This week in the Hudson Valley

This week in the Hudson Valley

City changes speed limit ahead of school year

The school year and the hustle-and-bustle that comes along with the change in season is no reason to rush – especially on the road.

Across the City of Poughkeepsie, starting Tuesday, September 1, the citywide speed limit will be reduced from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour.

According to Mayor Yvonne Flowers, the speed limit change will take place the week before school starts, “when hundreds of students will be walking to and from school. The goal is simple: make our streets safer and save lives.”

While state-owned arterial roads are not covered by the new limit, Flowers said the city is working with the state to “strengthen speed enforcement,” with speed cameras in three school zones and red-light cameras at nine intersections planned for early 2027.

School speed zone cameras – and their lucrative fines – return in Kingston

In the City of Kingston, starting on Tuesday, September 8, regular hours for school speed zone camera enforcement will be back in effect.

Last school year, the school speed zone pilot program in Kingston generated $327,000 in revenue with an additional $549,000 in pending payments, according to reports.

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Mosquitos positive with West Nile found in Orange County

Cases found in ‘multiple areas across the county’ following initial testing

As the peak of summer settles, officials are urging residents to continue to take proper precautions against mosquito-borne illnesses.

The Orange County Department of Health has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes in multiple areas across the county following initial testing of a mosquito pool carrying West Nile in the Village of Goshen.

While 80-percent of people infected with West Nile virus show no signs of illness, Dr. Jennifer Roman of the Orange County Department of Health continues to recommend proper protections against mosquito bites as the season continues. “Residents should wear appropriate clothing and consider sprays when outdoors and check their property for any pooling or stagnant water.”

Minimize outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
Wear shoes and socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when you are outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are most active.
Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors, particularly during evening activities, e.g., fishing. Make sure to follow the directions on the label.

Mosquitoes can breed in any stagnant water that lasts more than four days. To reduce the mosquito population around your home and property, take the following steps to reduce or eliminate standing water:

Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar water-holding containers.
Drill drain holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors.
Make sure that your roof gutters drain properly, and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
Turn over wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
Change the water in birdbaths twice a week.
Remove all discarded tires from your property.
Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds.
Drain water from pool covers. Also, remove leaves and debris as they collect on covers to reduce breeding areas.
Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property.

According to the CDC, about 20-percent of people who are infected with West Nile develop flu-like symptoms, such as a fever with headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with mild illness due to West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

While there is no medicine currently available to treat West Nile, seek immediate medical attention if you experience high fever, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, confusion, or tremors.

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Red Hook sets 9/25 goal to sign every child up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

The Red Hook Public Library wants to enroll every eligible Red Hook child in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library by September 25, 2026.

Why September 25? According to the library: “Because when you’re doing it for Dolly, you’ve got to work 9 to 5!”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a free, high-quality book every month to enrolled children from birth until their fifth birthday.

If your child is already enrolled, tell your friends, neighbors, and fellow parents. If you know a family with a child under five who could benefit, share the program with them. And if there’s an eligible little reader in your life, get them signed up here.

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Help keep this newsletter free with a donation or shop our Hudson Valley artists, authors and makers.

Tatiana Rhinevault is one of the many local artists opening her studio doors this weekend as part of Art Studio Views across northern Dutchess County.

This week’s calendar

New York Health Act Town Halls
Continues September 1 at 6pm
New Paltz
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 September 3 at 6pm in Saugerties. Website

Free Woodstock Museum Film Festival
September 1-7, 2026; Tuesday - Sunday, 7:30 to 11pm and Monday/Labor Day from noon to 6pm
Cost of admission: Free
13 Charles Bach Road, Saugerties
Woodstock Museum Film Festival returns for its 27th year, presenting 32 independent films at Woodstock Museum, 13 Charles Bach Road, Saugerties, NY 12477. Admission is free; seating is unreserved and first come, first served. Evening programs begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with the Labor Day matinee program beginning at noon Monday. Highlights include The Last Seat in the House, about Bill Hanley, the sound engineer who made the 1969 Woodstock festival audible; Second Chance, 15-year-old filmmaker India Anne Mitchell's look at juvenile justice; and Goddess of Slide, the story of guitarist Ellen McIlwaine and her six nights performing with Jimi Hendrix. Website

Columbia County Fair
September 2-7, 2026
Cost of admission: $15, free for kids under 12
182 Hudson Ave, Chatham
Competitions, entertainment – including our favorite, the Demolition Derby – rides and more. Website

35th Annual Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival
September 4-6, 2026
Cost of admission: $13.95 and up, free for kids under 3
Union Vale
Five mass hot-air balloon ascensions totaling over 120 balloon flights scheduled during the weekend, evening moon glows, fireworks with full flight and tethered balloon rides available. Advance tickets only, no tickets will be sold at the gate. Website

Revisiting Daniel Nimham: A Talk with Michael Keropian
Friday, September 4, 2026 from 5-6pm
Cost of admission: Free
Putnam History Museum, 63 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring
This talk by Michael Keropian will delve into the deep research he undertook into the life of Wappinger Sachem Daniel Nimham. Website

Historic Tavern Trail at Lasting Joy Brewery
Friday, September 4, 2026 from 6 to 7pm
Cost of admission: Free
485 Lasher Road, Tivoli
Join Dutchess County Historian Will Tatum for a vivid account of the Continental Army’s defense and loss of New York City and the Great Fire of 1776. This Historic Tavern Trail program takes place at Lasting Joy Brewery and is also available via Zoom. Admission is free and RSVP is requested. Food and drinks will be available for purchase onsite. Full details and registration are available at the event website. Website

Karaoke Aboard Solaris
Friday, September 4, 2026 at 7:30pm
Cost of admission: $35
Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
Bring your friends and sing along to your favorite songs while enjoying beautiful views out on the water! Website

Inventory
On view through September 4, 2026
Women’s Studio Workshop, 722 Binnewater Lane, Kingston
A group exhibition highlighting the work of Ruth Marks, Daniella Porras, and Heidi Tejeda Mata. In this exhibition, Marks, Porras, and Tejeda Mata consider existence during times of transition and temporary placehood. Website

Stormville Airport Antique Show and Flea Market
September 5-6, 2026
Cost of admission: Free
428 Route 216, Stormville
Over 400 exhibitors. Rain or shine. No pets. Website

Kaatsbaan 2026 Annual Festival
Continues September 5 and September 12, 2026
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli
Each Saturday will feature a distinct lineup and focus: Labor Day weekend programming centers on storytelling by individual playwrights Rachel Jendrzejewski (through collaborators Terry Hempfling and Lauren Lewis), Jeanette Harrison, Ty Defoe, Vickie Ramirez, Rose Jarboe, Sylvan Oswald, Jim Fletcher, Lucy Sexton, and Adrienne Truscott. A musical double-bill closes out the day with The Bearded Ladies Cabaret sing-along and concert/dance party by CRICKETS (JD Samson, Roddy Bottum, and Michael O’Neill); and September 12: The festival closes with a high-energy summer send-off. Large- ensemble dance performances by EVIDENCE and MasterZ at Work open the day and Sadonna and the Slutinos give a farewell evening concert. The 2026 Annual Festival also marks the return of Kaatsbaan’s outdoor Mountain Stage with its expansive views of the Catskill Mountains and immersion in the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. Most performances are an hour or less, are all ages, and the festival schedule permits an easeful and day-long schedule of art and nature alongside Tivoli’s walkable downtown amenities. Website

Art Studio Views
September 5-6, 2026 from 11am to 5pm
Germantown, Tivoli, Red Hook, Rhinebeck and Hyde Park
Self-guided tour of artist studios and galleries in northern Dutchess County. Website

David Coller & Diane Chodkowski: An Evening of Folk & Maritime Music
Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 7pm
Cost of admission: $25
Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
Join acclaimed folk musicians David Coller and Diane Chodkowski for an intimate evening of original songs, beloved folk favorites, bluegrass, and traditional sea shanties. Known for their warm harmonies and easygoing style, the duo creates performances that are heartfelt, timeless, and perfect for music lovers of all ages. Partners in music and life for more than 15 years, David and Diane continue to delight audiences throughout the Northeast with their engaging performances, recently appearing at the Connecticut Sea Music Festival and the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival. Website

Bellissima Concert: Daisy Jopling
Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 7pm
Magazzino Italian Art, 2700 Route 9, Cold Spring
An evening concert in the museum’s courtyard featuring violinist Daisy Jopling and pianist Steve Sandberg. Tickets

Bovina Farm Day
Sunday, September 6, 2026 from 10am to 5pm
Cost of admission: $5, free for kids under 12
Webcrest Farm, Crescent Valley Road, Bovina
Bovina Farm Day is a celebration of the agricultural way of life in Bovina. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to connect with the land, meet local farmers, and experience the bounty and beauty of Delaware County farm life. Guests of all ages will enjoy a wide range of activities including: Interacting with farm animals, a huge local vendor market, Hayrides and a giant haystack slide, Antique engine demos and vintage tractor displays, Butter making and maple candy demonstrations, Hands-on kids' games, treasure hunts, and craft activities, Tours of the farm and the historic Maynard Schoolhouse. Please note: No dogs allowed as it is a working farm. Website

Chamber Music Churchtown: 2026 Concert Season
Continues through September 6, 2026
Cost of admission: $95
Churchtown Dairy, 357 County Rt. 12, Hudson
Each summer, when the cows move to pasture, the barn is transformed into a luminous chamber music hall – an experience unlike any other. The only music festival in the world set on a working dairy farm, where music, landscape, and community come together in a truly singular way. This season expands to five concerts, welcoming both returning artists and exciting new musicians for programs of exceptional chamber music. Website

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*Refresh that link! The HVNY calendar is updated with new and revised events daily. Missing something? Add an event, here: hvny.info/share-your-event

HVNY: Photo Contest

Enter the 2026 HVNY Summer Photo Contest

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.

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HVNY Newsletter Donation Free Sticker

Any support – even simply forwarding this email to a friend or neighbor – is appreciated.

New! “In Between the Stars” by Evelyn Laferriere

Every summer, Erica Margot and her family head to Maine for a month. This summer is different — not only is it the summer before her senior year, but her twin brother’s best friend, Cameron, is tagging along. And he’s kind of hot. But she doesn’t have time for romance, does she? Can she be a strong, independent woman in STEM but also desperately want a boyfriend? While checking off annual family traditions, Erica Margot tries to grapple with who she is — and how to put it into a college application essay — along with her growing feelings for Cameron. As a straight-A student, she’s constantly afraid of coming across as high-maintenance and arrogant instead of determined, and she’s scared Cameron will think he’s holding her back. Despite her sorta-kinda-high-maintenance-ness, Erica Margot’s family vacation is full of silliness, inside jokes, and an absurd amount of ice cream. And maybe that’s exactly what she needs to figure out what life is all about, and to find her place in between the stars.

Printed on demand.

$17.00

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"Her Wild Ghosts" by Evelyn Laferriere

One mountain, three victims. Strangers and old friends spend the night on Mount Macabre, but not all of them make it home. The local Sheriff navigates difficult personalities, decodes lies, and unravels secrets on the haunted summit she knows all too well. How long will it take, and how many lives will be ruined in the process? Printed on demand.

from $25.00

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“Legends of the Floral Sea” by Evelyn Laferriere

Prince Nyle of Wisteria, newly 17, is set to sail the Floral Sea with Captain Oxford, his father’s lead commander. Nyle’s heart longs for adventure, but it also longs for Adelaide, his childhood best friend. However, like in any classic fairytale, Nyle’s father has forbidden him from marrying a commoner. Unbeknownst to the feuding father-son pair, Captain Oxford is plotting with King Oleander of Chrysanthemum to seize control and rule the Flower Alliance. As Oxford’s plot is revealed, Nyle, Adelaide, and a misfit band of heroes work together to stop Oxford and restore peace. In part two, King Oleander’s son, Henbane, finds a piece of a treasure map that will lead to answers surrounding his mother’s death. Theo, a pacifist from Poppy (the island of war), and Emma, a healer from Amaranth, get caught in the treasure hunt. King Alastair of Poppy seeks the lost treasure for himself. With the democracy of the Flower Alliance once again at risk, Theo and Emma team up with familiar friends to find the treasure.
Printed on demand.

from $26.00

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Meet the author:

Name: Evelyn Laferriere

What county do you live in?: Orange

Tell us about yourself: I am a sustainability professional with degrees from Clarkson University. I've self-published several books under the name EP Laferriere. As an undergraduate, I completed my thesis on the use of fictional literature as a form of environmental education and activism. As part of this thesis, I wrote a young adult fairytale inspired novel that explored the ecosystem services of our natural environments. My master's degree is in environmental policy, with a focus on environmental communication. I love exploring where writing, creativity, and the environment meet.

What year did you start living/working in the Hudson Valley?: I’ve lived in the Hudson Valley for my whole life, minus the years I was in the North Country for college (and a brief stint working at Disney World in Orlando!). In January 2026, after finishing grad school at Clarkson, I moved back to the Hudson Valley!

What are some of your favorite things to do in the region?: I love going on walks in the woods and hugging trees! All of the historic sites in Hyde Park are also top spots for me.

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