Food lovers are freaking out after learning that a famous chicken restaurant will be coming to the Hudson Valley. We found out why this is such a big deal The announcement that Chick-fil-A was finally opening up several Hudson Valley locations was quickly overshadowed after signs were erected on Route 9 this week signaling the debut of Dave's Hot Chicken We told you in February that the chicken chain with 200 locations across the country was increasing its footprint in New York and opening up a new restaurant in Poughkeepsie What we didn't realize at the time was just how popular Dave's is I was driving down Route 9 with my teenage son when he suddenly let out a noise that I'd never heard before. What could only be described as a squeal was followed by excited pointing directed at a picture of a cartoon chicken The chicken was on a sign that had just been installed on the former Table Talk Diner building on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie I told my son that I had heard that Dave's Hot Chicken was opening up a restaurant in the area but didn't realize it was such a big deal I discovered that Dave's has a loyal following of fans dating back to 2017 when the first location opened in an empty parking lot The chain's four founders got their hands on a deep fryer and set up a makeshift restaurant using some folding chairs and tables tender chicken sandwiches they were serving and Dave's Hot Chicken became a local sensation The chain has 200 locations across the country serving their signature chicken tender sliders which can be customized with your choice of heat ranging from mild to "Reaper" The hottest level is supposedly so intense that the restaurant makes anyone who orders it sign a waiver Dave's Hot Chicken also serves a rich mac & cheese shakes and a kale slaw that is said to be the perfect way to cool your mouth after tackling some of the restaurant's hotter chicken sauces While the restaurant's sign is already up it appears that Dave's Hot Chicken has a long way to go before it officially opens the building is an active construction site with dusty boards and heavy equipment sitting in a huge empty space If my son's level of enthusiasm is any indication you can expect to see some very long lines when Dave's Hot Chicken finally launches in Poughkeepsie We'll let you know when a grand opening is planned Food lovers are freaking out after learning that a famous chicken restaurant will be coming to the Hudson Valley. We found out why this is such a big deal.\nRead More The announcement that Chick-fil-A was finally opening up several Hudson Valley locations was quickly overshadowed after signs were erected on Route 9 this week We told you in February that the chicken chain with 200 locations across the country was increasing its footprint in New York and opening up a new restaurant in Poughkeepsie New York was nearly hit by exploding manhole covers They had just come from an Easter egg hunt.POUGHKEEPSIE -- There was a close call on a street in upstate New York Sunday A grandmother dodged an "exploding" manhole a family was strolling down the sidewalk after an Easter egg hunt when suddenly a manhole exploded sending concrete and debris flying into the air I don't know'; I didn't know where to go," Lisa Davis said The blast barely missed Davis and her two grandkids "I didn't know what to do except grab my grandson and run," Davis said SEE ALSO: Hacked Seattle crosswalks play fake Jeff Bezos messages about wealth tax "I couldn't really run straight ahead of me to the corner because the manhole at the next corner blew up At least three manholes exploded in the chain reaction and found high levels of gas in the craters left in the pavement But it wasn't until the fire department posted video of the explosion that she realized just how close it was one foot of losing my family," she said While Davis says she's still worried about walking on the sidewalk her 6-year-old grandson says he's doing just fine but I wasn't that scared," he said but its not the end for Hudson Valley Falafel Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern street food consisting of fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas and sometimes fava beans. They are typically served in pita bread with a variety of toppings like tahini sauce I remember going to Hudson Valley Falafel at 260 North Rd Poughkeepsie, back when it was called Falafel Town even when they changed the name to Hudson Valley Falafel a couple of years ago Their diverse menu has always featured vegan and vegetarian options and Falafel have always been a hit with customers I always enjoyed the atmosphere as well in the cozy little restaurant Hudson Valley Falafel took to social media over the weekend to announce that Sunday evening would be the last night that they would be open in the restaurant They thanked customers for the best memories laughs and support but assuring that it is not the end for Hudson Valley Falafel we will still be catering and you will still be able to order through DoorDash / GrubHub & uber eats We will be posting all the details very soon stay tuned and join us on our new journey Restaurant may have closed, but its not the end for Hudson Valley Falafel.\nRead More DCC welcomed job seekers from across the Hudson Valley on May 1 for a Spring Job Fair hosted in partnership with Assemblymember Jonathan G. Jacobson and the NYS Department of Labor. Read more DCC has introduced three new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) microcredentials, adding to the College’s growing repertoire of career-focused offerings at its state-of-the-art Mechatronics Lab in Fishkill. Read more Dutchess Community College has named Dennis Dintino vice president for finance and administration. Read more First issued in November 2022 and distributed monthly to faculty and staff, DCC Connects aims to live up to its name – serving as an information engine for all things DCC. Enjoy! Read more Three DCC students were among 193 students from across the SUNY system recognized with the 2025 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence DCC recognized five students for academic excellence in the social sciences and during the annual Sheridan Awards Ceremony held April 24 on the main campus in Poughkeepsie DCC welcomed job seekers from across the Hudson Valley on May 1 for a Spring Job Fair hosted in partnership with Assemblymember Jonathan G ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) microcredentials adding to the College’s growing repertoire of career-focused offerings at its state-of-the-art Mechatronics Lab in Fishkill We are now accepting applications for the NYS Trooper Entrance Exam! Please visit joinstatepolice.ny.gov to learn more A Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department officer and K-9 Kaya conducted an exterior scan of the vehicle which positively alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics While interviewing the parties, the Troopers observed crack cocaine in plain view on the driver's seat.  A search of Abdullahi revealed approximately 41.2 grams of crack cocaine The passenger was released from the scene with no charges Abdullahi was charged with the following:• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree (B felony)• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell – 2 counts (B felony)• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4th Degree (C felony)• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Abdullahi was arraigned at the City of Poughkeepsie Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail Bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 secured bond Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has accused a Newburgh man of using an online messaging application called Discord to attract victims in a scheme to obtain child sexual abuse images Attorney for the Southern District of New York said in a news release that Lonnie Youmans used Discord "as a hunting ground...in a horrific scheme to obtain child pornography." As alleged in a complaint unsealed April 29 Youmans used Discord to prey on victims as young as 12 beginning in January 2024 Youmans allegedly got vulnerable children to send him sexually explicit photos then threatened to leak those photos to coerce his victims to send him more images and recruit additional victims He allegedly targeted one 15-year-old from whom he obtained dozens of photos which he distributed to others His alleged activities were the target of an investigation by the FBI the Town of Wallkill Police Department and the Town of Newburgh Police Department federal agencies searched Youmans' residence and allegedly found hundreds of unique files of child sexual abuse images on his phone including multiple images of adults performing oral sex on toddlers and prepubescent children being penetrated by various objects Fatal crash: Poughkeepsie woman charged with vehicular manslaughter in 2024 crash that killed her baby The news release said Youmans admitted he knew the images he possessed were illegal Youmans was charged with sexual exploitation of a child which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted; receipt and distribution of child pornography which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted; and possession of child pornography which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted McCarthy ordered Youmans detained pending further court action could not immediately be reached for comment Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal a Trooper from SP Wappinger conducted a traffic stop on a 2016 Acura on Old Post Road in the Town of Wappinger for multiple violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law White was administered standardized field sobriety tests Investigation revealed three children—ages 1 and 12—were also in the vehicle at the time of the stop White was taken into custody and transported to SP Wappinger for processing where he provided a breath sample resulting in a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.22% White was charged with the following offenses: White was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Wappinger Court on April 29 a 51-year-old man was fatally stabbed in the City of Poughkeepsie According to a City of Poughkeepsie Police Department Detective Division news release shared on the City of Poughkeepsie PBA Facebook page to a report of a man bleeding near 27 Academy St. The man was found suffering from a stab wound to his chest He was transported for medical treatment but later pronounced dead More: Dassai Blue Sake brewery in Hyde Park brings taste of Japanese culture to mid-Hudson A police investigation determined the stabbing had occurred in front of 48 Cannon St was charged with second-degree murder in the man's death Robinson has four prior felony convictions Anyone with information can call the police department's tip line at 845-451-7577 The warmer months in the mid-Hudson Valley are here and there are plenty of opportunities to get out and about Get into the spirit this May and June across Dutchess From festivals to concerts or antique shows to a ball game We've curated a list of events that might pique your interest and get you in a summer mindset — here's what is happening soon in the area More: 153-year-old Poughkeepsie nursing home fights off closure, will open adult day care program On Thursday, May 29, Luke Bryan will be opening his "Country Song Came On Tour" in the mid-Hudson Valley at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, with special guests including George Birge, Avery Anna, Drake Milligan and DJ Rock. General gates open at 5:30 p.m. at the concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available on Bethel Woods' website at bethelwoodscenter.org Admission is free for children 12 and under See the dates for the Walkway at Night in 2025 below: Go to a Renegades gameGet into the summer spirit by going to the ballpark. The Hudson Valley Renegades have plenty of home games at Heritage Financial Park. Purchase tickets for a game at milb.com/hudson-valley and check out the upcoming home games schedule: More: Excitement and optimism high among fans, players despite Renegades' season-opening loss (Correction: Lisa Sweeney graduated from Poughkeepsie Day School A previous version of this story included the incorrect school.) The Town of Poughkeepsie's first dispensary will be opening soon Its name is a play on the cannabis plant and the deep ties the co-founders have in the area: Dutchess Roots Dutchess Roots will be making its mark as the first dispensary built from the ground up in Dutchess County constructed in the South Road Crossing plaza on Route 9 were born and raised in the Poughkeepsie area and are the business' co-founders though Lisa Sweeney is the majority owner and face of Dutchess Roots The Sweeneys are committed to integrating cannabis into the local market through the welcoming space they are striving to create Dutchess Roots aims to create a middle-ground for cannabis users of all types whether you are new to cannabis or will be stopping in daily for purchases They also have a collaboration with Dutchess Community College's Retail Cannabis Management program "We really want to change the narrative of it," Lisa Sweeney said The Sweeneys were born and raised in the Poughkeepsie area and Scott Sweeney is a fifth-generation resident of Dutchess County Scott Sweeney graduated from Spackenkill High School Lisa Sweeney graduated from Poughkeepsie Day School and the pair now live just a few minutes from their soon-to-be dispensary More: Dutchess' first cannabis dispensary, Black Market, nears first anniversary. How the business is doing Lisa Sweeney worked for Nuvance Health for nearly 10 years she worked in hospitality in the restaurant industry in New York City Scott Sweeney works at Marshall and Sterling Insurance coming back to hospitality and service is a full-circle moment an opportunity for her to get back to her passion The Sweeneys had been motivated to start their own thing in the area they decided to try New York's emerging cannabis industry The road to Dutchess Roots commenced four years ago The couple have been recreational users of cannabis understanding and noting the positive impact cannabis can have on people whether it is for medical use or for general well-being "We were probably one of the first 10 people to apply and it ended up being a lottery process," Lisa Sweeney said and broke ground on the South Road Crossing site on Nov Less than two months away from the grand opening the Sweeneys are thrilled to be the ones introducing a dispensary to the Town of Poughkeepsie and welcome those from all walks of life Formulating the Dutchess Roots brand to 'elevate educate and integrate'In creating their own distinct brand opting to build Dutchess Roots felt like the right choice for the Sweeneys having the ability to build exactly the space they envisioned rather than being in a strip mall or within a pre-existing building "So a little bit more stress and time to the process but it's all working out," Lisa Sweeney said "We've been thinking about this for so long and it's just so exciting now to have something tangible." Dutchess Roots is committed to being a welcoming space from everyday users to newbies including "canna-curious" people who may have never tried it but are interested in learning more educating their customers on their products and what's best for the patron and integrating the business to make it feel as though it was always there or normalized "A lot of people are concerned about cannabis use and how it's going to affect the local community," Scott Sweeney said we can really just help integrate into the community more." Integration is a part of their motto for Dutchess Roots: elevate is something they want to "shout from the rooftops," Lisa Sweeney said Though it has been a winter construction project and faced the expected weather challenges the Sweeneys are still on target for opening The design of Dutchess Roots has been a "thoughtful" process with plenty of research to make intentional design choices "We don't want to be too intimidating for new people; we don't want to be too sophisticated for everyday users," she continued There will be a diverse range of offerings on the Dutchess Roots menu and prices will range from some of the lowest to the highest in the market catering to as many community members as possible The Sweeneys aspire to develop a flow from one space to the next while fulfilling all the regulatory aspects a New York dispensary must have while making it still a positive experience for everyone," she said with plenty of windows to allow for natural light A map of Dutchess County will be featured on one of the walls something the co-founders are particularly excited about with the hopes it will help county residents who visit to strengthen and deepen their roots in this slice of New York "Everything kind of starts from that," she said the Sweeneys have collaborated with Dutchess Community College and its Cannabis Retail Management program to create a scholarship for students "Dutchess Roots isn't just what happens within these walls," Scott Sweeney said offered during the spring and fall semesters in tandem with the Cannabis Retail Management program will award two students in spring and fall "Just under a year ago we started this conversation," said Diana Pollard executive director and associate vice president of institutional advancement More: This program is preparing the workforce for New York's growing cannabis industry The students only need be Dutchess County residents enrolled in Dutchess Community College and enrolled in the 15-week microcredential to apply for the $1,000 scholarship which will be offered by faculty members to the cohort The college also brought Maureen Gittelman one of the lead facility members of the cannabis program Not only does this help to develop their community-oriented missions The scholarship is aimed to promote the cannabis industry in the mid-Hudson Valley by strengthening the program at DCC it is very important for us to support our students," Pollard said the Sweeneys received 140 applications in less than a week — some who are either currently enrolled or have already completed DCC's Cannabis Retail Management program "There's a tremendous amount of interest," Scott Sweeney said There's plenty of opportunity to find your spot in the industry and the Hudson Valley is home to some of the largest cannabis cultivators and manufacturers in the state "This industry was born out of farmers," he said and the co-founders are planning to advocate for local cannabis cultivators along with local purveyors and artisans of glass and cannabis accessories in their business and the deep roots in the community," Lisa Sweeney said and we look forward to extending that into Dutchess Roots." members of the Poughkeepsie City School District's Parents Advisory Committee brought forth concerns about the names of the district's elementary school buildings to Superintendent Dr who in turn presented their thoughts to the PCSD School Board we had three research projects underway," recalled Dr Board Member and Co-chair of the PCSD Board of Education’s Ad-Hoc Committee Building Names Study Group Continued research revealed the schools within the district were named between 1890 and 1930 and the school community and greater City of Poughkeepsie community continued to push forward dialogue around school name changes In particular, a Poughkeepsie-based non-profit group called Celebrating the African Spirit brought a formal petition to the board to change the name of Samuel F.B The committee's final report on the proposed renaming of three district buildings — the Samuel F.B and Christopher Columbus administrative offices — was given Wednesday evening The novel name suggestions were revealed by the committee and the resolution to implement the names was passed by the school board Wednesday evening Here's a look at the new names of three of the five Poughkeepsie City School District schools More: Poughkeepsie is renaming three school buildings. Why it's happening and how to weigh in a known slave owner and proponent of slavery inclusivity and social progress that the Poughkeepsie community embraces today," said Fatimah Carmen Martinez Santiago Co-Chair of the Board of Education’s Ad-Hoc Committee Building Names Study Group and Board President Santiago noted that given the shifting demographics of the City of Poughkeepsie particularly those