Hudson Valley 12-Year-Old Advances To National Spelling Bee Finals Hudson Valley 12-Year-Old Advances To National Spelling Bee Finals
Hudson Valley 12-Year-Old Advances To National Spelling Bee Finals A young Hudson Valley student could soon be a national champion. Orange County resident YY Liang, age 12, of New Windsor, is one of eight kids who made it through five rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals, advancing to the Thursday, May 30 finals, which will be shown live on iON television at 8 p.m. Four of the Elite 8 are from California and Texas (two from each state), and the others are from California, Colorado, North Carolina, and Florida. Liange is a nationally-ranked junior tennis player who enjoys video games and has a talent for drawing. A seventh-grader, …
Netflix's 'You' Shoots Scenes At NY Diner Netflix's 'You' Shoots Scenes At NY Diner
Netflix's 'You' Shoots Scenes At NY Diner The fifth and final season of a hit Netflix series took up residency at a Long Island diner to shoot some scenes. Lights, camera, action! The cast and crew of Netflix’s “You,” which began filming for its fifth and final season in early March 2024, popped by Long Beach’s Laurel Diner on Thursday, May 23. Find out why #joegoldberg aka #pennbadgley is #stalking the #laureldiner in #longbeachny in the 5th and season of #YOU on #netflix later this year! Posted by Laurel Diner on Thursday, May 23, 2024 Led by Penn Badgley (who also starred in “Gossip Girl” and “Easy A”), the show foll…
Netflix Movie Being Shot In Hudson Valley Casting For Multiple Roles Netflix Movie Being Shot In Hudson Valley Casting For Multiple Roles
Netflix Movie Being Shot In Hudson Valley Casting For Multiple Roles A Netflix movie that will be produced in the region is casting to fill multiple roles. According to backstage.com, “A Song in the Dark” will be shot in Orange County from Monday, Sept. 16 to Friday, Oct. 18, in Middletown and in the surrounding areas of the Hudson Valley. One role is to play a lead female actor named Shannon Harper with the age range from 18 to 25. Casting is also being conducted for the roles of lead male actor John. Harper (ages 40 to 55) and lead female actor Elsa Harper (ages 40 to 50). The roles of Shannon Harper and John Harper pay $3,500 per week for an estimated f…
$35K Winning Lottery Ticket Sold At Deli In Peekskill $35K Winning Lottery Ticket Sold At Deli In Peekskill
$35K Winning Lottery Ticket Sold At Deli In Peekskill One lucky visitor to a Northern Westchester deli walked away with much more than a sandwich.  A top-prize-winning Take 5 lottery ticket worth $35,001 was sold for the drawing on Tuesday evening, May 14 in Peekskill, New York Lottery officials announced.  Officials added that the winning ticket was bought at Friend's Valley Brook Market at 1053 Main St. (Route 202).  If you're looking to try your luck, Take 5 drawings are televised twice daily at 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Winners have up to a year from the drawing date to claim their prizes. 
Actor/Writers Group Seeking Talent From Hudson Valley Actor/Writers Group Seeking Talent From Hudson Valley
Actor/Writers Group Seeking Talent From Hudson Valley An actors/writers group is looking for talent from throughout the Hudson Valley. The group says it's "Seeking playwrights who like to work with actors, and actors looking to work with new playwrights, to workshop new plays from writers from the Hudson Valley community. People who are motivated to be with a group of artists to share, grow and build." Among the areas it's looking to draw people from are: Poughkeepsie, Beacon, Wappingers Falls, Cold Spring, Hyde Park, Hudson, New Paltz, Saugerties, Kingston, Rhinebeck, Tarrytown, White Plains, Peekskill, Newburgh, Ellenville, Rosendale, Amenia…
These NY Locales Among Top 100 Best Places To Live In America, Brand-New Ranking Says These NY Locales Among Top 100 Best Places To Live In America, Brand-New Ranking Says
These NY Locales Among Top 100 Best Places To Live In America, Brand-New Ranking Says When it comes to putting down your roots, these New York locales are among the best in the nation, according to a brand-new ranking. Four cities in the Empire State made the top 100 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 “Best Places to Live in the US” ranking. Researchers pulled data from a variety of sources, including thousands of public survey responses, the US Census Bureau, FBI crime statistics, and school and hospital rankings to come up with the top 150 American cities. Cities were ranked using four key indicators: value, desirability, job market, and quality of life. The followi…
Cheez-It Diner Opens In Hudson Valley To Fill Your 'Cheezy' Needs Cheez-It Diner Opens In Hudson Valley To Fill Your 'Cheezy' Needs
Cheez-It Diner Opens In Hudson Valley To Fill Your 'Cheezy' Needs Hey Cheez-It lovers, now is your chance to chow down on fun and funky foods inspired by the cheezy, crunchy snack at the Cheez-It Diner, which has been open for just a week in the region. Located in Ulster County in Woodstock, the diner offers the ultimate experience for Cheez-It fans with such treats as a cheezy milkshake, burger, or mac-n-cheese. "We saw just how far our adventure-seeking Cheez-It fans would go when they Want It. Need It. Cheez-It. last year making the drive to our Joshua Tree Cheez-It Stop outpost," said Cara Tragseiler, senior brand director for Cheez-It. "So many fans …
