Dutchess Woman Wants You To Eat Real, Live Mindfully, Laugh Often Dutchess Woman Wants You To Eat Real, Live Mindfully, Laugh Often
Dutchess Woman Wants You To Eat Real, Live Mindfully, Laugh Often WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. -- The lightbulb went off in nutritionist Alyson Chugerman's head 18 years ago when her six-year-old daughter was thought to have attention deficit disorder. Chugerman, a Wappingers Falls resident, saw her daughter get prescribed Ritalin. When that didn't work, her doctor prescribed other medications, and Chuggerman was concerned about where this was headed. So she had one simple idea. "We changed our diets," Chugerman said. "We took out sugar, preservatives, and dyes. We began eating more healthy foods. We started exercising as a family. Within a month…
Dutches Minister Publishes Novel About Grief Dutches Minister Publishes Novel About Grief
Dutches Minister Publishes Novel About Grief RHINEBECK, N.Y. -- As a minister at Rhinebeck Reformed Church, Luis Perez has seen firsthand the right way and the wrong way to deal with grief. Perez, a former journalist, decided to turn his observations into his first novel, "Catharsis: Maldonado's Journey Through Grief," which was recently published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. In the book, grief has led Maldonado to be vulnerable to wrongminded decisions which lead him to prison and a halfway house. As he grapples with his grief, he blames the world and a former business partner who emerged unscathed from a scandal that sent…
Hudson Valley Teen Thrives After Five Heart Surgeries Hudson Valley Teen Thrives After Five Heart Surgeries
Hudson Valley Teen Thrives After Five Heart Surgeries WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Jennifer Reilly was born with a congenital heart defect that could have taken her life if not diagnosed properly.  Now, after five successful heart surgeries, the 15-year-old Hartsdale girl shares her life story to help other prospective heart patients including speaking at a Town of Greenburgh public meeting during Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness Week. Reilly's five heart surgeries included two open heart, one closed heart and two catheterizations before she turned four years old.  For the past four years, she has spoken at the Greenburgh Town Board mee…
Dutchess Teen Publishes Debut Fantasy Novel Dutchess Teen Publishes Debut Fantasy Novel
Dutchess Teen Publishes Debut Fantasy Novel RHINEBECK, N.Y. -- Erin Forbes, a 17-year-old Rhinebeck resident, is already a published author. Forbes is the author of "Fire and Ice: The Elementals", a fantasy young adult novel she self-published on Amazon last year. Forbes, who began writing the book when she was 12, has done book signings throughout Dutchess County. The book is set in Aisling, an enchanted realm where each person is born with a unique and magical gift. Due to an ancient curse, Aisling has been slowly crumbling. But when Alice and Emery Hanley, twin sisters, step into the Academy for Gifted Youth, their lives…
22K & Counting: Beacon Crafter Sews Her Way To Social Media Stardom 22K & Counting: Beacon Crafter Sews Her Way To Social Media Stardom
22K & Counting: Beacon Crafter Sews Her Way To Social Media Stardom BEACON, N.Y. -- What started as a sewing blog in 2009 has turned into a full-blown career for Gretchen Hirsch. An avid crafter who'd always been into the retro look, she started writing "Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing" with the goal of sewing her way through a vintage sewing book. This, after being laid off from her NYC job in children's book publishing. "Sewing was my main hobby and creative outlet," said the Beacon resident. "But it can be isolating, which is why I started the blog -- to connect with other people." The fact that she was young and hip in…
Northern Westchester Resident Martha Stewart Tweets For Snow Help Northern Westchester Resident Martha Stewart Tweets For Snow Help
Northern Westchester Resident Martha Stewart Tweets For Snow Help BEDFORD, N.Y. -- We're not sure where this is but Bedford did get about a foot of snow on Thursday, Feb 9 with lots of people having a hard time navigating.  That included homemaking maven and TV Personality Martha Stewart who tweeted that she decided to plow and got "darn stuck." The Winter Storm Warning issued for the quick-moving Nor'easter that blew through the area Thursday expired at 6 p.m., but blowing snow and icy conditions are making travel challenging throughout the area and could lead to delayed school openings Friday. For a look at snowfall totals from the area, clic…
Dutchess SPCA Seeks Support After Rescuing Dozens Of Cats Dutchess SPCA Seeks Support After Rescuing Dozens Of Cats
