ALBANY – Several projects in Dutchess County have received Regional Economic Development Council grants in this round 12.

Hudson River Housing will receive $500,000 for Trolley Barn phase III. The Poughkeepsie Trolley Barn is the adaptive reuse of a former trolley barn in the City of Poughkeepsie into an arts-based community hub.

Anderson Center Services will use its $310,000 grant to remodel a former carriage house to establish The Dellinwood Institute on Global Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Care.

The Wallace Campus Manager will receive $750,000 to revitalize and create a community green space, affordable commercial space, and mixed income housing.

The 47 Cannon St. LL at the same address in downtown Poughkeepsie will receive $500,000 to repurpose the former vacant Dutchess County Board of Elections building into a mixed-use community development project, named Riversong, as a hub where people will live, work and play.

MONSEY – A 52-year-old Monsey woman who was reported last seen during the evening hours on Sunday, was found dead off West Carlton Road in Monsey early Monday, Ramapo Town Police said.

They had received a report of a missing person at about 12:43 a.m., conducted a search and found a woman who matched the description of the missing individual. Her identity was confirmed.

Evidence gathered at the scene led investigators to believe that a vehicle was involved and now the incident is being investigated as a leaving the scene motor vehicle crash.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Ramapo Police Department at 845-357-2400.

WURTSBORO – Five people were injured, two seriously burned, when fire ripped through a log cabin home in Wurtsboro at mid-morning on Monday.

Fire Chief Dustin Graham said the blaze at 255 Gunaer Falls Road was a difficult one to extinguish.

“Seems there was a little bit of a challenge in putting it out. All four corners of the building were fully involved,” he said. “It was hot enough where cars 100 feet away melted. It was a hot fire.”

The two seriously burned victims were airlifted to Westchester Medical Center. The other three sustained lesser injuries and were transported to a local hospital, Graham said.

Two dogs and a cat were rescued unharmed.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Video (c) Mid-Hudson News Network 

POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin has ruled that accused murderer Paul Senecal is competent enough to stand trial for the murder of Melanie Chianese in May of this year.

Three psychologists had examined Senecal in early October to determine if he was competent enough to stand trial for the murder charge.  Two of the three mental health professionals, Dr. Zoe Berko and Dr. Martha Agresta, testified before Judge McLoughlin that they did not think Senecal was capable of understanding the charges and that he wasn’t capable of assisting his attorney in his defense.

After the first competency hearing, the two psychologists were provided additional information regarding the defendant’s actions while in the Dutchess County Jail.

The two professionals agreed to re-examine Senecal.  In November, the two doctors returned to Judge McLoughlin’s courtroom and testified that Senecal was competent enough to stand trial.

On Monday, Judge McLoughlin, based on the testimony of the doctors, ruled that Senecal is competent and the murder trial will proceed.

Depending on motions filed by the prosecution and defense, the trial will likely begin in February of 2023.

WEST POINT – Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18/19), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a West Point graduate, stood outside Thayer Gate of the military academy on Monday or urge support for the timely passage of the National Defense Authorization Act.

The roughly $800 billion package has been approved in the House of Representatives but awaits action in the Senate and Ryan is concerned that it could be held up.

“When it comes to our veterans, our military families, we have to rise above this partisan divide we have in our country right now and come together as patriots and make sure that we deliver in keeping our country safe and supporting our troops and our military families,” he said.

Ryan said the authorization act will provide$39.8 million toward the continuing construction of the $200 million West Point cyber and engineering center, $1.6 million to upgrade barracks and child development centers, and include a 4.6 percent pay raise for active duty members and civilians.

Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus, a member of the Navy Reserves, said the NDAA “should be non-negotiable, non-political.”

The bill has passed on time every year for the last 62 years and Neuhaus said it should not be “held hostage” by partisan politics.