Missing the Boat

For at least two decades it has been standard practice for the Common Council to ride on the replica of The Hudson in the Flag Day Parade. Here's the Council aboard ship in 2009, the year of Quadricentennial of Henry Hudson's exploration of the river in 1609. (Note the Henry Hudson era ruffs worn by some of the councilmembers.)

The plan this year was to cede the replica ship to the Hudson High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team, to celebrate them for making it to the Class A state semifinals this spring, but, alas, when The Hudson was pulled out of storage, it was discovered the foundation of the float, an old farm wagon, had some serious structural issues. As Gossips reported on Monday, The Hudson will be out of service for this year's parade season.

With no conveyances for the team or the Common Council and less than a week to go before the big parade, Councilmember Henry Haddad (First Ward) took on the task. If The Hudson could not appear in the parade, at least the whale that originally towed the replica ship could be part of the parade. But when the whale was pulled out of storage, it was discovered that it too had been the victim of vandals and time. The whale was covered in pigeon droppings, half its teeth were missing, one eye had been gouged out, and the pump that makes the whale to spout water was broken. 

Undeterred, Haddad cleaned up the whale and recruited artist Sarah Bernie to re-create the missing eye. The pictures below show the whale last night, after it had been cleaned up and festooned with bunting, and this morning, when Bernie was working on restoring the missing eye.

After a plan to borrow Germantown's Haunted Hayride wagon fell through (there was no way to get it here from Germantown because the wagon is not road legal), Haddad commandeered his father's flatbed trailer and asked the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society if they would pull their pontoon boat out of the water to be part of the parade. HALPS was happy to oblige. 

Haddad fitted up the flatbed trailer with picnic tables and a beach umbrella, and he and Councilmember Jennifer Belton (Fourth Ward) decorated it with red, white, and blue trim and pinwheels. The flatbed trailer will carry the Common Council.

The team supporters provided the decorations for the pontoon boat that will carry the basketball team in the parade.

The parade steps off in just a few minutes. Look for the whale and the Common Council and the Hudson High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team. And if you see Councilmember Haddad, thank him for his efforts.

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UPDATE: Here are the "floats" in the parade. (The whale eluded Gossips' volunteer photographer.)

Gratitude to Peter Jung for the parade pictures.

And here's the whale!

Voices of Support

Yesterday, The Columbia Paper published a letter to the editor from Tara Silberberg, Gallatin Town Supervisor. Today, that letter appears on imby: "Sam vs Didi: A Question of Leadership." The letter begins:

In 2025, I supported the effort to give Columbia County voters the opportunity to decide whether the county should have an elected county executive. I also served on the campaign's "kitchen cabinet," where volunteers and Columbia County Democratic Committee leaders met regularly to discuss strategy and help building support for the referendum. Because of that experience, I had a front-row seat to Sam Hodge's leadership, and it raises serious questions for me about his candidacy for the State Assembly.

Readers are encouraged to read the entire letter, which can be found here.

Today, too, Gossips publishes this letter from Hudson Common Council President Margaret Morris, weighing in on the Sam vs Didi race.

I am writing to express my support for Didi Barrett in the upcoming June 23rd Democrat primary for Assembly. I have worked with Didi throughout my time in office, both as First Ward Councilmember and now as Common Council President. She has been a great advocate for Hudson, incredibly accessible, and a voice of reason that has always delivered for our city.

Didi helped secure critical funding for the Hudson truck traffic study; she helped install solar-powered, ADA-accessible crosswalks across Hudson and has been instrumental in securing funds for the Friends of Public Square Hudson to revitalize the Public Square / Seventh Street Park.

She has supported countless not-for-profit organizations in Hudson and has delivered state funding to help offset local property taxes and provide direct relief. When I need information or have a question about the state, I call Didi. And she is there. What more could we ask for?

I encourage you to support Didi Barrett in the upcoming Democratic primary for the 106th Assembly District. Her proven track record and dedication to public service is truly an asset to the City of Hudson, and we are fortunate to have her.

