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:

    Fair tells vendors: Stop selling Confederate flags

    By THOMAS DIMOPOULOSContributing writer EASTON, N.Y. The board of the Washington County Fair has asked vendors not to sell Confederate flags and related merchandise at this year’s event. The nonprofit group that runs the fair, after first announcing in early February that it wouldn’t prohibit sales of the controversial flags, reversed itself a couple of read more

    Fair tells vendors: Stop selling Confederate flags
  • Issue:

    In Vt. schools, a merger mandate rankles

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    Critics say choice, local control at risk in push to cut costs By C.B. HALLContributing writer ARLINGTON, Vt.   To comply with the requirements of Act 46, Vermont’s new school-district consolidation law, the Arlington district has been discussing such options as a merger with three similar districts — Poultney, Proctor and West Rutland — that read more

    In Vt. schools, a merger mandate rankles
  • Issue:

    Village in crisis over tainted water

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    In Hoosick Falls, contamination finding prompts fear, anger By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. For more than a year, some local citizens had been warning about the presence of a toxic chemical they’d found in samples collected from the Hoosick Falls water system, but state and local officials insisted the water was safe. Then read more

    Village in crisis over tainted water
  • Issue:

    Caffe Lena — Updating a folk-music landmark

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    Deal with developer sets stage for changes at historic Caffe Lena By THOMAS DIMOPOULOSContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.   The narrow, steep staircase from Phila Street has been the main entrance to Caffe Lena since it opened in 1960. A planned renovation would allow visitors to reach the coffeehouse by elevator.Thomas Dimopoulos photo A historic read more

    Caffe Lena — Updating a folk-music landmark
  • Issue:

    Pride or oppression?

    By THOMAS DIMOPOULOSContributing writerGREENWICH, N.Y.   Photo by Joan K. Lentini: Ann Townsend displays a sign she created in August to protest the sale of Confederate flags at the Washington County Fair.   When Ann Townsend saw the Confederate battle flag prominently displayed at some of the vendor booths at the Washington County Fair this read more

    Pride or oppression?
  • Issue:

    In Mass., a hot debate over saving bees

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    Farm lobby’s plan prompts pushback from beekeepers By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer   Beekeepers in Massachusetts have been organizing in recent months to challenge regulatory and legislative proposals they say would not do enough to protect bees from pesticides — and might actually put them in greater jeopardy. The changes are aimed at curbing recent mass read more

    In Mass., a hot debate over saving bees
  • Issue:

    Amid virtual shopping, real stores find a way

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    Region’s downtowns tap into growth of buy-local movement By KATE ABBOTTContributing writer   In the shadow of ever-expanding online and big-box commerce, locally owned businesses are still finding ways to draw customers downtown this year as the holidays draw near. The attractions vary widely: scrabble lights or Haiku poetry games, fresh arugula in midwinter, the read more

    Amid virtual shopping, real stores find a way
  • Issue:

    Election 2015: Final tallies from Mass. and N.Y.

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    Here are the results from major local races in the Nov. 3 general elections in New York and Massachusetts. A short summary follows the vote tallies from each county.   MASSACHUSETTS BERKSHIRE COUNTY   North Adams mayor* Richard Alcombright ………………….. 2,430 (54.2%)John Barrett III ……………………………… 2,054 (45.8%)   Pittsfield mayor* Daniel Bianchi …………………………… 4,502 (40.3%)Linda read more

    Election 2015: Final tallies from Mass. and N.Y.
  • Issue:

    Fracked gas for New England?

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    In debate over new pipeline, clashing visions of region’s energy future By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer   Members of the group Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline protest outside a compressor station for a natural gas pipeline in Malden Bridge, N.Y. The same company that owns that pipeline is proposing another, larger one that would cross Rensselaer read more

    Fracked gas for New England?
  • Issue:

    Tails, it’s Saratoga

    By THOMAS DIMOPOULOSContributing writer SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y.   The design on the back of the new Saratoga quarter depicts the sword British Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered on Oct. 17, 1777 after the Colonial forces triumphed at the second Battle of Saratoga. The new coin will be launched with a ceremony Nov. 17 at Schuylerville High School. read more

    Tails, it’s Saratoga