Changes to MCS Band Program

MARGARETVILLE — Margaretville Central School officials announced Monday that the Junior High Band program will see significant temporary changes following the departure of the district’s substitute music teacher.

In a letter addressed to parents and guardians, Superintendent Michelle Osterhoudt and Principal Joy Holden stated that the substitute teacher left the district for personal reasons. The school is currently seeking a certified replacement to restore continuity to the music department.

While the search continues, several immediate adjustments have been implemented for the remainder of the second quarter:

Instructional Changes: Band instruction and individual or small group lessons have been suspended. Students will attend a study hall during their scheduled band period.

Performance Cancellations: The band’s scheduled performance in the Winter Concert on Jan. 15 has been canceled.

Grading Policy: For the second quarter, students’ grades will reflect their performance from the first quarter.

Equipment: Students have the option to keep school-provided instruments for independent practice or return them to the principal.

District leadership emphasized that students will remain enrolled in the band program through the end of the quarter. Officials expect to provide further updates to families before the start of the third quarter as they monitor the situation.

"Our priority remains providing a positive, supportive, and stable learning environment for all students," the administrators wrote.MARGARETVILLE — Margaretville Central School officials announced Monday that the Junior High Band program will see significant temporary changes following the departure of the district’s substitute music teacher.

In a letter addressed to parents and guardians, Superintendent Michelle Osterhoudt and Principal Joy Holden stated that the substitute teacher left the district for personal reasons. The school is currently seeking a certified replacement to restore continuity to the music department.

While the search continues, several immediate adjustments have been implemented for the remainder of the second quarter:

Instructional Changes: Band instruction and individual or small group lessons have been suspended. Students will attend a study hall during their scheduled band period.

Performance Cancellations: The band’s scheduled performance in the Winter Concert on Jan. 15 has been canceled.

Grading Policy: For the second quarter, students’ grades will reflect their performance from the first quarter.

Equipment: Students have the option to keep school-provided instruments for independent practice or return them to the principal.

District leadership emphasized that students will remain enrolled in the band program through the end of the quarter. Officials expect to provide further updates to families before the start of the third quarter as they monitor the situation.

"Our priority remains providing a positive, supportive, and stable learning environment for all students," the administrators wrote.

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Catskill Center Announces 2026 Catskill Park Coalition Legislative Priorities Aimed at Protecting and Supporting the Catskills

ARKVILLE - The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development today announced the 2026–27 legislative priorities for the Catskill Park Coalition, a 30-member alliance of regional organizations working to protect and enhance the Catskill Park and its surrounding communities. These comprehensive priorities address critical funding needs for environmental protection, public safety, visitor management, and support for local economies across the region.

Developed through collaborative dialogue among coalition members representing conservation, tourism, community development, and cultural organizations, the 2026–27 priorities reflect the shared commitment of the coalition to ensure that the Catskill Park and its communities thrive through wise stewardship and equitable investment.

About the Catskill Park Coalition

The Catskill Park Coalition is an alliance of like-minded organizations dedicated to working together to broaden public appreciation for the Catskill Park and seek additional resources to enhance, maintain, and make available the extraordinary opportunities the Park and its surroundings offer. The coalition brings together more than 30 conservation groups, tourism organizations, business associations, municipal governments, heritage organizations, and community development entities united around a core mission: advancing policies and securing funding that support the protection of natural resources, the viability of local communities, and responsible public access to the Park.

Co-chaired by the Catskill Center and Catskill Mountainkeeper, the coalition has successfully advocated for millions in funding directed to the Catskill Park over the past decade, resulting in trail improvements, parking enhancements, visitor center operations, stewardship programs, and community initiatives.

