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Matt and Dawn are joined by TV fan Mo Walker, to review four new shows available to watch this week. Firstly, Lisa McGee, the creator of Derry Girls is back with a brand new twisty comedic thriller in Netflix's surprising series, How to Get to Heaven of Belfast. Next, also set in Ireland, the foursome watch the gentle drama, The Walsh series. The series is the sort of family kitchen sink drama that the team are always hoping TV would return to, but does the RTE series deliver for them? Next, ITV has a new true story four-parter for Sunday nights. The Lady, about the mystery surrounding The Dutchess of York's dresser. The series is elevated by strong lead performance from Mia Mckenna Bruce who was last seen elevating Netflix's Agatha Christie adaptation, The Seven Dials. Lastly, Dawn struggles to get through Channel 4's docudrama, Dirty Buisness which takes a dramatic look at water companies polluting Britain's waterways. 

Snow and wind expected on Sunday and overnight The National Weather Service is predicting blizzard conditions in the Highlands on Sunday (Feb. 22) and overnight into Monday. A blizzard warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Putnam County from 1 p.m. Sunday until 6 p.m. Monday and for Dutchess from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Monday. Forecasters expect winds of up to 45 mph to be accompanied by falling and/or blowing snow, resulting in reduced visibility. The NWS defines a blizzard as a storm that contains large amounts of snow or blowing snow, with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibility of less than a quarter-mile for at least three hours. Putnam is expected to receive 14 to 22 inches of snow, with rates reaching 2 inches per hour. Dutchess is expected to receive 10 to 20 inches. Temperatures will drop to feel as low as 14 degrees. Wind gusts could reach 45 mph, it said, and the wind and the weight of snow may bring down trees and power lines. Dutchess County has issued travel restrictions for all non-essential personnel starting at 9 p.m. Sunday at 9 p.m. through 4 p.m. Monday. County and Beacon city offices will open at 11 a.m. on Monday. Putnam County also restricted all non-essential travel from 9 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday. Metro-North will operate on an hourly service schedule on Monday, with weekend schedules in place on the branch lines. The Hudson Rail Link connecting bus will be suspended. On Saturday, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in 20 counties, including Putnam and Dutchess. Beginning Sunday, 100 members of the New York National Guard with 25 vehicles will be staged across the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island to assist first responders, and the State Emergency Operations Center activated Sunday morning. The Village of Cold Spring has restricted parking from 5 p.m. Sunday until 7 a.m. Tuesday. Alternative parking is available at the American Legion lot on Cedar Street (south end only; do not use the Ambulance Corps spaces); the Haldane ballfields lot on Route 9D (no permit is required during snow emergencies); the village lots on Kemble Avenue, The Boulevard and New Street; and the Fair Street municipal lot. For updates, call 845-747-7669. [Update: On Tuesday, temporary no parking signs will be placed throughout the village to allow crews to remove snow.] The Village of Nelsonville announced parking restrictions from noon Sunday through 4 p.m. Monday. Parking will be prohibited on village streets, including on Main Street/Route 301. Designated winter parking spots are available on Adams Avenue and the west side of the Secor Street lot. In Beacon, after the accumulation of 2 inches of snow, vehicles cannot be parked on public streets between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Vehicles can be moved to any city public parking lot, but vehicles must be moved from the lots 24 hours after the snow stops falling. See our online calendar for cancelations. For updates, see our Storm Resource Page.

Programs advocate for long-term-care residents When Janice Munson walks through the entrance of a local nursing home, she has a list of names of the aged and disabled residents who have called for help. After those visits, she'll check in with other residents, sometimes asking if they have a physical therapy plan and if they are being taken for supervised walks to maintain their mobility. The answer is often no. "They'll say, 'I know there aren't enough staff, so I don't want to ask.' " Ensuring that residents obtain services is one of Munson's primary roles as a long-term care ombudsman, a position created by the Older Americans Act of 1965. The legislation requires states to provide independent advocates for residents in nursing homes, adult care homes and assisted living and rehabilitation facilities. Munson is among the eight volunteers who, along with five paid staff members, monitor 120 facilities in Region 4, which covers Putnam, Westchester and Rockland counties. Based in Cold Spring and led by Philipstown resident Judy Farrell, the region is one of 15 in the state. Region 5, based in Fishkill, covers Dutchess and five other counties. Nursing homes are the priority; the state wants them visited weekly and other facilities at least quarterly, said Farrell, who is also a member of the Philipstown Town Board. Although physical abuse draws headlines, complaints range from a staff member giving a resident the wrong medication or failing to follow therapy plans to dirty rooms, substandard food and a lack of recreation. Along with residents, the friends of residents and facility staff can report concerns, said Farrell. During the pandemic, when quarantines prevented families from visiting long-term care facilities, Farrell arranged for "compassionate care" visits. In one case, she helped a man unable to get his dying mother discharged to home hospice care. When she arrived home, he called Farrell, crying and grateful. "You can't replace that feeling," she said. "It's greatly satisfying." Arnold Tanner knows the feeling. A volunteer in Region 4, he visits a facility near his home in Sleepy Hollow twice a week. Carrying an iPad filled with notes, he meets first with people in the long-term-care units before introducing himself to newcomers and checking in at the rehab unit. He sometimes gets "a little better feel for the place" from newcomers and rehab patients, who are less reluctant to speak up, he said. Those in long-term care may fear retribution by staff, which is also a source of complaints. Statewide, the ombudsman program received 18,346 complaints during fiscal 2024, including 1,680 to the Cold Spring office. About a third were care-related, a broad category that includes accidents, falls, general requests for assistance and concerns about medications and physical therapy. Another 15 percent were complaints about staff failing to "honor and promote a resident's right or preferences" about healthcare, privacy, visitors and other areas. Many complaints related to food and admissions, including discharges and evictions. "Sometimes people face discharge for nonpayment when they might be eligible for Medicaid," Farrell explained. Complaints occasionally lead to legal action. In 2024, the state attorney general announced a $45 million settlement with Centers for Care, which owns four facilities, including one in White Plains, for "years of tragic and devastating mistreatment and neglect." According to the attorney general, "call bells regularly went unanswered, residents were forced to sit in their own urine and feces for hours, meals were not provided in a timely manner and personal belongings, including hearing aids, dentures and clothing, were often lost or stolen." After making On the Shoulders of Giants, a film about the orthopedics department at NYU Langone that was a Tribeca Film Festival Special Jury Award finalist in 2024, Cold Spring resident Peter Sanders turned to ombudsman programs. In March 2025, he began ...

Program will fund filters for PFAS contamination Property owners in Dutchess and Putnam counties will soon be able to be reimbursed for testing their wells and installing filters if they exceed limits for a family of chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems. Both counties have been selected for a state pilot program to address private wells contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Known as "forever chemicals" because of their persistence in the environment and the human body, PFAS have been used for decades in nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing and other consumer products, as well as firefighting foams. Researchers have linked them to various health problems, including cancer, low birthweights and high cholesterol. Health concerns have led officials to close contaminated water sources serving the City of Newburgh and other municipalities, and supply filters to well owners in Dutchess and Putnam, including Mahopac and Putnam Valley. According to a groundwater study completed nearly 20 years ago, half of Philipstown's 9,400 residents at the time relied on well water. While Dutchess has yet to finalize details, Rian Rodriguez, Putnam's public health director, told the Legislature's Health Committee on Feb. 11 that the state chose for the pilot six counties "at higher risk" of PFAS contamination. "The goal is to reduce exposure to PFAS from private wells in communities more likely to be impacted, and assess the feasibility for a more comprehensive, statewide program," he said. Homeowners and business owners in Philipstown and other parts of Putnam should be able to begin applying for the county's $1.5 million allocation by June, said Brian Stevens, an associate public health sanitarian with the Health Department. If testing, which can cost hundreds of dollars, confirms levels exceeding the state guideline of 10 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS (the two most common versions of the chemicals), homes and businesses can be reimbursed up to $5,000 for installing "point-of-entry" filtration systems on their main water lines. The state will also subsidize up to $1,000 for "point-of-use" filters installed on faucets or other outlets where water is dispensed, up to $10,000 to connect a property to a public water system and up to $1,500 for ongoing testing and maintenance. New York and the federal Environmental Protection Agency regulate limits on PFAS in public drinking water supplies, such as the reservoirs that serve residents of Beacon and Cold Spring. But the estimated 1 million homes and businesses in New York state that rely on wells must test on their own unless they are part of a larger investigation tied to a verified source of major pollution. Dozens of properties near the Mahopac Business District received point-of-entry filters from the state after testing showed more than 100 private wells in the area had PFAS levels above state limits. The state began testing after discovering chemicals in monitoring wells installed during the district's cleanup of volatile organic compounds and other toxic substances linked to the use of dry-cleaning chemicals. New York has also allocated funds to the Town of Kent, the Birch Hill Acres and Starr Ridge Manor communities in Brewster, and Floradan Estates in Putnam Valley to address PFAS contamination through filtration systems. One such system is filtering water used by students and staff at Putnam Valley Elementary School, whose well once showed levels of 38.3 parts per trillion for PFOS and 23.3 ppt for PFOA. The district blames the problem on the Putnam Valley Fire Department's use of PFAS foams at its firehouses. State funding is also being used by the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority to connect two water systems with PFAS-tainted wells to Hyde Park, which draws water from the Hudson River. The federal government estimates that as many as 50 percent of U.S. households have some level of PFAS in their water — whether from a wel...

