February 16 – Birthday wishes to Nicole Mullally, Brady Dollard, Kellee Thelman, Allison Ruef, Ace Cardenas, Karen Billig, Michael Altman, Ellen Tucker, Analey Stratton, and Jeff Cohen.

Special wishes to Ann Benson for her recent 100^th birthday celebration with family and friends.

I’m generally a positive person. Lately, I’ve been a bit overwhelmed by a stream of bad news, weather cancelations, difficult situations, more doctors than dinner appointments, more medical terms than I ever wanted to learn and more heartbreaking funerals that mark the calendar. It’s relative. I get it. It’s part of my age and life. I don’t have to like it.

If you knew my brother Glenn Hindley way back when, he’s in Colorado and not doing too well. If you want to reach out to him, let me know and I’ll help you make a connection.

Robert ‘Bobby’ Donofrio. To know him is to love him. His laugh. He found his way through rehabbing from a stroke, loved big, adopted a healthy lifestyle, got his voice back, loud and clear, marched more than 10,000 steps a day because he loved life enough to make the effort. He died suddenly of a heart attack while in Florida recently. A celebration of life service will be held locally in the Spring. Our support and heartfelt condolences to Gay, Krista and Michael and their families, the extended family and many friends.

Bethel Departments, newsletter, and meeting information: www.townofbethelny.gov or 845-583-4350. Bethel Parks & Rec ‘Ski Program’ and information: 845-583-5360. Keep tabs on the high-density development Moratorium and the decision for a proposed commercial Kauneonga Lake marina. Wait for proper JD Water payment instruction. Reminder: Bethel taxes cannot be paid by E-check.

Kudos to the Bethel Highway, EMS, and Fire Departments for their continued community safety efforts. Notice: You cannot park on town roadways from 10p.m. to 10a.m. through May 1. Also, do not shovel snow into roadways.

For Winter Weather delays or closures, use WSUL 98.3FM, WJFF 90.5FM, and Thunder 102.1FM.
Continue to support Shepherd’s Pantry (845-583-5885). Use the local Past Perfect Bookstore at Duggan.

Support local business. Use Bethel Business Association’s Member list as a source: www.bethelnybba.com.

BBA’s ’26 Membership Campaign is open. Area businesses can join online to grow Bethel business.

Extra BBA Bethel Guides are available at Malek Properties office for business reception areas and to dispense!

We are still celebrating Black History month. Tuesday is the start of the Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras. Ramadan begins at sundown. The 18^th is Ash Wednesday. Washington’s birthday is on Sunday.  

Woodstock Way Groovy Eatery has entertainment most Wednesday to Saturday nights. 21: Comedy Show, 8pm.

The SC Chamber Networking Mixer will take place at SUNY Sullivan on Thursday from 4-6p.m.

Mark your calendar for the ‘98.3 WSUL 2026 Heart-A-Thon’ Live at Resorts World Casino on Friday, February 20, from 6am to 6pm.(bolgoldnewyork.com). Attend vendor booths, presentations, demonstrations, and make pledges and donate all day. You can purchase fundraiser ‘Hearts’ at area businesses until the event date.

Hector’s Inn is hosting the Jeffersonville Sullivan Brothers Division One ‘Ancient Order of Hibernians’ February Fundraiser on Saturday, the 21^st, from 1-5p.m. Expect Music, Hors d’oeuvres, raffles, 50-50’s and a Bethel Woods Season Lawn Pass raffle!

Arts & Culture:

Bethel Woods (bethelwoodscenter.org): Register for Winter Wellness sessions. 18: ‘Beginner Tai Chi’. 6p.m. 19: Volunteer Open House, 5:30p.m.

Callicoon Movie Theater (thecallicoontheater.com): 20-23: “Wuthering Heights” (all- 7:30p.m., Sat, Sun- 2p.m.).

CAS (catskillartspace.org): The Barlow, Crafts, Driscoll exhibit ends on the 28^th.

Crawford Library (ebcpl.org): Tuesday and Thursday, through April 7: ‘Free Tax Prep’, 9:30a.m. Wednesday: Yiddish, 10:30a.m. 18: ‘Chair Yoga’, 2p.m. 19: ‘An Evening with Oliver King - The Works of Paul Laurence Dunbar,’ 6p.m. Friday: Adult Gaming, 1p.m. 21: ‘Intro to Weaving’, 1p.m. Richard Arnold’s Art Exhibit closes Saturday. 23: Hybrid Book Discussion- Sue Hincenberg’s ‘The Retirement Plan’, 1:30p.m. Writer’s Group, 6p.m.

DVAA (delawarevalleyartsalliance.org): Exhibits through March 15: Michael Salomon, ‘Familiar Terrain’ and the DVAA Members Exhibition ‘Let It All Out’. 21: The ‘Artist’s Talk’ and Opening Party – check rescheduled date and time, TBD. 28: Salon Series- Attend SCCO’s performance at Krause Hall, 2p.m.

DVO (delawarevalleyopera.org) Arts Nest: 17: Open Mic, 6p.m. 22: ‘Ailise’, Irish Singer-Songwriter, 2p.m. The King ‘Horsebook’ exhibit closes February 28.

Eldred Preserve-Homestead Restaurant (theeldredpreserve.com): 19: ‘BOGO Burger Thursday’, 3p.m., ‘Take Flight Thursdays’. 20: ‘Friday Night Prix Fixe Feast’. 22: Sunday Brunch, special Happy Hour and Prime Rib Sundays. 23: ‘Wine about Mondays.

HPAC (hpacny.org): Dance, film, classes. Film- 20-22: “Goat” (Fri.7p.m., Sat. 3p.m., Sun 2p.m.). 18: Wednesday ‘Kids Programming’, 11a.m. Aly’s Mat Pilates, Tuesdays, 6:30p.m. or Fridays, 9:30a.m. 27: Plan to attend ‘The Black Legacy Project’, 7p.m.

NCA (nesinculturalarts.org): Current program registration (www.sites.google.com/view/nca-programs/home). SCCO- SC Chamber Orchestra- (sccoplayers.org) will perform at DVAA’s Krause Hall on February 28^th at 2p.m.  A second performance takes place on Sunday, March 1, at St John’s Episcopal Church, Monticello, at 3p.m.

Resorts World Catskills (rwcatskills.com): Gaming, dining, and entertainment.

Callicoon Farm Market at DYC Sunday, 11-2p.m.

Send me your news or business events two weeks in advance.

Suz sez, “Go for the Gold!”