I love going down to New York City. Recently, my son Michael and I drove down to spend the day with my daughter Liz and my granddaughter Adeline.  My son-in-law was on a business trip, so it was …

Sullivan County: we have an important election coming up. Why is it important? Well, the answer is because truthfully every single election is important. Early voting begins on Saturday, October …

In Sullivan County, neighbors have a long history of looking out for one another. Whether it is helping a family after a fire, rallying around a local cause or showing up when someone is facing a …

Just as the sharp wailing sounded on the other side of the fence, I felt something soft brush against my dirt-caked fingers. Hiding beneath the weeds I was pulling, a woolly bear had curled itself into a tight ball, bracing on instinct against a perceived threat.

This August we took a quick trip to Chicago. The “we” on this journey are my daughter Liz, granddaughter Adeline, and yours truly.  We had booked this back in March when Barack and …

In the summer of 1996, we drove into Sullivan County for the first time in a Winnebago we had outfitted ourselves. Each summer, thousands of families from downstate move north to the Catskills. We …

It feels wrong to look out the window at the backyard now, to see a wide-open space where the playset used to be.    We took the last pieces of it down this weekend, a chainsaw …

My office recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month as we reaffirm our commitment to holding abusers accountable while supporting victims from the first report through the end of their …

Next week, from October 6 through 10, is National Newspaper Week, celebrated throughout the United States and Canada. Since 1940, Newspaper Association Managers has sponsored and supported …

Like so many others, I am a member of a book club. We began meeting online during the pandemic and we are still going! 

When you really think about it, all we have is our health. Ever have a runny nose and wish for the days when you could breathe easily and took it for granted? And those dealing with serious illness, …

If an out-of-town visitor is in town for long enough, it’s bound to happen. At some point we’ll spot them with their hands held tight against both ears and a shocked look on their face.  …

There is something special about the arrival of autumn in Sullivan County. Today, the fall equinox marks the turning point between summer and winter, when daylight hours and nighttime are nearly …

The last house on our Derbyshire house tour was the Hardwick Estate, one of the two houses built by Elizabeth of Shrewsbury (1527-1608), who was a true Boss Lady and the second richest woman in …

The start of a new school year brings a familiar rhythm back to Sullivan County. School buses are once again traveling our roads, children are waiting at bus stops and parents are making the morning …

The question has lurked in my head for months now, springing up at the most unexpected times. 

Twenty-five years. It is hard to believe that a quarter-century has passed since the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when the world as we knew it changed forever. For those old enough to …

My friend and intrepid travel buddy Marystephanie and I were ready to see Chatsworth on the fourth day of our tour, but we were a bit panicked. Word had leaked out from some of our fellow tourmates that we would have to climb a six-foot stile on our journey to Chatsworth. When questioned, our guide Christopher “Gentle Incline” Garibaldi admitted that it was true. Now we had made it through some pretty interesting squeeze stiles so far on our treks, but the thought of a six-footer was definitely daunting. Nevertheless, we set off with a spring in our step and fingers crossed.

Recently, the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation applauded five years of progress in making higher education in the state more affordable, accessible and attainable. The …

Warning: What you’re about to read may cause the people around you to look at you like you’re losing your mind. You might want to let them know that you’re about to start talking to yourself … or not. You can always just see how long it takes them to notice.

Labor Day is often thought of as the unofficial end of summer—one last long weekend, one last barbecue, one last chance to enjoy the sunshine before the school buses return and the pace of life …

At long last the day arrived. I was going to be visiting the legendary Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire. It was the promise of a visit to Chatsworth that had lured me on this journey to begin with. …

As we enter September just like the trees around us, we start to change with the change of the season.

His voice was soft, almost a mumble, but I heard enough to understand.  The stranger standing near the doors to Marshall’s in Monticello was asking for money.  The family …

Recently, New York was one of 47 states to join in on a landmark lawsuit against Meta (the company that owns Facebook and Instagram) claiming the platforms are harmful to teens and children. The …