Birthday wishes to Kim Simons, Aly Steingart, Danielle Gaebel, Provi, Todd, Erika, Bar Ja, Shambhavi, Helena Manzione, Evylen Suarez, Kirsten Foster, Pat Murtagh, Bob Ernst, and Mike Fisher.

Welcome to the world: Brittney and Joshua Cunningham add a baby boy to the family! Congrats to Akiko and Andrew Trombley and family who welcomed a daughter, Emi. 

Congratulations! Narrowsburg Fire District Commissioner, Ronald Rasmussenan received an award for 65 years of service.

Dr Joe D’Abbraccio, DVM, was elected President-Elect of the NYS Veterinary Medical Society. He will serve as President in 2025. We know him as ‘Dr Joe’, co-owner of Catskill Veterinary Services, PLLC (Rock Hill and the recently added Middletown office location).                                                                                                                                        PSA: Emergency: 911. OD:988 or 866-832-5575. SC Health: 845-292-5910. Be fit, healthy and get your vaccines in ‘24.       Town Board and department information, meeting links, minutes and Parks & Rec: www.townofbethelny.us.                 

Think Snow! Contact Cathy/P&Rec (845-583-5360) about the Bethel-Ski Big Bear, PA ‘24 Ski/Snowboard discount program. Holiday Mountain is offering a special rate program for skiing, snowboarding and tubing (Thurs pm dates TBD). Winter reminder: Parking or pushing snow on Bethel roadways is prohibited. Vehicles are towed at your expense. Privately funded one-time CEAP grants are available for eligible Bethel residents at Town Hall.

Organize or ‘clean your closets’. Take donations to local organizations where they’ll do the most good. Stumped? Give me a call and I’ll direct you.

Deposit non-perishable food donations to Shephard’s Pantry. Pantry is distributed on 2nd and 4th Thursdays (845-583-5885).  

The Duggan ‘Past Perfect Bookstore’ has limited hours. Consider volunteering or joining local organizations. i.e.: The Bethel Lions, Bethel Business Association, ‘Lake Association of White Lake, NY’ or the Emergency Response groups: Bethel Ambulance, KL, SMV or WL Fire Company.   

Business Watch: Dine, shop and support local small business, services and professionals! Refer to www.bethelnybba.com. Dine at Local Table & Tap, Santorini Mix Grill, Benji & Jakes, Sticky Fingers, or Sorella in Kauneonga. 17B will take you to Bethel Market Cafe, Hector’s Inn, Woodstock Oasis and Annie’s Ruff Cut. Recently heard that Soy will close on the 15th.

News Flash: Look for a grand re-opening of Country Bumkin Antiques this spring at the 17BxRt52 corner in Fosterdale!

Celebrate Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday also known as Civil Rights Day, on Monday, the 15th.

Chill! Sign up individually or create a team for the Alzheimer’s benefit, ‘Sullivan Freeze for the Cure’, happening on the 20th at White Lake Fire Co. FMI, to register or donate, call 845-866-6275 or (www.subzeroheroes.org). Then Warm Up! Get tickets for the SPCA Dinner Dance at ElSombrero on the 20th. FMI:845-796-3120.

Stay tuned: SCCC’s ‘King of the Ice’ Fishing Event is on the calendar for February 18th, weather permitting. An additional BBA event, in the planning process is scheduled for the 17th. Your unadorned holiday trees can be recycled and used at the Bethel-BBA “Big Burn”! Take and deposit your tree to Alton Distillery on 17B on January (6, 7), 13th and 14th.

Arts & Culture Events: BCA@BethelArt.org, Bethelwoodscenter.org, Callicoontheater.com, Catskillartspace.org, Cobaltstudios.net, Delawarehighlands.org, DelawareValleyartsalliance.org, DelawareValleyopera.org, Ebcpl.org,  Fbplayhhouse.org, Hurleyvilleartscentre.org, Narrowsburgunion.com, Nesinculturalarts.org, Theeldredpreserve.com, sccoplayers.org, scdw.net, shadowlandstages.org, scnyhistory.org, waynecountyartsalliance.org. Support the cultural organizations and places that you enjoy to keep them afloat.                                                                                                                     Purchase Bethel Woods ‘24 Lawn Passes and Memberships or tickets to the announced Pavilion-Events Gallery schedule.                                                                                                                                       

Catskill Art Space offers the ongoing Turrell, Lewitt, and Cape exhibits and the ‘Christina P. Day, Gina Snow Magid, and Raphaele Shirley’ exhibit through February 24th. On January 13th, attend an Opening Artist Talk from 3-4pm and Reception at 4-5pm.

DVO Arts Nest in Lake Huntington hosts the ‘Catskill Artisan & Fine Art Exhibit’ until the 27th. 

Eldred Preserve has Sunday Game Day specials and ‘Wine about Mondays’.

HPAC offers dance lessons and yoga. The ‘ML King Day of Service Youth Summit’ is scheduled for the 12th from 9-2pm.

Callicoon Movie Theater screens  “Mean Girls” on the 12-15th (7:30 all/ 2pm Sat and Sun).

The Callicoon Market operates indoors on Sundays from 11-2pm.

Catch a Delaware Highland’s Eagle Watch Bus Tour. Reserve on website or 570-226-3164x2 / 845-583-1010x2.                                                                                                                                 

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Suz sez: “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” MLK, Jr.