under the draft guidelines, property owners who want to install roof- or ground-mounted systems for residential use would be allowed to do so in any zoning district. They would follow the same regulatory process required for adding accessory structures, such as garages. Philipstown would limit the height of panels on pitched roofs to 8 inches, flat roofs to 2 feet or the height of parapets and ground-mounted solar systems to 12 feet. Panels must have anti-reflective coating and ground-mounted systems can not be larger than 5,000 square feet and shielded from neighbors. The law would allow solar farms in all zoning districts except for the Ridgeline Protection District and only in the Scenic Overlay District with a special permit. The draft specifies that solar farms, "to the greatest extent possible," be installed on industrial properties; Superfund sites that have undergone environmental cleanup; mining sites; abandoned parcels; landfills; parking lots; and the roofs of commercial buildings. Removing trees larger than 6 inches in diameter "should be minimized," according to the draft law. If more than 10 trees need to be removed for a ground-mounted system, applicants would need to propose mitigation measures such as planting an equal number of trees or replacing invasive plants with native ones. In addition, solar farms capable of generating up to 5 megawatts of electricity would need 7-foot-high fencing with a self-locking gate to secure the mechanical equipment. Systems over 1 megawatt would need a decommissioning plan. Applicants would have to deposit cash or post a bond or security equal to 115 percent of the cost of removal and site restoration. Companies building community solar projects, which allow residents to buy shares of the electricity they generate, would have to target Philipstown residents for subscriptions, particularly low- and moderate-income households. Requests for variances could be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Tonawanda GOP Chairman Scott Marciszewski joins the show to discuss the Tonawanda Police Club meeting and the way the Town Board has addressed Police, and upcoming elections.

Also, council member protests Trump policies The Philipstown Town Board agreed on April 3 to form a committee to draft a permitting system and operating standards for short-term rentals such as those booked through Airbnb and Vrbo. The regulations would apply outside of Cold Spring, which approved its own code in 2021 that has yet to be enforced. The Village Board is revising the rules, saying they would have been too cumbersome. Philipstown discussed restrictions as recently as 2022, when residents complained at a Town Hall workshop about a long-running rental in Garrison. On April 3, Van Tassel also referenced a recent fire at an Airbnb in Dutchess County that killed a Cape Cod woman and her infant daughter. According to prosecutors, the rental in Salt Point did not have smoke detectors, although the listing said it did, and the hosts did not have a town permit for short-term rentals. Pledge protest Council Member Jason Angell remained seated during the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting. He said he was protesting actions by the administration of President Donald Trump that he considers unconstitutional. Reading a 2½-minute statement after the pledge, Angell said he "didn't recognize my country" when masked immigration agents arrested Rumeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student from Turkey, on March 25. Öztürk is accused of violating her student visa. The administration has not provided a reason for the detention, but she co-authored an opinion piece in the student newspaper demanding that Tufts "acknowledge the Palestinian genocide" and divest from companies with ties to Israel. Angell also cited the Trump administration's decisions to cut funding and programs approved by Congress. Those decisions are being challenged in lawsuits. "When an elected official takes office, they take an oath to uphold the Constitution," said Angell. "What happens if a person believes their federal government is violating the Constitution? Should they pledge allegiance to their government or to upholding the Constitution?" Van Tassel said he agreed with much of what Angell said, but not with sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance. "But I appreciate your courage," he said. Angell, whose term ends Dec. 31, is not running for re-election. Town justice to resign The town approved a letter of intent to appoint Cold Spring attorney Luke Hilpert to replace Camille Linson, who plans to resign from her town justice seat in June, according to Van Tassel. Linson ran unopposed on the Democratic and Conservative lines in winning a third, 4-year term in November. She joined the court after defeating Hilpert in a Democratic primary in 2016 and Republican Faye Thorpe in the general election. She ran unopposed in 2020. Both Linson and Philipstown's other justice, Angela Thompson-Tinsley, recommended Hilpert to fill the vacancy until the November election. Under state law, the winner will serve for a full term, rather than the 3½ years remaining in Linson's term, according to town attorney Steve Gaba. Oil moratorium The board scheduled a May 1 public hearing on a law that would extend for another six months a moratorium on projects with oil tanks exceeding 10,000 gallons. Philipstown enacted the moratorium in December 2023 to give an advisory committee time to revise zoning regulations that allow tanks with a capacity of up to 399,999 gallons. Allowing tanks that large puts drinking-water sources like the Clove Creek Aquifer at risk from leaks, spills and damage from natural disasters or extreme weather, according to the town. While the draft law allows for two more six-month extensions, the committee is expected to finalize its recommendations soon, said Gaba. Depot Theatre A site near the water tower at the Recreation Department's property off Route 9D is still the optimal location for a facility the Philipstown Depot Theatre initially proposed for a town-owned parcel off Route 403, said Council Member Judy Farrell. The Depot wants to consolida...

Aurora's Town Board has passed a measure declaring deer a nuisance. Town Board member Joe McCann tells us more.

This week on Behind the Headlines, the panel discusses restrictions on public comment at Riverhead Town Board meeting; congressional town hall meetings; the reaction to racist comments posted on the Butterfly Effect's social media pages; and the Southampton School superintendent's reaction of federal DEI challenges.Joseph P. Shaw, Executive Editor, The Express News GroupBill Sutton, Managing Editor, The Express News GroupDenise Civiletti, Editor/Publisher, Riverhead LocalAlek Lewis, staff writer, RiverheadLocal.comMichael Mackey, Local Host for Long Island Morning Edition, WLIW-FM

This week on Behind the Headlines, the panel discusses restrictions on public comment at Riverhead Town Board meeting; congressional town hall meetings; the reaction to racist comments posted on the Butterfly Effect's social media pages; and the Southampton School superintendent's reaction of federal DEI challenges.Joseph P. Shaw, Executive Editor, The Express News GroupBill Sutton, Managing Editor, The Express News GroupDenise Civiletti, Editor/Publisher, Riverhead LocalAlek Lewis, staff writer, RiverheadLocal.comMichael Mackey, Local Host for Long Island Morning Edition, WLIW-FM

Orchard Park Town Board member Joe LiBerti discusses the new commercial zones around the upcoming Highmark Stadium set to open in 2026 full 401 Fri, 28 Feb 2025 11:50:14 +0000 KI1oqCtcsFZnYStv09u1b3eaxXI1WAUn buffalo bills,news,weather,wben,highmark stadium,orchard park,a new morning A New Morning buffalo bills,news,weather,wben,highmark stadium,orchard park,a new morning Orchard Park Town Board member Joe LiBerti discusses the new commercial zones around the upcoming Highmark Stadium set to open in 2026 Collection of LIVE interviews from Buffalo's Early News on WBEN 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News

Renews support for Cold Spring 'pause' The Philipstown Town Board on Wednesday (Feb. 26), by a 4-1 vote, approved more than 100 comments on a draft environmental impact statement for the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail and a letter renewing a request to pause construction of a boardwalk between Dockside and Little Stony Point parks. In addition to an 18-page document containing its comments about the state's Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS), the Town Board approved, by the same 4-1 vote, comments crafted by the Conservation Board in response to HHFT's proposal. Board Member Judy Farrell, who said she does not support delaying or pausing the Dockside-to-Little-Stony Point segment, cast the lone "no" votes. Completion of the southern end would boost accessibility to the riverfront and there are "a lot of people in the community who have been waiting a long time" for the trail, she said. "Of course there are going to be problems with this project, but I think we can work them out as it progresses," Farrell said. The HHFT plan comprises a 7.5-mile trail between Cold Spring and Beacon, with a segment containing a boardwalk elevated over the river between Dockside and Little Stony Point. It also includes a bridge over the Metro-North tracks north of the Breakneck tunnel, new platforms at the Breakneck train station, expanded parking and the redevelopment of Dutchess Manor into a visitor's center. State parks, which is the lead agency for the project, released the 700-page draft in December and set a deadline of Tuesday (March 4) for public comments. A consultant with Tim Miller Associates, which reviewed the DGEIS for Philipstown, on Feb. 19 shared some of its concerns, which largely mirror those expressed by elected officials in Cold Spring and Nelsonville. (Update: The full document was released by the town on Monday, March 3.) Primarily, the DGEIS is "lacking in details," said Steven Marino, a senior environmental planner with the firm. For example, he said the document does not sufficiently address increased traffic as the Fjord Trail draws more visitors or the dispersal of sediment when more than 400 concrete pilings are installed in the Hudson River for the section between Dockside and Little Stony Point. Marino also said that HHFT's conclusions about the boardwalk's impact on riverviews along Fair Street and Route 9D between Breakneck and Cold Spring "don't seem to tell the whole story" and need more analysis. He said there are questions about whether the width of the walkway will accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and other users traveling in both directions at the same time. "It is our feeling that, in some ways, the presented DGEIS is too lacking in details or so interested in moving the project forward that some aspects of the plan, especially the potential impacts on community character, congestion and quality-of-life issues are overlooked or downplayed," he said on Feb. 19. On Feb. 26, Van Tassel read a letter the Town Board approved sending with the comments. It reiterates the town's stance that the southern segment should end at Little Stony Point. The town also requested that HHFT pay for emergency services along the trail and calls for a two-year "purpose pause" after the phases north of Breakneck are completed to assess their effect on reducing congestion and traffic. "If the train station and Breakneck work, if Dutchess Manor works, we come back to the table and say, 'Let's see how we can bring the trail to Dockside in a reduced version, in a full version,'" he said.

Tonawanda's Town Board voted to pursue charges against the Tonawanda Police Club, alleging some officers participated in an illegal strike by refusing to issue traffic tickets during a three week period earlier this year. Supervisor Joe Emminger explains the town's perspective.

Want more MTM Vegas? Check out our Patreon for access to our exclusive weekly aftershow! patreon.com/mtmvegas Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories This week Wynn was in the news for everything outside Vegas as they made a huge purchase in a new for them market. They also were dealt a big setback in their pursuit of a NYC casino when the Town Board voted against their proposal. Is Wynn's Hudson Yard project dead in the water and will they ever build Wynn West in Vegas? In other news Venetian and Hyatt have now started their parnetship but it isn't as good as we had hoped. We also discuss Rio's 34th birthday, the old hotel room "ick", a new Olympic Village project, Peter Luger's lunch deal, Downtown Grand raising prices, transparency in the gambler influencer space and Venetian's wicked social media dance. 0:00 Binion's Gen Z video bloopers 0:42 Kenny Chesney Vegas Sphere residency 1:50 Psychedelic Sphere looks 2:52 Las Vegas is dry! 3:39 Golden Gate turns 119 - Oldest hotel in Vegas 4:42 Golden Gate's limited edition hoodie 5:26 Voodoo Lounge reopening at Rio 6:51 Cartzilla - Giant shopping cart Vegas tour 8:25 Luxor electrocution lawsuit 10:00 Senor Frogs has exited Treasure Island 11:24 A look at Barcode Burger 12:20 Genting Palace Buffet - Best buffet value in Vegas? 13:47 Taking food out of a buffet - Do you do it? 15:30 Bellagio's Lunar New Year Display has arrived 16:56 Fontainebleau changes parking policy - Less grace period 18:31 Did Fontainebleau make a mistake with this new parking policy? Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. We do two news shows weekly on YouTube with this being the audio version. Never miss out on the latest happenings in and around Las Vegas! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or by searching "MtM Vegas" or "Miles to Memories" in your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to check out our travel/miles/points podcast as well!

Want more MTM Vegas? Check out our Patreon for access to our exclusive weekly aftershow! patreon.com/mtmvegas Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories This week Wynn was in the news for everything outside Vegas as they made a huge purchase in a new for them market. They also were dealt a big setback in their pursuit of a NYC casino when the Town Board voted against their proposal. Is Wynn's Hudson Yard project dead in the water and will they ever build Wynn West in Vegas? In other news Venetian and Hyatt have now started their parnetship but it isn't as good as we had hoped. We also discuss Rio's 34th birthday, the old hotel room "ick", a new Olympic Village project, Peter Luger's lunch deal, Downtown Grand raising prices, transparency in the gambler influencer space and Venetian's wicked social media dance. 0:00 Venetian's “wicked” social media dance 0:42 Rio turns 34 - First all suite Vegas hotel 1:33 The old hotel bed cover “ick” 2:33 Wynn purchases high-end Crown London casino 3:44 Wynn's NYC casino project hits a big roadblock 5:36 Huge shakeups at the Raiders 6:38 Hylo Park begins construction - Replacement for Texas Station & Fiesta Rancho 9:07 The myth of Circus Circus flying elephants 10:42 Bellagio's Conservatory boneyard 12:12 Peter Luger's prix fixe lunch menu 12:59 Taste of Hakassan menu - A deal? 14:02 Downtown Grand raises price of hot dog deal & cuts good video poker 15:55 Transparency from slot influencers - Tracking losses? 17:57 Troubling issues with the gambler influencer space 19:00 Venetian and Hyatt begin partnership - Good or bad? 20:44 Both Vegas Hyatt hotels are all-suite and renovated Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. We do two news shows weekly on YouTube with this being the audio version. Never miss out on the latest happenings in and around Las Vegas! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or by searching "MtM Vegas" or "Miles to Memories" in your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to check out our travel/miles/points podcast as well!

With the arrival of 2025, our reporters caught up with and updated select stories from the past year JANUARY Garrison's Landing water - Philipstown officials forecast a spring hookup for a new 20-gallon-a-minute well that will serve businesses and homes at Garrison's Landing, with $750,000 from the federal American Rescue Plan to help pay for the connection. Despite the upfront cost, the line will save Philipstown money. Trucking in water in response to inadequate flows from existing wells costs $25,000 to $30,000 a month, said Robert Flaherty, a Town Board member. Update: In June, the Putnam County Legislature approved Philipstown's request to redirect $370,000 in county sales tax revenue to the water district project. The money had been set aside to connect the nearby Garrison Institute. In December, the Town Board approved a $15,489 bid from Claverack Well & Pump Service to install the pump for the well, which the company also dug. Flaherty said last week it should be in service by the end of February. Farming couple retires - For ardent customers of the Cold Spring Farmers' Market, the news felt like an obituary: Jay and Polly Armour would not return. They had been among the market's founding vendors, tending for 35 years to their 24-acre Four Winds Farm near Gardiner. Many especially mourned the loss of the Armours' heirloom tomatoes. Their reason for stepping away was simple. "My body's too old for this," said Jay, 70. Update: Asked this week how retirement was going, Jay said he was "busier than before." The couple leases most of their farmland now but still grows tomato seedlings in the greenhouse for spring sales. Last year, they grew 40 varieties and sold more than 13,000 seedlings. They also sell 26 types of vegetables but, unlike in the past, there is no crew to help out. Jay said he planted a small garden but "had trouble scaling down. I planted 20 tomato plants - way too many. I only need two or three." Avid skiers, the Armours were disappointed with last winter's conditions so, on the spur of the moment, they embarked on what Jay described as a fantastic eight-day trip to Iceland. Tallix Foundry sale - The former Tallix Foundry building in Beacon, a nearly 17,000-square-foot structure that drew international attention in 1999 when it produced a 24-foot bronze horse meant to fulfill Leonardo da Vinci's dying wish, was listed for sale for $1.995 million, or $18,000 per month as a rental. Update: According to Dutchess County records, the site sold for its asking price, $1.995 million, in March to Niche Modern LLC. No information is available on what the company plans to do at the former foundry, and no plans for the site have been submitted to the Planning Board. Beacon evictions - Donald Van Voorhees, a 74-year-old disabled Beacon resident, had until Jan. 31 to leave the studio apartment where he had lived for 23 years after the city's "good-cause" eviction law was overturned by a City Court judge. (Similar laws were also overturned in Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Kingston and Albany.) Len Warner, a member of the Beacon Planning Board, knew Van Voorhees from their early-morning conversations on Main Street, and tried to help. After searching options for low-income renters in and around Beacon, the situation looked dire. A Main Street apartment opened on Jan. 29 and Nick Page, a Dutchess County legislator whose uncle owns the complex, contacted Warner. Update: After several years of advocacy from housing organizations, Gov. Kathy Hochul in April included a statewide good-cause measure in the 2024-25 budget. In August, the Beacon City Council unanimously opted into the law, which restricts landlords who own more than one unit from evicting tenants except in specific circumstances, including when they have arrears that are not due to "unreasonable" rent increases. Warner said this week that when he last spoke to Van Voorhees, "he was very comfortable and happy" in his new apartment. FEBRUARY Beacon Line payments - A St...

Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, December 3. He discussed small businesses around Hillsborough, non-profits in the community, and more. He also talked about the agenda for next week's Town Board of Commissioners meeting, and more. The post Hillsborough: Giving Tuesday, Small Business Saturday, Upcoming Town Board Meeting appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Send us a textThis episodes dives into Sustainable Westchester and the Westchester Power Program. Sustainable Westchester is a municipally-led shared service provider that delivers climate solutions to the governments, businesses, organizations, and people of Westchester County. We are joined today by Noam Bramson, Executive Director of Sustainable Westchester, Vivek Agastya, a member of the SAB, and a now regular on our podcast- who has been been advising the Town Board with regard to our Town's participation in the Westchester Power program. 

Also, tentative 2025 budget lowers tax rates The Philipstown Town Board on Wednesday (Oct. 23) approved paving sections of Indian Brook and Lane Gate roads and began revising a draft 2025 budget that would stay within the state-mandated tax cap while lowering tax rates. Supervisor John Van Tassel and Board Members Megan Cotter and Robert Flaherty approved an environmental impact review and resolution to pave a section of Indian Brook Road at the Route 9D underpass and Lane Gate Road between Eden Park and 115 Lane Gate. Van Tassel said the Indian Brook section spans less than 1,000 feet and gets "completely washed out" from storms. He also said Lane Gate will remain untouched for now because it needs substantial drainage work before paving. The labor and materials costs for maintaining dirt roads are "astronomical," said Van Tassel. On Avery Road, which has sections that are paved and unpaved, the town pays 15 cents per foot for the covered sections and $10.78 per foot for the dirt portions, he said. Indian Brook Road between Routes 9D and Route 9 costs $2.24 per foot. The town average is 68 cents for paved versus $6.95 for unpaved, said Van Tassel. Board Members Jason Angell and Judy Farrell did not arrive until after the vote, but Angell submitted a statement to be read in his absence. He noted that the environmental assessment concluded that the projects were consistent with the town's 2023 master plan and would not create stormwater discharge. The master plan calls for efforts to preserve dirt roads, stone walls and other elements that "contribute to Philipstown's rural and historic character," said Angell. He also questioned the answer to the stormwater question. "Is this possible for a paved road or any road project?" he asked. 2025 budget Philipstown's 2025 budget will have a softer impact under a plan proposed by Van Tassel. Unlike last year, when the town approved a budget for 2024 that raised the tax levy by 8.3 percent and the tax rate by 13 percent, the Town Board began revising a tentative spending plan for 2025 that would be under the 2 percent cap and lower tax rates. As submitted by Van Tassel, who said he asked departments to limit their requests for spending increases to 2 percent, the draft budget has $12.9 million in spending with an overall levy of $9.6 million. The tax rate on properties townwide fell by 0.24 percent and for properties outside the villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville by 1.27 percent. Several revisions were approved, including raising spending for the Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps by 5 percent instead of 2 percent and increasing the hourly rate for its two paid staffers to $22 from $18. Taxes on the revised budget, totaling $13.1 million, will be recalculated and the town will have to schedule a public hearing before voting. Ambulance Corps Van Tassel said the Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps has been responding to calls from Kent since Oct. 1, when an ambulance provided by the Kent Volunteer Fire Department went out of service. Kent is attempting to create a municipal ambulance service, but one call from the town required the Philipstown ambulance to make a 31-minute drive, said Van Tassel. "If our ambulance that we're paying for is in Kent and then going to Putnam Hospital or Danbury, it's not available for the residents here," he said. A vehicle stationed in Kent by the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services provides basic life-support service but is not available after 7 p.m., according to Van Tassel. An official from the state Department of Health inspected Kent's ambulances on Tuesday and deemed them fit for service but the town is still without staff, he said. "If I were a resident of Kent, I would be up in arms," said Van Tassel.

Philipstown farm hosts sweet-potato harvest When Stacey Farley put out a call online in July for volunteers to harvest a crop of sweet potatoes for food pantries, she hoped to recruit, at best, 120 people. Instead, she had to close the sign-up form almost immediately. "We could have gotten 500 volunteers," said Farley, who runs Davoren Farm on Route 9D in Philipstown with her husband, Peter Davoren. On Saturday (Oct. 5), a full contingent of 120 volunteers showed up to dig potatoes from a town-owned plot across Route 403 from the Desmond-Fish Public Library in Garrison. The harvest weighed 20,008 pounds, or 10 tons, the equivalent of four Dodge Ram pickups. The 6-acre Davoren Farm operates on land leased from Boscobel Gardens and Museum. It yields an abundance of organic vegetables, including corn, potatoes, kale, eggplant, okra and leeks, as well as tomatoes, peppers, arugula, cantaloupe, watermelon and peppers. The produce is distributed to food pantries that serve residents in Philipstown, Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Fishkill, Wappinger, Peekskill and Verplanck. "We also grow sunflowers for the pantries because we believe in the power of beauty," Farley said. Farley said Davoren Farm has a second mission to "grow and train" farmers. Three to six young farmers-in-training work there, depending on the season. "At the end of last season, we realized we could do so much more if we had more land," she said. In April, the couple asked Philipstown Supervisor John Van Tassel if the municipality had surplus land they could farm. The Town Board quickly approved the use of a parcel on Route 403, which Farley said had not been farmed in at least 60 years. The town acquired the 10.8-acre property in 2017 as a gift from the Scenic Hudson Land Trust and the Open Space Institute. Ten thousand organic "slips," or stem cuttings, from Sprout Mountain Farm in Georgia were planted over an acre in June. About 120 days later, it was time to harvest the four varieties. "We decided on sweet potatoes because they're so nutritious and delicious," said Davoren. "If you produce 20,000 pounds and each person consumes a pound, you've helped to feed 20,000 people." Sweet potatoes are marketed as a "superfood" because they provide vitamins A, C and B6, minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium, and fiber and antioxidants. Photos by Ross Corsair Food insecurity is part of life in every county in the country. According to the United Way, about 1 in 3 residents of the Highlands live paycheck-to-paycheck, one hardship away from no longer being able to cover necessities such as food, perhaps in the short-term, perhaps longer. "Food insecurity is a national crisis - there's no reason for kids to go to school without breakfast," Farley said. "We want people to know about the incredible work food pantries do." In addition to the local pantries that Davoren Farm regularly supports, the Oct. 5 harvest will be shared with a dozen more, including the Hudson Valley Regional Food Bank and outlets in Rockland County, Highland Falls, Brewster, Larchmont and Mamaroneck. Cynthia Knox, the CEO of Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill, helped at the dig. "Most of us aren't impacted by food insecurity; it's not visible until you drive past a food pantry line," she said. "But people are using food pantries so they can use their wages to keep their family housed." Facts About Sweet Potatoes There are more than 400 varieties of Ipomoea batatas, including those with orange, red, yellow and purple skin. They are not yams, which have white skin that is difficult to peel. They're part of the morning glory family; regular potatoes belong to the nightshade family. They originated in what is now Ecuador at least 10,000 years ago. They can be fermented to make vodka or beer. According to Guinness World Records, the heaviest sweet potato, grown in Spain in 2004, weighed 81 pounds and 9 ounces. Their starch is used in biodegradable plastics. They require less...

This week I sit down with Dave Capria who is running for a to fill vacancy Town Board seat in the Town of Clay. The Town of clay is the biggest town in Onondaga County and he is running to become the only Democrat on the town board. Enjoy.

Longtime legislator, transportation director and volunteer moving to Florida Vincent "Vinny" Tamagna, 65, represented Philipstown and part of Putnam Valley on the Putnam County Legislature for 19 years, until 2013, when he left office and was appointed as county transportation director. He is also an active volunteer, including with St. Mary's Episcopal Church, the Hudson River Valley Institute and the Constitution Island Association. On Wednesday (Aug. 14), Tamagna resigned from his county position to become director and program manager of the paratransit system for Broward County Transit in the Miami area. He sat down this week with reporter Michael Turton. Did you grow up in Philipstown? I grew up in Continental Village, but on the Westchester side. I graduated from Lakeland High School. When I got married, we bought a house on Winston Lane. You've had a long career. Why not retire? Well, my mother is 87 and still works full-time at ShopRite in Carmel! I still have a full career ahead of me. I want to apply everything I've accumulated, including my doctorate in public policy, leadership and values-based leadership. I'm a worker, and I can't wait to start the new chapter. How did you get into politics? I was president of the Continental Village Property Owners Association. We wanted our flagpole painted but no one was listening to us at the Town Board. So, at age 28, I ran unsuccessfully for Philipstown supervisor and then ran unsuccessfully for a spot on the Town Board. But the third time was a charm, and I was elected [as a Republican] to the county Legislature in 1995. What did you find most challenging as a legislator? I was always kind of the maverick - one of the biggest challenges was that District 1 only has one legislator. Every other district has at least two. It's difficult to convince people. But Sam Oliverio [a Democrat who represented Putnam Valley], who was also from western Putnam, was supportive and nonpartisan. We were able to initiate some great things: Preserve America, the industrial development agency, the first tourism promotion bureau, a domestic partner registry, an economic development corporation and agricultural districts. I led the charge for term limits. There should be term limits at every level of government. Will Putnam ever share sales tax with its municipalities? I don't think so. While there are hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax collected from car sales, we don't have a dealership in Philipstown. We have some good restaurants, but if you look at their sales tax receipts, we can't compete with the big businesses in the Town of Southeast, such as Home Depot and the like. While we are burdened with tourists, we don't have the same contributions in sales tax. It is really a false argument. If we want to be smart, we'd look at the tremendous amount of property tax that goes to the county. I believe that would be a stronger argument. You were appointed in 2003 as the Hudson River Navigator to promote the Hudson River Valley. What are some things that were accomplished? Tremendous things happened. We brought in big grants for Scenic Hudson for the West Point Foundry Preserve. We got a Preserve America designation and the grants that came with that. When Mary Saari was clerk for the Village of Cold Spring, she wanted to digitize a collection of historic photos, and a grant came through for that. In Westchester, in partnership with cadets at West Point and Metro-North, we designed a way to remove derelict railroad ties from the little bay outside the Croton railroad station, enabling kayakers to safely use it. How have you been involved with St. Mary's? In 2014, my friend and church treasurer Mary Powell asked me to join the vestry. Five years ago, I became the rector's warden. With my background in project management and construction, we put together a five-year capital plan and tried to look at fundraising opportunities and the creation of new revenue streams. I'm happy many people have ...

New theater scheduled to open in 2026 After several years of reviews, public meetings and modifications, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival on July 18 received its final set of approvals from Philipstown for the first phase of development at its new home at the former Garrison Golf Course. Planning Board approval sets the stage for a groundbreaking in the fall for a 13,850-square-foot outdoor theater on the former 11th hole, which provides an expansive view of the Hudson River. Chris Davis, who owned the course, donated 98 acres to the festival, which moved to the site in 2022 after staging its productions for more than 30 years on the grounds of Boscobel on Route 9D. Once completed, the structure will be the first purpose-built theater in the nation rated LEED Platinum. Among other criteria, the international standard - which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - judges buildings on how well they reduce global warming, protect water resources, enhance biodiversity and improve a community's quality of life. Platinum is the highest of four levels. Renderings by StudioGang The site plan was initially presented to the Philipstown Town Board in 2020 and revised several times to address concerns by Planning Board members and neighbors about issues such as noise and traffic. Plans for an inn and an indoor theater were removed from the first phase, more trees will be planted along Route 9 and a parking lot positioned on a wetland was relocated. Artistic Director Davis McCallum said this week that he appreciated the time that Town Board, Planning Board and Conservation Board members dedicated to the project. He also thanked residents who offered feedback during five public hearings. "We tried to listen to the community with openness and curiosity about how we could adapt this project to serve the community best," he said. "The process has yielded a better outcome." The theater will have solar panels, a green roof, natural ventilation and rainwater capture systems and will use low-carbon building materials. McCallum said that HVSF hasn't determined how much the project will cost, but that because of "quiet fundraising" and a $10 million state grant, it will begin construction on the theater in the fall and open the facility before the 2026 season. Since 2022, the festival has been staging its plays in a tent elsewhere on the site. The site was designed by Studio Gang, whose recent projects include the Richard Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Its design there drew acclaim for its flowing and curvaceous granite interior that evokes desert canyons and beehives. "For us, they have delivered a design that is beautiful, sustainable and consonant with the landscape of the Hudson Highlands," McCallum said. Although the theater will have fewer seats than the tent, it won't include support poles that block views. In addition, McCallum said it will allow HVSF to extend its season from early September to mid-October, allowing for weekday matinees for students. The 2025 season is being envisioned as a "farewell to the tent," according to HVSF. McCallum said next year's schedule will be announced in October. He hinted that the company has known for years what show it will perform to open the theater in 2026. He wouldn't budge when pressed for a reveal but said: "It will be the fulfillment of something that we've wanted for many years, which is that moment when the actors can appear over the hillside and approach the theater. That's the thing that I'm most looking forward to on the first night."

This week's pod I talk about the start of #EarlyVoting in Onondaga County for the June Primary. Democrats throughout our county will select their nominee for Congress, Democrats will also select their nominee for SD 50, Republicans will select their nominee for SD48, and Republicans in Town of Lysander will select their nominee for Town Board. Get early voting and candidate information at onvote.net.

Voice concerns in letter to state parks The mayors of Cold Spring and Nelsonville and the supervisor in Philipstown issued a letter on Wednesday (April 17) opposing plans to start the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail in Cold Spring. The letter, signed by Kathleen Foley of Cold Spring, Chris Winward of Nelsonville and John Van Tassel of Philipstown and read aloud by Foley and Van Tassel at meetings, is addressed to Meagan Fitzgerald, the deputy commissioner of the state parks agency and Linda Cooper, the regional director. State parks is partnering with Scenic Hudson, an environmental nonprofit based in Poughkeepsie, to construct the HHFT, which is proposed to run from Cold Spring to Beacon along the Hudson River. It is the lead agency in the environmental review of the project. "Having the actual trail enter the Village of Cold Spring by any route would irreversibly change the landscape, viewshed and character of the village as well as the experience of all Philipstowners who consider Cold Spring the heart of our town," the three elected officials wrote. "The trail's necessary size, scale and construction requirements, particularly to meet the accessibility goal identified by the HHFT design team, would be outsized for our small residential village." The officials asserted that creating a gateway to the trail in Cold Spring, especially a proposed route beginning at the state-owned Dockside Park, would itself become a tourist destination, creating "an unbearable, unsustainable increase in visitor volume that no number of trash cans and toilets will offset." Instead, the letter advocates simple, "residentially scaled" paths and sidewalks from Cold Spring to an HHFT entrance north of the village, describing that approach as "far more appropriate to our historic, livable community." Foley said the letter represents the views of the three officials but not necessarily of the Village Board. (Van Tassel said the same about the Town Board.) On Wednesday, Cold Spring Trustee Aaron Freimark remarked that he would have appreciated receiving a copy of the letter before the meeting. "It is your right to act unilaterally," he said. "But as a courtesy, we're reminded that we work together as a board." "I accept your good feedback," Foley responded. "At some point, we need to calendar this as a public discussion." Foley also read comments into the record from an April 3 statement by members of the HHFT Data Committee, which includes two Cold Spring residents and Winward, that was critical of HHFT. Thanking the Data Committee for its work, Foley said: "We picked people who know their fields and bring expertise ranging from data analysis to public administration to legal perspective; I wanted that to be part of our record." In a statement on Thursday (April 18), MJ Martin, director of development and community engagement for HHFT, wrote: "HHFT, along with state parks, has been in continued conversation with municipal leadership on the project. Both the letter by the supervisor and mayors and the media statement by the Philipstown members of the Data Committee came abruptly, in the middle of an ongoing process meant to gather information and understand community members' priorities. "It was surprising to learn municipal leadership is taking this stance, as local support for the Shoreline Trail is well documented in both a survey administered by HHFT and a recent independent survey by a Cold Spring resident. Philipstown, including the villages, is a community composed of diverse viewpoints. It is important that all voices be heard."

Amherst resident Andrea Morgante files complaint with the state over Town Board audio

State demanding costly dam repair In 1987, when Marie-Louise Best and her family first toured the house they would buy on Aqueduct Road in Continental Village, they noted the view of Sylvan Pond from the windows. Eight years later, neighbors and a crew from the Philipstown Highway Department worked together to pull mattresses, hardened bags of cement, a cash register and other debris from the water. In a paean Best wrote for the Putnam Reporter Dispatch after the cleanup, she quoted Henry David Thoreau, who described a lake as "a landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature." "It is such a pretty view," Best said on Wednesday (March 27). "In the fall it's beautiful, with the leaves reflecting off the pond." The view could be gone by as early as summer 2025 because Putnam County plans to drain Sylvan Pond and eliminate what has been a spot for contemplation and recreation for residents on Aqueduct, Ridge Road and Lake Court. While information on the history of Sylvan Pond and how Putnam came to own it is scant, Neal Tomann, a Philipstown resident who is interim manager of the county's Soil & Water Conservation District, said the state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an ultimatum: fortify the earthen dam or drain the water. The agency's concern, Tomann told the Town Board on March 20, is that a storm could fill the shallow pond and send floodwaters toward downstream properties along Sprout Brook Road. He described the dam, which has a channel that drains pond water to an unknown destination, as "highly improvised" and designated by the DEC as Class B, meaning there is the potential for severe damage to nearby properties if it fails. Rebuilding the dam to reduce that risk would cost an estimated $750,000 - an amount Tomann said is more than the county's annual budget for dams. Putnam owns nine dams, Tomann said, acquiring many of them through tax liens. He does not know how Sylvan Pond became one of them; online property records do not list a previous owner. A history of Continental Village published in 1972 and written by Carlton Scofield, a former Peekskill historian, includes a map identifying Sylvan Pond. Best and another resident, Kendra Parker, recalled it as a spot for fishing, ice-skating, swimming and other activities. Parker and several other Continental Village residents who attended the Town Board meeting asked Tomann about alternatives. She worries about losing habitat for ducks, snapping turtles and other wildlife. "We don't want to live around a swamp," she said. Tomann said that even if residents bought the property, they would still have to repair the dam or drain the pond. In her 1995 column for the Putnam Reporter Dispatch, Best described how her young daughter and son fed ducks and skipped rocks in warm weather and skated with their father when the pond iced over in the winter. A neighbor named Justine Bruno, armed with a wheelbarrow, launched the 1995 cleanup effort when she began clearing overgrowth around Sylvan Pond because her daughters had returned with rashes after feeding the ducks, said Best. Other neighbors joined in and soon after, the Philipstown Highway Department brought a backhoe, wood chipper, dump truck and "elbow grease" to their aid, she said. Now, a faded green sign inscribed, "Please Keep Pond Clean, By Troop 2280" juts from the ground a short walk from a part of the shore where two rocks protrude into the water. "I can't tell you how many times I've seen a kid sitting on those rocks thinking, and young families taking their kids down there," said Best. "It's really nice."

Plan for Route 9 sparked Philipstown moratorium A heating oil business whose proposal to install three 29,000-gallon tanks on its property on Route 9 spurred Philipstown to pass a six-month moratorium on large petroleum storage containers has revised its project. Krasniqi Plaza LLC presented to the Philipstown Planning Board on Feb. 15 an amended plan that still calls for a 9,500-square-foot building with offices for its oil and fencing businesses at the southeast corner of Route 9 and East Mountain Road North, along with a 9,000-square-feet outdoor storage area. But the project will no longer include the above-ground storage tanks, which had raised concerns among town officials and neighbors after Krasniqi introduced it to the Planning Board in October. Krasniqi will instead add a second structure whose 5,300 square feet will be divided into four rental units to contractors needing office and storage space. "The message on the previous site plan was received and has, obviously, been codified by the Town Board," Adam Thyberg, a representative for Krasniqi, said on Feb. 15. "There will be no heating oil storage on site." The Planning Board scheduled, for March 10 at 9:30 a.m., a visit to Krasniqi's property for anyone interested in the revised plan. Members of the board and residents previously inspected the property on Nov. 5, after the company presented its initial proposal. Neal Zuckerman, the board's chair, estimated that the November visit drew 70 people. "Besides the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, we've never had more people attend a site visit in my 11 years on this board," he said. "The volume of interest from the public is not insignificant at that corner." One reason is the property's location within the Clove Creek Aquifer, which parallels Route 9 from East Mountain Road South to the town's border with Fishkill. Groundwater from the aquifer feeds the wells that supply residents and businesses in the highly developed northern part of Route 9, and the towns of Fishkill and Wappinger, the Village of Fishkill and Beacon. The Philipstown Town Board cited a need to protect the aquifer when its members approved, in December, a moratorium on projects storing more than 10,000 gallons of oil as it considers new zoning restrictions. Current zoning allows storage of up to 400,000 gallons of oil, which the town considers a danger to the environment and drinking water because of the risks of leaks, spills and the damage to tanks from natural disasters or extreme weather. The moratorium, which the town can extend for two additional six-month periods, does not apply to applications for single- and two-family housing or applications for multiple housing units, "provided that the oil storage facility involved in the development is the minimum necessary to meet the needs of the proposed development and does not exceed 10,000 gallons." Commercial developments are exempt if the oil-storage facility is to be used solely for consumption on-site; the capacity is the minimum necessary for the development's needs; and the capacity does not exceed 10,000 gallons. Property owners applying for "expansion, alteration or modification" of storage facilities that do not call for an increase in size or capacity are also exempt.

In this episode, U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro investigates the sudden closure of the Sullivan County Head Start Program. The Town Board of Mamakating discusses clean energy initiatives and LED street lamp conversions. Former Highland Town Supervisor Donald Jeff Haas and current Town Board member Tom Migliorino are involved in a physical altercation, resulting in charges being filed. Forestburgh residents object to a newly imposed fee for short-term rentals, sparking tensions at a town meeting. Forestburgh implements a property tax incentive to attract and retain volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.

Another contentious Amherst Town Board meeting took place yesterday as residents voiced their opposition to an 11.4% tax hike in this year's budget. Also, a challenge to the Amherst Central Park project.

The Ignacio Community Library invites you to join the second annual fundraising gala, Denim and Diamonds, featuring local art, artists, and food. With winter in full swing, the Repair Cafe has moved to the first Saturday of the month to keep library staff, volunteers, and participants safe. With the recent snowfalls, Ignacio School District 11-JT is asking parents and guardians to make sure contact information is up to date in the event of a snow day, and packets for Town Board seats are available for pick-up at Town Hall for the April municipal election. By Hannah Robertson. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/ignacio-monthly-roundup  This story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and 2180 Lighting and Design Studio. Support the show

A proposed senior center for the Town of East Hampton comes with a $31.6 million price tag, and the Town Board is considering exercising its right to exempt itself from zoning and move the senior center forward without regulatory review. Some skeptics have spoken up recently to urge the town to take a more measured approach, legally and financially, and make sure everything they are proposing is justifiable and done smartly. Reporter Michael Wright joins the editors on the podcast this week to discuss the project and where it stands.

Legislature never approved tactical unit A tactical police unit that has responded to barricaded and armed suspects over nearly two decades has been disbanded because, according to Putnam County, the Legislature never approved an intermunicipal agreement with police from Carmel and Kent. County Attorney C. Compton Spain, in a Dec. 4 letter to Sheriff Kevin McConville, said the department "should immediately abandon and discontinue all involvement" with the Emergency Response Team (ERT), which was composed of 19 deputies and six officers from the towns of Carmel and Kent. The participation of deputies in the team presented "clear insurance coverage liability issues," said Spain, because the Putnam Legislature never approved the unit, which was formed around 2005 to respond to serious incidents such as bomb threats and hostage situations. "For this reason alone, the presently constructed ERT necessitates immediate termination," he said. McConville, during a tense 1-hour meeting of the Legislature's Protective Services Committee on Dec. 18, said the problem emerged after Undersheriff Thomas Lindert contacted the Personnel Department about fitness tests for new members of the team. The Personnel Department was "shocked" to discover that the tests, instead of being arranged by its staff as is protocol, were being administered by ERT members, as per usual practice, said McConville. That led to a conversation with the Law Department and the "eye-opening" disclosure, he said. A team made up solely of deputies will replace the ERT, based on advice from Spain, said McConville. The team will no longer share with Carmel and Kent a federal grant that had been split among the three agencies, he said. Nancy Montgomery, who represents Philipstown on the county Legislature, and officials from Carmel and Kent suggested that the Legislature could simply approve an intermunicipal agreement instead of having a team of deputies. But McConville said that crafting an agreement would take time. "Our greatest concern was being able to stand up a team immediately that could respond," he said. "We would be, alternatively, liable had we not." Despite the Law Department's determination, McConville spent part of the meeting fending off criticisms from Carmel and Kent officials. Robert Kearns, a member of Carmel's Town Board, said the disbanding "seems like a power grab," and Kevin Owens, chief of the Kent Police Department, said no one alerted him to concerns about the team before he received the Law Department's letter. "We feel like it was backdoored intentionally," he said. Michael Cazzari, Carmel's supervisor and a former police chief for the town's police department, said he was involved in forming a countywide team rather than continuing to wait for tactical teams from the state police and Westchester County to arrive at emergency scenes in Putnam. "It's foolish to go the route that you're going and I don't think it's insurance," he said. "We were covered; Kent's covered." Their officers and sheriff's deputies assigned to the ERT have negotiated with armed suspects at a number of incidents. The unit responded in September 2021 to an hours-long standoff in Putnam Valley when medics answering to a call about a person with chest pains were confronted by a man armed with a shotgun. The incident ended when the man used the shotgun to commit suicide. Negotiators with the ERT convinced, in March 2020, an armed, suicidal man in the Town of Southeast to surrender after a two-hour standoff. They also negotiated the surrender, in November 2019, of an armed man barricaded for six hours inside a residence in Carmel. McConville told the Protective Services Committee that the Sheriff's Department is finalizing an internal response team that will be led by Capt. James Schepperly, who has been consulting with the state police and Westchester County, who each have response teams. Westchester County has already scheduled training sessions with Putnam's deputies, said...

It's the first show of 2024 and it's Joe Beamer opening up this year's slate of programming by talking about tonight's Amherst Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. and hearing from some Amherst residents about what's going on with that, as well as other topics such as the 11.4% property tax hike in Amherst, the new rates for tolls on the thruway, and what were people talking about at your holiday gatherings?

In this episode, Tourism Triumphs: Join us as we celebrate the success of Sullivan County's tourism industry, with revenues soaring to over $894 million! Discover the individuals and organizations honored for their outstanding contributions. ⚖️ Legal Saga: Explore the courtroom drama surrounding Sullivan County businessman Daniel "Butch" Resnick, sentenced to six months in prison for his involvement in a money-laundering scheme. A cautionary tale of how legal troubles can touch even community pillars.

In this episode, School Safety Alert: Uncover the gripping details of a bomb threat at Monticello Central School District, its swift resolution, and the crucial reflections on emergency procedures. Holiday Magic in Hurleyville: Experience the joyous atmosphere as Hurleyville transforms into a winter wonderland during its annual celebration, bringing the community together in festive spirit. Remembering Rosalynn Carter: Take a moment to reflect on the legacy of former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter, known for her warmth and shared moments with the community. Musical Triumph: Celebrate the musical achievements of local students, including Eldred High School's talented flute player, recognized in the New York Zone 9 Area All-State Symphonic Band. Community Pillar Farewell: Bid farewell to Frank Hahn, a 60-year member of the Callicoon Fire Department, as the community gathers to celebrate his contributions and service. Local Political Decision: Explore the complexities of a Town Board decision regarding a planned development project and the discussions around information sufficiency. Legal Update on Howard Braunstein: Get the latest on Liberty car dealer Howard Braunstein's sentencing for PPP loan fraud, a case with significant community impact. County Budget Concerns: Dive into the intricacies of the 2024 Tentative County Budget, where health insurance rate increases pose challenges, and community involvement is paramount.

Environmental concerns drive call for moratorium Philipstown is moving to impose a six-month moratorium on projects storing more than 10,000 gallons of oil products as it considers zoning restrictions to protect the environment and drinking water supplies. Members of the Town Board voted Nov. 22 to schedule a public hearing for Dec. 13 on a draft law declaring that applications for land uses that include storage of oil products will not be "accepted, processed or approved" for six months. The Town Board would be able to extend the moratorium for two additional six-month periods. Philipstown's zoning code restricts storage tanks and facilities of 400,000 gallons or greater in environmentally sensitive areas. Those areas include the Clove Creek Aquifer Subdistrict, which was created in 2011 and prohibits certain facilities, such as gas stations and landfills, and requires special permits for other uses. But, according to the town, allowing properties to store up to 400,000 gallons of oil represents a significant danger of environmental damage from leaks, spills and the damage to tanks from natural disasters or extreme weather. "We have identified a flaw in the zoning and are addressing it in an effort to protect the environment, specifically the Clove Creek aquifer," said Supervisor John Van Tassel. The aquifer, which lies beneath the creek, parallels Route 9 from East Mountain Road South to the town's border with Fishkill. Groundwater from the aquifer feeds the wells that supply residents and businesses in the highly developed northern part of Route 9, and the towns of Fishkill and Wappinger, the Village of Fishkill and Beacon. Along with Foundry Brook, which supplies water for Cold Spring and Nelsonville, the aquifer was identified as a key water source in the most recent Philipstown Comprehensive Plan, which recommends the creation of a watershed coalition to monitor its quality. The current law applies to "a tank, holding facility, or other container for oil or petroleum of any kind and in any form including but not limited to oil, petroleum fuel oil, oil sludge, oil refuse, oil mixed with other waste, crude oil, gasoline and kerosene." The oil does not have to be for a property's main use; it can also be for "part of the main use, or an accessory use." If the Town Board passes the version drafted, the moratorium would not apply to applications for single- and two-family housing or applications for multiple housing units "provided that the oil storage facility involved in the development is the minimum necessary to meet the needs of the proposed development and does not exceed 10,000 gallons." Commercial developments would be exempt if the oil-storage facility is to be used solely for consumption on-site; the capacity is the minimum necessary for the development's needs; and the capacity does not exceed 10,000 gallons. Property owners applying for "expansion, alteration or modification" of storage facilities that do not call for an increase in size or capacity also would be exempt.

Planning Board approves environmental remedies The Philipstown Planning Board on Nov. 16 approved the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival's strategies for minimizing noise and traffic, and other environmental impacts from its new venue at the former Garrison Golf Course. With its unanimous approval of a "findings statement," the board completed an environmental review that began in July 2022 amid concerns from neighboring homeowners about noise from amplified performances, roads clogged by theater-goers and the destruction of scenic views from the property on Route 9. The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) still has to secure site-plan approval from the Planning Board, zoning amendments from the Town Board and permits from various agencies. But that final plan will include new turn lanes and other measures to reduce traffic, the planting of new trees and other mitigation measures. "We are pleased to have reached this milestone, and we continue to be committed to serving as a good neighbor, a local cultural resource and a model for environmental sustainability in the performing arts," said Kendra Ekelund, managing director for the festival, and Davis McCallum, its artistic director. After leaving its longtime home at Boscobel, HVSF has staged its last two seasons at the former golf course, after receiving a donation of 98 acres there from Chris Davis, the property's owner. The first phase of its project, which will occur on 38 acres, includes a new permanent open-air tent, a back-of-house area and new concessions and bathrooms. A second phase, five to 15 years away, would include 26 units of new housing for artists and guests, rehearsal and administrative space and a welcome center. To mitigate the impact from the removal of 168 trees, nearly all of them in the area of the now-closed golf course, HVSF will convey 17 acres of forest to the Hudson Highlands Land Trust, plant 250 new trees, along with shrubs and perennials, and allow the "rewilding" of the course. The organization also said it will restrict tree removal to between Nov. 1 and March 31 to eliminate potential impacts to any Indiana and Northern Long-eared bats in the area, although an assessment determined that the trees identified for removal were not a "suitable nesting area" for either species. The review determined that the biggest impact from traffic will occur at the four-way intersection of Route 9 and Snake Hill and Travis Corners roads. While approval from the state Department of Transportation for a traffic light at the intersection is pending, HVSF will rely on police to direct drivers "during peak events," according to the findings statement. The festival also said it would install a right-turn lane on Snake Hill Road at the approach to its intersection with Route 9; a northbound left-turn lane on Route 9, where it intersects a driveway to the property; and a southbound left-turn lane on Route 9 at Coleman Road, opposite the driveway. HVSF said it will preserve a northwesterly view from a ridge by installing a gathering area north of the new tent for people attending shows. (HVSF plans to continue allowing neighbors to use the property for "passive" activities like dog-walking and snowshoeing.) Although an analysis of noise levels concluded that "even with simultaneous events," sound from the festival's performances will not exceed Philipstown's limits, Heidi Wendel, a member of the Planning Board, said neighbors have complained. For a period of five years after the permanent theater begins operating, HVSF said it will "investigate and evaluate" complaints about noise to the town's Building Department. The organization said it would pay for measurements when sources of noise "cannot be immediately identified and addressed by HVSF through changes in programing or management." After five years, HVSF said it will continue to respond to complaints, but will not foot the cost of noise measurements. "That does still bother me - that there are neighbors...

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin September 30, 2023Looking at the Sunny Side: Jerusalem Artichokes in Bloom Photo by Mark ScherzerThe Sunny Side of TownHi All, Mark here.With Yom Kippur over and Eric returned to the City, I started this week ready for my first extended stretch in months without company on the farm. I resolved with great energy to make dramatic progress on organizing EVERYTHING.Tuesday, I managed a packed office schedule, plus made progress on mucking the barn and harvesting vegetables. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I finished updating a several-weeks-overdue chapter of a legal treatise. I followed that with a big feed run (for the critters and me). To be super-efficient, late Wednesday I consolidated two vaccinations (COVID and RSV) into a single drug store visit, and got back to the farm before dusk.Chores that evening went well. After shooing most of the turkeys into their side of the barn through the north door, and heading the sheep off from following the turkeys in to devour their grain, I noticed a blue slate hen outside the east door, strangely immobile.As I approached, I saw that a single length of twine had gotten wrapped around one ankle and several toes, and then around the other ankle. The strand connecting her legs acted like shackles. Unable to advance a single leg independently, she just stood still.Catching her was easy, the rest of the rescue much tougher. Kneeling, I clutched the hen to my chest as she struggled against me. As my right hand held her foot, my left hand carefully sawed through the twine with a pocket knife. Several times, as I tried to wield the knife without cutting her, she broke free. When she did, a large tom began attacking her because she moved so strangely. For all their wonderful qualities, turkeys tend to attack and kill any of their flock who move erratically or otherwise appear to be sick.Ultimately I disentangled her, but I feared that she might have sprained a foot in one of the breakout attempts, making her vulnerable to further attack. She walked gingerly at first, but when I returned from feeding the sheep 20 minutes later, she was moving so normally I couldn't pick her out from flock. I was elated, energized by my success.My energy lasted until I was overtaken by headache, chills, and fatigue late that evening. I regretted getting both vaccinations at once. By Thursday morning I was too weak to carry the newly purchased 50 lb. feed sacks from the car to the barn. I recalled George Atkinson, a retired Livingston dairy farmer, telling us how he had no choice but to milk his cows when he had the flu. Shivering with fever, he would alternatively milk and stick his head out the barn door to vomit. I thought: "George was a stronger man than I."As my energy plummeted, so did my mood. I ruminated about Ukraine, the looming government shutdown, the coming presidential election. I worried about a big check, "in the mail" for the last month, that had not yet arrived. Then, with my head still throbbing Thursday afternoon, Macho Matt linked me to a New York Times article about Germantown (["Germantown, N.Y.: An Upstate Haven That Beckons Creatives"])(https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/27/realestate/germantown-upstate-ny.html?). Its principal message bummed me out. The backwater I moved to some 23 years ago is now a trendy magnet destination. Having come here to get away from it all, it seems that the "all", celebrities and luxury goods included, has caught up with me.The article flashed me back to shopping with my late partner, Peter, at Marder's, a garden center near our former Sag Harbor "country" home. Dressed in gardening duds rather than the gauzy summer whites featured by most fellow shoppers, we were often mistaken for the help. When a fancy dame imperiously asked "Take these plants out to my car, please," it was a signal moment, helping us realize we did not feel so at home in the Hamptons and should consider moving upstate.To be sure, articles like the one in the Times, meant to appeal to property shoppers from the City, could be written, changing only names and a few details, about dozens of Hudson Valley hamlets. Still, I wondered whether Germantown would soon become too Hamptons-like for me. I happily buy artisanal cheeses and fresh baguettes at Otto's Market. It sure beats the messy store, four iterations ago, I found upon moving here, with produce choice as minimal as the corner bodega where my grandmother shopped in Washington Heights. But Main Street is distinctly up-market. We've got designer goods at what a neighbor calls the Hundred Dollar store, but no place that sells fresh meats or fish, no drug store, no basic hardware. A recent New Yorker cartoon summed up the feeling. Two city visitors phoning from a "Weekend Upstate" main street: "There's four antique stores, three quirky cafés, one shop that sells only socks and another that only sells socks and maple syrup, and nothing opens until noon."Also, I'm glad that the hostility we faced from some quarters as the first gay couple on our street has become less acceptable in a more racially, ethnically and sexually diverse community. But I have no particular desire to live in "Gaymen Town," as one interviewee dubbed it.As my health and mood have recovered, my concerns about this article have diminished. First, I have to acknowledge being part of the very Hamptonization I'm complaining about, by moving here with my city tastes. Gentrifiers don't get to freeze time at their arrival. Also, I think there's too much territory, and too much of a real non-resort economy in the Hudson Valley, for glitzy City culture to completely overwhelm the local one. With old and new populations so evenly balanced, the Democrats running for Town Board tout their collaboration with their Republican fellow board members to solve local problems -- refreshingly different from the take-no-prisoners polarization in Congress.After all our recent rain, I'm looking at the sunny side. Overall, Germantown seems in a pretty good place, and I intend to stick around.WHAT'S AVAILABLE THIS WEEKIn the red meat department, recently back from the processor, frozen lamb:Butterflied legs of lamb $16/lb Rib or Loin chops (packs of 2) $14/lb Small racks of lamb $14/lb Riblets (breast of lamb) $8/lb Lamb shanks (packs of 2) $12/lbIn the greens department:Swiss chard: $3/baggreen zucchini, $1 each Green bell peppers: $1 each Frying peppers: 2 for $1 Jalapeno peppers: 3 for $1 Small hot chili peppers 6 for $1 Horseradish root: $2/lb. Sorrel: $3/bag Spearmint and regular mint $.75 a bunch Garlic chives $.75 a bunch Green Shiso leaves 10 for $1 (10 cents each)In the yellow and white palette: Eggs: $6/dozenWHAT ELSE IS AVAILABLE THIS WEEK - AN 1878 SQUARE GRAND PIANO FREEThat's right folks, I have finally as of July 27 received a Department of Environmental Conservation permit to transfer this antique piano, with its ivory keys. It has a venerable history and I want to find it a good home. You'd just need to come get it. Please email me at markscherzer@gmail.com or call at 917-544-6464 if you'd like to make it yours.RESERVING YOUR THANKSGIVING TURKEYTURKEY RESERVATION FORM 2023 TURKANA FARMS, LLC 110 Lasher Ave Germantown, NY 12526 farm@turkanafarms.com 917-544-6464 Name__________________________ e-mail__________________________________ Address________________________________________ Phone__________________ Please check here if you would like to receive email offerings in season:______________HERITAGE BREED TURKEYS: This year we are raising Holland Whites, Chocolates and Blue Slates, which will range from 7 to 18 lbs. Fed on organic feed, pastured all day once they get big enough to go out, protected on perching bars all night. Slaughtered the Sunday or Monday before Thanksgiving, delivered fresh, not frozen, in Lower Manhattan, at points along the Taconic Parkway, or at the farm. $12 lb plus $5 off premises pick up fee. Note: These sell out early.Number desired: ___________ Approx. weight ________ Pick up place: ___at the farm; ___Lower Manhattan___a point along the Taconic Parkway Please send a deposit of $40 per bird to hold your reservation to Turkana Farms, 110 Lasher Ave., Germantown, NY, 12526. Make check out to Turkana Farms, LLC.(Yes this luddite farm still uses checks). The balance due will be paid at the time of the pick up.FARM PICKUPS:Email us your order at farm@turkanafarms.com, and let us know when you'd like to pick up your order. It will be put out for you on the side screened porch of the farmhouse (110 Lasher Ave., Germantown) in a bag. You can leave cash or a check in the now famous pineapple on the porch table. Because I'm now here full time, we're abandoning regular pick-up times. Let us know when you want your order any day between 10 and 5, and unless there are unusual circumstances we'll be able to ready it to your convenience. If you have questions, don't hesitate to call or text at 917-544-6464 or email.HEAR OUR SHOWIf you'd enjoy hearing these bulletins out loud instead of reading them, we broadcast them on Robin Hood Radio, the nation's smallest NPR station. You can find it on FM 91.9, AM 1020, WBSL-FM 91.7 "The Voice of Berkshire School" or streaming on the web at www.robinhoodradio.com, where podcasts of past broadcasts are also available under the title AgriCulture in the "On Demand" section. FM 91.7 "The Voice of Berkshire School"can be heard from just south of Pittsfield to the CT border. You can hear the station on WHDD FM 91.9 from Ashley Falls, MA down through the Cornwalls and in NY from just south of Hillsdale down to Dover Plains. You can hear the station on AM1020 from Stockbridge, MA to Kent and from Poughkeepsie to Pawling to Kent, Goshen, Torrington, Norfolk, and Ashley. Recently added for those in the Route 22 corridor from Ancram down to Pawling is FM frequency 97.5 And of course you can listen in our own neighborhood of Southwestern Columbia and Northwestern Dutchess County, where it is being broadcast from Annandale on Hudson, 88.1 FM.FOLLOW USThe bulletins may also now be found in written form on line as well, at the Germantown, NY, portal ofhttp://imby.com/germantown/userblogs/agriculture-turkana-farms/

