Students on the Simon's Rock campus gather at the library in preparation for the Bard Queer Leadership Project. Press photo courtesy of Bard College at Simon's Rock

News

Here are the Hill Country Observer’s news articles, listed from newest to oldest. The Hill Country Observer covers town events, local government, community stories and more — from public health to housing to education and freedom of mind in New York, Vermont and Western Massachusetts.

  • Issue:

    States upgrade trail along Vermont-N.Y. line

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    Scenic route draws more users, but legal obstacles leave overgrown gaps   The Vermont portions of the D&H Rail Trail, which extends nearly 22 miles along the New York state line, has been resurfaced with crushed stone, making for a smoother ride. This view is in Rupert, Vt. Don Lehman photo   By DON LEHMANContributing read more

    States upgrade trail along Vermont-N.Y. line
  • Issue:

    Cell-tower dispute puts Pittsfield at center of national debate

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    Cell tower dispute puts Pittsfield at center of a national debate   Courtney Gilardi and her daughters stand outside their home in Pittsfield, Photo by Susan Sabino.   By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer PITTSFIELD, Mass. Courtney Gilardi’s 9-year-old daughter came downstairs one morning in the late summer of 2020 and announced that she was feeling “headachy, read more

    Cell-tower dispute puts Pittsfield at center of national debate
  • Issue:

    Fresh pasta made to order in Saratoga

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      Rose Contadino feeds her rolled dough through a pasta cutter to turn it into fettuccine noodles at her shop in Saratoga Springs. Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. Rose Contadino stands in front of her industrial-sized pasta cutter, filling an order for a pound of linguine. Dressed in read more

    Fresh pasta made to order in Saratoga
  • Issue:

    U.S. Senate seat opens in Vermont

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    Wave of retirements sets up a series of competitive primaries By MAURY THOMPSONContributing writer   Open U.S. Senate seats rarely come along in Vermont, but when they do, the state’s lone U.S. representative usually is well positioned to step up. Bernie Sanders, Vermont’s independent junior senator, served 16 years in the House of Representatives before read more

    U.S. Senate seat opens in Vermont
  • Issue:

    Is Hoosick Falls seeing a rebirth fueled by food?

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    An eclectic dining scene reflects broader changes in a former industrial hub   A sign beckons visitors to Byte, a pizzeria with a Turkish flair on John Street in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. photo by Joan K. Lentini   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. On a Friday afternoon in early May, the heart of read more

    Is Hoosick Falls seeing a rebirth fueled by food?
  • Issue:

    New Lebanon farmers market expands to year-round storefront

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    Farmers market expands through year-round retail storefront   Volunteers and staff of the New Lebanon Farmers Market — Phoebe Young, Josh Young, Lucas Cipkowski and Eleanor Young — stand behind some of the fresh produce at the market’s new year-round retail storefront. Susan Sabino photo   By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer NEW LEBANON, N.Y. The food read more

    New Lebanon farmers market expands to year-round storefront
  • Issue:

    U.S. House districts shift for Hudson Valley races

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    Court rulings set stage for close Hudson Valley races as Delgado exits   A final map of New York’s new congressional districts, released last month by a court-appointed expert, creates two new politically competitive districts in the Hudson Valley, neither of which has an incumbent currently. One would stretch from Columbia County westward to Ithaca. read more

    U.S. House districts shift for Hudson Valley races
  • Issue:

    State’s new political map might help our democracy

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    It is a season of discontent for House Democrats from New York. In a difficult election season, they already were at risk of losing their majority in Washington. And lately they’ve been sniping at each other – even planning to run against each other – as they grapple with the fallout from a gerrymandering effort read more

    State’s new political map might help our democracy
  • Issue:

    Saratoga Springs pushes for police reforms

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    In Saratoga Springs, leaders pursue changes and aim to rebuild trust   Police cruisers line the street outside Saratoga Springs City Hall. Photo by Joan K. Lentini   By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. A new slate of city leaders in Saratoga Springs has been moving swiftly in recent weeks toward adopting one of read more

    Saratoga Springs pushes for police reforms
  • Issue:

    After 27 years, state restores tuition aid for inmates

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    Some area colleges set to offer more programs By MAURY THOMPSON Contributing writer   Every year since 1999, New York lawmakers have introduced legislation to make state college tuition grants available to students incarcerated at prison facilities. And every year, until this year, the legislation never made it out of committee.Inmate education advocates rejoiced when read more

    After 27 years, state restores tuition aid for inmates