2026–27 Coalition Priorities

The coalition calls for maintenance of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) at $425 million and emphasizes the critical importance of dedicated funding lines for Catskill Park initiatives. Key priorities within the EPF include:

$10 million Forest Preserve line to support the Catskill and Adirondack Parks in addressing increasing visitor use, natural resource protection, and trail and facility maintenance and construction

$250,000 line directed to the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development for the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center, a world-class gateway that serves as a vital hub for visitor services, education, and community engagement

$200,000 line directed to the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies for the Catskill Science Collaborative, which funds critical research on topics of regional importance

$500,000 line directed to Cornell University for the "Save the Hemlocks" initiative, which combats the invasive Hemlock Wooly Adelgid through effective biocontrols

At least $400,000 annually for Smart Growth Grants to help Catskill communities and nonprofits sustainably improve the Park

Continued funding for upgrades and improvements to the state-owned Belleayre Mountain Ski Center

Public Safety and Catskill Park Management

With more than 1.7 million annual visitors to the Catskill Park, the coalition emphasizes the urgent need for adequate staffing and resources to ensure visitor safety and effective park management. Coalition priorities include:

Staffing critical positions at the NYSDEC's Division of Lands and Forests in Regions 3 and 4 to better manage the Park and deliver safe, quality recreational experiences

Continuing to run an annual Forest Ranger Academy to maintain and increase ranger staffing levels, ensuring consistent protection and stewardship across the Park

Supporting Local Economies and Communities

Recognizing that thriving communities are essential to protecting natural resources, the coalition calls for investments that support sustainable economic development and address critical infrastructure and quality-of-life needs:

Improved cellular service across the Catskill Park to address public safety concerns and competitive disadvantages faced by local businesses

Expanded availability of affordable housing within and adjacent to the Catskill Park, a critical need for year-round residents and workers

Implementation of "Benefits to Catskill Park Communities" recommendations from the Catskill Strategic Advisory Group

Catskill Park Entryway Signage at major roadways entering the Park to alert visitors they are entering a protected area

Support and funding for Community Trails, Rail Trails, and Accessibility projects providing equitable access to outdoor recreation and supporting local economic development

Continued support for the Catskill Stewards Program with $100,000 in Aid to Localities funding to train and deploy stewards who engage visitors, promote responsible recreation, and provide ambassadorial services at high-use sites across the Park

Implementation of the Visitor Use Management Framework for the Kaaterskill Clove and Formerly Trailless Peaks areas to protect natural resources while providing quality visitor experiences

Additional Environmental Funding Priorities

The Catskill Park Coalition also supports the following environmental infrastructure investments:

$90 million for DEC Capital Projects

$200 million for OPRHP Capital Projects

$500 million for Clean Water Infrastructure Funding

The Catskill Center's Role in Advocacy for the Catskills

Since its establishment in 1969, the Catskill Center has served as a leading voice for conservation and community well-being in the Catskill region. Through a comprehensive approach that combines land protection, visitor education, stewardship, and strategic advocacy, the Catskill Center works to ensure that the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskills is protected and enhanced for current and future generations.

Call to Action

The Catskill Center and the Catskill Park Coalition urge New York State lawmakers and Governor Hochul's administration to prioritize the Coalition's 2026–27 budget requests. These investments will strengthen protection of the Catskill Park's natural resources, enhance visitor experiences, support the economic vitality of Catskill communities, and ensure the region remains a destination of choice for outdoor recreation and responsible tourism.

Jeff Senterman

Co-Chair, Catskill Park Coalition

Executive Director, Catskill Center for Conservation and Development

jsenterman@catskillcenter.org

845-768-2657

THE CATSKILL CENTER

Since 1969, the Catskill Center has protected and fostered the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskill region. It is the major force advocating for both the Catskill Park and the entire region. Formed in 1969 and headquartered at the Erpf Center in Arkville, NY, the Catskill Center is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501C(3) corporation. It employs an executive director and staff and is guided by an all-volunteer board of directors with representation from local, regional, and New York City metropolitan areas. 

For more information, visit www.catskillcenter.org.

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The Season of Giving at Art Up: WANTED Exhibition

A joyful sense of togetherness filled Art Up gallery at the opening reception of the new WANTED exhibition, where laughter, conversation, and art warmed a wintry Friday evening before Christmas. Despite weather that shifted quickly from rain to sleet and snow, a packed house turned out to celebrate an eclectic, spirited show featuring more than 40 artists.

