The best business deals are those that start out with two parties each needing what the other can offer. Jim Hyland, whose firm The Farm Bridge presently employs about 50 people in the TechCity facility in the Town of Ulster, intends to move soon. He needs about 40,000 square feet of space for his food processing business. Jim Hull, owner of 36 malls in the nation, has that much space — and more — available at the Hudson Valley Mall three minutes away across Route 9W. Will the two get together? They’re working on it.

The median sold price in Kingston in 2019 was $191,750, up almost 20 percent from the previous year’s $161,700. Woodstock’s median sales price was $420,000 in 2019, a modest increase over 2018’s $403,500.

Beginning this year in New York State, bail – or wealth-based detention – can not be required for most crimes. The change in function from a mainly punitive system of law enforcement to a rehabilitative and restorative one is no simple proposition. We are already seeing lurid headlines alleging dangerous criminals being set loose. Expect more.

As the pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus put it, “Change is the only constant in life.” We should be careful about what we anticipate. Change always takes unexpected turns.

Tomasine Oliphant is just learning the ropes as the new director of Ulster County’s federally funded office of employment and training.

Confidentiality obviously has its place in economic development, but not at the level of communication, goals and policy.