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Articles by Devon Jane Schweizer
Goodbye Oracle: The Oracle Has Hands
Some things at The Oracle have never changed: The E-board, furiously formatting pages on production night and insisting upon a focus that never quite fell over the room. Those at the table: crossing through the lines of articles with chewed blue pens, discussing everything from their evil roommates to sex lives to local politics to furry conventions.
New Musical Comedy Recasts ‘Twelfth Night’ Through a Queer, Therapeutic Lens at Rhinebeck’s CENTER
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 New Musical Comedy Recasts ‘Twelfth Night’ Through a Queer, Therapeutic Lens at Rhinebeck’s CENTER Stars: A New Musical, a modern spin-off of Twelfth Night, will come to the CENTER for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck on April 3 and 4. You're out of guest articles! Don't worry. The Red Hook Daily Catch is still free for all readers. Please login below or Create A Free Account to access all our stories and to receive our daily and weekly newsletters.
The Band Geese and the Art of Whimsical Sadness
As the Canadian geese migrate overhead in anticipation of the cold, my thoughts don’t wander to the winter season. Instead, I am reminded of Cameron Winter: I am reminded of Geese. Geese, a four-piece Brooklyn band consisting of Cameron Winter (vocals), Max Bassin (drums), Emily Green (guitar) and Dom DiGesu (bass) is en route to be the next big thing. Winter’s solo record, “Heavy Metal,” received unexpected success and critical acclaim earlier this year, pushing Geese further into the spotlight.
New Paltz Free Food Fridge closes amid health and safety concerns
NEW PALTZ — On Oct. 11, the organizers of the New Paltz Free Food Fridge announced it would close for the winter without a plan to reopen. The fridge, located in the Village Hall parking lot, was emptied and padlocked that morning. Taped to the front was a notice that began, “THIS IS NOT FOREVER.” The hiatus has sparked concern among those who donate to and rely on the fridge, as well as questions.
Free Food Fridge Closes, Leaving Residents Uncertain
On Oct. 11, the organizers of New Paltz’s Free Food Fridge publicly announced they would be closing for the winter. The fridge, located off the Village Hall parking lot, was emptied and padlocked that morning. Taped to the front was a notice that began, “THIS IS NOT FOREVER.” In an Instagram post, its organizers elaborated that they were working towards a reopening date in the spring, though there is not yet a concrete plan to do so.
Dust to Dust: Returning to the Earth
To what extent can we truly connect with our environment? As humans, we have created hobbies and careers directly involving nature through gardening, agriculture, hydrology, conservation science, geology, botany and many more fields.
Wallkill River Watershed Alliance is Rolling on the River
The Wallkill River serves as the serene abode to waterfowl, native trees and endlessly buzzing crickets. It has been the humble host to the occasional algal bloom. It sets the backdrop for serene fishing trips and kayak rides from New Jersey to New York. But on Sept. 14, it became a lively concert venue.
Sport or Not: Spotted Lantern Flies
When I see my speckle-winged opponents out on the field, I am no longer the bug-loving kid I used to be. The one that let ants crawl up her arms and took even the most frenzied of wasps outside in a cup. No — I am an athlete. Or a hunter. Or perhaps, an apex predator. My battlegrounds are the blaring white concrete in front of a Thruway rest stop where I spend my working days selling pickles and fruit at a roadside farmer’s market.
How Instagram Stories Are Killing Intimacy
I love to tell stories: the act of pausing for effect in a debrief with my friends, deciding whether to tell my gossip chronologically or in the order in which I found out. As a journalist, storytelling is literally my job. However, my true passion for stories shines on Instagram. Oh, how I love Instagram stories. My loyal story likers. That new record-scratch music feature. I love the dopamine hit I get when I click on that bright green circle of a close friend’s story.
Lessons from the Hudson Valley Artificial Intelligence Summit at Marist University
Though AI has existed as a field of study since the 1950s, with the release of ChatGPT in 2022, the technology has leapt from the pages of a sci-fi novel to assert itself in nearly every corner of our lives.
Lessons from the Hudson Valley Artificial Intelligence Summit at Marist University
Though AI has existed as a field of study since the 1950s, with the release of ChatGPT in 2022, the technology has leapt from the pages of a sci-fi novel to assert itself in nearly every corner of our lives.
