Year in Review: Presidential Hopefuls Visit the Hudson Valley

This was the first year of Hudson Valley Post and we'd like to thank all of you for continuing to "follow the conversation" here at Hudson Valley Post.

It's been an interesting year in the local area, full of tragic murders, presidential hopefuls, fires, crashes and tales to warm the heart. Here are the stories we felt had the most impact on the Hudson Valley in 2016.

 
Presidential Hopefuls Visit the Hudson Valley
 

Our local area was able to feel the excitement of the 2016 Presidential race.

On a Sunday afternoon in late April, Donald J. Trump held a rally at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. 

Trump told the audience it was the largest event in the venue’s history. An overflow area was created in the ice rank next to the main performance space to accommodate the crowd.

In his 40-minute speech, the Republican presidential hopeful railed against a “rigged” delegate appointment process, illegal immigration, Republican presidential primary opponent Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic presidential primary front runner Hillary Clinton.

Hours before the rally, Trump held a somewhat secret appearance at the New York Military Academy in Cornwall. The private, invite-only event wasn’t a campaign stop, just a chance for Trump to tour the academy and speak with supporters at his alma mater.

A few days before Trump's arrival, Democratic Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders held a rally at Marist College.

Sanders walked the grounds of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home before arriving at Marist College for a rally that drew thousands.

Roosevelt’s legacy was a touchstone in Sanders' speech, in which the Vermont Senator renewed calls for a national $15 minimum wage, free college education and an expansion of Social Security benefits.