On Sunday, October 6 from noon to 3pm, the Highland Lake Fire Department and the members of the Lumberland Fire Department will be jointly hosting their third Annual Open House. 

The Open House will feature a Touch-A-Truck event along with demonstrations, and a live auto extraction. Other local Fire Departments from Yulan, Shohola and White Lake will attend along with EMS agencies from Lumberland and the Town of Highland. 

Representatives from Join Sullivan Fire, an organization that supports the volunteer firefighters in the County and sponsors the Annual Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighter’s Parade every Fall will be on hand to answer any questions about the benefits of being a volunteer firefighter in the County.

The Open House will have activities and games for children, door prizes donated by our local businesses and refreshments will be served from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. The Open House is a great opportunity to show appreciation for the community’s first responders. 

The event is also a recruitment effort and a way to learn first-hand from the firefighters and EMS volunteers what your area’s emergency services have to offer! The Highland Lake Fire Department is located at 144 Highland Lake Road in Highland Lake.

Unless you have been stuck on Tristan da Cunha Island in the South Atlantic Ocean which holds the dubious distinction of being the most remote location on earth, you may not be aware or be prepared as an American citizen to vote in the most consequential Presidential election in the last one-hundred-and-fifty years. 

Everyone needs to vote. During the last presidential race in 2020, only sixty-six percent of eligible voters went to the polls. Compare that percentage to Sweden where eighty-one percent of voters turn out on election day. 

There are several ways that eligible New Yorkers can vote but there are strict deadlines in place. For those not in New York State and want to vote an early Mail In Ballot can be requested online from, in our case, the Sullivan County Board of Elections (BOE) or by going to the BOE office in Monticello. If you have voted with a Mail In Ballot your ballot will be sent to you starting forty six days before Election Day which is November 5th.

You may also apply for an Absentee Ballot if you are disabled or temporarily or permanently ill or in jail for other than a felony, you can apply online, download the ballot or go to the BOE office or by designating another person to deliver your ballot application for you. 

Put your ballot in the mail so it is postmarked no later than November 5th and do not forget to sign the outside envelope! Once you qualify for an absentee ballot  you will be mailed one for every election cycle until your voter registration is canceled. The third way to vote is by going to the BOE and early vote in person. 

Early voting in Sullivan County is from October 26th through November 3rd at the BOE Office in the lobby of the Government Building in Monticello. Then, of course, on election day anyone eligible can go to their towns, polling place and vote. 

On all methods of voting there are strict deadlines to follow. The last day for the BOE to receive an absentee ballot which is postmarked on or before November 5th is November 12th. 

The last day for any changes of address off your ballot is October 21st. Voter registration deadline if you haven’t voted before is October 26th. The last day to apply in person for an election ballot (absentee/or vote in person on election day) is November 4th. 

The last day to have a mail in ballot postmark is November 5th and the last day for mail in ballots for military, special federal or UOCAVA (uniformed and overseas citizens Absentee voter’s ballots must be postmarked by November 5th and must be received by the BOE by November 20th. 

I know this is a bit complicated so when in doubt call the Sullivan County Board of Elections who are enormously helpful at 845-807-0400.