Let's start off with the bad news first. I called Jeff Haas this past week about my favorite event the Yulan Fire Department's St. Patrick's Day dinner.

Jeff told me that because Covid infection rate is still high in Sullivan County (code red actually) the St. Patrick's Day dinner is canceled even as a takeout event. I am sure several local restaurants will be serving up some good, corned beef and cabbage so all is not lost, but still, it is a disappointment.

I saw a great announcement online that a woman named Jackie Nicole who lives in Highland is starting a much-needed taxi and transportation service called Jackie's Taxi.

This is great news since there has been no local taxi or car service in our area for a long time, and there is certainly a big demand for one. Jackie, a long-time resident of Highland, is also a licensed nurse and will be offering free medical transport services for Medicaid enrollees going to medical appointments.

In addition, the transportation services will be available for trips to and from the airports, all the camp visitors and river trips, late nighters needing a safe ride home and early to work riders as well as shopping destinations- what a relief this taxi service is for many residents who live here and either have no car or cannot drive!

Jackie's Taxi is a member of the Barryville New York Area Business Services and Local Information Guide. To book a trip and get more information join Jackie's Taxi Facebook page for details or call Jackie directly at (845) 670-0328.

Another interesting business and much needed services is set to open in Yulan. After some sixty plus years of complete abandonment the old Yulan Roller Rink on Beaverbrook Road has been undergoing some fierce renovations and upgrades and will be opening as a combination rentable office spaces and storage facility.

I had the opportunity to speak with Ian Brown, one of the partners in this new local business, but not new to the charms of our town. “I have been coming up here since I was a little kid and visiting my grandparents during the summer. And now I'm here in Highland Lake with my children-it's a great area.”

According to Mr. Brown the business, URentworkspace will feature temperature controlled self-storage units and 10X10 lockable furnished flexible office space available for daily or monthly rentals.

The workspace will feature the latest technology and high-speed internet and Wi-Fi, business class printers, priority access to a conference room and use of the common areas including a comfortable lounge area and a fully equipped kitchen. The Workspace will also be available to receive and hold mail and package deliveries.

Mr. Brown explained that with so many people working remotely now, frequently being at your actual home environment with family and pets may not be the most conducive setting for working on a range of projects and Zoom conference calls, so having the availability of a local very flexible office space rental is a perfect solution and already there seems to be a great deal of interest for both the offices and the self-storage units.

The URentworkspace is located at 6 Beaverbrook Road right next to the Crossroads Restaurant at the Four Corners and Mr. Brown plans to open on April 1st. For more information or to contact Ian Brown go to URentworkspace.com.

We extend our welcome and wish both of these much-needed new business ventures the very best of luck!