Village Approves Dissolution Plan, Public Hearing Set for Nov. 4

By Max Oppen

TANNERSVILLE — The Village of Tannersville Board of Trustees has endorsed a Proposed Dissolution Plan, allowing Village voters to weigh in on whether Tannersville's governance should transfer to the Town of Hunter. The plan, created by the Laberge Group, was developed to streamline services and potentially reduce residents' costs. It is available on the Village of Tannersville website and the project website at www.labergegroup.com/tannersville with copies also accessible at the Village Clerk's Office at 1 Park Lane.

A public hearing to discuss the plan and gather community input will be held on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the Village Hall in Tannersville. Here's a breakdown of the plan's main provisions, potential impacts, and anticipated financial effects.

Proposed Dissolution Date and Governance Shift

If approved, the Village of Tannersville would dissolve on December 31, 2025. This dissolution would eliminate the Village's governance structure, including the Village Mayor, Board of Trustees, and Village departments. The Town of Hunter would oversee public services in the former Village area.

Public Works and Water Services

Under the Proposed Dissolution Plan:

The Town of Hunter would take over Village public works and water department functions. All former Village public works staff would be retained to operate and maintain Tannersville's highways, sidewalks, water systems, and parks.

A Tannersville Water District would be created, with boundaries mirroring the current Village limits. The Town would assume all water system assets and phase out the rate differential between Village and non-village users over five years. This transition is expected to add approximately $75 per year to the water fees of a typical single-family home within the Village.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) has confirmed that sewer services, provided at no cost to Village residents, would continue post-dissolution.

Lighting, Zoning, and Code Enforcement

To maintain critical infrastructure, the Town would:

Establish a Tannersville Lighting District to fund street lighting in the former Village through property taxes.

Continue enforcing current zoning regulations and would create a new Zoning Board of Appeals. A part-time code enforcement officer would be appointed to handle zoning and municipal code enforcement in the former Village.

Judicial and Administrative Adjustments

As part of the transition:

The existing Town Justices would handle the Village Justice Court's caseload, requiring additional hours for the Town court clerk.

A new full-time administrative position would be created within the Town to manage increased responsibilities, including grants, water service administration, and event coordination. The Town Clerk and fiscal operations would also receive additional support hours to handle the expected workload.

Property and Asset Transfers

The Village would transfer all parks, public spaces, and equipment to the Town, with the Town Highway Department assuming responsibility for these areas. Certain assets would be sold, including:

The Village Hall and firehouse, with proceeds allocated to cover Village liabilities.

Village public works equipment unrelated to water and recreation is also designated for sale.

The Village public works garage would be included in the NYCDEP Flood Buyout Program, and conservation easements would be preserved for any transferred properties.

Financial Impact on Residents

The Proposed Dissolution Plan includes a Citizen Empowerment Tax Credit (CETC) from New York State, equal to 15% of the combined Village and Town property taxes, estimated at $480,425. A minimum of 70% of this credit must be used to reduce property taxes, which is projected to lower rates substantially for former Village taxpayers. Specifically:

The current combined Village and Town tax rate of $12.12 per $1,000 of assessed value could drop to $8.68 per $1,000 before CETC.

With 70% CETC applied, rates may decrease to $7.83 per $1,000, and with full CETC, as low as $7.47 per $1,000.

For a single-family home assessed at $81,000, these reductions could translate to annual savings ranging from $203 to $302.

Meeting and Next Steps

The public hearing on November 4 is an opportunity for residents to ask questions and provide input on this significant decision. The outcome of this hearing and subsequent votes will determine whether Tannersville dissolves and transitions into the jurisdiction of the Town of Hunter.

For additional information and to review the complete dissolution plan, residents are encouraged to visit the Village of Tannersville's website, the project page, or the Village Clerk's Office at 1 Park Lane.

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DEC Announces Temporary Road and Dam Closure at North-South Lake Campground and Day Use Area

HUNTER — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced South Lake Road within the North-South Lake Campground and Day Use Area in the town of Hunter, Greene County, is closed for dam maintenance. South Lake Road and the South Lake Dam will be closed to public use for the duration of the construction project and parking will be limited to the parking area at the entrance to the facility.

The project will bring the dam into compliance with New York State dam safety regulations and is expected to continue until the campground opens on May 16 for the 2025 season.

North-South Lake is the biggest and most popular State campground in the Catskill Forest Preserve, offering extraordinary scenic beauty and proximity to popular sites such as Alligator Rock, Kaaterskill Falls, and the former site of the Catskill Mountain House. An abrupt change in elevation occurs from about 540 feet above sea level at the base of the escarpment to approximately 2,250 feet at the site of the former Catskill Mountain House. The provinces around the lakes have long provided visitors with exceptional views of the surrounding countryside. 

New Yorkers are encouraged to Love Our New York Lands at North-South Lake and all natural spaces by practicing Leave No Trace™ principles and recreating safely, sustainably, and hiking in suitable conditions based on weather and experience level. Maps and additional information about North-South Lake Campground and Day Use Area can be found on DEC’s website.  

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Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - DEC Continues to Cut Trout Fishing Opportunities

Governor Hochul’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is intentionally cutting the number of trout stocked in streams across the state. Despite raking in $40 million dollars per year in sporting license fees and taxpayers on the hook for $4.2 billion pursuant to the 2022 Environmental Bond Act, NY citizens, the average Joe and Jane New Yorker, are paying more and getting less. 

DEC knew at the outset the ill-advised measure would result in less fish stocked and less access to streams for all New Yorkers. Now the numbers confirming that are trickling in. 

For example, next year, the nine counties surrounding the Capital Region that comprise DEC’s Region 4, will get nearly 5,000 less trout stocked in area streams than they did in 2024. Hardest hit is Albany County who lost 32 percent of trout stocked, and Columbia County who lost nearly 23 percent. That’s in addition to loss of access to streams where the trout had been stocked. Delaware County will get a 10 percent reduction of numbers of trout stocked in 2025 when compared to 2024. 

The loss of almost 5000 trout from this year to the next does not take into account previous losses, or the loss of access to those streams experienced as a result of DECs actions. Montgomery and Schenectady Counties lost nearly 80 percent of trout stocked when DEC began their cuts. The numbers now show Schenectady and Montgomery as “unchanged” as they attempt to hide the previous 80 percent loss.    

DECs massive cuts to stocking and stream access deprives current and future New Yorkers to get on picturesque, rushing trout streams. DEC proceeded with the cuts over the objections of concerned NY sportsmen and women.

Why is DEC embarked on this ill-fated endeavor? It’s a slap in the face to anyone who buys a sporting license or voted for the Bond Act. Is it a part of a larger plan in league with Governor Hochul’s office and other politicians to divert funds from programs like trout stocking and stream access to ones that build stadiums in Western NY, or fund non-citizen illegal migrant projects? 

The loss of trout for recreation and for the table, in addition to loss of stream access is happening across the state. It’s as high as 70 to 80 percent in some of NY’s 62 counties. DECs action are having a devastating impact being felt in nearly every county in NY. 

It's election time. While many New Yorkers have voted with their feet, leaving NY once and for all, those of us left behind have a choice to make, and it’s in the voting booth. Whether you’re an active angler, sportsman or woman, or just one of the many people in the state who love the outdoors and enjoy access to beautiful rushing trout streams, it’s time to take a stand for balanced government in New York. 

 Governor Hochul, DEC Administrators, and the democrats have enjoyed a super majority in both the NY Assembly and Senate for several years now. Back when democrats maintained long-standing control of the assembly and republicans enjoyed a majority in the senate, NY citizens experienced a balanced approach to governance under both republican and democrat governors. 

This election cycle, if one NY Senate seat was flipped from democrat to republican, neither party would have a super majority, forcing them to be bi-partisan and compromise on some level. 

Let’s all vote, and get our family, friends and neighbors out to vote for a return to a balanced, common-sense approach to governance in NY. Considering what we pay to live in this state, that is the least we can expect from our elected officials. 

