Village of Brewster, NY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:         March 15, 2020

Contact:    Erin Pascaretti, Public Information Officer, 845-808-1390, x43262

COVID-19 MITIGATION IN PUTNAM

First Lab Confirmed Cases in Putnam, New Executive Orders

BREWSTER, NY— The Putnam County Department of Health (PCDOH) is confirming two positive cases of COVID-19 in Putnam County residents. The individuals have been quarantined at home and will continue to be monitored carefully. Contact tracing is underway and those that are found to have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case will be notified by the PCDOH and precautionary or mandatory quarantine will be established for each person. 

            “This is not an unexpected event, nor should it cause alarm,” County Executive, MaryEllen Odell, said. “We knew eventually a positive case would be confirmed. The Putnam County Department of Health’s communicable disease staff is working with state and local partners to identify all possible contacts.”

            Prior to lab-confirmation of positive COVID-19 cases in Putnam, the County Executive had taken major preventative action on Friday by declaring a State of Emergency and ordering all public schools closed for a five-day period. The news of positive cases in Putnam comes alongside additional emergency measures from the county.

            “I have signed three emergency orders to further protect the most vulnerable of our community,” adds the county executive. Effective midnight tonight, the emergency orders include the mandatory closing of daycare centers and nursery schools, prohibiting public gatherings or events of more than 20 people and prohibiting buffet style food. “The message we are sending is this— we strongly recommend proactive and extensive social distancing. You should only be leaving your homes when absolutely necessary.  All social events should be reconsidered and re-scheduled if at all possible. By slowing the spread of COVID-19, it can allow the healthcare system to be better prepared and have the available beds for the most ill.” 

“Up until now we have been monitoring dozens of possible exposures, both with and without symptoms,” Health Commissioner Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD, said. “We are working around the clock to ensure all measures are taken to mitigate, or slow the impact of this virus. Data suggest that 80% of people who contract the virus self-resolve and tend to have mild symptoms that eventually subside— but we practice social distancing for the 20% that will have serious complications, hospitalizations requiring intubation, or possibly death.”

In this evolving situation, vigilant personal hygiene and social distancing remain the best defenses. Individuals should remain at home if they have a fever or respiratory symptoms and contact their health care provider before going to the doctor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations include remaining at home until fever or respiratory symptoms have been resolved for a minimum of 24 hours.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• fever
• coughing
• shortness of breath

            Residents are reminded to call ahead to their doctor’s office, urgent-care facility or hospital, so they may take necessary precautions to prepare. If, however, you are in respiratory distress, call 9-1-1 and inform the dispatcher of your exposure risk. COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. 

            Testing for COVID-19 is occurring in Putnam County; tests are administered at the discretion of the attending physician following NYSDOH and CDC guidelines. 
Residents can protect themselves from COVID-19/coronavirus, flu and other droplet-spread viruses, with basic, common sense personal hygiene actions including: 

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose with unwashed hands.
• Do not share personal items such as water bottles.
• Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick. Remain home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (without taking fever-reducing medication) or signs of a fever (i.e., chills, feeling warm, flushed appearance).
• Cover your cough or sneeze into your elbow or with a tissue, then immediately discard the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For general questions about COVID-19 the New York State Department of Health has established a hotline: 1-888-364-3065. For local information, follow the department of health on social media or visit the county website. If you think you may be a direct contact of a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19, please call the PCDOH at 845-808-1390.

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community, composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit our County website at www.putnamcountyny.com; or visit our social media sites on Facebook at www.facebook.com/putnamhealthNY and Twitter @PutnamHealthNY.

Erin Ray Pascaretti, MPH, RDN

Epidemiologist/Supervising Public Health Educator/PIO

Putnam County Department of Health

1 Geneva Road, Brewster, NY 10509

Tel: (845) 808-1390, ext. 43262

Fax: (845) 808-1336

www.putnamcountyny.com/health

–A PHAB-Accredited Health Department–

As businesses are slowly starting to be able to open their doors again, the Village of Brewster would like to extend a thank you to all of the businesses who were considered essential and were asked to stay open during this time. The Board of Trustees is asking the public to nominate businesses in the Village who have supported their community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. These businesses may have donated food to those in need or were complying with social distancing rules and staying open to serve the public. We will be honoring these businesses at the July 15th Board of Trustee meeting with proclamations, and posting the list on our website. Please contact the Village Clerk, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the Village office, 845-279-3760 with the name of the business you'd like to nominate.