Popular Hudson Valley Bar Closing Permanently Popular Hudson Valley Bar Closing Permanently
Popular Hudson Valley Bar Closing Permanently A popular Hudson Valley bar known for some wild nights as it changed hands over the years but always stayed a "go-to spot" is closing permanently. Refinery 51 in Dutchess County on Market Street in the City of Poughkeepsie announced it would close for good with a farewell party on Saturday, June 1. "From Mad Hatter to Union Tavern and now Refinery 51, we Thank You for all your patronage, good times, and memories over the last quarter of a century," said the owners of Refinery 51. "It’s been an incredible run, so let’s toast to the memories and milestones together one last time!" The party …
Casting Call: Music Video For Major Country Star Needs To Fill Roles For Men, Women, Kids Casting Call: Music Video For Major Country Star Needs To Fill Roles For Men, Women, Kids
Casting Call: Music Video For Major Country Star Needs To Fill Roles For Men, Women, Kids A music video being produced in the region is seeking men, women, and kids to fill roles for extras. The video, about a major country star, will be filmed in New York City on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26. A group of friends returns home for a friend's funeral. After the funeral, they have a fun night together around town. Lead roles are needed for men aged 18 to 23 and women ages 40 to 50 to play the mother of boys. Supporting roles are being cast for women aged 18 to 23 and boys ages 10 to 12 (to play the child versions of the lead male roles in a flashback scene). All ethni…
NY 11-Year-Old Back On Dance Floor Thanks To Kidney Donation From Doctor Brother NY 11-Year-Old Back On Dance Floor Thanks To Kidney Donation From Doctor Brother
NY 11-Year-Old Back On Dance Floor Thanks To Kidney Donation From Doctor Brother Not everyone gets to meet their hero; For Emily Alanko, her hero happens to be her big brother. The Long Island 11-year-old from Commack, who loves dancing and all things Barbie, was born with a rare genetic disorder known as Branchio-OtoRenal (BOR) Syndrome, which causes malformations of the ears and kidneys. In Emily’s case, she was born with just one kidney, meaning a pair of doctors at Cohen Children’s Medical Center has had to monitor her condition since birth. Alarm bells began to ring earlier this year when her longtime care team, Cohen doctors Christine Sethna and Pamela Singer, we…
Mutant Sleepover: Request Stay At All-New X-Mansion Airbnb In Hudson Valley Mutant Sleepover: Request Stay At All-New X-Mansion Airbnb In Hudson Valley
Mutant Sleepover: Request Stay At All-New X-Mansion Airbnb In Hudson Valley Any mutants out there may be interested in requesting a stay at an all-new Airbnb in Northern Westchester inspired by an animated X-Men television series.  The 4-bed, 5-bath mansion, located in New Castle, is part of Airbnb's "icons" series, which consists of locales inspired by music, films, television shows, art, sports, and more, according to the company.  The company's X-Mansion is inspired by the animated Disney+ show "X-Men '97" and features show-inspired interior design and activities.  Those who book a stay can sleep in one of the mansion's many X-Men-inspired dorms …
Jackpot! NY Man Claims $5M Lottery Prize Jackpot! NY Man Claims $5M Lottery Prize
Jackpot! NY Man Claims $5M Lottery Prize A New York man has five million more reasons to be smiling. Long Island resident William O’Donnell, of Babylon, claimed a $5 million top prize playing the NY Lottery’s Cash X100 scratch-off game, lottery officials announced. O’Donnell received a single lump sum payment of $3,255,000 after paying taxes. He purchased the incredibly lucky ticket in Lindenhurst, at the Maakrupa Super Stop located at 200A Montauk Highway. Scratch-off games ginned up more than $4.4 billion in sales during fiscal year 2022-2023, according to New York Lottery. Of that, school districts in Suffolk County received …
These 10 New York Pizzerias Among Nation's Top 100, New Rankings Say These 10 New York Pizzerias Among Nation's Top 100, New Rankings Say
These 10 New York Pizzerias Among Nation's Top 100, New Rankings Say The popularity of pizza now makes it possible to find delicious pies in almost any place, from sea to shining sea. Having said that, few could argue that New York stands alone from anywhere else. Yelp's Top 100 rankings of the best pizza spots for 2024 attest to just that. One-tenth of the places are in New York, and more specifically, New York City. Even more specifically still, Manhattan, where eat of the pizzerias are located. How did Yelp determine the rankings? "We identified businesses in the pizza category on Yelp, then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the …
Baldwin Place's The Tortilla Project Ups The Taco Game With Unusual Selections Baldwin Place's The Tortilla Project Ups The Taco Game With Unusual Selections
