Picture of Samantha Woodruff

Samantha Woodruff

Bio: Samantha Woodruff is a graduate from Washington State University with a Bachelors in English and Technical Writing. An avid reader since childhood, she has always had a strong connection with storytelling and writing. Her interests include art, cooking, video games, and movies. Samantha is excited to join the NYC Tastemakers team and have a chance to share her work with a wider audience through this internship.
Latest News

NJ Hiker Found Dead on Mount Marcy Identified

The identity of the hiker who slipped and died on Mount Marcy has been released by State Police. 21-year-old resident of Brick, NJ, Brianna L. Mohr was hiking with her dog on Mount Marcy last Thursday, February 12, 2026. Near the summit, she slipped and was unable to make it ...

Read More
Beauty

France Bans “Forever Chemicals” in Cosmetics

Last year, France’s National Assembly approved a bill “to outlaw the production, import, or sale of cosmetics containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS),” and that law came into effect this month, February 2026. This means that any cosmetics that use PFAS instead of alternatives that already exist will be included ...

Read More
Politics

The Punch Heard Round the Country

A new internet sensation was born last week. Danny Spud, a content creator known for attempting to disrupt workplaces and waste employees’ time, posted a video to social media on February 12, 2026, showing him attending his school’s anti-ICE protest. In the video, Spud can be heard saying he supports ...

Read More
Health and Wellness

Can Doomscrolling be Educational?

I can honestly say that I don’t enjoy scrolling on social media as much as I used to. With our feeds being flooded with negative and depressing news, AI-generated videos, and “brain-rot” content, I find myself putting my phone down after just a few minutes.  Doomscrolling, which “rose to prominence ...

Read More
Latest News

Fire Hydrant Blocked During Deadly Fire in Queens

On Sunday, February 15, 2026, just after 7 pm, the FDNY received multiple calls reporting a fire at 41-50 78th St., an apartment building in East Elmhurst between Broadway and Woodside Avenue. Upon arrival, the incident was classified as a heavy “all-hands fire,” and 21 FDNY units were dispatched, with ...

Read More
Sports

Ukrainian Olympic Athlete Disqualified over Tribute on Helmet

Yesterday, Thursday, February 12, right before the skeleton competition, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) announced the disqualification of Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych because of his helmet.  The helmet, according to Heraskevych, is “special”. He explained, “It shows several athletes who have died over the past four years. Some of them ...

Read More
Politics

ICE Ending Operations in Minnesota

Tom Homan, the White House Border Czar, announced in a press conference on Thursday, February 12, that ICE operations are ending in Minnesota. Many people are skeptical of the news, with Governor Tim Walz saying he is “cautiously optimistic”. After the announcement, Walz also praised the actions of Minnesotans, saying, ...

Read More
Latest News

Mejia Wins NJ District 11 Special Election Democratic Primary

The Democratic primary race for the special election in New Jersey’s 11th District has been called. Progressive organizer Analilia Mejia has won, beating almost a dozen other candidates, including former US representative Tom Malinowski. This special election is being held to fill the US House seat previously held by Mikie ...

Read More
Health and Wellness

Can a Letter Save a Life?

It is no surprise that with all the bad things happening in the world, depression rates are increasing. Almost 20% of adults in the US have experienced depression disorder in the last year. I know there are countless things affecting my mental health right now. With the global rise in ...

Read More
Movies

What is up with Fennell’s Casting in “Wuthering Heights”?

Let me start by saying I am not the biggest fan of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. However, the casting for the new film adaptation of the book, set to be released ahead of Valentine’s Day, has left me puzzled.  This adaptation is directed, written, and produced by Emerald Fennell, who ...

Read More
Food

The Future of Chocolate

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, grocery store shelves are lined with heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. Chocolate is one of the most popular foods worldwide, with the average American eating around 12 pounds of chocolate a year.  However, there are several issues with how cocoa is currently farmed, including ...

Read More
Sports

Women Should Be Allowed to Compete in All Winter Olympic Sports

The 2026 Winter Olympics are in full swing. Earlier today, athletes from around the world competed in Nordic Combined—well, male athletes, that is. Nordic Combined is the only sport in this year’s Olympic Games without a women’s competition.  The Nordic Combined competition has two parts: cross-country skiing and ski jumping. ...

Read More

Hey! Are you enjoying NYCTastemakers? Make sure to join our mailing list for NYCTM and never miss the chance to read all of our articles!