Leaves are slowly changing as we begin to bid farewell to Summer and welcome the gorgeous Fall colors. That means school supplies and First Day outfits are on the horizon. Reunions, scholarship events, and family and community need events are in force to move us into the season. 

The Monticello High School Class of 1985 is holding its 40th Reunion with an open invitation for all 1980’s graduates on Saturday, September 20th at Holiday Mountain starting at 5 p.m. The event is an informal gathering with food and beverages available for purchase. Mark your calendar and join in the fun organized by Sheri Cutler Leventoff, Julie Lieber Ardito and Larry Valentia. 

The Sullivan Central Rotary Club presents “Neighbors Feeding Neighbors.” This food drive event to benefit United Way of Sullivan County will hold the main event on Saturday, September 20 at the Town of Thompson Town Hall from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. In addition, Food Collection Boxes will be set up to drop off items prior to the main event from August 25 through September 19 at Liberty Dollar Tree, White Sulphur Dollar General, Rock Hill Pharmacy, Platinum Leaf, D.A. Brian Conaty’s Office, Sullivan County Clerk Russell Reeves Office, Sullivan County Treasurer Nancy Buck’s - County Treasurers Office, Children’s Home in Liberty, and Berson Associates in Monticello. Non-perishable items such as canned veggies and fruit, pasta, tuna, soups, jarred tomato sauce, shelf staple milk, and baby foods are sought to help feed our neighbors in need.  This project is the start of a legacy project within the community with more information to come. For more information, please contact Co-Chairs Dawn Roemer and Alyssa Wowk at sullivancentralrotaryclub@gmail.com.

Calling all high school seniors: Applications for the 2026 Most Valuable Student scholarship contest are now open! The Elks National Foundation will award 500 scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the competition, ranging from $4,000 to $30,000 over four years. No relation to the Elks is necessary to apply. With this scholarship, students gain more than just financial aid; they gain an appreciation of service, a network of like-minded peers, and an Elks Family for life. Find eligibility requirements and other important details at https://www.elks.org/scholars/scholarships/MVS.cfm.

The Monticello Fire House will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive on August 21st from 1pm-6pm. To register go to RedCrossBlood.org.  Walk-ins are also welcome. 

The Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre will be holding its Culture Festival on August 23 from Noon – 4pm. Culture is the heartbeat of the arts. It brings us together, tells our stories, and celebrates who we are. Join in and celebrate with an end of summer festival celebrating culture filled with a wonderful array of delicious foods, outstanding vendors, bounce houses, cultural performances and more!

Mark your calendar for a Meet & Greet with Hayden Carnell on August 21, from 5 p.m. -7 p.m. at Dos Gatos Cantina in the Alder Hotel at Resorts World. Stop by and get updated on everything happening at the Town of Thompson Highway Department and support Hayden in his bid for re-election.

The 5th annual International Overdose Awareness Day Vigil will be held on August 26 at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Sullivan County Courthouse, Monticello.

International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, to remember without stigma those who have lost their lives, and to acknowledge the grief of the families and friends left behind. This annual event shines light on the importance of recognizing and remembering those who are and have suffered with the disease of addiction resulting in overdoses and deaths.

Community members are invited to attend and open their hearts as families share stories of loved ones who lost their battle with substance use; remember those who have passed and celebrate those in recovery; meet organizations and learn about resources created to face this crisis head-on; and participate in a candlelight vigil as the sun sets, accompanied by bagpipes against the backdrop of the Sullivan County Courthouse, lit purple to symbolize overdose awareness.

The International Overdose Awareness Day Vigil is presented by a community of organizations working together to end the opioid epidemic in Sullivan County. For more information, please contact Lindsay Wheat, Sullivan 180 Outreach Program Manager, at Lindsay@Sullivan180.org.

Happy Birthday to Corrinne Dunlap (8/19), Kenya Snowden (8/20), Lisa Failla, Kevin Giroux, Susan Horton, Maryjean Carroll, Lisa Layman, Todd Grodin (8/21), Rhonda Kaufman Golub (8/22), Gloria Gulotta, Isabel Lopez, Teofilo Newsuan (8/23), Mike Friedman, Ramona Gray (8/24), Kelly Keesler, Kayla Stacchini, Christy Poli, Billie Jean McGinnis, Fouad Kerendian, Danielle Goodstein (8/25). 

Get out there and enjoy what is left of summer! And, just in case I really don’t “Know It All,” please keep me in the know by emailing me at LoriJames.SCDemocrat@gmail.com .