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We are committed to encouraging respectful conversations about the news we publish. We cannot include every comment in this feature, and some comments have been edited for brevity and/or clarity. Follow the link to each article or visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for the full text of all comments. Here's a link to our guidelines for comments. Letters to the Editor: When I am far removed from a news story, I tend to breeze through and feel satisfied that I have a useful snapshot, if the source is reputable. However, when the story is about someone I am familiar... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/comments-to-the-catch-botstein-to-step-down-rhinebeck-town-board-library-funding-clash-mckeon-explores-consolidation-of-town-and-village-services-april-20-may-4-2026/

Less than 72 hours after Bard President Leon Botstein announced his retirement from the institution he has led for more than 50 years, students, faculty, and community members shared an array of emotions about the decision Monday – from happiness to concern for the future given Botstein’s outsized role in the school’s governance and fundraising efforts. Bard students, faculty, and community members are still coming to terms with what Bard President Leon Botstein’s departure means for the future of the institution. (Photo by Athan Yanos) Botstein’s announcement followed a report by the Washington, D.C. law firm WilmerHale, which Bard’s Board... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/both-relief-and-unease-mark-bard-campus-reaction-to-botsteins-june-retirement/

M. Gessen, the Russian-American journalist, author, and visiting writer at Bard College, has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for commentary for a body of work in The New York Times examining the rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic norms. M. Gessen, a visiting scholar at Bard, has won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. (Photo by Lena Di) The Pulitzer committee cited what it described as an “illuminating collection of reported essays on rising authoritarian regimes that draw on history and personal experience to probe timely themes of oppression, belonging, and exile.” At Bard, where Gessen has served since... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/bard-visiting-writer-and-scholar-masha-gessen-wins-pulitzer-prize-for-essays-on-authoritarianism-erosion-of-democracy/

Volunteers collected tons of trash along the Hudson River shoreline Saturday as part of Riverkeeper’s annual Sweep, including at sites in Rhinecliff and Staatsburg, where dozens of local residents turned out for the effort. Lauren Coghill of Rhinebeck, left, and Gabriella Spartos of Kingston joined hundreds of volunteers Saturday in cleaning up the banks of the Hudson River, from Staten Island to Saratoga. (Photo by Emma Cornfeldt) Volunteers collected tons of trash along the Hudson River shoreline Saturday as part of Riverkeeper’s annual Sweep. (Video by Emma Cornfeldt) In Rhinecliff, 21 volunteers spent three hours scouring the shoreline, while in... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/from-stair-treads-to-microplastics-riverkeeper-sweep-pulls-20-tons-of-trash-from-hudson-with-video%e2%96%b6/

Two men were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Village of Rhinebeck within the span of one week, according to the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement (CCSM), a Hudson Valley-based immigrant advocacy organization. Two men were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Village of Rhinebeck within the span of one week. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security) The first arrest occurred on Saturday, April 25, when a man was pulled over by ICE agents while driving. The second took place on Friday morning, when a man was apprehended while... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/ice-detains-two-men-in-rhinebeck-village-in-course-of-one-week-advocates-say/

In a close vote, the Clinton Planning Board agreed Thursday to begin drafting a resolution to require the proposed Six Senses development to conduct a more extensive environmental review, rather than allowing the project to move forward as is. The Clinton Planning Board agreed Thursday to begin drafting a resolution to require that the proposed Six Senses development conduct a more extensive environmental review. (Photo by Claire Greenburger) The 4-3 vote caps over a year of public hearing and Board discussion over whether the controversial development should receive a “positive declaration” under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, a designation... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/clinton-planning-board-moves-toward-deeper-environmental-review-of-six-senses-project-after-split-vote/

