The Revitalization of Newburgh is Finally Happening.But For Whose Benefit? click to enlarge
This mural on the side of a building between Liberty and Johnes Streets commemorates
Frederick Douglass’s visit to Newburgh in 1870. Twelve years ago I was participating in a community clean-up of a vacant lot in downtown Newburgh when someone found a deer leg. The rest of the deer was nowhere to be found. The cleanup ended for the day shortly after that, on account of temporary demoralization. That lot has since been transformed into a lush and sustainable urban park, complete with sculptures that double as public cell phone charging stations and massive, stately photographic portraits of Newburgh residents peering down from the wall of the once-and-future Ritz Theater. If you re looking for one thing to symbolize the positive changes happening in Newburgh today, stand on the corner of Broadway (the widest main street in America) and Liberty Street
click to enlarge In August 2019, Jessica Eaton s boyfriend talked her into taking a big leap: moving in. The pair had been dating for about a year and a half, shuttling between her place in the Catskills and his in Westchester. Eaton (not her real name) is a single mom to a teenager who was going through a rough patch, and her boyfriend suggested they move in with him for a fresh start in a new school district. I was reluctant because I m used to being independent, she recalls. But he told me that he wasn t going to be spending much time at home as he traveled a lot for business. I was willing to give it a try, especially for my daughter. The first few weeks of cohabiting went well and the affluent community had its perks. Still, Eaton and her teen had their ups and downs as they tried to gain a toehold on their new life.
(October 23–November 21)
Planetary rulers Mars and Pluto get stress tested this month in anticipation of the Full Scorpio Supermoon April 26. This is to strengthen your emotional immune system against the virus of self-deception. Mars square Neptune April 9 is your first inoculation: discern paralyzingly extreme idealism from executable, high-minded goals. You ll never get anything done while waiting for conditions to be perfect . The second dose comes at the Sun s square to Pluto April 16, asking you to forgo individual glory for the sake of a team victory, Subsuming ego gratification for the greater good builds up antibodies of true humility.
The Athens Rooster interior. 44 2nd Street, Athens The activation of Athens adorable little waterfront downtown continues with the opening of chef Melissa Chmelar s The Athens Rooster, a breakfast and lunch spot dishing up hot coffee and from-scratch goodness. Chmelar, whose Murray Hill restaurant Spoon Table & Bar was among Manhattan s many COVID casualties, is an expert in elevated comfort food and in creating the type of neighborhood joint that regulars flock to. Breakfast kicks off with wholesome options like the Power Bowl, with steel-cut oatmeal, coconut flakes, flax and chia seeds, dried cranberries, and almonds ($6.50); indulgent picks like the breakfast panini with thick-cut bacon, scrambled eggs, housemade pimento cheese, and cheddar on a sesame roll ($5); or the hipster-friendly vegan avocado toast with turmeric-tahini-massaged kale, pickled red onion, and sesame seeds ($9). Lunch is all pizzas and paninis. For a p
click to enlarge There are 12.3 million women-owned businesses in the US and there are 114 percent more female entrepreneurs than there were 20 years ago. Women have been starting their own companies in ever greater numbers, and 40 percent of US businesses are women-owned. These national statistics are reflected in the Hudson Valley business scene, which is driven by innovative female entrepreneurship across all sectors of the economy. We talked with some of the region s business leaders on how they get it done, from the boardroom to the storefront.
Listening to Your Gut
For 20 years, Kate Bradley Chernis worked as a radio DJ and had more than 20 million daily listeners. Then a dream career turned into a nightmare. Fed up with the boys club, hostile work environment, sexual harassment and gaslighting, she knew it was time to leave when the job affected her health. I had a rash on my torso that no one could explain, and I developed epicondylitis and tendonitis t