New York State has issued an Extreme Cold Watch, in which "feels-like" temperatures may dip as low as -35 degrees, from 6 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 7) to 1 p.m. Sunday, for an area that includes Dutchess and Putnam counties. Officials recommend residents adjust their plans to avoid being outside during the coldest part of the day, which will be Sunday morning.

Carmel residents say they fear crime, drugs A proposal to open a 24-hour drop-in crisis program in an office building off Route 6 drew both love and hate from Town of Carmel residents in public hearings. Everyone seemed to love the idea behind People USA's Stabilization Center, an urgent care for behavioral health where children, teens or adults suffering a mental-health or substance-abuse emergency could be treated and linked with services. But some people hated its location near their businesses and residences. "I have no doubt that it will help those in crisis," said one woman, identifying herself as the person attacked in October by a homeless man on a trail in Carmel. "But adding another facility that serves people in crisis so close to homes, local businesses, senior communities and the rail trail is not appropriate." The Planning Board agreed. On Jan. 28, Carmel became the second Putnam County town after Brewster to reject the Stabilization Center, delivering what may be a fatal blow to an idea championed by County Executive Kevin Byrne. In a statement, Byrne said he would reappropriate $2.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds allocated to the project. "We will continue working with providers, community partners and municipal leaders to increase public safety and expand access to care through evidence-based approaches, including but not limited to mobile crisis response and other prevention efforts," he said. Some of the people attending the Carmel Planning Board meeting applauded as Craig Paeprer, the board's chair, announced the 6-to-0 vote by its members to deny an application by People USA, which operates crisis centers in Dutchess and Ulster counties, to open one in an office building near the Putnam Plaza Shopping Center. People USA said the center would have been staffed with certified counselors, social workers and peer specialists, assisting up to eight people at a time, and would have had security trained in de-escalation techniques on-site from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. A public hearing in November began with a video shot at People USA's Stabilization Center in Poughkeepsie, which opened in 2017 as a collaboration with Dutchess County. The video showed a "hope room" where people are assessed, areas where those waiting to go home or be taken to another program can rest, read books or play games and a room for children and their families. A procession of speakers who followed the video presented different images — homeless people loitering in the nearby 24-hour McDonald's on Route 6, deputies dropping off inmates released from the Putnam County jail, discarded syringes and home invasions. The board's resolution rejecting the project cited multiple reasons, including the center's incompatibility with the area's other businesses and Carmel's "long experience with Arms Acres," a nearby residential substance-abuse treatment facility. Arms Acres and "similar programs" potentially "require a disproportionate commitment of community services, particularly police and emergency services," according to the Planning Board. Residents in Brewster invoked similar concerns as those in Carmel when they rallied in 2023 against People USA's plan to lease space above the Over the Rainbow Learning Center at a shopping center in the village, which is part of the Town of Southeast. The Town Board responded by approving in October 2023 a six-month moratorium on permits for medical and mental-health clinics, including a "mental health crisis or stabilization center." Twelve days later, residents attending a public forum on the center conjured images of intoxicated clients loitering outside, endangering children and littering the ground with drug paraphernalia. Byrne said in a letter to residents the following month that he directed People USA to abandon the Brewster location, setting off the search that led to Carmel. The organization, in its proposal to the Carmel Planning Board, said Southeast had "prejudged the application b...

Editor's note: Beacon was created in 1913 from Matteawan and Fishkill Landing. 150 Years Ago (January 1876) A resident reported that the new year in Matteawan was greeted with the ringing of bells, firing of shotguns, crowing of roosters, burning of bonfires of stolen beer barrels and fence rails and "yelling and hooting of the factory hoodlums." A burglar stole hams and whiskey from William Murray's grocery store in Fishkill Landing. A resident in Fishkill Landing reported finding a grasshopper on New Year's Day, when the temperature reached 48 degrees. One of the Methodist pastor's children was sitting at his father's writing desk in the parsonage at Fishkill Landing, reading by the light of a lamp, when he tried to refill the oil by lifting the reservoir cap. A fire burst startled him, and the lamp fell to the floor. Passersby extinguished the flames. Pat Murphy, the proprietor of a saloon on the Matteawan road, fell down a set of stone steps at his home and broke his collarbone. A Kingston firm had constructed 30 dwellings for A.T. Stewart in Glenham, with the men laying 50,000 bricks per day. The Hudson River Railroad Co. drew stone for the foundation of a brick depot at Fishkill Landing, a short distance north of the old depot. William Ager of Fishkill Landing had surgery at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, during which half of his upper jaw was replaced with a silver plate. William Ott, a brakeman on the Dutchess and Columbia Railroad, lost a finger while uncoupling cars at Dutchess Junction. The railroad's new bridge at Glenham passed a quality-control test when three locomotives weighing 50 tons each passed over and it didn't collapse. Congregants at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Matteawan presented their pastor, the Rev. C.W. Millard, with a gold watch and chain and $100 [about $3,000 today]. A farmer's wife in Glenham, Mrs. Walter Cromwell, 35, hanged herself, apparently because of depression following a decision against her in a lawsuit involving her mother's estate. She had suffered a bout of melancholy about a year earlier, but her husband thought she had recovered. 100 Years Ago (January 1926) The Public Service Commission authorized Central Hudson Gas and Electric Co. to buy the Citizens Railroad, Light and Power Co., the Fishkill Electric Railway Co. of Beacon and the Southern Dutchess Gas and Electric Co. The Mase Five quit the Hudson River League to play basketball as an independent. Eugene Cadmus, the manager, said the quintet had not been able to secure a consistent home court, had to travel too far and believed they could draw more paying spectators on their own. Philip VanBuren died. Many years earlier, he opened the Cozy Lunch on Main Street after leaving his job as a foreman at a local silk company. Philip Hoyt, 37, a Beacon native, was appointed as a deputy commissioner of the New York Police Department. The Princeton graduate spent 10 years as a reporter for The New York Times before joining the city finance department. Beatrice McClintock Ward of Beacon served her husband, George Ward, with divorce papers. After reaching George Ward by "long-distance telephone" at his office in New York City, the Poughkeepsie Eagle-News said he provided this statement: "For practically the last year, Mrs. Ward has been seeking to gain her freedom from the contract in which she entered in August 1923. She has consistently refused to move to Boston or New York, where I have been employed [by the Hearst Corp.] since last summer, and she has exhibited a constant desire to return to her artwork, which in my opinion precludes any chance of maintaining home life." Mrs. Ward sought custody of their infant son. James Murray, 63, died after falling down a flight of stairs at his residence on Willow Street. "He suffered a broken hip and, because of his advanced age, little hope had been held for his recovery," the Eagle-News reported. Dr. George Jennings, who responded, suffered a hemorrhage while he struggled to lif...

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Clients apprehensive as detentions rise A different reality existed in late November when Joe Lavetsky helped a Hudson Valley man from Turkmenistan apply to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. In that reality, Lavetsky, a Beacon-based immigration lawyer, represented a model candidate for naturalization: a taxpaying green-card holder with letters of support from the correctional facility where he works and the fire department for which he volunteers. Then there is reality since Dec. 2, when the Department of Homeland Security announced a pause on applications for asylum, green cards and naturalization for immigrants from 19 countries, most of them African and Muslim. The announcement came six days after an Afghan native granted asylum killed one member of the National Guard and wounded another in Washington, D.C. Lavetsky, who specializes in green-card and citizenship cases, said he has recently represented people from three of those countries — Cuba, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. The Turkmen is "a really good guy" who has had a green card since 2021 and is ready to become a naturalized citizen, he said last month. But the application "is going nowhere anytime soon." Lavetsky and other immigration attorneys have a front-row seat to the fear and anguish of immigrants whose hopes of remaining in the U.S. are being delayed or dashed as the administration of President Donald Trump works to fulfill his vision of mass deportations. ICE, in a news release issued Dec. 31, said its officers are focused on removing criminals: "While ICE's law enforcement officers risk their lives to arrest the worst of worst criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, child sex abusers, terrorists and gang members, they have faced a 1,347 percent increase in assaults and an 8,000 percent increase in death threats against them thanks to the lies and smears from sanctuary politicians and radical activists, and hoaxes spread by the media. "Their heroic efforts have led to historic results, helping DHS remove more than 622,000 illegal aliens, including tens of thousands of the worst of the worst criminal offenders." But the agency also targets immigrants applying for asylum, legal permanent residence (green cards) and naturalization, advocates say. More people are being detained when they show up for what used to be routine check-ins with ICE or hearings in immigration court, said Rubie Alicea, an attorney with Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, which has offices in Peekskill. At the end of November, ICE detentions nationally (53,520) and at its facility in Goshen (166) were more than two times higher than a year earlier, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. Nearly three-fourths of detainees, 73.6 percent, had no criminal convictions, according to TRAC. Amid the agency's push, accompanying clients to those appointments "is the most stressful thing," said Alicea, who mostly handles deportation cases and has represented people from Dutchess and Putnam counties. "It's hard for me," she said. "I cannot tell them not to go, but I cannot guarantee they will not be detained." In addition to pausing asylum, green-card and citizenship applications, DHS said that anyone approved for those benefits since Joe Biden's inauguration as president on Jan. 20, 2021, will be subject to a "comprehensive re-review, potential interview and re-interview." Some of the affected are immigrants who have overstayed their visa but later married U.S. citizens and are applying for a green card, said Lavetsky. Detaining them "never happened in the past," even during the first Trump administration, he said. But now, even if they have a strong application, Lavetsky warns them that they may be detained during their interview. He has started accompanying clients to interviews at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in Albany and Manhattan. At a recent interview for the client applying for a green card after marrying a ...

