Out Lexington Way

By Christine Dwon

Excellent turnout for the Holiday Market at the West Kill Lexington Community Hall on Nov. 29. Thank you to those who organized the Holiday Market, everyone who came and all the vendors. The Ladies Aid of the West Kill United Methodist Church thanks you for stopping by and making the fundraiser bake sale such a success. The Lexington Historical Society was busy selling their delicious homemade soups.  The wonderful toe-tapping music was provided by Marzi Zintz.

Happy birthday to Lula Anderson on Thursday, Dec. 4.

Dec. 4 we wish Dede Terns-Thorpe a happy birthday.

Jane Concato’s birthday is Friday, Dec. 5.

Monday, Dec. 8 Mike and Eric Petosa celebrate their birthday.

Happy birthday to Carol Carr on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Happy wedding anniversary to Susan and Carl Simpfenderfer on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Best wishes to all.

Don’t forget the Ashland Fire Department’s breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 6, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. to benefit the Ashland Fire Department 100th year anniversary and the 138th Greene County Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention hosted by the Ashland Fire Department in September 2026.  The breakfast is at the Ashland Town Hall, 12094, State Route 23, Ashland.  Eat in or takeout, free will offering.  Menu includes eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries, toast, pancakes, french toast, biscuits and gravy or grilled breakfast sandwich with egg, bacon or sausage, American cheese and side of home fries.  Real maple syrup, coffee, juice, tea and hot chocolate too.  There will be a 50/50 raffle, bake sale and Convention merch.  Call Diane for information at 518-734-3636.

There is a Christmas Tea and Craft Sale on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Windham-Hensonville UMC, Main Street, Windham.  Santa will be arriving at 2 p.m.

Mountain Top UMC Parish Annual Charge Conference is Saturday, Dec. 6, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Lexington-West Kill UMC, Lexington.

Please join us at the annual Tree Lighting and Carol Sing in West Kill, Saturday, Dec. 6.  Meet at the Community Hall, 141 Spruceton Road, West Kill at 5 p.m.  We’ll walk to the tree at the flagpole and back to the hall for light refreshments.  Santa will be arriving on a fire truck and visit with everyone back at the Community Hall.

Fellowship Lunch, Tuesday, Dec. 9 is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kaaterskill UMC, Main Street, Tannersville.  Come for the fellowship and free meal.  Please note that there will be no Fellowship Lunch on the 4th Tuesday of December 23. 

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 6 p.m., in the Firemen’s Room, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Town of Lexington Fire/Rescue Company will hold their annual meeting and potluck supper.  There will be collection of dues and election of officers.

Christmas Party and Potluck Supper will be Friday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. at the Lexington/West Kill UMC, Lexington.  If you are able, please bring a dish to share and a grab bag gift.

There will be a Cookie Walk at the Ashland Community UMC, 12216 State Route 23, Ashland on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.  

The Holiday Fun Holly Jolly Party at the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitor Center, 13787 State Route 20, North Blenheim, is Saturday, Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Free photos with Santa, every child gets a holiday ornament, letter writing to Santa, kids crafts, carriage ride, and more, rain or shine, free admission and parking.  Enjoy the Festival of Trees while you are there. 

Greene County Department of Human Services is now partnering with Catholic Charities of Columbia-Greene Counties National Community Care Corps Volunteer Program for Homebound Medical Transportation.  Existing medical Transportation clients should now call 518-828-8660, ext 115 to schedule.  New clients in need of medical transportation should call Greene County DHS for an assessment at 518-719-3556.

There is a Veterans Coffee Hour on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. at the Veteran Center, 300 Route 23B, Leeds.  All veterans are welcome.  If you need information call 518-719-0020 or veterans@greenecountyny.gov.

If you would like to help feed local families, the Tannersville Food Pantry, which is a mission of the Kaaterskill and East Jewett UM churches, is asking for your help in donating non-perishable food and oral care items, Chunky Soups, beef stew, Spaghetti-O’s, pasta, cereal, canned vegetables, beans.  Food donations may be brought Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tannersville Village Hall, One Park Place, Tannersville.  You may also send a donation to Kaaterskill UMC, P. O. Box 225, Tannersville, NY 12485.

The Greene County Senior Nutrition Program menu for the week of Dec. 8 – Dec. 12 is as follows:  Monday—Beef chili, broccoli, white rice, tropical fruit; Tuesday—Chicken Cacciatore, Italian mixed vegetables, rotini, pineapple delight; Wednesday—Stuffed peppers, winter mixed vegetables, white rice, fruited Jell-O; Thursday—Roast pork with gravy (gluten in gravy), applesauce, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, brownies; Friday—Chef’s Choice.  All persons 60 and older are invited to attend.  Meals served at noon, suggested $4 donation for each meal.  Congregate reservations are required by noon at least a day in advance.  If you reserve a meal and are unable to attend, please call as soon as you can to cancel.  The number to call for Senior Service Center at the Jewett Municipal Building, 3547 County Route 23C, Jewett is 518-263-4392.

Thank you to all law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, volunteers, healthcare providers, veterans, 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 safe, be respectful to others and please be kind to one another.  Your act of kindness may change someone’s life.

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Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC VFW Post 1545

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving. This year, the Windham Business Community, led by Alana and Chris, owners of The Main Street Market, hosted a complete turkey dinner with all the trimmings. 

The event, held at VFW Post 1545, ensured that no one had to spend the holiday alone. A dedicated team of volunteers helped serve the delicious meal, and I was truly impressed with the entire day.

As we turn our attention toward Christmas, the Hensonville tree-lighting ceremony will take place on Friday evening and the Windham tree-lighting ceremony will take place on Saturday evening.

These annual events always draw a great crowd eager to meet Santa. The tree, as usual, is located at the Center Church, and a festive parade featuring Santa will accompany the celebration.

Windham Hose Co. #1 will once again escort him as he prepares for his long night of delivering toys to children on Christmas morning.

Recently, I had a conversation with a gentleman who spoke about what he considered “useless wars” our country has been involved in — conflicts he felt we did not win.

This was not a discussion I had intended to have, but I shared my perspective, which he didn’t fully agree with.

The notion that we “lost” in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, or the War on Terror is not a reflection of our troops. In war, victory comes only when an enemy is forced to surrender. World War II is a clear example of that reality.

In Vietnam, concerns about collateral damage consistently influenced our decisions. Unfortunately, civilian casualties are a tragic by-product of war. 

We bombed Germany into ruins during WWII, resulting in tremendous civilian loss, while the enemy did not hesitate to inflict civilian casualties themselves. 

Let us hope and pray that we never face such conflict again. Decades of fighting have left many returning veterans with the heavy burden of feeling that their missions were left incomplete.

The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan only deepened that sense of frustration and confusion.

VFW National Veterans Service Director Michael Figlioli submitted a statement for the record to the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs for an oversight hearing on VA’s Medical Disability Examination Office.

He explained that although the VFW has repeatedly identified and offered solutions for persistent shortcomings in VA’s examination and contracting processes, the system remains overly complex, burdensome and difficult for many veterans to navigate, especially those without accredited representation. 

Figlioli urged Congress and VA to modernize and stabilize the examination infrastructure and outlined recommendations for improvement in five key areas.

Should you have relative or friend serving overseas, the U.S. Postal Service is preparing for the holiday season as many families spend holidays apart due to military service.

To ensure overseas packages are delivered before Dec. 25, it has provided the following deadlines: Dec. 9 for all Air/Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO) and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) addresses with AE zip codes using Priority Mail and First-Class Mail; and Dec. 16 for APO/FPO/DPO addresses using USPS Priority Mail Express Military Service. Actual delivery dates may vary. 

Since 1947, Marine Toys for Tots has been bringing the joy of Christmas to America’s less-fortunate children and fostering community engagement. 

Every holiday season, new unwrapped toys are distributed to children in need. Donated items may be dropped off at designated locations, or you may make go on line to the Capital Region Toy for Tots. 

