When I learned the town of Wilmington was publishing a history as part of its bicentennial commemoration, I imagined long lists of events, detailed sketches of people I hadn’t heard of, and lots of arcane references familiar to residents but not to an outsider like me. What I got instead ...

Looking for some new-to-you, uncrowded hiking trails? “Happy Lonesomes: A Guide to 15 Eastern Adirondack Hikes That Are Long on Scenery and Short on Crowds” by Tim Rowland will guide you through all 15 (with two bonus hikes) hikes. A New York Times bestselling author and award-winning ...

A chance encounter at a local venue with author Andrea Barrett prompted me to reread her “The Air We Breathe,” published in 2007. Barrett, who lives in the Champlain Valley, is renowned for skillfully weaving science into her fiction — her “Ship Fever,” about a Canadian doctor and an ...

Lobbying isn’t for everyone. It takes long hours, patience, skill at cajoling and horse-trading, willingness to buttonhole busy legislators and to accept victory humbly and defeat graciously. It demands the ability to roll with the punches, be in for the long haul and see beyond the ...

I’m not necessarily the biggest fan of murder mysteries that take place in the Adirondacks. Mostly it’s a matter that I love this region, and I relish the time I get to spend out of doors here. There’s no need to spoil that by making me worry about people out there trying to get ...

Skiers, mystery lovers and history buffs will enjoy Phil Bayly’s newest novel, “Back Dirt: A Murder on Skis Mystery.” In the third book of the Murder on Skis Mystery series, the author weaves together a tale of multiple murders, ethics violations, fraud, a love of skiing and the ...