The Daily Catch Audio podcast

2:46

Village of Rhinebeck residents will have the chance on Tuesday to offer their thoughts on a proposal to impose a new tax on their utility bills, with the goal of raising extra money for village coffers. The tax, which amounts to 1% of the gross income of utility companies operating in the Village of Rhinebeck, would increase the bills of all Central Hudson consumers living in the village, according to a spokesperson for the New York State Public Service Commission. It is not clear yet how much money would be raised. The proposal would apply to companies providing electricity, gas,... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/bill-shock-1-utility-tax-proposal-for-rhinebeck-village-residents-heads-to-public-hearing-tuesday/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Red Hook Mayor Breaks Tradition, Endorses Deputy Mayor in Unusually Competitive Village Board Race 4:14

3 days ago4:14

4:14

Reacting to the unprecedented competition for seats in Red Hook’s Village Board election next week, Mayor Karen Smythe took the unusual step of issuing an endorsement in the race Monday – embracing her deputy mayor, Melkorka Kjarval. Mayors historically have remained neutral in Village Board elections. "I have not endorsed in a Village election before," Smythe stated in her announcement. "This race is unique, and I feel strongly that Melkorka deserves our support." It is not clear when there last was competition for Village Board, but local government experts, including Smythe, said they could not remember a time. Smythe said... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/red-hook-mayor-breaks-tradition-endorses-deputy-mayor-in-unusually-competitive-village-board-race/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Frank Ackley, NYS Police Sergeant, Dies at 79 1:01

7 days ago1:01

1:01

Frank J Ackley, 79, of Rhinebeck, died on Feb. 26, 2025, at Maplewood at Stony Hill in Bethel, CT. Frank was born in Kingston on Feb. 4, 1946, and graduated from Kingston High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War era. Frank was briefly employed with IBM before beginning his career with the NYS Police, attaining the position of Zone Sergeant in Troop K – Zone 1, retiring in 2001 after 31 years of service. Frank was proud to serve as a member of the original “Mobile Response Team” that was created for the 1980 Winter Olympics,... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/frank-ackley-nys-police-sergeant-dies-at-79/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Meet the Democratic Candidates: Rhinebeck Village Mayor Runs Unopposed While Two Incumbent Trustees Face Lone Republican 17:12

7 days ago17:12

17:12

On March 18, voters in the Village of Rhinebeck will be asked to reelect incumbent Democratic Mayor Gary Bassett, who is running unopposed. But they will have to make a choice for Village Trustee, as two incumbent Democratic board members, Ric Lewit and Lydia Slaby, defend their seats against Republican Derrick Sinon. Voters may cast ballots from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Courtroom at Village Hall, 76 E. Market Street. The Daily Catch invited all candidates to answer the same questions. We also asked voters to share photos. We present the responses from Democrats to you here. Due... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/meet-the-democratic-candidates-rhinebeck-mayor-runs-unopposed-while-two-incumbents-face-lone-republican-in-a-best-of-three-battle/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Heartbeats - Hospital Rounds: Red Hook Teens Get a Crash Course in Medicine at Northern Dutchess Hospital 4:38

8 days ago4:38

4:38

On a November afternoon at Northern Dutchess Hospital, Red Hook High School juniors Bailey Scheider and Colton Roszco pulled their hair back into scrub caps, tied masks behind their ears, and squeezed their hands into latex gloves. Then, standing inside an operating room, they observed their first gastric surgery. Elsewhere in the hospital, high school senior Briseida Ortega-Gutierrez pored over brain scans, learning from a radiologist how to identify the signs of a stroke. Meanwhile, another student, Jade Zhang, shadowed doctors in the emergency room, witnessing how they comforted patients in times of crisis. For a month last fall, 12... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/heartbeats-hospital-rounds-red-hook-teens-get-a-crash-course-in-medicine-at-northern-dutchess-hospital/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Heartbeats - Hospital Rounds: Red Hook Teens Get a Crash Course in Medicine at Northern Dutchess Hospital 4:38

8 days ago4:38

4:38

The Daily Catch Audio

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Raise a Glass and a Concern: Rhinebeck 'Wine and Whine' Event Opens Doors to Honest Talk 6:20

8 days ago6:20

6:20

They asked. They listened. They mused. And they complained – all in the spirit of getting unscripted, low-key face time with Town of Rhinebeck leaders as the nascent Communications Committee organized its first Wine and Whine event for residents Tuesday evening. Some 30 people convened at the Morton Library in Rhinecliff as Town Board members sat informally, legs dangling off the stage, to break from the formality of Town Board meetings at Town Hall, which restrict public comment to 3 minutes per person. On Tuesday, for just over an hour, open conversation ruled. Attendees took turns asking questions and making... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/raise-a-glass-and-a-concern-rhinebeck-whine-and-wine-event-opens-doors-to-honest-talk/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Eyes Everywhere: New Crime Center Brings High-Tech Surveillance to Policing in Dutchess County 7:51

