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 […]
Community
Posted inGardening
Saugerties
Saugerties Resident Turns Private Land Into Public Garden
“2,000 tulips. Pick a bouquet,” reads the sign on Route 32A. Another sign, painted with bright butterflies and flowers, says: “Welcome! Saugerties Organic Gardens, a nonprofit community agricultural organization.” Mali Peterbridge and Frank Clark had been driving past the signs twice a day since moving from Saugerties to Palenville. Intrigued, like many of the garden’s […]
Posted inCommunity
Olive
Olive Library Swap Draws Bargain Hunters and Full Tote Bags
Why pay full price when you can swap for free or buy secondhand from neighbors? That was the sentiment at the Olive Free Library on Saturday, May 2, as dozens of bargain hunters scoured tables of household items on the sunny front lawn and lined up, empty tote bags in hand, waiting for the free […]
Posted inOutdoors
Overlook
Steven Weinberg Casts for Trout and Wonder in New Book
Walking along a brook with Steven Weinberg, it can seem as if he has a hello for everything around him: the clear, spring-fed stream; Rusk Mountain, still wearing its spring-stubbly, not-yet-green face; the acorn he spots on the ground and stops to examine. Weinberg’s neighborhood is alive, and he shares it generously in “The Fly […]
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
Saugerties Bowlers Club Keeps Community Rolling
Tucked behind Simmons Plaza in the Barclay Heights section of Saugerties, the Saugerties Bowlers Club is easy to miss. Inside, the alley feels like a 1960s time capsule: worn maple lanes, molded fiberglass chairs, checkered lockers, old machinery, an open-air snack bar, and a storied bar where live honky-tonk bands sometimes play. Since 1968, when […]
Posted inThoughtful Discussions
Woodstock
Writers Resist Revival Brings Authors, Music and Activism to Woodstock
As Woodstock resident and SUNY New Paltz journalism professor Lisa Phillips prepares to bring Writers Resist Revival to the Bearsville stage on April 26, she is doing so alongside a community of local writers, booksellers and organizers, including Gretchen Primack, Nina Shengold, Jana Martin, Beverly Donofrio, Robert Burke Warren and collaborators at The Golden Notebook. […]
Posted inThoughtful Discussions
Overlook
Spruceton Inn Co-Founder Casey Scieszka Turns Catskills Life Into Debut Novel
Casey Scieszka came to West Kill more than a decade ago to build the kind of place she and her husband, artist and writer-illustrator Steven Weinberg, wished already existed: a small, design-conscious Catskills inn where artists, weekenders, and locals might cross paths over a fire pit or a drink. Today, that vision is the Spruceton […]
Posted inThoughtful Discussions
Shandaken
The Pines Marks 10 Years as Shandaken Gathering Place
Ten years after opening The Pines, Jeremy Bernstein said the business has become what he hoped it would be: a place where people gather for food, music, and the kind of familiarity that makes a night out feel like dinner at a friend’s house. Bernstein, 52, grew up in Woodstock and came to hospitality after […]
Posted inGardening
Saugerties
Saugerties Seed Library Flourishes as Community Participation Sets a Record
The Saugerties Seed Library is drawing record participation in its third year, with patrons at the Saugerties Public Library taking home 400 seed packets in March for everything from flowers to okra. The initiative, aimed at fostering community through gardening, education, and the sharing of seeds and knowledge, is led by library assistant Justyna Staccio. […]
Posted inThoughtful Discussions
Olive
Does Tetta’s Market in Samsonville Have New York’s Cheapest Gas?