More than $400 million dollars has poured into New York and Pennsylvania for rural health care.FEMA has approved nearly 4 million for fire departments across Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties so they can upgrade equipment. It's cervical cancer awareness month. A middle school teacher in Liberty is a finalist in a nationwide competition.  

Putnam has highest rate in state A surge in flu cases has propelled New York State to a one-week record and sent infections and hospitalizations in Dutchess and Putnam counties to their highest levels in at least two years. Cases reported by testing labs and hospitals reached 71,123 statewide for the week ending Dec. 20, the most recent data available, raising the tally of the achy and the sniffling by 38 percent over the previous seven days and the most in one week since New York made flu cases reportable in 2004. According to James McDonald, the state's health commissioner, hospitalized patients rose over the previous week by 63 percent to 3,666 - 36 percent of them 75 and older and 18 percent between 65 and 74. Hospitals and nursing homes in New York have also been experiencing outbreaks this flu season, which annually runs from October to May. More cases are being reported due to heightened testing, McDonald said in a statement, "but this record number underscores that this season is impacting more people than in other recent years." His department's data shows that 24 percent of state residents, including 22 percent in Dutchess and 24 percent in Putnam, have received a flu vaccine. "There are simple steps New Yorkers can take to protect themselves and those around them, including getting vaccinated, staying home when sick and practicing everyday preventive measures," he said. Rian Rodriguez, Putnam's public health director, offered the same advice. He said on Dec. 24 that Putnam's rate of 918 flu cases per 100,000 residents topped the state and was 61 percent higher than Nassau County on Long Island. Both the 903 flu cases in Putnam and the 1,276 reported in Dutchess (nearly three times higher than the previous week) for the week ending Dec. 20 were the highest seven-day totals since at least October 2023, according to state data. Both counties also have more hospitalizations this flu season - 13 in Putnam and 98 in Dutchess - than at the same points in 2023 and 2024. Hospitalizations increased from 31 to 47 in Dutchess and from one to nine in Putnam over the previous week. A county-produced heat map (putnamcountyny.gov/respdash) based on ZIP code data shows Carmel with the highest rate in Putnam for the week ending Dec. 20, with the rate in 10524 (Garrison/Philipstown) higher than in 10516 (Cold Spring/Philipstown). Children are the most vulnerable to the flu, followed by older adults, Rodriguez said. Pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease, asthma and diabetes are also at risk of serious complications. In addition, cases from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and COVID-19 are rising, although their numbers are dwarfed by the flu. Statewide, there were 4,904 reported cases of RSV for the week ending Dec. 20, an increase of 25 percent from the previous week. The number of people with COVID rose 3 percent, to 4,255. On Dec. 26, the most recent reporting day, the state health department reported two positive COVID tests in Dutchess and five in Putnam.

Public can comment through Dec. 31 Five years after it was due, Putnam County has released a draft of its updated Solid Waste Management Plan and is seeking public comments through Dec. 31. Each county in New York state is required by law to update its solid waste plans every 10 years; Dutchess released its most recent plan in 2023. One problem for Putnam is a lack of data to determine how much waste, and of what type, each municipality generates. The plan blames this on "inconsistent reporting by private haulers" during the annual permit application and renewal process and "variations in recordkeeping" by its towns and villages. The data gap means the county can't track waste disposal and recycling rates within each town and village. The plan recommends clearer guidelines and increased oversight. But it stops short of recommending a "flow control" system, which would allow the county to dictate to each municipality where waste must be delivered, because "Putnam County is a home-rule county, so each municipality has the authority to district as they see fit." The plan says 78,822 tons of municipal solid waste were generated in Putnam County in 2024, compared to 71,641 tons in 2010, even as the population shrank from 99,644 to 96,870. In addition, 11,083 tons of waste were recycled and composted, compared to 4,839 tons in 2010. Putnam doesn't have any active landfills; some of its waste is hauled to western New York and Ohio. The incinerator in Peekskill burned 54,000 tons of Putnam waste in 2024, and one in Poughkeepsie burned 2,500 tons. The plan notes that a Putnam landfill is not feasible due to cost and watersheds. It said it doesn't know how much local waste is going to landfills because it's dropped at transfer stations outside Putnam and mixed with waste from other counties. In its previous plan, released in 2010, Putnam urged the Legislature to adopt the pay-as-you-throw program that "treats waste disposal like a utility service, where users pay proportionally to their usage. Households that produce less waste pay less, while those generating more pay higher fees. This pricing model provides a direct financial incentive to reduce, reuse and recycle, leading to decreased landfill use and increased participation in diversion programs." The updated plan moves away from that recommendation, saying that research and outreach demonstrated that such a system was "not feasible" for most towns. Organics make up 25 percent to 30 percent of the county's waste stream. While several municipalities encourage backyard composting and food scrap drop-off, Putnam does not have its own composting facility. The plan recommends a feasibility study to determine if, and where, one could be built. The plan also recommends a pilot curbside collection program for compostable materials. In the meantime, compostable materials deposited at drop-off sites are composted at Sustainable Materials Management in Cortlandt Manor and turned into soil amendments that can be bought locally. (In Philipstown, food scraps can be dropped on Saturday mornings at the former landfill on Lane Gate Road.) The draft plan can be viewed online here, or copies are available at the Philipstown Town Hall, Cold Spring Village Hall, Butterfield Library in Cold Spring and Desmond-Fish library in Garrison. Comments are being accepted at bit.ly/PutnamSWMP or by leaving a voicemail at 845-808-1390, ext. 43164.

County executive rejected extra prosecutors Dutchess County legislators voted on Wednesday (Dec. 17) to keep two new prosecutors and an administrative assistant in the district attorney's budget for next year, despite warnings from County Executive Sue Serino about "difficult decisions" ahead. By a quick voice vote, legislators rejected Serino's veto of their bipartisan amendment to add the positions to the $653.6 million spending plan that they passed Dec. 8. Their additions included five new DA positions overall, costing $711,000, plus other amendments that increased Serino's $651.4 million proposal by $2.2 million and the use of reserve funds, or savings, by $7.2 million. In a memo explaining her veto, Serino said District Attorney Anthony Parisi had decided to "walk back" an agreement to hold the positions vacant to offset $300,000 in spending on promotions for 22 of his attorneys. Serino said she sought a compromise: allowing Parisi to keep two of the five new positions, a third prosecutor and a junior accountant approved by the Legislature. Even without the three extra positions, Parisi's office would have 73 employees, compared to 68 when he took office last year, said Serino. "You all share in the responsibility for fiscal sustainability," she said before Wednesday's override vote. "We will need to compromise in the new year to work together to do what's right for our community while minimizing the impact on taxpayers." In a statement released shortly after the override vote, Parisi said the positions were "the five most critical" of nine he asked legislators to add to Serino's draft budget. Without them, the district attorney's ability to prosecute would have been "significantly reduced," he said, citing "growing demands" from the reform of state evidence-sharing rules and ongoing efforts to fight drug and violent crime and elder abuse. "Unfortunately, the county executive's vetoes failed to acknowledge the real-world consequences these cuts would have had on victims, law enforcement and the safety of our communities," said Parisi. All 15 Republicans voted for the amended budget, with nine of 10 Democrats (one was absent) voting against the plan. It anticipates $268 million in revenue from sales taxes, $107 million from property taxes and the use of $34 million in savings - $7 million more than Serino proposed. The tax levy will stay below a state-mandated cap, and the rate assessed on property owners will fall slightly, from $2.17 to $2.10 per $1,000 of assessed value. The budget also eliminates 10 vacant jobs and leaves 17 unfilled. Legislators also rejected a proposal by Serino to end an exemption from the county's 3.75 percent sales tax on clothing and shoes costing less than $110. (Dutchess consumers pay 8.125 percent sales tax, which includes 4 percent for the state and 0.375 percent for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.) Letting the exemption expire as scheduled on March 1 would have yielded $5.4 million in additional revenue, including $133,000 for Beacon under a revenue-sharing agreement, according to Serino. Beacon's share of sales tax collections, which was $6.1 million in 2025, will still rise from 2.35 percent to 2.45 percent in 2026, or about $268,000. On Wednesday, legislators also approved each municipality's share of the $107 million property-tax levy. Beacon property owners will be assessed $4.7 million. After Jan. 1, Serino will have to work with a Legislature led by Democrats, who defeated five Republican incumbents in November to flip the 15-10 majority. Democrat Yvette Valdés Smith, who represents Ward 4 in Beacon and part of Fishkill as the minority leader, is expected to succeed Republican Will Truitt as majority leader.

