The Rural We

Community

The Rural We: Paul de Jong

Paul de Jong is best known as the cofounder, cellist and sound collagist of defunct duo The Books. The New Lebanon, NY resident has recently released his first solo album, 'IF,' to positive reviews in Pitchfork and on NPR. Although De Jong considers himself a musician first, he

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The Rural We: Adam Hinds

Last year, after nearly 10 years working on the Middle East for the United Nations, Adam Hinds returned to his home of Western Massachusetts to become program director for a new youth development program called Pittsfield Community Connection. The relocation was intentional, he says, because of the combination of culture

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The Rural We: Athenaide Dallett

Litchfield County resident and Kent School English teacher Dr. Athenaide Dallett is the author of the newly published book, "The Absinthe Association." Based on a true story, the book chronicles the lives of a group of college grads who distill absinthe for fun, but find that its popularity

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The Rural We: Natalia Zukerman

Natalia Zukerman is a touring singer/songwriter, painter and muralist with strong ties to the Rural Intelligence region. A slide guitar, lap steel and dobro player, she has released six albums since 2001, showcasing her own blend of “rootsy, Americana blues folk." She will be performing with double bassist

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The Rural We: Joseph Luzzi

Photo by Helena Baillie Joseph Luzzi, professor of Italian at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, is the author of four books including 2014’s My Two Italies. He will be discussing and signing copies of his soon-to-be-released memoir, In A Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the

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The Rural We: Jess Conzo

Jess Conzo is the executive director of the Alchemy Initiative and market manager of the Pittsfield Farmers Market. With parents who were both business minded and socially conscious, it’s not surprising that she would become a community organizer. Born in Worcester, raised in Boylston, she majored in social work

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The Rural We: Serge Madikians

An Armenian born in Tehran, Iran who has worked and studied both in Los Angeles and New York City, Serge Madikians has a palate that is both intense and subtle. But Madikians, chef and owner of Serevan which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, now finds inspiration in his

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The Rural We: Mark Prezorski

Photo by Melanie Hasbrook. The beauty of Olana Historic Site, the former home of artist Frederic Church and its accompanying land overlooking the Hudson River, is apparent even on the pages of a book, where Mark Prezorski first saw it. But viewing it in person was the catalyst that led

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The Rural We: Conrad Hanson

Conrad Hanson is the executive director of The Friends of Clermont, a non-profit organization that supports the museum and historic preservation of the Clermont State Historic Site. He grew up in Oneonta, NY, and after graduating from SUNY Albany, blew his graduation money on a one-way ticket to London. He

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The Rural We: Chloe Caldwell

Born and raised in Columbia County, author Chloe Caldwell has returned to her old stomping grounds of Hudson, NY after sojourns in Europe, Portland, Seattle and Brooklyn. The 29-year-old, who already has penned an acclaimed book of essays and been featured in numerous anthologies, will read from her recently published

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The Rural We: Kayo Iwama

Kayo Iwama coaching Szilvia Mikó, pianist, and Sara LeMesh, mezzo. Kayo Iwama is the associate director of the Bard College Conservatory of Music graduate vocal arts program, the masters degree program for classical singers. She is a pianist and her CD, The Reckless Heart, performed in collaboration with singer Kendra

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The Rural We: Rona Easton

After a couple of decades living and working in several of the world's major cities – London, Berlin, Hong Kong and New York City – Rona Easton and Lonn Combs found their way to the Hudson Valley, and on to the Berkshires. EASTON+COMBS, their business partnership, is an award-winning,

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