Birthday wishes to Molly VanEtten, Kelly Bonnaci, Chris Evans, Sophie and Denise VanLowe, Bob Roche, Matt Burns, Aaron Weiss, Tim Morey, Michael LaFountain, Nelda Coleman, Barry Scheinfeld, Emil Miller, Steve Tucker and Maria Spannos.  

Anniversary wishes to Suzy and Joe Loughlin and BobbiJo and Brian Ryder.  

Our sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Sylvia Schwartz. Always involved, she had much pride for her boys, friends and community. We will miss our petite ‘song bird’.

PSA: Vax information: 800-232-0233 or vaccines.gov. SC Health: 845-292-5910.

Reach out for help. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call 988 or 800-273-8255. Overdose/Narcan Help: 911 or 866-832-5575.

Bethel News: Check and register for February Parks & Rec events using bethelparksandrec@gmail.com. For Town info, use: www.townofbethelny.us.

Electronic waste disposal and recycling are free at the Transfer Station. There is a charge for garbage.

Of recent interest: Monitor the Planning Board’s agenda for the re-approval of the 17B White Lake Mansion site. The Board meets at Duggan on the first Monday of the month.  

Bethel residents can apply for CEAP by calling 845-583-4350.

Shephard’s Pantry accepts food donations all year and hosts pantry on 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. FMI: 845-583-Business Watch: Shop and stop local. Support Bethel and surrounding area BBA member businesses. Reference list: www.bethelbusiness.com. Consider joining the Bethel Business Association. Their ‘23 membership campaign begins soon.

Register now for ‘February Friday Evening Childcare’ offered by local business, Valley Daycare. Offer is available every Friday in February, starting on the 3rd, from 6-9:30pm. Reg/FMI: 845-250-4110.

Mark your calendars and sign up for the SC Conservation Club’s ‘23 King of the Ice’, held on White Lake on February 19th. Use: www.sullivancountyconservationclub.org for more information.

Enjoy the season! Try local snow activities at Holiday Mtn (Holiday Mountain Ski & Fun Park). Visit to tube, ski, snowboard or join the ski school. Check out ‘Thursday Night Lights’ with specials and discounts from 3-8pm. Apply for the Thompson Youth Program-Monticello CSD students may join for free (www.townofthompson.com/youthprogram). Adults can attend a special ‘1st 50 Adults Ski Free’ on Community Night on the 26th (845-796-3161).

Exercise at ‘Dance It Off’ on Thursdays in the Duggan gym at 4:30pm.

Hector’s Inn offers Karaoke on Friday, the 27th, hosted by Bill Fleck from 7-9pm.

Roscoe Beer Co. hosts ‘Winterfest’ on the 28th from11am-7pm. Expect ice carvers, food, activities, bonfire, beer and more. The River Ramblers are at Rafters on Saturday night with a pub menu, cocktails and good vibes at 7pm. Catch “Ladies of the 80’s”, a tribute to fab female musicians, at Resorts World Catskills on the 28th from 8pm-12m.

Arts & Culture: Bethelwoodscenter.org, Catskillartsociety.org, Cobaltstudios.net, Delawarehighlands.org,   Delawarevalleyartsalliance.org, www.ebcpl.org, Hurleyvilleartscentre.org, Narrowsburgunion.com, Nesinculturalarts.org, sccoplayers.org, scdw.net, and scnyhistory.org.   

Look forward to the Bethel Woods ‘24 season schedule and purchase 2024 Memberships or the Season Lawn Pass. Already announced are Matt Nathanson (3/2), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (3/17), Graham Nash (5/10), Shania Twain (7/3), Goo Goo Dolls-OAR (8/6), Zac Brown Band (8/12), and Rod Stewart-Cheap Trick (9/1). Also, the Harry Potter ‘Sorcerer’s Stone Concert’ (7/30), the Tap NYCraft Beer & Music Fest (5/20-21) and the Spartan Race (6/17-18) are on the calendar.

The Narrowsburg Union hosts the Bethel Council of the Arts group Art Exhibit, ‘Exploring Worlds of Dreams, Fantasies and Symbolic Imagery’ through March 4th. The BCA Opening Reception takes place on Saturday, the 28th from 2-5pm.

Register for Cobalt Studios programs (845-583-7025).

DVAA has scheduled exhibits, mid-February through May. Reminder: Interested artists should submit 2024 gallery exhibition applications by January 30th.

Bethel Parks & Rec announced ‘WEIZSTOCK, WeizAustria, 3 days of Peace, Music and Ultimate’ for March 17-19. FMI: ultimatecentral.usetopscore.com/en_us/e/weizstock (by Catchup).                                                                                                                                      

Suz sez, “Quotes from David Crosby, recently departed musician and Woodstock alumni: “Music is magic. It bridges the gap between human beings. Music is mankind’s universal language.”