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The Highlands Current is a nonprofit weekly newspaper and daily website that covers Beacon, Cold Spring, Garrison, Nelsonville and Philipstown, New York, in the Hudson Highlands. This podcast includes select stories read aloud.

  1. 18H AGO

    Cold Spring to Sue Fjord Trail

    Says environmental concerns not addressed The Cold Spring Village Board on Wednesday (April 8) unanimously voted to sue Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Inc. and state parks, saying the environmental review of the 7.5-mile trail to Beacon was inadequate. The village alleges that the Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement, released in January, failed to comply with the requirements of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. It states that the FGEIS didn't address significant concerns identified by the Village Board, including "analysis of environmental impacts, infrastructure demands, traffic, parking, public safety and consistency with local land use controls." HHFT is the sponsor of the project and state parks is the lead agency. The resolution, which passed 5-0, authorizes village attorney John Furst to begin legal action. Mayor Kathleen Foley said the board has until May 7 to contest the FGEIS. "If we don't do this, we are remiss in our fiduciary responsibilities to the village, given the long-term costs," she said. "We are up against a very well-funded organization and a state agency, but we need to have sovereignty and to have say over our own waterfront." Dockside Park in Cold Spring, which is owned by the state but managed by the village, is HHFT's preferred southern gateway for the trail. The resolution states that if the Town of Philipstown initiates a similar legal challenge, the municipalities will file a joint lawsuit, with Philipstown taking the lead. The agenda for the Thursday (April 9) meeting of the Town Board included "discussion regarding a response from the town to the Fjord Trail FEIS." The lawsuit will be filed in state court in Carmel under Article 78 of New York Civil Practice Law and Rules, which enables municipalities and others to challenge the actions or inactions of the state, local government agencies and public bodies. In a statement on Thursday, HHFT said, "Article 78 proceedings challenging environmental reviews carry a high burden of proof for the plaintiffs, which is very rarely met when an EIS has been prepared. Taxpayers of Cold Spring — and Philipstown, if the Town Board moves to make a similar resolution — are being asked to fund a frivolous and expensive lawsuit." "I'm deeply disappointed with this approach," said Peter Mullan, the Fjord Trail's president and CEO. "HHFT has made every effort to nurture a collaborative partnership with Philipstown and Cold Spring. … We are collaborating with Putnam County, Philipstown and Cold Spring on the pending [state transportation] grant to complete sidewalks on Fair Street by committing $450,000 in matching funds required for the project to be eligible. Why is this type of divisive, incendiary action necessary at tremendous local taxpayer expense, especially as local governments deal with stretched budgets and cut services? The supervisor [John Van Tassel] and mayor seem intent on continuing to foster a climate of conflict." In its statement, HHFT also cited "troubling public accountability issues" because, it said, two village trustees "are active members of the local opposition group, Protect the Highlands, but were not recused from voting." Trustees Tony Bardes and Andrew Hall are listed by Protect the Highlands as "supporters" of the organization.