Primo Stropoli, the fourth-generation owner of Tetta’s Market in the hamlet of Samsonville, keeps gas prices low because “quantity is more important than profit margin.” As the national average hit $4.081 this week, prompting state lawmakers to demand a cap on gas taxes above $3 a gallon, Stropoli is pumping 87-octane for just $3.69. “I […]
Posted inThoughtful Discussions
Overlook
Greene County Historian Shares Insights on the American Revolution Ahead of Nation’s Semiquincentennial
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Greene County Historian Jonathan Palmer sees the milestone as an opportunity not just to commemorate the Revolutionary War, but to reconsider how its legacy shaped communities across the Catskills. In Greene County, he said, the story of the Revolution […]
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
Mountain View Cemetery Seeks Help Covering $15,000 Landscaping Bill
A volunteer-led effort is underway to raise funds for Mountain View Cemetery in Saugerties, where supporters say the nonprofit burial ground does not have enough money to cover $15,000 in seasonal landscaping and mowing costs. Anne Cirulli, a Woodstock resident who launched the Facebook page Friends of Mountain View Cemetery, said she got involved after […]
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
Swing Dancing Finds a Home at Saugerties Public Library
The bouncy rhythms of 1940s jazz filled the Saugerties Public Library on Monday evening, drawing an intergenerational group of dancers onto the floor to spin, twist, kick, and turn. Eighteen people—many of them new to swing dancing—came for March’s Miss Lindys Dance Hall, a free community event that offered a basic lesson, DJed music, and […]
Posted inGardening
Overlook
Annual Garden Day Classes Set for April 11 at SUNY Ulster
Garden Day, an annual day of gardening classes presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, will return Saturday, April 11, at SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge, with several instructors from Saugerties, West Hurley, and nearby communities helping lead the program. This year’s theme is “Create and Cultivate.” The keynote speaker, Kim Eierman, will present […]
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 inCommunity
Overlook
Starting Over on the Mountain
Chris Tucker wasn’t looking for recovery when he walked into the former Wellness Rx Pharmacy in Tannersville five years ago. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he knew something in his life wasn’t working. In 2021, Tucker moved to the mountaintop, leaving behind Jacksonville, Richmond, San Jose, and Brooklyn for a quiet […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Woodstockers Praise, Decry Route 212 Overhaul Plan at Packed Public Meeting
A packed public meeting on Woodstock’s proposed Route 212 overhaul drew sharp questions about accessibility, tree loss, cost, speed limits and property impacts as officials laid out two related projects: a state-led reconstruction of Tinker Street between Schoonmaker Lane and Rock City Road, and a separate bike-and-pedestrian path proposal between Wittenberg Road and Schoonmaker Lane. […]
Posted inThoughtful Discussions
Overlook
America 250 Is About More Than 1776, Says Ulster County Historian Eddie Moran
Eddie Moran, Ulster County’s first full-time historian, says America’s 250th birthday is an opportunity for Hudson Valley residents to look beyond 1776 to seek a better understanding of the role local officials played in the Revolution and the displacement of the Esopus, whose descendants now live in Ontario, Canada. The 2020 SUNY New Paltz graduate, […]
Posted inCommunity
Hurley
Hurley Death Cafe Opens Space for Candid Talk About Dying
Fourteen people gathered at the Hurley Public Library on Sunday, March 15, to share coffee, tea, cookies, and talk about a subject many people avoid: death. “Simply come as you are and take part at your own comfort level,” the program announcement read for the Death Cafe hosted by Circle of Friends for the Dying, […]
Posted inCommunity
Olive
Olive Free Library Nears Sustainability Certification
The Olive Free Library is nearing the final step toward official certification as a Sustainable Library, an effort Library Director Melissa McHugh took on soon after starting the job in 2023. If approved in June, the library would become the third in the Mid-Hudson Library System to earn the designation through the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
The Overlook Names Board of Directors
The Overlook has named its board of directors, assembling a group of journalists, media executives, nonprofit leaders, and community advocates to help guide the nonprofit newsroom as it builds out coverage across the Catskills. The board includes President and Co-Founder Scott Widmeyer, Secretary and Co-Founder Jacqueline Kellachan, Treasurer Donna Price, Peter Cherukuri, Susanne Craig, Lauren […]
