In Rosendale –
The recent Rosendale Runs fitness event drew nearly 200, showing both the "legs" in new exercise popularity, as well as this town's continuing draw as a fun place for profitable festivals and other events.

In Orange County –
County executive Steve Neuhaus was quick to comment on vandalism at the Temple Beth Shalom Cemetery in Warwick, just as others were decrying the state courts' defiance of local will against Kiryas Joel's growth. "It is offensive on every imaginable level that someone spray-painted swastikas in a Jewish cemetery in our community," he noted in a press statement. "There is no place for behavior such as this in Orange County and it will not be tolerated."

In Ulster County –
While the courts upheld wording on a ballot item seeking approval of a move for the county family court, despite two legislator's lawsuit opposing, Ulster's progressivism took a united step forward as lawmakers have now started talking about adopting Marbletown's ban on plastic bags in retail stores countywide.

In State Senate Races –
The legislature's oldest member, incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Larkin, didn't show for a recent debate, giving the event and its coverage to his second-time-around challenger Chris Eachus. Meanwhile, the Mamakating area's powerful Rural Heritage Party invited in John Bonacic's Democratric challenger, Pramilla Malick, to a meeting last weekend. Could a wave be building?

In the U.S. Senate Race –
Just as we were wondering about this big race, where incumbent Chuck Schumer's vying to become Senate Leader, as well as reelected, the man's ads started showing up everywhere online and on television. Meanwhile, his R/C challenger Wendy Long, who also ran against Kirstin Gillibrand a short while back, augmented her appearance on Trump/Pence road signs with an appearance last weekend at a pizzeria event in Kingston...

In Sullivan County –
You know the wind's changed when this county gets a sales tax revenue jump of $1.2 million just in time for budget balancing. Now to see how the legislature figures out how to best use such a windfall...

In The Region –
According to the National Drought Mitigation Center, almost two-thirds of Orange County, more than one-third of Ulster County and about 10 percent of Sullivan County are experiencing severe drought conditions, the second of four stages of drought established by the agency, which monitors drought conditions nationwide. The NYC reservoirs are okay, but we should still pray for a bit of rain, soon.

On A Higher Sphere –
The Gallup Poll is reporting that 58 percent of Americans now think marijuana should be legal and that voters in five states — Arizona, California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Maine — are voting on legalization Nov. 8. Another growing wave?