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The Highlands Current

@highlandscurrent.bsky.social
5.5K followers 275 following 3.2K posts

The Current is a nonprofit weekly newspaper and website that covers Beacon and Philipstown (Cold Spring, Nelsonville, Garrison, North Highlands and Continental Village) in New York's Hudson Highlands.

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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 1h
The 85-minute documentary demonstrates how entangled the story of Pete and Toshi Seeger is with the American environmental movement, as well as Beacon, the city they called home for decades. buff.ly/tHeDZ3Q
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 2h
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that Metro-North Railroad will add weekend “Leaf Peeper” through Nov. 8 during peak foliage season. buff.ly/FaAGtpV
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 3h
Most Requested eBooks. The most popular titles at local libraries buff.ly/xx3Cj7c
ebooks library
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 4h
Haldane girls’ tennis clinched the league title, football rolled to a 35-7 win and girls’ soccer put up 10 goals in a shutout of Pawling. Catch up on the Blue Devils’ latest results and what’s next for each team in this week’s Varsity Roundup. buff.ly/Q3hniUB
Haldane football
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Putnam County is soliciting applications for its five-member Board of Ethics, whose members are volunteers who serve two-year terms. Deadline is Oct. 31. buff.ly/nLUn1Xd
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The Putnam Arts Council announced an open call for its annual juried fine art show, opening Oct. 24 at its Mahopac gallery. buff.ly/u2wnZb6
Putnam Arts Council
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
A roundup of seven books by local authors, spanning mystery, essays and poetry, children’s books, historical fiction, baseball thriller and political nonfiction. Featured authors include Thomas Lutz, Kathy Curto, Raven Howell, Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong, Mary Newell, and Steven Fechte. buff.ly/UObmJaR
book covers
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Dana Levenberg, a Democrat from Ossining, is seeking her third 2-year term in the state Assembly representing District 95, which includes Philipstown. Laurie Ryan, a Republican from Cortlandt Manor, is challenging her. buff.ly/8zP0dQv
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Beacon’s iconic Dummy Light turns 100, and the Howland Public Library is marking the centennial with an art exhibition. “Beacon’s Dummy Light: 100 Years (1926-2026)” features artwork inspired by the landmark traffic signal. The exhibit opens Oct. 10 with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. buff.ly/W9VIMJs
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Stephen Clair knows many people in the music industry. In addition to running Beacon Music Factory, he tours frequently. Right now, he’s swinging through the Carolinas and Tennessee, including a show in Nashville. buff.ly/aqaoAQJ
tennessee twisters
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Jamar Brown, 42, a care coordinator at the Philipstown Behavioral Health Hub in Cold Spring, created a program called the Mindful Athlete to assist Haldane football players on and off the field. We asked him all about it. buff.ly/l8oJGPN
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Saint Rita’s Music Room, a live venue that opened in July 2025 at the KuBe Art Center in Beacon, has temporarily closed to install a fire sprinkler system to comply with city building code. buff.ly/kjbeMb6
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Philipstown residents weighed in on proposed short-term rental regulations, with some backing new safety standards and others saying the rules could burden homeowners who rely on rental income. The public hearing will continue Nov. 5. Read more about the proposal: buff.ly/W4klwVw
Philipstown Town Hall
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Former Gov. George Pataki, who lives in Garrison, on Monday (Oct. 5) endorsed fellow Republican Jackie Auringer in her race against Pat Ryan for his District 18 seat in the U.S. House, according to Auringer’s campaign. buff.ly/pEOsAwX
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Around Town: Revolutionary War markers unveiled in Beacon, a performance at The Depot Theater reflects on Detroit through music and projections, Sandy Saunders is honored as a Living Landmark, and the Hudson Highlands Land Trust hosts its annual Fall Cocktail Party. buff.ly/0yOVenv
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
On Monday (Oct. 5), facing criticism from legislators and his opponents in the November election over years of mounting budget surpluses, Kevin Byrne wants to go six times further. He proposed a $230 million budget for 2027 that includes a $6.5 million reduction in the tax levy. buff.ly/asoykSV
Putnam County Courthouse
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
PHOTOS: The 49th Spirit of Beacon. After weather delay, annual festival fills Main Street buff.ly/3y6t3J5
Spirit of Beacon Day
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Rep. Mike Lawler is seizing a new wedge against his Democratic challenger Cait Conley in their closely watched race for the House seat that includes Philipstown: data centers. buff.ly/4iqe8fw
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Martha Mechalakos has directed shows for Haldane Drama since 2007, but The Crucible on Dec. 4 and 5 will likely be her final performances. After 19 seasons organizing the high school’s plays and musicals as a contractor, she says the district has forced her out. buff.ly/2WjCWuy
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
A state judge on Friday (Oct. 2) ordered County Executive Kevin Byrne’s campaign to refund more than $21,000 in contributions that five voters in a lawsuit said exceeded the legal limit. buff.ly/NKqv1jY
Yarris Byrne
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
More than half of New York’s counties have mental health courts, but Dutchess and Putnam are among those that don’t. A new report examines whether the state should require these courts. buff.ly/mCPCC9T
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Amish parents petition the U.S. Supreme Court over New York’s vaccination requirements; State Police issue 376 tickets during a commercial vehicle enforcement; a father and son face felony charges over damage at a Red Hook golf course; and more from Around the Region. buff.ly/k5rQlSc
Around the Region
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Here is how our Senate members voted on select issues during the legislative weeks ending Sept. 18 and Oct. 2, as reported by Targeted News Service. There were no key votes in the House. Click here for previous votes. buff.ly/J5iI40B
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
At home, Grayson and Logan Gatto spend plenty of time playing sports. But they also have a dedicated art nook where the brothers create comics, zines and flipbooks. Now, they’re among 13 young creators featured in Comics by Kids. buff.ly/vT3vjzR
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Beacon sports roundup: The Bulldogs football team remains undefeated at 4-0 after a 12-6 win over Marlboro. Boys’ soccer has won five straight, while girls’ soccer is a perfect 8-0 with seven consecutive shutouts. buff.ly/q9E1AlT
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Start your week off with a laugh... buff.ly/u6OOS89
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
When planning a garden, it’s easy to focus on flowers and smaller plants. But sometimes, the biggest impact comes from thinking bigger. This week in Roots and Shoots, a look at using shrubs and other woody plants as anchors for a more cohesive landscape. buff.ly/r0nyOMP
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Haldane sports roundup: Girls’ tennis moved to 9-1 with wins over Tuckahoe and Woodlands, while boys’ soccer fell 2-1 to state-ranked Pleasantville. Volleyball also went the distance before falling 3-2 to Alexander Hamilton. Plus, results from girls’ soccer and cross-country. buff.ly/lQDuRm1
Haldane soccer
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The Week Ahead. Click for calendar highlights from Oct. 3 to 11 buff.ly/9JpP7MM
Michele Gedney
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Cold Spring’s drinking water comes from two 19th-century reservoirs, but maintaining them is getting expensive. The Upper Dam needs an estimated $9 million in repairs and both dams are classified as “high hazard” by the state. buff.ly/8VFTrXy
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
For the first time in more than 18 months, a passenger ferry will run between Beacon and Newburgh over the next two weekends as a pilot to gauge demand for regular service. buff.ly/mMqdr2i
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater will receive a $400,000 state grant for its education programs and to restore its sloop, state Sen. Michelle Hinchey said on Tuesday (Sept. 29). buff.ly/xOyyxio
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The Whipple Foundation for the Preservation of Putnam County purchased The Putnam County Press and The Putnam County Times earlier this year, their editor wrote in the newspapers’ Wednesday (Sept. 30) issues. buff.ly/BhPmzX4
Putnam Times
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The Beacon Police Department issued a statement on Wednesday (Sept. 30) in response to a resident’s complaints about a “mooning” near the county building on Main Street. buff.ly/XM3eNuN
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The Putnam County Youth Bureau, in partnership with the Putnam County Youth Board, is seeking nominees for outstanding young volunteers and adult mentors to be honored at the 42nd Annual Youth Awards Dinner. buff.ly/chl7yGW
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A Cold Spring cafe has become an unlikely gallery, with artist Selva Ozelli displaying 36 oil-on-wood panels inspired by the Hudson Valley’s flora and fauna. Ozelli’s work is also on display at businesses and institutions around the region. Read Marc Ferris’ story: buff.ly/9Idqufj
Selva Ozelli
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
With over 50 free events, including lectures, workshops, tours and parties, taking place in Newburgh during the city’s fourth annual Archtober urban design festival, it can be difficult to keep track of it all. buff.ly/F9altEq
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Bob Conboy, a longtime Garrison resident and educator, died Sept. 27 at age 77. A teacher and school administrator, Conboy spent more than 20 years revitalizing San Damiano Farm at Graymoor, where he used gardening as a way to mentor and support people in recovery. buff.ly/iLE9CH4
Bob Conboy
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Children visiting the Beacon and Newburgh farmers’ markets in October and November will receive $4 in “Teeny Greenies” coupons to spend with market vendors, along with a booklet on nutrition and financial literacy. buff.ly/EOJ7tMD
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Kendra Ekelund, the managing director of Hudson Valley Shakespeare since 2022, plans to step down in the spring. buff.ly/lmefVel
Kendra Ekelund
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Start Reading Now. October book club selections buff.ly/BeJ9q4B
Book clubs
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Children are reading to dogs at the Howland Public Library in Beacon as part of a monthly program designed to build reading confidence. The next session is Oct. 3, with similar events scheduled at libraries in Garrison and Cold Spring. buff.ly/35fBuh1
reading to dogs
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Around the region: A possibly rabid coyote bites a woman in Hastings-on-Hudson, Newburgh receives $2.7 million to replace lead service lines, and a Poughkeepsie city judge is suspended with pay. Read the latest regional news from The Current. buff.ly/PapsMrl
Around the Region
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Elias Bloom, who lives in Beacon, is the creator of Litterbug, an iPhone app in beta testing. buff.ly/m8qdZwI
Elias Bloom
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
What did music sound like during the American Revolution? Manley Roberts explores the songs, sounds and stories of the era, including “Yankee Doodle,” in Music of the American Revolution at the Howland Cultural Center on Thursday, Oct. 1. buff.ly/oPAh7iH
fife and drum
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Metro-North is planning a $19.7 million project to protect the Hudson Line from flooding and mudslides. The work will include improved drainage, fortified slopes and retaining walls, and shoreline and flood protection between the Bronx and Hastings-on-Hudson.https://buff.ly/JAWGP5K
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Around Town: The Miró Quartet opened the Howland Chamber Music Circle’s 34th season, local Episcopalians took to the Hudson for a river cruise, and the Franciscan Friars at Graymoor raised more than $137,000 for their Walk for Recovery. See the photos from around the Highlands: buff.ly/cDVQHbU
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
What happened at Beacon City Council last week? Hotels along Fishkill Creek, short-term rental rules, proposed parking restrictions, the East Gateway zoning district and more were on the agenda. Read the full recap from Jeff Simms at The Current. buff.ly/H8q1TZq
Beacon City Hall
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
On the Spot. Are you done wearing shorts for the year? buff.ly/SmMEjvy
On the Spot
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The Highlands Current @highlandscurrent.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Think you know every trail in the Highlands? A hidden route up Mount Beacon called Hell’s Hollow offers a steep climb, a quiet reservoir and a new view of a familiar mountain. Read more: buff.ly/TdmDCpl
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