of Central American descent a namesake such as Roberto Clemente honors and celebrates the cultural heritage of many City of Poughkeepsie students In addition to Clemente being a Hall of Fame baseball player committed to social justice and advocating for marginalized communities and racial equity Santiago particularly noted one of his final efforts — after he openly spoke against discrimination faced by Latino and Black athletes throughout his career — where he took action after the 1972 earthquake in Nicaragua which was intercepted and misallocated "by the corrupt dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza Debayle," Santiago said Clemente arranged to deliver the supplies himself to ensure they reached those affected he lost his life during the delivery mission on Dec "Roberto Clemente Elementary School will stand as a testament to the values of equity and humanitarianism — ideals that should be at the heart of every educational institution," Santiago said Data from the most recent community survey from the committee shows 56% of respondents indicated that they preferred the elementary school names to be associated with a historical figure Formerly Christopher Columbus Administrative Office a leader in the local Italian-American community a celebrated voyager and a symbol of exploration Columbus also "paved the way for brutal enslavement of Indigenous peoples and the transatlantic slave trade," said Carolyn Fields have changed their schools named after Columbus after reconsidering how figures like him are contextualized was born in the City of Poughkeepsie in 1908 graduating from City of Poughkeepsie High School and became the first African American woman to earn a degree from Yale Law School," Fields said Bolin was the first African American woman to join the New York City Bar and became America's first Black female judge She served on the Domestic Relations Court 43.4% of respondents from the community survey indicated they were interested in having the elementary school names associated with a local hero Morse was famous for being the inventor of the single-wire telegraph and Morse code Morse used his influence to uphold these ideals in America former board member and community member who attended the school born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 in Swartekill She was bilingual and never learned to read or write but that did not stop her from becoming a prominent abolitionist and women's rights activist 24.8% of survey respondents recommended they'd specifically like Morse Elementary School to be named after Sojourner Truth "That's actually a remarkable statistical outcome for an open-ended survey .. one out of four selected one name," Reiser said Truth escaped slavery with her infant daughter after being previously separated from her other children and upon discovering her 5-year-old son Peter was illegally sold to a plantation in Alabama becoming the first Black woman to win a lawsuit in the U.S The remainder of her life she continued pioneering and advocating for justice while meeting Abraham Lincoln and during her "Ain’t I a Woman?" speech — just a few of many notable accomplishments allows Truth to be a role model for students and students can learn lessons from her life including self-esteem civic engagement and "standing up for what's right." With the new elementary school names determined the district will apply to the New York State Education Department for a building name change so the Columbus Administrative Building could be renamed after her instead the doors are not fully closed on these name-change conversations a community member on the committee who attended Poughkeepsie High School and had both her sons graduate from Poughkeepsie High School was not able to attend the meeting Wednesday but had words to share McGill said that these names were not only chosen to symbolize the inclusivity the district is committed to and a powerful step toward acknowledging history but the namesakes should be a launch pad for broader educational reform "Their impact should not remain abstract or disconnected from students' lived experiences," Santiago said for McGill "The district should take intentional steps to develop age-appropriate curricula that introduces these figures in a way that connects to student's daily lives and aspirations." Director of Elementary Education Janet Bisti attended the meeting noting the students could benefit from learning about their school's namesakes and added curriculum including the elementary school's names that were not changed so "all students can participate," she said "I am so happy that the ad-hoc committee has made these recommendations for our schools," Superintendent Rosser said we are creating history or establishing history that's reflective of the desires There have been several big wins and impressive individual performances recently and it’s reflected in our loaded list of Athlete of the Week nominees Last week’s poll winners were John Jay softball player Lyla Dwyer and Red Hook/Pine Plains boys lacrosse star John Macri Dwyer got 11,314 votes to take the large-school title and Macri received 24,550 votes to top the small schools The senior made 16 saves in a 12-0 win over Ossining to record the first shutout of his career Fodera has a .761 save percentage over the Titans' last three games The freshman shot a tournament-low 41 at Dinsmore Golf Course leading the Bulldogs to first place in the Section 9 Division 5 tournament 'All the good feelings': Spackenkill grad Ozzie Hutchinson signs with Baltimore Ravens Keep climbing: Washall scores 200th goal as young Wappingers remains in title hunt Armed and ready: With a new star pitcher, Marlboro softball is undefeated The seventh-grader struck out five in a complete game and went 3 for 4 with two RBI leading the Storm in a 7-1 win over three-time defending Section 1 champion North Rockland She also pitched a three-hit shutout in their 1-0 win over White Plains 5 inches) and took second in the hammer throw (160-9) at the Iron Duke Relays She had four pass break-ups and two second-half interceptions including one returned for a touchdown with 1:22 left that secured a 20-12 win over rival Wappingers The eighth-grader shot even-par 36 at Beekman Golf Course in the Patriots' 205-233 win over Ketcham Kilduff then carded a 38 in their win over Mahopac and a 1-under 35 in their victory over Brewster Wappingers girls lacrosseThe sophomore had two assists and eight goals leading the Titans in an 18-9 win over Carmel last Saturday 10 inches at the at the Section 1 League 1A championships The junior finished more than 41 feet ahead of second place The sophomore had a 3-over 39 to lead the Admirals to a title repeat in the Mid-Hudson Regional girls golf tournament Trump National Hudson Valley He allowed two runs and struck out eight in 6⅓ innings leading the Patriots in a 6-2 win over rival Arlington Arlington boys golfThe junior shot even-par 36 at The Links at Union Vale leading the Admirals to a home course record score of 189 in their win over Lakeland Gentile followed that with a 2-over 38 at Trump National Hudson Valley in their win over Carmel The senior allowed an earned run and struck out in five innings and drove in two runs to lead the Storm in an 8-3 win over New Rochelle last Saturday in their annual Ricky Lombardo Memorial game She pitched a one-hitter with a career-high 15 strikeouts and drove in a run leading the Admirals in a 3-0 win over Pine Plains during the Bisaccia Memorial Tournament at Ketcham The freshman went 3 for 3 with three RBI in the Patriots win over Suffern then followed it with a career performance in their blowout of Mahopac John Jay boys track & fieldThe junior won the shot put (45 feet 4¾ inches) and the 400 meters (49.29 seconds) at the Section 1 League 1A championships 2 inches) and took second in the high jump (4-6) at the Section 1 League 1A championships He went 2 for 3 with four RBI and two runs to lead the Presidents in a 15-5 win over defending Section 9 Class AA champion Wallkill He also allowed two earned runs and struck out five in six innings in their win over Red Hook The junior won the 1,600 (4:36.40) and the 3,200 meters (9:47.25) at the Section 1 League 1A championships Ketcham girls track & fieldShe won the 1,500 (5:05.11) and the 3,000 meters (10:29.65) at the Section 1 League 1A championships The sophomore pitched a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts and went 2 for 3 with three RBI to lead the Dukes in a win over Spackenkill She followed that performance with 10 strikeouts in a three-hitter in their 3-1 win over New Paltz The sophomore had two goals and five assists in the Huskies' win over Red Hook in a rematch of last year's Section 9 Class C final Wiese also scored three against Section 2's LaSalle Institute and had five goals and three assists in a win over O'Neill Lourdes girls track & fieldThe senior took first in the discus with a 99-foot throw at the Iron Duke Relays She allowed a run and three hits and struck out six for the Bombers in a 10-1 win over Section 1's Scarsdale She allowed an earned run and struck out 16 and drove in two runs for the Wildcats in a win over Germantown She shot a 1-over 36 on the front 9 at Wiltwyck Golf Club breaking her own program record for low score while leading the Dukes to a 125-150 win over Rondout Valley The sophomore took first and broke her own program record by three inches with a 10-foot pole vault at the Iron Duke Relays Dover softballThe eighth-grader struck out 11 and didn't allow an earned run in six innings in the Dragons' win over Webutuck The junior dominated the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:53.12) finishing 1:41 ahead of second place at the Iron Duke Relays Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4 the Poughkeepsie City School District has been working toward restructuring the five elementary schools within the district Research was presented at Wednesday's Poughkeepsie City School District School Board special meeting and workshop This two-part process included the restructuring of the elementary schools and a decades-long concern for City of Poughkeepsie's youngest students: bussing "When I came on board as superintendent in 2019 one of the things that