Moments of levity set the tone, Joe Damone was spotted mid-laugh as visitors mingled among the works, while the gallery buzzed with genuine community energy. That spirit extended beyond the walls: the owners of Oakley’s Wood-Fired Pizza and Grill expressed their renewed desire to embrace the local community by generously donating pizza along with a large tray of delicious baked ziti, a welcome comfort on a cold night.

Adding an unexpected and heartfelt touch, Sacred Soil surprised participating artists with beautiful bouquets, lifting spirits and underscoring the generosity that defined the evening. The combination of thoughtful gestures, strong attendance, and a wide-ranging body of work made the opening feel like a true celebration rather than just a reception.

Curated by Art Up co-owner Jerry Gallo, WANTED brings together a diverse mix of styles and voices, unified by a shared sense of purpose and creative vitality. As the year closed, the exhibition offered warm memories and a reminder of the tremendous talent thriving in the region.

WANTED will be on view through January 11, Friday through Sunday. For more information, visit www.artupmargaretville.com or follow @artupmargaretville on Instagram.

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A Conversation about Auld Lang Syne

By Jean Thomas

It's that time again. We change our calendars and chalk off another year to history and experience. January first is an arbitrary date, but a useful one. There's not much else going on and the days are getting longer, so there's a reason to celebrate. We all look back on the past year and review the events we lived through together. It's useful to stop and assess our recent history, because then, of course, we have a starting point to recalculate our next steps. Granted, there's not much we can change, usually. But it still feels good to have something to remember and something to anticipate.

Especially on a day like today. This morning I walked the dog at about six thirty A.M. (his elderly bodily functions are more urgent all the time.) It was like a scene from the miniseries, “Throne of Swords,” where Jon Snow battles the monsters in the bleak desolate North. The clouds were all different shades of gray and  black . They roiled like a cauldron to the accompaniment of the whistling, groans and grim howls of the wind. It seemed like the wind was tossing pellets of discarded ice at us, and the crows were calling and swooping overhead. 

This afternoon the ferocity was abated for an hour of , to quote another movie, “Dr. Zhivago,” style crisp blue skies and glaring white sheets of frozen snow icing the landscape. I swear the windchimes were playing the theme song for me.

So why do we all sing (or fake) the song “Auld Lang Syne?”  It's a long story, of course. The original folk song has been around the Scottish countryside since the 1700's. Then the poet Robert Burns published it for the first time with his own lyrics, not much changed, Since then, the lyrics were updated to some extent, but never modernized to fit the language of the modern English speaking public. It pretty quickly became a standard tune throughout the British Empire in its heyday, 

This world wide exposure made it a very common melody over a century or so, but 1929 started the annual playing by the Canadian Guy Lombardo Orchestra. For the next fifty years plus, it was the theme at the dropping of the ball around the world, and remains so even without Guy Lombardo.

 Most of us have very little idea what it actually says, but it can still bring a tear to the eye, regardless. Here it is, in a nutshell. The singer asks if we should forget our old friends and family that we are no longer with, along the memories of the events from that time? The response is that we should raise a festive cup in memory of the friends and events from the past. The “cup of kindness” refers to a toast to all past friends and shared memories. In fact, all liquid references in the song are to alcohol, although teetotalers are encouraged to sing along, of course.

The traditional singing of the song is standing in a circle, with a joining of hands in peace, cameraderie and nostalgia. If you don't know any of the words but part of the chorus, now you know why many people tear up at the musical expression of memory, grief and contemplation of all things past.

You can find the words many places on line, both in the Scots language and in English.

If you have comments or suggestions for future columns, contact me at jeanthepipper@duck.com 

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THE CATSKILL GEOLOGISTS BY PROFESSORS ROBERT AND JOHANNA TITUS - Scientific Animism

Do religions evolve? That’s quite a thought! But, before we get into trouble with half of our readers, let’s explain. One of the broadest categories of supernatural beliefs is categorized as being among the various forms of what’s called animism, commonly found among indigenous cultures. Animists believe that everything has its own freewill spirit. You and we have an “essence,” and any nearby mountain has a similar spirit. So, do all the animals, rivers, lakes and trees: everything. They all have spirits. Throughout the modern world animistic views have come to be replaced by the modern religions that we are familiar with. 

Well, we geologists, like all scientists, do not deal with the supernatural. But there is something of a scientific animism in all the landscapes out there, all around the world including throughout our Catskills. Geologists are not an indigenous culture, but we feel something special, something spiritual about our science. There really is a sort of spirit in all of the rock units, each and every one of them. And that is the case with all the landscapes as well. Once again, we have some explaining to do, don’t we? We would like to pursue this today.

Let’s drive east on Rte. 23 until we cross Catskill Creek and come upon a long roadside outcropping of gray limestone. That bedrock, to us, has a spirit. We slow down and pull over. We get out and begin breathing salt air. It’s a full 400 million years ago and all around us are the clear aqua-colored waters of a shallow tropical sea – called the Helderberg Sea. That sea is a scientific certainty. It did exist – right there. But the animists in us look and see a soul in those waters. We literally feel its presence. That spirit survived even long after the sea itself disappeared. Later, it came to be petrified with the limestone bedrock from that sea. We continue to stand right there. The deeply scientific has blended with the deeply spiritual. We truly can’t have one without the other.

Let’s climb Slide Mountain. When we get to the very summit we soon become emersed in the spiritual. Slide Mountain has a spirit. It is almost overwhelming. That mountain’s soul is in its ice age heritage. We stand at the highest point of the summit and slowly turn a full 360 degrees. It’s a very long-ago noon, an Ice Age midday. All around is the gleaming, diamond-white of a brightly sunlit ice sheet. Again, this image is a solid scientific fact but, at the same time, a deeply felt, compelling spiritual experience.

There is no Catskills location more spiritual than the Catskill Mountain House ledge atop the Catskill Front. So much human history has occurred there. But we look over the edge of the cliff and see the sandstone strata of the Devonian age rivers that once flowed by. We can feel the currents that are recorded in the bedrock. Countless powerful floods passed this very spot. Vast numbers of plants and animals made this their home when this was a great delta ecology. The ledge is the ghost of one of the world’s most substantial fossil ecologies. There was so much life right here where all you see today is inanimate mineral material. That is the ledge’s true soul; that is its spirit.

                                 

We imagine that all sciences have to some extent similar spiritual aspects; it must be so much more in astronomy and cosmogeny. But all the branches of geology are so truly spiritual as to perhaps even be mystical. During the summer field seasons, we geologists find ourselves gazing into our nightly campfires. These are the kinds of thoughts that pass before us at those times.

Contact the authors at randjtitus@prodigy.net. Join their facebook page the Catskill Geologists. Read their blogs at “thecatskillgeologist.com.”

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Whittling Away with Dick Brooks - New Year

Christmas hasn’t yet quite disappeared over the horizon and here comes the New Year steaming into the station.  I’ve just gotten used to writing 2025 on my checks and now I’ve got to switch to 2026.  I have learned how to deal with this minor problem, I now go to my check book and write 2026 on the date line for half a dozen checks or so.  This doesn’t mean I won’t make mistakes but it helps.  I did recently date a check 1972, I have no idea why I flashed back, must have been a good year, I don’t remember.

I can usually deal with the date change, the thing that annoys me the most about this time of the year is the topic of resolutions for the coming year.  You have to make them, it’s a law or something.  I do get smarter as I age though, I’ve kept last year’s list and since they hardly got used at all, I feel no guilt about reviving them for the upcoming season of good intentions.  In fact, if memory serves me, I’ve used the same list for several years or maybe that should be several decades.  I’m sure that a quick check will reveal that most of them still are pertinent.

Number one on the list is now and forever shall be to lose some weight.  That particular one seems to be the most over used and under kept resolution in the history of mankind.  On a good year I can stick faithfully to this resolution for about a week before my will power is weakened by the discovery of a stray, stale Christmas cookie or two lurking behind one of the canisters on the counter.  This usually puts the resolution back on the shelf for another year, carbohydrate addiction being what it is.

Saving money is the next on this rather rumpled dusty list of mine.  I was quite successful at this in the old year.  I set aside a jar in which I deposited my pocket change whenever the weight on the coins stretched my suspenders to the danger point.  I rolled up the contents of the jar and deposited the $28.73 in my savings account just last month.  I’m pleased with the system and will continue with it.