Baldwin Place's The Tortilla Project Ups The Taco Game With Unusual Selections If you aren't burned out from tacos from Cinco de Mayo and need a taco fix, then a new restaurant in the Hudson Valley specializing in handmade tortillas (think jalapeno) and small plates might be a new favorite. Northern Westchester's The Tortilla Project, located in Baldwin Place, is making waves with foodies and Yelpers for its eclectic mix of tacos, side dishes, tapas, and craft cocktails. Opened in January and located in a strip mall, you will first notice that the small restaurant's sleek decor is not strip mall material, according to Yelpers.  One Yelper put it this way: "The v…
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years You may soon get a view of a rare spectacle. According to the NOAA National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center, a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) began on Wednesday, May 8. CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. Space weather forecasters have issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the evening of Friday, May 10. It's the first time a G4 Watch has been issued since January 2005. The watch says CMEs may linger into Sunday, May 12. Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora (…
Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Hudson Valley Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Hudson Valley
Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Hudson Valley The production company behind hit films like “The Whale,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and “Uncut Gems” is looking for a real-life couple to be a part of their next star-studded feature film being produced in the region. Lights, camera, action! “The Materialists,” a new feature film by entertainment company A24 and directed by Celine Song, is searching for a real-life couple for its upcoming shoot in the Ulster County town of New Paltz, which will begin on Wednesday, May 22. The couple will be portraying getting married and should fit the description of “artsy, creative down-to-e…
Somers' Muscoot Farm To Hold Sheep-Shearing Festival On Mother's Day Somers' Muscoot Farm To Hold Sheep-Shearing Festival On Mother's Day
Somers' Muscoot Farm To Hold Sheep-Shearing Festival On Mother's Day Families looking for a cute way to celebrate Mother's Day may want to look into spending time on a Northern Westchester farm where they can witness sheep get their much-needed haircuts. Muscoot Farm, located at 51 Route 100 in Somers, will hold its weekly Farmers Market and annual Sheep Shearing Festival on Sunday, May 12, Westchester County officials announced. The Farmers Market will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while the Sheep Shearing Festival will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  During the Sheep Shearing event, the farm's sheep will receive their annual haircuts to prepare for th…
Stew Leonard's Eyes This Location For Next New Store Stew Leonard's Eyes This Location For Next New Store
Stew Leonard's Eyes This Location For Next New Store Stew Leonard's is eyeing a familiar location as a possible location for its next new supermarket. The Connecticut-based company confirmed on Wednesday, May 8, that the town of Orange in New Haven County is one of several locations being "looked at" for the family-owned grocer's ninth location, according to Meghan Bell, a spokeswoman for the company. Bell said that, at this point, several options are being considered, and an announcement would be made by the end of the year.  Stew Leonard's also has Connecticut stores in Norwalk (where the company has its headquarters), Danbury, and Ne…
'High School Types' Wanted For Television Series Filming In Hudson Valley 'High School Types' Wanted For Television Series Filming In Hudson Valley
'High School Types' Wanted For Television Series Filming In Hudson Valley Young people looking to advance their acting careers may want to check out a casting call for a television show filming in Westchester.  An upcoming Apple+ series called "Swipe" is looking for non-union background actors for high school scenes, according to a casting call posted on Backstage.  The series will be filmed in New Rochelle. Scenes were also filmed in Rye at the Highland parking lot in the area of Purchase Street and Purdy Avenue.  Earlier Report - All-Day Filming To Close Highland Parking Lot In Rye The production is seeking out nonunion actors ages 18…
Winning Lottery Ticket Worth Nearly $20K Sold At Shrub Oak Store Winning Lottery Ticket Worth Nearly $20K Sold At Shrub Oak Store
Winning Lottery Ticket Worth Nearly $20K Sold At Shrub Oak Store One lucky liquor store customer is nearly $20,000 richer after buying a winning lottery ticket in Northern Westchester. The top-prize Take 5 ticket, worth $19,471, was purchased in Shrub Oak for the midday drawing on Thursday, April 25, New York Lottery officials announced. Officials added that the ticket was bought at Lakeland Liquors at 995 East Main St.  If you'd like to try your luck, Take 5 drawings are held twice a day at 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Any winnings can be claimed up to a year after the drawing date. 