    4 min

  2. 21H AGO

    Lawsuit Against Putnam Deputies Dismissed

    Family said they caused Brewster man's death After a Putnam County sheriff's deputy tackled George Taranto and his colleagues helped handcuff the Brewster resident outside his home on July 8, 2019, Sgt. William Quick and Investigator Daniel Hunsberger spoke to his wife, Karen. While paramedics treated George Taranto, 75, Quick said, "Do you know that I almost killed your husband tonight?" according to Karen Taranto. Karen Taranto and her son and daughter believe head trauma caused by George Taranto being driven to the ground led to his death two years later. But a federal judge disagreed on March 31, dismissing their $75 million wrongful-death lawsuit over an incident that began with a report of a transformer fire and ended in a standoff with George Taranto, who suffered from early dementia and had gone outside with a loaded handgun to investigate noises. Judge Victoria Reznik of the U.S. District Court in White Plains dismissed all claims filed by Taranto's family against Hunsberger, Quick and three other deputies: Vincent Dalo, Ryan Diskin and Ronald Yeager. Claims against Putnam County and then-Sheriff Robert Langley Jr. were also dismissed. Reznik found that Dalo did not use excessive force in tackling Taranto after deputies said they saw the gun in his right hand and mistook a holster in his left hand for a second weapon. Without a case for excessive force, the family's other claims, including for assault and battery and wrongful death, also had to be dismissed, said Reznik. An investigation completed by the Sheriff's Office in July 2020 found that the officers "acted within the scope of their duties" and had not violated any state laws or agency regulations. "No reasonable jury could find that Deputy Sheriff Dalo's split-second decision to subdue Taranto by tackling him to the ground" was unreasonable, Reznik concluded. The confrontation began shortly after Diskin responded to a report of a transformer explosion. He called for backup after spotting a vehicle with two males inside that was acting "suspiciously." Both males jumped from the car when Diskin followed it; one obeyed his order to drop to the ground and the other ran into the woods. Yeager, who responded with Dalo, Hunsberger and Quick, testified that during the search for the second male, he saw Taranto standing at his back patio door and told him to stay inside. Hunsberger said he then saw Taranto standing behind a garage and also told him to return indoors. Hunsberger said he began walking away but turned when he heard Taranto ask, "Who the f**k is out there?" Seeing a loaded Colt Mustang .380 pistol in Taranto's right hand, Hunsberger said he drew his weapon and alerted the other deputies. They took cover while Taranto shielded himself behind a parked car, according to court documents. The family, whose lawyer did not respond to a request for comment, said Taranto's gun was pointed at the ground. They say he complied when deputies, with their weapons drawn, began screaming at him to drop the gun, raise his hands and walk toward them. But the officers said Taranto, who they initially thought was drunk, initially did not obey their commands and continued to hide. When he put down his gun and walked toward the officers, Dalo feared that a holster in Taranto's left hand could be another weapon, according to court documents. He tackled the Brewster man from behind, causing his head to hit the ground. At Putnam Hospital, Taranto suffered cardiac arrest and respiratory failure, as well as a pulmonary edema, according to his family, and was moved to Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. Deputies issued tickets for second-degree menacing, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and second-degree obstructing governmental administration, all misdemeanors. Taranto was released but hospitalized again on Sept. 2, according to the lawsuit. A scan revealed bleeding in his brain, requiring surgery. His injuries led the family to sue for $50 million in ...

    5 min

  3. 1D AGO

    It's Down to Five in House Race

    Democrats prepare for June 23 primaries Six Democratic candidates filed nominating petitions with the state Board of Elections by the April 6 deadline to challenge Rep. Mike Lawler for his U.S. House seat representing Philipstown, although one — Peter Chatzky — dropped out on Thursday (April 9). Lawler, who filed petitions to appear on the Republican and Conservative lines on the November ballot, is seeking his third 2-year term. A Democratic primary is scheduled for June 23. The candidates who filed are John Cappello, a Rockland native and former defense attaché at the U.S. embassies in Israel and Serbia; Chatzky, a tech company founder and village trustee in Briarcliff Manor; Cait Conley, a West Point graduate from Orange County and former director of counterterrorism for the National Security Council; Beth Davidson, a Rockland County legislator; Effie Phillips-Staley, a Tarrytown trustee who is a nonprofit executive; and Mike Sacks, a lawyer and former TV journalist from Westchester. Each candidate had to collect at least 1,250 signatures from voters in District 17. Typically, a candidate files far more than required because the Board of Elections can invalidate signatures if opponents file challenges. On Thursday, Alyssa Verrilli, Chatzky's campaign manager, confirmed reports that he had ended his campaign. A debate hosted on Thursday at Manhattanville University in Purchase by the Westchester County Democratic Committee with four candidates selected based on polling, money raised and endorsements — Chatzky, Conley, Davidson and Phillips-Staley — proceeded with three. A recording is posted at dub.sh/district-17-debate. In District 18, which includes Beacon, incumbent Rep. Pat Ryan filed petitions for the Democratic and Working Families lines, and Sharanjit Thind filed for the Republican and Conservative lines. The Dutchess County Democratic Committee has endorsed Conley and Ryan. The Putnam County Democratic Committee is expected to make endorsements after its April 20 meeting. In state legislative contests, retired teacher Laurie Ryan filed for the Republican and Conservative lines to oppose Dana Levenberg, the incumbent Democrat whose 95th Assembly district includes Philipstown. In District 104, which includes Beacon, Ali Muhammad, a former Beacon City Council member who now lives in Newburgh, will challenge incumbent Jonathan Jacobson in a Democratic primary. Robert F. Johnson filed to run as a Republican. Three Democrats will face off in the June 23 primary to challenge the Republican incumbent, Rob Rolison, for the state Senate seat that represents the Highlands: Lisa Kaul, a Dutchess County legislator who represents part of the Town of Poughkeepsie; Gay Lee, a social worker and former Newburgh City Council member who ran for the seat in 2014; and Evan Menist, a member of the Poughkeepsie Common Council. The Dutchess County Democratic Committee has endorsed Kaul for the state Senate and Jacobson for the Assembly. The Putnam County Democratic Committee has endorsed Levenberg.