parents resiliently stated is that we would like to have transportation in our school district," Superintendent Dr students attending any of the elementary schools walk to school each day In the case of the Poughkeepsie City School District many parents rely on their grown children to escort their younger siblings to school each day "This will assist us in increasing attendance increasing student achievement and ultimately increasing student graduation rates," Rosser said The two-part plan was formed in response to families' concerns regarding the safety of students walking to school The district has been working with partner organizations to receive "Child Safety Zone" designations making the district eligible for state-funded aid for transportation The restructuring would allow for students greater than a half-mile away from the school to be bussed in "A yellow bus is the best place to put a student to keep them safe," said Paul Overbaugh a consultant for the bussing aspect of the project from Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES is serving pre-K and kindergarteners learners many pre-K students attend partner organizations outside of these schools That means students are attending two or three different school buildings within the first three years of their education The restructuring would reduce the number to one or two schools depending on whether the child attends pre-K at one of the partner organizations instead Those who attend Krieger Elementary School for pre-K to second grade would go to either Smith School Early Learning Center or Clinton Elementary School for pre-K to second grade would go to either Smith School Early Learning Center or Warring Elementary School Another crucial note that would impact students would be the time school begins For more information on why the Poughkeepsie City School District is reconfiguring the elementary schools and the benefits it may present, visit sites.google.com/poughkeepsieschools.org/elementary-reconfiguration/home Communities must approve transportation during the City of Poughkeepsie's budget vote in May taxpayers will not be affected by this initiative as funding has been secured "This will not have any tax implications on our taxpayers here in the City of Poughkeepsie," Superintendent Rosser said "We've been able to identify funding to be able to support Year 1 of this." the transportation state-funded aid will kick in which would account for 81.5% of the cost with the district's fund balance covering the rest would offer bussing to students up to the fifth grade who live over 0.5 miles away from their newly designated school with the reconfiguration and live in what would be a Child Safety Zone Overbaugh noted certain parameters must be met to determine if an area of the City of Poughkeepsie can be designated a Child Safety Zone in which the district is eligible to receive state aid Criteria for the zones are various hazards that deem whether the area of the city is unsafe for walking to school such as hazardous highway intersections or highways without sidewalks or inadequate shoulders high density of vacant buildings or structures high speed limit and high instances for violent crime "Busses are built in such a way — Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards — that they are the safest mode of transportation out there," Overbaugh said "They are 10 times safer than your personal vehicle." Poughkeepsie City School District and Franklin-Essex-Hamilton are working with BusRight to evaluate demographic data and create bus routes the district could then contract out to a company to acquire the busses More: Poughkeepsie School District renames 3 buildings after historical figures. See what they chose. Now that the elementary school reconfiguration has been approved the Child Safety Zones application must be submitted to the New York State Education Department by March 1 and then bussing must be approved by voters in May 2025 If these items go according to the City of Poughkeepsie Central School District's plan the district hopes to implement this in the 2025-26 academic year The City of Poughkeepsie has been awarded $10 million as part of New York's Downtown Revitalization Initiative Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday the city's downtown corridor was the mid-Hudson Valley winner of the eighth round of the DRI "We are changing the game for these communities by supporting affordable housing and sustainable infrastructure," Hochul said in a statement The funding will be allocated toward boosting the city's Main Street to "the beating heart of the city as well as a multimodal transportation link to assets and attractions in Poughkeepsie," according to a news release which pointed to the city as a hub for commuters who use the Poughkeepsie Metro North Station daily and existing venues including the Bardavon 1869 Opera House the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and the former Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers said the funding will help "accelerate the revitalization of our downtown area that has been slowly but steadily rebounding." More: Poughkeepsie's proposed Business Improvement District: The plan, location, costs To receive DRI funding, the City of Poughkeepsie had to be certified under Hochul's Pro-Housing Communities Program a policy designed to recognize and reward municipalities for actively working to face the housing shortage the DRI has invested in the creation of more than 4,400 units of housing 1,823 of which are affordable or workforce housing Another factor for the City of Poughkeepsie to receive DRI funding was the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council which reviewed proposals from across the region before recommending Poughkeepsie DRI funding in Poughkeepsie: What comes nextPoughkeepsie will next develop a strategic investment plan to guide the revitalization of Main Street with support provided by a team of private sector experts and state planners "I see a future where every New Yorker has the chance to thrive in communities around the state," Hochul said "I want to ensure that New York has neighborhoods that are not just places to live Poughkeepsie residents have gained some clarity regarding the closure of the local Social Security office U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan said the U.S. Social Security Administration confirmed the Poughkeepsie office "is not on a permanent closure list," despite the office being listed on the Department of Government Efficiency's site with what was thought to be a potential July closing date Ryan joined local leaders and residents at a "community speak out" Monday afternoon at the Dutchess County Office for the Aging to call for protections for Social Security benefits in light of the office's closure More: Poughkeepsie SSA closure may be permanent. Union rallies amid 'hostile work environment' When will the Poughkeepsie Social Security office open?Employees at the office have received verbal confirmation from the regional commissioner that the office expects to sign a new 10-year lease after the renovation, according to Amanda Bracco, local representative for the AFGE Local 3343 union Bracco said renovations are estimated to take four to six months to complete More: Poughkeepsie Social Security office closing. How to get services, benefits "That's shifted my concern from 20% sure we're going to reopen to 50% sure we're going to reopen," Bracco said After the Poughkeepsie site closed at the end of January for renovation work at the office building local lawmakers called for transparency around the interruption to services Residents were instructed to access services by phone or to visit the Middletown office in person Frontline SSA workers at the time said they were being fearmongered Office of Personnel Management addresses that their jobs were "useless" and that "they don't matter." The Poughkeepsie office is also understaffed due to the construction — there are 18 workers in the office that would typically have 30 said she applied for Social Security benefits in November 2024 when she received a letter "encouraging" her to apply she said she called multiple phone numbers for help and spent much of the time waiting on hold being disconnected and still not receiving her benefits Ryan's office stepped in on Waegel's behalf and made additional calls before finally confirming her benefits would start as expected "We know we're needed in person," Bracco said Some clarity on the Poughkeepsie SSA office but locals are still concernedDespite the long-awaited timeline for the Poughkeepsie office closure some local residents expressed lingering concerns that the number of changes happening to the Social Security Administration will impact their benefits in the future More: NY AG addresses Social Security impacts in Hudson Valley. What to know President Donald Trump has said he does not plan to eliminate Social Security. In a statement on its site on March 11, The White House wrote "The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security has been on Supplemental Security Income since she was 18 and Social Security Disability Insurance for several years since her father became disabled "It would be a complete disaster and inhumane if Sarah were to lose her benefits," Dulit said in a statement "She is exactly who they are meant for: to facilitate her being able to live independently and be a functioning member of society." (Correction: Black Market Cannabis joined the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce A previous version of this story misidentified the organization.) Black Market Cannabis dispensary is coming up on a year in business since opening on April 20 Owners Pedro Baggett and Ali Lodhi say they aim to serve working-class people through their dispensary personalized customer experience and more than 500 brands of cannabis products they sell are for the customers "who live paycheck to paycheck," Baggett said is like "Candy Land" for people who've never experienced one before who is originally from Chicago and moved to the Hudson Valley when he was 16 are striving to create the dispensary "setting the standards," Lodhi said The owners will celebrate their shop's first anniversary