World famous actress. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. The president of the United States.   You could call my childhood dreams ambitious. You could call them outlandish. The …

It often happens in the grocery store—someone recognizes the hat or insignia worn by a veteran and says, “Thank you for your service.” It’s always a heartwarming moment to witness, but …

                  I’m feeling nostalgic these days; couldn’t say why.  But my thoughts are turning to …

Many congratulations to all of the candidates who won in Tuesday’s election. All the way from Congress to town hall, candidates will officially become elected officials and now it’s time to get …

If you’re reading this before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3—it’s not too late! There’s still time to cast your ballot at the voting booth. This year we have a big race in New York, the …

November 2 – Birthday wishes to Henry Bloom, Robin LaFountain, Janet Goodman, Laurie Frunzi, Sharon Thomas, Arte Knapp, Neil Gilberg, Alyce VanEtten, Sharon Jankiewicz, Kathy Diaco, Alan ‘The Sheriff’ Abramson, and the lovely Colleen Cooke.  

Fall is election time. Growing up in the Stabbert household, we were always well aware of that.  Our family was deeply involved in the Democratic Party. My grandfather Fred Stabbert, Sr. …

Knock knock! The sound of someone knocking on our door was not the tiny hands of a costumed trick-or-treater (we don’t get those on our rural road anyway) but rather a volunteer asking if we …

My favorite photo from Saturday’s Halloween parade in Callicoon is of a teenager making a face.

I’m a big fan of mini getaways as you might have gathered from my last column. Well, we were able to have another wonderful triplet down to Florida over Columbus Day weekend for a very special …

It is to be said that nothing is certain but death and taxes. The common idiom popularized by Benjamin Fanklin is conjured to mind during this budget season. The reporting staff at the …

One by one, I uncovered the photos as I worked my way through the recesses of my cellphone.

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 …