Good morning, Poughkeepsie.

Hudson Valley residents have rallied behind Ali, an Afghan refugee wrongfully detained by ICE at a routine immigration hearing last week—supporting him with vigils and a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $28,000.

Ali, who fled Taliban threats in 2022 and has no criminal record, now finds strong backing from local community groups.

Kailey McEneany of The Dark Artstress hand crafts unique glow-in-the-dark resin pieces and eerie suncatcher portraits for Halloween—sold on Etsy and at local Hudson Valley craft fairs.

Her work, inspired by a lifetime love of the horror genre, offers one-of-a-kind art for the spooky season.

On October 20, Governor Kathy Hochul ordered 16 landmarks, including the Mid-Hudson Bridge, to shine in red, yellow, pink, and blue to celebrate Diwali.

The lights honor New York’s South Asian communities and show that light wins over dark—local residents see this festive display as a call for new beginnings.

Open Space Institute and Run Wild have secured permanent protection for Verkeerderkill Falls— the 190-foot waterfall in the Shawangunks— along with 94 surrounding acres, with funds totaling $548,000, including $200,000 raised by local trail runners.

The initiative has improved local trails and will soon be transferred to Minnewaska State Park to ensure public access and ongoing conservation.

Drivers in the Hudson Valley experienced smoother roads after Gov. Hochul announced Monday that a $36.6 million Thruway project in Orange County was finished.

The work spanned 48 lane miles from Exit 16 in Woodbury to Exit 17 in Newburgh and included repaving, new railings, and drainage fixes — improvements that will boost road safety.

Metro-North said by spring 2026 the train will go past Poughkeepsie—riders missing their stop may end up at Albany-Rensselaer.

Test trains will run later this year, as the change fills a gap caused by Amtrak tunnel repairs.

John Jay-East Fishkill will be the No.2 seed in the Section 1 Class AAA girls soccer tournament starting Friday and local rival Arlington will be the No.3 seed with the teams possibly meeting in a semifinal matchup.

Research showed that early Hudson Valley teams changed the way basketball is played—teams from Kingston, Newburgh, and nearby towns had many Jewish players and smart coaches like Harry Baum who brought new ideas that led to the modern game.

Historian John Thorn detailed how these local innovations helped pave the way for the NBA.

Team USA coach Mark Bey, a nine-time coach of the year, will host world-class tennis clinics at Sportsplex in New Windsor on November 1st.

The clinics include a men's session from 8 to 10 a.m., a women's session from 10 a.m. to noon and a youth session from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

John Jay-East Fishkill is the No. 2 seed in the Section 1 Class AAA boys soccer tournament + it will face local rival Arlington in the quarterfinal on October 28 if the team wins its first-round match.

Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy Live — Cult of the Rock Star Night

6-8:30 p.m. — Bardavon — Ticket required — Experience a double feature with Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy the Mail Girl at a legendary theater.

Paint & Sip Night at Crew Restaurant

6:30-9 p.m. — Crew Restaurant & Bar — Ticket required — Unleash your inner artist while enjoying wine and appetizers in a guided painting session.

Hudson Valley Speed Dating Event for Ages 20s/30s

7-9 p.m. — Zeus Brewing Company — Ticket required — Experience a fun and efficient way to meet potential matches at this lively speed dating event.

Annual Meeting with Dr. Meg Ronsheim

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. — The Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barns — Registration required — Explore biodiversity changes in the Mid-Hudson region with expert insights from Dr. Meg Ronsheim.