hill country observerThe independent newspaper of eastern New York, southwestern Vermont and the Berkshires

September 2021 Facebook linkHill Country Observer TwitterHill Country Instagram page NEWS ARCHIVE

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Bakers’ plans for grain mill would fill a local-food gap

Julie Sperling and Doug Freilich are getting ready for a barn raising this fall. The couple started their wood-fired bakery, Naga Bakehouse, more than 17 years ago, and they’ve been producing rustic sourdough loaves and other bread products ever since. Now they’re taking their role in the region’s local food movement a step further -- by setting up a new facility for milling flour from locally grown organic wheat and grains. They’ll use the flour in their breads, as they’ve already been doing on a smaller scale, but they also hope to offer a new line of locally milled flours, pancake mixes and other grain products directly to consumers.
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Political clock ticking for New York’s new governor

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who took over Aug. 24 after the resignation of three-term incumbent Andrew Cuomo, has only a few months to chart her own course before the next election season gets under way. Hochul has already made it clear she plans to seek a full term next year, and political observers around the region say her actions in the coming weeks will be pivotal in determining the caliber of opposition she might face in the June 2022 Democratic primary. But Hochul enjoys a deep reservoir of good will among local elected officials and party leaders, with whom she has cultivated ties on her many visits to the region during her seven years as lieutenant governor.
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Events across region celebrate writers and their words

Novelists, poets and playwrights will discuss and share their works in a series of events around the region in September and early October, from book festivals in Albany and Spencertown to readings and workshops at colleges, bookstores and cultural venues.

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Belcher Hollow Forge, Handforged iron