Competing reports vary widely on cost A study released on Dec. 10 suggested that, if it moves forward, a proposal for New York State to take over Central Hudson would cost $3.5 billion. Customers would see immediate savings, according to projections from the Hudson Valley for Public Power coalition. By Year 30, a publicly owned utility could save ratepayers $210 million per year, it said. At the same time, an executive summary of a second study, released the same day and funded by opponents of the proposed Hudson Valley Power Authority, doubled the purchase-price estimate to $6 billion to $7.5 billion. The industry-backed Protect Our Power coalition also added $2.6 billion to $5.2 billion for a potential transition from natural gas to electric service that the HVPA would study. Customers could see their bills swell by 36 percent, it said, with conversion from gas to electric costing about $57,000 per home by 2028. Protect Our Power concluded that the cost of a takeover could climb as high as $12.2 billion. Legislators must parse the conflicting narratives as they consider a bill that would have the state take control of a system serving 315,000 electric customers and 90,000 natural gas customers in parts of nine counties, including Dutchess and Putnam. Central Hudson says it's not for sale; separate legislation would allow the state to buy the utility under eminent domain, which requires only "just compensation" for property needed for public use. Central Hudson, one of six private utilities in the state, has been owned since 2013 by Fortis, a Canadian holding company. The HVPA bill, introduced in the state Senate by Michelle Hinchey (a Democrat whose district includes parts of Dutchess and Putnam counties) and in the Assembly by Sarahana Shrestha (a Democrat whose district includes the northwest corner of Dutchess), outlines the process by which the state would create a "democratically governed" nonprofit that would work to keep residential electric bills below 6 percent of household income. Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne, a Republican, opposes the HVPA, calling the notion that it will save customers money "speculative, at best." Leaders of the electrical workers' union that represents about 700 Central Hudson employees also oppose the plan, as do the Orange, Ulster and Dutchess chambers of commerce. Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino, a Republican, has taken a wait-and-see approach, saying that "any new proposal should come with clear, concrete guarantees that it will truly deliver the savings and reliability people deserve." Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, a Democrat, is a proponent, saying residents should be confident their utility "can meet the challenges of the day, including climate change." In February, Kingston became the first municipality in the region to back the plan, unanimously passing a resolution. A decision by legislators isn't imminent. Shrestha said this summer that she doesn't expect Democratic leaders to call for a vote until the bill has enough support to pass, which she said could take two or three years. The Hudson Valley for Public Power study relied on data from Central Hudson's rate-increase requests to the state Public Service Commission. It asserts that a public authority would save customers $15.2 million in Year 1, $116.8 million in Year 20 and $210.5 million annually by Year 30. The study did not analyze supply costs, assuming they would be the same for either entity. On the delivery side, it projected an immediate 1.9 percent decrease in gas and electric rates and a 12.7 percent decrease over Central Hudson's expected rates by Year 30. Overall, the estimated savings would be $2.9 billion over 30 years, it said. The estimates include taxes paid to localities and charitable giving, "to make this as close to an apples-to-apples comparison" as possible, said Scott Burnham, one of the analysts. The report assumed the HVPA would receive an interest-free $76 million loan from New Yor...

Spending plan passes without Democratic support Dutchess County lawmakers on Monday (Dec. 8) approved a $653.6 million budget for next year along party lines, with Democrats uniting against the spending plan as they prepare to take control of the Legislature next month. All 15 Republicans voted for the amended version of a draft budget that County Executive Sue Serino, also a Republican, presented in November. It anticipates $268 million in revenue from sales taxes, $107 million from property taxes and the use of $34 million in general-fund reserves, or savings - $7 million more than Serino initially proposed. The tax levy stays below a state-mandated cap, and the rate assessed on property owners will fall slightly, from $2.17 to $2.10 per $1,000 of assessed value. The budget also eliminates 10 vacant jobs and leaves 17 unfilled. Legislators rejected a proposal by Serino to end an exemption from the county's 3.75 percent sales tax on clothing and shoes costing less than $110. (Dutchess consumers pay a total 8.125 percent sales tax, which includes 4 percent for the state and 0.375 percent for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.) Letting the exemption expire as scheduled on March 1 would have yielded $5.4 million in additional revenue, including $133,000 for Beacon under a revenue-sharing agreement, according to Serino. Beacon's share of sales tax collections, which was $6.1 million in 2025, will still rise from 2.35 percent to 2.45 percent in 2026, or about $268,000. Serino, who said the changes create "a very large budget gap," now must decide whether to sign or veto the budget, or to reject individual amendments. But Democrats, who will soon take control, have already rendered their verdict. Nine of the 10 Democrats (one was absent) voted against the plan, even though it contains several amendments they proposed. One increases spending for a trust fund for affordable housing from $1 million to $2 million and another allocates $200,000 for grants of up to $25,000 to municipalities for initiatives to combat homelessness. Nevertheless, said Yvette Valdés Smith, whose district includes Ward 4 in Beacon and part of Fishkill, the budget "does not adequately address the affordability crisis that our residents are facing." The Legislature also approved proposals to add $711,000 to the district attorney's office for five full-time positions and $750,000 to the budget for safety and security improvements at municipal buildings. In her budget presentation in November, Serino highlighted $2.5 million for youth programs and $2 million for supplemental ambulance services. Buttressing the county's shorthanded EMS services has been a priority. The budget also funds two school resource officers, a Drone as First Responder Program for the Real-Time Crime Center and a new Elder Justice Task Force. The latter, a collaboration with the Office for the Aging and the district attorney and sheriff's offices, "will investigate, identify, pursue and prosecute those who exploit older adults through abuse, fraud or neglect," said Serino. After Jan. 1, Serino will have to work with a Legislature led by Democrats, who defeated five Republican incumbents in the November election to flip the 15-10 majority. Smith, who had been the minority leader, is expected to succeed Will Truitt as majority leader.

Co-hosts Kathy Kruger and Jonah Triebwasser interview Dr.  Renee Fillette about the great work of Dutchess Outreach.

Dutchess, Putnam clerks say they have new dates for next year Routine naturalization ceremonies scheduled for this month in Putnam, Dutchess and Ulster counties to welcome new U.S. citizens were abruptly canceled last week by the federal government, surprising local officials. Events planned for Wednesday (Dec. 3) in Putnam, Friday (Dec. 5) in Dutchess and Dec. 12 in Ulster were called off by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services (USCIS), which approves applicants for citizenship. Brad Kendall, the Dutchess County clerk, said that USCIS told his office that it didn't have enough candidates for the Dec. 3 ceremony but confirmed dates for seven ceremonies in 2026. The agency gave the same reason - a lack of candidates - to Putnam County Clerk Michael Bartolotti, but confirmed dates for next year, with the first scheduled for Feb. 4. "To my recollection, we have never had a cancellation of this nature in the past," said Bartolotti. Last month, ceremonies scheduled in seven New York counties, including Ulster, Rockland and Westchester, were also canceled but rescheduled after Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican whose district includes Philipstown, intervened. USCIS said it canceled ceremonies because the county judges may not have the authority to conduct them. Lawler said on Nov. 20 that the agency wanted to end events in Rockland and Westchester altogether, requiring applicants to travel to New York City. In a Nov. 14 letter to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, Lawler said making immigrants travel to New York City "would take multiple hours as well as cost these folks money due to bridge and road tolls, as well as gasoline," he said. In announcing the return of the ceremonies, Lawler described them as "among the most moving and patriotic events I attend." For his wife (a naturalized citizen from Moldova) and other immigrants, taking the oath "represents years of hard work, sacrifice and an unwavering belief in the American Dream," he said. Rep. Pat Ryan, a Democrat whose district includes Beacon, said in a statement on Friday (Dec. 5) that he also has written Edlow to protest the cancellations and ask for more information. Civics Lesson The newly revised civics test for immigrants seeking naturalization has 128 questions. During the exam, a USCIS officer asks 20 questions, chosen at random, and the applicant must answer at least 12 correctly. See how you'd do with the practice test at dub.sh/128-questions, but note that, on the oral test, the multiple-choice answers are not provided. In the previous test, applicants had to answer 10 of 100 possible questions correctly. The USCIS said it revised the test in response to an executive order issued Jan. 20 by President Trump, "Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats." In an email sent this week to the clerks in Putnam, Dutchess and Ulster counties, the agency's Albany director, Gwynne Dinolfo, asked them to confirm in writing that their judges were authorized under federal law to oversee the ceremonies. She said that the judge must have jurisdiction over civil actions "in which the amount in controversy is unlimited. Because county courts in New York have a jurisdictional limit of $25,000 in civil cases, [the judge] may not be authorized to administer the naturalization ceremony." Taylor Bruck, the Ulster County clerk, told the Daily Freeman that the directive was confusing. "The law hasn't changed, so implying that the counties have been doing something unlawful for the last 15 years without anyone mentioning it doesn't make sense," he said on Tuesday. "No one said anything about this during the first Trump administration, so why now?" Naturalization ceremonies complete a process in which legal permanent residents (aka "green card" holders) have been vetted and passed English-language and civics tests. Naturalized citizens have full voting rights and are protected from deportation except in limited circumstance...

Supports local review of Fjord Trail project New York State has rejected a claim that it should review a proposed renovation of a Route 9D events space tied to the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, rather than the Town of Fishkill. HHFT wants to convert Dutchess Manor into a visitor's center, offices and parking for the proposed trail. The Fishkill Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing on Thursday (Dec. 11) that will continue in January to hear feedback. At its Nov. 13 meeting, the Planning Board spent an hour discussing recent revisions to HHFT's plan for the site, especially concerns about traffic and parking. It also addressed arguments that HHFT should not be allowed to "segment," or separate, Dutchess Manor's restoration from the larger, 7.5-mile Fjord Trail, which is undergoing a state environmental review. Under New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act, segmenting projects to avoid a comprehensive review of its impacts "may result in legal action." In an Oct. 28 letter addressed to the Planning Board, the state parks department said that because the Dutchess Manor property is located within Fishkill, "it is appropriate for the town to analyze the potential impacts arising from its specific land use actions." The agency also said that Dutchess Manor, which is projected for completion in 2027, will have "independent utility" from the trail, which is scheduled for completion in 2031, and support the existing recreational trail system. It added that its review of the overall project will incorporate the visitor center's impact on traffic, parking and community character. Dominic Cordisco, the Planning Board attorney, called the letter "a very clear statement from state parks" and advised the board to focus "on the particulars of the Dutchess Manor proposal - this particular site - rather than the trail." Protect the Highlands, a group that opposes the trail as proposed, has been trying to convince the Planning Board that HHFT improperly segmented the project. Its president, former Cold Spring Mayor Dave Merandy, wrote in a Nov. 12 letter to the board that because state parks is leading the review of the Fjord Trail and is HHFT's "partner" in the project, its position on segmentation "isn't surprising." "That claim is flawed, as argued in the many letters and comments you have received from PTH [Protect the Highlands], PTH members, concerned neighbors and residents of the Hudson Highlands," he said. "We ask that you revisit and carefully consider those letters and comments during your deliberation." Extended discussions about segmentation and the trail's impact on traffic and residents have subsumed deliberations about HHFT's plans for the actual building, which call for demolishing three additions to the original 1868 residence and restoring the structure, which is on the national and state registers of historic places. In addition to a first-floor visitors' center with exhibit space and 181 parking spaces (including 29 for staff), HHFT's proposal calls for a store where hikers can buy snacks, water and other items, said Amy Kacala, HHFT's executive director. Food trucks would be available, along with shuttles to ferry hikers from the parking lot to trailheads. There would also be public restrooms, a lawn for picnicking and events, and new landscaping and lighting. HHFT is asking the Planning Board to approve its site plan and a special-use permit. It will also seek Town Board approval to rezone 14 Coris Lane, an adjacent residence that HHFT bought to use for its offices. HHFT said it expects Dutchess Manor to draw 36,000 visitors annually. In response to questions from Planning Board members about traffic, a representative of AKRF, a consulting firm hired by HHFT, said it projected that 85 vehicles would enter the property each weekday, rising to 154 on Saturdays and Sundays. That would constitute "an acceptable service level," even after the trail is completed, the representative said. At the board's requ...

Everyone's brains seem to be on high alert in the digital age, although society has become more accepting of mental health struggles and treatment. In this, the third part of a series, we examine the challenges facing seniors. Tina is 94 years old and has attempted suicide twice this year. Once, she stuffed a plastic bag into her mouth. "I couldn't keep it in," said the Beacon resident. "If someone would have forced it on me, it would have worked. But I couldn't. I took it out." Another time, she took a scarf from her closet and tried to hang herself from a door in her apartment. But she slid to the floor. Her daughter called after seeing that attempt on a video monitor connected to her cell phone. "What are you doing?" "Resting," Tina responded. When asked if she was glad that her suicide attempts failed, she said, "Not really. I hated my life." Then she looked up at the ceiling and raised her hands like she was pleading. "Take me," she said. "I'm ready." Tina, who was willing to discuss her mental health struggles only if her real name was not used, is facing many of the typical health problems that come with aging. She and her husband, who is 91, used to enjoy driving to McDonald's in Fishkill for a meal before browsing at shops along Route 9. But a few years ago, her husband began showing signs of dementia, and her children insisted that she stop driving. "They said if there's an accident, we'll be responsible," she said. Dementia has taken a toll on her marriage of 50 years. "We hardly speak," she said. "Just little phrases like, 'Are you sleeping?' and 'You want to eat now?'" Her husband can no longer take out the garbage and is often puzzled by his electric razor. Tina has fallen several times. She traded in her cane for a rollator, a fancy walker with wheels, handbrakes and a seat. She was cheerful at a recent lunch. She enjoyed her food and seemed excited about her dessert, a chocolate bar. She was well-dressed, with nice jewelry. Her makeup and hair were impeccable. "I love to laugh," she said, adding that her life had improved recently with someone coming to her house to drive her and her husband to McDonald's. When it was suggested she seek help for her mental health, she said, "At this age, does it matter?" Tina's reaction is not unusual. According to federal government data, while people ages 65 and older comprise 17 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 22 percent of suicides, with men far exceeding women. One study estimates that a third of seniors worldwide experience symptoms of depression, although clinical depression is far less common. The key factors are well known: isolation, loss and physical infirmity. Dutchess and Putnam counties offer many resources to help older people with their mental health, including support groups and Friendship Centers where seniors meet, go shopping, have lunch and enjoy group activities. In 2023, Dutchess started a program called Friendly Calls, in which volunteers call seniors for conversation. This year, Putnam launched Putnam Pals, a program that pairs volunteers with seniors. "There's nothing better than seeing someone face to face," said Marlene Barrett, director of Putnam's Office for Senior Resources. Suicide Among Older People About 50,000 people kill themselves each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those ages 85 and older have the highest rates, at 22.7 per 100,000, followed by those aged 75-84 and 35-44. The lowest rates were among those aged 65-74 and 15-24. Men ages 75 and older have the highest rates overall (42.2 per 100,000). A study in the Journal of Affective Disorders of adults ages 50 and older in five low- and middle-income countries found that older adults experiencing moderate food insecurity were 2.6 times more likely to attempt suicide, and older adults experiencing severe food insecurity were 5.2 times more likely. If you are facing mental-health challenges, call or text 988. Counselors are ...

In this episode, Kathleen Hickman, RN, BSN, MS, CASC, Administrator and Clinical Director of Dutchess Ambulatory Surgical Center, shares insights on ASC growth through higher acuity cases, the impact of new CMS codes, and how innovation and culture are shaping the future of surgical care.

In this episode, Kathleen Hickman, RN, BSN, MS, CASC, Administrator and Clinical Director of Dutchess Ambulatory Surgical Center, shares insights on ASC growth through higher acuity cases, the impact of new CMS codes, and how innovation and culture are shaping the future of surgical care.

In this episode, Kathleen Hickman, RN, BSN, MS, CASC, Administrator and Clinical Director of Dutchess Ambulatory Surgical Center, shares insights on ASC growth through higher acuity cases, the impact of new CMS codes, and how innovation and culture are shaping the future of surgical care.

Meet Saw and Brittany Naing, the husband-and-wife team powering Ojai's rock-and-roll barbecue joint Joplin's — and the culinary force many locals already know from The Dutchess. Saw grew up in Myanmar under military rule, fronting a heavy-metal band whose politically charged lyrics earned him unwelcome attention from the junta before he emigrated to Los Angeles in 2007.Los Angeles Times+1 In California kitchens he traded guitar amps for grill grates, cooking everywhere from Bouchon and Café Pinot to Tallula's in Santa Monica before finally landing in Ojai as chef-partner at The Dutchess, where he cooks a deeply personal Burmese-Indian-meets-California menu.Ojai Food and Wine+1Brittany came up through the music world too, running an online music publication, De La Vie TV, before moving into restaurants, eventually becoming beverage director at The Dutchess and creating Namari, a cult-favorite non-alcoholic amaro.Namari+3Joplin's+3Podbay+3 Together they dreamed up Joplin's — named for the dog who adopted them during the pandemic — a “food, drinks, rock & roll” roadhouse on East Ojai Avenue where Texas-style barbecue picks up Burmese and Indian accents, local meat and produce, and a seriously dialed-in playlist.Eater LA+4Joplin's+4Los Angeles Times+4In this episode we talk about Saw's journey from Rangoon stages to Ojai smokers, Brittany's path from showrunner to beverage innovator, the near-miss rock-and-roll pop-up that Covid canceled, and how they've poured every second act of their lives into Joplin's and The Dutchess. It's a conversation about risk, reinvention, and what happens when you take “low and slow” as a life philosophy, not just a way to cook ribs.We did not talk about whether Limp Bizkit is actually nu-metal, cloning polo ponies or the consequences of the Foreign Plot on the French Revolution. To learn more about Saw & Brittany, check ot https://www.joplinsojai.com

City and Dutchess, Putnam counties allocate funds The Beacon City Council voted Monday (Nov. 3) to spend $50,000 to provide grocery gift cards to city residents who have lost federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. At the same time, the Trump administration said Monday that it will partially fund SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, for November following two court orders. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had planned to freeze payments starting Nov. 1 because of the federal government shutdown. The program costs $8 billion monthly, but the White House said an emergency fund it will use has $4.65 billion, or enough to cover about half the normal benefits. It's not clear exactly how much beneficiaries will receive, nor how quickly they will see value show up on the debit cards they use to buy groceries. November payments have already been delayed for millions of people. In Dutchess County, 17,152 people rely on food stamps (including 640 households in Beacon); in Putnam County, it's 2,885 people. In Beacon, beginning Thursday (Nov. 6), $50 gift cards to either Key Food (268 Main St.) or the Beacon Natural Market (348 Main St.) or $60 in coupons for the Beacon Farmers' Market (Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 223 Main Street parking lot) will be distributed at the city's Recreation Center at 23 West Center St. Cards and coupons will be available Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Beacon residents enrolled in the SNAP program must provide photo identification, proof of residency (such as mail) and their SNAP card. Options are limited to one per SNAP recipient. Additional times will be added as needed. The council has set no end date for the program; it will be determined based on demand for the cards, the use of funding, and the resumption of federal benefits or the implementation of a comparable state program. Updates will be posted at beaconny.gov. Mayor Lee Kyriacou asked city staff to develop the program last week, when it became apparent that federal benefits were at risk of lapsing. The grocery stores and the farmers' market, which is operated by Common Ground Farm, provided the cards to the city at a substantial discount, Kyriacou said. The city opted for a direct transfer of cash-like gift cards because it was the quickest and easiest program to control, given the tight deadline, he said. "We wanted to get assistance to people so that they could use and decide what they want," City Administrator Chris White said. The city will conduct online outreach and distribute flyers in both English and Spanish at low-income apartment complexes to inform residents about the program. Funding for the Beacon program was drawn from a $75,000 allotment in the 2025 budget for planning studies. White noted that "this is only a patch. The federal government needs to step up and maintain its commitment to people." Dutchess County announced it would commit $150,000 per week to support local food pantries, for up to 10 weeks, pending approval by the Legislature at its Tuesday (Nov. 6) meeting. The county said the amount was determined after consulting with Renee Fillette-Miccio, who chairs the Dutchess County Food Security Council. In Putnam, County Executive Kevin Byrne approved a request by legislators to provide $150,000 to fund food pantries. The Associated Press contributed reporting. Local Food Assistance Beacon's Backyard Kitchen The group serves a hot breakfast at 12 Hanna Lane in Beacon on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and a to-go lunch until 10:30 a.m. See instagram.com/beaconsbackyard. Beacon Farmers Market SNAP benefits are doubled through Greens4Greens, a partnership with Common Ground Farm in Wappingers Falls. To redeem benefits, visit the manager's tent, where the benefit card can be charged any amount in exchange for $1 tokens. For every $2 processed, customers will receive a $2 voucher, up to $50. As of Nov. 2, managers are distributing ...

Includes more sales-tax revenue for Beacon The budget proposed by the Dutchess County executive for 2026 would lower the property tax rate and provide more sales tax revenue to Beacon. Sue Serino's proposal to the Legislature includes $651 million in spending. Among its provisions, it would eliminate 10 vacant jobs and leave 17 unfilled. (See dutchessny.gov.) Despite those changes, spending would rise by 1.8 percent, Serino said on Oct. 29 in an address to the Legislature. She cited a $6.7 million increase in "state mandates," primarily for daycare, early intervention, and special-education programs, as well as higher costs for salaries and benefits. Revenues would come from $273.8 million in sales taxes, $106 million in property taxes and $23 million in general-fund reserves, or savings. The tax levy would be $224,000 below a state-mandated cap, and the rate assessed on property owners would fall from $2.17 to $2.10 per $1,000 of assessed value. Serino said she anticipates $5.4 million in additional sales tax revenue by allowing an exemption from Dutchess' portion of the sales tax (3.75 percent) for clothing and shoes costing less than $110 to lapse on March 1. (The 8.125 percent sales tax includes 4 percent for the state and 0.375 percent for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority). Beacon's share of sales taxes, which totaled $6.1 million, will rise from 2.35 percent to 2.45 percent in 2026, or an additional $268,000. According to Serino, ending the clothing and shoe exemption would yield an extra $133,000 for Beacon. Democrats criticized the decision to end the exemption, which took effect in 2022. Legislator Yvette Valdés Smith, who represents Ward 4 in Beacon and part of Fishkill and is the Legislature's minority leader, called it a "rash decision" that will hurt working families. "The Republican-led county government's mismanagement of funds - including a luxury clubhouse at the baseball stadium, mindboggling pay raises and failed litigation against New York State - has necessitated this tax increase," Valdés Smith said in a statement. Republicans, who hold 15 of 25 seats on the Legislature, faced criticism for funding upgrades at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls, the home of the Hudson Valley Renegades, the New York Yankees' High-A affiliate. They also authorized spending up to $100,000 to sue the state over a state law requiring most local elections to be held in even years, but no funds were spent, according to the county. The state Court of Appeals upheld the law in October, but a new lawsuit challenging its legality has been filed in federal court. Smith said the budget "fails to properly address the EMS [emergency medical services] crisis" and "contains no meaningful funds for our efforts to deal with the housing crisis." In her budget address, Serino highlighted $2 million in funding for supplemental ambulance service to address shortages that have led to long wait times, along with $2.5 million for youth programs and $1 million for the county's Housing Trust Fund, which supports affordable housing projects. Her budget would fund two school resource officers, a Drone as First Responder Program for the county's Real-Time Crime Center and a new Elder Justice Task Force. That collaboration with the Office for the Aging and the district attorney and sheriff's offices "will investigate, identify, pursue and prosecute those who exploit older adults through abuse, fraud or neglect," according to Serino.

Topics range from affordability to bikes and firefighters In a repeat of last year's budget deliberations, Beacon City Council members on Monday (Oct. 27) debated with Mayor Lee Kyriacou and City Administrator Chris White whether the city has done enough to advance affordable housing. Each year, after the mayor introduces his budget proposal in October, department heads present their spending plans. Their proposals typically review accomplishments, notable projects scheduled for the following year and any changes in spending. This week, after presentations on the highway, water and sewer and wastewater departments, the discussion turned to "council priorities." A year ago, council members sparred with Kyriacou and White over affordability before adding $75,000 to the 2025 budget for a communications plan and studies on affordable housing and non-vehicular transportation. The money had not been spent, Finance Director Susan Tucker said on Monday. This year's discussion centered around a proposal to create a director of housing solutions. Kingston and Hudson have hired similar staff, while Beacon officials have suggested that Ben Swanson, who has been Kyriacou's assistant for four years and will become the deputy city administrator in 2026, could work on housing. Kyriacou said on Monday that he believes Swanson, who has a law degree from New York University, has "far better qualifications" than anyone the city could hire. Instead of bringing in someone new, "I'd rather start with expertise," the mayor said. In addition, Beacon's planning consultant, Natalie Quinn, who worked for the Poughkeepsie Planning & Zoning Department from 2018 to 2022, could be a resource, he said. That led Paloma Wake, who, along with Amber Grant, will return to the council next year, to argue that housing has not gotten enough attention. "We've been stuck in the same place" on the city's requirement of 10 percent below-market rate units in new developments of 10 or more for four years, she said. "We've been hearing that the Housing Authority has the potential to build more [subsidized housing] for a while," Wake said. "There is a need to be even more proactive. What I really want to see out of this budget cycle is a clear commitment to resourcing this issue." The city's 10 percent affordable (or "inclusionary zoning") policy is an outlier in the region because it demands something of developers without a giveback, such as added density or reduced application fees, Kyriacou said. The council has been reluctant to consider a giveback for a higher affordable percentage, but "I am more than willing to go there," he said. He noted that Beacon accounts for 20 percent of the affordable housing stock in Dutchess, although the city comprises only 5 percent of the county's population. But with yearslong waiting lists at subsidized complexes in Beacon, we "still need to be doing everything we can to be ambitious enough to meet the need," Wake said. The council agreed to put inclusionary zoning and the effect of short-term rentals on the housing market on a workshop agenda. From there, Molly Rhodes, who is leaving the council to become a Dutchess County legislator, inquired about the cost of conducting a bike study. Earlier this month, members of the Beacon Bicycle Coalition presented the council with a petition signed by 1,000 people requesting a study on bike lanes and other infrastructure. Beacon does not have the resources to do that immediately, said White, but an agreement with the county Transportation Council for an inventory and gap analysis of sidewalks could lead to a report on bikes. Some council members appeared frustrated. "Every time we discuss [priorities]," the administration's response is: 'What do you not want to do? You're asking for too much,' " said Pam Wetherbee. "We know in our own lives that if we do one thing, it precludes us from doing another," said White, who added that the city has received funding commitments to repair sidewalks, ...

Meet Saw and Brittany Naing — the husband-and-wife team behind Ojai's new rock-and-roll-tinged barbecue spot, Joplin's, and the culinary force you already know from The Dutchess. Saw is executive chef and partner at The Dutchess, where his Burmese-Indian roots shape one of Ojai's most celebrated menus; at Joplin's, he channels that same precision into brisket and ribs, leaning on good cuts, time, and low, slow heat.Brittany runs the front of house at Joplin's, setting the tone for a room that's equal parts hospitality, comfort food, and guitar-amp energy. Instagram+4The Dutchess+4Saveur+4We talk about the juggle — how you staff and multi-task across two restaurants — and why culture beats chaos in a busy kitchen. Saw traces his path from Bouchon and Tallula's to becoming chef-partner at The Dutchess, and, yes, his years as a guitarist (with a soft spot for nu-metal like Korn) before kitchens became his stage. Brittany shares how the couple met working in LA restaurants, and why Joplin's leans into “food, drinks, and rock & roll” without losing sight of the essentials.Plus: why Niman Ranch ribs, a dialed-in brisket, and a FOH that truly sees guests are the secret to Ojai's newest staple. Instagram+6Variety+6Eater LA+6We talked about the daily grind, weightlifting and superior sides. We did not talk about Mickey Mantle's off-the-field antics, bauxite production in Western Australia or the Flying Dutchman.Learn more at https://www.joplinsojai.com/ or https://www.thedutchessojai.com/

