Anthony Fiducia is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Stewart House in Athens has been sold. Owner Owen Lipstein said the new owner of the 134-year-old riverfront restaurant and inn is Lon Ballinger, but offered no further information about the buyer or the purchase price. Lipstein owned the nine-room hotel, restaurant and bar for 16 years, with much of that time focused on renovation work. Lipstein recently moved to New Mexico. He said the future of the Stewart House is in good hands. “[Ballinger] is a complete professional and I think he understands the area and the potential of the area,” Lipstein said. The new owners will host an open house with live music and refreshments at noon on December 9, the day of the Athens Victorian Stroll. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.