Ram Singal was writing an email in the World Trade Center’s North Tower at 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, when the building shook. At first, he thought an earthquake had struck. Then the building shook again. Singal, a Port Authority project manager who had developed a structural integrity inspection program for the complex, knew […]
Mia Quick
Mia Quick is a born-and-raised Catskills native and began her professional career working at The Overlook. She has writing and photography featured in The Legislative Gazette, where she focused on policy and environmental reporting in Albany’s Capitol building. Before graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in journalism, she studied multimedia communications at The College of Saint Rose until its closure.
Posted inNews
Overlook
$500,000 Grant Expands Free Tech Help Across Hudson Valley
A $500,000 state grant will expand free, one-on-one technology assistance across the Hudson Valley, including at libraries in Ulster and Greene counties. The grant from Empire State Development’s ConnectALL Office was awarded to the Westchester Library System to recruit and train workers for the Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley program. Digital navigators help residents […]
Posted inUpdates
Overlook
When School Starts Across the Catskills
Students across The Overlook’s coverage area are returning to classrooms this month as the 2026-27 school year gets underway. The Hunter-Tannersville Central School District and Saugerties Central School District are the first to welcome students back on Thursday, Sept. 3. Saugerties schools will then close Friday, Sept. 4, and Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor Day […]
Posted inNews
Olive
Olive Free Library Earns Sustainability Certification
The Olive Free Library has earned a national sustainability certification after a three-year effort to reduce its environmental impact, strengthen its finances, and make its services more accessible. The Sustainable Libraries Initiative awarded the designation on Aug. 24, making Olive the 36th public library to complete its certification program. The initiative evaluates libraries in three […]
Posted inEnvironment
Overlook
15 Years After Hurricane Irene, Memories Run Deep in the Catskills
Jay Fink, disc jockey at WRIP-FM 97.9, spent the night of Aug. 27, 2011, at the Windham radio station after being told a storm was coming. He didn’t know he’d be on the air for 13 hours the next day. “I had no idea the severity of it, but I said, ‘Okay, I’ll hunker down […]
Posted inNews
Woodstock
Woodstock Creates BearWise Committee to Reduce Conflicts With Bears
Woodstock redesignated its Bear Task Force as a five-member BearWise Committee that will advise the town on bear awareness, public education, and conflict prevention. The town board named the committee’s members at a business meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18. They are Woodstock Supervisor Anula Courtis, Rachel Jackson, John Milo, Hannah Birenz, and Iris Permenter. The […]
Posted inCommunity
Shandaken
Phoenicia Festival of the Arts Adds Film Festival in Fourth Year
The Phoenicia Festival of the Arts will introduce a film festival during its fourth annual celebration, expanding the three-day event’s lineup of visual art, music, performances, poetry, and community programs. Events will take place along Phoenicia’s Main Street and at the Phoenicia Playhouse from Aug. 21 to 23. Christina Varga, the festival’s founder and producer […]
Posted inCommunity
Shandaken
Phoenicia’s Eagle Day Marks Statue’s 40th Anniversary
Phoenicia will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its landmark cast-iron eagle with a parade, ceremony, live music, and conservation programs on Aug. 22. Eagle Day will begin with a parade along Main Street at 11 a.m. on Saturday before moving to the eagle statue at the intersection of state Routes 28 and 214 for a […]
Posted inEnvironment
Shandaken
Stream Restoration Underway on Broadstreet Hollow to Cut Sediment in New York City’s Water Supply
Work began in late July on a $1 million restoration of Broadstreet Hollow, a Catskills stream that feeds New York City’s water supply, in an effort to slow erosion, reduce the fine sediment that clouds the water downstream and improve habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The project covers about 1,300 linear feet of […]
Posted inNews
Overlook
Catskill Game Farm Hits Market in a Two-Part Offer
The full 203-acre property is listed at just under $3 million.
