Putnam Press & Times

Putnam Press & Times Putnam County Press and Putnam County Times are the official newspapers of Putnam County, New York.

Serving residents since the 1850s, we cover local government and politics, schools, public safety, community events, business spotlights, and more.

09/10/2026

Two days to go! Kent will dedicate its new statue honoring Daniel Nimham this Saturday, September 12.

Ahead of the ceremony, we spoke with Kent sculptor Michael Keropian about his bronze tribute—and the history represented in its details.

Nimham, the last sachem (chief) of the Wappinger people, fought to reclaim his people’s ancestral lands and later served alongside Continental forces during the American Revolution. He and his son Abraham were killed in battle on August 31, 1778.

The objects in the sculpture tell that story: the land survey represents Nimham’s efforts to recover land through legal action, the musket reflects his Revolutionary War service, and the partial tree symbolizes his life cut short.

There’s a connection to another familiar Putnam landmark, too: Keropian also helped restore Anna Hyatt Huntington’s Sybil Ludington statue beside Lake Gleneida in Carmel, which returned home July 3.

Join the community Saturday, September 12, at Kent Town Center, 25 Sybil’s Crossing:

• 1 p.m.: Screening of “The Creation of the Daniel Nimham Sculpture,” produced by local filmmaker Jeff Hodges
• 2:30 p.m.: Traditional ceremonial blessing
• 3 p.m.: Statue dedication

Kent Community Day runs from 1–4 p.m., with music, food, craft vendors and family activities. Free and open to the public!

Looking for more ways to explore local history? This week’s issue also lists Constitution Island tours September 12 and 26, plus a screening of episode six of Ken Burns’ “The American Revolution” at Reed Memorial Library on September 14, from 1–3 p.m.

Watch our interview and stay tuned for our coverage of Saturday’s dedication!

Our September 9 edition is out now. Find the Nimham story on page 10 and more upcoming community events on page 7.

Read the full flipbook here:
https://bit.ly/putnampress909

FIREFIGHTER INJURED, TWO CATS DIE IN LAKE CARMEL HOUSE FIREA Carmel firefighter was injured and two cats died in a house...
09/08/2026

FIREFIGHTER INJURED, TWO CATS DIE IN LAKE CARMEL HOUSE FIRE

A Carmel firefighter was injured and two cats died in a house fire on Route 52 in Lake Carmel early Monday, September 7.

Lake Carmel Fire Department said crews were dispatched at approximately 5:53 a.m. and arrived to find heavy flames coming from three windows. Firefighters quickly knocked down the main body of fire and worked to prevent further spread.

The firefighter’s injuries were described as minor and not life-threatening. Carmel Fire Department confirmed that its member was transported to Danbury Hospital for evaluation and treatment.

During searches, Carmel firefighters located and removed two pets, but neither survived injuries sustained in the fire. Despite significant property damage, crews protected several classic vehicles from further damage.

Assisting fire departments included Carmel, Kent, Mahopac, Brewster, Patterson and East Fishkill, with Mahopac Falls providing station coverage. The cause remains under investigation by the Putnam County Fire Investigation Team.

Our thoughts are with those affected and the injured firefighter. Thank you to the emergency responders who answered the call over the holiday weekend.

September 7 incident images shared by Lake Carmel Fire Department and Hopewell Hose Fire Company #1.

Additional archival photograph by Frank Becerra: The close-up image of a firefighter battling flames was taken at a separate, earlier fire on Chappaqua Road. It is included for context and does not depict the September 7 Lake Carmel incident.

This Labor Day, we remember the lives lost—and the generations of workers whose labor helped shape Putnam County.On Nov....
09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we remember the lives lost—and the generations of workers whose labor helped shape Putnam County.

On Nov. 29, 1895, 13 miners were killed when approximately 100 tons of rock collapsed around them nearly 50 stories beneath the surface of the Tilly Foster Mine near Brewster.

The mine was more than an industrial operation. It created work for hundreds of people and helped shape the developing communities of Southeast and Brewster. Many workers were Italian, Irish, Welsh and Swedish immigrants who established lives and raised families in the surrounding area.

At its 1879 peak, approximately 300 people worked at Tilly Foster, producing about 7,000 tons of iron ore each month. Miners used picks, shovels, dynamite, steam-powered equipment and draught animals to excavate shafts reaching approximately 600 feet underground. A narrow-gauge railroad transported the ore to the Brewster depot, connecting their labor to industries and markets far beyond Putnam County.

The mine’s remarkable size and engineering attracted national attention. Scientific American devoted a feature to Tilly Foster in its June 15, 1889, issue—six years before the deadly collapse.

Seven Italian miners killed in the disaster were laid to rest in an unmarked grave at St. Lawrence O’Toole Cemetery. Initially, they were identified only by numbers assigned by the mining company—not by their names.

Thanks to the Putnam County Italian American Social Club and local historians, these men are finally receiving the recognition they were denied for more than a century. A new monument and plaque were unveiled near the former mine this summer.

