Community Corner

🌱 What Dutchess County’s kratom crackdown means for Poughkeepsie buyers and shops

Coming up on the Poughkeepsie Patch calendar: Poughkeepsie PorchFest 2026

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Greetings Poughkeepsie! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Dutchess County's kratom crackdown means for Poughkeepsie buyers and shops
  • Poughkeepsie driver charged after DWI stop with two children aboard.
  • What Syracuse's i-Ready fight could signal for Poughkeepsie classrooms

Today's riddle: Where is the worst place to hide in a hospital ? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 85 and low of 61 degrees.
  • Friday: Periods of sun with a shower, temps: high: 84, low: 59.
  • Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Dutchess County bans synthetic and concentrated kratom products (poughkeepsiejournal.com subscription) — Dutchess County has approved a new law banning the sale and distribution of synthetic and highly concentrated kratom products, a change that will directly affect shops and residents in Poughkeepsie once it's signed later this month. Legislators from Poughkeepsie say the measure targets lab-enhanced kratom sold in gas stations and smoke shops while still allowing responsible adult use of natural kratom leaf under state rules.
   

2. Driver Had 0.11 BAC With Kids In Car, Troopers Say (wgna.com) — A Poughkeepsie man was arrested after state police say they stopped him on Mill Street in the city and found he was driving with a 0.11 blood alcohol level while two children were in the car. He faces felony Leandra's Law charges, additional DWI counts, and traffic violations, and the children were released to a sober adult.
   

3. Syracuse schools may add more screen-time to kids' days. Teachers aren't sold. (syracuse.com) — Syracuse schools are weighing a contract to expand the i-Ready online learning platform, even as teachers worry it will add too much screen time for kids. Poughkeepsie City School District already uses i-Ready, so this debate over data privacy, device use and how much instruction should come from software versus teachers is directly relevant to local families watching their own students' digital workloads.
   

4. Congressman Pat Ryan Joins Community Leaders, Parents, Educators for Roundtable Discussion on Childcare Affordability & Accessibility in the Hudson Valley (house.gov) — Local parents, providers, and educators gathered with Congressman Pat Ryan at DAY ONE in Poughkeepsie to talk frankly about soaring childcare costs and staffing shortages. The roundtable highlighted how high prices and limited slots are squeezing Hudson Valley families' budgets and work lives, while Ryan criticized federal attempts to freeze New York's childcare funding and pledged to push for more support.
   

📸 Around Poughkeepsie

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    Thursday August 13
  • Canva para Crear y Fortalecer tu Marca
    Women's Enterprise Development Center Zoom
    6:00 pm
    • Wednesday August 19
  • Board of Education Regular Meeting →
    Poughkeepsie City School District 11 College Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
    6:30 pm

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi all, looking for recommendations for someone to repair porch soffit.
    If you know someone with the skills please let me know! (Nextdoor Lagrange)
  • ShopRite Supermarkets posted a job opening for ShopRite - Night Crew Clerk (SRS NYS) Salary Range $16.50 - $18.00/hr in Poughkeepsie. Apply here.
  • Kalan LP posted a job opening for Retail Merchandiser- Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 in Poughkeepsie. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Poughkeepsie here.

Ok Poughkeepsie! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: In the ICU (Thank you Donna M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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