In Dutchess comptroller race, incumbent faces challenge from legislative chair When Dan Aymar-Blair, the Dutchess County comptroller, first told his mother he was running for the position, she responded: "I'm so proud of you, honey. What is that?" The anecdote got a laugh from a dozen residents gathered at a Hyde Park library town hall last month, but it also captures the central challenge for Aymar-Blair, a Beacon resident and former City Council member, in winning re-election to a full term as comptroller: persuading voters to care about an office so little-understood that even his mother needed an explanation. His Republican opponent, Will Truitt, the 30-year-old chair of the Dutchess County Legislature, faces a different challenge. To win the race, he must mobilize a GOP political machine that has enabled Republicans to control Dutchess - the Legislature, the county executive's seat, the sheriff's office - for nearly all of the past three decades. The vote should be close. Although there are about 20,000 more registered Democrats in the county than Republicans (75,000 to 56,000), another 12,000 voters are enrolled in smaller parties and 60,000 have no declared party affiliation. Control of the office has repeatedly flipped between parties. But Republicans have historically been more effective at turning out voters in off-year elections like this one. In recent presidential years, Democratic turnout in the county is around 70 percent; in recent off-year local elections, that drops to below 45 percent, according to data from the county Board of Elections. "It's a truly purple county," said Michael Dupree, who chairs the Dutchess County Democratic Committee. Aymar-Blair won in November by fewer than 1,000 votes in a special election held during a presidential election year, a contest that occurred because Democrat Robin Lois resigned to become deputy comptroller of local government and school accountability in Albany. Gregg Pulver, a Republican who had chaired the Legislature but lost his seat, was appointed to the role. The narrow margin meant the outcome hinged on absentee ballots. When it comes to the question Aymar-Blair's mother asked, however, the two candidates have very different answers. "This office is an essential part of checks and balances," Aymar-Blair told the group in Hyde Park, part of a series of non-campaign events he has held in libraries to explain what his office does. The comptroller, he told the group, serves as an independent watchdog responsible for scrutinizing budgets, contracts and capital projects. Truitt, who was elected to the Legislature when he was 20, frames the job differently. To him, the comptroller is akin to a chief financial officer, someone who works in step with the county executive and Legislature, keeping the government "one united team." "Anyone here who's ever worked in small business knows if you have a CFO [chief financial officer] - a comptroller - who's working to undermine the rest of the team, you are going to fail," he told supporters at a fundraiser at a donor's home in Fishkill last month. A self-described "Energizer Bunny," Truitt bounded through the crowd of 170 supporters and more than two dozen Republican elected officials, giving hugs, shaking hands and pausing for quick huddles with campaign aides. The event, advertised as offering "$250 hot dogs, $500 burgers and $1,000 steaks," delivered on its promise of red meat on the grill and in speeches. Speakers at the fundraiser railed against the brainwashing of the young in academic institutions and warned of growing Christian religious persecution across the country. The crowd paused for a moment of silence for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, assassinated days earlier, and Truitt vowed to uphold the political firebrand's legacy. Dutchess GOP Vice Chair Doug McCool whipped up the crowd: "Truitt!" he called. "Will do it!" the crowd bellowed back. Truitt hopes these officials, donors and rank-and-file Republicans wi...

Quality of life, public safety at stake Before firefighters in Cicero in Onondaga County could battle the blaze that engulfed a residence in August, they first had to overcome a "buildup of everything," according to Chief Jim Perrin. Boxes, papers and "old stuff, new stuff" prevented their attempt to enter through the front door, and they confronted more clutter while fighting their way through the garage, he told The Post-Standard in Syracuse. "There was only a narrow path," said Perrin, whose firefighters found the deceased resident between the kitchen and living room. "Everything else was piled from floor to ceiling." That is the kind of tragedy Dutchess County officials are hoping to prevent with an initiative to help people overcome hoarding problems. Officials with the county's Health and Social Services departments recognized that "there are quite a few people hoarding" in Dutchess and proposed doing something to support them, said Jean-Marie Niebuhr, the county's mental health commissioner. Working with a consultant, a task force that included those two departments and the Office for Aging designed a program that begins with an in-home assessment. Hoarders who want help are paired with an "interventionist" from the Department of Mental Health who seeks to ease their discomfort, or even distress, about discarding stuff. They also help people set interim goals, such as clearing a path to a particular part of the residence. Convincing someone to accept help can be difficult, especially because hoarders can be driven by shame to isolation, but Dutchess has had some successes, said Niebuhr. "It's even prevented homelessness, because sometimes these situations get so bad that an individual could be evicted from their place of residence or the fire inspector might say this place is uninhabitable," she said. Someone driven to that extreme is considered to have a disorder that is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, "the Bible of diagnoses in the world of mental illnesses," said Niebuhr. The problem affects about 2.6 percent of the population, but the rates are higher for people over age 60 and those with mental-health diagnoses such as depression, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Hoarders are not just rabid collectors or poor housekeepers, but people so unable to discard stuff that their living space, and sometimes their porches and lawns, fill up. "It gets to the point where a person's home is so full of stuff that you might not be able to cook on the stove, sleep on the bed or sit on the couch because there's stuff everywhere," Niebuhr said. What people hoard can vary, ranging from newspapers to furniture, cars and animals, and the repercussions extend to family and neighbors living next to junk-filled properties. Firefighters in Beacon have encountered hoarding and are trained in how to adjust to the problems it presents, said Chief Tom Lucchesi. Those problems go beyond restricting access during emergencies, he said. Hoarding "increases the fire load, causing fires to burn hotter and spread more rapidly," said Lucchesi. "In addition, pathways are often blocked, which can complicate both rescue and evacuation efforts, while also increasing the risk of injury or entrapment for responders." Earlier this month, more than 200 animals were found at the home of a wildlife rehabilitator on Long Island, where authorities discovered a 95-year-old woman who they say was essentially trapped in her room due to clutter. Cats, dogs, parrots, roosters, hedgehogs, chinchillas, guinea pigs, voles and flying squirrels were among the 206 animals found Oct. 1 at the home in Suffolk County. The residence was infested with insects and cluttered with debris, garbage and household waste, making certain areas impassable, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said. Dutchess has organized training sessions for staff at community organizations who may encounter people with the problem. Alon...

Send us a textHeidi Ramsey retired after 23 years with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, serving in various operational and administrative capacities during her tenure.  During this time, she was responsible for creating SIGNAL, a preparation course for troopers seeking promotion to sergeant; the Public Safety Leadership Academy, a 10-week leadership course for mid-level police supervisors; and Ohio ASSIST, a three-day post critical incident seminar for first responders dealing with the aftermath of traumatic events.  She also held assignments at the Academy, Labor Relations, Legal Services, and Human Resources prior to her retirement in 2018. Currently, Mrs. Ramsey serves as an instructor at the FBI National Academy, a 10-week leadership course for law enforcement executives from around the world.  Her primary course of instruction is Leading At-Risk Employees, which provides resources and strategies for managers to deal with employees who are suffering from substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress, suicide, and depression.  She also teaches Navigating Internal Leadership Crises, which deals with strategies for managing crisis situations considering tactics, policy, communication, and wellness issues. Mrs. Ramsey graduated from the FBI National Academy in December 2016 and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cleveland State University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Capital University, and a Juris Doctorate degree with a concentration in Employment Law from Capital University Law School.  She is a certified attorney in the State of Ohio and resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, Mike, and their two dogs, Dutchess and Star.Find Heidi RamseyInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/heidiramsey222/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/heidi.marshall.524Find The Suffering PodcastThe Suffering Podcast InstagramKevin Donaldson InstagramTom Flynn InstagramApple PodcastSpotifyYouTubeThe Suffering Podcast FamilySherri AllsupSupport the showThe Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram TikTok YouTube

Federal government settles over land claims In a settlement with the federal government, eight Dutchess and Putnam County landowners, including five in Beacon, were awarded $1.06 million in compensation for property taken for a proposed 13-mile rail trail - apparently the first resolution in a slew of similar lawsuits. Metro-North, which acquired the dormant Beacon Line in 1995, is negotiating to relinquish the tracks to the state for a Beacon-to-Hopewell Junction trail. It would wind from Beacon's train station for 4 miles around the city's southern perimeter before running parallel with Tioronda Avenue and the east end of Main Street. The entire Beacon Line is 41 miles long and stretches to the Connecticut border. The eight plaintiffs are represented by Lewis Rice, a law firm in St. Louis that specializes in rail trail "takings" cases. Four own homes on Tioronda Avenue and another is the limited-liability company behind the condos at 1 East Main St. The property under and adjacent to the tracks was seized in February 2024 under the National Trails System Act, which allows abandoned railroad lines to be converted to parks. A feasibility study commissioned by Dutchess County and released in August recommended tearing out the unused tracks between Beacon and Hopewell for $46 million to $56 million rather than installing a path alongside them. Landowners adjoining the corridor can claim swaths of land likely lost in the 19th century, when railroads that needed the corridors purchased or condemned the land or acquired easements, according to Steve Wald of Stewart, Wald & Smith, another St. Louis law firm specializing in rail-trail property cases. The firms argue that modern owners are "predecessors in title" who "have the same rights as the original landowners." The plaintiffs in this case and similar ones elsewhere in the country say that, in the event of a conversion of use to something other than rail access, they should receive "full possession and control" or be compensated. If a court agrees, appraisers determine the amount of land lost, as well as any damages related to loss of privacy and/or security from the trail construction. More than 80 abandoned railroad lines in New York state have been converted to trails, including the 13-mile Dutchess Rail Trail that stretches from Hopewell Junction to the Walkway Over the Hudson and the 12-mile Putnam County Trailway between Baldwin Place and Brewster. More lawsuits are pending. Stewart, Wald & Smith has at least three outstanding cases that name 260 landowners. In Beacon, their clients include the Elks, Lank's Automotive, Lori Joseph Builders, Levi Reavey Sr. and Whitefield Properties. On Aug. 21, Lewis Rice filed a lawsuit on behalf of G.P. Beacon LLC at 578 Main St. and property owners in Fishkill and Pawling. On Sept. 17, Stewart, Wald & Smith filed a claim for owners in Fishkill, Hopewell Junction, Pawling and Poughquag.