Hudson Valley Native Mary J. Blige Inducted In Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Hudson Valley Native Mary J. Blige Inducted In Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
Hudson Valley Native Mary J. Blige Inducted In Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Hip-hop soul legend and New York's Mary J. Blige's career is doing "Just Fine," as the iconic artist has just been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  Blige, age 53, was named an inductee into the Cleveland-based Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 21.  In their write-up on their website, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame said the Yonkers native has provided the soundtrack to countless fans' lives.  "Blige’s music echoes our experiences with love and life. She helps us move on, move out, and move up," the Hall of Fame wrote, continuing, "She’s the much-needed soundtrac…
Football Player From NY Named Potential Suitor On New Season Of 'The Bachelorette' Football Player From NY Named Potential Suitor On New Season Of 'The Bachelorette'
Football Player From NY Named Potential Suitor On New Season Of 'The Bachelorette' Jenn Tran is officially the next "Bachelorette," and the names of the men who could be vying for her heart have already surfaced. Tran, age 26, made her Bachelor Nation debut on Joey Grazidei's season, and will be the first Asian-American Bachelorette in season history.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenn (@jenntranx) Tran is a physician assistant based in Miami, and will soon be meeting the 28 men hoping for a shot at love. The new season will begin airing in July on ABC-TV. Among Tran's potential suitors is native New Y…
New Italian Restaurant In Region Cited For 'Delicious, Fresh Pasta In A Beautiful Space' New Italian Restaurant In Region Cited For 'Delicious, Fresh Pasta In A Beautiful Space'
New Italian Restaurant In Region Cited For 'Delicious, Fresh Pasta In A Beautiful Space' A new restaurant in the region serving classic Italian fare with a side of rustic charm is already garnering rave reviews. Columbia County eatery Via Cassia opened in March 2024 in Hudson at 214 Warren Street, in the former Ca’Mea Restaurant space. Under the direction of seasoned restaurateur and chef Gaetano Arnone, Via Cassia has a mouthwatering menu of lunch and dinner options highlighting its housemade pasta.  Among them are the spaghetti with roasted garlic, calabrian chilis, and pecorino romano, and the rigatoni with braised pork and garlic breadcrumbs. Diners can also opt for …
Guide Dog Graduation: Northern Westchester-Based Nonprofit Provides Pups To Homes Across US Guide Dog Graduation: Northern Westchester-Based Nonprofit Provides Pups To Homes Across US
Guide Dog Graduation: Northern Westchester-Based Nonprofit Provides Pups To Homes Across US A new class of guide dogs that graduated from a New York nonprofit organization – including one dog going to serve the organization’s CEO – demonstrates the group’s 60-year commitment to changing the lives of people with vision loss or blindness. On Friday, April 12, Guiding Eyes for the Blind held one of its biannual guide dog graduations, celebrating the hard work of volunteers and pups alike and officially transferring the furry friends’ care to their new owners. However, this graduation was a little different from others — one of the graduates was a yellow lab named “Ten,” who had tra…
CBS To Re-Air Billy Joel MSG Concert After Snafu Cut Off Final Minutes In Middle Of 'Piano Man' CBS To Re-Air Billy Joel MSG Concert After Snafu Cut Off Final Minutes In Middle Of 'Piano Man'
CBS To Re-Air Billy Joel MSG Concert After Snafu Cut Off Final Minutes In Middle Of 'Piano Man' After a programming error cut off the final two minutes of Billy Joel’s televised concert at Madison Square Garden, CBS announced it would re-air the show. “Billy Joel: The 100th — Live at Madison Square Garden,” which originally aired on Sunday, April 14, will now be rebroadcast on Friday night, April 19 due to a programming snafu that cut the program off early, according to a statement released by CBS. The show, which was recorded in March to celebrate Joel’s 100th consecutive performance at Madison Square Garden, was partway through the singer’s iconic “Piano Man” when the program abru…
Grave Affair: Inaugural Cemetery Cleanup Day Seeking NY Volunteers Grave Affair: Inaugural Cemetery Cleanup Day Seeking NY Volunteers
