There are several events happening next weekend that are fun for everyone. On Saturday, May 17, our much-loved Barryville Farmers Market opens for what I believe is its sixth season. Many of our favorite vendors will be returning with some new additions including two new bakeries-Double D Sourdough Bakery and L’Ímprimerie Bakery in addition to Herbal Scoop juices and teas thrown into the lineup. And yes for all the local fanatics-Grizzly Bagels will be returning to the Market which will make my good friend Margie Granese very happy! For the opening day, The Market will be hosting Shad Fest 2O25-The Festival of the Founding Fish. Sponsored by the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway  and the Sullivan County Visitors Association, the Festival honors the important role that shad fishing played in the history of the river communities from the original Native American populations and the early colonists. The Delaware River is still prized for shad fishing today. At the Market  there will be shad tastings, education programs and demonstrations with professional chef Ruth Chiocchi from Nikki’s C’s Seafood Market in Eldred. The music for the Farmers Market and the Festival will be by the popular DJ Miho Hatori. The Shad Fest event continues that evening at the Cochecton Pump House with a dance party and cocktails from 7-11pm. At 8pm there will be a live performances by Japanese singer and songwriter Miho Hatori and musician Paul Wilson Bae. Both events are free as part of Shad Fest. The Barryville Farmers Market is open every Saturday 10am-1pm from May through October and is located in its usual spot at 3405 State Route 97 in Barryville. The Cochecton Pump House is located at 7895 Route 97 right outside Narrowsburg. For the record, the fabulous Barryville United Methodist Church’s Thrift Shop located at the Market will also be open for the season. This little shop located in a garage raises an astounding amount of money that is all donated back to support worthy causes in our community so definitely stop by. They accept donations (no large pieces of furniture) during the Market hours and on Friday mornings from 9-11am. Not exactly kid friendly but May 17 is also the Town of Highland Clean Up Day or Dump Day. The Deputy Town Clerk will give you a pass during the regular business hours at Town Hall and yes there are trash items they will not accept and you will get that list with your pass. 

Before her retirement from the New York State Assembly, Aileen Gunther  awarded the Town of Highland a very generous grant of over $250,000 to refurbish and repair several long-neglected buildings that are owned by the Town. Town Supervisor John Pizzolato and the Town’s Board members have been working hard to get the renovations done. In addition to renovating the Courthouse building in Barryville which is in progress, one of the other exciting projects is the complete renovation of the restrooms (to make them ADA compliant) and upgrade the kitchen at the Senior/Community Center on Route 55 in Eldred. The kitchen renovations will support a new meal program for local seniors as well as getting the kitchen compliant for possible rental by local food service professionals and generate more rental income for the Center. The Town of Highland recently got a grant from the Office of Children and Families Services for the Center and will be sponsoring a Community Family Dinner and a Movie Night at the Senior Center on Friday May 16. starting at 6:30pm. The movie Kung Fu Panda will be followed by a Chinese meal freshly prepared by local Chef Michael Cher of the new River Market in Barryville which should reopen in July. The Movie Night and the dinner is free and everyone is welcome to attend. It is shaping up to be a great weekend with plenty of activities to check out.