You thought they might be finished with OSF just because they wrapped up Suits? Hardly. They're just getting started. As they bridge the gap to their new launch coming soon, they had to stay true to their Suits Roots™ and review Meghan Markle Rachel Sussex (who knew?)'s new show. To say they have been influenced by the Dutchess is an understatmenet. Amanda and Maggie were so smitten with the show they both jumped up and made egg dishes because Meghan makes it look that easy.  Next week: With Love, Meghan-Season 2   

From Romance to Red Flags: Dutchess Dior's chilling relationship with her baby daddy EXPOSED on FB

This month we will bring you the 2 other existing episodes of RR, plays of Shakespeare's contemporaries. Next up: The Dutchess Of Malfi Check out booksboys.com for links to our social media, merchandise, music, etc, as well as patreon.com/booksboys for the latest episodes of Playboys Extra, Darkplace Dreamers, Film Fellows, Animation Adventurers and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey yo! There has been enough shade thrown WrestleMania's way, so we are going to talk about what we LIKED about the biggest event of the year! We also chat about some of the other events that occurred over the past week including a couple of great shows from AEW. In our retro timeline we are covering the go home Smackdown to Backlash '01. Do we find out what the rules are for a "Dutchess of Queensbury" match? Guess you will have to listen to find out! Enjoy!

Empire Training Center for the Arts is a new vocational venture operating out of The Chance Theatre on Main Street in Poughkeepsie, New York.Their first major fundraising event in Poughkeepsie is coming up on March 15. The Dirty Dutchess: An Evening of Vaudeville, Burlesque and Broadway is directed by Peter Flynn. Flynn is a New York based director, writer and educator and he joins us now - along with Empire Training Center for the Arts Co-Founder and Executive Director Trish Santini.

Did a live stream and was joined by Dutchess from the Boomer Bunker podcast. We had a lovely chat, and now you can listen to it if you missed the stream.

This album review contains material that may be unsuitable for children under 17 years old - but so does every episode, honestly.That Rihanna Reign just won't let up!!!!!!Happy Birthday Rihanna!!!! We - and by "we" we mean the world - can't get enough of you and your impact. Dutchess of Done, Mother of Mug, Countess of Cunt, and not to mention A HITMAKER!!!!!!!!Get ready to get RATED R... Listen in as we recant the time, place, and state of emotion we and Rih all were in when Rated R dropped. The year was 2009... it was a dark and stormy night, and... anyway press play!!!!!Watch us on The Psyce' s Youtube channel and Follow us everywhere @thepsycepodcast.

Cat is missing from her cradle, leaving the motley shocked. The Dutchess charges the group with her safe return, and Rowan as her champion in this task. Can they find her in time?

In this week's episode I am joined by Owen Brayson. Owen had a humble beginning with a neighborhood squirrel dog that turned into so much more many years later. Even when he went looking to get into squirrel dogs he stumbled a bit and was finally given some direction that put him on the right path. That path was a River Run Feist, and Dutchess was her name. She was the start of many successful years in the squirrel dog business. Unfortunatly Hurricane Katrina made squirrel hunting almost impossible and Owen was forced to get rid of his beloved squirrel dogs. Luckily he was able to pick up without missing a beat when he retired and is back at it once again. He is even hosting a number of UKC Squirrel Hunts.   Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://fullcrymag.com https://www.southernhoundhunting.com  Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde chapter 17, narrated by Isaac Birchall Subscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads https://www.patreon.com/theessentialreads https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join SUMMARY: A week later, Dorian is entertaining guests at his home, Selby. He talks with Lord Henry, the Dutchess of Monmouth, and her husband about the nature and importance of beauty, and other matters. The duchess criticises Lord Henry for placing too much importance on beauty. When the conversation turns to love, Lord Henry maintains that love, like life, depends on repeating great experiences over and over again. Dorian agrees as usual with Lord Henry and excuses himself. The guests hear a groan and a thud from the other side of the room, and rush over to find Dorian laying on the ground. At supper, Dorian has sudden chills, and thinks about what caused him to fall. He was certain that he saw the face of James Vane at the window.

With the freehold holding an event for the Dutchess' arrival, a strange series of sounds draws the motley outside where the dark streets hold more than they expect.  

For the last episode of the year I decided to do something different. I did a live stream and brought some friends along for the ride. It was supposed to be a recap of 2024, but was really more of a BS session between friends. There will probably be a more standard ranty episode later this week. Guests include Mike & Tabby of the Grays Taproom, The Undercover Brother from the Bromigos Podcast Matty Mysh, John and the Dutchess from the Boomer Bunker podcast, and Jason of the Weather'd View and HorribleDesigns.com

HERE YE HEAR YE! The Grande Dame of Potomac, the Dutchess of Surry County, Mrs. Black Bill Gates, the SHE-EO of the House of Huger herself has been found guilty of being an absolute hot mess and in her own words "LIT" while driving! Naturally a gathering of DMV Divas to cover this breaking news needed to happen! Aarti and Taria discuss this mess that Karen has gotten herself into and a full week of Bravo! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therealityispod/support

Rowan and Erin work to prepare Kelly as The Dutchess arrives at the freehold. Edie is quite surprised by an offer she receives. Dark tidings wrap the four together before the evening relents. 

49ers are 4 plays away from a very different season. They're not a bad team, they're a good team having a bad year.0:45: The 49ers aren't as bad as you think3:26: The 4 plays that would have turned the 49ers into a 10-win team:11:26: The stat that explains the Brock Purdy drop-off:19:39: John Lynch has missed on a ton of top picks and that needs to change in the next draft36:19: Holy shit. Have you read this Jets story?42:51: Nick Nash — the best Bay Area football player you've absolutely never heard of53:58: Today in history:55:46: The Dutchess joins the showSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode:  E956 PERSONAL PODCAST – Chicken Soup for the Dog    Description:  Kelly gets a triggering notice from the Doctor and Dutchess is having a hard time.    Coupled with Chaos full episodes and bonus content subscriptions are available here:  Premium Content, including Additional 90 Day Fiancé episodes, coverage of other TLC and A&E shows and even some crime news along with more personal podcast episodes are available by subscription at:    Supercast: https://coupledwithchaosnetwork.supercast.tech/    Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/coupledwithchaos    Apple: Coupled with Chaos Channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/coupled-with-chaos/id6442522170    Contacts us:  Email: Coupledwithchaos@gmail.com    Web site: https://coupledwithchaos.com    Facebook: @Coupledwithchaos    Instagram: @Coupledwithchaos    Twitter: @CoupledwChaos 

Episode: E956 PERSONAL PODCAST – Chicken Soup for the Dog  Description: Kelly gets a triggering notice from the Doctor and Dutchess is having a hard time.  Coupled with Chaos full episodes and bonus content subscriptions are available here: Premium Content, including Additional 90 Day Fiancé episodes, coverage of other TLC and A&E shows and even some crime news along with more personal podcast episodes are available by subscription at:  Supercast: https://coupledwithchaosnetwork.supercast.tech/  Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/coupledwithchaos  Apple: Coupled with Chaos Channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/coupled-with-chaos/id6442522170  Contacts us: Email: Coupledwithchaos@gmail.com  Web site: https://coupledwithchaos.com  Facebook: @Coupledwithchaos  Instagram: @Coupledwithchaos  Twitter: @CoupledwChaos 

Yvette Valdes-Smith knows firsthand how spiraling housing costs have made Beacon unaffordable to many. Yvette and her husband rented in Beacon for years, but moved to Fishkill when they realized they couldn't afford to buy a home here.  “We shouldn't have to struggle with paying our utility bills, our rent and our mortgages,” she says in our interview. “Affordability is critical to me and to pretty much every voter I've spoken to. And housing is a huge issue. It's going to require us not being NIMBY about things. We have to increase housing stock.”   Raised in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, Yvette went to college in New York, became a public school teacher and started a family before winning a seat on the Dutchess County Legislature, where she is Minority Leader. Now she's running for NY State Senate District 39 on the Democratic ticket.  In addition to housing affordability, her campaign is focused on issues like abortion rights, gender-affirming care, gun safety and youth services.  “We need more youth services,” she says. “I'm a mom. I've experienced the lack of childcare in this county. I've experienced youth programs closing or not being available. Think about summer camps, how they'll go online and they'll be gone in three seconds.”  But winning won't be easy. The current State Senator in the seat she's running for, Republican Rob Rolison, is a seasoned pol who won the spot by about 7,000 votes two years ago. In this episode, she talks about what it will take to beat him – including lots and lots of canvassing in purple and red areas of the district.  Senate District encompasses Beacon along with parts of Putnam, Dutchess and Orange counties. 

Leadership by AllDavid Zeman is Chief Strategy Officer at ENT and Allergy Associates... THE Nation's Largest ENT, Allergy & Audiology Practice.He shares the incredible story of a hospital system that was struggling. Everything was chaotic until one leader introduced a simple but powerful mantra that changed everything. It united the staff work and the hospital became much better place for both the employees and the patients. You'll hear how this powerful approach redefined leadership and inspired lasting change.......now you can use this with your team.What You'll Discover in this Episode:A Challenge that Sparked Empowered Leadership.Three Steps to Foster an Engaged Team.An AI Strategy Enhance Communication and Workflow.The Connection between Hearing Loss and Dementia.How to Make Tough Leadership Decisinos.Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dzeman22/Learn more about ENT and Allergy Associates: https://www.entandallergy.com/------ENT and Allergy Associates see over 150,000 patients every month with over 300 clinicians in 50+ office locations in Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties in Long Island, New York City, northern New Jersey.-------Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter