Town hall series to discuss state health act
Statewide single-payer proposal to offset rising insurance woes
New York State Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, a sponsor of the New York State Health Act, will host several town halls across the Hudson Valley beginning this week to discuss the proposed plan.
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, 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 in Saugerties
Event info page: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/health-103
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For 141 years, Hudson River State Hospital was home to tens of thousands of individuals suffering from mental illness.
Famous architects Frederick Clark Withers and Calvert Vaux drafted the main building in 1869. The facility grew from a 208-acre parcel in 1871 with seven patients to 752 acres with five dozen separate buildings containing nearly 6,000 patients in 1954. The main building was constructed on a Kirkbride plan, a treating philosophy centered around an ornate building of equal proportions staffed by employees who integrated dignity and compassion into health care. Famous architects Frederick Clark Withers and Calvert Vaux drafted the main building in 1869. The landscape was penned by Frederick Law Olmsted, perhaps best known for the design of New York City's Central Park. Ships for free directly from Arcadia Publishing.
For every almost maybe
the ½ loves
the right hearts but the wrong time
the lonely nights
the rainy days
may these pages restore hope in your eyes
and peace in your heart
today, tomorrow and all the days to come
A book of poetry that explores topics such as coping with various emotions, navigating relationships, love, loss, cultivating self-compassion, and more. It highlights the journey of self-exploration, through vulnerability, mindfulness, uncertainty, and a lot of the messy things many of us relate to but often avoid talking about.
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For fans of Alison Espach and Claire Lombardo, a poignant and thought-provoking debut novel about the fraught bond between mothers and teen daughters, the ripple effects of a tragic event in a small town, and the search for meaning after loss.
What if the only way forward is to let go of everything you know?
Kate’s life in the Hudson Valley seems picture-perfect: a thriving career as a realtor-slash-momfluencer, a devoted husband, and a strong bond with her brilliant teenage daughter, Indie. But when Indie’s best friend dies suddenly, their idyllic small-town haven begins to crumble. Kate and Ethan lose their footing, and Indie, alone in her grief, falls down an internet rabbit hole of nihilism and existential despair.
As Indie searches for meaning in a world that feels random and cruel, Kate struggles to reconcile her carefully curated online persona with the raw, unyielding grief tearing her family apart. When long-buried family secrets rise to the surface, she is forced to confront unsettling truths that challenge everything she thought she knew—about marriage, motherhood, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
Told in the dual voices of a mother and daughter grappling with loss, No One You Know is filled with poignant observations on parenthood, best friendship, class and political divides, infidelity in a small town—and the bitter truth that death can touch everything we love.
Release date: January 20, 2026. Shipping is included in all prices.
Uncover Ulster County's hidden history of unsavory characters and stories of its wicked past.
Situated in the scenic Hudson Valley, Ulster County is a lovely location to make a home and raise a family, but it wasn't always so pleasant. Unsavory characters and immoral events have sullied its name. In the 1870s, the Shawangunk Mountains inspired fear rather than awe, as groups like the Lyman Freer and Shawangunk gangs robbed and terrorized locals, descending from the protection of the wooded peaks. Kingston was torched, arson blazed in Kerhonkson and even the Mohonk Mountain House was threatened by flames. In 1909, the Ashokan Slasher's bloody crimes and sensational trial captured headlines across the country. Discover these and other salacious stories buried in Ulster County's history.
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The Hudson River bridges, iconic structures of the New York State Bridge Authority, are the cornerstone of the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Opened in 1924, the Bear Mountain Bridge was the first vehicular crossing of the Hudson River, south of Albany. Twentieth-century growth in the Hudson Valley can be traced to each bridge opening, the result of grassroot efforts by local residents. The Mid-Hudson Bridge, named for the region these bridges span, was designated an “Engineering Epic” following the tipping of the east caisson that delayed construction for a year while engineers and laborers struggled to right that caisson in the waters of the Hudson River. The plan for the Rip Van Winkle Bridge required the creation of the New York State Bridge Authority, when funding was otherwise impossible during the Great Depression. Three more bridges were built connecting remaining areas of the Mid-Hudson region.The last crossing became the “twin spans” of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, the New York State Bridge Authority’s most traveled span. In 2010, the New York State Bridge Authority gained ownership of the bridge structure of the Walkway Over the Hudson, a pedestrian walkway built on the old Poughkeepsie Bridge, which opened for trains in 1889.