Grave Affair: Inaugural Cemetery Cleanup Day Seeking NY Volunteers If you enjoy a quiet working environment and don’t mind rubbing elbows with a few ghosts, this could be the opportunity for you. The New York State Department of State is looking for volunteers to take part in the first annual “Caring for Your Cemetery Day,” on Saturday, April 27. Organizers said the idea is to raise awareness of the hard work and dedication that goes into caring for and preserving cemeteries, especially heading into the spring season. The department is also hoping to gin up more interest in cemeteries among younger people and recruit future volunteers or even officers and…
Netflix Casting Suburban Mom-Type, Tall Man For NYC Documentary, Pays $3.3K Netflix Casting Suburban Mom-Type, Tall Man For NYC Documentary, Pays $3.3K
Netflix Casting Suburban Mom-Type, Tall Man For NYC Documentary, Pays $3.3K Netflix is seeking to fill two roles for an upcoming documentary. The popular streaming service is looking for a 20-something-year-old man who is more than 6 feet tall with brown hair, and a suburban New England-type woman in her 50s with dirty blonde or light brown hair. The documentary will shoot four days in New York City and one day in Cape Cod. The gig pays an estimated $3,300 for six days of work, according to the casting call. Click here to apply.
NY National Guardsman 'In Fight For His Life' After Surviving Helicopter Crash That Killed 3 NY National Guardsman 'In Fight For His Life' After Surviving Helicopter Crash That Killed 3
NY National Guardsman 'In Fight For His Life' After Surviving Helicopter Crash That Killed 3 To say that Jacob Pratt has a long road to recovery is an understatement. The New York National Guard soldier, a Rensselaer County native from the city of Rensselaer, remains in intensive care after being the sole survivor of a helicopter crash on the US-Mexico border that killed three others. According to the Joint Task Force North, Pratt was aboard a UH-72 Lakota chopper when it went down while flying near Rio Grande City, Texas on Friday, March 8. Earlier Report: NY National Guard Members Killed In Triple-Fatal Crash Return Home; Funerals Set The crash killed New York National G…
North Salem's Own David Letterman Escorts Old 'Late Show' Sign To Darien Barn, Hangs Out North Salem's Own David Letterman Escorts Old 'Late Show' Sign To Darien Barn, Hangs Out
North Salem's Own David Letterman Escorts Old 'Late Show' Sign To Darien Barn, Hangs Out Funnyman and beloved area resident David Letterman helped escort the old marquee sign from his famous television show "Late Night" to its new home in Fairfield County. Letterman, a longtime Northern Westchester County resident who lives in North Salem, didn't have far to travel to escort the 20-foot sign that once graced the front of the famed Ed Sullivan Theater for Dave's show on CBS, said the lucky recipient Preston Bealle, of Darien. Bealle, one of the founding members of Daily Voice, received the sign from his niece Helen Halford of New Jersey, who entered a charity contest to win the …
Eclipse Safety: Here's How To Properly Use Eye Protection, Hudson Valley Expert Says Eclipse Safety: Here's How To Properly Use Eye Protection, Hudson Valley Expert Says
Eclipse Safety: Here's How To Properly Use Eye Protection, Hudson Valley Expert Says As New York residents prepare to gaze up at the sky during the upcoming historic solar eclipse less than a week away, a Westchester County eye expert is giving tips on how to properly view the event while using protection.  Known as the "Great North American Eclipse," the astronomical event will cross the United States on Monday, April 8, and bring a partial eclipse to the Hudson Valley. According to experts, such a spectacle can be dangerous to view without eye protection because the sun continues to emit harmful ultraviolet rays, and gazing directly at it can cause severe damage to th…
New Apartments With Work-From-Home Amenities Coming To Hudson Valley New Apartments With Work-From-Home Amenities Coming To Hudson Valley
New Apartments With Work-From-Home Amenities Coming To Hudson Valley By this summer Hudson Valley residents looking for an apartment will have a chance to check out a new development customized for the work-at-home lifestyle. Located in Dutchess County in the town of Poughkeepsie 44 Springside, is the brainchild of Tinkelman Architecture to bring the latest in contemporary living with a five-story, mixed-use building. The building will have 28 apartments and include a top-floor community room, gym, event/workspace, and rooftop terrace as well as an indoor swimming pool on the ground floor. The company said the apartments offer expansive windows wood veneer …