We are now, astoundingly, at the halfway point of the 2021 summer season in this part of New York State. Many of us, sick of rainy days, foggy nights, and general thunder, feel that Nature has robbed us of the hot sunny summer that we have come to love and expect here in Sullivan.

Each day now is beginning to shorten at quite a breathtaking rate: we are losing two minutes of sunlight per day and soon it will be three minutes per day. In a single week, we lose a quarter hour of sunlight right now, and in a month, by the beginning of September we will have lost a whole hour. Autumn is afoot.

All the more reason, Dearies, to be yourself afoot and accomplish good things. While at it, let’s do it together! -- I received an email the other day from Tim Morey, President of the Smallwood – Mongaup Valley Fire Department. Tim informs that the FD’s wonderful chicken BBQ – Take Out will be held this Saturday, August 14 at the Smallwood – Mongaup Valley Fire House at 181 Ballard Road starting at 2:00 PM.

For only $13, hungry visitors will receive a complete BBQ chicken dinner along with red potatoes, corn on the cob, cold salad, water and dessert!!! Yummy yummy!!! Come get your lunch early because the FD will sell out!

Also coming up: Smallwood Day is almost here. Association members are invited to participate in this event, planned (like the FD BBQ) for August 14th. (Do you live in Smallwood, but are not yet a member of the SWCA? Why are you excluding yourself from so much fun???? Please Google the Association website and join.) Smallwood Day, which begins at 4:00 PM, starts on the Association beach and will then evolve into an evening of family fun.

There will be lots of wonderfully tasty food, live music, lighting of the new fire pit, and finally a night-time swim with lifeguard coverage. Look up from the water and see the stars shimmering down on you and Mountain Lake!

Finally a note about the third General Membership Meeting of the SWCA of 2021, which will take place inside at the Association Lodge on August 7th at 10:00 am. Please note that you will need your membership card to enter the meeting as it is important for the SWCA to know who is there and whether or not quorum has been attained.

Because of the increasing risks associated with the spread of the Delta variant of the Corona virus—Sullivan is a very high risk area for Covid--masks are required to enter the meeting.

If you cannot attend or do not wish to wear a mask, the SWCA will also be broadcasting the meeting via Zoom. Please visit the Association website for more info.