National Award-winning,
Family-run Newspaper
Family-run Newspaper
|
After living through the tumults of the past few weeks, what a relief it is to live in a place like Bethel, New York. County people hold strong opinions about this and that. In the end, though, we …
more
James Loney
|
11/15/24
|
|
No two ways about it, folks. These last days of summer glow with a kind of halo both real and imaginary. This summer, whose long days of sunshine easily outspent other recent rainy summers, spread a …
more
James Loney
|
8/30/24
|
|
Several weeks have passed since I was last able and inclined to sit down and pen another “Smallwoodian” column for the Sullivan County Democrat. As many of you know, I own and run the …
more
James Loney
|
8/2/24
|
|
Now is the time of warm summer nights: of frogs in the headlights, fireflies in the ferns, of near-full moons and breakfasts on the patio as the sun rides up over yon line of dark hemlocks. The early …
more
James Loney
|
6/25/24
|
|
One of the glories of Sullivan County in June is that everything, everywhere is rioting in green or, if not yet green, is ablaze with bloom. Drive down Creamery Road or stroll around Mountain Lake …
more
6/7/24
|
|
We stand once again on the cusp of another Memorial Day long weekend. Driving over to Middletown last Wednesday, the traffic on 17 was heavy, Sullivan-inbound. The winter was cold and very wet; every …
more
James Loney
|
5/24/24
|
|
Maybe it was the low rumbling of the Town of Bethel’s sweeper and paving trucks bouncing down my street this week or maybe it was a result of having been seriously ill all winter: I’m not …
more
James Loney
|
4/26/24
|
|
The glorious sun-splashed weekend which led up to our partial eclipse this past Monday was of course but a feint of hand by the fickle weather god. Damp and cold have returned and it’s back to …
more
James Loney
|
4/12/24
|
|
A March thaw is upon us and the question now really becomes: has the Snow Man departed these parts for good or is this thaw some kind of cruel joke played on us by a smirking Father Winter holed up …
more
James Loney
|
3/15/24
|
|
One of the prime pleasures of reading the “Sullivan County Democrat“ is this paper’s utterly lovely, abiding, and seemingly peculiar devotion to our County’s past. I write …
more
James Loney
|
1/12/24
|
|
One year ago I took my annual vacation and flew off to Berlin, Germany. This year I decided to head north to visit “my Home and Native Land,” Canada, where my entire family (excepting me, …
more
James Loney
|
11/10/23
|
|
In just a few days, we go into our final quarter of 2023, the year’s final ninety days. Of course, at the end of each year, people ask themselves whether they have had a good year of it, how it …
more
James Loney
|
9/29/23
|
|
In my experience, the week after a long weekend is a particularly quiet one around here. City folk have departed. They are busy settling kids into school. Sullivan locals are looking for the best …
more
James Loney
|
9/15/23
|
|
If you read this newspaper and if you are a reader of this column, you will have noticed that I haven’t been contributing as much lately to the Sullivan County Democrat. As most readers …
more
James Loney
|
8/4/23
|
|
The poisonous pall that drew its oddly beautiful tawny surplice over our heads last week has slipped back to the North this week leaving cleaner, moister air settling in over Mongaup Valley and …
more
James Loney
|
6/16/23
|
|
In all but name, the Summer of 2023 has arrived. Beer and bags of ice are selling briskly; by late morning motor traffic is heavy on 17B and a line of cars builds quickly whenever a light turns red. …
more
James Loney
|
5/26/23
|
|
Surely, you, too, Reader, have noticed that this spring’s foliage in Sullivan County has been a kaleidoscope of color, almost as fantastical as the foliage of fall. Right now as you buzz down …
more
James Loney
|
5/12/23
|
|
Our April days have warmed and lengthened beautifully now to the point that you, Reader, can sometimes sit with a book on your lap or read this newspaper outside until almost 8:00 PM without a lamp. …
more
James Loney
|
4/21/23
|
|
April 7 – Glugg glugg! and hubba hubba! Yesterday, alerted by a friend to go down by the Lybolt Brook, I came upon a pool of glassy water full of what appeared to be four-eyed frogs. But wait! …
more
James Loney
|
4/7/23
|
|
March 3 – What with the sudden spate of snow storms hitting us in the past few weeks it has sometimes of late been difficult to safely enjoy a good brisk walk around Smallwood’s …
more
3/3/23
|
|
February 3 – This past weekend I decided to go into New York City to celebrate my birthday with friends. Like many hereabouts who don’t have a NYC job anymore requiring regular visits, I …
more
James Loney
|
2/3/23
|
|
January 20 – While the Snow Gods have mostly danced far to the north of us so far this winter, those who live around Mongaup Valley and Smallwood, NY know very well that February is typically …
more
James Looney
|
1/20/23
|
|
December 30 – And here we are at the end of another year of life, dearly-precious, damnably-short life. 2022 has been a year of happiness and sadness for me, but sadness, alas, predominates. We …
more
James Looney
|
12/30/22
|