After 51 years as President of Bard College, Leon Botstein today announced he will step down at the end of June. Bard Faculty members gathered Tuesday morning to discuss issuing a public statement in response to reports of President Leon Botstein’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) The news comes after a report by the Washington, D.C. law firm WilmerHale, analyzing Botstein’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was delivered to the Bard Board of Trustees this week. The report, a three-page summary of which was released to the Bard community Friday, sharply criticized Botstein. Botstein,... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/bard-president-leon-botstein-announces-june-retirement-amid-conclusions-of-law-firm-over-his-relationship-with-sex-offender-jeffrey-epstein/

Several Rhinebeck community members, including four 7th-graders at Bulkeley Middle School, hope to tackle food insecurity locally by launching a community fridge near Rhinebeck’s Starr Library later this year. A group of 7th graders at Bulkeley Middle School is leading a push to launch a community fridge in Rhinebeck. (Photo by Tony Adamis) On Monday evening, three of the students – Lucas Button, June Howe, and Dominic Miller — gave a presentation about their plans to the Town Board, which is receptive to the project. The students contacted Town Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia in April about hosting the fridge on Town... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/rhinebeck-middle-schoolers-lead-push-for-free-community-fridge-near-starr-library/

President of the Red Hook Volunteer Fire Company Board of Directors Richard Hilbrandt has informed Town and Village leaders that a lack of active volunteers is hindering the ability of the company to respond to emergency calls and meet its contractual obligations to serve the Red Hook community. The Red Hook Volunteer Fire Company has informed Town and Village leaders that a lack of active volunteers is hindering the company's ability to respond to emergency calls. (Photo courtesy of Todd VanBuskirk) “There have been instances where our response times have been delayed, and in some cases, we have been unable... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/red-hook-fire-company-says-it-may-fall-short-on-contract-as-volunteer-staffing-declines/

Volunteers from across the Hudson Valley offered their time last Saturday to repair and rebuild the home of an 81-year-old Clinton grandma. Donna G. has lived in her home for 31 years, but has recently found it difficult to keep up with the maintenance. Volunteers with Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley spent last Saturday rerunning electrical, repairing a deck, replacing front steps, and more at the home of 81-year-old Donna G. of Clinton. (Photo by Tony Tackaberry) Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley worked on upgrading Donna G.'s home in Clinton on Saturday. (Video by Tony Tackaberry) The project was organized... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/hudson-valley-volunteers-repair-restore-clinton-grandmas-home/

Alexia Doyle, of Red Hook, died on April 24, 2026, at Northern Dutchess Hospital. She was born on July 31, 1947, in Poughkeepsie to Allan and Genevieve Traver. Alexia worked as a secretary at the New York State Department of Transportation's Poughkeepsie office, where she was known for her reliability, kindness, and quiet dedication to her work. In her retirement, Alexia was a member of a Mahjong club and several knitting groups. She loved knitting and sewing for family and friends. She also found comfort and community in her faith and was a devoted parishioner of St. John’s Reformed Church. ... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/alexia-doyle-ny-dot-secretary-dies-at-78/

A discussion about how to resolve a budget deficit facing Starr Library devolved into a heated exchange between Town Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia, library leaders, and the audience at the Rhinebeck Town Board’s Monday night meeting. A discussion about how to resolve a budget deficit facing Starr Library devolved into a heated exchange between Town Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia (pictured here), library leaders, and the audience at the Rhinebeck Town Board’s Monday night meeting. (Photo by Tony Adamis) At issue is an additional tax revenue for the library that voters approved in a ballot proposition last fall, but that the Town did... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/starr-library-shortfall-sparks-heated-clash-monday-evening-at-rhinebeck-town-board-meeting/

The Red Hook Village Board on Monday approved a sewer budget for the upcoming fiscal year that will keep rates steady, despite a divided vote and concerns from one trustee that the plan lacks sufficient reserves to cover unexpected expenses. The Red Hook Village Board on Monday approved a sewer budget for the upcoming fiscal year that will keep rates steady. (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock) “When something unexpected happens, there's no mechanism to pay for it without either overspending the budget or seeking another advance from the General Fund,” Trustee Frances Uku told The Daily Catch.  The Board adopted... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/divided-red-hook-village-board-approves-sewer-budget-holds-rates-steady/

Red Hook Student Artists, Musicians and Families Celebrate Earth DayAn outdoor art exhibit at Linden Avenue Middle School (LAMS) marked Earth Day on April 24, drawing students, families and community members to view student-created work and listen to live music performed by the school’s music students. The event featured printmaking, zentangle art and blackout poetry displayed throughout the school grounds. Zentangle art featuring endangered species was on display Friday at the Linden Avenue Middle School Earth Day art event. (Photos courtesy of ENTA) The installation was the result of several weeks of collaboration between LAMS students and artists from the... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/the-short-catch-student-earth-day-art-board-of-ed-races-hinchey-pushes-for-metronorth-more/

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 1:47 p.m. Monday after an update from State Police. The southbound Amtrak train was halted just after it struck an individual at the northern end of the Rhinecliff station at about 7:35 a.m. Saturday. (Photo by Matty Rosenberg) A southbound Amtrak train struck and killed a 68-year-old woman who walked onto the train bed at the north end of the Rhinecliff station around 7:35 a.m. Saturday, the State Police confirmed late Saturday evening. They have ruled the case a death by suicide and are not releasing the name of the woman who died.... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/pedestrian-struck-and-killed-by-southbound-amtrak-train/

We are committed to encouraging respectful conversations about the news we publish. We cannot include every comment in this feature, and some comments have been edited for brevity and/or clarity. Follow the link to each article or visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for the full text of all comments. Here's a link to our guidelines for comments. Letters to the Editor: I most often vote for the budgets. I think this time they need to rethink this expenditure and perhaps postpone it for a year, until we see where we are. The school taxes increase every year due to... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/comments-to-the-catch-red-hook-schools-budget-issues-rhinebeck-development-surveillance-cameras-march-23-april-5-2026/

During his 25 years as the boat captain for the environmental organization Riverkeeper, whenever John Lipscomb pulled his boat ashore after weeks patrolling the Hudson, people would inevitably ask: “How’s the river?” Lipscomb never had—and still doesn’t have—an easy answer. The Hudson, he says, has come a long way. It is endlessly beautiful and teeming with life, yet still scarred by decades of industrial use and ongoing pollution. The Keeper, a new documentary by filmmaker Jon Bowermaster, tells the story of John Lipscomb’s 25 years as a boat captain for the environmental nonprofit Riverkeeper. (Photo courtesy of Jon Bowermaster) The... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/new-documentary-the-keeper-spotlights-the-man-who-became-the-eyes-and-ears-of-the-hudson/

After more than four decades selling and curating furniture for a clientele that stretched across the Hudson Valley and beyond, Hammertown is shutting all three of its stores — in Rhinebeck, Pine Plains, and Great Barrington, Mass. After failing to find a buyer, Hammertown will close its three locations—in Rhinebeck, Pine Plains, and Great Barrington, Mass.—ending a 40-year run. (Photo courtesy of Hammertown) The decision comes as the business failed to find a buyer after looking for six years, founder Joan Osofsky told The New Pine Plains Herald. “My daughter, my son, and my son-in-law, they tried, like, anything, to... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/hammertown-furniture-to-close-after-40-years-leaving-a-design-legacy-and-a-void-in-rhinebeck-and-beyond/

Donna Jean Kryzckowski died on March 31, 2026. She was born on March 8, 1965. Donna will be remembered for her infectious laugh, her deep care for others, her love of arts and crafts, and her warmth, kindness, and generous spirit. She took pride in keeping a clean and welcoming home and found great meaning in life’s simple joys.  Donna is survived by her husband, Joseph Kryzckowski, Sr.; her children, Joseph Kryzckowski, Jr., Anna Kryzckowski, and Matthew Kryzckowski; her grandchildren, Vincent, Isabella, and Joseph; her siblings, Michael Arcarola, Nancy Mylett, Angela Tracey, Matthew Arcarola, and Tiffany Smith; and extended family.... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/donna-jean-kryzckowski-beloved-nana-dies-at-61/