with a block party event on April 19-20 Baggett and Lodhi met while working at IBM about 13 years ago and have "been together ever since," Lodhi said It took years for Black Market to officially open Baggett said they had been technically approved by the state about two years prior to the big day Going through the licensure process on their own was a feat but the owners were "first in line," Baggett said Black Market qualified for the state's Seeding Opportunity Initiative which positioned people with prior cannabis-related criminal offenses to make the first adult-use cannabis sales with products grown by New York farmers "That was just one aspect of it all," Lodhi said "You still had to have three years of running a successful business and have paid your taxes — you had to be in good standing with the community." Before they could receive their official licensure and open their doors to the public, they were hit with another roadblock. A federal judge placed a temporary ban on New York dispensary licenses in August 2023 leaving cultivators like Baggett and Lodhi to wait to find out if and when they could open their storefronts Baggett said they were "stuck financially.. More: Networking event for women in computing industry coming to Poughkeepsie, with lower cost for students the owners felt the stigma commonly associated with the cannabis industry even with cannabis legalized for adult use "We understand it," Lodhi said of the stigma To help integrate themselves in the business community they joined the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce along with the National Federation of Independent Business The co-owners did find some support along the way "The City of Poughkeepsie was behind us," Lodhi said including City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers Black Market Dispensary has a right to be in our city As we do with other businesses," Flowers said in an email statement but we also must ensure they are compliant with the laws of our city and state and want them to be good community partners." Flowers congratulated the owners on their one-year anniversary How has Black Market Dispensary done in their first year of business?Any shops that might still be selling cannabis illegally are certainly not affecting business at Black Market Dispensary "We did $8 million in our first eight months of being open," Baggett said "We're trying to average around a million a month," Lodhi continued They strategically chose to put their dispensary within walking distance for city residents "We did this one for the inner city," Lodhi said Another aspect of Black Market's success has been getting respect from lawmakers and opening doors they would have never expected to open for them "We were invited to the mayor's ball," Baggett said "That's crazy to us in itself," Lodhi continued "We just want to know they're taking our tax money and putting it back into the City of Poughkeepsie," Baggett said you know — help build this place up a little bit The business does not come without its challenges, with advertisements, banking — although they are part of the state's cannabis banking system, cannabis isn't legal at the federal level — not being able to engage in business tax deductions "We know that the federal government can seize marijuana accounts whether it's legal to the state or not," Baggett said there is pressure on them to continue to succeed They are trying to support their families as well as the Poughkeepsie community they wish for their competition's success too "We're trying to do the things that we wish people would have done for us," Lodhi said Black Market's first anniversary event on Saturday will be a two-day block party on Cannon Street in Poughkeepsie This is not only going to be a celebration of their customers in the first year of business but a celebration of the city's downtown revitalization "The city has made great strides on Main Street and in its revitalization efforts throughout the downtown area," Flowers said to create jobs and to contribute to our tax base which helps us provide services to all our residents." taking place in the same location as Summer Sundays "We also support businesses having events and have stringent compliant protocols in place to ensure everything goes smoothly the attendees and for the rest of the city," Flowers said is his way to "build up something to give back something." More information about Black Market Dispensary's first-anniversary event can be found at eventbrite.com What's next for Black Market?"We're trying to expand," Baggett said "We're actually currently looking for a drive-thru location." The pair wants to stay within 30-45 minutes of where they are currently living but "won't hold back" if another opportunity arises They will be launching a Black Market app in the coming months to be able to communicate directly with their customers on dispensary updates, operation hours, deals and events. In the meantime, check out @blackmarketcannadispensary on Instagram for more information Baggett said they want to one day donate to the city's parks build them up further and contribute to young people in the community with opportunities they did not have and people are coming to the area," Baggett said (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information The City of Poughkeepsie School District has extended the deadline for survey submissions to Jan The City of Poughkeepsie School District will be renaming three buildings within the district this year: the Samuel F.B and Christopher Columbus administrative offices The building namesakes are "out of alignment with our most important community values today," Fatimah Carmen Martinez Santiago and Dr co-chairs of the Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education’s Ad-Hoc Committee Building Names Study Group The district released a community survey for suggestions and input as to how the three buildings should be renamed The survey is available in English and Spanish The Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education’s Ad-Hoc Committee Building Names Study Group is leading the renaming process and will submit its conclusions to the full board at their meeting on Feb The board plans to finalize the new building names in time to submit the required paperwork to the New York State Board of Education The Google Form survey can be found on their website at poughkeepsieschools.org to gain community insights on the naming of the Morse and Clinton elementary schools and the Columbus building which houses the administrative offices Community members who participate in the survey will be able to make suggestions as to what the new names should be and partake in more general questions such as whether the board should look to name the school buildings after a certain person or a place More: What's new on the dining scene? Try these three Poughkeepsie eateries in 2025 The mission for the Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education’s Ad-Hoc Committee Building Names Study Group to make recommendations for new names began last academic year The full board had the committee explore the history along with the worthiness of the current namesakes which initiated a research process including a previous community survey tabling at school events by committee members and a town hall event in October hosted by the committee allowing residents to voice their thoughts on the naming process The namesakes of the three elementary school buildings in question are Samuel F.B the co-creator of Morse code; George Clinton New York's first governor; and explorer Christopher Columbus The three men had no direct contributions to the city's schools and either owned slaves or supported slavery The committee will recommend the remaining three elementary buildings — George W as they said their namesakes have "made direct positive and significant contributions to education in the City of Poughkeepsie." giving little to emotion even when his agent informed him that multiple NFL teams were interested “But when I got that call from the offensive line coach,” Hutchinson said Because, what for most kids is a farfetched dream, now is close to coming true for the Poughkeepsie native. It was at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday when he spoke to Baltimore Ravens assistant coach George Warhop who made official their offer to sign him as an undrafted free agent The Spackenkill High School grad completed a stellar career at the University at Albany and he impressed professional scouts enough that a Super Bowl-contending team believes in his potential Diamond & gold: Maddy Siegrist has "exciting" offseason, leading into third WNBA season College credit: Ifkovits shines at Tennessee, former local stars earn All-American honors “It’s jubilation,” his former high school coach Clinton DeSouza said high-character kid who has worked his tall off for this Three former Marist College players have made it to the NFL and Poughkeepsie High School graduate Charles Spencer was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2006 But few Dutchess County products have gotten that far DeSouza spoke on Sunday to former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman a one-time teacher who established the football program at Spackenkill in 1973 was overjoyed with the small Poughkeepsie school helping develop an NFL player anchored the offensive line for the Great Danes and earned all-Coastal Athletic Association honors last fall despite injuries limiting him to six games The offensive tackle travels to Baltimore on May 2 for a physical examination and He then would participate in a rookie minicamp before organized team activities begin May 11 “It’ll be crazy just being in the same building with these immensely talented players,” Hutchinson said of being part of an offense with superstars like Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry “You watch these guys on TV and now to have a chance to be their teammate it’s his own talent that created this opportunity for him Hutchinson demonstrated notable athleticism and footwork at 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds along with pass-blocking skills that potentially project to the next level but teams typically supplement their