PUTNAM COUNTY PRESS/TIMES
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2026
Feighery to Lead Putnam St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Letters to the Editor
Thomas Feighery has been named grand marshal of the 49th annual Northern Westchester-Put- nam St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which is scheduled Sunday, March 8 (rain or shine) along Route 6 in Mahopac. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. Feighery was born Oct. 12, 1966, in Long Beach, to Tom and Nancy Feighery. In 1971, his parents moved the family to his mother’s native Country Offaly, where they spent the next eight years raising him and his eight siblings. They moved back to the U.S. in 1979 and settled in Carmel, where Tommy has spent the rest of his life attending school, mak - ing lifelong friends, rooting for the long-suffering Buffalo Bills, working, building a business, and raising his own family. As a teenager, he started play- ing for the West-Put Gaels, begin- ning a decades-long relationship with the club as a player, supporter, coach and manager. He played for the team that won the New York U-18 Minor Championship in 1984, and remembers all his West-Put coaches and teammates with great fondness. Tommy has more than 30 years of experience in building and management of commercial, residential, and tunnel construc-
He also contributed to budget planning, was an integral member of the administration team han- dling union contracts, and directed the renovation of buildings at Tilly Foster Farm and the completion of the Putnam County Golf Course renovation. In 2023, Tommy was appoint - ed commissioner of the county’s Department of Public Works. For more than 30 years, Tom- my owned and operated Fiddler’s Green Pub in Carmel, a gathering place for many – particularly those of Irish descent who regularly stopped in to share a story or pint with friends and watch some Gael- ic games. Tommy is a member of the Knights of Columbus and has served on its board. He is also a volunteer for the Fraternal Order of Police, Stephen P. Driscoll Lodge 704. Along with serving as a coach for various West-Put Se- tanta teams throughout the years, he has also volunteered as a CYO basketball coach and was a coach for the Harvey School rugby and basketball teams. Tommy and his wife, Melissa, currently reside in Pawling and are parents to Sara (Pat), Danny (Tay- lor), Aisling, Caity, and Packie, and grandparents to Frankie and AJ.
An Open Letter to Rep. Lawler As we are in the second year of President Trump turning our democratic country into an au- tocratic one, I wonder if you and your Republican colleagues plan on working for all of your constituents this year and not just those who hold the party line. Will you stand up to President Trump, Mike Johnson, and your Repub - lican colleagues for what is right and just, or continue to side with Trump’s one-sided, prejudiced, billionaire-class version of reality? The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of In - dependence has never been more important than now. As Donald Trump, along with his henchmen including members of the DOJ, continue to use unchecked pow - er that you have allowed, your constituents and those around our country are rising up and express - ing their constitutional rights as they were meant by our founding fathers for all Americans. In looking at some of the ideals in the Declaration, I wonder how well you can truly answer these questions without deflection: 1. Will you fight to preserve that all men (women, and children) are created equal under the law? Your track record with this is not good. You voted to repeal the ACA with the Big Ugly Bill, became part of a temper-tantrum shutdown, and were unable to sway your party for an extension. How many years do Republicans need to come up with a plan? It’s obvious that 12-plus years is clearly not enough time. Healthcare should be a right for all, not a privilege. 2. Will you fight for every - one’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? The current path to citizen- ship may have its flaws, but I have yet to see any Republican ideas other than Trump’s radical ICE raids, captures, and murders to
fix the issues within the system. Instead you’ve not only supported destroying the whole process, but have forgotten our history on how native and foreign-born peoples are the backbone to this country by building our railroad and highway systems, skyscrapers, national monuments, and protecting our country during times of war. And dare I even mention your close-mindedness, ignorance, and support of the destruction of DEI, educational, and individual rights of your constituents? 3. Will you continue to sup- port destructive government or abolish it as is the right of the people? Since January 2025, you and the Republican Party has: en- couraged, endorsed, and allowed Trump to pull funding away from national broadcasting, thus trying to control the media as well as limit the access of knowledge to underserved communities; sup - ported the invasion and destruction of countries who need and previ- ously had our support as allies, and denied humanitarian aid as they seek a more democratic way of life; and allowed the destruction of our natural world by support- ing the repeal of environmental protections for clean air, water, energy, and the conservation of our natural resources and habitats. As you think about resolu - tions for 2026 and the missed opportunities to make America a better, stronger country, think about how America broke away from the “establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states” back in 1776. Going back to tyranny is not an option. It’s time for you, your Republican colleagues, and the one-sided DOJ to get to work for all of us. Personally, I don’t have hope for you or your party – even when you have made small attempts of support. It’s too little, too late. Trish Zamperlin Putnam Valley
Thomas Feighery.
tion. He began his career in 1986 for Local 18A in New York City, then moved on to spend five years with Local 30 Operating Engineers before joining the NYC Sandhogs Local 147. In recent years, Tommy has worked for Putnam County, begin - ning as a project manager in 2018, overseeing various construction projects and managing external contractors. He was named deputy county executive in 2020 and over the next two years spearheaded the county’s COVID response, setting up testing and vaccine clinics and helping local businesses navigate the pandemic.
