April 25 – April is National Donate Life Month. This designation is to highlight the need and the importance of eye, tissue and organ donations and celebrate the exceptional impact of the gift of life through transplantation. During 2022, in the United States, approximately 43,000 transplants were performed. Right now, there are over 100,000 people waiting for an organ donation. One of those people is our Shohola neighbor, George Weber.

For many years George was a member of the Shohola Volunteer Fire Department and now is in end stage liver failure and is in urgent need of a liver transplant. While he waits for his transplant, the community will be holding a benefit meat ball and spaghetti dinner from 3-6:30pm on Saturday, May 6th at the Shohola Fire House for George and his wife Laura to help them with the cost of his medical treatment. Hosted by the Shohola Area Lions Club in conjunction with The Shohola Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue Organization, in addition to a homecooked dinner there will be live music, a Tricky Tray (called at 6pm). There will be beer, wine, and soda available for purchase. You can eat in or take-out. Tickets to the benefit are $12.00 for adults and kids under six years old are $6.00. You can order tickets by going to www.shoholafd.com  or pay at the door. To donate to the Tricky Tray text 914-850-4270. If you are unable to attend but would like to make a tax-deductible donation, go online to www.helphopelive.org/find a campaign and type in George Weber’s name. The Shohola Volunteer Fire House is located at 325 PA-Route 434 in Shohola. For more information or to volunteer visit their website. If you would like to learn more about becoming an organ donor in New York State visit ny.gov/services/become-organ-donor. In Pennsylvania go to the Pennsylvania Department of Health website and sign up as a donor. Also, when you get or renew your driver’s license, learner’s permit, or State Identification Card in either New York or Pennsylvania you can check a box and enroll as an organ donor.

Ceramicist Nonna Hall has a lovely pottery studio where she works on her craft and holds a series of very popular pottery classes. Her studio is in the most magical spot-a wooded glen by a stream and she has a shop filled with a beautifully crafted collection of handmade pottery and ceramics (perfect for gift giving). Her studio also has a gallery and over the past few years Nonna has hosted a series of very interesting artist exhibits done in various mediums and her gallery has become an innovative hub for the arts in the Town of Highland. Her current collaboration is with painter June Moss. It features Ms. Moss’s work of paintings, drawings and monoprints on wood canvas and paper. A long-time resident of Sullivan County, Ms. Moss’s works have been featured in galleries and museums across the United States and Europe and her work is known for portraying images of ordinary people going about their lives all enhanced by intense bright colors. The exhibit is free and will be on display until May 14th at Nonneta and Friends Creative Gallery located at 16 Old Brook Road in Barryville. For more information about the gallery hours and upcoming classes and events go to nonnetaandfriends.com.