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:

    Brookside Museum seeks funds to stay open

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    Local history venue for Saratoga County aims to broaden mission   K. Michelle Arthur, the executive director of the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa, stands near a hands-on exhibit. The museum’s leaders say it may be forced to close unless it can raise $100,000 in emergency funds by March. Joan K. Lentini photo   By read more

    Brookside Museum seeks funds to stay open
  • Issue:

    Worker rights arrive at the farm

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    Farmers, advocates weigh effects of New York’s new labor law   Roman Chaidez drives a tractor past the heifer facility he manages for Walker Farms LLC in Fort Ann, N.Y. Joan K. Lentini photo   By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer   A Guatemalan man who works at a dairy farm in southern Washington County describes himself read more

    Worker rights arrive at the farm
  • Issue:

    Small schools weigh interstate merger

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    Cross-border district would be first linking Vermont and Mass.   The local school in Stamford, Vt., housed in the same complex as the town office and library, has fewer than 100 students in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. The Stamford school district is considering merging with a district across the state line in Clarksburg, Mass. Susan read more

    Small schools weigh interstate merger
  • Issue:

    Northern Berkshires’ blue-collar lament

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    Professor’s book tracks region’s labor history, industrial decline Maynard Seider, professor emeritus of sociology at the Massachusetts College of Liberals Arts, views the history of northern Berkshires through a labor lens in his new book, “The Gritty Berkshires.” Susan Sabino photo   By JOHN SEVENContributing writer NORTH ADAMS, Mass. When Maynard Seider arrived in the read more

    Northern Berkshires’ blue-collar lament
  • Issue:

    With good, healthy food for all

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    Nonprofit Hudson store tests a new model for reaching ‘food deserts’ Selha “CeCe” Graham, the retail co-manager of Rolling Grocer 19 in Hudson, N.Y., says the nonprofit store’s mission is to “provide access to quality food for people at all income levels.” Scott Langley photo   By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer HUDSON, N.Y. For local people read more

    With good, healthy food for all
  • Issue:

    Lush gardens, growing mission

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    Pact with neighbors allows Berkshire Botanical Garden to expand A winding path is lined by lilies at Berkshire Botanical Garden, which recently expanded its land area for the first time in its nearly 90-year history. Susan Sabino photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. Winding trails curve through a peaceful setting where towering pines read more

    Lush gardens, growing mission
  • Issue:

    Creating a community forest

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    Deal preserves land at a village’s edge for education, recreation A group visiting the new Cambridge Community Forest last month included Alex Dery Snider, Elliott Norman, Bill Arnold, Sarah Ashton and Jared Woodcock. George Bouret photo   By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. A wooded hillside on the edge of the village of Cambridge, the read more

    Creating a community forest
  • Issue:

    A downtown makeover begins

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    Bennington sees landmark buildings as key to reviving its urban core The former Putnam Hotel and two neighboring buildings in the center of downtown Bennington are the focus of a redevelopment effort that started construction in June. photo by Joan K. Lentini   By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer BENNINGTON, Vt. After two years of delays and read more

    A downtown makeover begins
  • Issue:

    College aims to strengthen creative ties

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    New MCLA institute builds links to Berkshires arts organizations The poet and essayist Nikki Giovanni spoke in June at a conference organized by the new Institute for Arts and Humanities at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Courtesy photo   By KATE ABBOTTContributing writer NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The bowls lay on the paths under the read more

    College aims to strengthen creative ties
  • Issue:

    Flights of fancy – Hot-air balloon travels as a show

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    Traveling exhibit, in form of hot-air balloon, to touch down locally An artist’s rendering shows “New Horizon,” which will visit the Berkshires in late July, stopping in Williamstown and Stockbridge. Courtesy photo   By KATE ABBOTTContributing writer WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. It will gleam like lake water and drift in a clear sky. In late July, the read more

    Flights of fancy – Hot-air balloon travels as a show