Primary Prep

Early voting for the primary election begins tomorrow at noon. (The full schedule for the nine days of early voting can be found here.) The primary involves both Democrats and Republicans. Republicans will choose their candidate for congressman--Peter Oberacker or Alexander Portelli. For Democrats, there are two races. For comptroller, incumbent Thomas DiNapoli is being challenged by Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle. For assemblymember, incumbent Didi Barrett is being challenged by Sam Hodge.

In Hudson's Third Ward, however, there is a third race. Sonja Okun, who ran unopposed and was elected Third Ward supervisor last November, is now being challenged in the Democratic primary by none other than Lloyd Koedding.

The ubiquitous Koedding, who ran for mayor last year as a Republican and garnered a total of 68 votes, has since changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and is challenging Okun to be the Democratic candidate for Third Ward supervisor. Readers in the Third Ward, choose wisely.

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Celebrate the Semiquincentennial

An email blast from Columbia County Tourism today clarified that Flag Day in Hudson is "Columbia County's Official Semiquincentennial Celebration." 

The Tourism Office provided the following schedule of events for tomorrow, beginning at noon. Aside from the parade, which makes its way down Warren Street, all the activities take place at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park.

Waterfront Festival and Activities

12:00 p.m.:

Revolutionary War Reenactment

12:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.:

Waterfront festival open with vendors and music

12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.:

A&G Amusements open with a bouncy house, slides and an obstacle course.

12:00 p.m. to 3 p.m.:

Live eagle carving by Catskill Carver [We will assume that the demonstration will be live not the eagles.]

Caricature drawing and face painting

Musical performance by the Beer Stained Fiddle Band

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.:

Baby goat petting and cuddling with Ooms Farms

Historical cannon demonstration

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.:

Football signing with Leroy Collins

Parade and Evening Events

4:00 p.m.:

Parade step-off beginning at Seventh Street

4:15 p.m.:

Flyover above Warren Street by the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome

6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:

Caricature drawing resumes at the waterfront

6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Football signing with Leroy Collins

6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.:

Musical performance by the Anchor Management Band

9:30 p.m. (approximate)

Fireworks display over the river

Of Interest

The featured article on imby today is a piece by Michael Saltz called "The Collapse of Discovery." It is recommended reading.

News Shared Without Comment

The following statement was released this afternoon by Mayor Joe Ferris:

When approved by the Common Council, my office will begin the long overdue and much needed revaluation process. The first since 2019, the 2028 revaluation will go a long way in ensuring all properties in our city are assessed accurately. With an equalization rate among the lowest in Columbia County, property owners--and in turn, renters--in Hudson shoulder an unnecessarily heavy tax burden when compared to our neighbors. Simply put, the lower our municipal equalization rate is, the higher the taxes levied on us proportionately by taxing entities like the school district. By working with the Columbia County Real Property Tax Service (RPTS) on this revaluation, the City not only saves money but gets the on-the-ground expertise that only RPTS brings to the table. I look forward to sharing more information as we move along the revaluation process.

$1.6 Million for an Outdoor Classroom

Didi Barrett announced it yesterday on Facebook:

Today, the story was reported in the Register-Star: "Barrett, Heastie announce $1.6 million for outdoor classroom in Hudson." The article describes what is to be created in this way:

The proposal divides the entire area into four parts: a covered space with a chalkboard, tables and chairs that will serve as an outdoor classroom; a garden area; an amphitheater-type presentation space for science and agricultural classes; and a storage area that will also serve as an additional workspace for students. . . . The area will be surrounded by plants native to the area.

The outdoor classroom will be situated along Paddock Place, on the lawn beside the historic 1937 school building.   

The purpose of the project is to give students more time outside, connecting with nature and learning how to grow food. Hannah Black, who with Christy Asbee spearheaded the project, cited a possible additional benefit. The following is quoted from the article: 

Creating a classroom in full view of whoever might be driving by could also serve as an advertisement for wealthier newcomers to the area to consider sending their children to Hudson public schools, Black said.

Black is also quoted in the article as saying:

"I think that's, optically, why we want it outside, because there's people with money that are moving here buying expensive homes, and for whatever reason, through the rumor mill, they feel like the school isn't right for their kids without even trying it. I feel like we've been working really hard to kind of combat that rumor and that feeling, because once you're in here, the kids are amazing."

That Sound You Hear

Gossips has learned that on Saturday, before and after the Flag Day Parade, Revolutionary War reenactors will be on the waterfront, with muskets and a cannon. 

There will be no need to wait until dusk for the fireworks to begin.

Another Kvetch About 11 Warren Street

Last December, Gossips reported that a mature tree was being removed by county workers at the site of 11 Warren Street. 

Photo: Rachel Careau

At the time, the reason given for the tree's removal was that its branches were encroaching on an adjacent property.

Today, it was brought to Gossips' attention that the site of the ill-fated tree is now occupied by what appears to be a generator of some sort.

 

This, of course, raises the question: What was the real reason that tree had to be removed?

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Last Night with the Planning Board

Last night's Planning Board meeting may have set a record for brevity, lasting just thirty-nine minutes. The only project on the agenda was the adaptive reuse of the former John L. Edwards School. The applicant, Pennrose Bricks & Mortar, requested that the Planning Board schedule a public hearing, and the request was granted. A public hearing on the proposal will take place at the Planning Board's next regular meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.

What consumed the lion's share of the thirty-nine minutes was a discussion of the amendment to Chapter 325-17.1 of the city code. It was decided at the informal Common Council meeting on May 18 that the proposed amendment needed to go to both the City and County planning boards for a recommendation before the Council can act on it. As Ron Bogle, chair of the Planning Board, explained, the Planning Board has three options: they can support or not support the proposed amendment, or they can do neither.

Andrew Clark, legal counsel to the Planning Board, described the amendment as "the Council's effort to simplify and provide explicit direction." Bogle advised that they not decide on a course of action immediately but rather "digest" what is being proposed and make a decision at their July meeting. It was finally decided that the Planning Board would hold a special workshop meeting, possibly a videoconference, for the Common Council to explain the intent of the amendment. Bogle commented, "Because of the history, I think we want to be supersmart about this." '

It was not announced when this special meeting would take place or if the special meeting would be accessible to the public.

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Also Happening This Weekend

This Saturday promises to be a busy day in Hudson with folks from near and far gathering to celebrate Flag Day, which is actually the following day on June 14. In addition to the music and the carnival rides and the parade and the fireworks, something else is happening on that day. The nine days of early voting prior to the primary on June 23 begin this Saturday, June 13. Here is the complete schedule:

• Saturday, June 13--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, June 14--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, June 15--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 16--12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 17--12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday, June 18--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, June 19--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, June 20--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, June 21--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The early voting locations are, as always:

• Hudson--Columbia County Office Building, 401 State Street
• Valatie--Martin H. Glynn Municipal Building, 3211 Church Street

HPD Seeking Help from Community

The following press release was received this morning from the Hudson Police Department:

The Hudson Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying the individual shown in the attached photograph and surveillance video. [Both shown below.]

On June 9, 2026, police received a report at approximately 9:14 p.m. of an assault that occurred earlier that evening at Chef Ritchie's Deli in the City of Hudson. The incident is believed to have occurred approximately 90 minutes before it was reported to police. During the incident, a store clerk was punched by an individual who subsequently left the area.

Anyone who recognizes the individual or has information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Hudson Police Department at (518) 828-3388. Information may also be provided through the department's anonymous tip reporting options.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

UPDATE: The HPD has released the following statement:

The subject has been identified and we are removing the photo and video at this time.

The investigation remains active. Preliminary information indicates that the incident may have occurred following comments that were allegedly made to a female and juvenile prior to the altercation. Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and will review all available information before determining any further action.

We ask that anyone with additional information contact the Hudson Police Department.

Perpetuating the Sins of the Past

It was an out-of-character eyesore when it was built in 1975, and thanks to the current leadership of Columbia County, it's likely to remain so. 

This afternoon, Ray Jurkowski, Commissioner of Public Works for Columbia County, and the team from LaBella presented three options for improvements to the facade at 11 Warren Street, soon be home to the Board of Elections, the Probation Department, the Public Defender's Office, and the Conflict Defender's Office. The three options presented are shown below, in order, from least expensive to most expensive, as if that clarification were needed.

Sadly, the options range from strip mall to economy motel to something that resembles a Stewart's. None of the proposed designs is, by any stretch of the imagination, compatible with the historic district in which the building is located. The idioms "lipstick on a pig" and "silk purse from a sow's ear" spring to mind.

Gossips was present for the first forty-five minutes of this evening's public input workshop session. After being put off once and almost dismissed a second time, I persisted to ask Jurkowski this question: Will the proposed "facade improvements" be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission for a certificate of appropriateness? Although 11 Warren Street is notably not a historic building, it is located in a locally designated historic district, and hence its alterations should go before the HPC. Jurkowski responded by saying they were soliciting public input, and members of the HPC were welcome to offer their comments. He also maintained that county projects were exempt from Hudson's laws and regulations. 

In response, I pointed out that his predecessor, David Robinson, presented the plans for the expansion and renovation of the Columbia County courthouse not only to the HPC but also to the Planning Board, and I suggested that, given the controversy surrounding this project, he might show the same courtesy. I went on to express the opinion that having people indicate with sticky notes what they liked and disliked about the options presented would not result in a good outcome. I did not, although I might have, cite the adage that a camel is a horse designed by a committee. Jurkowski told me I could share my opinions in the survey.

The survey in question was available in print form to be filled out on the spot. There was also a QR code for the survey provided on a poster displayed at this evening's event.

The survey can also be accessed here. Readers are urged to use the survey to share their thoughts.

Just as a reminder, this is what the first block of Warren Street looked like at some point in the late 19th or early 20th century, before most the block was demolished in the zeal of Urban Renewal.

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A Documentary of Interest

The Catskill Game Farm, which closed in 2006 after 73 years of operation, is the subject of a new documentary, American Zoo.  

The British filmmaker Tim Travers Hawkins, who directed American Zoo, had this to say about the film on Instagram:

Four years ago me and my girlfriend (now mother of my son!) explored the ruins of an abandoned zoo on a camping trip in the Catskills. Inside the old gift shop I found some old 16mm films, which set in motion one of the strangest and most beautiful adventures of my life. The final result, my latest feature AMERICAN ZOO will premiere first at Tribeca Film Festival (June 4) and then days later at SXSW in London (June 6). Two awesome festivals in the two best cities on Earth.

The film is reviewed today in the Times Union: "'American Zoo' reveals Nazi-linked animal breeding program at Catskill Game Farm." It was previously reviewed in The Overlook: "New Documentary Unearths Dark Side of Catskill Game Farm."

The trailer for the documentary can be viewed on YouTube. According to Netflix Junkie, which described the film as a "true crime horror story," "Industry viewers expect the film to land a streaming or digital deal after its festival run, as interest in the project continues to build."

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Another One Lost

At last evening's Code and Infrastructure Committee meeting, Rob Perry, superintendent of Public Works, reported that Shack 7 at the former Furgary Boat Club had slipped into North Bay.

Perry went on to explain that Shack 7 was one of the buildings scheduled to be razed last year, but the demolition of that building alone was expected to cost $50,000, exceeding the amount available for the project, so, with the consent of the Department of State, it was decided to let nature take its course.

In the map above, the shacks in red were demolished in 2024, the shacks in white were demolished in 2025 (except for Shack 7), the shacks in yellow are to be rehabilitated; the shack in blue is to be mothballed.

Last year, when the majority of the shacks were demolished, Shack 7 had already started slipping into the water. The picture below was taken on April 14, 2025, just before the demolition of the shacks began.

Photo: Theresa Nicholson

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Parades in Hudson Without The Hudson

For as long as most of us can remember, there hasn't been a parade in Hudson that did not include The Hudson, the replica of the first ship built in Hudson. The original Hudson was completed in 1785, the same year the City of Hudson was incorporated. The replica Hudson, a parade float, was built in 1985 by the Department of Public Works (DPW) for the City's bicentennial celebration. It seems, however, that parades in Hudson will have to do without the replica ship in this year of the nation's semiquincentennial.

Last month, Gossips reported that vandals had broken into the Dunn warehouse where the replica ship was stored and snapped off the dolphins that adorn its base.

At this evening's Common Council Code and Infrastructure Committee meeting, Rob Perry, DPW superintendent, reported that when the replica ship was removed from storage recently, in preparation for repairing the broken dolphins and getting The Hudson shipshape for parade season, it was discovered the float was unstable and listing to one side. Further investigation identified a problem with the frame, which was likely not caused by vandalism but rather was simply a consequence of time. Perry explained that the replica ship had been built on an old farm wagon donated for the purpose back in 1985. Perry indicated that The Hudson would be back but not in time for this year's parade season.

The replica ship typically carries members of the Common Council in the Flag Day parade. It is unclear what conveyance, if any, will carry the Council down Warren Street to the reviewing stand at Front Street in the Flag Day parade this Saturday.

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Prepare for the Weekend

Flag Day, the event that disrupts the lives of Hudsonians more than any other, is coming up this weekend. The routine of road closures, temporarily designated one-way streets, and no on-street parking has been pretty much the same for the past twenty or more years, but just in case you don't know the drill, below is the information distributed by the Hudson Police Department to help you plan your Saturday and avoid having your car towed. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

June is parade month in Hudson, and the week ahead culminates in the Flag Day parade and fireworks extravaganza. But before all that happens, here's what else is going on.

• On Monday, June 8, the Common Council Code and Infrastructure Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 
• On Tuesday, June 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., there is a workshop session about the facade improvements for 11 Warren Street. The meeting will include a brief presentation by the project team, followed by an opportunity to provide input on three proposed exterior renovation options for the building and take a community survey. The meeting takes place in person only at 401 State Street.

• Also on Tuesday, June 9, the Planning Board meets at 6:00 p.m. In the agenda for the meeting is the adaptive reuse proposal for the former John L. Edwards school building. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and in Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely. 

• At 6:30 on Tuesday, June 9, Mayor Joe Ferris holds a town hall meeting for the Fifth Ward at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street. The meeting is expected to go on until 8:00 p.m.
• On Wednesday, June 10, the Housing Trust Fund Board meets at 5:30 p.m.  This will be the first meeting since new members--Tray Tepper, Kelly Crimmins, and Serria McGriff--have joined the board. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
• Also at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, Mayor Joe Ferris holds a town hall meeting for the Second Ward at Bliss Towers, 41 North Second Street. The meeting is expected to do on until 7:00 p.m.

Update: The Housing Trust Fund Board meeting has been canceled.

• On Thursday, June 11, the Common Council Legal Committee meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here to join the meeting remotely.  

Update: The Legal Committee meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 18, at 6:00 p.m.

• On Friday, June 12, the Historic Preservation Commission meets at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
• On Saturday, June 13, Flag Day in observed in Hudson. The parade down Warren Street begins at 4:00 p.m. Fireworks start at dusk.

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Celebrating Church's 200th Birthday

As we in Hudson are all well aware, this year marks the 200th anniversary of Frederic Church's birth. The epicenter of the celebration, of course, is Olana, Church's home and his final masterpiece, but the observance of Church's bicentennial is taking place in other locations as well. You can explore all the events and exhibitions, happening at Olana and elsewhere, by clicking here.

It came to Gossips' attention recently that one of the museum's celebrating Church's bicentennial is the Detroit Institute of Arts. 

To mark the 200th anniversary of Frederic Church's birth, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents Guests of Honor: Frederic Church's Cotopaxi, an exhibition highlighting the artist's dramatic 1862 painting of an erupting South American volcano. One of the DIA's most beloved American paintings, Cotopaxi appears together with three of Church's oil studies of the volcano and a related landscape by his contemporary, Louis Remy Mignot.

Cotopaxi is one of two Frederic Church paintings in the collections of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The other is Syria by the Sea, the painting whose completion for James Frederick Joy of Detroit was reported in the Hudson Weekly Star on January 1, 1874. 

Syria by the Sea was given to the Detroit Institute of Arts by Joy's widow in 1910.

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Food News

Brian Mahoney reviews one of Hudson's newest restaurants in Chronogram: "Mr. Cat Brasserie Reimagines Kitty's in Hudson." The following is quoted from the review:

On a recent evening, the dining room hummed with the kind of energy restaurateurs spend years trying to manufacture. During the course of dinner, I spotted artists, musicians, writers, and assorted members of Hudson's cultural ecosystem. Some lingered at the bar, others clustered around tables. The atmosphere felt lively but never scene-y, stylish but never self-conscious. People seemed genuinely happy to be there.