This Month’s Featured Articles…
GONE SLEDDIN’ – SOME OF THE BEST SLEDDING SPOTS IN OUR AREA
We all have love-hate relationships with aspects of the seasons, and so it goes with me and winter. My hesitation is brief when asked if I like winter. “No!” I exclaim. “It’s cold, it’s dark, and it seems to last forever.” And snow? If I see a flake in the forecast I shiver with worry about driving anywhere. My brothers know I don’t venture north to see them in Vermont or Maine starting in November and going until April, sometimes May to be on the [...]
JOLABOKAFLOD – An Icelandic Holiday Tradition Gone Global
For those who don’t know this about me, I hail from the small and isolated North Atlantic island of Iceland. Yes, yes, that country that’s been in the news since November due to the thousands of earthquakes and impending volcano (at the time of this writing there hasn’t been an eruption … yet). But Iceland is known for way more than seismic activity; we’re also well known for our bravery, gung-ho attitude, and Viking ways; gorgeous landscapes and (sometimes) harsh climate; being the home of [...]
A HOLIDAY JOURNEY
All aboard! It’s that time of year when the Catskill Mountain Railroad Polar Express takes a series of fun and festive journeys to the North Pole from right here in the Hudson Valley. Passengers of all ages are welcome to hop on board for this annual adventure. The holiday event, which will run from November 17 through December 29, departs from Westbrook Lane Station at 55 Kingston Plaza Road in Kingston. Once passengers are on board, scenes from The Polar Express magically come to fruition. Passengers are immersed in partial recreations inspired directly from [...]
Wreaths Across America – One Family’s Ambition to Honor Local Veterans
"This is my ‘why,’” Carol Hart says as she shares a photo of her son, Master Sergeant David Cookingham Jr., who served in the military from 1991 to 2011 and passed away in 2015. After her son’s passing, Carol learned of Wreaths Across America, a national program based out of Maine that works to honor fallen veterans by placing wreaths on their graves every Christmas season. In the fall of 2019, Carol called to order a wreath for her son’s grave, only to find out [...]
Where Beauty and Family Come “Full Circle”
’Tis the season to decorate, and if you love wreaths (and don’t we all?), then you’ll love the Hudson Valley Wreath Company and its super-talented and dynamic creator, Evelyne Kopp. Evelyne launched the Hudson Valley Wreath Company in 2021, and in its first year the company was named a Hudson Valley “Best of” in the category of Entrepreneur – which it was also crowned this year, in 2023. That’s impressive, especially for a newer business. I wanted to know more. Peak crazy season I caught [...]