training camp roster by signing undrafted free agents — players whom they deem worthy of an audition “I'm not surprised the scouts were enamored,” said DeSouza who now is the principal of Hagan Elementary School “Ozzie’s ability to bend and take on speed rushers bull rushers and counter different moves is impressive He didn't commit any penalties in the games I went to The Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins also had interest but the Ravens foresee him remaining at his natural tackle position in the NFL instead of having to shift inside to offensive guard “But if it doesn’t work or I’m a better fit elsewhere he once had his heart set on the other kind of football Hutchinson’s parents are from the Caribbean and that early influence nudged him toward soccer Never mind that he was the biggest seventh-grader on the field… by a lot “I had to recruit him off the modified soccer team,” DeSouza said with a chuckle Hutchinson participated in a winter workout with the football team and quickly “fell in love” with the sport and the camaraderie it produced Hugh Hutchinson signed off on his son playing but it took some work to convince his mom that the sport wasn’t too dangerous Jasmine Hutchinson has become a football fan Ozzie Hutchinson was the figurative torchbearer for Kyiev Bennermon a former Spackenkill teammate who went on to play for Boston College DeSouza said he thought Bennermon’s success “was the pinnacle for us,” but another Division 1-caliber lineman was only a year behind Hutchinson starred for his high school football and track and field teams but Albany was one of only a few colleges that offered him a scholarship coach Greg Gattuso told him that he was talented enough to play beyond college reflecting for a moment on his journey here “From getting into football late and having to learn it in a short time He twice earned all-conference honors and was a Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-American selection last summer although a torn plantar fascia in his right foot and later a high ankle sprain cost him half the season but those setbacks “probably took any possibility of getting drafted off the table.” watching the draft while communicating with his agent and hoping for a life-changing phone call showing you can get far coming from small schools,” Hutchinson said I’m proud to be a representative of this area and put on for Dutchess County.” Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the City of Poughkeepsie will receive $10 million in funding as the Mid-Hudson winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).  For Round 8 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative each of the state's 10 economic development regions are being awarded $10 million from each program to make for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods In response to the award to the City of Poughkeepsie former mayor and current New York State Senator “This investment is a game-changer for the City of Poughkeepsie reinforcing the ongoing transformation into a dynamic and thriving downtown with partners in the City like Mayor Flowers I’ve seen firsthand the dedication of local leaders and residents in shaping a stronger more vibrant future and this funding will help build on that progress I can't wait to see the lasting impact this will have on our community.” To receive funding from either the DRI or NY Forward program localities must be certified under Governor Hochul's Pro-Housing Communities Program — an innovative policy created to recognize and reward municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities initiative allocates up to $650 million each year in discretionary funds for communities that pledge to increase their housing supply; to date 287 communities across New York have been certified as Pro-Housing Communities Governor Hochul is proposing an additional $100 million in funding to support infrastructure projects necessary to create new housing in Pro-Housing Communities and a further $10.5 million to technical assistance to help communities seeking to foster housing growth and associated municipal development The City of Poughkeepsie’s downtown corridor serves as the civic entertainment and transportation heart for Dutchess County and much of Mid-Hudson Valley This critical zone not only serves the residents living in the City and Town of Poughkeepsie but hundreds of thousands from beyond its municipal borders including numerous commuters who converge on the Poughkeepsie Metro North Station daily Legendary entertainment and hospitality venues — including the Bardavon 1869 Opera House the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and the former Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel — draw visitors to the City throughout the year Once the epicenter of the region’s commerce the so-called “Queen City on the Hudson” envisions its Main Street Corridor serving as the beating heart of a bustling and thriving city and a multi-modal transportation link to all the critical assets and attractions in Poughkeepsie when it was painfully obvious the deficit was insurmountable some shoulders slumped and a few heads began to hang Confronted then with the harsh ending of an especially challenging season This was the manifestation of not only a playoff loss but an emotional burden the group bore in the weeks leading up to it Savion Nesbitt crouched with his hands clasped over his head the Poughkeepsie senior understandably heartbroken as his last basketball game ended It was teammate Victor Nelson who ran over lifted Nesbitt to his feet and offered words of consolation who had spent the previous two hours waving a homemade poster in support of her son She was among a horde of Poughkeepsie fans who packed the Peekskill High School gymnasium Thursday evening but they played a hell of a game,” she continued “And you know that wasn’t easy with everything going on.” In their bag: Cook, Kaminski lead Ketcham over Arlington in Section 1 quarterfinals Standing tall: How Poughkeepsie has thrived despite being undersized On a roll: Top-ranked Dutchess CC seeks another Region 15 crown That “everything” included the absence of beloved head coach Cody Moffett whom the school district placed on administrative leave two weeks ago pending what superintendent Eric Jay Rosser termed “a legal matter” in a letter to parents who is also a physical education teacher at the high school faces misdemeanor charges of filing a false report to Child Protective Services in a complaint last spring against the parent of a former player He turned himself in to the City of Poughkeepsie police Feb with respect to the privacy of an employee hasn’t divulged details and Moffett didn’t respond to the Journal’s request for comment the news came as a “shock” to many in the school community and rankled several parents and former players who have expressed their anger on social media Moffett left Briarcliff High School in Westchester County for Poughkeepsie in 2018 and led the boys basketball team to a Class A state championship in his first season The Pioneers have won two Section 1 titles and made the playoffs in each of his seasons he served as a “father figure” to many of his pupils It’s for that reason the team wore during warmups for its two playoff games black T-shirts with “MOFF” emblazoned across the chest The players and coaches weren’t made available to the media after their 54-43 quarterfinal loss to Peekskill but their message already had been expressed sartorially “He’s not just a great coach; he’s a role model for these kids We’re all disappointed with what’s going on But the kids kept their heads in it and used that as motivation undersized and overmatched against defending Class AA champion Peekskill put forth an impressive effort and made their quarterfinal competitive until the waning minutes The Poughkeepsie cheering section roared and those posters were waved emphatically when Jackai Dockery’s block ignited a fast break and Nelson converted a layup that pulled the Pioneers within 40-36 with 7:10 left despite Peekskill’s dominance in the paint and on the boards they made it tough on us,” said Peekskill coach Tyrone Searight whose team thumped Poughkeepsie 60-39 three weeks earlier “It was obvious they came in with a chip on their shoulder and we knew That tireless effort was a signature of this team With a rotation comprised almost entirely of players under 5-foot-11 the Pioneers were at a clear disadvantage against most opponents They typically had to scrap for rebounds and finish acrobatic layups in traffic and they relied on outside shooting and transition scoring to compensate But they did that well during a season marked by close wins and dramatic rallies Poughkeepsie enjoyed another of those comeback victories over Brewster on Feb Julius Cox and Kevin Pegram stepped in to coach taking on a challenge that began immediately with a Feb 15 trip to Massachusetts for a tournament to close the regular season They then led the fifth-seeded Pioneers to a first round playoff win over Clarkstown North “Cody is a true friend and we go back some years,” Searight said “It’s unfortunate what happened and I’m wishing him the best give a lot of credit to the (coaching) staff They did a great job stepping in and had these boys focused.” Nelson had 22 points and six rebounds to lead Poughkeepsie (14-7) Kaiden Birdsong added 10 points and DuBose scored eight and Tazjir Gary had a spectacular chase-down block in the first quarter Isaiah Crawford and Webster Marquette each scored 16 points Crawford hit three pivotal 3-pointers and Webster made three layups in the final 1:39 to stave off Poughkeepsie’s charge Fourth-seeded Peekskill advanced to face No you can’t come away not feeling good about this team,” Epps said “The way they kept their heads up and handled this Dozens of people gathered outside the Poughkeepsie Social Security Administration office Tuesday amid growing uncertainty surrounding the site's reopening The AFGE Local 3343, which represents SSA frontline employees in 14 New York offices, organized the rally after finding the Poughkeepsie site listed on the Department of Government Efficiency's site indicating a potentially permanent closure at the end of July The site originally