This Labor Day, we honor their labor, remember the families and community forever affected, and reaffirm that every worker is more than a number.

Read Holly Crocco’s complete story:
https://bit.ly/tillyfostermine

Historical images courtesy of the Town of Southeast Historian’s Office. Memorial photograph by Paul Anthony Fucito.

PRELIMINARY: Two women reportedly suffered broken bones in separate hiking emergencies in the Breakneck Ridge/Hudson Hig...
09/07/2026

PRELIMINARY: Two women reportedly suffered broken bones in separate hiking emergencies in the Breakneck Ridge/Hudson Highlands area over Labor Day weekend.

Automatically generated dispatch transcripts reported a 57-year-old woman with a broken ankle on Saturday, Sept. 5, and a 42-year-old woman with a broken leg on Sunday, Sept. 6. The diagnoses and precise locations have not been independently confirmed.

The back-to-back calls came as the holiday weekend brought an influx of hikers and other visitors to Philipstown. They return attention to an issue examined in earlier Putnam Press & Times coverage: the demands tourism can place on a small community’s emergency-response resources.

Philipstown’s local ambulance coverage includes two community corps: Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps in Cold Spring and Garrison Volunteer Ambulance Corps. PVAC reports that it operates 24/7 with 40 volunteers and 20 paid staff while averaging about 700 calls annually. Trail rescues may also require firefighters, park personnel and assistance from neighboring agencies.

The main Breakneck Ridge and Wilkinson Memorial trailheads remain closed, along with Lower Brook Trail and the Breakneck Ridge Metro-North station. Other Hudson Highlands routes remain open, but open does not mean easy. Use official maps, check closures, choose a route suited to your experience, wear sturdy hiking footwear, eat and hydrate beforehand, and carry adequate food, water, navigation and emergency supplies.

Photos above via Yelp, shared by reviewers Dallas B., Tony J. and Christine S., to provide general visual context. These older images do not depict either reported Labor Day weekend incident or current trail conditions, and some show sections that are presently closed.

PRELIMINARY REPORT: Patterson and Putnam Lake fire personnel, along with the Putnam County Technical Rescue Team, were d...
09/05/2026

PRELIMINARY REPORT: Patterson and Putnam Lake fire personnel, along with the Putnam County Technical Rescue Team, were dispatched shortly after 8:20 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, for a reported horse rescue on Cushman Road near Baldwin Road and Red Shutters Farm Road in Patterson, according to radio dispatch traffic.

The recording contains an initial dispatch, a request for specialized technical-rescue personnel and a later “second dispatch.” These appear to concern the same reported incident—not two separate horse rescues.

Officials have not yet confirmed what prompted the rescue, whether the horse was trapped or injured, or its current condition.

Although it may sound like an unusual call, Patterson firefighters have considerable experience with technical large-animal rescues. In 2018, crews entered through the Cushman Road area to rescue Tucker, a 24-year-old horse trapped in approximately two feet of mud near Wonder Lake State Park. That operation lasted about four hours.

In August 2021, Patterson firefighters rescued Dozer, a 31-year-old horse who had fallen and become trapped between a rock and a fence at a local farm. Crews used a Paratech bipod lifting system and TU-32 griphoists to return him to his feet. After receiving fluids and resting, Dozer trotted away unassisted.

By 2023, the Patterson Fire Department reported that it had handled or assisted with approximately 15 horse rescues over the preceding decade, including five during 2023 alone. Some occurred locally, while others were regional mutual-aid responses.

IMPORTANT IMAGE NOTE: The accompanying photograph does not show today’s reported incident. It documents Dozer’s August 2021 rescue and was originally shared by Patterson Fire Dept. No. 1, Inc.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Akin/Patterson Fire Dept. No. 1, Inc.

This remains a developing report. We will share confirmed information if it becomes available.

09/04/2026

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM GEORGE WHIPPLE’S EYEBROWS:

We have completed our review of the September 2 edition and can confirm that Putnam County remains incapable of having a quiet week.

We rose sharply upon learning that the county has accumulated a $163 million fund balance, furrowed thoughtfully over New York’s ban on local ICE agreements and arched with curiosity at the $1 million grant supporting infrastructure for 40 new townhomes in Carmel.

We lifted respectfully as the Brewster Fire Department dedicated its new training door to fallen members William “Billy” May and Robert “Link” Linkenheker. We reached particularly impressive heights when Mahopac resident Craig Waugh helped his band become world pipe band champions.

We also softened considerably while reading about 19 people from 15 countries becoming American citizens at Boscobel—and welcomed the expansion of the Putnam Early Learning Center & Preschool.

After years of sitting above George Whipple’s eyes, we have learned two things: Never underestimate local news, and never underestimate a man who reads every page of it from inside a castle.

We thank George for continuing to raise awareness throughout Putnam County—and for giving us countless reasons to raise ourselves.

