Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

The Highlands Current

@highlandscurrent.bsky.social

4.2K followers 270 following 1.5K posts

The Current is a nonprofit weekly newspaper and website that covers Beacon and Philipstown (Cold Spring, Nelsonville, Garrison, North Highlands and Continental Village) in New York's Hudson Highlands.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 2h

The Putnam County Legislature voted on Tuesday (Oct. 7) to extend for one year an exemption from sales taxes on clothing and shoes costing less than $110, approved a contribution to Hudson Valley Shakespeare and recognized the late Sheriff Kevin McConville. buff.ly/KddNzMc

Putnam Extends Sales Tax Exemption

Also approves Shakespeare funding, vape proceeds

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 11h

Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou on Monday (Oct. 6) introduced a $37.5 million budget proposal for 2026 while the City Council approved a three-year contract with police officers and a request to have the city assume ownership of the University Settlement property. buff.ly/EDtXGKo

Beacon Unveils $37.5M Budget

Council also approves police contract

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 1d

Philipstown Obituaries. Barbara Banker, John Egger, Thomas Plimley buff.ly/1eoO6XN

Philipstown Obituaries

Barbara Banker, John Egger, Thomas Plimley

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 1d

Beacon Obituaries. Carmen Arce, Glory Auffant-Martin, Ginger Ringdahl buff.ly/4pUC7s4

Beacon Obituaries

Carmen Arce, Glory Auffant-Martin, Ginger Ringdahl

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 1d

Cold Spring is moving forward with some proposed parking changes but abandoned others after residents raised concerns during a public hearing held Wednesday (Oct. 8) during the Village Board’s monthly meeting. buff.ly/d5JtGrF

Cold Spring Plans Parking, Traffic Changes

Village receives 13-acre land donation

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 1d

Take a break with our weekly collection of number games and puzzles: buff.ly/bcoMNIL

Week of Oct. 10

Our weekly collection of number games and puzzles

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 1d

The Haldane Blue Devils marked the return of quarterback David Powlis with a 27-24 victory over the Hendrick Hudson Sailors on Oct. 3. They're now 4-1 and will take on Rye Neck today (Saturday Oct. 11). buff.ly/3qOH9Lr

Varsity Roundup: Haldane

The latest in football, volleyball, tennis and soccer

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 1d

Beacon picked up two key wins this week, first defeating Chapel Field, 3-1 (18-25, 25-12, 25-17, 25-12), on Monday (Oct. 6). Beacon would then sweep Liberty, 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 22-15), on Wednesday. buff.ly/PIYa3kb

Varsity Roundup: Beacon

The latest in football, soccer, volleyball, tennis and swimming

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 2d

The City of Beacon and an anti-hunger organization headquartered in Fishkill are at odds after the city removed the nonprofit agency’s two community refrigerators.

buff.ly/9EpKPW0

Community Fridges Spark Clash

Beacon orders removal from two locations

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 2d

Cannabis sales in Beacon generated $25,000 in tax revenue for the city during the first five months of this year and more than $100,000 for Dutchess County and two of its other municipalities. buff.ly/YQ1dRhR

Cannabis Taxes Begin Flowing

Beacon collects 3 percent on all sales

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 2d

A city-wide yard sale, cemetery tours in Cold Spring , a fundraiser for breast cancer research at BJ’s Restaurant, and more coming up in the week ahead. buff.ly/ti0dUYq

Calendar highlights from Oct. 11 to 19

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 2d

Every so often, we visit the Animal Rescue Foundation shelter in Beacon to meet a dog or cat available for adoption. This week we met Jimmy. buff.ly/q6O13oi

Wag of the Week: Jimmy

Friendly and mellow young cat

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 3d

SPONSORED Garrison Foundry founder Annie Mennes caught the architecture bug from her woodworker grandfather, whose handmade dollhouse was her favorite toy. Her journey proves that sometimes the biggest visions start small! #GarrisonFoundry #HudsonValleyDesign #ArchitectureLife buff.ly/4hfDCqC

Garrison Foundry Architecture and Design

Going from miniature to full scale

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 3d

SPONSORED Kimberly Sevilla decided that she wanted a business that she could shape and call her own, without fear of outsourcing. “You can’t outsource trades to China,” she notes. She's now the founder of the Philipstown-based HVAC company, Shelter Air. buff.ly/fsl2RQA

Kimberly Sevilla is founder of an HVAC company

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 3d

SPONSORED The tagline for Dain’s Lumber might not say it all, but it says a lot: “Same family. Same location. Since 1848.” buff.ly/4uGeAWc

Dain’s Lumber

Six generations and counting

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 4d

SPONSORED Check out our special Highlands House and Home section for profiles of Dain's Lumber, Garrison Foundry, River Architects and Shelter Air! buff.ly/s3HP1Xt

Highlands House and Home

Read our profiles of Dain's Lumber, Garrison Foundry, River Architects and Shelter Air

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 4d

Philipstown’s Town Board received draft regulations for short-term rentals such as Airbnb and Vrbo that require annual permits, along with a ban on parties, limits on stays and requirements for off-site parking. buff.ly/1Ykc262

Philipstown Drafts Short-Term Rental Regs

Would require permits, ban parties

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 4d

Heather Christian, a Beacon-based composer, playwright and vocalist, is among 22 people named as 2025 MacArthur fellows, the organization announced Wednesday (Oct. 8). The awards provide $800,000, paid out in quarterly installments over five years, with no strings attached.

Beacon Composer Wins MacArthur Grant

Will receive $800,000 over five years

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 5d

Here is how New York’s two senators voted on select issues during the legislative week ending Oct. 3, buff.ly/jdJesd3

How They Voted (Congress)

Select votes by our Senate members through Oct. 3

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 5d

The Cold Spring Board of Trustees will hold public hearing at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 8) to hear feedback on proposed changes to two chapters of the Village Code. buff.ly/LTyT0ZC

Cold Spring to Hold Public Hearing

Proposals would change parking restrictions

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 5d

SPONSORED From the hustle of New York City to the heart of Cold Spring—meet the principals of River Architects, Juhee Lee-Hartford and James Hartford! #RiverArchitects #ColdSpringNY #HudsonValleyDesign #MeetTheArchitects #SustainableDesign #ArchitectureFirm #DesignDuo buff.ly/sAXw6te

River Architects in Cold Spring

Two architects unite at home and work

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 5d

Beacon Obituaries. Michael Coles, Anna Fredericks, Cleo McKinney, Shontalea Nimmons, Joe Osterhoudt buff.ly/xwmY18Y

Beacon Obituaries

Michael Coles, Anna Fredericks, Cleo McKinney, Shontalea Nimmons, Joe Osterhoudt

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 5d

Haldane Inducts Eight into Athletic Hall of Fame. Players, coaches and teams recognized at ceremony buff.ly/QpJUDJO

Haldane Inducts Eight into Athletic Hall of Fame

Players, coaches and teams recognized at ceremony

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 5d

Around Town (Photos). Lions gather, Land Trust party buff.ly/vBHiyl6

Around Town (Photos)

Lions gather, Land Trust party

The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 6d

State Declares Burn Ban. Continues through Oct. 15 buff.ly/SDePCtu

State Declares Burn Ban

Continues through Oct. 15