March 21st, 2012
A brush blaze described as being "troublesome" blackened a 300 foot by 100 foot parcel of land in a section of Philipstown Saturday.
The fire was reported in a hilly terrain off Route 9 and was fought by fire crews from both the North Highlands and Cold Spring Fire Departments.
North Highlands FD Chief Pat Scherer said the location of the blaze made the firefighting operation difficult since flames broke out on a steep incline, necessitating crews to use portable Indian tanks carried on their backs as well as brooms to knock down the flames.
Firefighters also employed the use of Gator-off road vehicles in getting crews to the scene.
No injuries were reported.
The brush blaze was one of several reported throughout the county in recent days resulting from the unseasonably warm early spring weather and a lack of precipitation.
Fires were also reported in Kent, Putnam Valley, Putnam Lake, Brewster and Mahopac Falls.
Responders had already founght another brush fire earlier this month in Garrison near the river off of Indian Brook Road.
NEWS ARTICLE AND PICTURES FROM: Putnam County News and Recorder
February 8th, 2012
A head-on crash along Route 9 south of Route 301 last Thursday closed the artery for six hours while emergency responders worked to clean up a 100 gallon spill of diesel fuel.
The crash took place at 10:45 a.m. when a 1997 Chevy driven by Richard Turner, 48, of Cold Spring reportedly crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and plowed head on into an 18-wheeler operated by Milton Albarratin of Peekskill.
Putnam County Sheriff’s Department Captain William McNamara said the force of the collision crushed the front of the Chevrolet, pinning Turner inside. Firefighters from the North Highlands Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to extricate the victim who was taken by ambulance to a makeshift helicopter-landing pad at the intersection of Routes 9 and 301.
A State Police medivac chopper landed a short time later and transported Turner to the Westchester Medical Center where he was admitted, suffering from broken legs and a fractured pelvis. Police said the truck driver was unhurt.
McNamara said the truck’s saddle fuel tanks were ruptured by the force of the collision allowing the diesel to pour onto the highway necessitating the closing of the road in both directions.
Members of the Putnam County Hazardous Materials Team responded from Carmel to assist the North Highlands Fire Department and Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Also assisting were members of the New York State DEC Police, New York City DEP Police, Cold Spring Police and North Highlands and Cold Spring Fire Police.
NEWS ARTICLE AND PICTURES FROM: Putnam County News and Recorder
January 25th, 2012
“Lets make some pizzas!” echoes volunteer firefighter Armando Vivenzio as he sprinkles flour atop his brand new dough retarder, a standing countertop designed for prepping and storing freshly made pizza dough.
Vivenzio has been making delicious pizzas on and off for the past 35 years and now explicitly shares his tasty talent at the monthly pizza night hosted by the North Highlands Fire House. His daughter, Barbara, skates around the kitchen preparing all the extras for the evening: filling salt and pepper shakers, putting out napkins, and fielding incoming pizza orders.
Barbara points out the new pizza retarder and mixing machine they use to prepare for the night’s event. The fire department was able to purchase both pieces from the money raised from previous events.
Kristin VanTassel, secretary and treasurer to the Fire Department, proudly boasts that the best part of the night is the fact that “the dough is homemade; we’re making it all here.”
The tasty New York style pizza sells for $12 per pie and water and juice are available for an extra $1. The new pizza retarder has helped Vivenzio make dough in advance and prepare extra to sell. Individual dough can be purchased for just $5.
Volunteer firefighters have been putting on pizza night for families in the North Highlands area for the past year. Switching from Saturdays to Friday nights, VanTassel says that the department is “analyzing patterns” to increase pizza orders. With Lent and the upcoming Little League season beginning, Firehouse Friday Pizza Night might just take off.
Ice cream always follows a good meal, and pizza night at the firehouse is no exception. With an array of toppings to choose from – rainbow and chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips and marshmallows, just to name a few – kids can enjoy a tasty treat while watching a movie on the big screen projector.
On January 20th, despite the bitter cold and impending snowfall, hungry bellies picked up and dined on site from 4 to 8 p.m. Armando Vivenzio, the delicious dough and pizza maker, turned off his ovens in delight: the firehouse was officially sold out.
NEWS ARTICLE AND PICTURES FROM: Putnam County News and Recorder
December 28, 2011
A single car crash Thursday night claimed the life of a Fishkill man with ties to Cold Spring.
The Putnam Sheriff's Department identified the victim as Alex Amato, 32. Friends said Amato grew up in Cold Spring, and attended and graduated from Haldane.
According to Chief Investigator Gerald Schramek, Amato's 2005 Mazda was traveling eastbound along Fishkill Road at a high rate of speed at 10:30 pm when the driver lost control, veered off the roadway and slammed into a tree.
Amato, who was alone at the time, suffered massive trauma as a result of the impact and was pronounced dead at the scene by Putnam Coroner Dr. Michael Nesheiwat.
Assisting deputies and investigators from the Putnam Sheriff's Department were members of the North Highlands Fire Department, EMT's from the Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and a paramedic from the TransCare Ambulance Company.
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