the view in Catskill on Friday
It’s a big day for The Jiffy, because today marks the kick-off of my first-ever End Of Year Fund Drive and I hope to make it the coziest fundraiser of the season.
By the end of December, I’m hoping to raise enough memberships to fund the projects I’ve planned through March of next year. This is your chance to help sustain the work I’ve been making, from field reporting to audio documentaries and more. If you’ve enjoyed following along, please read on to learn about ways you can support.
The wind is picking up outside my house, and we’ve got our first Winter Storm Of The Season approaching (the forecast predicts more than six inches of snow tomorrow where I live) so I’ve also got a list of 5 Cozy Physical Media you should watch to help you stay warm!
OK, on to this issue:
Why fund The Jiffy?
There’s just no avoiding it; I’m not a billionaire. I’m not a media outlet owned by a billionaire, either. This is The Jiffy, not Jeffy. I don’t know Jeff Bezos, and I’m sure that I don’t know anyone who knows him.
But this is good because it means I’m independently funded by you, which means I share the stories that reflect our community, stories that you want to see, hear, and read about. The Jiffy isn’t a hobby to keep me busy, it’s a true passion project with the mission of sharing stories about rural America through the lens of upstate New York.
I’ve spent this year investing deeply in this work, participating in creator cohorts with Project C, the Online News Association, the News Creator Corps, and a pilot program with Trusting News.
I’ve produced documentaries about the people who grow and pack our CSAs, profiles of vintage base ball teams and the many Chathams, the history of Pinkster Festivals, the Underground Railroad, and Dutch architecture. We’ve taken Sleep Hikes to peaceful places. Each of these projects helped me understand this region more clearly, and if it did the same for you, please support this work.
The goal:
By December 22, I hope to reach:
15 new recurring supporters, or
$5,000 in support to carry production through March 2026.
Two ways you can help:
Your support covers reporting trips, podcast production, web hosting, gear upkeep, interviews, and the time needed to create all of The Jiffy’s series!
I’m excited to launch this year’s fund drive with something special: Everyone who becomes an annual supporter will receive a limited-edition set of Jiffy-Mart bookmarks mailed directly to you.
There is no one sharing stories about this region like The Jiffy. So if you’re a person who would be sad if The Jiffy ever ceased to exist, please support.
Last week, I spent time with Sleepover Trading Co., located in the renovated Community Theater in Catskill, to get their recs on Exactly Five Cozy Movies To Get Us Through Winter:
@jamestheecave Cozy movie recs from my neighborhood local video store @Sleepover Trading Co 📼 My Comfy Map of Cozy Corners is coming soon
They did not let us down. They’re also launching a Video Club Membership on December 13, including many of the videos they added to their collection as part of their procurement of the legendary Video Visions library.
They also told me that soon they’ll have VCRs that you can rent, too. 📼
interesting events that look fun and are happening soon!!
The Community Theater in Catskill will wrap up its Kurosawa Remastered series with screenings of "High and Low" and "The Hidden Forest" through December 9. Various dates and showtimes. 373 Main St., Catskill, New York. (Info here)
Hudson-based filmmaker Karl Mattson of 542films will premiere his new short documentary "Here We Grow: A Film About The Hudson Youth Center" in collaboration with the Friends of Hudson and the Hudson Film Festival. Thurs., Dec. 4, 5:30 p.m., 502 Union St., Hudson, New York. (Info here)
Wassaic Project will host the opening reception for its winter 2025–2026 Winter Exhibition, "This Must Be The Place", featuring Meli Bandera, Danny Dobrow, Mark Fleuridor, Thea Gregorius, Heidi Johnson, Kim Mullis, Antonio Scott Nichols, Beverly Peterson, Gerardo Pulido, Stephanie Santana, Deborah Simon. Sat., Dec. 6, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., Maxon Mills, 37 Furnace Bank Rd., Wassaic, New York. (Info here)
A James Cave Instagram Feed Annual Tradition, Hudson’s Winter Walk is always a fun time: The 29th season takes over Warren Street with live music, circus performances, window displays, late-night shopping, a fireworks show, and more. This year, you can pick up a "nano-lantern" to carry for free. Sat., Dec. 6, Warren Street is closed from 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Info here)
Downtown Coxsackie’s Christmas By The River holiday festival will feature local art, historic trolley rides, Santa’s Workshop, and more. Sun., Dec. 7, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Reed St., Coxsackie, New York. (Info here)
The Thomas Cole National Historic Site will host it’s annual Winter Social, with holiday shopping, tree AND building lighting, winter tours, hot chocolate, and more. You can shop items from Finch Hudson, the previously mentioned Warren Battle of Battle Brown, Return Brewing, and more. Sun., Dec. 7, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., free entry. 218 Spring St., Catskill, New York. (Info here)
Cone Zero Ceramics invites you to check out their new location at their holiday sale and fundraiser for the Catskill Community Fridge. You can take home objects made by members and Cone Zero staff. Sat., Dec. 13, 12 p.m. – 4pm, 346 Main St., Catskill, New York. (Info here)
Over the past month, I’ve asked readers when you’d like to get this newsletter delivered each week, and 71.43% of those who responded voted for Monday, so that’s what this shall be! A weekly newsletter delivered each Monday at ~4 p.m. (This is when Beehiiv says it’s most likely to be opened). Thank you for your input, because it really helps me build the newsletter that you want to get!
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