    3 min

  4. 6D AGO

    Countdown to Zero: Backup Power

    New York is falling behind on its climate goals. Is there any way to catch up? Sean Dague would like to use his refrigerator to lower your energy bills. A few years ago, after buying a fridge, the Dutchess County resident did something few people do: He read the manual. (He's a software engineer at IBM, so he does that.) In it, he learned that, when the grid was under strain, the local utility could send a signal telling it to temporarily use less power. He found similar language in the manual for his hot-water heater. This feature could save Dague money and make it less likely that utilities would need to rely on fossil-fuel-reliant "peaker" plants, such as Danskammer, north of Newburgh. If every "smart" appliance were connected this way, it could save money for everyone and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Alas, there was a major obstacle. Central Hudson doesn't participate. "When you talk about what it costs to get electricity to people, you also have to talk about demand flexibility," says Dague, who lives in LaGrange. "We have the technology to do it." This flexible grid technology is also known as virtual power plants (VPP). Across the river, Orange & Rockland Utilities recently ran a pilot program in which customers who installed solar panels received a free or heavily discounted battery. In exchange, they agreed to allow the utility to draw power from the battery when the grid is strained, such as during last summer's "heat dome." Dague is a volunteer organizer with the Citizens Climate Lobby, which recently worked with Assembly Member Anna Kelles, a Democrat whose district includes Ithaca, on a bill that would create VPPs throughout the state. This past week, MIT unveiled an online tool developed with Heatmap News and CleanEcon called The Electricity Price Hub, which tracks electricity prices by ZIP code. Things don't look so bad in New York: The state is mostly a soothing green. But click on utility bills, and a dark orange blob appears: the service area for Central Hudson, indicating that its customers are, by far, paying the highest utility bills in the state. VPPs are among many tools that can lower bills and help transition New York away from fossil fuels, the primary goal of the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (aka the Climate Law), enacted in 2019. The law sets ambitious targets, including getting 70 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 percent zero-emissions energy by 2040. As we reported last week, the state is behind in its targets. Enforcement regulations that would have penalized industries for high emissions — with fines that would pay for renewable energy projects and rebate checks to consumers — were scrapped just before they were scheduled to take effect. Arguing that New York was breaking its own law, a group of environmental organizations sued the state in 2025 — and won. Now, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to roll back some targets to make them easier to meet and change how the state calculates emissions. This methodology, which many states use, would put New York much closer to reaching its goals. The governor is working with the Legislature to amend the law as part of the 2026-27 budget, which is due this coming week. Hochul cites a series of unforeseen setbacks: a pandemic, wars, inflation, tariffs and President Donald Trump's disapproval of renewable energy projects. As a result, she says, the law has become too expensive to implement by the 2019 deadlines. Not every state is backing away: 50 gigawatts of renewable energy were added in the U.S. last year. Wind, solar and battery storage continue to grow. "It's good business, right? These are profitable," said Erin Baker, faculty director of the Energy Transition Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "They suppress prices for ratepayers. The example I always give is Texas: It has the most wind energy production and the second-most solar in the country. Its batteries...

    12 min

  5. 6D AGO

    Gas Tax Holiday

    Dutchess, Putnam move to lower prices at pump Legislators in Dutchess and Putnam counties this week advanced measures that would temporarily lower taxes on gas purchases. The average price per gallon in the area has risen to more than $4 per gallon, up from $3 a month ago, largely due to U.S. and Israeli attacks that prompted Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for tankers. A resolution to limit Putnam's 4 percent sales tax to the first $3 per gallon passed the Legislature's Budget and Finance Committee, which includes all nine legislators, on Monday (March 30). The proposal, which will be considered by the full Legislature again at its monthly meeting on Tuesday (April 7), would be in effect from June 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2027. It would not reduce state taxes, which are 24.18 cents per gallon, or the federal tax, which is 18.4 cents. "We are doing what we can do to help the families of Putnam County," said Legislator William Gouldman of Putnam Valley, who introduced the measure. "Government should not benefit from higher prices." The Dutchess Legislature is preparing a similar exemption from the county's 3.75 percent sales tax, said its chair, Yvette Valdés Smith, whose district includes part of Beacon. Like Putnam, the proposal would suspend taxes over $3 per gallon, beginning on June 1 and continuing for at least six months. It will be introduced at the Budget and Finance Committee meeting on Thursday (April 9), she said. Putnam approved a similar temporary exemption in April 2022, when the average price in New York was $4.21 per gallon. The tax break began at $2 per gallon and lasted until Dec. 1 of the same year. The current proposal originally ended June 1, 2027, but the Legislature's chair, Dan Birmingham, won passage of an amendment to extend it through next year. "Whether it's an international crisis now with the Iranian conflict, or whether it's something else that drives it up to $5 or $6 next year, I'd still rather not have this county government profit off of whatever calamity" might come, he said. Rockland County last month put a cap on taxes over $3 per gallon from June 1, 2026, to March 1, 2027. Consumer prices and the cost of living have become early flashpoints for the national midterm elections in November. A poll last month by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 45 percent of 1,150 U.S. adults surveyed were "extremely" or "very" concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30 percent shortly after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. The most recent poll had a 4 percent margin of error. Beyond visits to the pump, analysts say higher fuel costs will trickle into groceries, which must be restocked frequently and could also see price hikes as transportation and packaging costs pile up. The U.S. Postal Service is seeking an 8 percent temporary surcharge on some of its popular products, including Priority Mail. U.S. diesel, used for many freight and delivery trucks, costs an average of $5.45 per gallon, up from $3.76 a gallon before the war began, according to AAA. Only two states have suspended all or part of their gas taxes. Georgia removed its 33-cent-per-gallon tax on March 20 for 60 days (followed by a warning to retailers from the state attorney general to pass along the savings), and Utah reduced its 38-cent-per-gallon tax by 6 cents for six months beginning July 1. California charges a nationally high tax of 61 cents per gallon; a gallon of gas averaged $5.89 per gallon on Thursday, according to AAA. In Maryland, Republicans pushed for a 30-day gas tax holiday, but Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, said it would cost the state $100 million. In Connecticut, Democratic leaders want Gov. Ned Lamont to tap an emergency fund to cover a 30-day suspension of the state's 25-cent tax. Roughly half the price at the pump pays for the crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administra...

