During that time I started relying on drive-through windows to grab lunch because I was too scared to go inside any business. Even my health club was shuttered for weeks. I'm sure you have similar stories.

Then one Wednesday I decided to drive up to the window at the Dairy Queen in Wappingers Falls because I really liked their chicken strips ...to say nothing of their great ice cream treats that my grandkids crave!

When I ordered my lunch this friendly woman's voice came over the speaker....confident, informative and most of all friendly 

Did I mention her voice was friendly? I needed friendly more than the food really. Always authentic without going overboard or trying too hard

When I got to the window, there was the manager Alex, dutifully wearing her government ordered facemask. We chatted...nothing earthshattering just small talk. It was so enjoyable given the sad state of my world at that time that I made it a regular visit. Every Wednesday...same order...same chit chat! I even wished Alex's mom a happy birthday on WHUD! Now years have gone by...the pandemic is long over (although some people are still catching it) and I don't go to Dairy Queen that often. But I did yesterday. And I recognized Alex's voice immediately. Not surprisingly she's still friendly....but even when I couldn't see it behind the Covid mask back then, I could just tell she was always smiling. Its not an exaggeration to say this young lady helped get me through the pandemic just by being herself .I'll never forget her kind voice and how she always asks about my wife and grandkids. Something good did come out of the Covid era...Alex, the Queen of Dairy Queen!

The victory brings with it a $150,000 first prize but Bryan told me the recognition means more to him than the cash! 

He'll join me this Friday morning at 8:15 on 100.7 WHUD to talk about his TOC win!

BTW he still recruits chefs from the Culinary to work at his restaurants and was back ten years after his graduation to be the commencement speaker! Fond memories of NY's Hudson Valley for the Maryland native.

Email your comments to mike@whud.com

Walkway is a wonderful to do during the day, but this spring, summer, and fall, you'll have multiple opportunities to indulge in an evening stroll. 

(Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park/Facebook)

Imagine witnessing a beautiful Hudson Valley sunset (like the one above) from that vantage point!

Walkway Over the Hudson has revealed the seven dates/times you can visit after dark this year. They are listed below!

• Friday, April 24 - 7:30-9:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 22 - 8:30-10:00 p.m.
• Friday, June 26 - 8:30-10:00 p.m.
• Saturday, July 25 - 8:30-10:00 p.m.
• Friday, August 21 - 8:00-9:30 p.m.
• Friday, September 25 - 7:00-8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 24 - 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 in advance, free for children under 12, and free for Walkway members.

Weather permitting, visitors will also be allowed to bring telescopes onto the walkway to capture the stars and other celestial happenings.

We hope you take advantage of one or several Walkway Over the Hudson nights to come!

Paul is Coast Guard veteran who took an interest in radio while stationed in Guam. He and our other engineers are on call 24/7 in case of emergency...which thankfully rarely happens. Besides our studios, they maintain our towers and the electronics that keep them all linked. It's really a marvel of modern technology how my voice gets to your radio, laptop or Alexa...I don't understand it but luckily Paul and the rest of the guys do!

Jon told me if I watched the first episode, I'd be hooked and boy was he right. Since the new episodes aired on Sundays, I waited anxiously all week to see the latest half hour show. Yesterday was the season 1 finale, hopefully setting up season 2! 

The all-star cast includes Jon, Laura Linney, Kevin Kline and Len Cariou from Blood Bloods! Aaron Tveit of Orange County also has a small role.

All of them are great as you would expect, but the standouts to me were two young actresses...Nell Verlaque and Elise Kibler!

Nell plays Miranda, the daughter and is remarkable, especially in the 8th episode as is Elise who is very funny playing Nadia with a Russian accent! 

I took Jon Tenney's word so please take mine, watch "American Classic" on MGM+...you'll thank me later!

email comments to mike@whud.com

She was tasked to research, write & record 91 (not a typo) New York State historical vignettes as part of an on-air celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States! No problem for Marin as she completed the task during her internship hours at the station! 

You can hear them not only on WHUD every day but also on our sister stations WBPM and The Peak as well for the next few months!

