Sophie Moos

My Recent Work

Sophie's Substack •

A Drug They Didn't Know They Were Taking: The Fentanyl Crisis in the Hudson Valley

Ryan Doyle didn’t know he had started using fentanyl.A rehab he had admitted himself to, years into a battle with substance use disorder, drug-tested him as part of the intake process. When a nurse returned to his room with a doctor and a group of EMS personnel, the doctor informed Doyle there was a large amount of fentanyl in his system. Doyle thought he was using heroin.When Doyle got out of rehab, the first thing he did was purchase pure fentanyl.Fentanyl, an incredibly potent synthetic opioi...
The New Paltz Oracle •

University Deems Library Mold 'Not a Health Concern' - The New Paltz Oracle

For several months, library staff of the Sojourner Truth Library have been sounding the alarm on mold outbreaks across the concourse floor, throwing out several hundred affected books and cleaning countless more on their own.


The concourse floor of the library — home to the stacks from A–L, Juvenile/Young Adult Books, the Media Collection, the Create Space and a majority of the study rooms — has been flagged for mold. The most impacted sections are in the southeast corner of the library, wher...
The Overlook •

Hurley Appoints Tracy Kellogg to Fill Town Justice Vacancy

The Hurley Town Board voted 3-0 on July 22 to appoint attorney Tracy Kellogg to the Town Justice seat left vacant by the death of longtime resident and sitting judge Roy Hochberg.

Councilmen Joseph Letendre and Gregory Simpson were absent from the meeting.

Kellogg, who chairs the Hurley Planning Board and served as town clerk in 2024, will serve immediately through Dec. 31, 2025. Her name will appear on the ballot this November, and she announced her intention to run for a full term.

“I’m hap...
The Overlook •

Are We Ready for the Next Storm? What to Know About Disaster Preparedness

As extreme weather events become more common, a question arises whether communities in The Overlook Region are prepared for natural disasters—especially after recent catastrophic flooding in Texas.

On July 4, torrential rains swept through the Texas Hill Country, leaving at least 120 people dead and 173 still missing. Among the hardest-hit areas was Kerr County, where 27 campers and staff at Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp, died in the flood. 

Despite accurate forecasts by the...
The Overlook •

Woodstock Board Members Say They Weren’t Told New Hire Was a Level 3 Sex Offender

During public comment at Tuesday’s Town Board meeting, Michael Veitch, chair of Woodstock’s tree committee and a survivor of child sexual abuse, stood and read a prepared statement.

“I’m requesting that the Town Board act tonight to inform any parent whose child may be using town facilities or programs that they may come in contact with a pedophile and violent registered sex offender who is employed by the town,” Veitch said.

Shortly afterward, the Town Board ended the public meeting and enter...
The New Paltz Oracle •

Assembly Art Journal Publishes 5th Issue - The New Paltz Oracle

New Paltz’s Assembly Art Journal, a student-created art magazine, launched their fifth issue on April 4 with an event in the Fine Arts building rotunda from 4 to 5 p.m. 


The journal serves as a diorama of the diverse talent and artistry that students hold right on our campus. The journal was built by students as part of the accompanying seminar-style course. It was formed in 2020, when students were unable to physically display their work due to the pandemic. The class, composed of 13 student...
The New Paltz Oracle •

Tunes and Trims for Trans Day of Visibility - The New Paltz Oracle

To honor Transgender Day of Visibility, Little Loaf Bakeshop and Chroma hosted an open mic and free gender affirming haircut event this past weekend, collaborating with Trans Joy Revolution. 


Transgender Day of Visibility takes place on March 31. Transgender activist Rachel Crandall Crocker founded it in 2009 in response to the lack of support given to transgender people in the LGBTQ+ community. As the day has gained more popularity, it has become a time for celebrating and uplifting past and...
The New Paltz Oracle •

Come into the Carnival: Sideshow Brings Barbecue to Main Street - The New Paltz Oracle

Nestled behind the New Paltz town staple and iconic bar, McGillicuddy’s, a new barbecue restaurant has entered the world of New Paltz eateries. 


Sideshow, which is run by the same owners as McGillicuddy’s, opened on Jan. 7. The restaurant’s tagline is “Welcome to the Night Circus,” offering a carnival-inspired menu, featuring build-your-own barbecue plates and  specialty cocktails. 


According to owner Brian Keenan, he and his co-owner Craig Gioia had the inspiration to open the restaurant...
The Overlook •

Lisa Phillips on Teen Love, Heartbreak, and the Conversations Parents Should Have

When Lisa Phillips’ daughter was 13, she started dating a neighborhood boy.

Gone were the days of Disney movies and picture books—suddenly, Phillips found herself navigating chaperoned dates, open-door policies, and watching her daughter become her own person.

And as Phillips puts it, she was a mess.

“I had such a strong reaction to it. I was so worried,” she said. “I realized that I needed support, and I also realized that I might have something to offer because I’ve been writing about relat...
The New Paltz Oracle •

Opening the Floodgates; Closing the Bakery  - The New Paltz Oracle

On Jan. 24, The Bakery announced it would be closed for a couple of days due to flooding. Almost a month later, the business has yet to open its doors. 


A frozen pipe burst in the walls, causing the flood, which led to 37,000 gallons of water surging into the building. This completely submerged the basement and caused extensive damage to the floors and walls of the establishment. It also destroyed the cabinets and bakery cases.


“Everything in our basement had to get thrown away. All of our...
Sophie's Substack •

‘Nobody Has Ever Really Cared’: Inside Jewett’s Forgotten Water Problem

Written December 2024When Robin Leach wants to make dinner for her fiance, John Angelo, and her daughter, Candice, she avoids her tap water and goes straight to the water bottles inside of her fridge. This is a routine she has known for the 35 years she has lived in Jewett, New York.Jewett, a small town of 1,700 people, is on Hunter mountain, a peak in the Northern Catskill mountains. The main road of the town has skiing shops, a goldsmith, a general store and multiple other locally owned busine...
The New Paltz Oracle •

The Renaissance Of The New Paltz Music Scene - The New Paltz Oracle

There was a notable drop in nightlife for students of SUNY New Paltz last year. Iconic house show venues like Radio Shack and Hog House closed their doors and after PNG’s had its liquor license taken, students were at a loss for how to entertain themselves every weekend. 


However, at the start of this semester, the house show scene was reinvigorated. Nebraska returned for another year and The Ashtray, Grandma’s, The Bird House and Exotic Emporium opened this semester, giving the music scene a...