    6 min

  6. 6D AGO

    Howland Library Ponders Its Next Move

    Community, staff weigh options as building shows its age The Howland Public Library in Beacon is asking residents to weigh in on the future of its building, a beloved but aging former department store at 313 Main St. The library moved to Main Street in 1976, after outgrowing its original 1872 building, which became the Howland Cultural Center. But the library's director, Gillian Murphy, said at a charrette on March 25 that the 15,000-square-foot structure, built in 1949 as Fishman's department store, is badly in need of repair. The roof has been patched nearly a dozen times since Murphy was hired in 2023. The building lacks insulation, with haphazard heating and cooling systems struggling to keep patrons and staff comfortable. The brick exterior is crumbling, and the Main Street entrance is the only one that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Inside, there are no fire sprinklers and almost no natural lighting. The children's room is too small, Murphy said, and a nook by the entrance that functions as a teen space is hardly spacious. Upgrades have been made from time to time, including last year, when interior walls were painted to brighten the place and the circulation desk was moved. But there's never been a comprehensive capital project. "People have sought me out since the day I came here," said Murphy, who was director of the Butterfield Library in Cold Spring for 21 years, until 2021. "It was obvious that they didn't find this space friendly." She said the staff and nine-member library board agreed and decided to ask the community: "This is what we have — where do we go from here?" Several options are on the table, but as architect Paul Mays told the audience of about 75 people on March 25, "pencil has not been put to paper on anything." Mays, who worked on additions and major renovations to libraries in Kingston and Saugerties, walked the audience through the possibilities. The first option, repairs and maintenance, would be the least expensive and disruptive, although a new roof will cost at least $1 million, Murphy said. More involved renovations would add cost but provide more opportunities for energy efficiency. Even more costly would be demolition and new construction, which would require the library to move to a temporary location; renovations of a building at another site; or new construction at another site. Funding for a capital project would come from outside sources (e.g., state grants) and/or a public referendum. Voters in the Beacon City School District, which includes parts of Fishkill and the Town of Wappinger, vote on the library budget each year, but the annual spending plan only covers operating expenses. Voters rejected a capital proposal in 2005, then voted down the operating budget for the next three years, but Murphy believes the support will be there this time. "It's a totally different community than it was 20 years ago," she said, noting that the library last year hired two new staff members to manage increased usership. The March 25 charrette was the first in a series. Many people have already said the library should stay on Main Street, Murphy said. But other considerations — ample parking and green space — are virtually impossible in the current location. There's no timeline for a decision, Mays said. The community-led process "isn't the fastest, but it's a deliberate and, I think, thorough one." If the library were renovated, its footprint is deceptively large. It also owns 311 Main St., where its board meetings are held; 309 Main, where the Friends of the Howland Public Library operate Beacon Reads, a secondhand bookstore; and 307 Main, which needs work and is used for storage. Another back-of-building storage area could also be converted. "I don't think people realize what a big space we have," Murphy said. "There are so many possibilities." Mays asked community members to consider a few questions: What features and programs offered by the library are most important to ...

    5 min

  7. 6D AGO

    Food Program Ends Philipstown Stops

    Provider says federal government cut funding A program that provides free produce and other groceries to residents in Putnam and Westchester counties has stopped deliveries to three Philipstown locations, citing federal funding cuts. Until last month, Meals on Main Street stopped weekly at the Chestnut Ridge Apartments in Cold Spring, the Philipstown Friendship Center in Cold Spring and the Brookside Senior Citizen Co-op in Philipstown to distribute free food. Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County launched the program in May 2024 as part of a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. CCE paid Meals on Main Street, based in Port Chester, $250,000 annually to deliver the food and expand services in Westchester and Putnam. The balance went to regional farmers for the meat and produce and to CCE for administration costs. On a day in April 2025, the mobile pantry served about 110 people at its three Philipstown stops, offering milk, onions, potatoes, beets, carrots, kale, radishes, apples, baked goods and frozen salmon. Jon Haseltine, executive director of Meals on Main Street, said the federal funding for the program ended in August and was not renewed. "We tried to absorb the cuts and not pull the plug, and did for some time, but the cuts have been a challenge," he said. "In March, with discretionary funds exhausted, we made the business decision to pull back some of the mobile pantry truck routes," including in Philipstown, which is about 50 miles from Port Chester. "We're not happy about it," he said. "We pulled back to ensure our viability and to make ends meet." The program continues to serve Putnam County residents in Patterson, Carmel, Putnam Valley, Kent and Mahopac, as well as in Westchester County, the Bronx and Fairfield, Connecticut. Philipstown residents have visited other Putnam stops, according to Haseltine. Kiko Lattu, coordinator of the Philipstown Food Pantry, said that for many local seniors, especially those with mobility or transportation barriers, the mobile pantry "filled a critical gap by providing food 'shopping' near their homes. Its suspension is a meaningful loss in a community where food resources for older adults are already limited." In March, Lattu noted, the Philipstown Food Pantry, which is open on Saturday mornings, provided groceries for 679 people, including 181 seniors. A United Way report in May 2025 concluded that 38 percent of Cold Spring and Philipstown (10516) households and 35 percent of Garrison (10524) households struggle to afford even a "survival budget," including food. In Beacon, it calculated that 42 percent of households are living on the edge. Haseltine said the office of Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican whose district includes Philipstown, has been responsive to finding federal funds for the mobile pantry. Haseltine estimates it would require $75,000 to $100,000 annually to restore the Philipstown stops. "We've encouraged people to reach out to their local, state and federal representatives to voice their concerns and the need for the program," he said. "Every time a mobile pantry truck goes out, it carries up to 1,300 pounds of food, or the equivalent of about 1,000 meals. That's about 50,000 meals a year on just one route."