The third item on the list was to do something about domestic violence and abuse.  To this end, I’ve decided to make the terms, “Yes Dear” and “Whatever you want Dear” a permanent part of my vocabulary.  They have worked well in the past and I see no reason for not expanding their usage in the coming year. They make The Queen smile and a happy Queen usually means peace in the kingdom.

The last item on my little list is to get more exercise.  Since this usually involves getting sweaty and movements that no longer come naturally to my older physic, I listed it last.  I will admit that more exercise would be good for me, but it might not be an easy thing to accomplish.  I have found that if I exercise for a half an hour, the recovery period is usually about a week and a half until I can exercise for a half hour again.  Another thing to take into account is the fact that the neighbors are sometimes bothered by the noises involved with my exercise period.  The cracking, squeaking joint noises and the involuntary grunts and groans carry farther than you’d think.  I will work on this in the New Year while I’m doing research on a book I intend to write on recliner exercises.

All in all, I’m excited about the coming of the New Year.  Who knows what it’ll bring?  I hope for only good things for all of us or at least the strength to deal with whatever bad things may show up.  Make a list of your resolutions and tuck it safely away.  It’ll save you time making one next year and give you a chuckle when you dig it out next December.  Happy New Year!

Thought for the week—Those who live by the sword—get shot by those who don’t.

Until next week, may you and yours be happy and well.

Whittle12124@yahoo.com

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Drug Sale Bust in Catskill

CATSKILL – On Tuesday December 23, 2025, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office concluded a several  months-long investigation into drug sales in the Village of Catskill with the arrest of 3  individuals. The Sheriff’s Office arrested 61-year-old Saide M. Green, 39-year-old Andrew J.  Pascarella, and 32-year-old Amanda L. Carr, all residents of the Village of Catskill.   Green was charged with 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with  intent to sell in the 3rd degree (a class B Felony), and 2 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled  Substance in the 3rd Degree (a class B Felony).  

 Pascarella was charged with 1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance  with intent to sell in the 3rd degree (a class B Felony), and 1 count of Criminal Sale of a  Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a class B Felony).  

 Carr was also charged with 1 count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance  with intent to sell in the 3rd degree (a class B Felony), and 1 count of Criminal Sale of a  Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (a class B Felony).  

Green, Pascarella, and Carr were all arraigned in Greene County Court and released on  their own recognizance to return to court at a later date and time.  

 The Greene County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Greene County District Attorney’s  Office. 

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Cairo Historical Society Receives $2,500 from National Bank of Coxsackie

National Bank of Coxsackie Cairo Assistant Manager Alpana Bhatia, Cairo Historical Society Director Ann Clapper, President of the Cairo Historical Society Sylvia Hasenkopf, and National Bank of Coxsackie Cairo Branch Manager Lisa Dixon-Watson.

CAIRO – The National Bank of Coxsackie (NBC) is proud to announce its recent $2,500 donation to the Cairo Historical Society. The funds were made possible through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s (FHLBNY) Small Business Recovery Grant Program, which enables member banks like NBC to support local organizations that enrich and strengthen their communities.

The Cairo Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the rich history of the Town of Cairo and surrounding areas. Through its educational programs, exhibits, and preservation efforts, the Society continues to celebrate the heritage and stories that define the local community.

“The Cairo Historical Society is very appreciative of the continued support of the National Bank of Coxsackie over the years,” said Sylvia Hasenkopf, President of the Cairo Historical Society. “They have been a true community partner and are one of the big reasons the Cairo Historical Society has been successfully fulfilling our mission to collect, preserve, and share our local history. Thank you.”

“NBC values the opportunity to support organizations that protect and celebrate our region’s history,” said John Balli, President & CEO of the National Bank of Coxsackie. “The Cairo Historical Society plays an important role in preserving our shared heritage, and we are proud to contribute to their ongoing work through this FHLB grant.”

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).

CONTACT:

Nicole M. Frisbee

SVP/Chief Administrative Officer

518-731-6161

nfrisbee@nbcoxsackie.com

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Forest Ranger News

Town of Shandaken

Ulster County

Wildland Fire: On December 20 at 11:50 a.m., Forest Ranger Rusher responded to a brush fire caused by a downed power line at the intersection of State routes 28 and 212. Olive Fire Department extinguished the fire. Ranger Rusher stayed on scene while the fire continued to smoke as the power company shut off the power.

Downed power line causing smoke in wooded area

Ulster County

Wilderness Rescue: On December 21 at 5:50 p.m., Ulster County 911 called Ray Brook dispatch requesting Forest Ranger assistance to locate two lost hikers on the Giant Ledge trail. The windchill temperature was 0 degrees. One of the hikers was wearing jeans and uninsulated boots. The other was wearing cotton athletic pants and running sneakers. They did not have traction devices for their footwear or headlamps to hike in the dark. On their descent, the hikers got lost in the low-light conditions and ended up approximately a quarter mile west of the trail. They attempted bushwacking from their location directly toward where they thought the parking area was, which forced them to cross two small streams, resulting in wet and cold feet. They texted 911 that they were lost, which gave dispatchers their coordinates. Rangers Jeffery and Rusher hiked up the icy trail and eventually saw their tracks leading off trail. At 7:15 p.m., Rangers reached the 36- and 38-year-old subjects from Congers. Rangers provided hot tea, headlamps, and dry socks. Rangers led them back to the trailhead and educated them on winter hiking safety. Resources were clear at 8:30 p.m.

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Sgt. James F. Carty, DSC VFW Post 1545

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We started with Christmas Eve at Church service and that was the takeoff. We had a nice houseful of family and friends with great food in mass quantities which put on a few pounds. 

With New Years falling on Thursday this year our post Bingo night will be cancelled and the next Bingo night will be Thursday January 15t at 6 p.m. Hope to see you all and ready for a new year of having fun. 

I was thinking of past Christmas days and one that came to mind was in 1966. Had to report to Oakland Army Terminal to head to Vietnam on December 19. My family held Christmas a day before I left. My father, mother and twin sister flew to New Jersey and we had a great time. 

Upon arriving in-country on December 23, I didn’t see Santa much to my dismay. The one thing that was happening was a strange amount of camaraderie among the group of troops that I happened to be lumped into. 

As replacement and not being sent over with a unit, I felt a bit lonely. I soon found out I was not the only one. Sooner than later, you found out where you were going and didn’t have time to concentrate on Santa and what you were missing back home.

The thought of that made me think of all the service men and women serving throughout the world that they must be having some of the same feelings that I went through. 

Now coming home on Christmas Eve 1967 was a different feeling altogether. Seeing the family and soaking all that holiday cheer was just what I needed. It made up for the loneliness and fear I felt a year earlier. 

VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore sent a letter to the White House urging President Trump to award Purple Hearts to the West Virginia National Guard troops involved in the recent Washington D.C., shooting, which left one dead and one critically wounded. 

“Spc. Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Wolfe answered their nation’s call and wore the same uniform as every American who has been called away from their families to stand a post, whether at home or abroad,” said Whitmore. “If this investigation confirms terroristic intent, recognizing them under the Purple Heart is not just a matter of law, it is a matter of honor.” 

VA plans to reorganize the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to improve care for veterans by reducing bureaucracy, clarifying roles and empowering local medical center leaders. 

Guided by recommendations from the VA Inspector General and Government Accountability Office, the reorganization will streamline management while keeping staffing levels and services unchanged.

VHA Central Office will focus on policy and oversight, regional networks will support implementation, and local facilities will have greater decision-making authority. These changes will roll out over the next 18–24 months to help VA focus more on better care delivery and less on bureaucracy. 

I will be bringing you some hometown veteran news in coming weeks. I believe we have some very interesting veterans in our post, and I will be interviewing them about their service time.

We have veterans from Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines that I consider heroes for their service to our country. I hope that this will be interesting to you all. So next week I will bring to your attention a veteran from the Korean War. 

I am looking forward to the New Year that brings our country together. That we have peace in the world. God bless our Country and keep all our troops still serving safe. 

God Bless America. 

Marc Farmilette ~ Post 1545 Commander

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