First Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary Opens In Mount Vernon: Here's Where First Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary Opens In Mount Vernon: Here's Where
First Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary Opens In Mount Vernon: Here's Where The first adult-use cannabis dispensary in the Hudson Valley has officially opened for business. The new Westchester County dispensary, Elevate, opened in Mount Vernon on Monday, Dec. 11 at 127 South Terrace Ave., New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, Dec. 14. The new adult-use facility joins 37 other dispensaries across New York State that are expected to be open by the end of the year, according to Hochul. "As New York expands the most equitable cannabis market in the nation, my administration remains committed to building a safe industry for all New Yorkers that will grow our …
New Legal Marijuana Dispensary On Long Island Sets Opening Date New Legal Marijuana Dispensary On Long Island Sets Opening Date
New Legal Marijuana Dispensary On Long Island Sets Opening Date The second legal, adult-use dispensary on Long Island has a tentative opening date, officials said. Happy Days Dispensary, located at 105 Route 109 in Farmingdale, is slated to open Saturday, Dec. 23, according to an announcement by Gov. Kathy Hochul — though that date isn't set in stone, the governor clarified.  As the second legal dispensary to open on Long Island since Strain Stars opened in July, also in Farmingdale, Happy Days joins the 37 other adult-use stores expected to open up shop in New York State in 2023. Alongside the caption, “By the locals. For the locals,” Happy Day…
$800K Theft: Ex-Long Island Attorney Admits Embezzling From Clients $800K Theft: Ex-Long Island Attorney Admits Embezzling From Clients
$800K Theft: Ex-Long Island Attorney Admits Embezzling From Clients A former Long Island attorney has confessed to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from several of his clients. Douglas Valente, age 57, of Florida, pleaded guilty to three counts of grand larceny in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Valente was formerly the principal attorney at the Valente Law Group based in Stony Brook. Earlier Report: Syosset Attorney Steals $200K From Clients, Including Lottery Winner: DA He admitted that between April 2020 and September 2022, he stole more than $829,000 from three clients, according to the Suffolk County DA’s office. An inv…
Beloved Mother Of Yonkers Mayor Spano, Former NY State Senator Dies: 'She Inspired Us' Beloved Mother Of Yonkers Mayor Spano, Former NY State Senator Dies: 'She Inspired Us'
Beloved Mother Of Yonkers Mayor Spano, Former NY State Senator Dies: 'She Inspired Us' The beloved mother of a Westchester County mayor and a former New York state senator is being remembered for her life-long dedication to her family.  Josephine Spano, the mother of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and former New York State Sen. Nicholas A. Spano, died on Wednesday morning, Dec. 6 at the age of 89, according to an announcement by Mayor Spano's office.  In a statement, Spano said that his mother helped give him and his siblings the drive to succeed.  "We all just wanted to make her so proud," Spano said, adding, "She inspired us. She educated us. She dedicated he…
Fugitive Tied To Retail Theft Ring Captured By Glen Rock PD Fugitive Tied To Retail Theft Ring Captured By Glen Rock PD
Fugitive Tied To Retail Theft Ring Captured By Glen Rock PD An investigation by Glen Rock police into an organized shoplifting ring led to the arrest of a fugitive from New York State, authorities said. Miata Mitchell, 26, of Poughkeepsie is part of a group that targeted various borough merchants, Police Chief Dean Ackermann said. Detective Sgt. James Calaski and Sgt. Greg Carter nabbed Mitchell in connection with a theft at Bottle King Liquors on Prospect Street shortly after 1 p.m. Aug. 7, the chief said. Mitchell was with a number of accomplices, he said. She was charged with shoplifting-related offenses, including being part of an organized re…
Fugitive Wanted For Trying To Kill Twin In MD Captured Near NJ/NY Border After 50-Mile Pursuit Fugitive Wanted For Trying To Kill Twin In MD Captured Near NJ/NY Border After 50-Mile Pursuit
Fugitive Wanted For Trying To Kill Twin In MD Captured Near NJ/NY Border After 50-Mile Pursuit A fugitive wanted for the attempted murder of his twin sister in Maryland was captured just short of the New York State line in New Jersey following a nearly hour-long pursuit, authorities confirmed on Monday, Dec. 4. Reese E. Wetzel, 23, of Ellicott City, MD stabbed his sister multiple times during an argument, then stole her car and headed north, police in Edison, NJ, said. Edison police said they received a Sirius XM alert involving the stolen white 2019 Subaru Outback at 8:13 p.m. Sunday. It pointed them toward Route 1 at Main Street, they said. Edison Officer Phil Smith spotted the s…
These Hudson Valley Roadways To Be Repaved As Part Of $100M Project These Hudson Valley Roadways To Be Repaved As Part Of $100M Project
These Hudson Valley Roadways To Be Repaved As Part Of $100M Project Thanks to $100 million in new funding, over 560 miles of roadway across the state of New York will be repaved to make them more resilient to freak weather events. The $100 million investment, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced, will support repaving projects on nearly 568 miles of busy roadways throughout the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, Long Island, and more.  Hochul said the effort comes as a result of severe weather that has been battering the state more and more.  "From a devastating blizzard to historic flooding, we are living in a time of record-breaking weather events which hav…
Automated Speeding Ticket Radar Program Takes Effect In Hudson Valley, Elsewhere In NY Automated Speeding Ticket Radar Program Takes Effect In Hudson Valley, Elsewhere In NY
Automated Speeding Ticket Radar Program Takes Effect In Hudson Valley, Elsewhere In NY A brand-new law that has just launched means motorists on some of New York's busiest roadways may find themselves on the receiving end of automated speeding tickets. The five-year program which has been rolled this year is a joint effort by State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Thruway Authority (NYSTA). to enhance the state’s ongoing efforts to slow motorists down in work zones. The so-called Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program is the result of legislation signed into law by Gov, Kathy Hochul in September 2021.  On Monday, Nov 20, work-zone speed units wer…
'Prepare With Care': Health Officials Urge Food Safety Ahead Of Thanksgiving 'Prepare With Care': Health Officials Urge Food Safety Ahead Of Thanksgiving
'Prepare With Care': Health Officials Urge Food Safety Ahead Of Thanksgiving As millions of New Yorkers prepare to cook their Thanksgiving feasts, health officials are urging people to remember the tenants of food safety. The New York State health and agriculture departments offered up several tips to help keep family and friends safe from foodborne illness this holiday season. “The Department works hard all year long to ensure the safety of our food supply at our stores and food manufacturing facilities, but food safety is also so important at home,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Ball. “We urge everyone who is cooking for their loved ones this Thanksgiv…
Scam Alert: Don't Believe Call From 'Officer Johnson,' Sheriff From Region Says Scam Alert: Don't Believe Call From 'Officer Johnson,' Sheriff From Region Says
Scam Alert: Don't Believe Call From 'Officer Johnson,' Sheriff From Region Says Another phone scam is making the rounds in the region.  This time, this caller is "Officer Johnson," claiming to be from the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office. "Officer Johnson" claims to be from the Sheriff’s Office and tells the victim that there is a warrant that has been issued for the victim’s arrest because they failed to report for jury duty, said Undersheriff Eric Chaboty, of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office He then advises the victim that they can avoid arrest if they pay a fine over the phone. The victim is then instructed to purchase a prepaid debit card and provide the …
$75 Million Plan Aims To Ease Surge Of Hate, Bias Crimes In NY: Hochul $75 Million Plan Aims To Ease Surge Of Hate, Bias Crimes In NY: Hochul
$75 Million Plan Aims To Ease Surge Of Hate, Bias Crimes In NY: Hochul As a response to the rise in both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic crimes across New York State stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict, Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a multi-million dollar plan to keep New Yorkers safe. Earlier report: 21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell The announcement came on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Hochul, utilizing all available state resources, declared a multi-branched plan aimed at limiting the number of hate and bias crimes, which she says have risen since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. “Let me be clear: we cannot…
Feds: Digital Fingerprints Lead NJ Agents To Convicted Sex Offender's Child Porn Collection Feds: Digital Fingerprints Lead NJ Agents To Convicted Sex Offender's Child Porn Collection
Feds: Digital Fingerprints Lead NJ Agents To Convicted Sex Offender's Child Porn Collection Federal agents working a child porn investigation traced digital fingerprints to a convicted sex offender living in Union County who was downloading more horrifying illegal images when they came busting in, authorities said. Matthew T. Williams, 43, was seized during a raid of his Westfield apartment on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Homeland Security Investigations agents from Newark reported more than 40 child sexual abuse videos found on a drive attached to Williams's computer that was pulling more from the Internet when they arrived. Williams was living in New York State when he was previously con…