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:

    Molinaro tries to walk a moderate line in a polarized era

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      Marc Molinaro speaks to supporters in Hudson on Aug. 23, the night he lost a special election in New York’s 19th Congressional District. Less than three months later, voters in a reconfigured version of the district narrowly elected him to the U.S. House. Already the freshman Republican is a top Democratic target for 2024. read more

    Molinaro tries to walk a moderate line in a polarized era
  • Issue:

    Group works to save New Lebanon depot

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    Long-defunct station could serve as attraction along developing rail trail   Joe Ogilvie, president of the Corkscrew Rail Trail Association, stands outside the bay window of the former Rutland Railroad station in New Lebanon, N.Y., where the last train rolled past 70 years ago.Joan K. Lentini photo   By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer NEW LEBANON, N.Y. read more

    Group works to save New Lebanon depot
  • Issue:

    Crafting a perfect cream

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    Longtime Spa City esthetician aims to fill a skincare niche Mary Kuntz holds a jar of her handcrafted, small batch Divine Radiance face cream. Joan K. Lentini photo   By STACEY MORRISContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. It was the end of another marathon session in the kitchen for Mary Kuntz. As she took stock of read more

    Crafting a perfect cream
  • Issue:

    Voters pick new mayor, new course for Rutland

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    The city of Rutland has a new mayor after voters chose Mike Doenges over three-term incumbent David Allaire in the March 7 Town Meeting Day election. Doenges, who had been president of the city Board of Aldermen for the past year, won decisively with 56 percent of the vote. His victory capped a campaign in read more

    Voters pick new mayor, new course for Rutland
  • Issue:

    Saratoga battles over biochar

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    Plant’s backers tout green benefits, but critics see a toxic threat   Gina LeClair holds signs opposing construction of the Saratoga Biochar Solutions facility that’s planned for a site at the Moreau Industrial Park in northern Saratoga County. Joan K. Lentini photo   By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer MOREAU, N.Y. The developers of a multimillion-dollar biochar read more

    Saratoga battles over biochar
  • Issue:

    Balint puts focus on housing, mental health

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    New congresswoman for Vermont sees chance of bridging partisan gap Rep. Becca Balint, the first woman elected to represent Vermont in the U.S. House, was sworn into office in early January. Courtesy photo   By MAURY THOMPSONContributing writer   Vermont’s new member of Congress says the nation’s housing and mental health needs are two initial read more

    Balint puts focus on housing, mental health
  • Issue:

    Many reasons to doubt biochar firm’s promise

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    For the sake of argument, let’s be charitable and assume for a moment that the developers who want to build a new sewage sludge-to-fertilizer plant in northern Saratoga County are sincerely trying to solve a pressing environmental problem while making a few dollars for themselves.As our cover story this month details, the partners in a read more

    Many reasons to doubt biochar firm’s promise
  • Issue:

    Endangered owls meet solar panels

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    Green goals collide as energy firm plans project in prime bird habitat   The vast expanse of open land known as the Washington County grasslands is home to 10 of the 11 grassland bird species that are considered in greatest need of conservation in New York. photo by Joan K. Lentini   By TRACY FRISCHContributing read more

    Endangered owls meet solar panels
  • Issue:

    New book celebrates Bennington’s Blue Benn Diner

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    New book celebrates Bennington’s Blue Benn and its longtime owners   A new book by two area journalists pays tribute to the Blue Benn diner in Bennington and the couple who ran it for nearly five decades, Sonny and Mary Lou Monroe, seen below in 1977. Courtesy photos     By STACEY MORRISContributing writer BENNINGTON, read more

    New book celebrates Bennington’s Blue Benn Diner
  • Issue:

    Tight labor market shifts area’s economic goals

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    Tight labor market shifts region’s goals for economic development   With businesses across the region struggling to recruit workers for routine operations, economic development officials say their focus now is on expanding the local labor pool as much as on wooing new employers. Joan K. Lentini photos   By MAURY THOMPSONContributing writer GRANVILLE, N.Y. Washington read more

    Tight labor market shifts area’s economic goals