Sullivan Renaissance announced recipients of the 2021 beautification grants for gardens, community beautification and maintenance. The 2020 Sullivan Renaissance Beautification projects include sign gardens and building landscaping to park creation and care of public spaces.

A full list and Project Spotlights can be found at www.sullivanrenaissance.org. The spotlights are pictures of projects around the County that need volunteer support. Everyone can be part of Sullivan Renaissance and its mission to build beautiful, active communities in Sullivan County.

If you are interested in volunteering in your community, please connect with Sullivan Renaissance at (845) 295-2445 or info@sullivanrenaissance.org. Follow Sullivan Renaissance on Facebook and Instagram for updates, how-to's and volunteer opportunities.

JEMS is actively working with the Sullivan Renaissance, receiving grants and their support as they are responsible for our gardens along Main Street, including the “Dove Garden/Welcome Center” gardens, the flower boxes placed in front of our businesses and the hanging plants on each of the electric poles that also proudly hold our American flags (30 flags that we buy and maintain).

Additionally, they plant the flower gardens at both Welcome signs on each end of Jeffersonville. Monthly meetings are on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00p.m. in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Jeff (by the firehouse).

They are eager to have new volunteers join them! Please contact me with any questions at (845) 482-5354.

Attention Virtual Craft Lovers! Learn to make DYI mini notebooks and origami butterflies this month! Raina Bowers will post her tutorial on Friday, May 14th and 28th at 4:00p.m. on the Western Sullivan Public Library's Facebook and Instagram pages and their YouTube channel. For more information call (845) 887-4040.

Mark your calendar for the “Turtle Trot 5K Walk/Run & 10 K for the Doug Ackermann and Brenna Darling Memorial Fund. Run to be held the Second Saturday in July starting at the Kenoza Lake Firehouse. This memorial fund was set up in memory of two family members that had passed away too soon from cancer.

Doug Ackermann was a dairy farmer that passed away at age 48 in 2010 and Brenna Darling was an x-ray technician that passed away at the very young age of 33 in 2014. April Rutledge (Doug's daughter and Brenna's cousin) started this fund to raise money for families in Sullivan County impacted by a life-threatening illness. Please come out to support this special day and help others in need while enjoying the event.

Save the Date: WJFF's Fabulous Summer Online Auction will be held June 9-23, 2021. It's one of their most important fund-raising activities. The follow up from last year's on-line auction was very positive from both donors and bidders. The auction will be promoted on-air, online and via social media.

Barbara from “Barbara's Bunch” is on a roll! Barbara has planned a trip “To the Black Hills & Beyond” for July 8th - 16th. Something tells me that if you are interested you need to contact her soon for a detailed flyer at (914) 799-3362.