August 19 – The Grahamsville Fair last weekend was once again a huge success with our 4-H groups, Sullivan West students, friends, leaders and parents reporting a wonderful, fulfilling weekend together! Thank you to everyone that worked hard and helped to make it a success and to all of you that participated in the Auction too! The pictures posted on-line show lots of tired faces with big smiles! Congratulations to all of you!

The talented Sullivan West Central School singers were selected to participate in the NY ACDA Summer Elementary Honor Choir that was held August 8-9 at Siena College in Albany. A tremendous honor and a wonderful recognition of their hard work and love of music! Congratulations to all of the Sullivan West musicians on their outstanding accomplishments!

A Borscht Belt Historical Marker Dedication  is being held Friday, September 4 at 5 p.m. at the Sullivan West High School in Lake Huntington. The Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project is working to preserve and celebrate the history, legacy of the Catskills’ Borscht Belt Era using historical markers and community involvement. Come out and join them for this special evening that celebrates our region’s place in the history of the Catskills! Afterwards at 7:30 p.m. enjoy a Dirty Dancing Screening at Delaware Opera’s Nutshell Music Hall.

The 97^th Annual Sullivan County Volunteer Fireman’s Association Parade will be hosted by the Grahamsville Fire Department on Saturday, September 12 with the parade stepping off at 1 p.m. Trucks will be judged from 9 a.m. until  Noon with Line up at Noon. A great family event with Fire Department competitions following conclusion of the parade. Come out and show your support for all of our Fire Departments!

Information from Sullivan 180!  If you have volunteered with a Sullivan 180 funded project, there’s still time to apply for a 2026 Sullivan 180 Scholarship. These scholarships support undergraduate studies beginning in the Spring 2027 semester and recognize students who are helping build healthier communities across Sullivan County. Applications are due by August 25. Visit Sullivan180.org for details.

Read this today. A black rat snake in a barn eats mice like a vacuum, Garter snakes hunt slugs and grubs by the hundreds and rough green snakes pick caterpillars right off your tomatoes. So, that snake in your garden is actually working for you?! A yard with snakes has fewer rodents, and fewer ticks carrying disease. I used to catch Garter snakes and keep them as pets but now as I have grown a bit older, I really do not like them. It is written that almost every snake in America is harmless to you.

Please let me know if you have any news to share!