Posted inNews
Overlook
Voting Opens for Six Finalists in “I Voted” Sticker Contest
The Ulster County Board of Elections narrowed 315 submissions to its annual “I Voted” sticker contest to six finalists and is leaving the final decision to the public. The board and a panel of volunteer judges from the local arts community selected the finalists, several of whom also entered designs in previous years. Voting is […]
Posted inNews
Overlook
Wildfire Smoke Pushes Parts of the Catskills Into ‘Very Unhealthy’ Range
Air quality reached levels considered very unhealthy in parts of the Catskills on Thursday, with readings climbing to 206 in Hurley and 201 in Pine Hill as smoke from Canadian wildfires lingered across the region. The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map recorded highs of 176 in Woodstock, 161 in Saugerties, 162 in Shokan, and 176 […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
Local Events Mark America’s 250th With Fireworks, Music, and Parades
Celebrate the holiday weekend with fireworks after the annual Saugerties Stallions fireworks baseball game, start a new tradition at Phoneicia’s touch-a-truck bazaar, or attend a foot-stomping tribute to Woody Guthrie in Woodstock. Those are just some of the plans during a jam-packed slate of events to mark American’s 250th birthday this weekend. It’s also worth […]
Posted inQ&A
Overlook
The Keeper of the Catskill Game Farm Reckons With Its Past and Looks to the Future
Shawn Johnson still remembers the Catskill Game Farm as his childhood “Disney World,” the animals, the rides, the scale of it all, and the sense that nothing else in the world was quite like it. Now, Johnson, the general manager of the Old Catskills Game Farm, is helping carry the former zoo through a more […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
Where to Celebrate Pride in Hunter, Shandaken, and Woodstock
Pride Month arrives in the Catskills with parades, movie nights, drag story time, and family events planned in Woodstock, Hunter, and Shandaken. The celebrations come during a month whose modern LGBTQ+ meaning traces back to the Stonewall uprising, a series of riots in June 1969 that marked a turning point in the gay rights movement […]
Posted inNews
Overlook
Ashokan Watershed Conference Focuses on Flood Preparedness
Flood preparedness is the focus of the 2026 Ashokan Watershed Conference, a program that will include three library presentations, a guided stream walk, and technical training for municipal officials. The conference, titled “Summit to Stream: Building Watershed Resilience Together,” will explore how water moves through the Catskills’ mountainous landscape and what that means for local […]
Posted inEnvironment
Overlook
Native Planting Program Offers Free Help to Streamside Landowners
Eligible streamside landowners in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed can receive free help planting native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers under a program meant to reduce erosion, improve habitat, and protect water quality. The Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative is available through the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program, a partnership among Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, the […]
Posted inNews
Overlook
Ulster County Begins Effort to Renew Ties With Lenape Descendants
Ulster County officials have begun what they say is the county’s first formal effort to rebuild a relationship with descendants of the Esopus people, whose ancestral homeland includes much of the Hudson Valley. County Historian Eddie Moran and a small group of local scholars traveled to Ontario, Canada, from April 12 to 14 to meet […]
Posted inOutdoors
Overlook
Six Easy (and Safe) Local Trails Offer Spectacular Views
While our region’s lush forests and abundant wildlife draws all manner of nature lovers, it can also pose unexpected risks to hikers and the first responders coming to their rescue. That’s why experts advise that you check the weather, difficulty levels, and degree of elevation— and above all, don’t be afraid to quit. With that […]
Posted inNews
Overlook
Onteora Names 2026 Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and Principal’s Award Recipient
Onteora High School announced its 2026 valedictorian, salutatorian, and Principal’s Award recipient on Wednesday, with all three students planning to pursue STEM fields in college. Valedictorian Shelby Buryk, of West Hurley, will graduate with an Advanced Regents Diploma with Distinction and the New York State Seal of Biliteracy in French. She is the treasurer of […]
Posted inNews
Shandaken
Long-Stalled Plastics Bill Draws Support After NY Lawmakers Soften Key Sections
Shandaken conservationist Karen Lee said she remains hopeful that a long-stalled state effort to restrict plastic packaging is moving forward, even after lawmakers softened key sections of the proposal this week. “They’re softening the bill to get something on the books,” said Lee, 66, a member of the town’s Conservation Advisory Council who has lobbied […]
Posted inBooks
Overlook
Peter Pan’s Catskills Connection Highlighted in New Essay Collection
A new essay collection published by Purple Mountain Press highlights an unexpected connection between the Catskills and one of literature’s most enduring characters: Peter Pan. “Peter Pan in the Catskills and Other Historical Essays,” released last month, gathers 33 essays first published in Catskill Tri-County Historical Views, a journal of the Gilboa Museum and Juried […]
Posted inNews
Hunter
Hunter Supervisor Urges DEC to Reject Plan to Cap Kaaterskill Visitors
Hunter Supervisor Sean Mahoney urged the Department of Environmental Conservation to reject a proposal that would cap daily visitors to Kaaterskill Falls at 1,000 and require reservations, saying it would hurt local businesses, restrict public access, and be difficult to enforce. Mahoney said in an April 6 letter to DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton that the […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Woodstock Teen Advances to Quarterfinals in Bob Ross Art Contest
A national art competition inspired by Bob Ross has brought a Woodstock teenager within striking distance of the semifinals. Rose Mills, 13, is competing in the quarterfinals of Bob Ross’s America’s Most Artistic Kid Competition, where the top public vote-getter advances to the next round. The contest’s winner will receive $20,000, appear on a special […]
Posted inNews
Saugerties
Malden Turnpike Bridge Closes in Saugerties for $8.2 Million Replacement
A bridge carrying about 2,000 vehicles a day over the New York State Thruway in Saugerties has closed for replacement and is expected to remain shut until fall 2026. The Malden Turnpike bridge closed to all traffic last week, as construction began on an $8.2 million project to replace the 78-year-old structure with a new […]
Posted inNews
Overlook
Ulster County Launches Private Well PFAS Testing, Rebate Program
Ulster County residents with private wells can now apply for free PFAS testing and, if contamination is found, rebates to help cover the cost of treatment systems through a new state pilot program. The Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program makes eligible property owners and some tenants eligible for free testing for […]
Posted inNews
Overlook
“I Voted” Sticker Contest Launches for Voting Season
For the sixth year in a row, the Ulster County Board of Elections is inviting artists ages 9 to 18 to enter its “I Voted” sticker contest. The winning design will be distributed to voters during the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, including throughout early voting from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. Submissions should include […]
Posted inNews
Woodstock
Woodstock Land Conservancy’s Hoerrner Chases Sustainability in Italy
Keisha Hoerrner is leaving the Woodstock Land Conservancy, where she’s served as its communications and outreach manager for two years, for a new and more sustainable life in Bologna, Italy, seeking to cut her carbon footprint, better healthcare, and “a place where science is valued.” “I want to go from just educating people about this […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
What a Year: Check Out Our 10 Most-Read Stories
In the year since The Overlook launched, we’ve covered everything from real estate sales (and scams) to heartbreaking fires and the precarious economic state of what was once one of our liveliest towns. You, our readers, voted with your fingertips to create our most popular stories. Here they are! 10. Firefighter’s Death on Panther Mountain […]
Posted inNews
Saugerties
Local Author Donates Portion of Proceeds from Book to Saugerties Animal Shelter
Maryanne Kalin-Miller moved to Saugerties after 42 years in Chicago to be closer to her granddaughter. It was a love for animals, even backyard pests, that inspired her to write a book – and donate some of the proceeds to the local animal shelter. For each copy sold of “Like Magic: Science Saves Small Town […]
Posted inNews
Woodstock
Woodstock Jewish Congregation Launches Support Program for Immigrant Families
The Woodstock Jewish Congregation has launched a volunteer-driven program to support immigrant families facing detention, financial strain and other hardships. The initiative comes as federal immigration enforcement operations have drawn national attention. This week, federal officials announced the end of a high-profile immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota that resulted in thousands of arrests and sparked […]
Posted inCulture
Woodstock
Molly Farley Keeps Jazz Alive at Rock City Vintage
Molly Farley traces her love of music to her parents. The quiet sound of her father’s saxophone and the gentle voice of her mother filled the family home in Mound, Minnesota, where Farley and her five siblings gathered after dinner to sing and play. “The town I grew up in did not have much culture,” […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
Greener Living, One Roof (or Loaf) at a Time
Making a move towards sustainability can look like Melissa Gibson’s promotion of biodegradable hemp products at HERbal Woodstock or the installation of green roofs by Hudson Valley Green Roof’s Nicholas DePalma. It can be through a community push via the composting program by Woodstock Farm Festival or the gradual shift towards reusable and efficient housing […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
Independence Day Celebrations Offer Parades, Fireworks
Saugerties, Tannersville, and Phoenicia are among the local towns celebrating Independence Day with a mix of fireworks and parades this weekend, starting at 10 a.m. Friday. Plan ahead—you just might be able to make it to more than one event, or even all four. Saugerties: Fireworks and Parade on Friday A full day of events […]
Posted inOutdoors
Overlook
Seven Local Hikes With Views, Fire Towers—and the Occasional Snake
With one heat wave done and summer in full swing, it may be time to venture into our local wilderness for hikes that range from adventurous to family-friendly, offering your pick of stunning mountaintop views and the serenity of deep forest. Just pack plenty of liquids, be sure to haul out all your trash, and […]
Posted inNews
Overlook