    4 min

  8. 6D AGO

    Together for the First Time

    Tom Messina Band to make debut It's not quite Bob Dylan plugging in at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, but the musical direction of Beacon resident Tom Messina, who will introduce his newly formed band at Industrial Arts Brewing Co. on Saturday (April 4), represents a more radical and rollicking turnabout. Messina will headline Selwyn's Day, three acts assembled by Selwyn Camper, director of operations at The Selwyn Sound Co., based in Newburgh. Camper started off selling vinyl records and DJing, but is branching into other ventures, including a record label and publishing company. He is also booking acts and foresees Saturday's gig as the first in an annual gathering "to create community around a mutual love for music and beer." Camper also hosts Monday vinyl nights at Industrial Arts, encouraging people to bring in their own discs for a spin. Messina moved to Beacon five years ago and is shedding his sonic skin. Past recordings leaned on acoustic guitar, understated bass and limited percussion. The song "Greyfox" exudes a breezy Brazilian groove, and after whistling a few bars, he follows with a chill nylon-string guitar solo. "Hallmark" is another laid-back track with an unplugged sound and folksy vocals, which is why the screaming electric-guitar riff and power chord that opens his latest single, "Nothing Left to Lose," hits like a gut punch. "I was a hired gun for years doing cover tunes," he says. "Now it's time to dial up the energy and explore my own sound." The new track channels punky '90s power pop. On the surface, it's a hook-filled rocker, but a peek under the hood reveals a complex structure and roller-coaster dynamics. The last 30 seconds morph into a metal-style breakdown, ending with an unexpected melodic guitar riff. "I'm getting back to my roots with the guitar-driven emo stuff that I first fell in love with," Messina says. "I like experimenting with forms of songs and adding harmonic complexity. I studied jazz, listened to the jam bands and played in a Frank Zappa cover band in college, so my influences are all over the place." "Nothing Left to Lose" began as an acoustic sketch 10 years ago and blossomed into an angst-ridden track with a big sound, achieved in part by recording the guitars multiple times and layering the takes. Stuttering stops and starts keep the listener interested and suggest that the band — with John Haring (drums), Joe Mulhaupt (bass) and Cold Spring native Dan Ruiz (guitar) — is developing a tight bond. When Messina began tossing out what he calls "throwaway lyrics" for new material, he called collaborator Justin Babbino and said, "I'm phoning in these lines, please help me." He sings about boiling blood, reaching a breaking point and the difficulties of growing old, which "ain't easy," given he's 28. Juxtaposing the edgy and energetic new single with the Dylanesque acoustic guitar and vocal sketch, "This Place Ain't What It Used to Be," signals how far his sound has veered over the years. The "place" in the older song is metaphoric, he says. "It might apply to my musical direction — or it could be about Beacon." Industrial Arts Brewing is located at 511 Fishkill Ave. in Beacon. The music begins at 7 p.m.; Waylen Roche and Justin Cole will also perform. Tickets are $15 at dub.sh/selwyn-day or at the door.

    4 min
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About

The Highlands Current is a nonprofit weekly newspaper and daily website that covers Beacon, Cold Spring, Garrison, Nelsonville and Philipstown, New York, in the Hudson Highlands. This podcast includes select stories read aloud.

Information

  • Creator
    Highlands Current
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit