Hudson Dog Park Give and Take

This weekend, Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12, the Hudson Dog Park is having a Give and Take fundraiser.

An assortment of gently used (and never used) dog gear and toys--some of it shown in the photo above--will be displayed at the dog park. Take what you want and pay what you will. Payments can be made by PayPal, Venmo, and debit or credit card using a QR code provided, so don't forget to bring your phone.

Come to the Hudson Dog Park this weekend. Pick up some gear for your dog or some fun stuff (there's a lion mane, and Halloween is not that far off) and show your support for the dog park. Help keep the fences mended and the poop bag dispensers filled!

Road Closure on Thursday

City Hall has issued the following advisory:

For the safety of bikers participating in the Bike Rodeo tomorrow [Thursday, July 9], Glenwood Blvd will be closed between Parkwood Blvd and the entrance to Oakdale between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Please plan accordingly. Please spread the word and if you're free tomorrow evening, stop over!

Chicken Law Redux

In 2o13, an effort to change the city code to allow people to raise chickens in Hudson failed when Mayor William Hallenback vetoed it, and there were not enough votes on the Common Council to override a mayoral veto. 

In 2020. a renewed effort to permit raising chicken in Hudson was successful. The proposed law was approved by the Common Council with a vote of 7 to 4, and Mayor Kamal Johnson did not veto it. The law, which is now part of the city code, specifies that keeping chickens requires a conditional use permit from the Planning Board. Gossips is a pretty diligent follower of the Planning Board, and to Gossips' recollection the Planning Board has only granted three conditional use permits for raising chickens.

Photo: The Humane Society of the United States

At the Common Council Safety Committee on Monday, Code Enforce Officer Nick Fox reported there had been complaints about roosters crowing and rats, and he suggested the chicken law should be reviewed. He said that the person with the offending rooster was unaware that the law banned roosters. Someone at the meeting said the law did not address rats, and Council president Margaret Morris said the Legal Committee would look into amending the law as needed.

The law as it stands addresses both roosters and rats. Section 70-17.C of the code states unequivocally: "No more than five female chickens shall be allowed per lot. Roosters shall not be permitted." Section 70-17.I states in part: "All such enclosures and coops shall be properly cleaned and maintained and shall be constructed of materials and in a manner designed to prevent predators, rodents and other vermin from entering into or remaining therein."

It's possible the language of the law could be amended to make the language relating to rats more obvious and direct, but Gossips recalls that, back in 2013, in a discussion of the proposed law, Cheryl Roberts, who was then city attorney, declared unequivocally: "If you have chickens, you have rats." Roberts knew whereof she spoke. She kept chickens at her home in Austerlitz.

COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK

News of the Public Square

The following press release was issued this afternoon by Friends of the Public Square.

Friends of the Public Square (FOPS) and the City of Hudson are pleased to announce that new bids are being solicited for the first stage of renovating the Seventh Street Park. The revised bid documents, prepared by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects & Planners, cover improvements that will cost around the $1 million in funds that FOPS has raised to date. 

Requests for Information will be due on July 31, and bids will be due on August 11, 2026. A committee that includes New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and Hudson Mayor Joe Ferris will select the winning bidder in August.  

Once a bid is accepted, groundbreaking in the park can happen in Fall 2026. FOPS co-chair Katherine Kanaga said, “We are thrilled that we now have the pieces in place to break ground this year. Hudson, more than ever, deserves a beautiful oasis in the heart of its business district.” 

The $1 million to pay for this first phase comes from a $500,000 matching grant OPRHP and grants from Spark of Hudson and grants initiated by Assembly Member Didi Barrett and Senator Michelle Hinchey. It does not include a federal grant of $250,000 obtained for the park by Representative Josh Riley. This additional funding, once it is received, will be used for a new fountain at the square’s center.  

"Hudson's original gathering place is one step closer to once again becoming a public space for everyone," said Hudson Mayor Joseph Ferris. "The release of the construction bid for phase one of restoration work for the Seventh Street Park means shovels will soon be in the ground. This will bring an expanded plaza, new open seating area and lighting, restored pathways and a new location for the veterans memorial that provides it the greater place of prominence it deserves. Today's milestone is the result of a true team effort. Representative Josh Riley, State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Assembly Member Didi Barrett and their offices have done incredible work securing crucial grant funding. New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation have been an essential partner in this project as have the community partners who have provided generous support. And none of this would have been possible without the tireless work and unflagging commitment shown by the Friends of the Public Square team." 

Happening This Sunday

One of the best places to be on the river without actually being on a boat is the clubhouse of the Hudson Power Boat Association. Its location at the water's edge makes perfect sense given that the building started out as the ticket office and waiting room for the Hudson River Day Line and the Hudson Athens ferry.

People who are not members of the Hudson Power Boar Association rarely have the chance to hang out in the clubhouse, but this Sunday, Historic Hudson offers the opportunity to spend some time in the historic building and enjoy being on the river.

On Sunday, July 12, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Historic Hudson begins the observance of its 30th anniversary with a Summer Friend Raiser at the Hudson Power Boat Association. There will be light fare and a cash bar and a chance to meet the folks from Historic Hudson and learn about the organization's past and future. The event is free and open to all. 

RSVP at information@historichudson.org.

Looking Ahead to August

On the first weekend of August, the Hudson Film Festival returns for its fourth season of showcasing diverse and award-winning films. The 2026 lineup expands programming for youth education, short films, events, and special presentations, with a total of twenty-five films and a presentation of preserved video art from XFR Collective's "Monday/Wednesday/Friday" archival tape collection (1980-1985). The festival returns to venue partners Hudson Hall, Time & Space Limited, Basilica Hudson, and The Spark of Hudson, along with screening technical partner Story Screen. In 2026, there are also new venue partners: Community Theater and Avalon Lounge in Catskill.

The festival runs from Thursday, August 6, through Sunday, August 8. Special events include the Opening Night Party on Thursday, August 6, at Basilica Hudson, and parties on Friday, August 7, at Avalon Lounge and on Saturday, August 8, at Basilica Hudson. 

Visit hudsonfilmfestival.org for a complete schedule of screenings and events and to purchase tickets.

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

With the Fourth of July behind us, here's what is happening in this post-holiday week.

• On Monday, July 6, the Common Council Safety Committee (Police and Fire) 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, July 7, the Conservation Advisory Council meets at 6:00 p.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 Wednesday, July 8, the Housing Trust Fund Board meets at 5:30 p.m. It's been three months since the board has met, and this will be the first meeting since new members were named to 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 on Wednesday, July 8, the seven-week run of Waterfront Wednesdays begins at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. The event, which features boating excursions, live entertainment, fishing lessons for kids, and food vendors, happens from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.

• On Thursday, July 9, 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 canceled.

• On Friday, July 10, 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.
• Also on Friday, July 10, Hudson Development Corporation, in collaboration with Story Screen, presents Community Movie Night at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. The movie to be shown is the 1976 remake of King Kong, starring Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, and Jessica Lange. There will be free popcorn as well as food and drink offered by local vendors. The festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. The movie will be screened at 8:00 p.m. For more information, click here.

COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK

News of the Day

The following was reported an hour ago on the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Facebook page:

Clearwater was removed from the Sail4th 250 Parade of Sail by the USCG and escorted out of the Exclusion Zone by the US Coast Guard, US Navy, and NYPD.

Captain Rory Kane inquired why, and was informed the removal was due to the presence of banners reading: "Save the Clean Water Act" and "Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Climate Solutions."

A representative from Sail4th 250 informed the Captain the decision was "above them."

The sloop has a long and storied history of using the mains'l to share messages of hope and advocacy.

The Clearwater will continue sailing south of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge until 3 p.m. and has 29 passengers and 19 crew aboard. . . .

Addendum: By comparison, Newsweek and other sources are reporting that a large group of masked members of Patriot Front, a white nationalist organization, marched through Washington, D.C., today, reportedly calling for the expulsion of immigrants.

Photo: Occupy Demorcrats | Facebook

They paraded through the streets unimpeded by the police. The Newsweek article includes the following quote from a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department: "MPD recognizes the rights of individuals to peacefully express their views and remains committed to maintaining public safety and security for DC residents and visitors."

Update: You can read a fuller account of what happened to Clearwater in the Highlands Current: "Coast Guard Expels Clearwater from July 4th Flotilla."

July 4, 2026

On this the 250th anniversary of the creation of our country, I share the link to a post by Michael Saltz: "We the People." It is recommended reading.

Photo from Anthony Garand vid Unsplash

A Primer on PILOTs

On Wednesday, the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency published a new information packet about PILOTs (payments in lieu of taxes) and other tax abatements: Applying for Economic Development Incentives: A Business Applicant's Guide. The publication is meant for businesses looking to locate in Columbia County, but the information it contains is helpful for anyone wanting to understand the process.