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Harmful Algae Blooms, Bacteria Close These NY Beaches
Several popular swimming areas in Putnam County have been temporarily shut down due to harmful algae blooms and elevated bacterial levels.
The closures affect a dozen lakes and parks across Putnam Valley, Carmel, Kent, Patterson, Philipstown, and other parts of the county, just as summer heats up and residents seek relief from rising temperatures.
The affected locations include:
North Beach, Lake Peekskill in Putnam Valley – Closed since June 5 due to harmful algae blooms;
Lake Casse Beach, Carmel – Closed June 26 for elevated bacteria;
Patterson Veterans Beach, Pa…
Walk, Wag, Repeat: The Top 10 Dog-Friendly US Cities
If you're walking your dog daily, you're not alone. And you're doing more good than you think.
A new 2025 report by KURU Footwear ranks the top 10 most dog-friendly cities in the US, spotlighting where people are most likely to get outside, get active, and keep tails wagging.
The report evaluated 50 of the most populous US cities across five key factors: average number of sunny days, how many residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park (ParkScore), walkability, safety score, and dog ownership rate. Each city was scored out of 100 points to determine the rankings.
It’s no surpris…