In the far north, still, the Gods of Winter are beating their drums past midnight tonight. We don’t want to provoke their anger; dare we say it aloud? THE SNOW IS GONE, LONG LIVE SPRING AND SUMMER IN SULLIVAN! – Spring is indeed popping out everywhere now. Our local woods resound with the happy human sounds of jigsaws and hammers; today—instead of a snow plow—a hissing street sweeper bustled down Mitchell Street in a tornado of red dust, great circular brush whirling and fuming, dislodging months of cakemud and sand from the pitted, winter-weary tarmac. Long live the summer! The Merry Month of May (and with it, our high season) launches this coming weekend.

One weekend each year, the Town of Bethel (of which Mongaup Valley and Smallwood are constituent parts) hosts a two-day municipal “Clean Up.” Here’s your chance, Mongaupiads and Smallwoodians! Bustle around your property and SPRING CLEAN! There are, of course, restrictions on what kind of ‘old life’ you can cart through the metal swinging gates of the Bethel Transfer Station on Saturday, May 7th, and Sunday, May 8th (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day; 608 Old White Lake Turnpike, Swan Lake NY 12783 ). Please note that you may only use this Town service if you are a resident of Bethel, NY. Best way to establish what you can cart in is to hustle on over to Bethel Town Hall (3454 Route 55, White Lake, NY 12786) to pick up a copy of the “Clean Up Day” rules and the free car permit which will allow you to drive up to the various bins and containers provided on this special weekend of spring cleaning.

At the civic level, too, a lot of cleanup is also going on. Dozens of people showed up to help beautify the Smallwood Civic Association SWCA) Beach this past weekend. The living jewel of our Hamlet is being polished and prepped for another wonderful summer of splashing and laughing and sparks rising into the night! A second cleanup has been scheduled for Sunday, May 1st at 11:00 AM. Please meet at the SWCA Lodge (302 Pine Grove Road) and bring appropriate gloves, shoes, and clothing.

Most people who read “The Smallwoodian” regularly know that many Smallwoodians were recently unsettled to hear about a proposed large-scale real estate development planned for the south side of Mountain Lake. The 801-acre project has now been officially canceled by its developers. The many activists who rolled up their sleeves to preserve the sanctity and cleanliness of our water and air deserve the unending gratitude of everyone living in Bethel. Pristine silvery water, air free of gaseous and particulate pollutants, a stable and thriving forest environment are some of the reasons many of us love living here. Hats off to SmART, the self-organized activist organization in Smallwood which spearheaded resistance to the development. Congratulations and let’s continue to cherish our dream of silvery streams and pure air. Citizen! Be well!