Good morning, Poughkeepsie.

Richard Wager, the longtime publisher of the Journal, died peacefully on Dec.

22 with his family present (he spent 44 years at the paper and supported community causes in Hudson Valley). Colleagues remember him as a champion of local journalism and civic leadership.

Firefighters confirmed that a space heater started the New Year’s Day blaze at Millennial Kingdom Family Church (30 Mansion Dr.) in Hyde Park, and the congregation began a GoFundMe to rebuild the historic property.

A fire on Old Hopewell Road in Wappinger on Sunday displaced several residents, but firefighters controlled the flames without injuries and the Red Cross provided financial help to affected families including children.

A space heater ignited a fire at Crumwold Hall in Hyde Park on New Year’s Day that required a 33‐hour multi‐department response using nearly 500,000 gallons of water and displaced 11 residents — no injuries were reported.

A fire on the western end of Old Hopewell Road in Wappinger forced a road closure and displaced residents after an automatic alarm on Sunday; firefighters subdued most flames by 1:30 p.m.—with the Red Cross later providing financial help for families including children aged 7, 11, and 12.

A 33-hour fire at Crumwold Hall displaced 11 residents without injuries and used 500,000 gallons of water when multiple fire departments responded to a space heater-triggered blaze that started Jan.

1 in Hyde Park.

Aroma Osteria in Wappingers Falls was named Best Italian Restaurant in the Hudson Valley by the 2025 Daily Voice Readers’ Choice Awards.

The restaurant (owned by Alex Kovacs with Executive Chefs Kevin Campos and Sal Twal) has served the community with fresh, high-quality ingredients since 1997.

Walkway Over the Hudson State Park was named Best Outdoor Recreation in the 2025 Daily Voice Readers' Choice Awards.

The historic pedestrian bridge at 61 Parker Ave. gives locals 1.28 miles of scenic views of the Hudson River—connecting Poughkeepsie and Highland.

Best Medicine, the world’s biggest medical drama, reairs today on Fox after its premiere on Sunday; the show filmed across the Hudson Valley in locations including Cornwall and New Hamburg, with local residents serving as extras.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law on Jan.

5 requiring social media platforms to display warning labels to young users about mental health risks from features such as autoplay (and infinite scroll). State officials said companies must show unskippable warnings, with details to come.

Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed measures to safeguard young people online and expand Teen Mental Health First Aid training for every 10th grader statewide (over 180,000 students) as part of her State of the State agenda.

Lawmakers will review the proposals to shield children from online dangers.

Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck earned an A grade from The Leapfrog Group for safety and quality, maintaining the top rating for three consecutive years.

Other regional hospitals received lower grades based on measures like infections and surgical issues.

Actor David Arquette made a surprise appearance at the Awesome Championship Wrestling event last Saturday at the MJN Center in Poughkeepsie.

He entered a rumble match that featured 20 competitors and was eliminated quickly by Richard Holliday.

Paint & Sip Night at Crew Restaurant & Bar

6:30-9 p.m. — Crew Restaurant & Bar — $35 — Unleash your inner artist while sipping your favorite drink and making colorful memories.

Live Music with Just Two

7-10 p.m. — Curry Estate (Restaurant Six) — Free entry — Enjoy captivating performances by a dynamic duo playing hits from the 1960s to today.