Late Night Shopping in Cold Spring

Keep Main Street Alive, Shop Locally

The following merchants will stay open until 8:00 p.m. on December 3rd, 10th, and 17th. In addition, these stores will offer a 10% discount on non-sale items:

Archipelago
Back in Ireland
Bijou
Chicadee Galleries
Cold Spring Train Works
The Country Goose
The Country Touch
Cup-o-Ccino
Decades
Hudson Valley Outfitters
Indigo Chic
Momminia
Payning by Caryn
Reflections on the Hudson
Reigning Dogs & Cats
Womens Work

This event is sponsored by the Cold Spring Merchants Association.

Visit ColdSpringOnHudson.com

It's Time Hudson Valley Companies Recruit, Retain & Inspire Higher Quality Employees

Featuring Guest Blogger, Skip Weisman of Weisman Success Resources

Three key issues face Hudson Valley businesses as the economy begins to improve in 2010, according to Skip Weisman of Weisman Success Resources, Inc., a Poughkeepsie based business consultant and coach. Those areas include, 1) retention of key employees, 2) recruitment of higher quality employees, and 3) making sure each is happy, secure and in the right positions to provide maximum value to the company.

For those reasons, I am pleased to announce an international affiliation with Human Potential Global, Ltd. (www.humanpotentialglobal.com ), the fastest growing facilitator of the Harrison Assessments on the continent of Asia.

Harrison Assessments are recognized internationally as the premier tool in the recruitment and interview process, including managing the performance of existing employees and facilitating teamwork.

If you look at professional sports teams, they excel in personnel and performance management. They do it with a systematic and statistical approach that provides quantifiable results. Most companies, regardless of the strength of their human resources departments, do it with the hunch and hope approach. It’s time to get into the 21st Century, and Harrison Assessments will help my clients do that.

In recognition of this international affiliation, I've just released a White Paper Report on the “6 Keys to Creating, Managing & Maintaining a High Performing Business Team that Gets Champion Level Results.” Any business leader that would like a copy of my latest White Paper should call 845-463-3838 or visit http://tinyurl.com/6keystohighperfchampteamorder.

For more information on Weisman Success Resources, call me at 845-463-3838 or visit www.WeismanSuccessResources.com.

Don't Vote

Whatever you do on November 3rd, don’t vote.

Because if you don’t vote, Don Smith will continue to rule.

And that’s just what he wants.

If you don’t vote, we'll have the same sheriff we’ve had for 8 years.

On November 1, 2009, Lohud.com, the online component of The Journal News, reported Don Smith’s failures as sheriff, “Among the controversies is the May 2006 jail suicide of a Putnam Valley man whose family later sued the county, a case that was recently settled. There’s also Deputy Barbara Dunn, who was indicted last month on multiple charges of grand larceny, perjury and official misconduct, in part, to her investigating crimes against animals while serving as president of the Putnam Humane Society.”

“And there’s the case of a Putnam Valley Middle School student who claimed she was sexually assaulted in 2001 by a male teacher, although the crime wasn’t reported to police until 2003. A state agency found that sheriff’s investigators, the District Attorney’s Office and school officials botched the case. The teacher was never charged and was allowed to resign.”


There’s another choice. You have an opportunity this year to vote for a leader who will be accountable to the voters. You can vote for a new Putnam County Sheriff, Kevin McConville.

Lohud.com: “So many people identify with us and what we want to do,” McConville said. “I’ve met with hundreds of people who are not happy with the current administration and want change.”

“A law enforcement organization should be about professionalism and accountability,” McConville said. “That’s what I intend to bring the people of Putnam County.”

So, don’t vote if you want Don Smith to continue ruining Putnam County.

Or, vote for a new Democratic leader and change.

Why Did Smith Fail to Win a Majority Vote from His Party?

In the Republic primary for Sheriff on September 15, Don Smith failed to win a majority of his own party - receiving only 47.8% of the vote. That's surprising for an incumbent who has been in office almost eight years. Obviously, the people who know Smith best wanted another candidate.

There are a lot of reasons for Smith's failure:

Poor Law Enforcement

• New York State Criminal Justice reports Putnam crime is up 34% in last three years
• Alcohol-involved accidents up 163%, total auto accidents increased 67%

Ineffective Training

• Condemned by NYS Commission of Investigation for failure to properly handle teen rape case
• Did not properly train in use of force: Deputies injured and hospitalized a woman
• Injured woman sued: lawsuit settled in her favor, damages to be paid by taxpayers

Violations

• Sheriff violated Putnam ethics code, let Deputy Dunn head Putnam Humane Society
• Smith allowed Dunn to make TV ad in uniform, an ethics code violation

Lawsuits Naming Smith

• Karen Meltz excessive force lawsuit settled out-of-court; taxpayers pay
• Sinkov suicide lawsuit settles, Smith held partly responsible for suicide
• Nelson lawsuit charges illegal search and seizure; in preliminary stages

Malfeasance

• Failure to act on findings by NYS Commission of Correction to prevent additional suicides in jail led to Sinkov suicide
• Accepted $1,000 campaign donation from jail medical provider, Americor, 10 weeks after Sinkov suicide
• Americor found 35% at fault in Sinkov suicide, supported Smith
• Smith failed to update policy and procedure manual during eight years in office
• Did not control overtime in jail, taxpayers will pay

Why is Kevin McConville the right choice for Putnam County Sheriff? Because he has a five-point program for crime fighting and prevention:

1. Instilling core values
2. Promoting safety
3. Ensuring safety
4. Training, education and mentoring
5. Enforcing the law equitably
   

Putnam’s Largest Labor Union Endorses David Wilson for Carmel Town Supervisor

The Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body -- Putnam’s largest labor union organization -- has endorsed David Wilson, Democratic candidate for the Carmel Town Supervisor.

The Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body represents 100,000 working men and women. Its affiliated unions represent teachers, firefighters, communication workers, electrical workers, nurses, painters, Civil Service Employees and Service Employees.

A journalist with over 30 years of experience, Wilson operates his own business in Mahopac and he has reported on municipal government for The Journal News, The New York Times and The Boston Globe. He currently writes for university magazines around the country and is a regular contributor to the Harvard Education Letter.

Wilson, president of the 1,300-member Westchester Cycle Club since 2005, is co-founder of the Westchester Putnam Bike Walk Alliance. He’s active in the Mahopac Sports Association and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Brewster. The father of two boys, Wilson lives in Mahopac.

“I’ve been in the trenches, writing about municipal government for 30 years,” said Wilson. “I know how government works and I know how to ask the right questions to fight for solutions to the tough issues that face our town.”

Wilson has also been endorsed by the Independence Party and the Working Families Party. For additional details, visit www.WilsonForCarmel.com.

Expensive Search for “Lost” Teenager Resulted from Lack of Training and Oversight Says Sheriff Candidate McConville

Cold Spring, NY, August 24, 2009 – Another case of incompetence in the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department recently involved a “lost” teenager who was actually locked up in the County jail. “This latest problem is another sad example of why we need professional, experienced and proven leadership in that law enforcement agency,” stated Democratic candidate for sheriff, Kevin McConville.

The current leadership of the Department approved a costly and unnecessary search by more than 100 volunteers, professionals, cars and a helicopter -- all at taxpayer expense. And all was wasted because the “lost” teenager was in the county jail.

What is the solution? Professionals believe that proper training and continuing oversight of law enforcement policies and practices are absolutely essential. First, though, it is essential to have a department sheriff who has experienced all the various stages of policing, from being a cop on the beat to chief of a large police agency.

“I’m running for sheriff with the commitment that effective training will be required for all deputies, and that oversight will be thoroughly planned and applied,” Kevin McConville stated. “We should never be in the position of not knowing who our detainees are and what their needs may be.”

There are specified procedures that should be followed when a defendant is remanded to the custody of the Putnam County Correctional Facility. First, appropriate screening procedures must be followed. New York State’s Commission on Corrections (SCOC) mandates a screening process, called a risk/medical assessment.

Such an assessment probably would have determined that the individual is developmentally challenged, which would require an examination by a medical professional. Thus, the needless costly search would have been stopped. The parents could have been notified and helpful in his treatment.

