A Holiday, an Inauguration, and an Anniversary

It seems bitterly ironic that Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year coincides with the second inauguration of Donald Trump. NPR reported on Friday that this is only the third time the holiday and the inauguration have overlapped--the first time being Bill Clinton's second inauguration in 1997; the second Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013. The conjunction isn't expected to happen again until 2053--assuming that our democracy survives, and we still elect presidents a quarter century from now.

Something that coincides with the inauguration every four years is the anniversary of The Gossips of Rivertown. It never occurred to me when I published the very first Gossips post on January 20, 2010, one year into Barack Obama's first term as President, that I was consigning Gossips to share its anniversary with the inauguration. Eight years ago, in 2017, I used the coincidence of Donald Trump's first inauguration and the seventh anniversary of Gossips to recount an event from Hudson's history, an event that was the crucible of the free press in the United States. On the occasion of Trump's second inauguration, I invite readers to remind themselves of the story of Harry Croswell and his indictment for "seditious libel" and contriving to "scandalize, traduce and vilify" the President of the United States--Thomas Jefferson--by reporting that Jefferson had paid newspaper publisher James Callender to run  articles in his paper that were hostile to Jefferson's political opponents, by revisiting that post from eight years ago: "An Inauguration and an Anniversary."  

Today marks the fifteen anniversary of The Gossips of Rivertown. For fifteen years, Gossips has been sharing news, history, and occasional gossip about the trials and triumphs of our river city, earning the respect of many and the disdain of a few. 

Today, as I do every year on Gossips' anniversary, I humbly acknowledge all the readers whose interest and loyalty have made Gossips an enduring success and offer my profound gratitude to the generous Gossips supporters and advertisers whose monetary contributions help pay the bills. Today, too, I invite readers to celebrate fifteen years of Gossips particular brand of hyperlocal reporting by joining those readers who have already shown their support for The Gossips of Rivertown in 2025.

For those who read Gossips on a computer, the process is easy. Just click on the "Donate" button near the top of the right column. For those who read Gossips on their phones, the process is a bit more complicated. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and touch "View web version." Then find the "Donate" button in the right column.

Your support--in any amount--will be gratefully acknowledged and will ensure the continuation of Gossips for yet another year.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CAROLE OSTERINK