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Chat with 1,863 fellow Hudson Valley creators, professionals, and small business owners

See how people are using our Slack community to ask questions, share opportunities, find work, and make friends. Below is the full archive of content from three of our most active channels:

March 28, 2026
Mike Schade
Mike Schade 3:11 PM
Hi all, I am running for Dutchess County Legislature in Fishkill.

I'm looking to hire someone that might be able to help out with shooting some good headshots for me that I can use for the campaign. I’m thinking a mix of indoors and outdoors shots.

If of interest I am running as a Democrat and on the Working Families Party ticket.

If you might be interested please dm examples of your work and rates.

You can find my campaign on Instagram @ MikeForDutchess

Thanks so much! -Mike Schade
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March 29, 2026
craig344
craig344 1:07 PM
My 6 year old is hosting his first TCG (toys, cards, games) show in Montgomery in June. We are looking for some toy vendors to complete trio. Please send me a DM if you are interested.
March 31, 2026
Laura Westman
Laura Westman 9:44 PM
Hi ConnectHV! Are you re-imagining yourself inside of a creative or tech industry? I've opened up space to provide more career coaching this spring. About me: I've been coaching for 14 years. I work with folks who want to see themselves thriving in an overlap between their leadership and their creative spirit - perhaps even bringing some renegade spirit to their industry, to spearhead change on a large scale, or embrace a daring vision that they worry others might not understand, but know at their core is authentic to them. Please get in touch if you'd like to learn more! www.laurawestman.com
April 1, 2026
Jon Warnow
Jon Warnow 11:13 AM
Heads up everyone: <@U0AQ3HPNNHJ>'s Slack account appears to be compromised -- he sent me a DM about 20 minutes ago with a link to fake website that seems to be a malware/phishing attack.

If you received a DM from him about a secretive large-scale project with a link to to a Google Site -- do NOT click that link, do not run any scripts, and do not download anything. I believe this is a social engineering attack designed to install malware on your computer.

The link leads to a fake Google Workspace page that asks you to run a shell script or install a DMG file. Neither is legitimate. I've reported this site as a malware/phishing attack.

You can confirm the account is compromised by checking Jordan's Slack profile -- it looks like the attacker has changed his email to <mailto:[email protected]|[email protected]>, which I'm pretty sure is not his real address.

If you already clicked the link but didn't run the script or install the DMG, you should be fine. If you did run the script or install the file, change your passwords immediately, etc.

If anyone has Jordan's cell, it's probably worth texting/calling him him. I sent him a message through his website (jordankoschei.com/contact) but it might be wise to escalate.
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Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 11:17 AM
Just deactivated that fake account. My real account (this one, it's me) has the display name "Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)"
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Thank you for the fast heads-up, @Jon Warnow, I saw your email come through and panicked lol
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Looks like the attacker created a second duplicate account with my name and profile picture, but a different email. Gross!
Jon Warnow
Jon Warnow 11:22 AM
Yeah it was actually pretty polished as these things go, easy to get fooled.

Given the advances in AI, I expect there to be a massive surge of cyber/phishing attacks, malware, etc. Everyone be careful out there!
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Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 11:24 AM
Wow, crap, that's very polished. Hopefully I don't write that robotically, but that looks pretty convincing 😬
<!channel> Sorry for the extremely noisy notification: if you got a DM from an account that looks like me in the past 24 hours, do not reply. Someone created a fake account impersonating me to do malicious things.

My real account (this one) has the email address <mailto:[email protected]|[email protected]>; the fake account had a Proton Mail address.
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jay.b.ballesteros
jay.b.ballesteros 11:28 AM
Oh, thank you!
craig344
craig344 11:37 AM
@Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) oh man this guy promised me free coffee
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The Learicist {Michael Leary}
The Learicist {Michael Leary} 11:45 AM
Good shit, Jon.
cpolack
cpolack 12:45 PM
I'm currently working with Hurley library, gestating something akin to a local “computer literacy” campaign.
I've been in the front lines: dealing with your grandparents.
..and if this tomfoolery is encroaching on @Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) than we all need to be educated.
CTA Anyone in the Hurley/Kingston area willing to volunteer to create this with me- Direct message.
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Jonathan Greene
Jonathan Greene 2:14 PM
Hi there - I launched a personal project this week and wanted to share. It’s been changing a decent amount each day and I think is semi-stable in design at least for now.

Adjacent is a daily intelligence brief that curates and connects signals across technology, culture, commerce, and emerging behavior. Each edition synthesizes hundreds of sources into the patterns that matter — not just what happened, but what it means and where it’s heading.

Six themes organize how we see the world:
The New Consumer — How people discover, decide, and buy is being rebuilt from first principles
Machines &amp; Minds — The interface between human judgment and machine capability
Commerce Rewired — Every transaction is being disaggregated and rebuilt
Culture &amp; Signal — Cultural movements precede market movements
Connected World — The physical world is getting instrumented
Brand &amp; Growth — How brands earn attention when everyone has the same tools
https://adjacent.media/
Signals from afield — a daily intelligence brief on technology, culture, commerce, and emerging behavior.
Adjacent
Adjacent — Signals from afield
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Helen Jonsen
Helen Jonsen 2:34 PM
Hello Creatives --- come out, meet and support other creatives at the Hudson Children's Book Festival May 2 at Columbia Greene Community College. It's our 15th year! 75 Authors and Illustrators, thousands of attendees, representatives from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and so much more. The event is free. Local food vendors will be on hand. All-volunteer run. To learn more about the festival, how to apply for next year check out our website at https://hudsonchildrensbookfestival.org/. Bring the kids! Buy books and have them signed on the spot! It's more than just a book fest --- it's a community day! Free bus shuttle loop from Hudson and Olana!
One of NY State's largest Children's Book Festivals is set for May 2, 2026 - 10:00am-3:00pm. Over 75 authors &amp; illustrators, live entertainment and much more!
Hudson Childrens Book Festival
Hudson Children's Book Festival - May 2, 2026 - Hudson NY
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I would like to suggest @Kristin Reimer of Photomuse. She has done beautiful work for me and she supports Hudson Valley Women in Business. https://www.photomuse.com/
Artistic, a little unconventional, award-winning photographer seeks creative adventurers and romance lovers for photography that will transform you.
photomuse.com
Hudson Valley, NY Fine-Art Portrait Photographer - Photomuse
maura.kate.costello
maura.kate.costello 11:03 PM
Im so curious to learn more about your whole career journey!! Would love to meet for coffee some time :)
April 4, 2026
Joan Ball
Joan Ball 2:44 PM
Anyone know of any good fiction/narrative non fiction writing groups? I'm hoping to find (or maybe start?) a small group of like minded writers who are working/want to make progress on a project this summer.
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April 6, 2026
Lisa Kelsey
Lisa Kelsey 1:04 PM
@Joan Ball I don’t know of any but please let me know if you find or start one! I am working on a cookbook/family memoir so I’d love to join a group.
April 8, 2026
William Brooke
William Brooke 12:28 PM
If any startup founders are in Beacon or Newburgh today, I’d love to grab coffee ☕. Repping Upstate Venture Connect, a non-profit that supports founders. I’m free 12pm-4pm until the Hudson Valley Tech Meet Up in Newburgh at 6pm. DM me ✌️
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April 9, 2026
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 12:45 AM
Hi Kamran, welcome!!
Hey folks, I'm looking for a few sponsors for the May meetup in Hudson! The meetup already has 150+ signups and I haven't started publicizing it yet, so it's a great way to get your brand in front of a big crowd of Hudson Valley folks.

Sponsorship includes your logo on the screen at the event, plus shout-outs in Slack + email + Instagram (all told, an audience of ~23k).

Let me know if you're interested!
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April 13, 2026
Imani
Imani 12:23 AM
Hey! My name is Imani, and I am the founder of Open Market. We are a lifestyle marketplace featuring emerging Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) brands. Over the past several months, our team has been operating in stealth mode, rebuilding and refining our platform to create a more efficient, user-friendly, and impactful experience for both brands and customers. We are now preparing to officially re-launch our storefront and curate in-person pop-ups in NYC within the next 45 days. As we prepare for our re-launch, we are looking to bring on 10 brands to join us for this next phase. We are looking for product-based businesses that offer high-quality, unique products within the home decor, wellness, beauty, CPG (coffee/tea/matcha), apparel, accessories, and gifts. If you're a product-based business that'd be interested in participating in this milestone, please complete this form. If you know of a brand, please share the form with them. https://bit.ly/ombrandinterest2026
Over the past several months, our team has been operating in stealth mode, rebuilding and refining our platform to create a more efficient, user-friendly, and impactful experience for both brands and...
Google Docs
Open Market Re‑Launch: Brand Interest Form
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April 15, 2026
Patrick McCarthy
Patrick McCarthy 9:27 PM
Hey all! Patrick McCarthy, based in Lake Peekskill. I run My Startup Consulting, a fractional CFO practice focused on early-stage startups and small businesses. I help founders with ops, financial modeling, fundraise prep, cash management, exits, and strategic finance. Notably helped with the $111M Paperspace sale to DigitalOcean.

