Changing foundations with an exchange of art and wellness
Casey Inch working on a Hudson Valley-themed mural at 86 Smith Avenue, Kingston. Photo: Lindsay Wolkowicz.
O+ Festival returns for ‘monumental’ offerings across the community
The word monument is itself large and domineering. It is a word that invokes power and stature. Monuments have been idolized, and recently criticized for outdated ideas that proudly display oppressive authorities over cities. But this week in the Hudson Valley, monuments will be reimagined and imbued with positivity, literally, across the community.
For this year’s O-Positive Festival, taking place across the City of Kingston from October 9 through October 11, the theme of Monuments is at the forefront:
What would it mean to create monuments rooted in community rather than individual authority, that uplift our neighbors rather than a figure from a history long past or pushed through the lens of power? To mark not only triumph, but survival, mutual aid, and interdependence? Between what we uplift and what we unlearn, there is a space — uncertain, generative, and alive. It is here that new forms of individual and collective memory, value and contribution take precedence — not notions carved in stone, but a commitment to share the work of building a more honest, compassionate and expansive history and future.
Through citywide art exhibitions, including a show at a local deli, live music and intimate artist talks including a night with author and musician Melissa Auf der Maur at the Old Dutch Church and Amanda Seyfreid performing as part of a special Joni Mitchell celebration, community bike rides, clothing swaps, spoken WO+RD performances, and wellness offerings, the O-Positive Festival aims to alter the health and wellness structures that have been long set in place: All participating artists for the festival will receive complimentary health and wellness access in exchange for sharing their work.
O+ wristbands offer access to all festival events all weekend long.
Support and see the full line-up at https://opositivefestival.org/
New O+ Murals in progress:
BoogieREZ (riiisaBoogie + Rez Ones) + Mr Ewok One (MR EWOK ONE) at Good Eat’n (Good Eat'n Soul Food) 742 Broadway, Kingston
Sam Kirk (Sam Kirk) The Makery (The Makery) 17 Railroad Avenue, Kingston
Casey Inch at 86 Smith Avenue, Kingston
Hannah Williams at 86 Smith Avenue, Kingston
Living Letters Collective at Schwenk Drive Municipal Lot @ Fair St. Kingston
Source link: https://opositivefestival.org/47440/2026-o-kingston-theme-monuments/
Support Hudson Valley history, news + events:
When dogs cross the rainbow bridge, where do they go? According to the dogs themselves, straight to heaven-and it's even better than we imagined! In this heartwarming and hilarious picture book, the dogs have gotten permission from God to send a message back to their humans, full of tail wags, belly rubs, and endless fields of tennis balls.
With gentle humor and lots of doggy joy, Heaven Is Amazing offers comfort to anyone who's ever had to say goodbye to a furry friend. It's the perfect story for parents and children to snuggle up with-and for dog lovers of all ages to laugh, cry, and feel just a little bit better.
In 1870, the New York Herald proclaimed that Ulster County was New York's Ulcer County due to its lawlessness and crime. The columnist supported his claim by citing that in only six months, it has been the scene of no less than four cold blooded and brutal murders, six suicides and four elopements. Hannah Markle--the bane of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union--ran a Kingston saloon where murder and violence were served alongside the whiskey. John Babbitt confessed on his deathbed to murdering Emma Brooks, and Willie Brown--reputed member of the Eastman Gang--accidentally shot his best friend. The infamous Big Bad Bill, the Gardiner Desperado, lashed out more than once and killed in a drunken rage. Discover the mayhem and murder that these and others wreaked on one of New York State's original counties.
About the author
A.J. Schenkman is a historian, educator, and author. He specializes in uncovering the “hidden” human stories of American history, particularly within the Hudson Valley. His storytelling approach to history, which he calls “History Made Seamless,” uses personal narratives over dry dates and battles. His body of work includes Wicked Ulster County and Murder and Mayhem in Ulster County, as well as broader historical investigations such as Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York and his 2025 release, Hispanic Americans in the Civil War. In addition to his adult non-fiction books, he has also authored a children’s book, Franklin’s Trees, which explores FDR’s passion for conservation.
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Publication Date: November 3, 2026
The Hudson Valley is more than just scenic vistas — it is the birthplace of American history. Go beyond the traditional guidebook to counties nestled along the east and west banks of the majestic Hudson River. From Native American settlements and Dutch colonial roots to the rise of the English, history unfolds at every turn in the river. Discover Newburgh, where Washington had his longest headquarters of the Revolution. Explore the quaint town of Kingston, home of the state’s first capital. Learn how the pivotal Battle of Saratoga turned the tide of the American Revolution. Admire the artistic heritage of Frederic Church’s Olana, the vast Gilded Age estates, and the nation’s first presidential library in Hyde Park. Join local historian A.J. Schenkman as he traces the forgotten histories and vibrant heritage of one of America’s most historic regions.
About the author
A.J. Schenkman is a historian, educator, and author. He specializes in uncovering the “hidden” human stories of American history, particularly within the Hudson Valley. His storytelling approach to history, which he calls “History Made Seamless,” uses personal narratives over dry dates and battles. His body of work includes Wicked Ulster County and Murder and Mayhem in Ulster County, as well as broader historical investigations such as Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York and his 2025 release, Hispanic Americans in the Civil War. In addition to his adult non-fiction books, he has also authored a children’s book, Franklin’s Trees, which explores FDR’s passion for conservation.
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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.
Paperbacks & hardcovers are printed on demand. Paperbacks are $26, and Hardcovers are $32.
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.
Paperbacks are printed on demand.
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?
Paperbacks & hardcovers are printed on demand.
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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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 Sad Happy Story of Twinkle Tee Tum” which tells the story of a shy crab who is too afraid to come out of her shell. Each book is accompanied by a crab keychain which leads to dozens of early literacy resources. This book is excellent for young readers (ages 2-6 years)