The following businesses have been recognized:

Kobacker's Market

Country Kitchen

Pizza Place

Bob's Diner

The Brewster Shipping Center

Suburban Carting

Tom & Jerry's

Moonlight Cafe

Brewster Public Library

Brewster HamletHub

Don's Automotive and Towing Inc.

Brewster Service Station

Wine On The Way

April 1, 2020 is Census Day. The Census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. The United States has been conducting the Census every ten years since 1790. Data from the Census will be used for the next ten years for many things - including determining New York State’s representation in Congress as well as local districting. Your responses determine where over $675 billion is distributed each year to communities nationwide for clinics, schools, roads, and more. Census data gives community leaders vital information to make decisions about building community centers, opening businesses, and planning for the future. Responding also fulfills your civic duty because it’s mandated by the U.S. Constitution. The United States has counted its population every 10 years since 1790. Your responses are used to redraw legislative districts and determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Census Bureau estimates that every person not counted equals a loss of approximately $2,500 per year to local municipalities. This means that every 400 people who are not counted equates to a loss of about $1 Million in funding - each year to our community.

We need to get everyone living in Putnam counted.

Attention Residents and Commuters:

The Carmel Avenue Bridge will have work being performed close to train tracks on or about December 17th. To facilitate this, the work will be done at night, the contractor expects that there will be no impact to traffic. However, light towers would be used to illuminate the work area but should not affect the nearby residences, and we expect this work to last only one night.

If you have any concerns about this project, please call the Village Offices.

Suburban Carting 2020 Calendar

Click image to enlarge

Dated: 12/04/2018

Congratulations Mary Bryde and Tom Boissonnault on your reelection. Christine, Mary, Tom and George; it goes without saying how dedicated you are!
Thank you,
Jim Schoenig

2019 Changes for Refuse Rules & Regulations

New 2019 Trash/Recycle/Bulk Pickup Calendar with Holidays

Recycling at a Glance in English y Espanol:

These Recycling Guidelines were put in place as of 2019 and will remain going forward. 

Click image to enlarge

Click here for the 2019 Annual Water Quality Report Online - 2019 Annual Water Quality Report

Complaint form for reporting shabby conditions on village properties including suspected overcrowding, dangerous conditions, or other flagrant code violations.

September 23, 2020

Attention all refuse users in the Village of Brewster:

In 2017, the Village of Brewster began its contract with Suburban Carting to collect garbage and recycling twice a week and do a bulk pick up twice a year. The Village Board of Trustees signed the contract with the option to extend the refuse rate per unit through 2020, and agreed to an increase in the rate per unit in 2021.

On August 19, 2020, the Village of Brewster Board of Trustees notified Suburban Carting that the Village of Brewster would like to extend the contract until the end of 2021 at the increase proposed on the contract, which is $0.75 per unit.

On September 16, 2020, the Village of Brewster Board of Trustees discussed the increase of the refuse bill to cover the increase stated in the Suburban Carting contract and the increases in overhead involved when sending out a refuse bill. The following increases were approved by the Board of Trustees:

                                                                    2020                                                       2021

Refuse bill paid yearly in March:               $290.00 per unit                              $300.00 per unit

Refuse bill paid using monthly option:    $25.00 per unit per month             $26.00 per unit per month

These new rates will go into effect on January 1, 2021. Please note that the Village of Brewster requests bids from multiple carting companies and selects the bid that is the most cost-effective choice for the Village residents. This contract expires at the end of 2021; the Village of Brewster will be going out to bid for the carting contract again and will follow the same procedure.

If you would like to switch to the monthly billing program, you must contact the Village Clerk at 845-279-3760 or via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please include your name, your residential address and a telephone number. Please contact the Village Office if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation,

Michelle Chiudina

Village Clerk & Treasurer