“If you choose to elect me as your sheriff, I commit to you that effective training will be a regular, continuing procedure,” said McConville. “Why do I believe this can be achieved in Putnam within the current budget?” McConville asked rhetorically. “Because, before I retired in January, I did these things routinely as Chief of the MTA Police Department, which has a staff of 768. And we can do them in Putnam County; all we need is a professional in the top job. I am confident I can handle that job, because as I have stated to everyone, ‘Bottom line, I’m a cop.’

“Maybe that’s why I’ve been endorsed over the incumbent by the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police…and also unanimously endorsed over the incumbent by the AFL-CIO Central Labor Body of Westchester and Putnam Counties.”

McConville concluded, “Together, we can build a ‘Safe and Secure Putnam.’”

For more information on Kevin McConville’s candidacy, visit www.kevinmcconville.com.

About Kevin McConville
Kevin McConville has 29 years of experience in law enforcement. He moved through the ranks rising from police officer to detective to captain and was appointed Chief of the MTA Police in 2005. McConville has served on the board of governors of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police and is active as a retired chief. He holds a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters degree in Public Administration from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Kevin is a lifelong resident of Putnam County and resides with his family in Cold Spring, NY.

The Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce Cruise

Last Friday the Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce had their annual Chamber Cruise. The following pictures provide an exclusive snapshot into the night.



A few chamber pirates ready to take on the seas.


The scenic Hudson River. We are SO lucky to live here.


Rick and Debbie getting their groove on.


Beautiful Debbie with a beautiful backdrop


Putnam County Sheriff Candidate Kevin McConville and his Wife

Musica Maestro!

Summer Sunday Sunset Music Series at the Bandstand - Free for the Community and Visitors

Get your jam on with Cold Spring's own mini Music Festival. It's not quiet Bonnaroo or Coachella, but it's still gonna be pretty cool. Below has all the information you need...

Location: At the foot of Main Street & the Hudson River, at the beautiful riverfront park in Cold Spring, NY.

Time: 5:30 PM

July 5: Wendy Martin/Gwen Laster
Jazz Vocalist-Blues-country/Global Jazz

July 12: Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams
Folk-Rock

July 19: Tiki Daddy/Uncle Wade
Hawaiian-inspired Music/Americana

July 26: Natalie Amendola/Kathleen Pemble
Jazz Fusion/Alt-Indie-Acoustic

August 2: Andy Stack/Dar Williams
Pop/Folk Pop

August 9: Victor Jones Trio
Jazz

August 23: Slippery Chicken/Buddy Traina Band
Rockabilly/Rock & Blues

August 30: Jonathan Kruk/Annie and the Natural Wonder Band
Storyteller/Interactive songs and dances about animals

September 6: M Shanghai String Band
Americana


ohhhh, I wanna dance with somebody!

Tall Ships in Cold Spring

Sunday I went to the Tall Ships event in Cold Spring, New York. This event was organized for the quadricentennial celebration of the State of New York. With no idea what to expect it turned out to be an awesome day. Many families were having picnics along the shores of the Hudson River awaiting the tall ships to come through. There were local bands playing and people selling locally produced wines and other stuff. I started with a Mojito Popsicle which was just the thing I needed for this hot and sunny day. After this delightful treat I went over to the wine booth where I sampled different wines produced in the Hudson Valley. At first I was very reluctant trying these wines as I am mostly used to European wines, and I must confess the wines I tried were very good but I wouldn’t say excellent. Then I realized it was already 4.00 ‘o’clock and the ships could get in any moment. So as everybody else I went to the waterfront and within the next few minutes I saw the first signs of the Half Moon. There were several boats including the half moon, Clearwater and many other prestigious ships. Bands such as Painted Betty, the Buddy Traina Band and Purple Knif continued playing until eight ‘o’clock and I absolutely loved it. For me this was a very relaxing day with a great atmosphere. This event sets high expectations for the music series in Cold Spring this summer and I really hope it will have the same relaxing atmosphere as today, but knowing Debbie Darman (the woman in the floral dress) the corporate responsibilities officer of MKT Works who planned and organized this event. I know the organization is in good hands.