Respectfully submitted,

The Eyebrows

Read the September 2 edition:
https://bit.ly/putnampress902

09/04/2026

A major expansion of the Putnam County Early Learning Center was recently announced, aiming to bring high-quality preschool and therapeutic services closer to Putnam families.The Putnam County Early Learning Center began offering services from its Hudson Valley InterArts building in Patterson last f...

New York’s ban on local ICE agreements is fueling debate over immigration enforcement, public safety and local control.T...
09/03/2026

New York’s ban on local ICE agreements is fueling debate over immigration enforcement, public safety and local control.

The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act prohibits local governments, police departments and correctional facilities from entering or remaining in federal 287(g) agreements. These agreements allow specially trained local officers to perform certain federal civil immigration-enforcement duties.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James say locally funded officers should focus on investigating crimes and protecting their communities—not enforcing federal civil immigration law.

Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne supports Rensselaer County’s opposition to the law, arguing that local communities should decide how their law-enforcement agencies cooperate with federal authorities. Conservative Party county executive candidate Tatiana Brahimi has also spoken against the restriction.

Democratic county executive candidate Brett Yarris said the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department is already complying with the law and does not intend to change course. Therefore, the ban is not expected to cause an immediate change in Putnam’s local operations.

The legal battle continues elsewhere in New York. The state sued the Rensselaer County sheriff after he did not terminate his county’s 287(g) agreement by the Aug. 25 deadline. A federal court had previously declined to block the state’s ban while litigation continued.

Who should decide how local law enforcement cooperates with ICE—the state or each individual county?

Read the full story by Holly Crocco in our latest Putnam Press & Times flipbook:

https://bit.ly/putnampress902

Image credit: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)

Community members are rallying around the family of José Eduardo López Sagastume, a 21-year-old Carmel resident who died...
09/03/2026

Community members are rallying around the family of José Eduardo López Sagastume, a 21-year-old Carmel resident who died following an Aug. 23 dirt-bike crash in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Police said Eduardo lost control while riding along railroad tracks off Yale Street and struck a concrete wall attached to a railroad bridge. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A GoFundMe organized by Kelly Arevalo on behalf of Víctor Sagastume is helping the family return José’s remains to his native Guatemala. As of Sept. 3, 33 donors had contributed $2,535 toward the $25,000 goal. His family says every contribution, regardless of size, is deeply appreciated.

En español:

Miembros de la comunidad están apoyando a la familia de José Eduardo López Sagastume, un residente de Carmel de 21 años que falleció tras un accidente de motocicleta tipo dirt bike ocurrido el 23 de agosto en Waterbury, Connecticut.

Según la policía, Eduardo perdió el control mientras circulaba por las vías del tren cerca de Yale Street y chocó contra un muro de concreto conectado a un puente ferroviario. Fue declarado mu**to en el lugar.

Una campaña organizada por Kelly Arevalo en nombre de Víctor Sagastume ayudará a la familia a trasladar los restos de José a su Guatemala natal. Hasta el 3 de septiembre, 33 donantes habían aportado $2,535 hacia la meta de $25,000. Su familia agradece profundamente cualquier contribución.

Donate/Donar:
https://bit.ly/gofundmejose

This story appeared in our latest edition. Read the Sept. 2 flipbook for more local news, community updates and public-safety coverage:
https://bit.ly/putnampress902

Esta historia apareció en nuestra edición más reciente. Consulte la edición digital para más noticias locales, novedades comunitarias e información de seguridad pública.

Image source/Fuente de la imagen: GoFundMe fundraiser/campaña para José Eduardo López Sagastume.

Our condolences remain with his family and loved ones./Nuestras condolencias acompañan a su familia y seres queridos.

📚 Calling all bookworms—the final Friends of the Desmond-Fish Public Library summer book sale begins Friday, Sept. 4!Wea...
09/03/2026

📚 Calling all bookworms—the final Friends of the Desmond-Fish Public Library summer book sale begins Friday, Sept. 4!

Weather permitting, browse books beneath the library’s beautiful new outdoor pavilion, complete with solar panels, while supporting the Friends and the programs they make possible. Admission is free—and the prices get even better as the sale continues!

📖 Friday, Sept. 4: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
📖 Saturday, Sept. 5: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
📖 Sunday, Sept. 6: Noon–5 p.m.
📖 Monday, Sept. 7: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.—half-price day
📖 Tuesday, Sept. 8: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.—$5 per box or bag
📖 Wednesday, Sept. 9: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.—remaining books are free!

📍 Desmond-Fish Public Library
472 Route 403, Garrison

Please note that book donations are currently paused.

This event is also featured in the September 2 Putnam Press & Times Community Events calendar. Desmond-Fish Public Library is one of the many locations throughout Putnam County where readers can pick up a free print edition of the Putnam Press & Times!

Read the digital flipbook here:
https://bit.ly/putnampress902

The footage shown was captured during a previous Friends of the Library book sale. Pictured above are Friends of the Library Board Member Sheena Raju and volunteer Jan Hughes-Garrison.

Thank you for reading and supporting local news!

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