by Tim Kennelty   Fighting Endless Winter Blues   How is it possible that we’re only in the early days of January, and it feels like we’ve lived through many months of Winter?  I guess it’s the feeling we get when we’re holed up in our cozy dens evading the early snow and frigid temperatures while trying to avert our eyes as the world around us gets crazier and more dangerous.  A friend of mine recently wrote me that all she wants to do is escape to her garden. While that’s n

The Harlem Valley Rail Trail organization has just posted a job opening for an OPERATIONS MANAGER : The Operations Manager is responsible for leading the effective operation of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association. Reporting to our Board of Directors, the Operations Manager is our only staff member. This is a multifaceted role, ideal for a generalist who likes to learn new things, solve problems, and engage with the community. While we plan for this role to expand to inc

After serving two years as a member of the Taghkanic Town Board, Doug Craig decided in December to resign his position, effective January 1, 2026. His mobility has been increasingly limited by the effects of muscular dystrophy and has progressed to the point where it is difficult for him to drive a vehicle, to get around town, and to engage with the community in the way that he would like to as a town representative. During his tenure, Doug was an engaged and committed membe

The Friends of the Claverack Library are holding a Trivia Bingo night on Thursday, January 8 . Bingo Trivia is a game that combines the mechanics of traditional bingo with the challenge of trivia questions. Instead of numbers, players use bingo cards filled with answers to potential trivia questions. We use a projector to display a PowerPoint presentation containing questions, pictures, videos and music recordings relating to 6 games, each with a specific theme.

January 17, 2026, 10am - noon Taghkanic Fire Company 631 Old Route 82 Taghkanic This past summer, Taghkanic installed the first town “beaver deceiver.” The modest wire and wooden structure sits a few feet from the culvert pipe at the intersection of New Forge 1 and East Klein roads. This pond has had a beaver population for many years - much to the delight of many who pass by this area. The beavers, doing what beavers do, routinely damn up the culvert pipe. This results in ro

Join TSN for another great afternoon of BINGO! Sunday, January 25th 2 - 3:30pm at the Taghkanic Firehouse! FREE!

Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Taghkanic Fire House, 631 Old Route 82, Taghkanic, NY  NOTICE  The Taghkanic Fire District Board of Commissioners will hold an organizational meeting followed by a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at the Taghkanic Fire House.  The purpose of this annual organizational meeting is to appoint officers and approve membership, adopt policies and rules and regulations, and other key topics.  The purpos

Columbia County's Office for the Aging has released the 2025 winter edition of the highly informative SENIOR SCOOP. In this issue, you'll learn about: Inclement Weather Information Winter Word Search Puzzle Caregivers' Column Shaking the Salt (Habit) Upcoming Trips Volunteer of the Year Nominations To download this issue, click HERE .  To  get future issues straight to your inbox, email  OFA@columbiacountyny.com , or reach out to our local senior resource group, the Taghkanic

The Highway Department is once again collecting Christmas trees, which they'll chip and repurpose as mulch or compost. Drop your tree off anytime from now until January 15th in the marked area in the Highway Dept parking lot at the corner of CR 27 and Pumpkin Hollow Road, Ancram.

Scouting America Troop 2752, chartered by Cadby-Shutts VFW Post 7552- Hillsdale, NY is excited to announce Columbia County's first female Eagle Scout.  Copake resident and Taconic Hills High School Freshman Gabriella Coons (14) successfully completed her Eagle Scout Board of Review on Monday, December 22, 2025.  The Eagle Scout Board of Review is the final requirement in a scout's journey to the rank of Eagle Scout.  The rank of Eagle Scout requires a youth to advance throug

On December 9 th , residents of the Taghkanic Fire District turned out to vote in the district’s first-ever election, marking an important milestone in establishing a stable and accountable governance structure for our fire protection services. Five candidates stood for election to serve as the district’s commissioners, and the results reflected both strong community engagement and a high degree of consensus among voters. The final vote totals were as follows: Abbie Hodgson:

Dear Neighbors, As temperatures drop and energy costs rise, we want to make sure you know about two programs now open to help income-eligible renters and homeowners manage heating costs and avoid shut-offs this winter. Keep reading to learn about these programs and how to apply. Heating Equipment Repair & Replacement Program (HERR) If you’re a homeowner aged 60 or older, you may qualify for the HERR Benefit, which helps repair or replace furnaces, boilers, and other essential

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of Taghkanic will be accepting letters of interest to fill the following open position: Town Board Member All letters of interest for the above position should be sent to Cheryl Rogers, Town Clerk, 483 County Route 15, Elizaville, New York 12523 or emailed to crogers42857@gmail.com  NO LATER THAN December 29, 2025. Cheryl Rogers Town Clerk

The Albany-Hudson Electric Trail {AHET) is a 36-mile bicycling and pedestrian route in Rensselaer and Columbia Counties, constructed and operated by the Hudson River Valley Greenway {HRVG). The majority of the AHET route is an off-road, improved 10 to 12-foot wide trail, with a paved asphalt or stonedust surface designed for shared use by bicyclists, walkers, and runners. The remainder of the AHET route consists of on-road sections, where the route is designated on the should

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Election of Taghkanic Fire District in the Town of Taghkanic, County of Columbia will take place on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the Town of Taghkanic Town Hall located at 909 Route 82, Ancram (Town of Taghkanic), NY 12502 for the purposes of: electing one commissioner for a five (5) year term commencing on January 1, 2026 and ending on December 31, 2030; electing one commissioner for a four (

Join your neighbors this Thursday, December 11th from 6-8pm for Trivia Bingo at the Claverack Free Library . The themes this month are: Italian Cuisine, 60 Years of Heartbreak Songs, Holiday Theme, Claverack & Hudson People and Places, General Knowledge, and Cartoon Characters. Suggested Donation Entry Fee: $10

by Tim Kennelty Feeding Birds in Winter and Holiday Plants   It’s hard to believe it's already December, except when you gaze outside to see the frozen Tundra that your yard has become, seemingly overnight. I mean, what happened to fall? Time to put on those warm socks and heat up the cocoa.   Even though it’s cold outside, I find that there’s always much to be grateful for, like the beautiful and often entertaining birds at my feeders. Everyday I fill my sunflower, peanut an

This past summer, Taghkanic installed the first town “beaver deceiver.” The modest wire and wooden structure sits a few feet from the culvert pipe at the intersection of New Forge 1 and East Klein roads. This pond has had a beaver population for many years - much to the delight of many who pass by this area. The beavers, doing what beavers do, routinely damn up the culvert pipe. This results in road flooding requiring repeated visits to the site by our highway crew to clear t

December 17, 2025 7 pm Huxley Theater, Albany Free, Registration Recommended An ode to the remarkable variety of life in the Hudson Valley, The Nature of Nature: Biodiversity in the Hudson Valley celebrates the living fabric of this unique landscape. From high elevation forests to the globally rare tidal marshes along the Hudson estuary, the 30-minute documentary film captures the beautiful, the complex, the familiar, and the unknown...guided by the plants, animals, and peop