Joan Gouvernale, 83 | Pawling Joan B. Governale (83) of Pawling, NY, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2017, in Fort Myers FL. Joan was born in New York, NY, to Marshall W. Bexley and Anna Ragiel Bexley on August 3, 1933. She married her beloved husband, Joseph A. Governale, on May 24, 1959, at Sacred Heart Church in New York, NY. She loved spending her many summers on Whaley Lake (Holmes, NY) before making it her permanent residence in 1965. Joan and Joe purchased a home in

I love hiking. It’s good exercise, you can commune with nature, observe the native flora and fauna, and even improve your mood. If you really want to have an immersive experience though, it’s hard to beat kayaking. It’s like hiking on water. And in our area, there’s no better place to head than the Great Swamp. ​ There’s something about being in a kayak, low in the water, drifting by clusters of purple wild flowers springing from ferny, moss-covered stumps, accompanied by t

Pawling and its surrounding areas have a surprisingly wide variety of hiking trails, ranging from casual strolls to steep, demanding inclines with awe-inspiring sights. You may already know the walkable excursions close to home – the Appalachian Boardwalk, Cat Rocks, Lakeside Park, Dover Stone Church, and Nuclear Lake – but what else does our region offer? A lot. Below are simple strolls for those days where you just want to get outside without going to the trouble of lacing

Quite a few nationally known writers have been enchanted by the quaint villages and scenic countryside of Dutchess County and have decided to nestle here. Thomas Rockwell, author of the American children’s classic, How to Eat Fried Worms, is one of them. He came to Dutchess County to attend Bard College during the early1950s from Vermont, and never left. ​ At 84, slender and of medium height, Tom moves easily about his country home in rural Poughkeepsie. Fried Worms, too, r

Imagine if Brooklyn and Coachella had an artistic brainchild. That’s The Wassaic Project in a nutshell. ​ Nowadays, The Wassaic Project, an artistic community just a short drive north of Pawling, is firmly ensconced within the Hudson Valley community. When it began in 2008, however, it was nothing more than a barebones nonprofit startup with a longshot at lasting success. ​ Nine years ago, Eve Biddle, Bowie Zunino, and Elan Bogarin were artists with a dream of preserving

Folks often ask if a new router will speed up their computers. Sorry to say it, but there’s no direct answer to this question, other than, “it depends, but probably not.” The peppiness of your computer depends, first and foremost, on the computer itself. Lots of things can make a computer seem sluggish. Have you checked it for malware lately? Is it old and/or generally under-powered for current demands? On the other hand, a slow WiFi connection can make an otherwise fas

On July 24 at Trinity-Pawling School, the Pawling Chamber of Commerce (COC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) hosted a roundtable discussion on business growth. The event welcomed numerous area businesses and several media outlets. Chaired by COC President Peter Cris and SBA Economic Development Specialist Man-Li Lin, the discussion included Sarah Lee, CEO of the Dutchess Business Alliance, and Mary Kay Vrba, President of Dutchess Tourism Inc. Also present w

In welcome news to local pet owners and their furry friends, the Pawling Animal Clinic is open and under new ownership. Dr. Hope Jankunas and her husband, Dr. Jeremy Frederick, bring not only years of veterinary experience to the area, but also their unique “fear free” approach to animal care. The Pawling Animal Clinic opened in 1994 and was a mainstay for Pawling pet owners for many years. But the business was about to close its doors earlier this year. That’s when Drs. J

At 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 15, Pawling Rotary volunteers, led by club President Jeff Asher and Vice President and event Chair, Ann Godesky, organized a cadre of helpers to collect food and other items at the Pawling Hannaford for the second annual “Stuff the Bus” donation drive, benefitting the Pawling Resource Center Food Bank. Among those on hand to assist were members of the Civil Service Employee Association, which included CSEA President Jeff Stevens and many others.

It’s time to see if that treasure you’ve been holding on to is as special as you think. The Historical Society of Quaker Hill and Pawling will host its Third Biennial Pawling Antiques Appraisal Event on Saturday, August 5, at the John Kane House, 126 East Main Street, from Noon to 4:00 p.m. Proceeds from this event will go toward revamping the John Kane House’s permanent exhibits on local history. ​ Ready to evaluate attendees’ treasures will be five experienced appraisers:

After all the planting is done and the harvesting begins, do you often find yourself with much more home-grown produce than you and your family can possibly consume? The Pawling Resource Center (PRC) would be thrilled to help you find loving homes for your over abundance of firm ripe tomatoes or your bumper crop of beans, peas, carrots and sweet corn – or any other fresh veggie from your garden that you would be willing to share with neighbors who might have difficulty provid

Thanks to the generosity of the Patterson Rotary, the Patterson Library will receive a $16,000 grant over two years as part of a community partnership to help with the purchase of new public computers and software. The grant will allow for the expansion of computer classes and programs and will significantly enhance the library’s ability to meet the technology needs of the community. Above, Rotarians and library personnel pose with a replica check of the donation. From left:

by Tom Walogorsky ​ This summer, once again Pawling had the opportunity to be a part of a truly special event as the Warrior Expeditions 2017 “Warrior Hike” passed through the Harlem Valley. This non-profit outdoor therapy program supports armed forces veterans as they travel the entirety of the Appalachian Trail to “walk off the war.” On Friday, July 21 a group of hikers came into Pawling, where they were greeted with hospitality from members of the Harlem Valley Appalachi

by Tom Walogorsky ​ As students and faculty are enjoying the summer vacation, the Pawling Central School District has been hard at work. The entrances to the High School and Middle School are in the midst of a repaving project that will give the facilities an infrastructure upgrade before the start of the new school year. ​ The roadway project was conceived by the Board of Education in conjunction with the architecture and design firm Tetra Tech in 2016. In February, the

by Tom Walogorsky ​ One of those most pressing issues facing the Pawling today concerns the community’s wastewater treatment facility. The installation is in need of a complete overhaul to meet current operational standards. The efforts to achieve this need are being spearheaded by the Pawling Joint Sewer Commission (PJSC). ​ Located at 37 Corbin Road in the Village of Pawling, the wastewater treatment center has fallen into a state of obsolescence. It has not been upgrad