Posted inBusiness
Woodstock
The New Kids: Oyster Party Opens a Home Base at Hotel Dylan
When I moved to the Catskills full time in 2005, I was considered one of the “new kids on the block.” I was in my late 30s, with a young child entering the now-shuttered and beloved Phoenicia Elementary School, and plenty of my urban-dwelling friends—even those who loved the Hudson Valley on weekends and in […]
Posted inCommunity
Olive
Close Encounters with Birds of Prey at the Olive Library
More than 80 people came to the Olive Free Library on Saturday morning, and it wasn’t to check out books. The intergenerational crowd packed into the community room to see birds of prey up close and learn about their habitats and behaviors. The standing-room-only audience oohed and ahhed throughout the annual show as Saugerties-based wildlife […]
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
In Saugerties, a Conversation About Seeing and Being Seen
Kym Chambers built her vintage business in the hallway of her Brooklyn walk-up with what she called “one rack of clothing and Shopify and a dream.” For the past two years, Chambers has occupied a storefront on Main Street in Saugerties, where the Toronto-born curator showcases BIPOC women, sustainable brands, vintage, and queer Hudson Valley […]
Posted inThoughtful Discussions
Woodstock
In Conversation with Woodstock Supervisor Anula Courtis
Just shy of two months into her administration, Woodstock Supervisor Anula Courtis is balancing structural reform with unfinished business. A Level 3 sex offender whom the Town Board voted to terminate remains actively employed in the town’s maintenance department, Courtis confirmed in an interview with The Overlook News, saying the matter is now in the […]
Posted inOutdoors
Hunter
Annual Ice Fishing Derby Draws Seasoned Anglers
Competition was friendly but fierce at the 37th annual Children’s Ice Fishing Derby on Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville. The Derby kicked off at 10am on Sunday, February 22nd as the thermometer read 27 degrees, perfect weather for 65 tightly bundled girls, boys, and their parents who gathered on the ice to fish. Open […]
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
Death Doulas Bring Comfort and Care To Life’s Final Chapter
Robert Cornett spoke about helping people write the end of their story during a presentation at the Saugerties Library last week, and it wasn’t for a writers workshop. Cornett, 73, a certified death doula, described his work helping people find a sense of agency and meaning as they navigate what he referred to as a […]
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 inCommunity
Saugerties
A Not-So-New Game in Town: Saugerties Backgammon Meet-Up Launches at The Pig
The sounds of ‘60s music, friendly conversation, and clattering dice blended together in the dimly lit room at the Pig Bar and Grill on Saugerties’ Partition Street on Tuesday night. Martinis, french fries, and backgammon boards covered a large communal table, where neighbors gathered around one of the world’s oldest board games. With roots stretching […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Tinker Time in Woodstock: A Repair Cafe Brings Neighbors Together
Snow blowers, kitchen knives, bicycles, lamps and vintage jewelry may not seem to have much in common. But on Saturday at the Repair Cafe at the Woodstock Community Center, they shared a second chance. Nearly 100 objects, brought in by residents from across the area, were repaired for free by a team of neighborhood volunteers […]
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
Saugerties Sings Community Chorus Opens Fifth Season on a High Note
Saugerties Sings Community Chorus opened its fifth season with a high-energy rehearsal, bringing together a mix of new and returning singers and underscoring the group’s mission of accessibility, flexibility, and joy. The chorus, which meets weekly and is open to all regardless of experience, gathered at the United Methodist Church on Washington Street. Twenty-five singers […]
Posted inCommunity
Windham
Windham Community Center Holds Second Annual Art Auction
Windham’s Main Street Community Center will host its second annual fine art auction on Saturday, aiming to bring together local artists, residents and supporters and raise funds for programs that serve children, families, and seniors. The event, held at the community center’s building on Main Street, starts with a 5 p.m. cocktail hour, followed by […]
Posted inThoughtful Discussions
Hunter
Chef Corwin Kave on His James Beard Semifinalist Nod and What’s Next at Deer Mountain Inn
Chef Corwin Kave of Deer Mountain Inn in Tannersville has been named a James Beard Award semifinalist for best chef in New York State, placing the Catskills restaurant among the most nationally recognized kitchens in the country. Kave, 44, who has led the inn’s kitchen since 2021, spoke about the recognition, his philosophy in the […]