When Shakespeare’s plays were staged in the 16th century, every role was played by a man. In the upcoming production of Othello for the 20th Annual Sam Scripps Shakespeare Festival at the CENTER for the Performing Arts in Rhinebeck, the director will flip the script. The all-female production of Othello opens Friday, April 10, at the CENTER for Performing Arts-Rhinebeck and runs through Sunday, April 19. (Photo by Olivia Michaels) In casting the adapted version of the play by the late Lou Trapani, the founding Artistic & Managing Director of the CENTER, Michael Juzwak has cast women in every role.... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/all-women-cast-brings-a-bold-new-othello-to-the-stage-in-rhinebeck/

As government-sponsored surveillance cameras installed by the private security company Flock Safety become ubiquitous across the country, critics are increasingly concerned that the technology could be used by federal immigration authorities to identify and deport undocumented immigrants. In Dutchess County, law enforcement officials say that safeguards have been installed to prevent this from happening. Amid national concerns over how data from Flock surveillance cameras is being used, Dutchess County Officials affirm that ICE does not have access to their surveillance data. (Photo courtesy of Flock Safety) “The District Attorney’s Office has not provided ICE with access to its system data,”... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/data-from-local-flock-surveillance-cameras-off-limits-to-federal-immigration-authorities-county-law-enforcement-says/

Two employees at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health in Upper Red Hook have been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly using excessive force against a 16-year-old resident and attempting to falsify records about the incident. Two Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health employees face felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly using excessive force on a 16-year-old resident and falsifying records. (Photo courtesy of Google Street View) It took three weeks for the facility to report the March 6 encounter to authorities, according to information provided to The Daily Catch by Trooper Krystal P. Paolicelli, a police spokesperson. On March 27, a... https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/two-staffers-at-devereux-behavioral-health-facility-in-red-hook-charged-in-latest-alleged-abuse-case/

Elizabeth (Betsy) Kissane Shequine died on March 25, 2026, after a hip injury complicated by COPD. She was born Nov. 1, 1930. A resident of Millbrook, she practiced law in Poughkeepsie and led a wonderful, vibrant life filled with hard work, leadership, and strong friendships. Betsy held a B.A. degree from Pembroke College at Brown University. She attended Villanova University Law School and received her J.D. degree from Albany Law School of Union University. She was a member of the Bar of the State of New York since 1975. She was admitted to practice before the United States District Court...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/elizabeth-kissane-shequine-town-of-washington-town-justice-dies-at-95/

Ninth grader Hayden Stephenson knows what she wants from her education: “My No. 1 goal is to have a job that a robot can't take from me,” she said. Red Hook High School teachers Steve Hutman (right) and Dan Gall (left) are helping drive a surge in trades education, teaching woodworking, metalworking, and auto mechanics as pathways to careers educators say can’t be automated. (Photo by Claire Greenburger) At Red Hook High School, she’s working toward that goal in the school’s trades shop, where she’s learning woodworking and construction, skills she hopes will lead to a well-paying job—one that still...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/red-hook-schools-betting-on-increased-trades-courses-in-the-face-of-ai-job-shifts/

On a sunny, frigid morning in February, a small group of Rhinebeck and Milan residents arrived at Albany’s Legislative Office Building. Holding homemade signs that read “New York is Not Disposable” and “People Over Plastic!”, they had made the trek to advocate for a state climate bill focused on plastic waste. They were joined by busloads of constituents from all over New York State. Members of the Rhinebeck Village Climate Smart Task Force attended an advocacy day in Albany to support the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. (Photo courtesy of the Climate Smart Task Force) “It felt good to...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/rhinebeck-village-climate-task-force-shifts-focus-to-plastics-fight-and-takes-it-statewide/

Replete with elaborate disguises, duels, and tangled love triangles, Shakespeare’s iconic romantic comedy Twelfth Night raises an enduring question: What would happen if these lovesick oddballs went to therapy? Lovestruck Orsino (Caleb Vaughn) receives therapeutic advice from Leslie (Imani Okech) in the 2025 Bard College workshop of Stars, which will be presented in early April at the CENTER for Performing Arts. (Photo by Shavonne Farley) At the CENTER for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck on April 3 and 4, composer Arin Andrews and director and book writer Poppy Hufstader will bring characters like Viola, Malvolio, Orsino, and Olivia to the stage...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/new-musical-comedy-recasts-twelfth-night-through-a-queer-therapeutic-lens-at-rhinebecks-center/

Lord Kumagai, no more than 4 feet tall, towers over his trembling daughter and the fisherman she hopes to marry. The white wooden mask of his face forms a permanent scowl, but his anger wavers at his daughter’s tears. Kumagai reveals his hesitation not through his immutable face, but with his body: the quivering of his sword hand, the bowing of his head. Much is conveyed by the subtle movements of the puppeteer, with one hand up the puppet’s back and another up its right arm.  Out of the Mist… A Dragon, to be presented by the Wood and Strings...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/out-of-the-mist-a-dragon-brings-rare-ancient-japanese-puppetry-tradition-to-the-stissing-center-saturday/

Two months ago, The Daily Catch presented the stories of three couples managing their way through dementia and Alzheimer's. Today, we return to this subject with a mini-documentary of one of those couples, Gina Fox and Michael Katz. In rending stories replete with honesty and self-awareness, Gina remembers the early days of her courtship with Michael that were followed just a few years later with the heartbreaking realization that his memory was failing and his ability to care for himself suffering. Gina Fox, 68, and Michael Katz, 10 years her senior, are now living on opposite coasts after deep deterioration...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/caring-for-a-partner-with-alzheimers-gina-foxs-story-on-film/

Linda M. Martin of Hudson died at her home on March 24, 2026. Born on December 10, 1949, in Port Jervis, NY, she was the daughter of the late Douglas and Adele (Steward) Moir. Linda became a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked in several medical offices during her career, including Albany Medical Center, Pine Street Pediatrics, and the Red Hook and Livingston Family Practice offices. In her free time, Linda enjoyed doing puzzles and loved knitting, especially creating special pieces for her grandchildren. Linda is survived by her sons, Kenneth and Douglas (Shenna) Martin; her grandchildren, Hailey, Lindsay, Kaelin, Piper,...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/linda-m-martin-nurse-dies-at-76/

Carlo A. Scagnelli died on March 24, 2026, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Carlo was born on October 25, 1944, in New York, NY, the only son among his sisters, Dina and Ines, both of whom predeceased him.  Carlo earned his Bachelor's degree from Marist College and met his wife, Bette Hammond, while in college. They were married in 1966 at St. Mary's Church in Fishkill. Carlo worked as a Database Administrator with Central Hudson in Poughkeepsie for over 38 years. Carlo was a longtime Eucharistic Minister and Catechist of The Good Shepherd Church in Rhinebeck, where he found strength...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/carlo-a-scagnelli-good-shepherd-catechist-and-lions-charter-member-dies-at-81/

Hundreds of people, carrying a new batch of homemade signs, turned out Saturday at the Lions Club Mini Park in Rhinebeck for the local No Kings Rally, designed to signal, for the third time since President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, their frustration with his policies. Hundreds turned out with a fresh crop of signs for Saturday’s No Kings rally in Rhinebeck. (Photo by Tony Adamis) The Daily Catch spoke with protestors at Saturday’s No Kings rally in Rhinebeck. (Video by Tony Tackaberry) Local politicians and organizers spoke at the Rhinebeck No Kings rally on Saturday. (Video by Tony Tackaberry) The...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/as-iran-war-enters-fifth-week-hundreds-rally-anew-for-no-kings-in-rhinebeck/

Adam Stone, an award-winning journalist who has been reporting on local news in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley since the early 2000s, has joined The Daily Catch as senior editor. Award-winning journalist Adam Stone, pictured here in Washington D.C. during a lobbying day for local news in 2023, has joined The Daily Catch as senior editor. (Photo courtesy of Adam Stone) Stone will be responsible for supervising the paper’s Red Hook coverage and our growing work in arts and entertainment. He also has been hired to help shore up the long-term future of The Daily Catch, which is on...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/award-winning-journalist-adam-stone-joins-the-daily-catch-as-senior-editor/

We are committed to encouraging respectful conversations about the news we publish. We cannot include every comment in this feature, and some comments have been edited for brevity and/or clarity. Follow the link to each article or visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for the full text of all comments. Here's a link to our guidelines for comments. Letter to the Editor on the early history of Linwood: As a piece of Col. Henry Beekman's extensive landholdings in Rhinebeck Precinct, this acreage was inherited by his sole heir, Margaret Beekman Livingston. In a subdivision and drawing of straws among her...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/comments-to-the-catch-more-on-botstein-milea-penalty-for-fraudulent-school-registration-feb-23-march8-2026/

Roughly two miles separate Rhinebeck’s central hubs, the hamlet of Rhinecliff and the Village of Rhinebeck. The state road that connects the two is often populated with drivers speeding westward to catch a train out of Rhinecliff’s Amtrak station. With no formal sidewalk or bike lane, cyclists and walkers who make the trek are forced to share the road with cars. Town Board Member Dana Peterson is spearheading an effort to build a bike and pedestrian path linking Rhinecliff and the Village of Rhinebeck. (Image courtesy of Parcel Access) Town Board Member Dana Colleen Peterson, a Rhinecliff resident elected in...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/details-emerge-for-bike-pedestrian-path-to-link-rhinecliff-with-rhinebeck-village-as-town-applies-for-7-million-federal-grant/

Barbara Ann Lape, a longtime resident of the Hudson Valley, died in Red Hook on Friday, March 6, 2026. Barbara was born on July 15, 1941, in Peekskill. Barbara is remembered as a devoted homemaker who truly loved her family. She was an avid genealogist and loved gardening, crafts, antiques, and flea markets. She had a natural talent for furniture and home restoration and beautification, and always had lovely gardens. She served faithfully in many callings within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and established many relationships there. She especially loved helping others trace their ancestry with her...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/barbara-a-lape-homemaker-and-genealogist-dies-at-84/

Helen Marie (Coon) Daniels, of Hudson, died on March 1, 2026, at Evergreen Commons Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after a prolonged illness and complications of pneumonia. Born on February 23, 1937, in Red Hook, Helen was the daughter of the late William and Evelyn (Rhynders) Coon. Helen served for many years as a laundress at the Delamater Inn in Rhinebeck, where she rarely missed a day's work. She is remembered for her unconditional love for her family, diligence, loyalty, spunk, and resolute determination. She enjoyed laughter and a well-orchestrated practical joke. An avid walker, she had legendary energy and the...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/helen-m-daniels-laundress-and-artist-dies-at-89/

Kathryn Hobson died on March 2, 2026, in Rhinebeck.  Born in Poughkeepsie on January 16, 1944, she is remembered for her kindness, dedication, warmth, and unwavering support of her family and friends. She was, above all, a wife, mother, sister, and “Mema.” Kathryn delighted in 63+ years with her favorite person on Earth, her husband, Jim. As a mother, she fiercely protected her “chickens.’’ As a sister, she’d loyally provide support at the drop of a hat. Most importantly, as Mema, she passed these examples on to the next generations to use.  The family says that shared stories, celebrations, and...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/kathryn-hobson-beloved-mema-dies-at-82/

Students in the Red Hook Central School District performed at or slightly above state averages on most state assessment tests last school year, according to data presented to the Board of Education. The results for the state tests were largely consistent with the district’s scores from previous years. Students in the Red Hook Central School District performed at or above state averages on most state assessments last school year. (Photo by Tony Adamis) A district spokesman declined to characterize the results but advised against reading too much into them. “These results represent a high-level snapshot in time from which, each...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/red-hook-school-test-results-top-state-averages-but-lag-rhinebeck/

Robbie Hart and his band burst onto the stage as a 1985 wedding reception hits full throttle. Dressed in a flashy ruffled tuxedo shirt, his perfectly feathered hair bouncing with every move, Robbie commands the room with easy charisma. As the band launches into the tune, “It’s Your Wedding Day,” he works the crowd like a born entertainer, whipping guests into a joyful frenzy on the dance floor. A revival of The Wedding Singer with George (Andrew Bruck), Robbie Hart (Wendell Scherer), and Sammy (Izzy Ricks) opens Friday at the CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. (Photo by Olivia Michaels...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/after-a-tough-winter-rhinebeck-theater-rhinebeck-theater-presents-love-and-laughter-in-1980s-rom-com-the-wedding-singer/

Philip R. Carroll died on Feb. 28, 2026, in New York City. Born on Dec. 2, 1934, in Bridgeport, CT. Philip graduated from Fairfield College Preparatory School and Fordham University and served in the United States Army. He earned his Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law and was admitted to the bar in both New York and Connecticut. He spent most of his career as a mutual fund attorney with Neuberger and Berman in New York City, where his sharp mind and high standards were well known and respected. Philip was an academic at heart and a daily...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/philip-r-carroll-veteran-attorney-and-wilderstein-board-member-dies-at-91/

Judith A. “Judy” Hester, 86, a longtime Red Hook resident, died on Monday, Feb. 24, 2026, at Northern Dutchess Hospital. Born on February 16, 1940, in Elizabeth, NJ, Judy moved to Saugerties as a teen when her father took a position at IBM. Judy met her husband of 50 years, William J. “Bill” Hester, at IBM, and once they married, she left her career to raise their family in Red Hook.  Judy is remembered as a strong and devoted homemaker who found her greatest fulfillment in caring for those she loved, with home-cooked meals and a welcoming home. Whether it...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/judith-a-hester-bard-employee-and-beloved-grandmother-dies-at-86/

Northern Dutchess Day Care to Launch First Infant ProgramNorthern Dutchess Day Care Center (NDDCC), the longest-operating preschool and only nonprofit early childhood center in the Rhinebeck area, will open its first infant care program in early April, expanding services to children ages 6 to 17 months. The new full-time classroom will accommodate eight infants and marks the first time in the organization’s more than 50-year history that it will provide care for children under 18 months. Northern Dutchess Day Care will add an infant care room, believed to be the first in Rhinebeck. (Photo courtesy of NDDC) As with the...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/the-short-catch-new-infant-care-at-northern-dutchess-a-food-and-learn-event-school-tax-credits-a-student-art-award/

Barry Milea says people don’t drink alcohol like they once did. Barry Milea is seeking approval from the Clinton Planning Board to convert his sparkling wine taproom on Schultzville Road into a fine-dining restaurant. (Photo by Claire Greenburger) “They will not drink unless they have food,” said Milea, the owner of Milea Estate Vineyard on Hollow Road and Clinton Vineyards on Schultzville Road. It’s a line he has repeated at recent presentations before the Clinton Planning Board.  The shift in drinking culture underpins his pitch to Planning Board members to allow conversion of the former sparkling wine taproom on Schultzville...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/milea-vineyard-restaurant-plan-uncorks-new-development-debate-in-clinton/

Editor's Note: This story was updated with new information at 8:08 p.m. following a Tuesday evening vote of the Bard Faculty Senate. In the aftermath of the release of hundreds of emails revealing a long-standing relationship between Bard College President Leon Botstein and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Bard’s Faculty Senate formally voted Tuesday evening to present a statement to the Board of Trustees calling for stronger faculty involvement in the College’s governance and greater transparency in the ongoing investigation process.  Bard faculty voted Tuesday evening to pass a statement calling for their stronger involvement in College governance, in the wake...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/one-third-of-bard-faculty-gather-to-debate-statement-on-botstein-conversation-is-civil-but-divisions-emerge/

Planning Board review of the Rhinebeck Villas hotel development on Route 9G has ground to a halt because the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) says it has identified an issue with the project’s proposal for discharging treated wastewater. Planning Board Chair Melodye Moore said the Board is pausing the Rhinebeck Villas’ environmental review. (Photo by Eloise Goldsmith) Planning Board Chair Melodye Moore said at Monday’s Planning Board meeting that, as a result of DEC’s concerns, the Board is suspending the project’s environmental review, which includes weighing the potential impact of the project on bodies of water like...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/rhinebeck-planning-board-suspends-review-of-rhinebeck-villas-as-state-regulators-flag-developers-wastewater-plan/

On a late Sunday morning in Milan, while her husband Mike laces up for club soccer in Rhinebeck and her 10-year-old daughter Aveline settles in with cartoons, Juliet Izon opens her laptop and slips into a fictional world of her making, buzzing with rock music, family secrets, and coming of age. It’s there, in their Upstate house perched on a small hill, with a slight view but scads of trees, that her mind stills and the hours feel briefly elastic. Juliet Izon will read from her debut novel, The Encore, on Wednesday evening at Oblong Books. (Photo courtesy of Juliet...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/milan-author-debuts-novel-of-music-and-long-buried-secrets-at-tuesday-oblong-reading/

With just over two weeks until the Village of Red Hook’s special election for two seats on its governing Board, Trustee Frances Uku has endorsed newcomers Perry Allen and Craig Rothstein for the two open positions. With just over two weeks until the Village of Red Hook election, Trustee Frances Uku has endorsed Perry Allen and Craig Rothstein for the two seats available. (Photo by Athan Yanos) After meeting with all three candidates over the past two weeks, Uku said she decided not to endorse current Trustee Anthony Maccarini because he has less time to devote to the position, given...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/uku-backs-newcomers-allen-and-rothstein-for-red-hook-board-as-allen-issues-letter-citing-lack-of-trust-in-leaders/

In her 24 years as a real estate agent, Wendy Maitland says no property holds as much personal history for her as the Belvedere Mansion at Pawling Manor. It’s where she grew up and where her daughter was married. The Belvedere Mansion at Pawling Manor, just south of Rhinebeck Village, is on the market for .5 million. (Photo by John Codling for Atelier by Wendy Maitland) Now, she will try to sell the property — known to many locals as the spot where the Habitas-on-Hudson project went belly-up, shuttering after less than a year. Habitas, which has rebranded to “Our...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/after-habitas-collapse-belvedere-mansion-goes-up-for-sale-with-broker-wendy-maitland-sharing-lifelong-ties-to-estate/

While total lunar eclipses aren’t as rare as total solar eclipses, skywatchers early Tuesday, March 3, are in for a treat as the moon moves into the shadow of the Earth. This graphic shows the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during a total lunar eclipse. (Source: https://www.space.com/4999-total-lunar-eclipse-tonight.html) The eclipse will begin at around 3:44 a.m. in Clinton, Rhinebeck, and Red Hook. At this time, observers would note a dark curved-shape shadow moving across the moon. Sometimes totality is reached in the middle of the night, but this year on March 3, the moon will be completely in the...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/clear-skies-ahead-with-blood-moon-lunar-eclipse-set-to-take-the-stage-tuesday-morning/

Editor's Note: State Police on Tuesday, Feb. 24, released new details about the auto accident that killed Shutong Li, detailed below. Police report that Li was outside of his vehicle in the right lane of the Taconic Parkway southbound at Mile Marker 59.1 in the Town of Clinton on Feb. 11 at about 11 p.m. when a 2025 GMC operated by a 65-year-old man struck him. The GMC then continued southbound and struck Li’s disabled vehicle, a 2024 Lexus, which was partially parked on the shoulder, Police said. The southbound driver was not injured and remained at the scene; he...https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/young-bard-conductor-35-dies-after-injuries-sustained-fixing-a-flat-tire-on-taconic-parkway/