I was unaware that she was working on this project until I played the first of her features the other morning. I didn't recognize the voice and asked who it was. I have to say I'm very impressed by her work. I thought you should know that interns at WHUD don't get coffee for the boss or perform mundane tasks like filing paperwork. They do actual professional production, scripts and voiceovers that are heard on a 50 thousand watt station! Oh and we pay them too!

Way to go Marin! 

Email any comments to : MIke@WHUD.com

We're joined there by additional family and friends and although the Easter egg hunt for the kids had to be moved indoors due to the rain...the little ones still had a blast trying to find the plastic eggs filled with goodies!

Part bedlam...part chaos...but all with the best intentions and being surrounded by family makes it all worthwhile!

I picked up the shrimp and veggies from Adams...and they always do a great job. Nothing goes to waste, that's for sure!

Tickets:  https://www.thecapitoltheatre.com/the-capitol-theatre/events/detail/musicians-united-for-als-the-blues-more

ALS Greater New York City was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the early 1990s serving the Greater New York Area including New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and northern and central New Jersey. In 1995, we became an official member of The ALS Association, and as such changed our name to The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter. In September 2023, we joined 15 other independent nonprofit ALS organizations and changed our name to ALS United Greater New York ensuring the highest standard and continuity of local care for the ALS community, while facilitating the search for effective treatments and cures.  

 ALS United Greater New York provides local, comprehensive care and support to individuals & families affected by ALS, advances national & state advocacy, and fosters bold research initiatives.

I recorded a special message urging shoppers to donate to Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley at the register when they check out.

Every dollar raised will help local children facing a life threatening illness and funding a wish for them & their families.

You'll hear my voice in over 20 ShopRite stores in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster & Sullivan counties for that two week period!

That covers most of the vast listening area for 100.7 WHUD's 50 thousand watts of radio power!

Happy to do it...Make -A-Wish Hudson Valley is one of my charities of choice...I've actually witnesses the granting of two wishes and it's something I'll always remember! It's personal too as my nephew recently got his wish granted. So please consider supporting this combined fundraising effort by everyone at the Wish House in Tarrytown and all of the employees of ShopRite!

My friend Abe, a former Wish kid himself who now works for the local chapter says, "Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses...It's not a last wish, it's a lasting wish!"

While I dub my celebrity interviews or edit new ones...Rick keeps me entertained as he seemingly does 8 things at once...I can hear him answering emails via voice messaging...listening to a sports radio station, previewing the latest Bruno Mars album (great by the way), recording commercials for his clients and enjoying a "healthy" snack.

Recently I could hear him crunching away and I asked what was he eating...his answer was "Drizzilicious". I had him repeat the name.

Having never heard of the product (I know, late to the party) I asked about the ingredients. When he said mini rice cakes...I thought well I'll pass since I had never eaten a race cake in my entire life. But then he gave him to sample and I was instantly hooked!

A just had my 2nd box delivered to my front door...and I love all the flavors but my favorite is Smores...and birthday cake ...and cinnamon swirl.

I pried open the box because I had gone through the first box rather quickly and need my "Drizzilicious" "fix". 

Disclaimer: I am not a paid endorser of this product and have not been compensated in any way. (But there's still time :)

Comments: mike@whud.com

First thing I saw this morning as I entered the building at 4:20am and it stopped me in my tracks! This had been talked about but now it has finally come to fruition...and I love it. I'm sure it will still be on the wall long after the current staff moves on but for now, it's a perfect symbol to see first thing in the morning! Forever may she wave...or in this case, hang proudly!

Thanks to Congressman and West Point grad, Pat Ryan for the flag...which flew over the Capital in Washington DC  

Email your comments to : mike@whud.com

Overall, the supermarket’s annual ShopRite Partners In Caring Contest raised $1.3 million during Hunger Action Month, according to MidHudson News.

(Google Maps)

The funds raised by Tamagna and Ayala will reportedly benefit food banks and organizations in Putnam County, ensuring that their food insecure friends and neighbors get the assistance they need.

