Good morning, Poughkeepsie.

Holiday Helping Hand, a fundraising drive by the Poughkeepsie Journal and United Way, collected nearly $17K from 139 donations from Nov.

13 to Dec. 18 to help 30 local groups provide holiday gifts, utility aid and meals to families. Residents can mail checks to United Way at 75 Market St.

Health officials warned that a new flu variant, subclade K, is spreading as cases of flu rise nationwide and may lower the vaccine's match — though the shot still helps prevent severe illness.

Local clinics urge residents to follow flu safety tips and stay informed on local health updates.

After Thanksgiving, New York has seen a steep rise in flu cases, with over 64,000 infections reported and a 75 percent jump in hospitalizations in areas like the Hudson Valley and New York City; health officials urge residents to get vaccinated.

Health officials announced on Monday that select pints of So Delicious Dairy Free Salted Caramel Cluster may contain small stones; consumers are urged to check freezers and call the care line for refunds, as the dessert is sold at retail stores nationwide.

Highland graduate Aden Wiser earned Division III second-team All-American honors from the AFCA — he recorded 38 tackles and 7 sacks while helping SUNY Cortland win its fifth straight Empire 8 title and secure an NCAA playoff berth.

New Year’s Celebration at Noon

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum — $12-$18 — Celebrate 2026 with music, crafts, science demos, and a lively countdown to noon.