closed at the end of January for renovation work at the office building claimed since the SSA office is on the list the group is acting as though the office will be shut down this summer and "it's going to be up to the community to try to save it." "This office wants to serve the people of this community Delaney said the Poughkeepsie SSA office's small contact station would be providing all in-person services during the office's temporary closure that began in January but their capacity to serve residents would remain limited as many have been sent to work from home due to construction at the site According to the SSA 71.6 million people received benefits from programs administered by the SSA in 2023 with 5.8 million people newly awarded SSA benefits that year "Now is the time to expand Social Security offices Office of Personnel Management addresses that their jobs are "useless" and that "they don't matter," inevitably creating a "hostile work environment," he said are not coming from their local management team said the closure is not just a Poughkeepsie problem as the offices in Kingston and Newburgh have also closed in recent years He criticized the SSA directing residents to the Middletown office More: Local leaders call out Social Security's 'completely unacceptable' response to closure the people making these decisions have never been to our community before," Torres said Dutchess County Comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair said 10% of Dutchess County's budget comes from federal funding amounting to $1.9 billion for services like Social Security and other services that go directly to county residents "whether you get these services or other services it's going to cascade through our economy." but earned benefits Americans have paid into since its establishment He said the "crowd up there in the White House has no feeling for Main Street." "We're at a point now in our history where we're going to have to step up the fight," Bel said More: Questions remain regarding Poughkeepsie Social Security office closure. Here's the latest When the SSA first announced the Poughkeepsie office's closure for renovations local elected officials urged the organization to provide a detailed plan for those affected but were not given a timeline for reopening or specific services that would be offered from the small contact station that would remain open has offered help for seniors navigating the Social Security phone system or online benefit applications The phone number for the OFA is 845-486-2555. There's also a toll-free number to use: 866-486-2555. Email the OFA at OFA@DutchessNY.gov Following Poughkeepsie's temporary closure the White Plains Social Security Office of Hearings Operations announced it was set to close in May The White Plains OHO schedules and hosts hearings for people who have filed a Request for Hearing and live within the service areas of the Middletown In a letter to the SSA acting commissioner New York Attorney General Letitia James said without the devastating impact of this reported closure the White Plains office has a roughly 2,000-case backlog and that redetermination hearings come with an eight-month wait It is simply unconscionable to strip away the services altogether rather than trying to fix an already challenging situation." A New York woman and her grandchildren escaped unharmed from what was supposed to be a leisurely stroll but almost became a nightmare when manhole cover exploded near them Video published by the Poughkeepsie Fire Department shows a family, identified by ABC News as Lisa Davis and her two grandchildren walking down Academy Street in the upstate New York town just after 1:30 p.m The department said in a Facebook post that two other manhole covers exploded in the same area High levels of carbon monoxide were also found in multiple nearby buildings Photos published by the department show that the explosions damaged the sidewalk around the manhole covers Davis described the moment the explosion happened I don't know.' I didn't know where to go," she said "I didn't know what to do except grab my grandson and run." Davis said that the explosion occurred as the family was returning from an Easter egg hunt She said that she did not realize how close the explosion was to her grandchildren until she saw the video: "A foot An earlier version indicated Hulk Hogan would be appearing at Mahoney's Irish Pub & Steakhouse one of the most famous and popular pro wrestlers of all time will make an appearance at a supermarket in Poughkeepsie next month Hogan will have an exclusive meet and greet at ShopRite's supermarket at 3552 North Road from 3 to 5 p.m Hogan's appearance will kick off the launch of his new beer brand, Real American Beer Hogan is retired from wrestling now but still works for World Wrestling Entertainment as a brand ambassador Real American Beer is an official partner of WWE The Hulkster, as he’s known, will be making stops and meeting fans at retailers and bars in Rochester Poughkeepsie and Westchester from March 3-5 is teaming up with Hogan to bring the beer to bars Schools renamed: Poughkeepsie School District renames 3 buildings after historical figures. See what they chose. “We’ve been hearing the call for Real American Beer from New Yorkers and now we’re here to deliver and run wild brother,” Hogan said in a prepared statement four grams of carbs and a 4.2% alcohol by volume with Walmart locations anticipated in April The Hudson Valley Pickleball and Golf Center is now open The pickleball and indoor golf center is located at 1895 South Road in Poughkeepsie at the former Christmas Tree Shops store on Route 9 Glen Beram and Russel Tigges had originally planned to open the center with state-of-the-art courts and technology in March 2024 More: This Poughkeepsie complex will combine pickleball, golf under one roof: What to know "It took time to bring our vision of the Ultimate Pickleball & Golf experience to life but the result is worth it," Vigorita and Beram said in an email statement "We've created a welcoming atmosphere where newcomers can unwind enjoy great food and drinks and watch the game in action." This facility will be the largest center in the Hudson Valley for pickleball, the owners said, with 10 indoor courts, featuring Herculan Pickleball Flooring — a layer of rubber that sits on top of the concrete and helps lower the impact on your joints. According to their website the material provides up to 35% shock absorption "Our Herculan Rubber courts provide exceptional comfort and the ball bounces exactly the same as if it were a regular concrete court Cameras associated with each court will allow players to get a link to their session to take home and watch back there is a stadium court that's a bit bigger than the rest This court has three cameras instead of just one and will offer a site for leagues and tournaments The other side of the facility houses their five Golfzon golf simulators The simulators include a 24-position moving plate camera sensors and auto tee to have the most realistic swing possible our state-of-the-art Golfzon Simulators offer over 250 courses and adjust in 24 directions to match the course's terrain," owners Vigorita and Beram said "With five different hitting surfaces — including rough and sand traps — every shot feels incredibly realistic." Other facility amenities include pickleball and golf instruction to get specialized training as well as a concession stand with food and drinks To learn more about Hudson Valley Pickleball and Golf Center, visit their website at hvpickleball.com. To stay up to date on their hours of operation during their first week open, check out their Instagram page NEW PALTZ - A Poughkeepsie woman has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and other charges in connection with the death of her baby daughter in an October 2024 car crash in New Paltz New Paltz police said after a lengthy investigation the case was presented to an Ulster County grand jury That resulted in an indictment charging Jaimie Rivera with one count each of second-degree vehicular manslaughter criminally negligent homicide and second-degree vehicular assault all felonies; and endangering the welfare of a child third-degree assault and driving while ability is impaired by drugs According to a police account at the time of the crash Rivera allegedly passed another vehicle in a no-passing zone while she was driving her 2007 Saturn north on Libertyville Road in New Paltz shortly after 10 a.m When Rivera re-entered the northbound lane she left the roadway and struck a tree head-on Her 4-month-old daughter suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash and was flown first to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie and then Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla Rivera and a 26-year-old male passenger in the car were taken to Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie for treatment of serious injuries REAL ID: The deadline is approaching. What to know, how to apply in mid-Hudson Valley members of the New Paltz Police Department's detective division located Rivera in Dutchess County and arrested her She is being held in the Ulster County jail pending an arraignment in Ulster County Court The name of Rivera's attorney was not immediately available Plato's Closet Poughkeepsie is officially open following their "open to buy" period which began in November and culminated with more than 2,000 clothing drop-offs from the community hundreds of customers lined up at the doors early Thursday morning More: Get ready for your newest alternative shopping spot in Poughkeepsie: Plato's Closet owner of the Plato's Closet Poughkeepsie location said "They sat there with camping chairs and blankets." she said she was standing all the way down by Margaritas "We were packed in like sardines in a can." Revak has made quite the splash in the community with this alternative shopping spot especially as the nearest one to the Poughkeepsie area was previously in Danbury She had more than 600 sales on Thursday alone The grand opening weekend runs through Sunday Plato's Closet: What is it?If you've never heard of Plato's Closet The store accepts gently-used teen and young adult clothes and also offers items for