Kathryn W. Burke, educator, author, and director of Historic Bridges of the Hudson Valley, shares her appreciation and knowledge of these bridges through photograph archives of the New York State Bridge Authority; the Modjeski & Masters, Inc., engineering firm; and the Smithsonian Museum of American History. This is Burke’s second book on the Hudson River bridges.
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Early each summer, rowing enthusiasts flocked to the Hudson Valley and crowded the banks of the Hudson River between Highland and Poughkeepsie, New York, to get a glimpse of the biggest intercollegiate event of its kind. In 1895, Cornell University, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania organized a contest that continued for over 50 years in this historic location. Over its tenure on the Hudson River, other universities joined in the competition, including the famous 1936 University of Washington "Boys in the Boat." At its height, 12 universities vied for supremacy at the regatta with thousands of spectators looking on. Boathouses were built on both sides of the river with "Regatta Row" on the eastern shore at the center of it all. A legacy of rowing began on this famous four-mile stretch and inspired crews to continue rowing here today.
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Complete guide to the best fly fishing streams and stillwaters in New York including detailed information on where to go, current fly patterns, and advice from local experts.
Publisher: Globe Pequot
Imprint: Stackpole Books
Binding: Paperback / softback
Pub Date: Sep 5, 2023
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This volume, by Catskills expert Mike Valla, showcases flies that work well on the water there and pays tribute to the region he knows so well. Though not a tying manual, each fly is featured in a spread that includes a large, easy-to-see image, recipe, and tying notes.
Publisher: Globe Pequot
Imprint: Stackpole Books
ISBN13: 9780811738774
Binding: Hardback
Pub Date: Mar 13, 2020
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Hurley explores the historical area southwest of Kingston that is bounded by the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. It depicts the town of Hurley – a national historic district – and its individual hamlets of Hurley, West Hurley, Glenford, Morgan Hill, Ashton, and Eagles Nest. It shows stone houses dating back to the late 1700s, famed bluestone quarries of the 1800s, and reservoir construction that swallowed four of the hamlets in the early 1900s. Ships directly from the publisher.
Since its earliest days as a Dutch colony, Hurley, New York, has undergone many transformations: it has been fought over by the Lenape tribe, commandeered by British settlers, and buffeted between Revolutionaries and Loyalists as a strategic stronghold in the Revolutionary War. Local historian Deana F. Decker explores this Hudson Valley town's history with a comprehensive assessment of its notable residents, such as Sojourner Truth, as well as its historical buildings, such as the Bevier House and Hurley Mountain Inn. From its roots as the dangerous Esopus frontier region to its industrial metamorphosis through bluestone harvesting and the Ashokan Reservoir, Hurley chronicles the remarkable story of this Upstate town. Ships directly from the publisher.
Begin discovering the story you want to tell about yourself with a story coaching session, including access to a signature story questionnaire, with Amanda, the founder of Mighty Forces, a storytelling company dedicated to amplifying diverse, authentic voices in service of creating a more connected, inspiring world.
A guide to creative living, Improvising Adulthood invites you to embrace the idea that life is an improv show — something you create one choice at a time — rather than an exercise in living up to other people’s scripts.
Expect personal stories and creative prompts that help you apply the wisdom of improv to your own life, from the work you do to the people you spend time with and the experiences and places you explore.
Note: This is a digital download of the book directly from the author.
Author Amanda Hirsch was 34 years old when she and her husband decided they wanted to have a child. The decision was prompted when her doctor told her, "'Maybe' never turns into 'no,' and it only gets harder as you get older." Bam.
Hirsch found out she was pregnant in the middle of Hurricane Irene, and she chronicles the stormy emotions of pregnancy, from elation, to shock, to sheer terror at the prospect of what having a child will do to her life.
Like all women, Hirsch wears many hats — in her case, the hats include artist, business owner and wife; how will she wear the motherhood hat without sacrificing other parts of her identity that are so important to her? Once her daughter is born, she is overcome with love, and documents the disorienting rush of new motherhood, while showing us how she slowly re-inhabits the other parts of her life.
Motherhood does change her, but it doesn't limit her.
Note: This is a digital download of the book directly from the author.
Copied out by hand as a young man aspiring to the status of Gentleman, George Washington's 110 rules were based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595. The first English edition of these rules was available in Francis Hawkins' Youths Behavior, or Decency in Conversation Amongst Men, which appeared in 1640, and it is from this work that Washington seems to have copied. The rules as Washington wrote them out are a simplified version of this text. However much he may have simplified them, these precepts had a strong influence on Washington, who aimed to always live by them. The rules focus on self-respect and respect for others through details of etiquette. The rules offer pointers on such issues as how to dress, walk, eat in public, and address one's superiors. Ships directly from Arcadia Publishing.
In 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt served as chairwoman of the United Nations committee to create this declaration of moral conscience, now used by Amnesty International as their founding document. This hardcover edition contains the international document in six languages: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic. Ships directly from Arcadia Publishing.
Governor's wife, president's wife, United Nations delegate, teacher, political activist, author, newspaper columnist, business owner, traveler, and mother-Eleanor Roosevelt was truly "First Lady of the World." With her very busy life, she sought peace, solitude, and renewal. She found all three at Valkill, her small stone cottage on the Roosevelt Estate in Hyde Park, east of the Hudson River. A National Historic Site, Valkill is operated by the National Park Service and is the only site in the country dedicated to the preservation of the memory of a presidential first lady. Ships from Arcadia Publishing.
We know that Widow Hasbrouck opened her home to Washington in 1782, but the Hasbrouck family history itself has been distorted over the years by myths and legends. Much like the story of Washington chopping down the cherry tree, legend has it that the Hasbroucks and Washington would take a daily sojourn to the family orchards, where Jonathan Hasbrouck would first taste the general's fruit to ensure it was not poisoned. The truth is that Jonathan and Washington never met. In this revealing book, A.J. Schenkman finally dispels the rumors and relates the history of a prominent Newburgh family whose homestead ultimately became the nation's first publicly owned historic site in 1850. Ships from Arcadia Publishing.
This pocket-sized hardcover book contains nearly one hundred quotations from America’s longest-serving U.S. President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Ships from Arcadia Publishing.
Fall in Love with Rye: A Photographic Journey is an invitation to step into the heart of Rye, New York, and experience it through fresh eyes. In this stunning photo book, each page captures a piece of Rye’s rich character-from its sweeping coastal views along the Long Island Sound to hidden nature trails and landmarks steeped in history. Having moved here in 2015, the author found themselves captivated by the beauty they had once overlooked, discovering a Rye filled with depth, charm, and surprises.
More than just a collection of images, this book is a testament to the meditative joy of photography and a celebration of life’s quiet beauty. Each photograph is a window into the spirit of this small yet vibrant community, where even the smallest details tell a story-whether it’s the play of light on the water or the weathered architecture of historic homes.
Journey with the author through Rye’s hidden corners and timeless landscapes, and come away with a new appreciation for this coastal gem. Fall in Love with Rye invites you to see a familiar place with fresh eyes, and perhaps, to fall in love with Rye, too.
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While Mohawk Mountain is known as a small, family-friendly ski area, many are unaware of the large impact this mountain had on the sport. Its founder, Walt Schoenknecht, changed the face of modern skiing when he helped create the first snowmaking machine in 1950. That “artificial snow” machine, first tested at Mohawk, received the first U.S. patent for such a device. Today, Mohawk is one of the few surviving family-owned ski areas in the United States, and Schoenknecht’s daughter, Carol Lugar, remains its president. Mohawk has had to survive a devastating tornado, challenging weather and economic headwinds to compete with larger corporate-owned ski resorts. Today, the small mountain in Cornwall, Connecticut, remains a favorite, with new lifts, expanded snowmaking, more ski school lessons, snowtubing and night skiing. Local author James Shay reveals the unique contributions of Mohawk and Walt Schoenknecht to the sport of skiing. Ships from Arcadia Publishing.
One of the most popular pieces of American fiction is Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, originally published in 1820 in Irving's short story collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. Set in New York's Hudson River valley after the American Revolution, it is rich with Dutch culture, regional history, and ghost stories. In schoolmaster Ichabod Crane and his adversary the Headless Horseman, Irving created two of the most unforgettable characters in American literature.
This short work is part of Applewood's American Roots series, tactile mementos of American passions by some of America's most famous writers and thinkers.
Pages: 56
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Imprint: Applewood Books
Publication Date: 31st October 2015
Format: Hardcover
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Catskill Village has deep roots in the long human history of the Hudson River Valley, from its native population who greeted Henry Hudson on his voyage upriver in 1609 to its early settlers. Today's village is located on the commercially advantageous landing on the Hudson River. In 1802, the Susquehanna Turnpike opened the village to the expanding western frontier, and Catskill Village became one of the most prominent commercial ports on the Hudson River. Local trades such as shipbuilding, tanning, farming, brickmaking, fishing, and tourism flourished. By the mid-20th century, the long era of prosperity had faded, only to rise phoenixlike in the past decade with an infusion of young professionals, artists, craftsmen, merchants, and those determined to save and restore the village's exceptionally rich architectural heritage.
Pages: 128
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Imprint: Arcadia Publishing
Publication Date: 18th May 2009
Format: Paperback
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The truth is out there, hidden in remote, tucked-away corners of the Hudson River Valley…Are you ready to uncover it?
In Hauntings of the Hudson River Valley, author Vin Dacquino strives to discover the true story behind three enigmatic folk legends: Sybil Ludington, Chief Daniel Nimham, and George Denny. Each was the central figure in a dramatic series of events; each became enshrined in local lore for their actions; each has had their true story obscured; and each may have left behind a spiritual residue. Follow Dacquino as he interviews local experts, explores areas where hauntings may have occurred--such as Carmel's legendary Smalley's Inn – and digs deep into historical archives to open new windows into the lives and possible afterlives of these three mysterious characters.
Pages: 128
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Imprint: The History Press
Publication Date: 15th November 2007
Format: Paperback
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Discover the hidden history of the Hudson Valley's Columbia County with local author Allison Guertin Marchese.
Bordered by the Hudson River and the Berkshire Mountains, Columbia County is part of the famously picturesque Hudson Valley region, but these rolling hills hold secrets most have long forgotten. A mastodon tooth rolling down a farmer's hill in Claverack, changing the world's understanding of prehistoric times; the site of New York's last hanging at Hudson's gallows, as hundreds of ticketholders looked on; outcasts called Pondshiners who hid in the hills of Taghkanic, the only sign of their existence being the fantastic handwove baskets made from strips of hardwood. Join author Allison Guertin Marchese as she explores these little-known stories of people and places that create the history of Columbia County, New York.
Pages: 144
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Imprint: The History Press
Publication Date: 13th May 2014
Format: Paperback
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Washington's Harrowing Escape from the Hudson Valley
In October 1776 central Westchester witnessed a critical episode in the early campaign of George Washington's ragtag Continental Army and its quest for American independence. Often overlooked as just an interval between the disastrous Battle of Brooklyn and victory at Trenton, the Battle of White Plains showcased Washington's sly strategy of perseverance. Poor decision making and ignorance of the area's hilly terrain among British leadership gave the patriot army a chance to secure a path to safety despite being on the run and outmanned. Though British General Howe claimed victory, the battle's lessons informed Washington's cat and mouse strategy that ultimately brought success later in the war.
Author Stephen Paul DeVillo presents just how close the American cause for independence came to being extinguished at the Battle of White Plains.
