PV News Briefs
• The first results of the Putnam Valley Library's strategic planning process are coming into view. Its newly renovated community room is now open for business, enabling it to offer a more conducive setting for local groups to hold meetings. And it has just launched the first of what it hopes will become a robust bilingual program by offering storytime reading sessions in English and Spanish for children ages 2 to 5 on Mondays at 3:30pm.
• The town's school district is getting some love from national educational experts for its longterm investments in clean energy. An article in the Hechinger Report and a nonprofit's report note that the middle school's geothermal heating and cooling has already saved the district about $1.5 million. Dave Spittal, the district's director of operations, projects that over 20 years, the savings for all three buildings from lower oil and electricity use will amount to $18 million. By 2028, the district is expected to become the first in the nation to be oil-free. Spittal will present the district's energy strategy at the library on April 23rd at 6:30pm.
• The town's Planning Board has a full agenda for its March 30th meeting at 6pm. Public hearings will be held for the first two applicants seeking permission to use their homes for short-term rentals. And several businesses with controversial proposals are offering more information to the board about their desired plans, more details of which can be found on the Planning Board's web page. Citywide Auto (using its formal name, Peekskill Hollow Preserve) is presenting more information about its previously expressed interest in building a large garage on the edge of Peekskill Hollow Road. The YMCA's Camp Combe is presenting a revised version of its interest in expanding its facility. And the Rabbinical Society of America is presenting new plans to develop a cemetery on Barger Street. While these three presentations are not part of a public hearing, the public is welcome to observe them in person or via livestream.
• Stay alert, bear hibernation season is over!
If you're not already a subscriber but would like to receive future stories, please click on the subscribe button at watchingputnamvalley.com and provide your email address. If you have ideas for future stories or want to provide feedback, please send an email to watchingputnamvalley@gmail.com.