Dutchess SPCA Seeks Support After Rescuing Dozens Of Cats DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Dutchess County SPCA is in desperate need of money and other items to help care for 67 cats they seized from an East Fishkill home on Monday. Many of the cats, who were rescued after a Dutchess County SPCA humane law enforcement official became aware of the situation, are in need of medical care, said Wayne Mabey, acting executive director of the Dutchess County SPCA. The woman, who was hoarding the cats, will be appearing before the court in East Fishkill for a probation violation stemming from previous animal cruelty charges, Mabey said.  “Cases like these ar…
12-Year-Old Dutchess Actress Gets Royal Treatment In New Nickelodeon Show 12-Year-Old Dutchess Actress Gets Royal Treatment In New Nickelodeon Show
12-Year-Old Dutchess Actress Gets Royal Treatment In New Nickelodeon Show DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. -- Akira Golz, a 12-year-old Southern Dutchess resident is the voice behind the new Nickelodeon show, "Nella the Princess Knight." The animated show, geared to the preschools set, airs Monday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. The series centers on Nella, an unconventional 8-year-old who possesses the royal qualities of a princess, like compassion and grace, while also embodying the courage and determination of a brave knight.  Whenever a problem arises, Nella embarks on daring quests to save her kingdom through her unique ability to transform from a princess into Nella the …
Hyde Park Restaurant Gives Family With Autistic Child Special Night Out Hyde Park Restaurant Gives Family With Autistic Child Special Night Out
Hyde Park Restaurant Gives Family With Autistic Child Special Night Out LAGRANGEVILLE, .N.Y. -- For Katelyn Bronzi, whose brother has autism, her only birthday wish was to have a family night out for dinner.  Because of her brother Stevie's autism, the family, which lives in Lagrangeville, had never been able to go to a restaurant before.  "He has impulsive behaviors so going out in public places can be disastrous for us," said Nicole Bronzi, Stevie's mother. Bronzi, Stevie's mother, had read that Coppola's Restaurant in Hyde Park was part of the Autism Supportive Environment program, which is run by the Anderson Center for Autism where Stevie gets t…
Miles Of Hope Marks 13 Years Of Helping Dutchess Breast Cancer Patients Miles Of Hope Marks 13 Years Of Helping Dutchess Breast Cancer Patients
Miles Of Hope Marks 13 Years Of Helping Dutchess Breast Cancer Patients DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. -- When a woman hears the words "you have breast cancer," they are often stunned, and then the fear hits. In Dutchess County, the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation works hard to embrace those women and make sure that no one feels alone. The brainchild of two community activists, Dana Effron and Cathy Varunok, who saw a need for increased help for people with breast cancer throughout the Hudson Valley, the organization recently celebrated its 13th anniversary in Dutchess County and the Hudson Valley. "We really work at providing the type of help that…
Former PoJo Publisher Managing Focus Media’s Expansion Into Dutchess Former PoJo Publisher Managing Focus Media’s Expansion Into Dutchess
Former PoJo Publisher Managing Focus Media’s Expansion Into Dutchess DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. -- A public relations firm and a former Poughkeepsie Journal publisher are teaming up to expand its reach into Dutchess County. Focus Media, a full-service public relations firm based in Goshen with more than 20 employees, announced they have hired Barry Rothfeld, former president and publisher of the Journal to manage business development on its behalf in Dutchess. "We think there is a lot of opportunity in Dutchess to bring what we do to companies and organizations to help them grow in these interesting times, "Josh Sommers, President and CEO of Focus Media…
Rhinebeck Photographer's The Very Picture Of A 'Good Egg,' Chamber Says Rhinebeck Photographer's The Very Picture Of A 'Good Egg,' Chamber Says
Rhinebeck Photographer's The Very Picture Of A 'Good Egg,' Chamber Says RHINEBECK, N.Y. – Rhinebeck photographer Maureen Gates will be attending an awards ceremony this Thursday. But instead of taking pictures of the event, she will be its focal point. The Rhinebeck Area Chamber of Commerce will be presenting Gates with its “Good Egg” award, its way of recognizing those who regularly go above and beyond the call of duty. Gates said she was “stunned” when the Chamber contacted her about the award. “I thought they were asking me to photograph it. I was so surprised and delighted to learn they picked me as their ‘Good Egg,’” she said. “I guess someone else will …