News and Notes…

Greene County Ducks Unlimited just announced, “Bingo for Boomsticks.” It will take place at the Old Factory Brewing Company at 628 Main Street, Cairo, NY, on Sunday, November 10, 2024 – Doors open at 1:30 pm. The first of 10 Rounds of Bingo plus a Bonus 11th round for a “Deluxe Gun” begin at 2:30 pm. There will be one firearm awarded for each game. There will be raffles, games, and refreshments. Tickets are $55.00 which includes entry, one drink, burger and fries, one appetizer, and a one-year membership to Ducks Unlimited. Bingo cards will be sold separately at the venue – (10 game sheets). Singles cost $50.00, the 11th Bonus Round is $20.00, and Single Sheets for  $50.00,  $100.00, and $160.00. Jeff Holiday says, the “BEST DEAL” is to get a “3-on” plus a “6-on,” (9 cards for all 10 games) plus a “4-on” Bonus sheet; a $310.00 value for only $200.00. The “BEST DEAL” is only available online prior to the event. Ink daubers are provided at the venue. Jeff asks you to join him and the “D-U crew” at Old Factory Brewing Company on November 10th for a fun afternoon at their 2nd ever “Bingo for Boomsticks” event.

For tickets and further information, go to www.ducks.org, click on the Events tab and go to New York events, or contact Dana Hanusik (518) 821-1773 or Jeff Holliday (518) 965-6105.

Remember to report poaching violations by calling 1-844-DEC-ECOS.

  

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Forest Ranger News

Town of Hunter

Greene County 

Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 26 at 9:25 a.m., Forest Ranger Dempf responded to a call for a subject who had collapsed on the trail near Kaaterskill Falls. At 9:40 a.m., Ranger Dempf reached the 53-year-old from New Jersey and the rest of his hiking party. The subject was conscious and alert but showed signs of overexertion. Ranger Dempf provided sustenance, and with the help of Greene County Paramedics and Tannersville Fire, assisted the subject to the top of the trail to an awaiting UTV, which transported him to a Hunter ambulance. The subject declined an ambulance ride to the hospital and decided to seek further medical care on his own. Resources were clear at 10:52 a.m. 

DEC encourages hikers to make sure they are hydrated and well-nourished before heading out for a hike. DEC also encourages hikers to plan ahead and prepare, and bring extra food and water in case their hike takes longer than expected. Tips to Hike Smart NY are available on the DEC website. 

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Haitian Author Jerrice J. Baptiste Shares Cultural Heritage at Rooted Book Reading

Story and Photos by Max Oppen 

TANNERSVILLE – On Sunday afternoon, the new flower shop in the Village Rooted hosted a heartfelt reading by Jerrice J. Baptiste, Haitian poet and author, who shared selections from her children’s books and passages from her newest adult book, Coral in the Diaspora. Her latest work is, she said, “about retaining one’s culture, community, and roots” and blends themes of “traditions and rituals” with stories accessible across generations. “It’s for adults,” Baptiste explained, “but I call it a family book because different generations can read it.”

Baptiste has published seven children’s books, all with a musical writing style that captures young readers’ attention. Her stories, written for both boys and girls, often draw on her childhood in Haiti and life in the U.S., blending fictional narratives with real-life memories of her family. “Many of my stories go back several generations, including when my great-grandmother was still alive,” she shared. “It allows me to create something unique but rooted in my family’s history.”

Half of the proceeds from Coral in the Diaspora benefit a primary school in Haiti called Ecole Mixte La Rédemption, also known as “Bird of Grace.” Baptiste, who supports the school through various efforts, helped establish its website, https://www.birdofgrace-emr.org/, so that more people can connect with and support its mission.

Baptiste started writing Coral in the Diaspora about five years ago, and the process has been an evolution of her life’s work. She began writing poetry at age six and has been writing for 43 years. “My books are somewhat fiction, mixed with reality,” Baptiste said, explaining how she weaves her family’s history and life experiences together. Her work reflects the Caribbean’s multicultural influences, as she “likes to bring in different parts of the world” into her books.

Illustrator April Matula, a teacher and artist from Poughkeepsie, has brought all of Baptiste’s children’s books to life through her illustrations. Their partnership began when Matula connected with the manuscript for Tru Ma Belle. “When I sent her the manuscript for Tru Ma Belle, she fell in love with it,” Baptiste recalled. Tru Ma Belle, which translates to “You Are My Beautiful,” centers on cultural rituals, family, and self-esteem. “It’s about mothers and aunts waking up daughters with the words, ‘Tru Ma Belle,’” Baptiste explained. “It has poems as well for children to boost their self-esteem.”

Baptiste moved to the Hudson Valley 20 years ago after spending her teenage years in Brooklyn, following her family’s emigration from Haiti when she was 13. A friend introduced her to the area, and she fell in love with the landscape and slower pace of life. “I was taken by the pace of living here,” she said. “I also fell in love with the nature that surrounds us.” Since moving to the Hudson Valley, she has found the local community receptive to her work. She now lives in Prattsville and runs a free monthly poetry workshop at the Prattsville Art Center, sponsored by the Prattsville Art Project, where she has been a poet-in-residence for the past three years. She also conducts poetry workshops across the Hudson Valley.

Baptiste’s extensive outreach includes many school readings and community events, reaching audiences of all ages. “I do a lot of readings for children and adults,” she said. “I’ve done readings at hundreds of public schools since 2013 when I published Tru Ma Belle.” Her books reflect a commitment to fostering cultural pride and self-confidence among young readers while drawing adults into the richness of her heritage.

Coral in the Diaspora is available at www.abodepress.com/product-page/coral-in-the-diaspora-by-jerrice-j-baptiste. Baptiste’s next poetry workshop will be held at the Prattsville Art Center, where she continues to share her cultural stories and literary voice with the community. Find out more at www.prattsvilleartcenter.org. 

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Local History by Dede Terns-Thorpe - An Election in Hunter

First, a special thank you to historian Larry Tompkins for this interesting read from a 1913 Town of Hunter election booklet.  (110+ years ago).    

Voters were listed by their residence and the party they enrolled in: Democrat, Republican, Blank, Prohibition, Void, Independent, and Socialist. 

Here are a few things to share about the book:

1. When the voter’s residence was listed as Platt Clove, there was no "e" in the name. When Postmaster Thomas Seiffert took office on August 18, 1875, it was called the Platt Clove Post Office, no "e". In recent years, Platt picked up the letter "e.". Interesting.

2. In 1913, women were not listed. It took another seven years for the 19th Amendment to pass, giving women the right to vote.

3. Edgewood, near Lanesville, was still a hamlet in 1913. Postmaster Frank Martine, the first postmaster, kept it open from 1881 until 1915. Once the post office closed, the hamlet lost its identity and it blended into Lanesville. Edgewood now has its name back in its approximate location. (Sidenote: James Rusk was the first postmaster of the nearby and very important, but short-lived, Stony Clove Post Office; 1858-1862.)

4. Elka Park, when written as a residence, did not exist until 1889 when the Elka Club opened. The homes, and businesses, en route to the airport corner (today's intersection near county route 16 and Elka Park Road) was simply considered Tannersville. The area to the east must have been called Platt Clove as the St. Francis deSalle Church (in Elka) is often noted as the Platt Clove Catholic Church. Tidbit: Renwick Dibbell, the first postmaster, was responsible for the 1893 opening of the post office. The name then was Elkapark.Post Office. It changed again to the Elka Park Post Office. That name remains today. 

Thomas J. O’Hara and Charles E. Nichols signed and swore to the accuracy of the Certificate of Copy of Enrollment.

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Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC VFW Post 1545

As the commander of Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC, VFW Post 1545, there are certain tasks I find particularly challenging.

One of the hardest is supporting our members who are facing health issues. I make an effort to stay connected by visiting and calling them, hoping to lift their spirits.

Even though I may not have served alongside some of them in combat, they are still my heroes and valued comrades, integral to my life in this organization.

Any veteran who is looking for a job that requires a CDL license, I have some info. President Biden has signed VFW-supported S.656, Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023, into law. 

VFW National Legislative Deputy Director Kristina Keenan provided testimony on this legislation to both the House and Senate.

To address the nationwide shortage of commercial truck drivers, this law will reduce unnecessary red tape and allow veterans to use their GI Bill benefits at more commercial driver license (CDL) schools. 

Prior to now, certain for-profit CDL schools with programs already approved by VA were restricted from accepting the GI Bill at newly established branches for a period of up to two years.

Allowing new branches of VA-approved schools to receive education benefits will ensure veterans can attend these programs as soon as they are offered.

Today, I will be picking up the Patriot Pen and Voice of Democracy essays from WAJCS. The challenging part of this contest comes next: judging the essays.

They’re all so impressive that we invest a considerable amount of time selecting the top entries. Every participant will receive a certificate and a cash prize for their efforts. I’ll announce the winners in the coming weeks.

A reminder that this Veterans Day weekend, Briars & Brambles Bookstore in Windham on Route 296 will be donating a portion of their receipts to our post. 

Jennifer has generously supported us in this way for several years. So, be sure to stop by and pick up a good book to enjoy by the fireplace. 

I’m currently reading “Nuts” by Vincent Speranza, a WWII veteran of the 101st Airborne Division who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Vince is quite the character, to say the least.

When I met Vince, he “attacked” me with his boisterous New York Italian voice, catching me off guard! Once I got him to relax, he opened up about how deeply he felt about the treatment of Vietnam veterans when they returned home. 

He expressed immense pride in walking in the victory parade in NYC and couldn’t understand why we were treated so poorly upon our return.

I had the honor of meeting him a few years ago at a reunion for WWII veterans, where Andrew Biggio interviewed many of them for his book, “The Rifle.”  

Andy is a Marine who served in Afghanistan and was a Boston police officer. He came to Windham to interview our WWII veterans for his book. 

My wife Lynn and I took a trip to Boston for the reunion and book signing, where over 90 WWII veterans were in attendance, including Tom Bristol, Lynn’s dad. 

Tom served as a tailgunner on a B-25 Mitchell Bomber in the China-Burma-India theater of the Pacific. He’s definitely one of those unforgettable characters, just like many others there.

I have regularly provided information about missing soldiers whose remains have been brought home by the government. I do this because it holds significant meaning for the families of those who fought and were unable to bring their loved ones back home.

The 700th missing Korean veteran returned was on September 9, 2024. He was Army Corporal Billie Charles Driver, 18, from Dallas, Texas, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency marked the identification of the 700th missing personnel from the Korean War. Corporal Driver, member of the 1st Calvary Division, perished in the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter, Sept. 5, 1950.

“This is an incredible milestone,” said Kelly McKeague, DPAA director, “It is reflective of the talent and dedication of the Department of Defense personnel who dutifully serve this sacred mission.”

Also, announced today that U.S. Army Warrant Officer Albert R. Trudeau, killed during the Vietnam War, was accounted for Sept. 11, 2024.

In October 1971, Trudeau was assigned to the 68th Aviation Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group. On Oct. 26, Trudeau was serving as the pilot of a CH-47B “Chinook” helicopter when it went down over water in bad weather while flying from Tuy Hoa to Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam. Remains of four of the 10 Soldiers on board were recovered during search and rescue operations following the crash, but Trudeau was not accounted for.

A reminder that this coming weekend, November 3, is Daylight Savings time. 

Keep all of our Missing in Action troops in your thoughts and prayers along with the troops still serving our country. God Bless America.

Marc Farmilette – Commander VFW Post 1545.

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Windham’s Rhoades Retires

By Michael Ryan

WINDHAM - Her last official day has come and gone as Account Clerk, but the title barely scratches the surface of what Bette Rhoades has meant, and will continue to mean, to the people of Windham.

Rhoades retires on October 31, closing the books after 25 years of keeping the town running fiscally smooth rather than clunking along clankety-clank.

“I have nothing but praise for Bette’s dedication,” says town supervisor Thomas Hoyt who would know first-hand.

“She started working here before things got all cranked up in Windham with so many more moving parts,” Hoyt says, referring to multiple infrastructure and community changes occurring over the past quarter century.

“Bette was called the Special Projects coordinator during all the craziness going on with roads and sewer, setting up all the billing and collecting.

“She kept track of everything with water and sidewalks, the ambulance. Fixed assets. She was also the supervisor’s secretary,” Hoyt says.

“Bette would go to the Coalition of Watershed Towns meetings with [the late town supervisor T. Patrick Meehan], helping break ground on developing that program,” working with all watershed communities in the complex interactions with the Department of Environmental Protection.

“You name it, she was it,” Hoyt says, eventually earning Rhoades the second of two nicknames she has been given over the years.

“Yes, it’s true,” Rhoades says, laughing. “I was the Sewer Guru,” which may have been, depending on your perspective, better or worse than the first.

“Bette grew up around here,” Hoyt says. “Her family goes back a long time in the Big Hollow valley which is what Maplecrest was called before it was Maplecrest. So she knows everybody and has a lot of institutional knowledge that you can’t teach.”

Rhoades, growing up a West, became the subject of light-hearted poetry. “My dad was good friends with her dad,” Hoyt says, grinning. 

“When she was little, Bette would wander over to the house, or whatever. My dad called her Bette West, the biggest pest in Maplecrest.”

That playful peskiness evolved into pecuniary persistence, not always a popular attribute with the folks obliged to pay the countless bills she prepared, but one paramount to pecuniary peace and prosperity.

Rhoades, in her career, was reliably precise, answering the phone at the office with the same country friendliness. “Good morning. Town of Windham, This is Bette speaking. Can I help you?”

It will be strange, not hearing that familiar greeting. And her anything-but-perfunctory professionalism was also evident in her retirement letter, submitted on October 7 to the town.

Rhoades wrote, “I would like to thank you for the opportunities, teachings and support that you have provided me over these many years with the township.

“I am more than grateful for the guidance and encouragement in pursuing my growth both professionally and personally.

“During the remaining weeks, I will complete all of my pending tasks. Further, I am willing to continue to assist in the training of my successor on an “as-needed” or part-time basis.

“I assure you that a seamless transition will be properly completed. It is with great sadness and melancholy that I submit this letter but wish to assure you that I will enjoy every moment of my new life of leisure.”

Living in the lap of luxury will include a retirement party happening at the Church of the Assumption, November 9, a journey to Greece with her hubby Bob, next year, and then…what?

“To be perfectly honest,” Rhoades says, “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Imagine that. Maybe clean my house.”

True to her word, Rhoades spent her final official workdays showing the ropes to her successor, Jessica Leto, an ongoing commitment..

No surprise there. And the 1968 Windham-Ashland-Jewett school graduate will, more likely than not, keep on doing what she has done on the job.

“I learned it,” Rhoades says, “as I did it.”

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Out Lexington Way

By Christine Dwon

Congratulations to the Hunter-Tannersville CSD Drama Club student directors, Allyson Kappel and Kadyn Maul and all the cast of Disney Pixar “Finding Nemo -  Kids” and student directors, Emma Constable and Lizet Molina Rodriguez and all the cast of Disney “High School Musical, Jr”, the Production Team and many others.  Both performances were held on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26 at HTC school in Tannersville and all the hard work and commitment by all involved resulted in wonderful performances and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.  You all deserve a big round of applause! 

The West Kill/Lexington Community Improvement Association would like to thank everyone who came to the Halloween Brunch at the Community Hall in West Kill on Oct. 27.  As always, the food was plentiful and delicious.  The children had a great time painting pumpkins and the hall was beautifully decorated in the spirit of Halloween.

Friday, Nov. 1 from 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. is Hope Restoration Christian Fellowship 25th Annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner at the Hope Restoration Church, 117 NY 296, Windham.  First come, first served.  Same great chefs and same delicious meal.  No reservations required.

Nora Carr’s birthday is Friday, Nov. 1.

Monday, Nov. 4 is Emma Wilson’s birthday.

Also celebrating a birthday on Nov. 4 is Amanda Truesdell.

Diane Pendarvis and Roger Staley celebrate their anniversary on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Nov. 5 is Sue and Alfred Truesdell’s wedding anniversary.

Best wishes to all.

Be sure to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, Nov. 2 because Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 3.

The annual Charge Conference for the Mountain Top Parish Churches is Sunday, Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m. in the Kaaterskill UMC in Tannersville.

Election Day Turkey Dinner, Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Lexington/West Kill UM church hall, 54 County Route 13A, Lexington.  Takeouts only.  Menu includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, pumpkin pie or apple pie, for a free will offering.

Greene County Department of Human Services – Greene County YMCA Veterans Day Luncheon is Friday, Nov. 8 from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.  Free lunch for veterans of our communities.  Space is limited and you must be a veteran to attend.  Register to save your spot – 518-731-7529, cdymca.org.

Virgil E. Deyo #1327 American Legion Auxiliary is holding their annual Veterans Bake Sale on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at Jim’s Great American in Prattsville.  Buy, bake or donate, all proceeds benefit local veterans.

Lexington/West Kill UMC Administrative Council meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. in the church hall.

CPR Certificate Course BLSCPR, Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Main Street Community Center, 5494 NY Hwy 23, Windham, will be led by Charlotte Osborn who is providing class at significantly reduced fee for the community.  Cost is $40.  Call 518-734-4168.

Thanksgiving Meal Kits will be available for anyone in the Mountain Top Community.  All requests must be in by Tuesday, Nov. 18.  Contact Amber Renner at 518-821-7198 or Antoinette Fischer at 518-821-9190.  Kits include one frozen turkey, two canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, bread and pie.  Pick up is Friday, Nov. 22, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Hunter Elementary School cafeteria.  Delivery is available, ask about it when reserving a kit.  Kits are sponsored in part by The Hunter Foundation, The Platte Clove Community, Tannersville TOPS, HTC Community Families and Mrs. Puddle Ducks.

There will be a Spaghetti and Meatball Fundraiser Dinner for our community member, Mark Cline in his fight against Parkinson’s.  The dinner will be held on Saturday, Nov. 23, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Community Hall, 141 Spruceton Road, West Kill.  Suggested donation is $15, takeouts and dine in.  Tickets may be purchased in advance or available at the door.  Contact Hope at 917-903-0107 or Barbara at 518-821-5845.  Donations also requested for a raffle that night and desserts for the dessert table.

The Greene County Department of Human Services Senior Nutrition Program menu for the week of Nov. 3 – Nov. 8 is as follows:  Monday—Chicken Dijon, mashed potatoes, Monaco vegetable mix, peaches; Tuesday—Vote Today--Department and all meal sites closed--no meals; Wednesday—American Goulash, corn, green beans, cookies; Thursday—Lemon pepper fish, Sonoma vegetables, rice pilaf, butterscotch pudding; Friday—BBQ pulled pork, baked beans carrots, coleslaw, fresh fruit.  All persons age 60 and older and spouses are invited to join for lunch.  Suggested donation is $4 per meal.  Congregate dining reservations are required at least a day in advance by noon by calling the appropriate center.  The number to call for the Senior Service Center at the Jewett Municipal Building, Route 23C, Jewett is 518-263-4392.

Thank you to all law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, healthcare providers, volunteers, veterans and actively serving military, farmers, truck drivers and so many more.

Prayers for all who are dealing with loss, illnesses, healing, difficulties, our country, our military and their families, the world.

Until next week take care, be thankful, be respectful, be safe and please be kind to one another.  Your act of kindness may change someone’s life.

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