9 days ago7:51

7:51

Drones patrolling the skies, tracking fleeing suspects and assisting search and rescue operations. Cameras on every school campus in the county uploading footage to a centralized computer system. Artificial intelligence checking the license plates of each vehicle that enters or leaves the region. This isn’t science fiction - it’s what policing in Dutchess County could look like as soon as this spring. Spearheaded by District Attorney Anthony Parisi and County Sheriff Kirk Imperati, this innovative approach to law enforcement has the unwieldy name of The Dutchess County Advanced Real-Time Crime and Intelligence Center, although most refer to it by its... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/eyes-everywhere-new-crime-center-brings-high-tech-surveillance-to-policing-in-dutchess-county/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Can School-Based Therapy Help At-Risk Students? Red Hook Is Finding Out, and Early Results Look Promising 10:10

9 days ago10:10

10:10

Jack Costello had seen too many students slip through the cracks. As Director of Pupil Services at Red Hook Central School District, he watched teenagers cycle in and out of crisis care, often missing weeks of school and falling behind. Parents, teachers, and counselors were all stretched thin, struggling to support the growing number of students trying to manage anxiety and depression. In Northern Dutchess County, where resources are particularly scarce, the care they needed simply wasn’t there. “Schools have been caught in the position of having to make up where there aren’t other resources,” Costello told The Daily Catch.... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/can-school-based-therapy-help-at-risk-students-red-hook-is-finding-out/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Dr. Bertram Bernstein, Physician, Dies at 87 1:17

9 days ago1:17

1:17

Dr. Bertram “Bob” Henry Bernstein, 87, died at Vassar Brothers Medical Center on February 27, 2025. Born on April 14, 1937, in Nyack, Bob attended Bard College and earned his medical degree from New York Medical College. He completed his residency at Lenox Hill Hospital while serving in the Army Medical Corps. Bob served as an attending physician at Lenox Hill and had a successful private practice in New York City, where he counted among his patients athletes from the New York Rangers, Yankees, and Mets. He met Linda, a nurse at Lenox Hill Hospital, and they married in 1977,... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/dr-bertram-bernstein-physician-dies-at-87/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Arthur S. Hill, Scholar, Contractor, and Nurse, Dies at 72 1:04

9 days ago1:04

1:04

Arthur S. Hill, 72, died on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, at his home in Milan. Arthur was born on July 30, 1952, in Queens. He received degrees in philosophy and French from Adelphi University. While maintaining his successful A.S. Hill Contracting business, he returned to school and earned a nursing degree. Arthur married Jeanette Sargent on July 14, 1979, and they raised two daughters together. His passions were his family, reading, and travel. He coached his daughters’ softball teams and cherished family summer vacations in Maine. Arthur is survived by Jeanette; daughters Laura Hill (James Bennett) and Amanda Hill-Buchholz (Nate);... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/arthur-s-hill-scholar-contractor-and-nurse-dies-at-72/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Meet the Candidates: Five Vie for Two Spots in Rare Contested Race for Red Hook Village Board 47:16

10 days ago47:16

47:16

In a rare moment of civic electoral competition in the Village of Red Hook, five candidates are vying in two weeks for two seats on the Village Board. The open seats are held by Deputy Mayor Melkorka Kjarval, who is running for reelection, and by Charles Laing, who is not. Another trustee, Steve Appenzeller, has announced his resignation, but because his seat is not up until 2027 and because he did not resign in sufficient time to meet the deadline to make the ballot for the upcoming election, Mayor Karen Smythe will appoint a replacement when his departure is official.... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/meet-the-candidates-five-vie-for-two-spots-in-unusual-contested-race-for-red-hook-village-board/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Gina M. Hedges, Postal Worker and Community Leader, Dies at 69 1:44

11 days ago1:44

1:44

Gina (Miller) Hedges, 69, a longtime resident of Elizaville, died on Feb. 25, 2025. Born on September 2, 1955, in Manhattan, Gina was a graduate of Marymount Academy in Park Terrace and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, both in Manhattan. Gina spent much of her career working for the United States Postal Service, with a particular dedication to the Letter Carriers Union as its representative During her retirement, Gina and her husband, Arthur, traveled throughout the United States, visiting various National Parks, seeing old friends and making new ones along the way. Gina was devoted to her family and... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/gina-m-hedges-dies-at-69/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Ryan Jay Meagher, Decorated Marine and EMT, Dies at 43 1:16

11 days ago1:16

1:16

Ryan Jay Meagher, 43, a lifelong area resident, died on Feb. 19, 2025, at his home in Elizaville. Born on Aug. 1, 1981, in Poughkeepsie, Ryan graduated from Red Hook High School in 2001. Ryan was deeply dedicated to his country and community. He served in the United States Marine Corps as a Lance Corporal, including a deployment to Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning several medals. He received his Associate's Degree in Fire Science from Schenectady College and served as a firefighter and EMT in East Glenville, NY. Ryan is survived by his loving fiancé, Ashleigh Hogan of Elizaville; his... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/ryan-jay-meagher-decorated-marine-and-emt-dies-at-43/…

The Daily Catch Audio

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Recriminations, Misunderstandings, and a Clash of Expectations: Elizaville Diner Shutters in a War of Words 8:26

13 days ago8:26