Harita with a giant redwood, as part of his immersion in old-growth forests. In defense of age When I was younger, I played piano. Rather than learning popular songs of the day, I studied the classics: Bach, Haydn, Chopin,... News & Views 12 Mar 2026 | 03:19
Don Lewis of Wild Hive Community Grains in Dutchess County, NY ( Becca Tucker) Next-stall neighbors To the editor, Today, I read your important and very relevant piece on local granaries and local bakers. We are indebted... News & Views 04 Feb 2026 | 02:22
Eagle Scout candidate Leo Portanova works with Mark Olson of M.P. Olson Excavation, who donated his time, equipment and the boulder upon which the sundial is mounted. Pollination Meadow unveils children’s sundial and new trail The updated Pollination Meadow in Tuxedo, NY, will host a ribbon cutting on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. to unveil a new children’s... News & Views 19 Sep 2025 | 02:22
A new report details an alternate vision for Hudson Valley transit $1.4 billion for what? Locals say ‘no thanks’ to wider Route 17 Update: The NYS Department of Transportation announced on Oct. 2 that the Route 17 project will be paused to “re-assess the... News & Views 19 Sep 2025 | 02:19
Amy Sweetman with her small bluebirds last summer at Transformation Trails, the park in progress at the former Mid-Orange Correctional Facility. She’s looking for a new site to host the large-scale bluebird sculpture she envisions. ( Becca Tucker) Bluebird changes trajectory Sculptor Amy Sweetman, of Warwick, NY, is looking for a public space in Orange County to host a large-scale bluebird sculpture... News & Views 07 Mar 2025 | 01:49
Rachel Raimist, Fred Isseks, Frank Biasi, and Jeff DuTemple appear in Middletown by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine. ( Photo by Sandra Phipps) Toxic landfills resurfaced in Middletown still haunt community In the documentary Middletown, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to international acclaim, filmmakers Amanda... News & Views 12 Mar 2025 | 10:58
A helicopter fighting the 5,200-acre Jennings Creek fire in Greenwood Lake, NY on Nov. 12, in which an 18-year-old forest ranger died. ( Nick Hornton (pathfinderstudios.com) ) Tragedy in our beloved stomping grounds I’ve been haunted by the tragedies afflicting the places where people hike. The place names I’ve been hearing in the news... News & Views 13 Dec 2024 | 11:25
Lauren Van Pamelen, owner of Tin Barn Brewing, was a happy customer at Chester’s inaugural Repair Cafe. Repair Café comes to Chester In November, Chester held its inaugural Repair Café at the Chester Senior Center. Chester joins Warwick – the first of a... News & Views 02 Jan 2025 | 12:27
Roth’s illustrations accompanied the text in a self-published children’s book ( Illustration by Stephanie Roth) ‘I am the tree’ An old man takes a walkthrough trees in the park. “I stomp the treesEven when they say please,Trample their dreams,With just... News & Views 19 Aug 2024 | 02:31
Keith Stewart on his 85-acre farm, which was preserved in perpetuity in 2007 Retired? Sort of. Two longtime voices for conservation join Land Trust In their retirement, two longtime voices for conservation recently joined the Orange County Land Trust. Organic farmer Keith... News & Views 14 Jun 2024 | 11:21
Dirt’s spring 2023 feature, The Back Seat manifesto, in which a dozen locals age 70 and over talked about how their perspective had evolved. Aging, unexaggerated To the editor,Thank you for your thoughtful piece, The Back Seat manifesto, which appeared in the spring edition of Dirt.... News & Views 06 Jun 2024 | 11:24
The barn where Wolf slept ( Amy Lewis Sweetman) I am WOLF Sunset lights – playing – dancing – silver blue glowing – shadow snow. Crystal crackling partially frozen – wild carcass... News & Views 02 Apr 2024 | 01:39
The blue jay. ( Keith Stewart) Table manners Outside my office window there’s an old mulberry tree with a bird feeder. The larger birds that regularly partake are a cardinal,... News & Views 02 Apr 2024 | 01:40
A full wood ring a few steps from the door. ( Becca Tucker) Be prepared to hunker down for blizzard season “In preparation for the winter storm season, I strongly encourage the public to create an emergency kit with essentials like... News & Views 13 Dec 2023 | 12:03
The birth of an enchanted food forest Like a germinating seed, creation begins in the dark. Sometime late 2020, in the still darkness of our pandemic cocoon, just... News & Views 21 Jun 2023 | 01:25
