Fog/Mist 45°
Events
Are You The Next Dutchess Poet Laureate? Nominations Sought Are You The Next Dutchess Poet Laureate? Nominations Sought
Are You The Next Dutchess Poet Laureate? Nominations Sought DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. -- Do you have the writing chops for free verse or sonnets? Are you a seasoned rap lyricist or pen haiku? Applications are being accepted by Arts Mid-Hudson for individuals interested in serving as Dutchess County's 2017 poet laureate.  The post, established in 2016 by County Executive Mark Molinaro, is to honor local outstanding poets, integrate poetry into the community, enrich the education of young people, and enhance the County's position as a cultural center in the Mid-Hudson region, according to the announcement. First poet laureate Robert Kelly served as the …

SHARE

by Donna Christopher
Events
'Hats Off' Event To Benefit Beacon Historical Society 'Hats Off' Event To Benefit Beacon Historical Society
'Hats Off' Event To Benefit Beacon Historical Society BEACON, N.Y. -- Beacon residents will doff their headgear, both figuratively and literally, this weekend to an important bit of the city’s history – hat making. The local historical society, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, will hold a silent auction from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, of 50 wooden “hats” depicting Beacons past and present. The "Hats Off" fundraiser and other festivities will take place at the Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St. The hats were created by local artists, says society president Robert Murphy. There will also be exhibits of objects representi…

SHARE

by Carol Reif
Events
Hudson Valley Celebrates Halloween With Killer Costumes Hudson Valley Celebrates Halloween With Killer Costumes
Hudson Valley Celebrates Halloween With Killer Costumes It was quite the spooky day in the Hudson Valley Monday as Halloween saw the streets filled with ghosts, vampires, monsters and demons. Helping to keep the peace in Elmsford was Batman, who showed up at the school's Halloween Parade looking suspiciously like Superintendent Joseph Ricca. The superintendent promised students from  Alice E. Grady Elementary School and the Carl L. Dixson Primary School that he would march in costume if they managed to collect 200 cans of food for the local pantry, part of the district’s “Scare Away Hunger” campaign. The idea for the initiative came from parent…

SHARE

by Sam Barron
Events
Dozens Volunteer On Poughkeepsie Agency's 'Make A Difference Day' Dozens Volunteer On Poughkeepsie Agency's 'Make A Difference Day'
Dozens Volunteer On Poughkeepsie Agency's 'Make A Difference Day' POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- More than 100 volunteers recently took part in the annual “Make A Difference Day” event organized by United Way of Dutchess-Orange Region, the Poughkeepsie-based organization said. The intrepid volunteers worked on eight community projects, contributing a total of 730 hours and making an estimated economic impact of $19,607, United Way said. The benefits of helping out local nonprofit groups goes both ways. Volunteers got to make a difference in others’ lives while gaining skills that they could apply to their own, such as learning how to work as a team. The projects…

SHARE

by Carol Reif
Events
Five Hudson Valley Walks To End Alzheimer's Expect To Raise More Than $1M Five Hudson Valley Walks To End Alzheimer's Expect To Raise More Than $1M
Five Hudson Valley Walks To End Alzheimer's Expect To Raise More Than $1M The Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter held five walks around its seven-county region over the past few weeks, starting with the Westchester Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 25 at White Plains High School and ending with the Putnam walk on Oct. 16 at the Putnam Office for Senior Resources in Carmel. Walks were also held in Montgomery, Pomona and on the Walkway Over the Hudson between Highland and Poughkeepsie. The events are expected to raise a record high of about $1 million to support families living with the disease and fund research seeking a cure. “I’m proud to see such gro…

SHARE

by Jay Waitkus
Events
Hyde Park Forum Focuses On Benefits Of Senior Communities Hyde Park Forum Focuses On Benefits Of Senior Communities
Hyde Park Forum Focuses On Benefits Of Senior Communities HYDE PARK, N.Y. -- Hudson Valley Home Matters (HVHM) will host its seventh annual forum on creating senior friendly communities at the FDR home  and library in Hyde Park on Wednesday.Guest speakers at the forum are Greg Olson, Executive Deputy Director for New York State Office for the Aging; and Paul Beyer, Director of Smart Growth Planning for New York State Department of State.  Olsen oversees day-to-day operations and the administration of federal and state-funded programs designed to assist the more than 3.7 million older adult residents in the state, as well as programs that assist fam…