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity which was created at the behest of the U. S. Marine Corps in 1991, and 97% of every donation goes directly to providing toys to children.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced 18 identifications and 10 burial updates for service members who have been missing and unaccounted for from World War II and the Korean War.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Army Technician Fifth Grade Daniel Wyatt, 39, of New Orleans, Louisiana, killed during World War II, was accounted for May 7, 2025. 

In the summer of 1944, Wyatt was assigned to Company E, 364th Engineer General ServiIn October 2021, the private owner of a bunker in the Crisbecq Battery contacted DPAA to report that, while removing soil and debris from the structure, he discovered possible fragmentary human remains, as well as two identification tags from Soldiers who were killed in the explosion. In 2022, a DPAA investigation team surveyed the bunker and took possession of the remains the landowner had recovered. In 2023, a recovery team returned to the site and located additional remains and material evidence, which were accessioned into the DPAA laboratory for analysis.

Wyatt's name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Wyatt will be buried in Dallas, Texas on a date yet to be determined.

We are all thankful for our nation and what it gives us. Let us keep our veterans and those still serving our nation in our thoughts and prayers to keep them safe. God bless America. 

Marc Farmilette, PDC ~ Commander VFW Post 1545

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Windham Receives Money for Emergency Medical Services

By Michael Ryan

WINDHAM - The fun fiscal news is the town of Windham will be receiving nearly $300,000 to do with whatever thou wilt.

Not actually really.

While government officials are free to use discretion in how some of the funds will eventually be spent, there won’t be any pecuniary partying.

A major portion, $191,507, is coming through the Greene County Legislature in the form of a subsidy for emergency medical services.

Lawmakers have committed a total of $2 million, assisting all fourteen towns in the county with painfully expensive ambulance costs.

These dollars, likely a onetime payment, are directly tied to the ongoing movement toward a unified, countywide service.

The legislative resolution contains language stating the intention is to, “help the towns coordinate efforts to standardize equipment, ensure consistency in training and collaborate toward achieving parity in wages and benefits.”

Over the past eighteen months, intensive talks have taken place involving county officials, municipal leaders and rescue professionals.

It is generally believed a shift away from municipally-operated ambulance systems is inevitable, although the timetable is subject to much debate.

There had been serious discussion about instituting the change as soon as the middle of 2026 until the expected price tag was unveiled.

County officials estimated the changeover at between $12-15 million, nearly doubling what the combined towns and county now pay.

The increase was considered justified, significantly bettering wages and benefits while simultaneously reducing employee hours that have been regularly rising beyond 80 hours per week.

Those improvements are welcomed but the large leap produced economic trepidation, resulting in the initial 2026 timeframe being considerably slowed, instead taking baby steps.

While the countywide system is still expected to unfold, it is perhaps two or three years down the road and, in the meantime, the town of Windham is spending $884,512 annually for ambulance service.

Windham supports an Advanced Life Support squad, providing paramedic expertise as well as transport to a hospital, also contracting with the neighboring town of Jewett for primary response.

Even as the calendar has decelerated on the countywide system, Windham is deeply enmeshed in conversations with surrounding towns about soon forming their own consolidated network.

Windham, within that plan, would merge with the towns of Hunter, Ashland, Lexington and Prattsville, along with Jewett, functioning as a single entity.

That harmonization could commence as soon as this year, creating not just a beneficial coalescence but also a foundation for the county vision.

Windham’s other incoming greenbacks emanate from the twice-yearly distribution of Mortgage Tax to the county’s towns and village.

Windham is reaping $107,953 in the December payment, having collected $73,000 at the first payout, this past spring.

Hoyt said the town traditionally budgets $80,000 in Anticipated Revenues from Mortgage Tax, being in seventh heaven at the extra $100 G’s.

“This shows people are still interested in buying properties and taking out mortgages in our community,” Hoyt said, noting the boodle will become Unappropriated Fund Balance for as yet undetermined purposes.

Windham found itself at the top of the Mortgage Tax pile by a sweet margin, followed by the combined town ($87,173) and village ($18,103) of Catskill;

Next were the town ($77,365) and village ($10,505) of Coxsackie, the village of Hunter ($9,237) village of Tannersville ($7,187) and town of Hunter ($65,303);

The town of Cairo ($71,257), the town ($60,029) and village ($8,561) of Athens, the town of New Baltimore ($36,245), the town of Greenville ($35,351), the town of Durham ($30,143);

The town of Jewett ($17,596), town of Lexington ($13,622), town of Ashland ($11,437), town of Prattsville ($9,767) and town of Halcott ($3,172), for a grand total of $680,015.

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Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - ECO Union Cites Critical Officer Shortage

NYS Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOS) fight poachers and polluters across the state. They are shown here with the tools of the trade of the deer jacker; unscrupulous individuals who shoot deer at night with a light. ECOs, known as -The Thin Green Line- are the last line of defense against poaching and pollution making their manpower readiness and effectiveness critical for the health of NY's environment, wildlife and natural resources. 

The PBA of New York State Decries Critical Shortage of NYS DEC Environmental Conservation Officers with Deer & Bear Season Underway

The Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA of New York State) is calling attention to what they cite as the critical understaffing of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECO’s) around New York State, as New York’s hunting seasons for deer and bear are fully underway.

Opening day and the remainder of the Southern Zone deer season represent the busiest time of the year for ECOs in nearly all upstate DEC regions. We are currently right in the middle of the season with the opener falling on November 15th and the season ending on December 7th. 

According to the ECO union, as of fall 2025, New York’s dedicated force of ECO’s are operating nearly 20% below their fully apportioned staffing:

• Currently, there are only 276 sworn ECO’s of all ranks in the nine regions and 92 wildlife management units of the NYS DEC.

• Only 182 of these sworn ECO’s are field officers, and only 25 are field investigators, with some ECO’s assigned to New York City or other urban settings.

• This means that at any given time on any day during deer and bear season, some NYSDEC regions will have fewer than six field officers covering regions as large as 8,000 to 10,000 square miles.

• Also, multiple wildlife management units will be without a single assigned ECO at any given time on any day.

The union goes on to assert; “Under state rules, NYS DEC may staff up to 342 ECO’s across all regions and units, plus 18 dispatchers. However, state law does not require NYSDEC to staff a minimum number of ECO’s and dispatchers – meaning that while recruitment may challenge the ranks of ECO’s in some years, the staffing decisions by NYS DEC have affected ECO staffing in all years dating back to at least the 1990’s.

The critical understaffing of ECO’s has occurred bit by bit over several decades. Each time our member ECO’s ranks are reduced, it means fewer wildlife protections, more unsafe hunting conditions and an overall degradation of New York’s responsibility to the environment,” said James McCartney, president of the PBA of New York State. “Our members are literally put in harm’s way during deer and bear season, and they do so willingly and without reservation in the name of environmental justice. It’s time for New York to recognize their bravery and dedication, and begin to provide the staffing support that ECO’s deserve.”

DEC officials responded to the union’s assertion of the lack of adequate manpower by acknowledging the, “Division of Law Enforcement plays a critically important role in keeping hunting a safe and enjoyable activity, while also using expertise to enforce the State’s many environmental laws and regulations in place to protect the public and our natural resources. DEC is ensuring our Environmental Conservation Police Officers can meet the challenges of tomorrow and continue their historic conservation legacy. During the last several years, DEC has hosted academies to build up ECO ranks and looks forward to holding another academy in February 2026 to continue supporting this highly trained force.”
DEC goes on to describe that ECOs are available 24/7/365 through their 24-hour dispatch which enables them to respond to urgent calls in their assigned areas. “Officers routinely respond to calls at all hours to ensure public safety and will be out in force during the hunting seasons, as they have been in previous years.” They note increased recruitment efforts for new hires so ECOs can successfully address current and future challenges. Further, they announced, “DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement is gearing up to host the next Basic School for Uniformed Officers, slated to begin in February 2026. The 2025-26 New York State Budget funds 290 DEC ECOs and Investigators. Today, there are 279 sworn Officers in DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement who fielded an estimated 45,000 calls in the first half of 2025 alone, resulting in ECOs and Investigators across the state responding to more than 18,934 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 9,440 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.”

 Therein lies the problem. PBA of NYS ECO Local Director, Matt Krug, asserts their budgeted fill level (the DEC target for ECO staffing) is 342 ECOs and Investigators, while DEC asserts the staffing target is just 290 ECOs and Investigators. That’s a huge disparity. Using DECs numbers, ECOs are down just 11 officers, and they plan to make that up with the police academy scheduled for this February. Not so says the ECO union official who reports the number of new hires authorized for the February academy is just 30 ECO recruits. Not near enough to make a dent in actual deployed field ECOs when factoring in current attrition rates. Matt Krug went on to state, “The number of new recruits to be hired for the upcoming February academy should be closer to 60 new ECO hires. Plus, the next academy needs to take place as soon as possible after the February class to keep ECO numbers adequate to successfully fight poaching and pollution in New York State.”

At this moment, ECO’s are responsible for monitoring nearly 600,000 licensed resident and non-resident hunters who participate in NY’s big game season. While they enforce the state’s laws and regulations surrounding big game hunting across the state, ECO’s are not relieved of their responsibility to protect the state’s environment, responding to ongoing threats to our natural resources. They remain the only police force in the state responsible for the criminal enforcement to protect our air, land, and waters from potentially devasting and sometimes irreversible destruction from unmitigated pollution and destruction. They are the “Thin Green Line,” and remain the last line of defense to protect our environment.

“This hunting season, the PBA of New York State is urging NYS DEC and New York state lawmakers and leaders to mandate adequate ECO staffing, lift the ECO staffing cap, hire more trained and capable ECO’s, and allocate additional funding for new officer positions to meet current enforcement needs. Only though adequate officer staffing can the state of New York maintain the safety and integrity of its wildlife population and outdoor spaces.”

Happy hunting, fishing and trapping until next time!

Remember to report poaching and polluting violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at 1-844-DEC-ECOS.

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Columbia-Greene Humane Society Receives $5,000 from National Bank of Coxsackie

Ron Perez, (President/CEO Columbia Greene Humane Society), Alison Phoenix (National Bank of Coxsackie Athens Branch Manager), Rebecca Warner (Director of development and Community outreach), Diesel, and Lisa Dixon-Watson (National Bank of Coxsackie Cairo Branch Manager)

COXSACKIE – The National Bank of Coxsackie (NBC) is proud to announce its recent $5,000 donation to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society (CGHS). The funds were made possible through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s (FHLBNY) Small Business Recovery Grant Program, which allows member banks like NBC to support local organizations making a meaningful difference in their communities.

The Columbia-Greene Humane Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection, humane treatment, and well-being of all animals. Through its sheltering services, adoption programs, and educational outreach, CGHS has provided care and compassion to countless animals in need throughout the region.

“On behalf of our board of directors, volunteers, staff, and of course our animals, I’d like to thank the National Bank of Coxsackie for their generous gift to our shelter,” said Ron Perez, President and CEO, Columbia-Greene Humane Society. “Support from civic-minded businesses such as the National Bank of Coxsackie helps us serve thousands of animals each year that are unwanted, hungry, lost and/or victims of cruelty. We are so very grateful for the Bank’s generosity to support our mission.”

“At NBC, we take great pride in supporting organizations that make our communities stronger and more compassionate,” said John Balli, President & CEO of the National Bank of Coxsackie. “The Columbia-Greene Humane Society plays a vital role in caring for animals and promoting responsible pet ownership, and we are honored to contribute to their ongoing efforts.”

Founded in 1852, the National Bank of Coxsackie has been serving the Capital Region and Hudson Valley for over 170 years, offering a full range of personal and business banking products and services. They provide community-focused banking solutions to individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. NBC remains committed to strengthening the communities it serves through financial support, volunteerism, and partnership. The bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of NBC Bancorp, Inc. (OTCPK: NCXS).

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Free Community Dinner - Coming Together to Strengthen Food Security on the Mountaintop

By Jonathan Gross

WINDHAM — Food insecurity is a growing challenge in our community—one that affects neighbors, families, and friends in ways that are often unseen. But it is also a challenge we can meet when we come together. Community connection has always been one of our greatest strengths here on the mountaintop, and sharing a meal is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to begin that work.

On Monday, December 15th at 6:00 p.m., we invite all members of our community to gather for a Free Community Dinner at the Windham VFW Post 1545 (5565 NY-23, Windham). This event is open to everyone—no cost, no requirements, just good food and good company.

The dinner is part of a growing effort to strengthen food security across the mountaintop. Organized with the support of the Windham VFW, the dinner is sponsored and organized by Stronger Together (a mountaintop community organization formed to bring organizations and residents together in common cause and corporative action) and The Greene County Food Security Coalition (a network of all Greene County food pantries). By sharing with those who would like a good hot meal, meeting our neighbors, and learning more about local needs, we can begin building the partnerships and awareness necessary to ensure that every household has consistent access to nutritious food.

Guests are welcome—but never required—to bring non-perishable food items, which will be distributed to local food pantries. Anyone wishing to support future community dinners may also make a donation.  Make checks payable Mountaintop Interfaith Community, marked Food Security. PO Box 139, Tannersville NY 12485

In times like these, community is not just helpful—it’s essential. Join us on December 15th as we come together, break bread, and work toward a future where every family on the mountain has enough.

All are welcome! Please spread the word.

For more info or to volunteer call Jonathan at 914-523-3766 or jonathangross25@gmail.com 

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Hunter-Tannersville Gets Positive Audit Report

By Matthew Avitabile

HUNTER — The Hunter-Tannersville Central School District received good news from the New York State Comptroller’s Office last month. The state determined that the school district successfully implemented all procedures recommended during a 2022 audit.

In a letter to Superintendent Dr. Vincent Butera and the members of the school board, Deputy Comptroller Robin Lois wrote that the district followed its corrective action plan (CAP) following the 2022 audit. During a visit to the district in June of this year, the comptroller's office found that all five recommendations were put in place. 

These included changes to network user account procedures, including "comprehensive written procedures for managing and monitoring nonstudent network user access that ensure network user accounts are disabled once they are no longer needed." 

The next recommendation was to disable network user accounts of former employees and other users and implement a check of authorized nonstudent network user accounts. 

Third was that all network users keep their own unique network user accounts to access the District’s network or develop monitoring systems for shared and service accounts. 

The fourth recommendation was to create a "comprehensive written IT contingency plan." 

Lastly, the state recommended the school storing backup data "at a secure off-site location" that is secure.

Lois wrote that the state thanked the district for their "courtesies and cooperation extended to our auditors during this review."

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Story Walk Opens for Winter Season

By Matthew Avitabile

WINDHAM — The Story Walk is a free, family-oriented activity installed on the Windham Path seasonally. It is done to inspire families to walk along the Windham Path and read aloud featuring a children’s picturebook. It’s a partnership between Briars & Brambles Books and the Windham Arts Alliance. The storybook is for sale at the bookstore and a portion of the book sales are donated to the WAA.

Briars & Brambles owner Jen Schwartz credited Paul and Sheila Trautman of the WAA for their effort. She also thanked the town of Windham for the cooperation in the project.

“It’s a lovely partnership between the town, the Windham Arts Alliance, and us,” said Schwartz. She added that while walking on the path several seasons ago she ran into a young woman crying over a picture book The Great Fall, speaking to her “about change.” It was about a little leaf that didn’t want to change and had to make a leap.

Schwartz said that the book selected are “fun and engaging and appeals to everybody.”
This season’s book is Harold Hates to Hibernate by Vern Kousky. This is currently the 13th book featured on the story walk.

Schwartz hopes that the story walk will continue to encourage families to read.

The story walk is open right now through the winter. All are welcome.

For more information, stop by Briars & Brambles or visit the website at https://www.briarsandbramblesbooks.com/kids for more information.

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The Prattsville Scoop by Abby and Gabby

PRATTSVILLE – On to the next holiday – Christmas, with all its wonderful customs and celebrations. Be prepared but most of all, enjoy the season.

The Laura Murray family got to celebrate Thanksgiving in a most wonderful way. Laura’s daughter and son, our postmaster Linda and her brother Tom, the last owner of Red’s Auto Supply, and their present and extended families got to enjoy a traditional family Thanksgiving dinner at Mountainside were Laura is in residence. The facility has a dining room for just this type of family dinner for their residents. Linda said there were twenty-seven of them giving thanks with Laura and her family. Such wonderful memories were made that day.

Now more to celebrate. From the McGlynn family we have the following.  “Thanksgiving is a time for us to be grateful for many things.  This year our family is grateful to officially welcome Jackie Cestare into our family as she and Dan McGlynn became engaged.  Thank you, we are very happy and excited for the happy couple.” Thank you Jackie McGlynn Ormandy for forwarding this happy news to us. Congratulations to Jackie and Dan and now Thanksgiving will always bring more happy memories of this special occasion.

Claudia and Ray Bracaliello spent Thanksgiving in Massachusetts with Claudia’s family, of course after so many years the family considers Ray a special family member. Claudia continues to be very active. After two doctors’ appointments, she made an apple pie and three dozen dinner rolls for the family’s Thanksgiving dinner and beyond. Niece Wendy was the hostess for the Thanksgiving dinner again this year and everyone gave thanks for her graciousness. We continue to send prayers for Claudia’s good health.

Belated recovery wishes go out to Bob Kiley. Bob had knee surgery and other than a slight favoring of that leg, he is on the go. He said he is doing “OK” but what else would he say? He always looks on the bright side of situations. Complete recovery soon Bob.

The bug seems to prefer some families over others. As soon as Arnold Jaeger was on the recovered list, wife Diana had a meeting with that culprit bug but that did not stop the Jaegers from having their annual all the merrier Thanksgiving dinner. As well as local friends and family, their son Ty, wife Juli and granddaughter Ursula from Arkansas joined the group. That dining table just has to get bigger to handle all that love and friendship. Good show.

Nancy and Louie Kyzima were the hostess and host for their Thanksgiving dinner, numbering 10. In addition to Louie and Nancy there were their daughter and her husband, two granddaughters, Bobby Hermance and Debbie Beckwith, Nancy’s sister Bonnie and husband Wally and other friends. Not to be slowed down by entertainment, Louie and Nancy have started putting up their outdoor Christmas decorations. Their appropriate seasonal and/or holiday decorations are always worth the trip to Lexington. Thanks Nancy and Louie.

Had a chance to check in with Steve and Judy Haskin. They too had a great Thanksgiving dinner and holiday. They deserve the very best of life.

Randy Brainerd can use our continued get well wishes.

Just a reminder for this upcoming Christmas season of gift giving. Look to our Prattsville businesses for presents for your loved ones. When in doubt, gift certificates are always handy for Jim’s Great American, Youngs Ace Hardware, Prattsville Tavern, O’Hara’s Service Station, Hidden Valley Fuel and the Prattsville Hotel.

Happy Birthday wishes to Connie Lane on December 6. Happy Birthday wishes to Julie Hoyt on December 6. On December 6 we also wish Janelle Maurer a very Happy Birthday. On December 7 it is Happy Birthday to Shane Thomas O’Hara. Everybody’s friend Eli Martin is wished a Happy Birthday on December 9. Elliott Brainard is wished a very Happy Birthday on December 10. Also on December 10, it is Happy Anniversary to Shelly and Elliott Brainard.

Need some news so send it to gurleyrv@gmail.com or call 518 299 3219.   

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