The 7 Worst Hudson Valley Moments of 2014

There was a lot of great things that happened in The Hudson Valley this year. We got a new elevator on the Walkway Over The Hudson, we regained the world record for most Christmas lights in the world and we even had a local musician make a big impression on the judges of The Voice.

But there were also some not-so-awesome things that happened in 2014. Here's our own personal list of the worst Hudson Valley events of the year:

7) Fairgoers Banned From Posing For Photos With Tigers

Although many were happy to see the new law put into place, banning human contact with big cats, others were upset that they would no longer be allowed to pose with baby tigers at the Dutchess County Fair. All hope was not lost, however. We found an interesting loophole that gave some fairgoers one more chance to pose with a tiger. Of course, it was all captured on video.

6) Hudson Valley Man Meets Tragic End in The Bronx

A troubled man decided to end his life in a shocking way this past September. After tying a chain around his neck, Tomas Rivera from Port Jervis climbed into his car and slammed on the gas, decapitating himself and horrifying onlookers.

5) The Eveready Diner Goes Up in Flames

In June, the Eveready diner on Route 9 in Rhinebeck was engulfed in flames and much of the structure was destroyed. Onlookers watched from a beer fest that was in progress across the street at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Owners vowed to quickly rebuild, but the damage was far more extensive than first thought.

4) Kathie Lee Gifford Defames Poughkeepsie

Residents of Poughkeepsie had a major beef with the wine-swilling daytime talking-head in 2014 after she continued to use Poughkeepsie as a euphemism for having an orgasm. While most of the outrage was in good fun, some Poughkeepsie residents were seriously upset... not necessarily because their town's name was being used as code for "orgasm" but because it was being used as code for Kathie Lee's orgasm. Yuck!

3) Stink Bugs Invade the Hudson Valley

Those annoying, smelly bugs just barely beat out Kathie Lee as our 3rd worst moment of 2014. The Hudson Valley was invaded this Fall, leaving many of us with no choice but to share our homes with families of stink bugs. We shared some very effective ways to get rid of them, and even gave instructions for making a homemade trap that really works. However, for some it was just too late, the bugs had already claimed victory.

2) Local Health Code Violators Unmasked

Yuck. This year we were introduced to the New York State Department of Health's online database of health code violators. Hours were spent around our offices looking up some of our favorite restaurants, hoping not to find something that would make our stomachs churn. Luckily, we have some very clean and well-run restaurants in our area. There were some spots, however, that made us lose our appetite. We named names and let you know who topped the list of critical violations with the Department of Health.

1) The Woodstock Lodge appears on TV

If you were watching The Travel Channel in October you may have caught the episode of Hotel Impossible that sparked local outrage and intervention from Ulster County. The owners of The Woodstock Lodge were the most uncooperative people to ever appear on Hotel Impossible. Outrage over the terrible conditions that were exposed on the program, from mold to electrical hazards to animal droppings, caused the board of health to finally visit and shut down a number of cabins in November. This story may have a happy ending after all. The lodge has been listed for sale as of December 23.

So, do you have another Hudson Valley event that happened in 2014 that you think belongs on our list? Let us know in the comments section below.