SHARE

by Joe Jenkins
Events
Celebrate 'Trail Day' In Pawling With Appalachian Trail Hike Celebrate 'Trail Day' In Pawling With Appalachian Trail Hike
Celebrate 'Trail Day' In Pawling With Appalachian Trail Hike PAWLING, N.Y. -- Hiking fans are invited to lace up their hiking boots and hit the trails when the Harlem Valley Appalachian Trail Community, along with the National Parks Conservation Association, hosts its third annual Trail Day Saturday. Held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., hikers will be able to enjoy the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T., Trail) in all its fall splendor. The event will take place rain or shine.  Free activities will include a hike to the Dover Oak and Cat Rocks overlook, yoga on the A.T. boardwalk, an introduction to trail maintenance workshop, trail projects led by The …

SHARE

by K Reakes
Events
Scott Daniel Ellison's Newest Show Opens Saturday In Beacon Scott Daniel Ellison's Newest Show Opens Saturday In Beacon
Scott Daniel Ellison's Newest Show Opens Saturday In Beacon BEACON, N. Y. -- New York artist Scott Daniel Ellison, who has had shows nationally and internationally, is opening his Skull-Ring Necklace show this Saturday at Matteawan Gallery in Beacon.An opening reception is planned for 6-9 p.m. Saturday for the show, which will go through Nov. 6. This is his second solo show at the gallery, and it features paintings and drawings that represent the artist's interest interest in wildlife and nature along with darker influences of folk tales, mythology and horror movies. His work was also included in the Myths and Legends of the Hudson Valley show held i…

SHARE

by Amy Maciaszek
Events
Working With Seniors Fuels Poughkeepsie Woman's Fight Against Alzheimer's Working With Seniors Fuels Poughkeepsie Woman's Fight Against Alzheimer's
Working With Seniors Fuels Poughkeepsie Woman's Fight Against Alzheimer's POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- As someone who has spent her entire adult life working with senior citizens, Donna Lombardi Slavin of Poughkeepsie is deeply devoted to fighting Alzheimer's disease -- and she'd like others to join in the fight. "I started at 16 in the field of caring for the elderly, as an aide in a nursing home, and I met up with a lot of elderly people," she said. "A lot of them had dementia, but at that time it was called senility. Now she is the site coordinator for Always There Home Care in Kingston.  "Most of our participants have Alzheimer's. I love them,&…

SHARE

by Rachel Martin
Events
Love Beer? Enroll In 'Brew U' At Culinary Institute Of America Love Beer? Enroll In 'Brew U' At Culinary Institute Of America
Love Beer? Enroll In 'Brew U' At Culinary Institute Of America HYDE PARK, N.Y. -- Love beer? Want a beer education? A "Brew U" to kick off the Oktoberfest season is being offered Saturday, Oct. 8 at The Egg and Student Commons, Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. The event is a beer festival. It will include samplings from top breweries, CIA food, and educational seminars for beer and culinary enthusiasts.  There will be a tour of the CIA Brewery and talk with Head Brewer Hutch Kugerman, in addition to sampling beers and ciders, and talking with regional brewers at this walk-around event.  A wide menu of dishes paired with beer will…

SHARE

by Donna Christopher
Events
Indian Point Security Drill Will Include Simulated Gunfire, Attacks Indian Point Security Drill Will Include Simulated Gunfire, Attacks
Indian Point Security Drill Will Include Simulated Gunfire, Attacks BUCHANAN, N.Y. -- Residents shouldn't worry if they hear gunfire today coming from the Indian Point Energy Center on Tuesday -- the power plant will be holding security training drills. The training will take place during the day and into the evening hours on Tuesday, and again on Thursday, Oct. 13, plant officials said. The training drills will involve simulated attack scenarios that are intended to be as realistic as possible so residents may hear what appears to be gunfire from simulated weapons systems used during the exercises.  Local law enforcement agencies have been informed of the…

SHARE

by K Reakes
Events
'Fireball Run' TV Series Stops In Dutchess 'Fireball Run' TV Series Stops In Dutchess
'Fireball Run' TV Series Stops In Dutchess DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. -- A live-action, adventure-travel television competition consisting of 40 rally teams barnstormed through Beacon and Poughkeepsie on Wednesday and Thursday, amid a gathering of onlookers and elected officials. “The Fireball Run” tracks 40 rally teams competing in an eight-day, 2,000 mile trivial pursuit game in which contestants visit selected destinations to solve riddles and perform missions. Some experiences, including the group’s visit to the FDR Library in Hyde Park, focus on history, while others require the participants to perform physical challenges. Film…

SHARE

by Jay Waitkus