Locals, Day-Trippers Flock to Big Deep as Temperatures Soar
This week’s record-setting heat wave drew flocks of visitors and their furry friends to Big Deep, Woodstock’s best-known and sometimes overused swimming hole, as well as county-designated cooling centers such as the town library. Cars lined up on the street next to the watering spot as visitors crossed the road in flip flops and bathing […]
Posted inGardening
Hurley
It’s Domesday for Two Local Gardeners Betting on Geodesics
A former New York City real estate agent and a retired medical center engineer say the future of gardening is here—and it’s round. Joe’l Moss and Harold Castellano, who met when Castellano visited her property while serving as Hurley’s building inspector, have turned to geodesic domes—half-sphere structures invented for a German planetarium more than a […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Juneteenth Marked in Woodstock With Food, Art—and a Call to Action
Woodstock celebrated Juneteenth, the day three years after the Emancipation Proclamation that America’s last enslaved people learned they were free, with poetry, music and, great food. “Writing is a release for everything that we are absorbing in this time,” said poet Khe Charles, a speaker at the Village Green event, which included a miniature concert. […]
Posted inNews
Woodstock
Woodstock Library Hopes `Generous’ Donors Will Plug Funding Gap for New Site
The new 12,000-square-foot Woodstock library, triple the size of its longtime Library Lane home, is counting on donations to plug a $295,000 shortfall caused by federal budget cuts that it needs to complete a project more than three years in the making. “We will get that money,” said Marcia Pattern, secretary of the library’s board […]
Posted inNews
Shandaken
Flood-Prone Shandaken Works to Shore Up Support from Threat of Rising Waters
Shandaken is working to educate residents about what to do if a town named for rising waters lives up to its moniker. Environmental groups invited by the town’s Conservation Advisory Council this week told people who live on Shandaken’s floodplain to sign up for emergency alerts, look into flood insurance and consider raising their homes […]
Posted inGardening
Overlook
`Moon Gardens’ Bloom as Gardeners Cultivate Nocturnal Pollinators
An alarming quiet has replaced the familiar buzzing from pollen to petals as populations of honey bees and other pollinators rapidly decline. Nothing, it seems, can bring them back, not even colorful, nectar-rich flowers that greet the morning sun with open petals and should lure bees and butterflies. In response, and perhaps in quiet defiance, […]
Posted inNews
Overlook
Village Apothecary Weighs Ending Loss-Making Scrips, Citing `Predatory Reimbursement Practices’
Village Apothecary, Woodstock’s independent pharmacy, is telling some customers that it can’t survive if it keeps filling the 15% of prescriptions that it sells at a loss, asking them to consider paying for medicine out of pocket, using a big-box outlet, or buying a store membership to get discounted prices. In an email reviewed by […]
Posted inCulture
Woodstock
Woodstock Pride Celebrates Visibility and Belonging
The flowing fabrics of dancers dressed as butterflies, drag queens, and local businesses, along with bands playing “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, filled the streets on Sunday, June 8, for Woodstock’s Pride Parade—a festive march from Comeau Drive to Colony. “It’s not common in Pride parties that there’s so many families. That is very […]
Posted inCommunity
Olive
Olive Free Library Hosts Fourth Annual Fair
The Olive Free Library celebrated its fourth annual Library Fair on June 7 with live music, a bustling plant sale, and a performance by juggler and beatboxer “Jester Jim,” drawing families and community members for a day of entertainment and connection. Jester Jim’s high-energy set—featuring juggling, beatboxing, and comedy—was a standout. Many attendees called it […]
Posted inEnvironment
Catskill 3500 Club Marks Fifth Trail Stewardship Program With Outside Grant
The Catskill 3500 Club hosted its fifth trailhead steward season over the Memorial Day weekend, pushing forward with efforts to promulgate safe hiking and environmental stewardship as federal budget cuts stir concern. The club, formed in 1961 to note summiteers of the 33 accessible Catskills peaks above 3,500 feet, is supported this year for the […]
Posted inNews
Olive Free Library Wins $52K Grant to Build Makerspace and Art Hub
The Olive Free Library has been awarded a $52,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to develop a new makerspace and exhibition area in its lower level. Melissa McHugh, the library’s director and grant writer, said the funds will help transform the downstairs space by upgrading the flooring, ceiling, and […]
Posted inNews
Shandaken
Shandaken Opens Public Hearing on Verizon Cell Tower Proposal
The Shandaken Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing June 18 at 7 p.m. to consider Verizon Wireless’ request for a zoning variance to build a new cell tower in Phoenicia. Verizon is seeking a variance to expand the site’s permitted area by an additional 55 feet to account for slope and topography. […]
Posted inArt
Where Stone Remembers: Brunel Park Reimagined
The 19th-century French immigrant portrait photographer Emile Brunel churned clumps of concrete in preparation for his Indigenous-inspired sculptures, influenced by his time traveling through the western states. After immigrating to the United States in 1904 in search of frontier adventure, Brunel supported himself as a nomadic artist and later a commercial photographer, documenting the lives […]
