Columbia County Chamber of Commerce

06/12/2026

Upcoming event!

First Columbians 2026 Cocktail Reception Honoring Alexandra Anderson and John B. Carroll in recognition of their philanthropic service. at The James Vanderpoel ''House of History'' 16 Broad St., Kinderhook NY Tickets available online at cchsny.org

06/12/2026

Taiga Restaurant

Our Summer Edition has arrived. Savor a collection of one-of-a-kind cocktails, inspired by the season and crafted with the finest ingredients. Available for a limited time—come experience summer in a glass.

06/12/2026

A. Colarusso & Son, Inc.

06/12/2026

Capital Region Living Magazine

06/12/2026

Twin Wolves Healing Arts

Calling all Chatham area musicians! Twin Wolves is participating in Make Music Day on June 21! We have a beautiful outside space and a PA to offer for any local musicians who would like to play outside our space for Make Music day! We also have a small area for acoustic indoor playing. Any level, any genre, no fee. Sign up at https://chatham.makemusicday.org

06/12/2026

Klocke Estate

06/12/2026

Morabito Lawn & Tree Care

06/12/2026

Baker Addiction LLC

I'm not one to jump on the viral trends. But here it is my own twist on the dot cake. It's a chocolate cupcake filled with chocolate ganache covered in vanilla buttercream and lots of dots!



And in the porch fridge 😉🧁
1135 route 295, East Chatham

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06/12/2026

Hillrock Estate Distillery

Celebrate at Hillrock on Saturday, June 13th, featuring a special tour and tasting experience honoring the heritage, craftsmanship, and revival of America’s official native spirit.

Join founders Jeffrey Baker and Cathy Franklin for an intimate look at how Hillrock handcrafts bourbon the way it was done in the 1800s, when whiskey was made from locally grown grain and its flavors reflected the terroir of the fields it came from. This immersive offering will provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at the entire estate method, from field to still to rickhouse. Guests will gain a deeper understanding of the art, science, and innovation that define Hillrock’s award-winning bourbons while enjoying a guided tasting of select expressions — and barrel thieving.

Limited availability. Sign up here: bit.ly/4e0F86V

06/12/2026

Columbia County Tourism

𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬:
🌲 The Mysterious "Pondshiners" of Taghkanic 🌲

Ever wonder about the hidden secrets of our beautiful hills? For this edition of , we are diving deep into Columbia County folklore to bring you the story of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀!

If you’ve ever spent time swimming or camping at Lake Taghkanic State Park, you’ve walked right through the heart of their history. Back in the 1800s, local legend told of a fiercely independent, ultra-isolated group of people who lived deep in the rugged, rocky woods of Taghkanic.

Here are three fun facts about these legendary hill-dwellers:

🧺 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀: The Pondshiners rarely interacted with outsiders, but when they did, it was to trade. They became famous for hand-weaving incredibly durable, beautiful ash-wood baskets. Today, authentic "Taghkanic Baskets" are prized and highly collectible pieces of local history!

🏡 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: While old ghost stories painted them as a mysterious "tribe," historians believe many were actually families who fled into the untillable hills during the Anti-Rent Wars of the 1840s to escape wealthy landlords.

🚗 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Their isolated way of life largely stayed intact until the late 1920s and 30s. The creation of Lake Taghkanic State Park and the construction of the Taconic Parkway opened the local wilderness, finally connecting these hidden communities with the rest of the county.

The next time you hike the trails or look out over Lake Taghkanic, keep an eye on the treeline—you’re exploring a landscape rich with centuries of hidden history!

📸 Have an old Taghkanic basket? Drop a photo in the comments below!...and share this post with the local history buff in your life!

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
...𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮!
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