April 29 – Big news! Hills Pizza is officially opening this Sunday with an amazing menu at 5004 NY-52 in Jeffersonville (where Sal’s was). Jeffersonville is booming!

The Sullivan County Soil & Water Conservation District is collecting E-Waste for Sullivan County residents (free) only starting on Monday, May 4 and ending on Wednesday, September 30. Drop off items at their office located at 64 Ferndale Loomis Rd., Liberty from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Limited to 10 items per household.  Call or email Amber at 845-292-6552 at agray@sullivanswcd.org to set up a drop off time.

The White Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church is having their amazing Roast Beef Dinner on May 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the White Sulphur Springs Firehouse. Adults and Takeouts $20, Children 5-12 are $10 and Under 5 are free. Bring your family and friends out for a tasty dinner with homemade desserts too!

Race to support SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)! A Sullivan West 5K Powder Fun Run/Walk is being held at the Sullivan West Central School on May 30 with registration at 8 a.m. and a race start time at 9:30 a.m.

A Powder Fun Run is different! Participants will get splashed with non-toxic and environmentally friendly colored powder as they run or walk the 5K course to a colorful finish. Wear white to show off your beautiful colors! Be sure to bring some towels to protect your car on the way home. Open to all ages, free T-shirt with preregistration, USATF Certification with professional chip timing. Come out and enjoy rolling hills through the small town of Lake Huntington and the route around the beautiful lake while you support youth prevention programs for Sullivan West youth. FMI: Michele Brockner, SADD Advisor #845-482-4610 or brocknermic@swcsd.org.

Save the Date: June 20 the White Sulphur Springs beautification group is having a Golf Outing at the Lochmor Golf Club with all proceeds being used to beautify their town. 18 holes with lunch for $120! There will be raffles, 50/50, goody bags and other fun games. Before you start you can enjoy a breakfast of baked goods and coffee. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. with a Shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.

I love the Monarch butterfly, reminds me of my mom. Last year I didn’t see that many around the yard.  Did you know that milkweeds planted along the edges of a garden are 2.5 to 4 times more likely to attract their eggs? They find it easier to locate and lay their eggs on the taller variety of milkweeds on the outer edges of a garden and can find the plants on the north or south side of your garden or field better. Growing up at the farm I would see lots of milkweed plants in the pasture and find their eggs on many.

I know we like to keep our lawns mowed but please let your dandelions bloom as long as you can bear them – they are an early spring food source for our much-needed bees.

Please enjoy your weekend and let me know if you have any news to share!