Posted inGardening
Overlook
Indigenous Crops That Shaped What We Eat Today
Schoolchildren often learn the familiar story of the Pilgrim settlers and the Wampanoag man Squanto (whose real name was likely Tisquantum), who taught them how to grow corn. Maize, better known as corn, was unknown to the Pilgrims. Around 9,000 years ago in Mexico, the wild teosinte plant was domesticated and developed into an ancestor […]
Posted inCommunity
Windham
A Packed House in Windham for a Conversation on the Future of Local News
More than 100 Catskills residents braved single-digit temperatures on Saturday for a conversation about the future of local journalism. “The Future of News: Global and Local,” hosted by Windham resident and The Overlook board member Josh King alongside other community members at the Catskill Mountain Country Store & Restaurant, explored the rise of nonprofit journalism, […]
Posted inOutdoors
Hunter
Learning How to ‘Let Wild be Wild’ on the Mountain
On the mountain, wild animals are closer to home—sometimes even in our backyards—as bears, eagles, ducks, owls, foxes, deer, falcons, songbirds, and hawks seek food and shelter. That proximity raises questions: Should we feed and shelter them? Will that do more harm than good? What should we do if an animal is hurt or separated […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Free Holistic Wellness Clinics Gain Popularity as Health Care Chasms Widen
Half an hour before Health Care is a Human Right offered its first free holistic healing appointment on Tuesday at Woodstock’s St. Gregory Church, some 20 people had already lined up, underscoring the rising appeal of the nonprofit’s mission to fill health care gaps and make wellness care free and available to all. “This feels […]
Posted inGardening
Overlook
The Fruit Trees That Need Winter
Many fruit trees need winter’s cold in order to flower and fruit well in the growing season. New York State is known for its excellent apples, a fruit tree with a particularly high chilling requirement. Pears, cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, and other fruit trees must also experience a minimum number of chilling hours over the […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Woodstock Marks MLK Day with Community Gathering
Woodstock residents gathered on the Village Green on Monday, Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., reflecting on his work for racial justice, nonviolence, and equality.
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Youth Soccer Returns to Woodstock, Rebuilding Community One Season at a Time
Woodstock’s newly revived youth soccer program has its first season in the books and plans to expand with kids as they grow older—one year at a time. “Showing up is the most important part,” said Karen Chesley, 46, the all-volunteer group’s driving force. “Even the kids that don’t want to play at the beginning end […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
A Guide to Local New Year’s Happenings
Amateur night. Out with the old, in with the new. Bidding farewell to a friend in the waning hours of Dec. 31, 2025, and bellowing, “Hey, I’ll see ya next year.” New Year’s Eve looms large over us all. So how will you ring in 2026? Will you remain tucked in at home and watch […]
Posted inGardening
Overlook
Winter’s Hidden Gifts for Gardeners
Winter has officially arrived, and with it the familiar sense that the gardening year has gone dormant. Nights have dipped well below freezing, snow has already appeared, and most beds look settled in for the long pause before spring. But beneath the surface, winter is quietly doing some of its most important work. This is, […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Now Gone, ‘Free Speech’ Signs Raise Questions, Whip Up Mystery
The matter of free speech can generate plenty of discussion. That was certainly the case in Woodstock this week, but perhaps not in the way you might think. The discussion was triggered by two signs screwed into posts on the edges of the Village Green. One post stands along the sidewalk bordering the Green and […]
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
Gym Stars of Saugerties on a Roll as Local Kids Prepare for More Competitions
Saugerties-area youth are flipping, twisting and tumbling their way into top competitive rankings as teams trained by Gym Stars of Saugerties prepare for more state and regional championships sanctioned by USA Gymnastics, the group that selects and trains teams for the Olympic Games. At the first competition of the season, in Orangeburg, N.Y., on Nov. […]
Posted inOutdoors
Overlook
What to Know Before You Hit the Slopes
Snow on the ground and a chill in the air usually mean one thing in the Catskills: ski season. On Tuesday, the region’s first major snowfall blanketed the region with about eight inches of snow. Nearly four million skiers visited New York resorts in 2022-23, the most recent year for which data is available. An […]
Posted inOutdoors
Overlook
Ski Shops Duck Most Rising Tariff Costs – for Now
Skiers buoyed by the season’s first significant snowfall this week can count one certainty: Tariffs have already pushed up prices and worse is likely to come during the next two years. “I’ve been doing this for some 30 years now, and this is the first time I’m seeing widespread changes in the prices,” said Nick […]
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
Drones, Volunteers Press Search for Missing Miniature Dachshund
Drone pilots, rescue workers and local volunteers are pressing their search for Beans, a miniature dachshund that bolted from her owner’s arms in early October near Route 32 in Saugerties. While the last confirmed sighting came around Halloween, Beans’ family has received “a bunch of calls” from people who thought they saw someone walking a […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
In the Catskills, a Small Native Community Preserves a History Fading From View
Morning light captured a circle of stones just beyond the Shokan home of Judith Boggess as she walked its perimeter, like she does most days, pausing at each quadrant of the medicine circle she built years ago. “It’s a circle broken up into the four directions,” the 82-year-old said, referring to a central tenet of […]
Posted inCommunity
Shandaken
Annual Turkey Trot Returns With Community Spirit and a Cause
Each year around Thanksgiving, Shandaken residents gather for the annual Phoenicia Turkey Trot, a festive run and walk that blends tradition, charity and community spirit. On Saturday, as many as 300 participants are expected to complete the 2.4-mile loop that begins at Parish Field in Phoenicia, then winds along Main Street to Route 28, Woodland […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Woodstock Center for Awakening Broadens Its Reach
“Love All, Serve All, Feed All.”Neem Karoli Baba The Woodstock Center for Awakening is offering a multidimensional Thanksgiving program this year, feeding an estimated three hundred to five hundred immigrant families across Ulster County. Meanwhile in Woodstock, a loftier feast awaits many of the devotees more commonly associated with the annual Awakening Festival, which will […]
Posted inObituaries
Woodstock
Barbara Boris, Yoga Teacher With a Devoted Following in Woodstock, Dies at 66
Barbara Boris was a huge “Star Trek” fan. Martin Brading, Boris’s life partner for more than two decades, said she enjoyed the fantasy, escapism and philosophical debates that framed the show. “She was a Trekkie,” Brading said with a laugh. “She was a very tender person, very kind—thoughtful and compassionate, a gentle soul,” he added […]
Posted inOutdoors
Overlook
Kaleidoscope Fall: Ranger Dave on the Final Days of Autumn
As the kaleidoscope of our Fall season inexorably turns, the once-bright autumnal hues, which only recently seemed stunningly immutable and starkly in-our-face, have changed their tune. Now they speak to us in more muted, darker tones of faded yellow and orange, rich browns, and disintegrating greens. I’m almost afraid of what they’re trying to say. I […]
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
Bluestone Cafe in Saugerties Offers Pre-Paid Menu Items as SNAP Worries Mount
A Saugerties cafe has installed a “pay it forward” bulletin board that customers can use to post pre-paid receipts to be redeemed for menu items, seeking to help those in need amid financial strains tied to SNAP uncertainty, accelerating inflation and surging housing costs. Bluestone Roasting Co., a cafe at 138 Partition Street that serves […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
Comment and Chronicle
When we asked readers in October what they wanted more of from The Overlook, the responses were clear: people care deeply about the places they live—and they expect their local digital newspaper to do the same. Across hundreds of responses, readers voiced a desire for more transparency and accountability in local government. They cited the […]
Posted inOutdoors
Overlook
The Dog Who Climbs the Catskills
On any given weekend, if you’re deep in the Catskills and hear a distant howl, it might just be Tater, a seven-year-old mountain cur who’s spent the past five years climbing mountains across the Northeast with his owners, married couple Redmond Haskins and Gina Morrow. Haskins, 39, and Morrow, 36, live in Saugerties, where their […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
We want to hear from you!
This week, we’re taking a short break from publishing new stories to hear from you — our readers. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey. Your feedback will help us sharpen our coverage and strengthen The Overlook.
Posted inCommunity
Saugerties
Long Garlic Roots in Saugerties
The pungent aroma—whether it’s been fermented, pickled, roasted or powdered—is impossible to avoid at the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival, a Saugerties institution since 1989. The herb is everywhere, stirred into lemonade, melded into fried pickles, folded into pierogi, and heaped on sample containers of kimchi or ice cream half-melted in paper cups. Garlic hangs in […]
Posted inGardening
Woodstock
New to the Area: The $64 Tomato and Other Lessons
I am new to Woodstock. New to the glorious Hudson Valley, new to its rhythms, and very new to gardening. I’ve lived in cities most of my life—New York, DC, Paris, Rome, Tel Aviv, Dhaka, Baghdad, Rabat—thanks to a Foreign Service career and other meanderings. The only thing I’ve ever grown successfully was basil in […]
Posted inBusiness
Windham
In Hensonville, New Ventures Breathe Life Into a Quiet Catskills Hamlet
Former New York City police sergeant Zack Malegiannakis likes what he sees from the bar and restaurant he runs in the center of the once-sleepy hamlet of Hensonville. “It’s exciting because it’s only getting better,” said Malegiannakis, 61, who moved to Windham from Brooklyn. “I’ve been here for eight years and the only thing we’re […]
Posted inOutdoors
Overlook
Hunter and Shandaken Enact Emergency Burn Bans
As drought conditions deepened across the Catskills last week, the towns of Hunter and Shandaken declared local states of emergency and issued temporary burn bans. The orders, signed Sept. 20 and 21, prohibit outdoor burning of yard waste, bonfires, and campfires in an effort to reduce wildfire risk at a time when local fire companies […]
Posted inBusiness
Overlook
Catskills Hardware Stores Grapple With Fallout from Tariffs
H Houst & Son, a Woodstock institution for more than nine decades, is feeling the squeeze from President Donald Trump’s insistence that higher tariffs on imported goods will deliver faster economic growth and cheaper prices for U.S. consumers. Items that once cost a dollar now arrive in the U.S. at $1.30 before they reach the […]
Posted inCommunity
Hunter
When Robert Redford Landed at Hunter Mountain
When a helicopter cut through the snow clouds over Hunter Mountain on February 2, 1977, the staff already knew who was coming. The man on board was Robert Redford, then fresh off the success of “All the President’s Men” and one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. Redford died on Sept. 16 at his […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Encomium for Bruce Ackerman
Bruce Ackerman! So full of life! So full of creativity! As the great Phil Ochs once sang about a fallen president “A man so full of life, even death was caught off guard.” Bruck Ackerman! Excellent artist. Fine musician. He built such beautiful guitars for his friends and loved ones! He was a excellent graphic […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
On Fathers and Disconnect from Dylan to Kirk
To the Editor: President Trump ordered the nation’s flags to fly at half-staff after the fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, but not after the killing of Democratic Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in June. His selective decision should trouble anyone who values fairness in honoring public servants. No […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Woodstock Film Festival Unveils 26th-edition Lineup, Honors, and Oscar-qualifying Shorts
The Woodstock Film Festival announced the program for its 26th edition, running Oct. 15–19 at venues in Woodstock, Rosendale, Kingston, and Saugerties, with a special pre-festival event Oct. 14. The slate features 39 narrative features and 27 documentaries, led by the centerpiece film “Jay Kelly” from Noah Baumbach, and highlights including new works by Richard […]
Posted inCommunity
Shandaken
Historic Catskills Inn Hits Market as Pine Hill Revitalization Accelerates
For decades, the Pine Hill Arms was more than an inn. It was a Friday night ritual, a roaring fire, and a place where neighbors became lifelong friends. Listed in July for $675,000, the landmark Catskills property has locals reflecting on what it meant—and what it could be again. “First thing to do was to […]
Posted inOutdoors
Overlook
Are Ticks Really Worse this Year?