The Cheerio boxes featuring the two ShopRite Carmel employees will reportedly hit store shelves this spring.

via GIPHY

Congratulations to ShopRite Carmel and thank you to these amazing employees for their tireless efforts!

Best picture surely was "One Battle After Another"...did you know the director/writer Paul Thomas Anderson's partner is Maya Rudolph? I didn't till last night. But I did knew that his movie was going to win because of it's scope and story. Really enjoyed it.

Michael B. Jordan deserved "Best Actor" playing twin brothers in "Sinners". Does he get two statues?

Irish actress Jessie Buckley was amazing as Mrs. William Shakespeare in "Hamnet". A very moving film for me. And the young boy who played her son was very good as well.

Even "Golden" from Demon Hunters won for best song...I've only heard that about 1,000 times via my grandkids LOL

I'm always very critical of the red carpet shows ...splitting the screen between the person you're interviewing, with a shot from the nearby red carpet photo shoots, stars pulling up to the venue AND a countdown clock ticking away is too much by half.

For this diehard NY Giants fan, it's always nice to see their former QB Jesse Palmer being so good at his current job. He asks good questions and then let's the person actually answer them without interrupting. Can't say that about all the reporters.  

The in memoriam segment was very long because of the movie titans we lost in 2025...no offense to Redford but I though Robert Duvall deserved a bigger goodbye. Barbra singing a bit of the Way We Were was so touching...always call that movie the saddest I've ever seen.

All in all, I think Hollywood got the top awards correct and overall it was an entertaining show. Here's to next year at the Oscars!

(MarthaStewart48/Instagram; Canva)

It was the coolest thing to see! I'd be like, 'here kitty, kitty' and get my face scratched off. But also, Martha's choice of music to accompany the video of the cat had me chuckling. I was unaware there was such a song called, 'The Bobcat Walk' by Jeff Kagan, and now I can't stop humming it, lol.

Martha captioned her Instagram footage, which you can watch below, 'stealth bobcat out looking for food in a still snow covered landscape here in Bedford video shared by neighbor'.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Martha Stewart (@marthastewart48)

So, if you're in the Bedford region, just watch putting your small dogs out in your yard alone. Bobcats can't be choosers when they're hungry.

My youngest Matthew turned out to be the easiest....his favorite was Wade Boggs of the World Series champion Yankees! And after he retired in 1999, he became a minor league hitting instructor for the Tampa Bay Rays. At that time the Hudson Valley Renegades were a farm club of Tampa, so when I heard Boggs was visiting Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, Matt and I drove about 2 miles from our house in Beacon to meet him! This photo I took that day has been framed on my desk at WHUD ever since!

But just about everything else has changed...Dutchess Stadium is now Heritage Financial Park and the Renegades are now a Yankees farm team.....Matthew graduated from SUNY Albany and after years of working behind the scenes in radio, he's now working in the NY State Comptroller's office in Albany. He and wife Cara have 2 beautiful daughters. Boggs has since been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and successfully battled prostate cancer. Like I said, everything changes

I can hear Matthew saying "thank you Captain Obvious" LOL. 

Besides being a great on-air reporter of business new on Wall Street for Mahoney Asset Management, turns out Bill Coogle is an avid & talented fisherman!

Bring on SPRING 2026!.....I'm ready and obviously Bill is too!

Daniel is from Pennsylvania and premiered his newest work in the Lehigh Valley. Although his name might not ring a bell, you've seen him as the dad in the Agent Cody Banks films and as Jay Leno in "Late Shift" and many other movies and TV shows!

BTW the actress who plays the nun in "The Hail Mary" is Marsha Bennett (no relation although her husband is Matt, just like my father, brother, son and nephew) and she lives in New Paltz according to Daniel..

So see the movie and let me know what you think!

I'm on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and by text at 845-713-1007 or via email: mike@whud.com 

An officer with Village of Cold Spring reportedly found an abandoned pet crate nearby, according to News 12 Westchester, presumably by another unsuccessful rescuer, and managed to coax the woodland creature inside and to safety.