A Town Board meeting was held last night in Amherst where residents sounded off on the migrant crisis.

Though they have found two dozen private wells in addition to the middle school with elevated levels of the PFOA forever chemical, the State Department of Environmental Conservation has not been able to find any commercial or industrial source for the pollution. They believe it is due to the activities of the local schools and residents, including contamination from private septic systems. The Town will hold a meeting on May 11 to discuss a new public water district, plus DEC will hold an informational meeting at the middle school on the 18th. Town Board member Eric Wohlleber discusses the situation with Mark Dunlea of the Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Convincing more East Hampton homeowners to invest in creating affordable rental accessory apartments on their properties has proven daunting for East Hampton Town officials. This week's discussion focuses on the Town Board's latest tweaks to boost financial incentives.

3:28 ***What's up in Babblot***  Burky talks PAX Unplugged   13:22 ***Things that make the King go Hmmm!***   Normality returns to conventions, but not the big publisher   24:28 ***Sponsor break***  Amazing deal and late pledge on Game Topper   26:20 ***Your thoughts in our poll***  We hear what you think about Intellectual Properties in the hobby   36:15 ***The Good, the Not So Bad and the Ugly***  First impression of new games we have played   1:06:32 ***Sponsor break***  Arcane Wonders latest release Dice Manor    1:08:45 ***The Babble***  Our Christmas traditions and Christmas games we play and recommend   --------------------------------------- You can find us at Board Game Theater page for all episodes and Board Games Everybody Should... Like us on Facebook, Twitter or our guild on  Board Game Geek 2248 Big Thanks to Arcane Wonders and Game Toppers for their support. Music and effect by The Balance Of Power & Syrinscape And watch the live stream of the show here: https://youtu.be/kIHnV7oi098   Games mentioned: Dice Manor, Foundations of Rome,  Furnace, Skyrim, Dune Imperium, Endeavor, Twilight Inscription, Ark Nova, Sea Salt & Paper, Strike, Codenames, Onitama, Port Royal, Splendor, Azul, Catch the Moon, Ticket to Ride, Jamaica,

Residents of the Sag Harbor School District approved, in a 638-521 vote on November 3, a plan to expend $3.28 million in capital reserve funds toward the purchase of five lots on Marsden Street for athletic fields directly across from Pierson Middle High School. But the deal also hinges on the Southampton Town Board agreeing to contribute $6 million from the Community Preservation Fund to the deal. In this week's podcast, the editors and reporter Cailin Riley discuss questions of whether it is an appropriate use of CPF money, why Sag Harbor needs more public recreational space and what would happen if the Town Board does not agree to allocate the funds. While the district has yet to make a decision regarding whether the athletic fields will be grass or artificial turf, the editors discuss the benefits of artificial turf as well as the concerns some parents have about their children using the playing surface.

The Amenia Wastewater Committee is hosting three community forums to discuss the 2022 Amenia Hamlet Sewer Feasibility Study. We want to present the report to as many people as possible and get everyone's input. Forum Dates, Times & Locations Saturday, October 1, 10am at Town Hall Wednesday, October 12, 7pm at Town Hall Tuesday, October 18, 7pm Virtual via Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89746652474 | Meeting ID: 897 4665 2474 | Call in: 929 205 6099) The goal is to assemble all community feedback and quantifying support. If the project can be modified to address consensus feedback from residential and commercial owners, the Wastewater Committee will recommend the Town Board proceed to the next phase: map, plan and report / environmental review.  That phase is required to form the district and forming the district is necessary to apply for grants and interest-free loans. That report will detail the maximum acceptable user fee thereby insuring no construction occurs without the required grant funding.

Tighe & Bond, the engineering firm hired by the town, will be presenting the recently completed 2022 Sewer Feasibility Study (https://bit.ly/amenia-sewer) on August 18 at 7pm to the Town Board. Amenia Wastewater Committee members are reaching out to commercial and residential owners in the envisioned district to review the report and encourage support for the next phase. The 2022 Amenia Sewer Feasibility Study is in!

Tighe & Bond, the engineering firm hired by the town, will be presenting the recently completed 2022 Sewer Feasibility Study (https://bit.ly/amenia-sewer) on August 18 at 7pm to the Town Board. Amenia Wastewater Committee members are reaching out to commercial and residential owners in the envisioned district to... Read More ›

18-months after the forever chemicals PFOA/PFOS were found in the drinking water of Poestenkill residents, state leaders have still not found a source. The Poestenkill Town Board met on July 21 to discuss the possible creation of a new water district in the area surrounding the Middle School. Town Board member Eric Wohlleber provides an update to Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Across the U.S. and Canada on Thursday, commemorations took place for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Behind The Headlines, the panel discusses a number of topics, including the new Southold Town Board, revisions to the Open Meetings Law, property tax reassessments and the temporary closing of the East Hampton Airport. https://www.facebook.com/shaw11946 (Joseph P. Shaw,) Executive Editor, The Express News Group https://www.facebook.com/wpsutton (Bill Sutton,) Managing Editor, The Express News Group https://www.facebook.com/annette.hinkle (Annette Hinkle,) Arts and Living Editor, The Express News Group https://www.facebook.com/civiletti (Denise Civiletti,) Editor/Publisher,  Riverhead Local https://www.facebook.com/steve.wick.359 (Steve Wick,) Executive Editor, Times-Review Media Group