Greetings faithful readers! Hope that everyone had a fantastic July 4th weekend. I went to see the fireworks in White Lake/Kauneonga Lake. Fantastic! Fortunately, the weather cooperated, and everyone could watch the fireworks without having to worry about storm clouds and lightning. 

Nature Notes: I have only seen one heron this year over by White Lake. Strange. It is too early for egrets. I have only seen one firefly. Normally one sees fireflies at the end of June. Did you know that fireflies are not flies nor bugs but rather they are a member of the beetle family. Fireflies love warm, humid weather. (So, they should really be out and about now, as we have had warm, humid weather this past week.) 

There are seven United Methodist Churches of western Sullivan County that are part of the Western Sullivan Parish. This includes the White Sulphur Springs, Liberty, Kenoza Lake, North Branch, Livingston Manor, Callicoon and Jeffersonville United Methodist Churches.  When there are five Sundays in a month, all seven parishes have only one service. On Sunday, July 30th, (the fifth Sunday of the month) there will be a joint service at the White Sulphur Springs’ Fireman’s Park, 10:00 am.  Followed by a parish wide picnic. I remember attending Kenoza Lake church picnics, as a little girl, at the Hust Pond. 

There will be a senior luncheon at noon, July 27th, at the White Sulphur Springs Fellowship Hall. Free lunch. Open to all.  There will be representatives from the Sullivan County Adult Services Unit and the Sullivan County Office of the Aging as well as the Jeff Bank. Please email Pastor Joycalyn if you are interested in attending at Joycalyn.jordan@nyac-umc.com. 

Save the date: The annual Kenoza Lake Firemen’s Chicken BBQ will be held on Saturday, July 22nd. The price is $14.00 per dinner. The dinner is primarily a takeout dinner.  

Thank you, George Rose, for tending to the plants by the Kenoza Lake post office.  Also, a big thank you to Lyle Snedeker for the lawn and plant work at the Kenoza Lake United Methodist church, Firehouse and Memorial Stone. Community Pride.  Thanks!

During the months of July and August, there are free, outdoor music events.  Yes, you could also go to Bethel Woods, but you don’t have to do that. On Wednesday nights, the Callicoon Center band holds their free outdoor concerts. The Kauneonga Lake music is on Thursday night, at the gazebo, across from Sorella’s Restaurant. 

On the 4th of July, I darted over to Liberty prior to the start of the parade and met up with our Congressman Marc Molinaro and our NYS Senator Peter Oberacker, both of whom drove to Liberty to participate in the parade. Both Congressman Molinaro and Senator Oberacker share office space on 59 North Street in Liberty. 

Life on the farm. Faithful readers of this column know that some of the Slater Farms White Park Beef cows spend their summer months on Brown Farms. Sometimes a cow decides that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence and decides to jump the fence. On the 4th of July, a Slater cow decided to jump the fence and got in the road. Someone decided to call 911 and get the State Police to Brown Farms over the loose cow. I bet that 911 call put a smile on the faces of the NYS Troopers. “Loose cow on Old Taylor Road”. Life in the country, don’t you love it?