purchase at a discounted price said sellers must bring clothes in bins or baskets Plato’s Closet is also a part of Winmark - the Resale Company whose goal is to have used clothes and accessories end up in another person's closet What you can expect from Plato's Closet PoughkeepsieEven though the nationwide chain is geared towards teens and young adults Revak said she strives to make her business feel like a welcoming space for all and one where it's a new experience every time you stop by "We had so many different types of shoppers here already," Revak said At the store you might also see one of Revak's three teenagers working there: Holly Whittemore Holly Whittemore said the workers at Plato's Closet Poughkeepsie have "all types of styles," so they can cater to the variety of buyers who may be coming in She also noted their "open to buy" period was "a lot of work," but "it paid off." After tagging all the items that came in over the past six weeks it was rewarding for her to see customers' eyes on the products as she was the Whittemore children's nanny for a decade "We have been working incredibly hard for the past two months to make it to this point," Kelly said "I have come to love this job in such a short amount of time." made the Poughkeepsie area her home a couple years ago after she got married but she was originally from the Amsterdam area "I grew up going to Plato's back home," she said and working at the Poughkeepsie store is a full-circle moment for her Friday morning there was also a line outside the door in anticipation of the second day of the grand opening weekend at Plato's Closet She said she saw the line from Thursday and decided to hold off until Friday Standing next to Harrison was Madison "Maddy" Squires a graduate student at Marist who came into town early from Pennsylvania for a New Year's Eve party Squires was excited to find out she'd be able to make it for the Plato's Closet opening was also in line early to be able to get the free $25 gift card for the first 25 customers As someone who enjoys bringing her clothes to consignment shops in the area she thought Plato's Closet's buying experience was convenient and simple Vega said even though "they didn't take as many pieces," as she hoped she thought the cash return on the items they did purchase was worth it and said she would bring her clothes in again Katie Thorn and Patricia Scully of Poughkeepsie are looking forward to having the opportunity to bring their clothes in to sell They both attended a Catholic school where they wore uniforms and their closets expanded immensely when they went to college "I have a lot more clothing than one person would need.. so I'm excited to be able to sell them," Thorn said and returned to the store on Friday to find more shoes — she said she picked up four pairs of Vans and a pair of American Eagle jeans on Thursday for $76 so I'm hoping to get lucky today," she said the first 25 customers will get a $25 gift card to the store Only one gift card will be given to each family From 6-9 p.m., a local food truck will be on site serving doughnuts, drinks and seasonal snacks. Additionally, all of the Plato's Closet location's Instagram followers will be entered to win a gift card to the store, but there will only be one winner; find the store's Instagram page, @platosclosetpoughkeepsieny the first 25 customers will also receive a $25 gift card to the store and customers will earn double points on their loyalty account for every $10 spent that day Facebook followers will be entered to win a gift card to the store on Sunday, and one follower will be selected at random; find the store's Facebook page @platosclosetpoughkeepsieny featuring items from the other shops in the 9 Mall Plaza For more information or store hours, reach Poughkeepsie's Plato’s Closet at 845-632-1032 or visit platoscloset.com A new store selling surplus Amazon items in Poughkeepsie could be a goldmine for shoppers Fly Deals recently opened up at the former Bed Bath & Beyond location on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie I have heard stories about people who had visited the store and paid pennies on the dollar for brand-new items from Walmart I visited the store for myself and was surprised at what I found but one that hasn't been seen in the Hudson Valley before Large pallets of surplus items are sold to the store which then resells those items for a small fraction of their retail cost giving customers the chance to uncover expensive treasures at a steep discount Products at Fly Deals aren't individually priced each item costs the same depending on what day you visit the price drops to $8 and continues to fall each day until all items are only $1 each on Thursday everyone purchases the most valuable items starting on Friday the price drops so that more items get sold until they're practically given away on Thursday to make way for Friday's new inventory There are some items that are priced individually but most of the items are placed in large troughs where people dig like animals on the farm at feeding time in hopes of hitting the jackpot There's really just one rule at Fly Deals and visitors would have a tough time not hearing about it as they enter the store Huge signs and recorded messages constantly remind customers that they are not allowed to open boxes To avoid people making a mess of the store and leaving things in shambles, the owners have instituted a policy that states if you open a box so buyers need to scan them with their phones or do a search on the Amazon app to discover what treasure may be hiding inside Those who are concerned about broken or missing items can have employees open boxes for them to check the contents I can't answer whether a store like this is for you or not but I can tell you that my experience was both terrible and exhilarating Digging through boxes of discarded items was a bit unsettling The vibe in the room is like being at a seedy casino at three o'clock in the morning desperation and hope hung in the air as an eerie silence was regularly interrupted by a blaring megaphone that warned against opening the boxes While many shoppers appeared to be people looking for deals there were a few who looked like they were professional resellers A store like this also has the potential to attract a seedier element I saw a mother with a young child get stopped at the register and kicked out of the store for attempting to steal multiple items by shoving them all in a larger box The manager told me he usually calls the police when this happens but let her go because she had a baby with her After briefly searching through a couple of bins my son found a brand new USB hub for his computer that was being sold on Amazon for $115 While it was thrilling to find such a good deal the experience was just too creepy and unsettling for me but I can see how the promise of striking it big can be attractive to some people the thought of spending hours sifting through boxes and boxes of unwanted items in hopes of hitting the jackpot was just too depressing for me A new store selling surplus Amazon items in Poughkeepsie could be a goldmine for shoppers, but is it worth the hunt?\nRead More A state grant of $252,000 has been awarded to the Town of Poughkeepsie to redevelop the site of a former Kmart secured through New York's Brownfield Opportunity Area program targets the area of the VanderWater Landfill at Route 44 and Tucker and Burnett drives "Residents ask me all the time about the 'former Kmart site.' It's the town's largest and most visible eyesore," Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor Rebecca Edwards said in a statement Thursday but we now have the resources to bring the community together and re-envision the area for the future." Funding will be used to develop a community-driven "The Department of State’s Brownfield Opportunity Area program has a proven track record of reimagining undesirable areas like the VanderWater landfill and transforming them into valuable community assets," New York Secretary of State Walter T community leaders and residents to create a bold vision for the re-use and redevelopment of this area," he said The larger site encompasses at least 20 property parcels More: 2025 James Beard Awards semifinalists announced, Dutchess chef named a clay mining operation dubbed "Brickyard Hill" occupied the area leaving leftover clay pits to become dumping sites for garbage The site served as a landfill from 1948-1971 The BOA program is meant to aid sites that have been negatively affected by real or perceived environmental conditions Grant funding through New York's Environmental Protection Fund is given after BOA plans are submitted to the state for approval "This is an exciting opportunity to repurpose this area into a mixed-use space for the community to enjoy for generations to come," Assemblymember Didi Barrett said in a statement For more information on New York's Brownfields Opportunity Area program, visit dos.ny.gov/brownfield-redevelopment Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Public officials are demanding answers after the Poughkeepsie Social Security office closed on Jan The Social Security Administration (SSA) says the closure of the office will be temporary But according to Rep. Pat Ryan, the SSA has provided little communication about the timeline of the renovations and other unanswered questions. It's led him and other officials to worry the office may be permanently shuttered, like the Newburgh Social Security office was last year Poughkeepsie resident Ernest Robinson said if he needs to get help with his Social Security benefits he would have to travel over an hour to the closest office in Middletown “You would have to take Metro-North all the way down to Then switch over and come back up on the Amtrak line," Robinson said "So it would be definitely difficult.” The office is currently open for limited services now but Ryan’s office says full services need to be available to Poughkeepsie residents "The renovations will add additional interviewing booths allowing us to provide better service and additional privacy for our visitors A temporary office with limited in-person services opened on February 18 in-person service may visit one of the following Social Security offices: