Bear mating season is now upon us.  If you are not on Facebook, (specifically, Sullivan County Post) then you may not know that last Friday, May 24th at 7:15 pm, Town of Bethel Dan Sturm & his wife Dina hit a bear on Route 17B, near Hurd Road, (close to the entrance being to Bethel Woods), as the Sturms were driving east.  The bear was tearing across the road. Was it a male bear chasing a female or a female running away from the male? The bear ran off. Not sure if it later died. The Sturm car suffered significant damage. All airbags deployed. Minor physical injuries to the Sturms but wow. There, but for the Grace of God we go. Yesterday (Wednesday) someone reported on Facebook seeing a bear cross Route 17B, near Big Kev’s/Dollar General, at noontime. A few years ago, I had a bear cross on Route 17B, near Happy Avenue. This took place during the fall; however, the bear wasn’t charging across Route 17B, there was good sight/distance.  The bears like to live in those swamp lands next to Route 17B. 

Turtle crossing season.  Please help them safely cross the road.  Be it flashing your lights = to oncoming traffic, putting your flasher lights on, and/or stopping traffic if you can safely do it.  I have only seen one live turtle crossing Route 17B and one dead turtle on Route 17B. I have seen two fawns so far this spring.  I have seen no baby turkeys this year.  Although I have seen hens and gobblers and hens that act like they have eggs that they are incubating, I have not seen one baby turkey.  The turkey population is rapidly declining. The DEC should consider eliminating the fall turkey hunting season.  Maybe even limiting the number of spring gobblers to one gobbler? Just a thought to ponder.

Eileen Brey has asked me to please join the family of Warren A, Brey (Sept.30- 1936—January 11 ,2024) for a Celebration of Warren’s Life on Saturday June 22, at 2 pm at the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church with a fellowship to follow at the Kenoza Lake Firehouse.

So even though the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Homes had been for sale for several years now, it kind of caught me by surprise to read in last Friday’s Sullivan County Democrat that the funeral home closed, effective May 22, 2024. The sign on the front lawn in Kohlertown was down on Friday and so, a chapter of our lives has ended. I noticed in the same newspaper that Patrick and Peg Harison had a Congratulations notice to Mark & Matt. They used to own the Harrison-Rasmussen Funeral homes in Narrowsburg funeral homes. I know Pat and Peg, so I decided to call them to see if perhaps they bought the Stewart-Murphy funeral homes. Alas, that is not the case. The Harrisons advised me that they had sold or closed their Narrowsburg funeral home (as well as the Rasmussen’s furniture store building, where they had that unfortunate fire, several years ago.)  The Harrison still own their Barryville funeral home. Tuesday’s Sullivan County Democrat had an ad for Harris Funeral Home. 

So, although I am happy for Matt & Mark Murphy on their retirement, I am saddened to understand that Jeffersonville will no longer have a funeral home. I reflect on all those funeral services that the Murphys have attended to.  Of the number of times, I entered that front door to the Kohlertown funeral home and saw a Murphy standing by the door. Although I live closer to Kauneonga Lake (where there is a funeral home) than to Kohlertown, I don’t think we all realize how much we will miss the Murphys and their funeral home.  They were always professional and gave comfort to loved ones.  Will people pay their respects to loved ones in Liberty? Kauneonga Lake? Barryville or Roscoe?  Although there are sometimes celebrations of life in a church, people do want to pay their respects to the family of a deceased loved one, friend and/or neighbor.  

This past Monday, Memorial Day, I was searching for the PBS Memorial Day concert without success.  I forgot to tape it when it first ran on Sunday evening, and it seems as though I missed the chance to watch it. Drats. While channel surfing, I came across the HBO Miniseries Band of Brothers. This show debuted two days before 9/11/2001.  I am not sure I ever watched the whole series; however, I turned it on, starting with episode seven. I watched the remainder of the series. What a truly powerful miniseries. I had tears streaming down my face. If you can watch it On Demand, please try to watch it.  Thursday, June 6th is the 80th anniversary of D-Day.  I am going to try and watch Saving Private Ryan. 

There is a Republican Party primary in Sullivan County for the 100 Assembly District (as Aileen Gunther will not be running for re-election.).  Absentee ballots were mailed out a few weeks ago. Early voting starts June 15th.  June 25th is Primary Day. 

The Mets are pathetic this year. Steve Cohen is a major disappointment.