Joy as Resistance: How the Hudson Valley is Resisting DEI Repeals
[{ "name": "Newsletter Mailchimp Signup - Inline Content", "insertPoint": "3", "component": "20934832", "requiredCountToDisplay": "3", "parentWrapperClass": "" }] Even with the threat of mighty winds whipping some of the world’s largest pride flags into the Hudson River, the Hudson Valley’s queer community marches on.
A Review Of ... No Way to Relax When You Are On Fire By Dora Jar
Alt-pop artist Dora Jar has been on the rise to stardom through whimsical performances as an opening band. Even though she sports a compartively small fan base, she’s played to audiences of thousands with headliners like Billie Eilish and The 1975. Some may know her for her fairy-like demeanor and dream-like vocals. Most may recognize her from a recent Change.org petition demanding that Gracie Abrams remove her as the opener of her 2025 tour.
Proposition One in NPCSD Capital Budget Passed
On Jan. 16, the New Paltz community voted to pass Proposition One of the New Paltz Central School District’s (NPCSD) capital project. The vote, held in the New Paltz High School Gym, attracted parents, elders and lots of community debates over different aspects of the propositions. The capital project consisted of three propositions, with both Proposition Two and Three depending on Proposition One passing. Proposition One includes items concerning safety, energy efficiency and repairs.
Local Band Meow Meow Spreads Queercore Punk - The New Paltz Oracle
The Hudson-Valley-based band Meow Meow is on the brink of taking over the world. Maybe the world is a stretch, but over the last year, they’ve been spreading their queercore punk far beyond the confines of New Paltz basement venues. Their new single “Trampled Flowers” is the perfect introduction for what’s to come.
SUNY New Paltz Faculty Holds ‘Stress Test for Democracy’
On Nov. 11, the Political Science & International Relations (PSIR) and Black Studies Departments hosted a panel with staff members from both departments reflecting on the 2024 election results. The panel, “Stress Test for Democracy,” was held in the Coykendall Science Building auditorium and moderated by political science professor Daniel Lipson.
Dry Conditions Spark Fires Across New York State
Due to the lack of rainfall, low humidity and wind gusts in the area, Town Supervisor Amanda Gotto issued a state of emergency, declaring a burn ban in New Paltz on Oct. 23. Since then, multiple wildfires have broken out in Ulster County and surrounding regions — one of them being a mere 20 minute drive away. Shortly after midnight on Oct. 25, several fire departments were called to an active wildfire burning in and around Marlboro Mountain’s Hemlock Ridge in the nearby town of Plattekill.
Roost Arts Finds Its New Home On Main Street - The New Paltz Oracle
In 2015, Roost Studios and Cooperative Art Gallery was born from the mind of Marcy Bernstein, an artist and educator whose career paused after a severe biking accident the year prior. Though she had always seen a need for a place in New Paltz for artists to gather and play, her recovery from multiple reconstructive surgeries gave her the time she needed to make the idea of a cooperative studio and exhibition space a reality.
Unison Arts Opens New Space For Accessible Arts
Unison Arts moved into a historical house on Paradies Lane and has renovated the garage into a usable studio space. Photo courtesy of Devon Jane Schweizer One of the only stone houses from the 1700s to survive in New Paltz sits at the end of Paradies Lane, surrounded by lush chestnut trees and fluttering purple martins — but these aren’t the only draw to the 2-acre property.
Nursing Program - The New Paltz Oracle
After phasing out the program in May 2011, SUNY New Paltz is applying to reopen its registered nurse to Bachelor’s of Science nursing degree program. This decision is supporting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s goal of increasing the state’s healthcare workforce by 20% in the next five years. To achieve this, Gov. Hochul recently announced an $8 million increase in the state budget, $5 million of which will be used to enhance healthcare education programs across SUNY community colleges.
The Rise and Fall of Stores Across New Paltz
Locals, tourists and students alike count on New Paltz for a specific, yet familiar scene: colorful, art-filled souvenir shops, pubs oozing with the sounds of beloved local bands and a plethora of pizza spots, of which everyone has a different favorite.
Top Hudson Valley Events This Week | August 26-September 1
An underground opera, a meeting with the Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the climactic close to the month-long Phoenicia Festival of the Arts in this week's top events in the Hudson Valley. This Week Only Event Details Mon., Aug. 26, Tue., Aug. 27, Wed., Aug. 28, Thu., Aug. 29, Fri., Aug. 30 and Sat., Aug. 31 Event Details Sat., Aug. 31, 3 p.m. and Sun., Sept. 1, 3 p.m. Event Details Fri., Aug. 30, Sat., Aug. 31 and Sun., Sept. 1 Ongoing Event Details Fri., Aug. 30, 3-8 p.m., Sat., Aug.
Top Hudson Valley Events This Week | August 19-25
A trip to the east coast gay clubs of the '70s, a lip-smacking hot sauce smackdown, homey porch-side performances, and more in the Hudson Valley this week. This Week Only ✖ Event Details Mon., Aug. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tue., Aug. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed., Aug. 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thu., Aug. 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri., Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat., Aug. 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun., Aug. 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon., Aug. 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tue., Aug. 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed., Aug. 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thu., Aug.
Top Hudson Valley Events This Week | August 12-18
This Week Only Event Details Tue., Aug. 13 Glynwood 362 Glynwood Rd, Cold Spring Event Details Fri., Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Aug. 18, 2 p.m. Event Details Thu., Aug. 15, 7:30 p.m., Fri., Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Aug. 18, 2 p.m. Event Details Sun., Aug.
Akwesasne Freedom School Benefit w/ Valerie June
“Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people. Now our minds are one.” These words, the Mohawk Tribe’s Thanksgiving Address, are at the core of Akwesasne beliefs, a Mohawk nation on the border of New York state and Canada.
Bashakill Bazaar: a Familiar Yet Fresh Vintage Emporium
Jonathan and Rebecca Falcon are king and queen of Hudson Valley hustle. In 2021, they took over Ellenville lumberyard Slutsky’s Lumber and, in 2022, Liberty Street Liquors in Newburgh, all whilst managing properties throughout Ulster, Orange, and Sullivan Counties. Most recently, in April the entrepreneurial couple opened vintage emporium Bashakill Bazaar in Wurtsboro, adding yet another gem to their varied lineup of local businesses.
Play Pop: Hudson's New Family Club for Work, Play, and Community
The last thing you’d expect beside a bar stool is a baby’s highchair. Although you can’t share sips of Play Pop’s cold brew on tap at the cafe counter with your child, you can share a space where they play amongst other children while you sip your coffee, work on your laptop, or make a new friend. With Play Pop, co-founders and mothers Elina Tunyan and Kris Mae Weiss offer a solution to the isolating nature of raising a family after a pandemic.
Top Hudson Valley Events This Week | August 5-11
This Week Only Event Details Mon., Aug. 5, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tue., Aug. 6, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Wed., Aug. 7, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Event Details Wed., Aug. 7, 8:30 p.m. and Thu., Aug. 8, 8:30 p.m. Event Details Thu., Aug. 8, 7 p.m. Event Details Fri., Aug. 9, 4-11 p.m., Sat., Aug. 10, 5:45-12:30 a.m. and Sun., Aug. 11, 5:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Buy Tickets $5-10 suggested donation for meal, $35.05 for Saturday’s performances Event Details Fri., Aug. 9, 7 p.m., Sat., Aug. 10, 1-9 p.m. and Sun., Aug.
Top Hudson Valley Events This Week | July 29-August 4
This Week Only Event Details Tue., July 30, 4-10 p.m., Wed., July 31, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Thu., Aug. 1, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri., Aug. 2, 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat., Aug. 3, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sun., Aug. 4, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Event Details Event Ended: July 30, 2024 Event Details Wed., July 31, 7 p.m., Thu., Aug. 1, 7 p.m. and Fri., Aug. 2, 7 p.m. Event Details Sat., Aug. 3, 4-8 p.m. Event Details Sat., Aug. 3, 12-10 p.m. Glen Falls House 230 Winter Clove Road, Round Top Cairo Event Details Sat., Aug.
The Governess Takes Over the Ice House in Poughkeepsie's Waryas Park
Governesses, though outmoded, played an important role on many of our childhood TV screens. We think fondly of our technicolor tutors like Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. But with its new Poughkeepsie restaurant, ESS Hospitality Group is doing more than just feeding the birds. Combining a Mary Poppins-inspired theme, lobster thermidor, and a stunning waterfront view, owner and hospitality industry veteran Melanie Lemieux opens her third gastropub.
Top Hudson Valley Events This Week | July 22-28
This Week Only Event Details Thu., July 25, 5:30 p.m.-12 a.m., Fri., July 26, 5:30 p.m.-12 a.m. and Sat., July 27, 5:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Event Details Thu., July 25, 7:30 p.m., Fri., July 26, 7:30 p.m., Sat., July 27, 2 & 7:30 p.m. and Sun., July 28, 2 p.m. Event Details Fri., July 26, 8 p.m. Event Details Sat., July 27, 8 a.m. Plattekill Mountain 469 Plattekill Mountain Rd, Roxbury Delaware Event Details Sat., July 27, 11 a.m. Event Details Fri., July 26, 12-9 p.m., Sat., July 27, 11 a.m.-10...
La Pequeña: These Handwoven Textiles Offer a Daily Dose of Color
Nowadays, most of us can’t trace the origins of anything in our homes beyond the shelves of Target or the homepage of Amazon. “I think about the idea of connection and what it would look like if we knew where the items in our house that we interact with everyday came from. What difference would that make?” says weaver Sara Collazo Romay. This line of reflection led her to found the handwoven textile brand La Pequeña.
Kingston Design Showhouse Returns This October...in Stone Ridge
Since Maryline Damour launched Kingston Design Connection nearly six years ago, the project has been doing exactly what the name promises—connecting. Their annual showhouse brings together local designers, tradespeople, vendors, makers, and artists to transform a Hudson Valley home, with the objective of connecting new collaborators and clients as well as boosting economic development.
Top Hudson Valley Events This Week | July 15-21
This Week Only Event Details Fri., July 19, 8 p.m. Event Details Sat., July 20, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sun., July 21, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Event Details Sat., July 20, 7:30 p.m. Event Details Sun., July 21, 1 p.m. Event Details Fri., July 19, 8 p.m., Sat., July 20, 8 p.m. and Sun., July 21, 2 p.m. Oscar-winning documentaries, cult-classic musicians, hypnotic aerial acrobatics, bloodthirsty "Messy White Gays," and more in this week's top Hudson Valley events.Ongoing Event Details Thu., July 18,...
Top Hudson Valley Events This Week | July 8-14
From comedies to cinematic titans, airborne oranges, risqué cabaret, and the depths of Alaskan waters, there's plenty to enjoy in this week's top Hudson Valley happenings.
Rock-Inspired Ice Cream Truck The Rolling Cones to Park at Kingston Standard
The various earworm jingles that spill into the warm summer night air can only mean one thing—ice cream is close at hand. The melodic chiming of the neighborhood ice cream truck is a reminder of simpler days when you’d run to beg parents' cash for a soft-serve treat.
Where To Watch Fireworks This Independence Day
This Independence Day, throughout the Hudson Valley there are many places to enjoy parades, live music, local businesses, and expansive fireworks displays. Whether over the Rondout Creek, Hudson River, at a baseball field or racetrack, in this guide you can find everywhere to see fireworks and thoroughly celebrate 4th of July this week in the Hudson Valley.
Shadowland Stages 2024 Season: Connection and Comedy
Following the years of silent, empty auditoriums during a raging pandemic, the packed seats of a theater are a sigh of relief to audiences and staff alike. Within those lined rows we find connection and common ground—a space for people of all backgrounds, side by side, to escape the divisive political tensions of today's world.
Chronogrammies Spotlight: Bailey Pottery
When Jim Bailey began a small pottery manufacturing and supply company 45 years ago in Midtown Kingston, the city's art scene was not what it is today. Windows were being broken nearly every week, and the Baileys would travel to Woodstock to attend art events, as few were held in Kingston.
La Grotta: Vintage Clothing & Antiques Together Under One Maximalist Roof
In a visit to La Grotta Bazaar, you might mistake the Pawling vintage clothing and antique store for the sanctuary of a maximalist time traveler. Vintage spelter lamps drench the space in color, whimsical blown-glass vases and ornate wicker chairs nestle themselves amongst racks of patterned ’70s jumpsuits, all beneath a giant bundle of disco balls hanging from the ceiling.
Return Brewing Takes Over Crossroads in Catskill This Summer
Return Brewing had humble beginnings, starting their production out of the Crossroads Brewing Company facility in Catskill while waiting for pandemic-delayed construction on their own Hudson facility to be completed. With the Hudson taproom and brewery now fully complete and open as of March, Return is coming full circle. This summer, the brewing company will be expanding to begin operating a second taproom and brewery in their former partner’s Catskill space.
El Jaguar Offers Guatemalan Cuisine in Uptown Kingston
Kingston’s diverse variety of dining spots can turn a stroll down Broadway into a culinary tour of Latin America from the many Mexican taquerias to the El Salvadorean pupusa spots. Now, in the heart of the Stockade District, siblings Jeremías and Raquel Pop are adding Guatemalan cuisine to Kingston’s roster with their new restaurant, El Jaguar. Jeremías and Raquel grew up in Guatemala but have lived in Kingston for 17 and seven years respectively and have long wanted to open a restaurant together.
SUNY New Paltz Assesses EMS Personnel Mental Health
On April 4, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced New York’s inaugural mental health needs assessment for first responders, a collaboration between the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), SUNY New Paltz’s Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH) and the Benjamin Center, New Paltz’s research institute.
A Playlist For ... Staring Directly Into The Sun
This week’s eclipse was a reminder of our nature. It’s beautiful really — sitting beside one another to share glances at the beating heart of our solar system slowly being blocked from view. We want to be part of something bigger than ourselves: the universe or a packed quad full of everyone we’ve ever met, but we also want to look directly at the sun with our bare eyeballs. Google Trends showed that searches for “my eyes hurt” increased during the eclipse.
World Renowned Photographer Pixy Liao Visits New Paltz
World-renowned artist and photographer Pixy Liao visited SUNY New Paltz on April 3 to take students, faculty and the public on a journey through her vibrant, boundary-pushing body of work. Her lecture was a part of the school’s Art Lecture Series organized by the Student Art Alliance, a student-run organization exposing the community to fine-art and artists.
Woodstock Film Series Discusses Parole Reform
Former incarcerated individuals and current justice policy reform advocates Jose Saldaña, Anthony Dixon and Alton Lee sat before local community members on March 25 for the 12th annual Woodstock Film & Discussion Series to discuss “The Interview” and share their firsthand knowledge of New York’s prison and parole system.
Curl Craft Club Hosts Clovers and Curls Event
The Curl Craft is the revival of New Paltz’s first natural hair club, Kinks, Coils and Curls, which strives to offer a safe space for people of color embracing their natural hair, texture and all. Angelina Mena, a fourth-year digital media management major and the president of the club, led the charge in hosting events as the rebranded group during the fall 2023 semester after the original E-board graduated.
Beyond Song: Connecting and Composing with Hafez Modirzadeh
Acclaimed saxophonist and composer Hafez Modirzadeh ended his residency at SUNY New Paltz in a night of connection and composition at Studley Theatre on March 5. Modirzadeh, a Grammy-nominated musician and scholar, was invited to SUNY New Paltz as part of the Kenneth Davenport Residency for New American Music, which brings students and contemporary American composers together for workshops, class visits, projects and performances.
Amelia's Birthday Bash "Cirque De Sir Echo" Sells Out
Punks decorated in clown makeup filed into the New Paltz VFW Post on Feb. 24, ready to jump and collide to the alternative sounds of Sir Echo. They came for Cirque de Sir Echo: a sold-out celebration of lead singer Amelia Allen’s birthday and the release of the band’s new single, “Venison.” The event, co-organized by Doors at Seven and Loudhouse, featured an exuberant lineup of music, drag, tarot and more.
New Paltz Village Skate Garden Plans Roll Along
Community members gathered in Village Hall on Jan. 31 to see the new design for the future New Paltz Skate Garden nearly two years after the project’s last design meeting. The design, created by local cooperative Hudson Valley Trailworks, spans 12,000 square feet. It consists of varying ledges, ramps and rails, as well as bowls and extension walls to accommodate vertical skating. These features are placed to create different zones and lanes, preventing as much collision as possible.
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