Columnists
Down the Decades
January 12, 2021 Edition
110 Years Ago - 1911
Oscar Robisch, 10-year-old son of Walter Robisch of Hortonville, had his leg broken just above the ankle on Thursday afternoon while sliding downhill near the schoolhouse at Hortonville.
Mrs. Martin Hermann has at her home a curiosity which is seldom, if ever ...read more
Garden Guru
Don't forget the drink
With the cold weather we have been having, many people are feeding the birds to help their feathered friends make it throught the winter, but there is something else they need even more, water.
We can only go a couple of days without water compared to weeks without food. Likewise birds need a ...read more
Retrospect
The Hotel Lenape
Many of the largest and most successful summer hotels during Sullivan County's Silver Age—that period of time between approximately 1890 and 1915—were located in and around the village of Liberty.
The Hotel Wawonda, with its 300 rooms, eight public fireplaces, golf course and mile-long bicycle ...read more
Bethel Corner
Bethel
January 12 - I'm not supposed to get political in this Community Column. Not writing about recent events or expressing an opinion does not mean that I am not extremely upset. The Capitol, the actions of our President, the election, Covid, and BLM all deserve discussion and words...personally, I ...read more
About Books
January 8, 2021
KEEP SHARP by Sanjay Gupta (Simon & Schuster). The most practical-minded book on this general subject that I've seen. Dr. Gupta is a neurosurgeon, and that's an OK credential—he does hold the reader's interest for a bit, explaining how all about the brain's makeup and functioning relates to the ...read more
Making Sense Out of Dollars
“A” is for Annuities
Part 1 of 8
An annuity is a contractually executed, relatively low-risk investment product, where the insured (usually, an individual) pays a life insurance company a lump-sum premium at the start of the contract. That money is to be paid back to the insured in fixed, incremental amounts, over ...read more
Kenoza Lake
Kenoza Lake - December 18
Greetings to all. I am writing my last Kenoza Lake news column for 2020. Also, this will be the last column until next April 16th.
On December 3rd, I was appointed the Town of Bethel Tax Collector for the month of December and then on January 1st, I will start my elected term. As this is my ...read more
Hope for the Day
Details, Details
Some people just don't want to be bothered with the details. Their motto is, “Don't sweat the small stuff,” and they are willing to plunge forward and get it done without giving much thought to details.
Then you have the detail people. We can't even consider beginning anything without a detailed ...read more
Woodridge
Woodridge - January 17
Woodridge lost a treasure recently with the passing of Robert Longo, who was born in 1921 in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. He was one of ten children, part of a large and loving, but financially struggling family.
Upon graduation from high school in 1939 Bob decided to get a job to help with the ...read more
Youngsville
January 21
It's been awhile since I have written. The holidays arrived, we were busy and then the weeks somehow got away from me and one week turned into another and then another.
So here we are, into the New Year, 2014, and I am back. I hope everyone had a great holiday season and that the New Year ...read more
Smallwood
Before and After
January 1 - Like most everyone in these last days of this very peculiar year I am currently thinking back on the dizzying events of 2020.
At times it is hard to remember what life felt like back in January and February here in Sullivan; it's as if the memory of those early months of this year ...read more
Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville - December 18
The spirit of the season will ring clear throughout the valley and mountain communities of Jeffersonville and beyond the nights before Christmas.
“Ringing of the Bells”...Wednesday, December 23rd, 7 p.m. in the Park at the Bake Shop on Main St., Jeffersonville. There will be caroling, a ...read more
Lake Huntington
Lake Huntington - January 12
I did it! I got the Covid-19 shot. I was sitting at home minding my own business and the phone rang.
“Hello Eileen, this is Barbara Donatelli president of The Grover Hermann Auxiliary. I have good news for you. Garnet Health has the Covid-19 shots and they are offering them to the Auxiliary ...read more
White Sulphur Springs
White Sulphur Springs - August 28
Celebrating their birthdays this month are Tom Lewis August 7, Deb Fink August 8, Matt Dewitt August 19, Tom Edwards August 22.
A very special birthday celebration this past weekend was held for Alice Edwards, known to many as “Grandma Alice,” turned 100 years old. On Saturday she was surprised ...read more
Older & Wiser
Medicare Advantage Plans
Last week we reviewed Medicare Prescription Coverage or Part D. This week we will look into Medicare Advantage Plans.
Medicare's Annual Election Period is the time of year when you can make changes to your Medicare coverage. Open Enrollment is October 15 through December 7, and any changes you ...read more
Monticello
Monticello - November 16
This will be my last column for the Democrat for Monticello.
Good Luck to the three new members who were installed at the Monticello Elks Club and they are: Kyle McNair, Deborah Walker and Rosemarie Paty.
The Roast Beef dinner that was recently held by the Monticello Kiwanians seemed to be ...read more
Narrowsburg
Narrowsburg - January 15
In one of my 2018 “Narrowsburg News” columns, I requested information on a house in the Luxton Lake section of town. I had just bought the circa 1860s farmhouse, which was abandoned for many decades, and was starting the process of renovating it. I had heard tales it was called “Sleepy Hollow” ...read more
Library Directors Corner
A Vision for 2021
Think back to December 31, 2019. Were you making resolutions, setting goals, or coming up with your vision for 2020? As we enter the new year, we not only reflect on the past 365 days and the unprecedented times we experienced, but also think about our future and what will come in 2021.
What ...read more
Give Us Paws
A hairy matter
You're really lucky to be human: you get to choose what you wear. Longer days and warmer weather make us want to change our wardrobe and get the lighter, brighter attire ready to wear. Pets? They each get one coat, with underwear that sheds in bits and pieces, all over the place. And no fur-bearing ...read more
EMS Coordinator
EMS - May 11
The requirements to be a paramedic are intense. It is a career choice for the brave at heart and not without consequences. Paramedicine is the highest level of EMS training. A paramedic can perform advanced life support skills such as initiating an IV, administering medications and advanced ...read more
Looking Back: At Vietnam
A Modern Look
Prologue:
Future editions of this column will cover various weapons of America's modern military.
There will be articles about our bombers, fighters, helicopters, drones, tanks, submarines and aircraft carriers over the past 45 years since Vietnam--and also a glimpse into our future ...read more
Highland
Highland - January 5
Really, I am delighted that 2020 is over and done with. Our family matriarch Grandmother Helen a proud former resident of County Cork in the southern part of Ireland was always on the scene for all major family events.
On New Year's Eve just when the magic midnight hour was at hand she would ...read more
Jewish Culture
To Survive and Thrive
Thank you for everyone who inquired on my daughter's recovery. Thank G-d she has fully recovered from the procedure and it was successful. I'm very grateful for all who shared in concern and empathy!!!
The Talmud tells a story that the great sage Rabbi Akiva was once traveling by boat and the ...read more
Liberty
Liberty - January 5
Hello to all my readers. It is so nice when I hear comments like: “I'm enjoying your column”. One old friend, Marg Gorton from Roscoe, said that recently, and then added, “I'd like a Roscoe column too”. A good suggestion for a Roscoe-ite.
Happy New Year....2021. Our new year's eve was a nice, ...read more
The Job Coach
Why do you want to work here?
Why do you want to work here?
In a previous article, I talked about answering the question, “what is your greatest weakness?” As you may recall, this is a traditional interview question - a common question that you can anticipate getting at some point during an interview. And because you know ...read more
Veterans Voice
My personal experiences …
Vietnam ended for me during May 1969 when I was seriously wounded on “Hamburger Hill.” Hill 937 was located in the Ashau Valley, a stronghold and Headquarters for the North Vietnam Army, located along the Ho Chi Minh trail, by means of Cambodia and Laos zigzagging along the western border of ...read more
Greening Sullivan
Summing up
I am going to take a leave of absence from this weekly column. It has been a privilege to share ideas with you to solve a problem about which I care very deeply.
I know that we share a common concern that our Earth is losing its ability to support human life. I am puzzled that so many hesitate ...read more
Looking Back: America's Military
The Lovable “Wart Hog”
Prelude
The Post Vietnam war produced a period of relative peace for most US Forces. However, American engineering and technology aggressively continued, with the result that within 10 years, the USAF would stand-up the most modern, stealthy and heavily Armadas in history. From the huge AF ...read more