(courtesy News 12 Westchester)

Bleeding and cold, the officer took the groundhog to Brewster Veterinary Hospital where it was discovered to have a broken pelvis. How painful?! The animal was likely hit by a passing vehicle and if not for the good nature and collaboration between that Cold Spring neighbor and police, it may have just lay suffering in the snow awaiting certain doom.

But now she's on the mend receiving meds and even physical therapy to aid in her recovery. 

This injured creature got a happy ending, but not all are as lucky. Please be mindful of their presence on roadways, especially in areas where construction may be disrupting their natural habitat, forcing them into more residential areas.

Thank you to everyone involved in giving this groundhog a second chance at life. I'm sure in her own way she's very grateful.

Their parents had emailed me that February 26th was the day to mark the twins' birthday:..:

"First birthday announcement when twins were 16 years old. Hard to believe 24 years have passed… Lots of love to our wonderful twins from all of us… husbands, children, sister, mom , dad and Mike (of course)!"

I first met Kate & Ally (remember that great TV show?) at JFK High School in Somers and we've been exchanging emails and postcards ever since as they went to college and then began their careers and families. I was even invited to their graduation party...and I actually showed up and had a blast!

What a tremendous family...proud to have made them longtime friends!

Clean around your mailbox so your postal carrier can live up to the UNOFFICIAL motto of the USPS *

And with these new delivery trucks, it seems they can certainly see what's coming!       

* Don't forget your local fire hydrant too

Will we give away more Sheeran tickets over the next 6 months? That's a great question...I would stay tuned to 100.7 WHUD to find out!

BTW next week you can win Ski Butternut passes every morning at 7:15 with me on WHUD! 

Announces

Hybrid Sea Chanteys & Maritime Music

          March 1 | 2–4pm ET | 12 Fulton Street & On Zoom | Free

On Sunday, March 1, 2026 between 2–4pm, join a joyful community keeping centuries of seafaring music alive. Each session fills the Museum’s Schermerhorn Row galleries with the rhythm of traditional maritime work songs and ballads. Whether you’re singing along, leading a tune, or just soaking in the sound, you’ll be part of a warm and welcoming tradition that connects voices across the waves.

In-Person Registration

Preregistration is encouraged to join the event at 12 Fulton Street. Walkups will be accommodated as possible. Any in-person attendee is welcome to lead a song during the round-robin. If you have a specific song that you would like to sing in mind, please inform us of the song title when you register.

Zoom Registration

For all Zoom attendees, advanced registration is required. Please note that due to capacity limitations, only a limited number of online participants will be able to lead a song during the event. If you wish to lead a song on Zoom, please provide the song title when you register. You can register to join the Zoom event until the start of the program, but registration for leading a song on Zoom closes one week in advance.

But for all the training and expertise needed to be an engineer for multiple radio stations...one of their best "tools" is a simple spray bottle.

We never have a "static electricity" problem...like "pops" when we touch the on-air switches or mics...because we spray the stuff (pictured below) around all the studios religiously to prevent the build up of static. You know that pesky phenomenon that makes your hair stand on end. Now that I sorta understand LOL

Speaking of Phenomenon.....worth re-watching this 1996 movie starring today's birthday boy, John Travolta and the late, great Robert Duvall.

I've had this on my desk since the movie came out...coolest promotional item I've ever seen! The magnet holds the pen in mid air and the pen still writes after 30 years of hanging around! 

Danny Casper, a 24-year-old born in Briarcliff Manor native has come up big for his men's curling team. On Monday, coming off a stunning defeat of Team Sweden over the weekend by a score of 8-2, Casper came in in a clutch for Team USA sweeping Norway 5-0. It's the U.S. Men's Curling Team's third straight win.

(Danny Casper of Briarcliff Manor on the Curling ice in Milan, Italy. Courtesy Olympics/YouTube)

By the way, this U.S. Men's Curling Team is the youngest in Olympics history. Although Casper was born in Briarcliff Manor, he's spent most of his life and discovered his love for Curling in Minnesota. He's also already a gold medalist having won the U.S. Men's Curling Championship last December to secure his team's Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics berth.