Outside of work you can find me climbing or nerding out on natural farming. Always down to connect with folks in the HV community. Happy to be here!
Fractional CFO and Operations services for agencies, startups, and small business. See if we can be an asset to your team today!
My startup consulting - Prepare your startup for financing and growth.
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April 21, 2026
Jacqui
Jacqui 10:54 PM
Incredible opportunity. I just sent this to some local parents I know. I hope one of them can take you up on this!
April 29, 2026
Sophie Wedd
Sophie Wedd 3:53 PM
fun! I just sent you an email with some questions.
Yulia Ovchinnikova
Yulia Ovchinnikova 4:49 PM
Hey Tom, good to see you here! BTW we will have another hackathon May 18th in Poughkeepsie, I hope you can make this one! https://hvtechfest.com/2026/05/hackathon
We need inspiring mentors! like you :-)
samantha
samantha 5:57 PM
Join us this Saturday morning for a fun cake decorating class with 351 Cakes at HudCo in Dobbs Ferry! Nora, a CIA graduate now based in Katonah, will guide you through piping techniques using a 5" cake as your canvas. Go classic or bizarre with your design - it's just buttercream!
Picture Book and Boxing Day Cafe will be open too. Bring your mom for an early Mother’s Day celebration or come with a friend. https://351cakeclass.eventbrite.com
Ever have pipe dreams of becoming a pastry chef? Join us for a Saturday workshop to learn frosting techniques and decor tricks.
Eventbrite
Create &amp; Celebrate: Mom and Me Decorating Class with 351 Cakes Bakery
Tiffany
Tiffany 7:49 PM
Hi Everyone—I hope you’re all in the middle of a fabulous week✨
<@U0AUZ9ESA67> and I are working on a screenwriters lab that ultimately will produce a short for someone. I’m throwing here incase any one is or knows of anyone that would be interested. Its a pretty fire program backed by Stockade Works and Spark of Hudson.

Click through QR Code link HERE
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May 3, 2026
samantha
samantha 2:50 PM
Fun way to start the week: a Monday midday Mother’s Day Bazaar! Shop jewelry, home goods, clothing, baked treats, and more. Picture Book also has new arrivals, and Boxing Day Cafe will be open serving matcha, coffee, and more. Plus, Love Jenna Calligraphy and Minhee from Paper + Cup Design will be here personalizing keychains, totes, and vintage pieces. They’ll have items available, or bring your own for a custom touch. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mothers-day-bazaar-tickets-1987328730731?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Open to the public. Come savor the season, discover meaningful gifts, and celebrate those who nurture, inspire, and uplift us every day.
Eventbrite
Mother’s Day Bazaar
May 5, 2026
staceyburgay
staceyburgay 12:37 AM
That Creative Space is having some fun community events coming up.

We're celebrating World Collage Day this Sat 5/9 6-8 pm
https://book.thatcreativespace.org/p/n/QP5ldNKG/v5

We’re also having a handmade swap on Sun May 31, 2-4 pm

https://book.thatcreativespace.org/p/n/JHpF8Mts/v5
This isn’t just a come-and-collage event. We’re celebrating World Collage Day with something more playful.Overview Think musical chairs, but with paper, scissors, and glue. Every 25 minutes, you’ll sw...
book.thatcreativespace.org
Collage Party - World Collage Day Edition
Join us for our first Handmade Swap — a simple, feel-good way to share what you make and discover what others are creating.Bring a small batch of handmade items (baked goods, jam, candles, soup, greet...
book.thatcreativespace.org
That Handmade Swap Sunday May 31, 2-4 pm (21+)
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Yulia Ovchinnikova
Yulia Ovchinnikova 9:51 PM
Tomorrow, Wednesday May 6th, we are hosting an AMA session for a Digital Rally Youth Hackathon. Join us if you want to volunteer for upcoming May 18th event, or if you have teenagers in your Hudson Valley family: https://gdg.community.dev/e/mwgax6/
Virtual Event - Location: [Zoom + Slack]Target Audience: Potential Mentors and Event VolunteersWe are grateful to receive several applic...
Google Developer Groups
Volunteer AMA &amp; Prep Session: Digital Rally Youth Hackathon 2026
May 14, 2026
Matthias
Matthias 12:59 AM
Hi! I am subletting my house in Woodstock for the month of June. Please let me know if you are interested or know of anyone who might be. https://www.listingsproject.com/listings/historic-artist-cabin-in-woodstock-available-in-june
$750/week House for Sublet in Hudson Valley / Upstate NY posted on May 13, 2026
Listings Project: Find Your Place. Find Your People.™
Historic Artist Cabin in Woodstock available in June
May 19, 2026
Sam Seeley
Sam Seeley 1:00 PM
Hi all 👋 I'm Sam, in Orange County. Longtime lurker, finally posting.

I'm a Product Manager at an ad-tech company by day, and after years of building products for other people I finally built one for me (and hopefully people like me too)! It's a social reading app called Voluta (voluta.app).

The origin story is boring and probably familiar: my TBR was scattered across multiple apps, a spreadsheet, and my camera roll. I wanted one place for it. Eventually one place for all media (shows/movies/games) but books is what's shipped. It's on the web right now, app store coming soon!

I'm posting because I want your feedback. The bugs, the weird empty states, the "why does it do that," the "I wish it did this." If you give it a spin and have notes, send them my way! DM, comment, however.

Excited to actually be part of this group instead of just lurking! 🙈
The social tracker for everyone who lives inside stories. Built for books today. Shows, movies, and games coming soon.
Voluta
Voluta — Go ahead. Get lost.
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May 20, 2026
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV)
Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) 5:55 PM
Hey all! Our friends at New York Stage and Film (the crew who first incubated Hamilton at Vassar, and who've been great supporters of ConnectHV in the past) have an opportunity for several young actors in a new production of Andrew Lloyd Weber's Whistle Down the Wind:

&gt; For this workshop that will be based in Poughkeepsie for two weeks this July/August, we are going to cast 8-11 deaf and hearing youth/young adult actors. This would be a paid acting opportunity! And in addition to Deaf West's integral presence, the director of the project is Bill Rauch, who was just nominated for a Tony with Zhailon Levingston, his co-director, for their direction of CATS on Broadway. Rehearsals and public readings will take place at Marist University and the Bardavon in downtown Poughkeepsie.
&gt;
&gt; Here is our sharable link with all of the information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUnzVMqfnnp4GUj9CEk25T9Z5Ol-4pCT9k9NAIr4fPtuKoZw/viewform
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Basically: if you have a young actor in your family, they can get paid to work with a Tony-nominated director in Poughkeepsie on a pretty stellar show
May 22, 2026
drew
drew 3:11 PM
Hi everyone, it's been a while so I wanted to reintroduce myself. I own and operate Upstate Podcast Studio in Uptown Kingston. We are set up for everything from multi-camera video to remote sessions (which we do often) and have worked with clients like NPR, The BBC, Vox Media, The New Yorker, and REI as well as a slew of local podcasters.

I'm actively trying to fill out the calendar here and also find more regular collaborators so, if you or anyone in your network is looking, please don't hesitate to reach out. We'd love to have you!
Hudson Valley's video-first podcast studio. Producer included, 3-camera setup, up to 4 guests. Based in Kingston, NY. $199/hr.
Upstate Podcast Studio
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:studio_microphone: 1
May 25, 2026
Nadine Robbins
Nadine Robbins 7:03 PM
Hi everyone! Are you a fine artist? Do you hate to do the daily business backend tasks for your art practice like social media posts, newsletters, marketing, writing, etc? You would rather be creating, right? I'm an artist so I get it. I know all of the tasks that we creatives have to do and it's a lot of work and I'm looking for part-time freelance hourly gigs. DM if you hate doing backend work and want to have more time to create 😉 PS If you know of any artists who are looking for support, let them know I can help. Here's a link to my site. I have plenty of references! website
Portrait paintings, figurative paintings, Oyster paintings, portrait commissions for art collectors. Oyster prints for interior designs.
nadinerobbinsart.com
Nadine Robbins
May 27, 2026
Jack Mosel
Jack Mosel 3:37 AM
Hi All First Post - Here's a Project I'm developing - I’m located in Carmel NY. https://ordfs.network/5da0ee12d3c5e49549b1793e0fd7df88b0398b4ff95664fd06090a3a48c2b87b
The phone booth. Step in, step out, own everything. Built by a sovereign family on Bitcoin SV.
ordfs.network
May 28, 2026
ms.yinmei
ms.yinmei 9:29 PM
It depends, what are you gonna do with them?!
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Ricky Tiscareno
Ricky Tiscareno 9:40 PM
Hi all! I just found out about ConnectHV so thought I'd formally introduce myself. I'm the Co-founder of Poured Candle Bar and Poured New York in Hudson. If you've been to our shop before or purchased one of our fragrances online or in a boutique, I'd love to hear from you! Looking forward to getting to know more of this network. Cheers!
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May 29, 2026
craig344
craig344 10:55 AM
Hey @Jordan Koschei (ConnectHV) can we get a foodie channel?
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The Learicist {Michael Leary}
The Learicist {Michael Leary} 1:07 PM
Joel, she was likely just messing around. I thought it was funny at least. Try college campuses and coffee shops and look up discords in the community. Finding that exact age may not be easy but there's a bunch of folks in the Hudson valley
ms.yinmei
ms.yinmei 2:54 PM
Aie Joel, I was totally humoring you - though I was once a psychology academic and we searched for specific age groups for paid study opportunities so I had to ask haha. (Not that I think a paid study group is necessarily the best way to meet other people of a specific age group - don’t get any ideas!!!)

Looks like some great suggestions above! I wonder if in the Catskills there might be some volunteer groups you can join - that has been my favorite way to meet folks, especially other people who are kind. Kindness is a great antidote to social anxiety.

When I was 23, I was in a totally other country living abroad and at the beginning - it got pretty lonely not having friends my own age. My first friend ended up being someone I met on the subway : we shared a funny interaction and then I asked to stay in touch since I was new to town. They were more than happy to start a new friendship. Wishing you courage :)
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The Learicist {Michael Leary}
The Learicist {Michael Leary} 4:09 PM
Oh Tom great call!
ms.yinmei
ms.yinmei 8:21 PM
Any Solopreneurs and Creatives got tips/tricks/favorites when it comes to tools they use for their own LLC and administration?
June 1, 2026
nuna
nuna 2:59 AM
Hiya Everyone!
Just joined. Living in Dutchess County, recently started multi-gen living / taking care of our elderly parents. I'm a psychotherapist and a creative ops lead at a media production company. Adding my links/info below. Really looking for community and connection. Hope everyone is well!
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/nuna-ali-eboe-new-york-ny/1461074

https://secretweapon.studio/about/
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Yulia Ovchinnikova
Yulia Ovchinnikova 10:14 PM
Excited to share that our chapter GDG Hudson Valley has won the Chapter Innovation Award at the Google Developer Groups North America Summit 2026. 🏆
Google recognized our chapter not for a single event — but for our entire approach to building technology community in the Hudson Valley: hackathons, youth programs, workforce training, and meetups that bring the newest tech to everyone, without delay.
Yulia Ovchinnikova and John Sturman accepted on behalf of hundreds of participants, volunteers, mentors, and partners who made it possible. This award is yours. 💙
📖 Read the full story → https://openhubproject.com/articles/gdg-hudson-valley-receives-chapter-innovation-award-google-developer-groups-north-america
:date: And join us June 11th for HVTech meetup in Poughkeepsie to celebrate and dig into Google I/O 2026's biggest announcements. Free. All welcome. https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-hudson-presents-hudson-valleys-tech-community-meet-up-in-poughkeepsie-1/
OpenHub Corp-led chapter recognized for its pioneering a
openhubproject.com
In-person Event - Join us for our June in-person meetup — a rich two-part evening covering the human side of tech collaboration and the la...
Google Developer Groups
Hudson Valley's Tech Community Meet up - in Poughkeepsie
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Why should I join?

Over 1,800 local creatives and professionals are in the group, connecting with each other and sharing opportunities. People are finding work, hiring locally, sharing resources, launching new projects, and generally being a community that's authentic and human rather than the opposite.

What's the vibe?

Conversation in the Slack is casual and human. There are lots of people introducing themselves, asking for recommendations, hiring people and sharing that they're ready to be hired, and announcing new events or projects. (And it's totally fine to just lurk, too!)