Learn About Veterans’ Benefits at Town Hall Event
The Joseph P. Dwyer Vet2Vet Program of Putnam County will host this year’s Veterans’ Benefits Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 29 from 4 to 6:45 p.m., at Mahopac Public Library. The event is designed to help veterans, service members, and their families better understand and access the benefits they have earned. It will bring together local, county, and state advo- cates to provide clear, practical information focused on financial well-being, housing, and long- term stability. Topics and presentations will focus on: VA home loans and homeownership tools, including guidance on avoiding predatory lending, understanding buyer-bro- ker agreements, and maximizing benefits such as fee waivers and property tax reductions; proper - ty tax savings and exemptions with updates on state and local exemption laws and step-by-step application guidance; and Putnam County real estate market insights for buyers and sellers. Presentations will also focus on veterans’ benefits, claims, and compensation, including eligibili- ty, enrollment, education benefits for veterans and dependents, and county benefits that supplement VA programs, as well as state legislation affecting veterans and families. The event is open to all veter- ans, active-duty service members, guard and reserve members, and their families. Seating is limited and advance registration is re- quired. For information, contact dwyerputnam@guardianrevival. org. All who register will receive a recap of the meeting by email following the event.
The Putnam County TIMES is available at the following locations
Hike the Gordon Douglas Reserve
EVERY WEEK, and prints the OFFICIAL NOTICES for PUTNAM COUNTY, the towns of CARMEL, PATTERSON, SOUTHEAST, KENT AND BREWSTER VILLAGE
Friends of the Great Swamp will host a hike at the Gordon Douglas Reserve-West on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 9:30 a.m. Park in the lot at the Metro-North Appalachian Trail station, just south of Native Landscaping on Route 22 in Pawling. This challenging, 4.5-mile hike will take about three hours to complete. It will be a strenuous hike on steep slopes and around boulders, intended for experi - enced hikers. Participants will cross the boardwalk and depart the Appala - chian Trail to hike along the west side of the Swamp River. They will explore rocky cliffs and pass a large glacial erratic while hiking many types of terrain including a 30 percent incline to the top of the mountain for a spectacular view of the Gordon Douglas Reserve. FrOGS will also host a hike at Gordon Douglas Nature Re- serve-East on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 9:30 a.m., at 1143 Route 22,
Pawling. Park in the vacant lot. This is an easy, 1.5-mile hike with amazing views of the Great Swamp and an opportunity to do some winter birding in a private reserve. Bring your binoculars and cameras. Dress for the weather and wear good hiking shoes/boots, as a significant portion of the hikes will be off-trail. Since trails could be icy, slip-on ice-traction cleats and hiking poles are rec - ommended. Bring snacks and plenty of fluids, and practice good tick-bite prevention if temperatures are above freezing. No dogs are allowed on the hikes. Arrive prior to the 9:30 a.m., start time to allow for registration. Email Ken Luhman at frog - spaddle22@gmail.com if you plan to attend. There is a suggested $5 donation that can be made at https://friends-of-the-great- swamp.square.site.
MAHOPAC Red Mills Market Carmel Town Hall Stop & Shop Supermarket Mahopac Library Olympic Diner
BREWSTER Brewster Library Southeast Town Hall Kobacker’s Supermarket Buy Rite Liquors Brewster Village Office DeCicco’s Supermarket CARMEL Shoprite Supermarket County Office Building TOPS Supermarket Sheriffs Office Reed Memorial Library KENT Kent Town Hall Deli Land - 508 Rte. 52 Kent Library Kent Liquors - 1078 Rte. 52 Lake Carmel Pharmacy
PATTERSON Patterson Library Putnam Diner Patterson Town Hall Route 311 Deli Putnam Lake Market Putnam Lake Pizza Patterson ACME
PHILIPSTOWN Nelsonville Town Hall Foodtown Supermarket
PUTNAM VALLEY Putnam Valley Town Hall
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