If you spend enough time in the Catskills, you’ve likely heard the refrain: “The ticks are really bad this year.” The reality is more complicated. While ticks and the diseases they carry are a persistent hazard in the region, whether a given season is truly “bad” depends on a mix of perception, climate conditions, and […]
Posted inOutdoors
Woodstock
Pollinator Pathways Blossom in Woodstock
Insects are in trouble. A 2019 study found that, worldwide, 40% of insect species are threatened with extinction. Another survey found that up to 60% of the insects that pollinate crops in New York State are at risk of disappearing—the rusty-patched bumble bee already has. When Woodstock resident Georgia Asher attended a lecture by entomologist […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
Onteora Board Continues to Weigh New Capital Plan After $70M Defeat
The Onteora Central School District Board of Education is leaning toward placing a new capital spending proposition before voters in December. The move comes after residents in May rejected a $70 million plan to redevelop the central school campus in Boiceville and close Woodstock Elementary School. At its Aug. 19 meeting, administrators told the board […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
Letters to the Editor
Shandaken has seen an uptick in civic engagement in the past year, with new water district committees in Phoenicia and Pine Hill, a renewed Parks & Rec Committee, a Conservation Advisory Committee that hosted meetings that drew people from other towns, a Housing Smart Committee that spawned a new nonprofit, and PH2, a coalition of […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
Six Months In, A New Chapter for The Overlook
This week marks six months since The Overlook began publishing every Friday morning. In that time, our audience has grown to 4,000 dedicated weekly readers and counting. Your tips, ideas, donations, encouragement, and belief in robust local journalism have fueled our mission to deliver independent, high-quality local news to Woodstock, Saugerties, Hurley, Hunter, Olive, and […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Woodstock’s ‘Day of Gratitude’ Returns Aug. 16 to Honor Volunteers
Woodstock’s “A Day of Gratitude,” the town’s annual celebration honoring current and retired volunteers, will return for its 21st year on Aug. 16 at the Mescal Hornbeck Community Center. Organizers say Woodstock remains the only town in the United States with a dedicated Volunteers Day. The event began in 2004 as an anniversary celebration for […]
Posted inOutdoors
Shandaken
Climb it for Climate Draws Record 100 Runners, Walkers for Carbon-Neutral Courses at Belleayre
A record number of runners, joggers and walkers turned out at Belleayre Ski Resort on Sunday to take on eight- and 25-kilometer courses at Climb It For Climate, an eco-friendly event held four times a year across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York that aims to raise awareness of threats to the world’s climate. Sponsored […]
Posted inCommunity
Olive
Olive Community Rallies Around Family After Devastating House Fire
A local family is picking through the ashes after a devastating house fire destroyed their home, soap business, and nearly all their belongings on the morning of July 25. Though the Wingard family live just over the town line in Kerhonkson, members of the Olive community have come together in force—offering food, clothing, shelter, and […]
Posted inObituaries
Woodstock
Laurent Rejtö, Film Advocate and Devoted Community Builder, Dies at 63
Laurent Rejtö, who spent more than two decades building the Hudson Valley into a thriving hub for film and television production, died on July 27 at his home in Woodstock, NY from pancreatic cancer. He was 63. Laurent will be remembered for his creative spirit, generosity, and fierce passion for the people and places he […]
Posted inCommunity
Olive
Ten-Year-Old Leads Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research
With a steady handshake and a bright smile, Nola Greenfield welcomed each guest to her fundraiser picnic at Grant Avery Park. “Hi, I’m Nola, welcome,” she said, as the sound of laughter echoed from the Jenga tower collapses and the scent of barbecue drifted through the air. The event, held Sunday, July 13, brought together […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
Candlelight Vigil in Woodstock Honors John Lewis’s Legacy
Residents gathered on the Village Green Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil honoring the late Georgia Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, five years to the day after his death from pancreatic cancer at age 80. The event, organized by Third Act Creatives, took place at 8:30 p.m. and featured remarks from local faith […]
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 inPublic Safety
Overlook
Are We Ready for the Next Storm? What to Know About Disaster Preparedness
As extreme weather events become more common, a question arises whether communities in The Overlook Region are prepared for natural disasters—especially after recent catastrophic flooding in Texas. On July 4, torrential rains swept through the Texas Hill Country, leaving at least 120 people dead and 173 still missing. Among the hardest-hit areas was Kerr County, […]
Posted inCommunity
Overlook
The Overlook Hosts Open Hours at Woodstock Farm Festival July 16
Come say hello! The Overlook will be holding open hours at the Woodstock Farm Festival (Parking Lot, 20 Mountainview Ave) on Wednesday, July 16, from 3 to 7 p.m. Stop by for free lemonade and conversation, and learn more about our growing community publication.
