Statewide single-payer proposal to offset rising insurance woes

Skyrocketing insurance premiums. The tiptoe of in-network vs. out-of-network coverage, or simply, no coverage at all. Mystery bills. Medical debt. Getting health care can lead to more headaches than you started with.

That’s why members of the New York State Senate and Assembly have proposed a bill (S3425/A1466) to establish the New York Health Act, a single-payer universal healthcare system with no network restrictions, deductibles or co-pays.

“To address the fiscal crisis facing the healthcare system and the state and to assure New Yorkers can exercise their right to health care, this legislation would establish a comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage program, funded by broad-based revenue based on ability to pay, for the benefit of all residents and employees of the state of New York,” the bill states.

Under the New York Health Act, according to the non-profit organization Campaign for New York Health, every New Yorker would receive primary care, speciality care, vision, dental, hearing, mental health, reproductive care, substance abuse care, maternal care, prescription drugs and long-term care.

Sound too good to be true? Beginning this week, co-sponsor of the bill, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, will host several town halls across the Hudson Valley to discuss the New York Health plan, and its challenges, with residents.

And who would pay for New York Health? According to the bill’s text: “Full funding for New York Health would come from the revenue measures to be proposed by the Governor under guidelines in the bill, plus available federal funds. The revenue package would also replace: local share of Medicaid, state and local payments for public employee health coverage, and various other health care spending. Numerous analyses document that a single-payer system would be most effective for reducing and control-ling costs, for taxpayers, employers, and individuals.”

The New York Health plan would eliminate county’s share of Medicaid costs, saving Ulster County over $61 million annually, and saving Dutchess County $88.11 million annually, according to Assemblymember Shrestha.

Upcoming New York Health Act Town Halls:

August 18, 2026 at 6pm at the Restorative Justice Center, 733 Broadway, Kingston
August 19 at 6pm at the Morton Memorial Library, Rhinecliff
August 25 at 6pm at the Rosendale Community Center
August 27 at 6pm at the Esopus Town Hall
August 30 at 2:30pm at the Mescal Hornbeck Community Center, 56 Rock City Road, Woodstock
September 1 at 6pm at the SUNY New Paltz Lecture Center Room 102
September 3 at 6pm at the Orpheum Theatre, Saugerties

The Dutchess County Legislature voted unanimously on Monday night to ban the sale and distribution of synthetic and concentrated kratom from gas stations and convenience stores across the county – but still not to the degree the county executive had originally proposed.

The ban passed unanimously by Dutchess County legislators on Monday night will prohibit the sale and distribution of concentrated and synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products, the potent, lab-enhanced kratom derivatives.

According to legislators the law would prohibit “products that exceed a defined 7-OH concentration threshold, and it separately bans the named synthetic derivatives (MGM-15, MGM-16, and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl) along with any future structural analogue designed to skirt the rules. It carries strict liability and escalating, per-sale civil penalties, and it reaches out-of-county and online sellers who ship these products to a Dutchess County address.”

But Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino says the ban “simply does not go far enough.”

“It leaves dangerous, unregulated natural kratom products on store shelves — products the FDA warns consumers not to use and that have been linked to severe health effects,” Serino said. “While the ban adopted this week is an important step, we cannot settle for a partial measure that still leaves the door open to further tragedy. I will continue pushing for a full ban that truly protects the health and safety of our community.”

“I will once again ask the legislature to vote to ban all kratom throughout Dutchess County,” Serino said.

As of Monday, August 17, 2026, over 200 artworks by Frederic Church – the largest collection to date – have been added to the Olana State Historic Site website in celebration of the artist’s 200th birthday.

“The public launch of Olana’s online collections portal represents a long-awaited milestone in the study and appreciation of the work and career of Frederic Church, who was among the most renowned American artists of his time” said Maggie Dimock, Associate Curator at The Olana Partnership. “The rich collection of Church’s work held by Olana provides unparalleled insight into the artist’s early maturation and development, his working methods, his travels through the Americas, including fifteen trips to Mexico, and the painstaking care with which he designed every ornamental detail of the distinctive Main House at Olana.”

The first phase of digitization focused on art works by Church in the Olana collection, including hundreds of previously unseen or rarely published paintings, sketches, oil studies, and sketchbooks.

Digitization and cataloging of the Olana Collection is ongoing and content is being regularly added.

by Francine Wizner

If you have ever been caught in traffic on Route 9 near the Mid-Hudson Bridge, or hunted for parking in Rhinebeck on a chaotic Saturday, you know Hudson Valley life isn't always bucolic. Our Dutchess County has a quiet charm, but its busiest hubs can get overwhelmed. Tranquility lies a short drive away along less-traveled macadam—near orchards, split-rail fences, and pristine landscapes. "Going solo" is appealing. That is a lesson perfectly illustrated by the uniquely individual Heptacodium miconioides, the seven-son flower.

Adopting a Sole Survivor

The first plant purchase I made for my Pleasant Valley home was found four years ago on a discount rack. A bargain! When I bought it, I didn't realize I was adopting a botanical celebrity. The seven-son flower is monotypic, meaning there is only one species within the genus. While about 10-percent of plant genera share this lonely designation, the seven-son flower wears its isolation with confidence. It doesn't need a flock of close relations. I got two and planted them next to each other — because even a solo act appreciates harmony.

Heptacodium History

While the official botanical record claims the seven-son flower was "discovered" by Westerners in 1907, local people in China had known about this cliff-dweller for centuries. The early ecologists who took note of Heptacodium weren't looking to stock nurseries. Their goal was to take a small clipping, press it flat, and store it in a museum drawer.

For nearly a century, Heptacodium existed in the West only as a dead herbarium specimen. Following the Chinese Communist Revolution, closed borders paused cross-continental scientific exchange. This division lasted until the 1980 Sino-American Botanical Expedition—a historic, three-month trek that marked the first collaboration between Western and Chinese scientists since 1949. Looking at the shrub with modern eyes, they realized this museum curiosity could become a versatile landscape plant.

Coming to America

The seeds were brought to the Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts, which subsequently distributed seedlings throughout North America. Nearly all garden specimens today share that original lineage, including my two adoptees. However, conservationists continue to brave treacherous cliff terrain, gathering rare seeds from the few remaining wild populations to introduce vital genetic diversity.

What’s So Special?

“Meh,” you might be thinking, “What makes this shrub so special?” After all, I’ve written about the trumpet-shaped blooms of Weigela, the reproductive details of winterberries, and regaled you with a variety of other scientific fascinations. What makes this shrub noteworthy are its unconventional displays.

In late August, most greenery is sun-bleached and readying for a winter nap. But Heptacodium is ready to party. It erupts with fragrant, white flowers. The blossoms appear in clusters containing two opposite rows of three, encircling a central bud. This central bud mimics an additional bloom to create the visual illusion of a "seventh son," hence its common name. Butterflies and bees flock to the blooms like commuters rushing to Metro-North.

The prefix hepta- is Greek for seven, combined with kodia, meaning 'head' – a nod to its seven-parted appearance. The specific epithet, miconioides, alludes to the plant’s boldly veined leaves, which closely resemble plants in the tropical Miconia genus. I remember learning about Miconia from the National Geographic series, Strange Days on Planet Earth. The episode “Invaders” explained that Miconia became a highly destructive invader on tropical islands like Hawaii because it lacks limiting factors, such as competition or predators, to prevent its overgrowth.

Fortunately, the three prominent veins running from the base to the tip of Heptacodium’s leaves are simply a case of convergent evolution – a biological phenomenon where unrelated species independently develop analogous traits to adapt to similar environments. Despite the physical resemblance, Heptacodium is entirely unrelated to the tropical invader and behaves as a perfectly polite guest.

After its flowers fade, the underlying sepals expand and “blush” in varying shades of red as autumn progresses. This is a dramatic show that lasts through October. When November arrives and the leaves drop, Heptacodium reveals its winter wardrobe. Its bark exfoliates in shaggy, tan strips, providing visual interest against a backdrop of snow.

Heptacodium is a conversation starter that survived a century of obscurity. It supports Hudson Valley pollinators during the late-summer nectar drought, making it well worth the garden real estate. Its fall and winter show is proof that you don't need a crowd of close relations to make a major impact. Sometimes being a solo act is the best way to stand out in the crowd.

Francine Wizner is a native of the Hudson Valley. She grew up in the Catskills of Greene County and spent over three decades teaching in Ulster County. She creates science-themed instructional materials and books, as well as being a Citizen Scientist in the management of her current home in an enchanted woodland of Dutchess County. Follow her work at medium.com/@wiznerf, substack.com/@gkatzchronicle, and youtube.com/@PVMapleLodge.

New York Health Act Town Halls
Beginning Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 6pm
Kingston
New York State Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha will talk about the state legislation that would “provide universal healthcare coverage, eliminate co-pays, deductions, premiums and provider networks, as well as eliminate counties’ share of Medicaid costs.” Continues August 19 at 6pm in Rhinecliff, August 25 at 6pm in Rosendale, August 27 at 6pm in the Town of Esopus, August 30 at 2:30pm in Woodstock, September 1 at 6pm in New Paltz, September 3 at 6pm in Saugerties. Website

2026 Hudson Valley Film Fest
August 18-20, 2026
Warwick Drive-in Theater
Independent short films, live music, art installations, vendors and more. Website

Music in the Parks
August 19, 2026 from 6-7:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
Kingston Point Beach, Kingston
Featuring August 19 with Soul City Band at Kingston Point Beach. Continues September 19 with M’Bollo featuring Amadou Diallo at TR Gallo Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnics, and bug spray.

Free Movies in the Parks
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 8pm
Cost of admission: Free
Green Street Park, Beacon
Showing of “Lilo and Stitch.” Website

Understanding Energy: A Civic 101 Crash Course with The Electric Grandma
Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 6pm
Cost of admission: $15
M. Clifford Miller Middle School, 65 Fording Place Road, Lake Katrine
Presented by the New York Energy Alliance about rising electric bills, how the electric grid works and which power sources keep the lights on. Meredith Angwin, a working chemist and project manager, led efforts to reduce pollution, improve power plant performance and increase the reliability of the electric grid. Known as “The Electric Grandma,” she now helps everyday people understand how our electric grid works. Link

Stories and Songs of the Revolution with Jonathan Kruk and Linda Russell
Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 7pm
Cost of admission: $25
Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
Come celebrate America’s 250th birthday with master storyteller Jonathan Kruk and historical balladeer Linda Russell and an evening of revolutionary fun. Learn the origins of Yankee Doodle Dandy, hear tales of battles that shaped the war, and meet the teen who outrode Paul Revere. This evening will include both historical music and tales from the war that birthed our nation. Website

Outdoor Screening of Holes (2003)
Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 7:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
Olana State Historic Site’s East Lawn, Hudson
An outdoor movie night in collaboration with the Hudson Area Library and Story Screen. Visitors are also invited to enjoy free landscape and historic house access from 5-7pm. Website

August Twilight Tour at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary
Friday, August 21, 2026 at 6 to 7:30pm
Cost of admission: $50
2 Rescue Road, High Falls
Join the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary team for a special Twilight Tour of the Sanctuary! Enjoy vegan cheese and wine before exploring the sanctuary at sunset. Limited tickets available for this intimate tour. Advance tickets only, no tickets will be sold at the door. Website

Columbia County Players present The Comedy of Errors
August 21-23, 2026 at 7:30pm
Cost of admission: Free
Churchtown Dairy, 357 County Route 12, Hudson
Shakespeare's wildest farce comes to life in this free, 90-minute outdoor performance at the Churchtown Dairy Globe. When two sets of long-lost identical twins unknowingly end up in the same city, mistaken identities, outrageous misunderstandings, and nonstop laughter collide in one of Shakespeare's funniest comedies. Space is limited. Website

Walkway at Night
Friday, August 21, 2026 from 7:30 to 9pm
Cost of admission: $5, free for members and children under 12
Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie and Highland
Enjoy Hudson Valley views after dark from 212 feet above the Hudson River. If the weather permits, our friends from the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association will be in the park with telescopes to help everyone view the night sky. Continues September 25 and October 24, 2026. RSVP

Dog Sports Training Open House at PCOTC
Saturday, August 22, 2026 from noon to 4pm
Cost of admission: Free
220 Ferris Avenue, White Plains
Have you ever wanted to try a dog sport like agility, nose/scent work, obedience, or rally? Port Chester Obedience Training Club in White Plains, NY is hosting a free, fun-filled open house where you and your dog can try out four different activities and watch demonstrations by some of our dog/student teams. Pre-registration is required: Pre-register. Website

Screening of Rohna Classified with Filmmaker Jack Ballo
Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 2pm
Cost of admission: Free with registration required
Wallace Center, FDR Presidential Library and Home, Hyde Park
A World War II documentary about the 1943 sinking of the transport ship HMT Rohna, and how it largely remained an untold story. Register

Poughkeepsie PorchFest
Sunday, August 23, 2026 from noon to 6pm
Cost of admission: Free
Southside Historic District, Poughkeepsie
Walk along Academy, Garfield, Barclay and Montgomery streets to hear local musicians perform on front porches throughout the neighborhood. Website

To enter: Email your (1) best photo of summer in the Hudson Valley from this year to photos@hvny.info. Original photographs from 2026 only. Please limit filters/retouching, and include your full name and location, if it’s a public place.