MUSINGS OF A LOCAL By Iris Mead - COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN THE CATSKILLS

There are times when an idea can grow and blossom and become a successful endeavor enjoyed by the community and looked forward to again. Such was the Spring Tea held last May at the Margaretville United Methodist Church Social Hall. The Hall was turned into a tea room with individually designed tables by the committee members. Beautiful tea cups, saucers and luncheon plates adorned each table. Lilacs were the flower of the day as they were in blossom and used throughout the venue. Long-stemmed roses also added to the beauty of the tables. And food! A buffet table 12 foot long held varied finger foods, tea sandwiches, quiches, and sweets. Many trips were made to that table throughout the festivities.

This success story is an example of how a group of community members came together with an idea of offering the area a new social event. Plans came together as the date approached, flyers were posted, social media postings made and, most importantly, by word-of-mouth. When the day arrived, the tables were sold out and the chatter and laughter that filled the space made all the planning and hard work worth it. Working together as a group made this possible and offered an opportunity for a new event in the area. On May 17, this successful community endeavor will happen again at the same location from 1:00-3:00. Reservations can be made at 845-586-4736.

The spirit of a community depends on the willingness of its population to offer opportunities and participate in many different types of activities. In the Catskills, we are fortunate to have a variety of options for socialization from live music venues, plays and concerts held at area schools, outdoor hikes, mountain climbing, book clubs, church dinners and meeting up at one of our many breweries and distilleries. Live music has become popular in the area with the emergence of the many famous musicians who now call the Catskills their home and share their talent at local venues. So, take the time to explore what is being offered and support the many community events that occur in our own backyard.