Pages: 128
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Imprint: The History Press
Publication Date: 20th June 2022
Format: Paperback
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Local storyteller Jonathan Kruk shares the mysterious lore of the Hudson Valley, best known among them Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
The story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman is one of America's best known fables, but what other stories does the Hudson Valley hold? Imps cause mischief on the Hudson River, a white lady haunts Raven Rock, Major Andre's ghost seeks redemption and real headless Hessians search for their severed skulls. These mysterious and spooky tales from the region's past that inspired Irving and continues to captivate the imagination to this day.
Pages: 152
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Imprint: The History Press
Publication Date: 21st July 2011
Format: Paperback
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Although it's the birthplace of American wine, Hudson Valley vintages have yet to meet with the renown of those produced by the neighboring Finger Lakes and Long Island. In the 1600s, French Huguenots arrived in the area and used their French winemaking skills to found vineyards. Benmarl is cultivating astounding varietals from a vineyard that has continuously grown grapes since 1772. Recently launched cooperative winemaking organizations have made strides in the region, and scientists at Cornell University have worked to determine the tastiest varietals and hybrids that will flourish in the challenging Hudson Valley terroir. Hudson Valley wines are at last garnering critical acclaim in mainstream national publications and restaurants. Authors Tessa Edick and Kathleen Willcox uncover the hundreds of years, unrelenting pride, determination and ingenuity behind Hudson Valley wines.
Pages: 224
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Imprint: The History Press
Publication Date: July 2017
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Visit the long ago crime and dire deeds in the Hudson Valley of New York.
The Hudson Valley is drenched in history, culture and blood. In the fall of 1893, Lizzie Halliday left a trail of bodies in her wake, slaughtering two strangers and her husband before stabbing a nurse to death at the asylum housing her. A Jazz Age politician, tired of fighting with his overbearing wife, murdered her and buried the body under the front porch. In 1882, a cantankerous old miner, dubbed the ""Austerlitz Cannibal"" by the press, chopped up his partner before he himself swung from the end of a rope. Author Andrew Amelinckx dredges up the Hudson Valley's dark past, from Prohibition-era shootouts to unsolved murders, in eleven heart-pounding true stories.
Pages: 144
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Imprint: The History Press
Publication Date: June 2017
Format: Paperback
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To enjoy all that New York state roadways have to offer, jump in the car and drive to sweeping lake or ocean views, lush vineyard landscapes, or breathtaking mountain vistas. Featuring more than 1,900 miles of scenic routes and byways, this indispensable highway companion maps out unforgettable trips for exploring New York’s natural beauty. Scenic Driving New York features thirty separate drives through the Empire State with delicious ice cream stops and fun side trips along the way. Buckle up and begin your next journey!
Publisher: Globe Pequot
ISBN13: 9781493058228
Binding: Paperback / softback
Page Count: 384 Pages
Pub Date: Apr 1, 2021
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The history of New York is inseparable from the history of sailing on the Hudson River. Beginning with Henry Hudson in 1609 the Dutch and English extended their empires into the Hudson Valley and extracted its bounty via sail.
Control of the Hudson River was a lynchpin for American victory in the Revolutionary War and New York City's 19th-century rise to global prominence was powered by the sailing vessels on its waterways. Upriver, sloops and schooners delivered goods from the nation's interior and international whaling businesses operated from Hudson and Poughkeepsie and Kingston and Newburgh became noted shipbuilding centers. Yacht racing and ice yachting emerged as popular sports among wealthy families like the Astors and Roosevelts. Sailing clubs preserved these traditions into the 20th century. Since the 1960s, activists including Pete Seeger have used sailboats to galvanize a movement to revive the river ecosystem. Today, the river is home to new generations of sailors continuing these traditions into a fifth century.
Steve Schwartz has sailed and captained numerous sailing and motor vessels on the Hudson River since the 1970s. He and James Malchow are both captains on the Hudson River ferry sloop Woody Guthrie. Images in this book, collected from local libraries, historical societies, the New York State Archives, Library of Congress, and private collections, capture the people, places, and ships that have made the Hudson River an important sailing center for over four centuries.
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