Unfortunately, though, the men's team's winning streak came to an end Tuesday with round robin losses to China and Italy. They'll next face Great Britain on Wednesday, February 18th. You can explore the remainder of the U.S. Men's and Women's Curling schedule here.

Missed the matches? See Danny Casper and Team USA in action!

Watch the USA vs. Sweden victory below.

Watch the USA vs. Norway victory below.

Go, Danny!

 We ate great food and had a blast talking & laughing (my youngest granddaughter, 5 year old Kiera is so funny) and then asked our waitress to take a picture of all of us, and she said no problem, anytime a family is together celebrating, she delights in taking a photo...you know those forever memories!     

The kicker came when I asked her name...Destiny she answered...and I couldn't believe it since it was destiny that brought us together. 

The added bonus is that the 84 Diner is an advertiser on our radio stations and the account is serviced by Zolz...my next door neighbor in the office!.

I received this unsolicited email last week and it made my day!

Mr. Bennett
For years I’ve been listening to
another radio station. Quite by
accident I came across WHUD.
I now listen everyday. Most importantly is the role you played
in my two sons lives more than
30 years ago. They faithfully listened
to your school closings waiting for
St.Columbanus to be on the list.
Speaking to my sons the other
day my older son said it was “ like
hearing it today”.
Glad that some things remain
consistent in these troubling times.
Thank you
Arlene of Mahopac

This is one of the reasons I get up at 3:50 every weekday morning :) #BlessedByGreatListeners
 

Aerin Frankel hails from Briarcliff Manor, plays for the Boston Fleet of the PWHL (Professional Women's Hockey League) and is now basking in the glow of the Olympic flame!

But besides her hockey prowess, Aerin got noticed by TMZ and others this week for her Instagram ratings of...drum roll... Caesar Salads!

She's especially fond of croutons as am I,  I literally cannot eat any salad without those diced, crusty, baked pieces of bread.

 I'm following her on Insta and so should you!  GO USA Woman's Hockey Team! If they win a medal, maybe the crowd will throw croutons on the ice.

Enjoyed the show but it wasn't renewed for a third season so when the strike ended, Josh was a "free agent" so to speak.

And now in 2026, he's one of the stars of the new Fox dramedy "Best Medicine" where he plays the good natured but somewhat goofy sheriff. The show was filmed right here in the Hudson Valley so its got a lot of local buzz because all the "background" actors are your neighbors., including former WHUD employees John Nolan, Bob LeMoullec and my own daughter Courtney!  In fact she had a chat with Josh at the "craft services" table while filming locally and mentioned the Bernie game.

But Josh has lots of range and is in-demand...he's a recurring character on Abbott Elementary, Animal Control and Sirens! He was also on the Electric Company, Arrow and originated the role of Emilio Estefan in the Broadway musical "On Your Feet"  

A talented guy with a beautiful family and not bad at softball for a retired hockey player!

Having worked with Joe for years now, I can tell you he's very accurate with his forecasts, therefor I rely on his expertise and so should you...every weekday morning at 5:38, 6:38, 7:38 and 8:38. If you aren't already, you'll soon be a devoted follower like me!

By the way Joe has his own blog at AccuWeather...check it out.....https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/lundberg#google_vignette 

After the joy we shared last year, we’re excited to welcome you for an afternoon of connection, cocoa, and community. Enjoy:

☕ Delicious hot chocolate, generously donated by Coffee Labs Roasters and served with love by our inspiring wish kids
🎈 Family-friendly fun, Valentine’s treats, and heartwarming wish stories
💙 Meaningful networking and learning how you can help make wishes come true

We’re also thrilled to share that five Wish Alumni are confirmed to attend, including Coca, who once wished to host his own charity run: https://youtu.be/frtiLMoB7p8.

Please RSVP by replying to this email  aalmanza@hudson.wish.org.... we hope you’ll join us to spread the love and warm up for Valentine’s Day together.