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 inAffordable Housing
Hunter
Tannersville Breaks Ground on 56-Unit Affordable Housing Complex
Officials, advocates and residents gathered Wednesday to mark the groundbreaking of Cold Spring Apartments, a 56-unit workforce housing development in Tannersville slated for completion in 2027. The project has been in the works for at least four years. The $31 million development, led by RUPCO—a Kingston-based nonprofit housing advocacy group—is located on the former site […]
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 inCommunity
Woodstock
From Onteora to the White House: Ben Johansen’s Fast Track in Political Reporting
Imagine having a ringside seat these past six months to observe the frenzied pace of the Trump White House—from the Department of Government Efficiency’s offensive in dismantling federal operations to the June 21 decision by President Trump to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites. Ben Johansen, a 23-year-old Woodstock native, has been in the thick of […]
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Overlook
Meet The Overlook’s Interns
The Overlook has welcomed two new interns to its newsroom this summer—Mia Quick and Sophie Moos—and continues to benefit from the steady presence of Mercedes Dykes, a contributor who now supports both editorial and administrative operations. “All three have become important members of the team,” said Noah Eckstein, editor-in-chief of The Overlook. “They bring curiosity, […]
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Overlook
Onteora’s Top Graduates Reflect on Growing Up, Speaking Out, and What Comes Next
Graduating high school represents a milestone moment. The end of high school closes a significant life chapter and serves as a launchpad for young adults as they embark on a new world full of hope and challenges. Earlier this week, The Overlook sat down with the three top honor students from Onteora High School to […]
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 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 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 inCareers
Overlook
Join Our Team
We’re Building Our Team Part-Time Ad Sales Representative The Overlook is looking for sharp, curious writers to help cover local meetings, community events, and stories that matter across the Catskills. This is a paid, flexible role, ideal for freelancers, early-career journalists, and seasoned reporters who believe in the power of local news. Love showing up […]
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Woodstock
Judy Whitfield Remembrance Next Week at Colony
Woodstock will honor the life and legacy of singer-songwriter Judy Whitfield with a celebration at the Colony Cafe on Wednesday, June 11, featuring live music and storytelling to remember a woman who shaped the town’s creative spirit for more than three decades. “Judy was the central connector to so many different people in the Woodstock […]
Posted inCommunity
Tannersville American Legion Post Hosts Memorial Day Parade
More than 100 people lined the streets of Tannersville on an overcast Memorial Day as a solemn procession sponsored by American Legion Bunt-Brewer Post 165 made its way through the village to pay tribute to fallen service members. “We honor the veterans who never made it home from war, as well as those who returned […]
Posted inCommunity
Turtle Jam Grows in Spirit and Sound
Friends and family gathered at Rip Van Winkle Lake in Tannersville on Saturday, May 17, to honor Jerry “Turtle” Meigs, who died in a tragic 2019 fire. The spring fundraiser marked the third of its kind and previewed the fifth annual Turtle Jam, set for Aug. 23. “May 17 was our spring fundraising event, primarily […]
Posted inQ&A
In Conversation with James Amenta
James Amenta, a Phoenicia resident with 18 years of federal experience at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was appointed deputy county executive of Ulster County by County Executive Jen Metzger on April 21. Amenta replaces Johanna Contreras, who is departing April 25 to join […]
Posted inQ&A
Overlook
In Conversation with Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha
Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha said she will oppose a proposed rate hike settlement for Central Hudson customers, citing what she called “unjust and unreasonable” profit margins for the utility and a lack of transparency in the process. The joint proposal, developed through closed-door negotiations, would allow Central Hudson to collect nearly $144 million more from ratepayers […]
Posted inThoughtful Discussions
Peter Beinart Talks Gaza, Zionism, and Jewish Identity
Political commentator and author Peter Beinart joined Rabbi Jonathan Kligler at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation on May 13 to discuss Jewish identity in a time of crisis. The event marked a local high point in the national debate over Israel’s war in Gaza and the moral responsibilities of American Jews. Beinart, whose book “Being Jewish […]
Posted inCommunity
Woodstock
In Conversation With Peter Beinart
Ahead of his May 13 appearance at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation, the author of “Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza” reflects on Jewish identity and the moral questions raised by the war in Gaza.
Posted inCommunity
Who Will Speak for You When You Can’t?
A packed event in Saugerties underscores why seniors—and their families—are turning to estate planning before it’s too late.