The Bear Mountain Bridge – a 2,255-foot span connecting Orange and Rockland to Westchester and Putnam counties – was the first vehicular bridge over the Hudson River south of Albany, and the first suspension bridge with a concrete deck. For a brief period, it also held the title of "bridge with the longest suspended central span in the world." 

On November 27, 2024, the Bear Mountain Bridge will celebrate 100 years of service. 

Before the big day, on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 10am, community members will gather to celebrate the bridge’s opening just as it happened 100 years ago: via motorcade. Cars from every decade, from 1924 to 2024, will cross the Bear Mountain Bridge to kick off the centennial week ceremonies.

New York State has implemented a statewide burn ban in effect until November 30 due to increased fire risk throughout the region.

This burn ban prohibits “the starting of outdoor fires statewide for purposes of brush and debris disposal, as well as uncontained campfires, and open fires used for cooking.”

Efforts to control the Jennings Creek fire in Sterling Forest State Park continue this week after continuously dry conditions and gusty winds caused flames to jump containment areas late Saturday night. According to local officals, the fire has burned over 5,000-acres since it began on November 9. Roughly 88-percent of the fire has been contained as of Monday morning.

But relief may be in sight this week, according to Hudson Valley Weather: “After a stretch of over 90 days that’s been exceptionally dry across the Hudson Valley, we’re tracking a storm system for late this week that could bring more rain in 2 days than we’ve seen in 2 or 3 months.”

And next week? Forecasters are watching the potential for a White Thanksgiving….

A Closer Look and a star party at Olana, Back to the Land book talk in Rhinebeck, the Hudson Valley Hullabaloo in Kingston, Holiday Finieries at the Wineries on the Shawangunk Trail, a Fix-It Picnic in Hudson, Churchill’s closed door meetings in Hyde Park, and more: