Good morning, Poughkeepsie.

Chester businessman Kevin O'Reilly is hosting the fourth annual Courage in Action fundraiser to help two local children with disabilities; funds will build a wheelchair-accessible bedroom for Luke (8, with a rare neurological disorder) and secure a van for Aubree to improve her transportation.

Early Wednesday, June 3, 2026, firefighters struggled to contain a massive blaze near Heritage Plaza that destroyed the historic Avery Building at the former Hudson River Psychiatric Center, and local officials plus emergency crews are investigating the cause.

New York schools are enforcing a device ban for the upcoming Regents Exams by telling students to leave cell phones and electronics at home (Wappingers Central School District asks students to keep devices in their vehicles) to avoid exam invalidation.

A high school junior at Arlington High School in Dutchess County created LuxTTS, an open-source AI voice synthesis model that ranked among the top 0.001% of projects worldwide and drew interest from top tech CEOs.

He was recently honored with the RIT Computing Medal for his work in computing.

New York's phone-free school policy produced positive results as nearly 600 educators reported better focus, improved social interactions, and a 60% drop in bullying.

Governor Hochul said the bell-to-bell ban has helped students concentrate on learning.

Experts advise Poughkeepsie homeowners to set their thermostats to 78 degrees this summer to lower energy costs & maintain comfort.

They also suggest using fans, sealing leaks, and scheduling maintenance to keep air conditioning bills down.

Dutchess County Legislature approved a new Animal Welfare & Community Stewardship Committee on June 8 to coordinate animal protection efforts among law enforcement, animal experts, and community leaders.

The committee will advise on strategies to prevent cruelty and reinforce community safety.

The FDA has upgraded a coffee recall to Class 1 after salmonella was found in dry milk powder mixes sold by brands (such as Royal Gold, Boba Time, and Angel Specialty Products) for use in local cafes and restaurants; consumers should throw out or return affected products immediately.

Chocolate sold locally is being recalled after tests found the prescription drug ingredient sildenafil in Boner Bears Sex Chocolate; the recall warns that the hidden ingredient may interact dangerously with certain medications although no adverse events have been reported.

Paint YOUR Pet at Vino - Crew Restaurant & Bar

6:30-9 p.m. — Crew Restaurant & Bar — Price varies — Unleash your creativity by painting your pet while enjoying wine and appetizers.