Greetings to all and I hope that this column finds you, your family and friends in good health and practicing social distancing. Having ridden in the NYS subways for at least 10 years of my life, it doesn't surprise me that the New York City Corona Virus numbers are so high. The last time I was in New York City, on January 30th, I fortunately walked from the Port Authority bus station to my destination and back. I did bring a mask with me that day, but I didn't wear it.

So, in case you need additional hand sanitizer and want to help support a worthy group, Stacy Cohen's Dancing Cat Saloon is selling hand sanitizer that the NYS Distiller group made. Stacy posted a lengthy Facebook posting under Dancing Cat Saloon with information as to the hours that one can purchase this hand sanitizer and how you go about purchasing it. If you happen to have a few extra Lysol hand wipes, they are like currency. I have had two situations where I was able to give two different folks some hand wipes as a bonus type payment.

Thomas J. Bickerton, the Bishop for the United Methodist Church Hudson Valley region has directed that all United Methodist Churches in the Hudson Valley be closed at this time. No palms are to be distributed for Palm Sunday.

The Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church sanctuary is closed until further notice; however, the Church will have on-line services. Check out the advertisement in today's Sullivan County Democrat with information on accessing the Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services that Pastor Bridgette LeConey will be conducting. (You can go to either the Facebook page or the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church website.) I am still awaiting information on the Easter Sunday service that the Bishop Bickerton will be conducting. A big shout out to my sister Ginny, who created and maintains the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church's website and Facebook page. You do a fantastic job, and this helps us celebrate Holy Week.

Many local folks participate in the annual Christmas season Samaritan's Purse Christmas box toy drive that the Rev. Franklin Graham spearheads. The media didn't fully disclose this but the tents that went up this past week in Central Park, were tents that Rev. Franklin Graham's organization, a Christian, Humanitarian organization organized, put up and staffed. As you may know, Franklin Graham is the son of the late Billy Graham.

Nature, including the migrating birds are not following the stay home orders. Earlier this week, several folks spotted herons, including Maria Neumann the pharmacist of the Jeff Pharmacy and yours truly, your trusty Kenoza Lake news correspondent. Also, several folks including Maria the Pharmacist and George Slater, have reported hearing peepers.

As expected, the Otto residence has had an uninvited, large, black, four-legged, furry visitor during the night, on our back deck, namely, a hungry black bear. He got under the barbeque and chomped on the fat bin and banged around the bear proof bird feeder that my husband Ray built, several years ago.

In case you don't know this yet, Sullivan County officials have been holding frequent town hall sessions on Facebook regarding the Corona Virus outbreak. The Q & A sessions start at 1 p.m. on various days of the week. You can submit your questions via email to: sctownhall@co.sullivan.ny.us or private message to www.facebook

.com/sullivancounty.gov.

The Bethel post office has installed a clear shower curtain in the lobby, at the front desk, to protect the post office clerk and the folks that come in to conduct post office business. The Jeffersonville post office has a nice plexiglass divider that someone's husband made.

I spoke with someone from the Monticello Greenhouse the other day. They had raised 600 Easter Lilies for Easter and with so many churches closed in the county, if you want to help support a local business, you can go to the Farmer's Market that is next door to the Monticello Greenhouse on the eastern end of Broadway in Monticello.

Two weeks ago, the Sullivan County Democrat's Down the Decades had a paragraph, stating that 130 years ago, Pike Pond was no longer to be and rather, Kenoza Lake was the name of the hamlet. If you go in the lobby of the Kenoza Lake post office, there is a photo of Kenoza Lake with a caption stating that on February 19, 1890, the US Post Office Department notified the local postmaster of the name change. That photo caption said it became official on April 29, 1890. Whatever, it was 130 years ago. Happy Birthday Kenoza Lake!

If you are looking for something constructive to do when you are out walking along the road, why not consider doing some litter plucking? Community pride. Be careful what you pick up, but most likely, the chances of picking up the Virus on roadside litter would be extremely small. Pick up old garbage if you want to be super safe.

Full Moon April 7th, Pink Moon, named after the appearance of the “moss pink”, or wild ground phlox, one of the early spring flowers.

Be well, stay well. Please continue to practice Social Distancing. Wear a mask when you are out in public. Together we can flatten the curve.