The newer people in Town (those who have lived in Highland less than fifty years!)  may be wondering what the heck a penny social is. Not having grown up in this area, it took me awhile to figure it out. It’s a type of very popular fundraising event for organizations and in the Town of Highland the local Lions Club does a Penny Social every year and usually around Halloween. As I learned you buy a tear-off ticket for a penny (they come in sheets of one hundred tickets) and then put as many of your tickets as you like into an empty paper cup next to an item you hope to win. The prizes all of which are donated can range from household items, small appliances, gift certificates to local businesses to a Money Tree (a small tree having large bills attached to it) that is usually considered as the Social’s grand prize). Everything at the Social is laid out on large tables and everyone walks around stuffing their tickets into the paper cups. When all the cups are full-the “calling” begins where the winning ticket is drawn from each cup. Then the socializing begins in earnest, and it’s time to visit with your friends and neighbors to catch up on things.

The Town of Highland Lions club will be holding their Penny Social and a Bake Sale at the newly refurbished Highland Senior Center located at 725 Route 55 in Eldred on Saturday, October 25th starting at 10am until 3pm and the “calling”- for the winning tickets will begin at noon. The Lion’s Club was founded in 1917 in Chicago and has chapters all over the world. Their mission is to serve their local communities and support those in need through service projects and grants. The Highland Lions have always volunteered their time over the years including organizing vision screenings, collecting gently used eyeglasses that are donated to countries around the world, raising awareness of eye diseases and the current treatments available, environmental issues, and granting scholarships to the graduates of the Eldred Central School. The Lions Penny Social event is their largest fundraiser of the year and funds raised go right back into our community. Since it is so close to Halloween, they are encouraging people to come in costumes, which several attendees did last year- including Martha Worzel in her fabulous witch costume. The Lions will be selling hot dogs and soda, and the coffee is free. The Penny Social is a fun time and helps our community in so many ways so plan to stop by and support them and have some fun.  

Just a reminder that next Saturday October 25th is the last Market day for the Barryville Farmers’ Market’s 2025 season. It’s also their annual Halloween blowout party, a parade and trunk and treat event. There will be costume contests of all kinds-for people and their pets, and a baking contest. (with prizes for the winners) The live music will feature LMNOP Band so wear your comfy dancing shoes. Then the big parade will amble down River Road to the Cul de sac by the Shohola Bridge for the big Trunk and Treat event. The weather promises to be just perfect and it’s such a lovely time for the whole family. For more information visit the Market’s website at barryvillefarmersmarket.org. As of last Saturday, the voters at the Barryville Farmers Market have spoken and results are in. Over seventy-five voters sampled twelve different chili recipe entrees and it turned out to be a real cliff hanger and a very close race.  Congratulations are in order for Curtis Brown, the chef at the new Oasis Bar and Restaurant in Barryville who was selected as the grand prize winner with his delicious venison chili recipe. If you missed trying his chili, Curtis will be the guest chef at the next senior and veterans’ community lunch on Tuesday October 21st at the Highland Senior Center.