June 2 – Congratulations to our very own Jeffersonville Fire Department for bringing home “Best Appearing Fire Department” at the parade in Fremont!

The JEMS (Jeffersonville Enhances More of Sullivan) beautification group honored Dr. and Mrs. Ken Hilton at their May meeting. The Hilton’s have been a major part of this great group of volunteers since its inception. They both have been very active with the gardening along Main Street Jeff, working at the events both on stage and within town, the most important the Annual Duck Race held at the Jeff Jamboree each year. Ken was a Director, sharing his wisdom and Annie was a great gardener, trying to keep others from pulling flowers out instead of the flowers! JEMS wish them well as they move closer to their family. They will both be missed. 

Painter, Printmaker, and Mixed-Media artist Madelon Jones will be featured Saturday, June 3rd from 3-5 p.m. with an opening reception at Domestications (located at 4055 State Route 52, Youngsville). Inspired by nature, Madelon’s work expresses that inspiration through abstraction of form and color. Painting allows her to combine what she sees with what she imagines using paint and cut paper to create the abstract forms of birds, fish, flowers and most of all skies and seas that reflect her personal visions. She learned her craft at UCLA receiving a BFA in Art, then on to New York City, the school of Visual Arts, and printmaking at The Printmaking Workshop with Bob Blackburn as her mentor. Her work has been exhibited throughout the USA, Europe, South America and the Middle East! Please take time to go visit this beautiful event.

“Caregivers Coffee Clutch”! Meet other caregivers at Cornell Cooperative Extension for a monthly meet and greet series where you can pose questions, ask for advice, share tips and more! Caregivers who attend can find resources available through aging and health services on new programs and upcoming events! The first program will take place on Wednesday, June 7th at 10:30 a.m.! These programs are free, but preregistration is required! Sign up for a spot today by reaching out to their 4-H Youth Development Program Manager, Barbara Moran, at (845) 292-6180 or sullivan@cornell.edu!

Still another program… Planting Seeds for Kids! To educate young people on the planting and care of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County’s Horticulture Program Coordinator, Katie Gasior, will host an educational program at the Extension Education Center at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road in Liberty on planting seeds. The program will take place on Wednesday, June 28th from 5- to 6:30 p.m. Participants will take home and care for their planted seeds. There is no fee, but preregistration is required to participate. Register online at http://sullivancce.org/events. Those with related questions can email sullivan@cornell.edu or call 845-292-6180.

The JEMS has been busy planting all of the flowerpots along Main Street in Jeffersonville and will be planting the rest of the gardens this Saturday. Next week children from SW Grade School will be planting the flowers they grew in the “Pecks Garden”.  Please let me know if you see anyone tampering with the flowers- we have had flowers pulled out in three of our planters.