It was a lovely winter snowstorm this week. As usual our Town of Highland Highway Department led by our newly elected Superintendent Joe Barnes did an excellent job keeping the roads clear. The torrential rainstorm we had after the snow pretty much left everything a soggy mess and hopefully over the next several days it will dry out. As was announced at the first Town board meeting with the newly elected members John Pizzolatto supervisor, Tom Migliorini board member and Laura Burrell as board member that the emergency warming center in case of any power outages will be for the time being at the Highland Town Hall in Eldred. The backup site is the Saint Anthonys Community Center in Yulan. Hopefully, the power will stay on as it did through these last two storms. For more information check the Town of Highland website.

During the holidays I ended up getting very sick and needed medical attention. Since the Town of Highland does not have a doctor any longer, I would usually go to Bon Secours’s emergency room as it is the closest. I am happy to report that now there is a very good new urgent care center in Port Jervis which is being run by Middletown Medical. The Center is located in the small mall next to the Save-A-Lot Supermarket near the train station. I went there at the suggestion of my neighbor who had used it recently and found it to be really good. There were about four people in the waiting room when I got there, but I was seen within 15 minutes by a nurse who tested me for all the nasty viruses going around and within 10 minutes I had the results of the tests (I had two of the four nasty viruses) and then I saw a doctor who gave me my results and a prescription. The care was very thorough, and I got two follow-up emails with a copy of my test results after I left the Center. In all I was there for about a half an hour, so this is an excellent alternative to having to go directly to Bon Secours Hospital’s emergency room which gives great care but usually takes several hours. The Urgent Care Center is equipped to do Cat Scans, X-rays, and Ultrasound tests on site. The Center is located at 100 Pike Street in Port Jervis, and they take insurance. The hours are Monday-Friday-8am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-1pm. For more information go to middletownmedical.com.

I ran into Shane Pearson the other day. His grandmother Marion O’Neill, a beautiful Irish Colleen for sure, who lived in Yulan was one of the founders of the much-loved St. Patrick’s Day Parade that for years marched down the streets of Yulan. Town of Highland Supervisor Johnny Pizzolato recently recognized all of Mrs. O’Neill’s many community contributions and honored Marion O’Neill by renaming the local beautification Committee the Marion O’Neill Beautification, Ceremonies, Heritage and Culture Club.” She and her friends decorated their kids’ baby carriages with shamrocks and marched around Yulan in honor of St. Patrick- a pure heartfelt beginning. In its day, the Parade featured visiting marching bands, floats made by local organizations and businesses and, of course, the local priest from St Anthony’s Church blessed all the participants. It was a glorious community day full of fun. Sadly, and most regrettably due to a small and assuredly accidental fire at a local hotel that was caused by the holiday impairment of some visiting firemen, the Parade was cancelled and stayed so for many years. When Larry Farmer had his lounge in Yulan there was some vestige of the parade that marched for about a block and a half with one float that consisted mainly of the patrons from the lounge riding in his fishing boat pulled on a trailer. It was a very short parade and a ton of fun. According to Shane there are some rumors and plans to resurrect the parade as I guess our serving penance for the sins of parade-goers during the past years has come to its end. I for one hope this is true. I miss the Yulan St. Patrick’s Day Parade and will keep everyone up with the news of a possible new Parade happening.