Putnam is a Sweet Spot for “Staycationers”| Park Ford Knows how to SHIFT – Mike Bucci Interviews Nick D’Andrea | REGISTER Anti-Racism Educational Series – How to be an Inclusive Leader | Mask Up America Campaign

We’ve been talking a lot about COVID fallout in recent weeks. Obviously, it’s all we can think about because it’s everywhere and affecting virtually everything. This week, I’m putting the focus on opportunity. Now that we are solidly maintaining our Phase 4 status, and New York City is set to move into Phase 4 on Monday, pent up demand for some short-distance adventure and fresh air will be on many family agendas.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association reports that 81% of Americans expect to take a day trip and 72% expect to take an overnight vacation via car before the end of the year. This is great news for Putnam County. According to Tourism Director Tracy Walsh, Putnam is in a sweet spot to accommodate NYC and Westchester daytrippers and residents alike. “With plenty of hiking, biking, golf, tennis and stunning natural beauty, our home county offers the kinds of activities that people everywhere now crave: safe, responsible, outdoor fun. Putnam is a great spot for residents to “staycation” or just relax by the Hudson River or one of our many pristine lakes. There’s a ton of opportunity to put stimulus money back into our economy by dining at local restaurants, shopping in your neighborhood stores and supporting our Main Street businesses.”

Visitors can start at the county’s tourism website at visitputnam.org. If you need some inspiration, here are some suggested itineraries to consider this summer:

Plan a day at Fahnestock State Park where you can enjoy hiking, boating, fishing, camping, and swimming. Canopus Beach will be opening soon.

For a perfect finale to a fun day at Fahnestock, make a dinner reservation and take in the view of Lake Carmel at Limni Mediterranean Kitchen.

If your travels take you to Patterson, the Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area is a great place to explore. Well marked trails, flowering meadows, and a beautiful waterfall make this a family favorite spot. Afterwards, grab lunch in Brewster at the famous retro-styled Red Rooster Drive-In where you can also play a round of mini-golf!

If you love the water, Mahopac Marina offers boat rentals on beautiful Lake Mahopac. Take in the views and then pull up and dock at one of three popular lakefront restaurants.

History, art and culture buffs’ creative curiosity will be piqued at Magazzino Italian Art, Boscobel House and Gardens, Tompkins Cultural Center and Arts on the Lake. Feed your soul at Putnam’s unique spiritual destinations, such as the Garrison institute, Greymoor or Chuang Yen Monastery — home to the largest Buddha in the Western Hemisphere. All destinations should be open now or will be shortly. The county tourism site calls for you to share what you find on your adventures by tagging social media and using the hashtag #AdventureAtHome.

Pre-Covid, the heads of Tourism, the Business Council, Economic Development, Industrial Development Agency, as well as Legislators of Putnam County, met regularly to work on ways to bring businesses, tourism and economic development together. The results have been improved communication and less redundancy of efforts, as well as a more cohesive team pushing Putnam County Business to its full potential. We look forward to getting the pandemic behind us and continuing our progress.

We hope to see many of you taking advantage of all there is to do in Putnam. We encourage safety first. Wear your mask, social distance and keep those hands clean.

Here is the next video in our “Leadership Series”.

VP elect Mike Bucci Interviews Nick D’Andrea, Park Ford Assistant General Manager

Park Ford has been in business for 20+ years in Mahopac

Today’s challenging times demand specific skill sets to ensure our workplaces allow all thoughts and actions to be voiced without fear. This class will outline best practices and give leaders a chance to self-assess where they are vs. where they should be.

DATE: Thursday, July 23rd

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TIME: 11 AM

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TOPIC: How to be an Inclusive Leader

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SPEAKER: Jada Jackson, M.S. LMHC, NCC, President Total Life Counseling Center

• Becoming an active listener
• How to Initiate culture change
• Tips for having the critical conversations

A national PSA campaign has been launched to urge Americans to wear a mask. As states across the country see a surge in COVID cases, it’s more vital than ever that we spread this message. Science has proven again and again: Wearing masks is one of the most important things we can all do to reduce the spread.

The #MaskUpAmerica campaign will consist of 8 ads produced by Jane Rosenthal of Tribeca Enterprises and the Ad Council in partnership with Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, and will be aired on donated media time throughout the country. Watch the first video below.

As part of the “Three Strikes and You’re Closed” initiative, any establishment that receives three violations will be shut down. Outdoor dining is for just that: outdoor dining. We do not approve outdoor bars where you set up tables for people to place drinks and then have a block party of 100 people mingling outside.

Citizens can report violations to the State Liquor Authority at http://www.sla.ny.gov.