The Hudson Valley Restaurant week started on March 31 and runs through April 13. You might ask why, should anyone in Sullivan County care about a restaurant week celebration that is not local? The fact is that during the event there will be one hundred and twenty seven restaurants in eight counties participating including many of our local restaurants that are part of this bi-annual promotional event that takes place every Spring and Fall -The Blue Fox Motel and Restaurant on Route 97 in Narrowsburg, The Heron also in Narrowsburg, The Conover Club in Callicoon, The Homestead in Eldred, the Woodstock Way Groovy Eatery Bethel and The Kenoza Hall Restaurant in Kenoza Lake are just a few. During the semiannual event, these restaurants which tend to be on the expensive side will offer diners a choice of different prix-fix menus at discounted prices to choose from. 

Diners at the participating restaurant can choose menus offering a set price between $24.95, $29.95, $39.95, and $44.95 and you can try the restaurant especially selected menu and enjoy brunch, lunch, or dinner at many restaurants in Sullivan and Orange counties for both dine-in and takeout. Like most local restaurants on the list, The Blue Fox  price-fix is $39.95 for selected appetizers, entrees, and desserts and reservations are strongly suggested. For more information and a full listing of participating restaurants go to valleytable.com or Sullivan Catskills.com.

“Don’t Be Trashy” is this year’s call to action theme for the Upper Delaware Council’s Litter Sweep and an opportunity to join your neighbors and be part of the upcoming litter cleanup along Route 97 as well as along the banks of the Delaware River. Join the Town of Highland, Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce, The Hamlet Dream, NextGen Dumpsters, Kyle Gathers Tree Service, Cottage Wines, Il Castello Pizza Ristorante and the Stickett Inn Cafe in picking up trash around our community roadways. This will be my fourth year working with Frank Guzman’s team that will be assigned to Lumberland stretch of Route 97 this year. Volunteers will be provided with an event tee shirt, trash bags, work gloves and trash pickers and last year’s volunteers picked up over three dumpsters full of trash-including over thirty car and truck tires! The Upper Delaware Council’s Town of Highland Litter Sweep will take place on Saturday, April 19 starting at 9am with a kickoff at the Cul de Sac in Barryville (next to the Shohola Bridge) with a coffee and bagels breakfast compliments of the Stickett Inn. 

Volunteers will then receive equipment and work area assignments before starting their Litter Sweep shifts. At the end of the litter sweep day there will be a Pizza Party at Cottage Wines on Route 97, sponsored by the wine shop and Il Castello Pizzeria and Ristorante. Town of Highland Supervisor Johnny Pizzolato told me that “the Delaware River is the heartbeat of our community and anything we can all do to ensure its vibrancy and health is essential. The litter sweep is for the community and by the community.” 

If you are interested in participating in the Town of Highland Litter Sweep you can contact Town of Highland Supervisor Johnny Pizzolato on Facebook or just show up on April 19 at the Cul de Sac at 9 am.