March 31 — No fooling around! April 1st is here and I am not joking with you about all the amazing events and opportunities happening right here in our community.

What were you doing 50 years ago? Many were getting ready to graduate from High School and take on the world. And for the Monticello High School Class of 1973, it is time to celebrate at its 50-year MHS Class Reunion to be held the weekend of September 5-6, 2025. The weekend will kick-off with a Meet & Greet at Dos Gados at The Alder on Friday evening and a Reunion Celebration Gala on Saturday at Double Top Bar & Grill at Resorts World Catskills. For more information or to reserve (by July 21), please contact: MontiHigh1975@gmail.com.

The Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly First Friday Networking Breakfast on Friday, April 4 at 7:30 a.m. at the Monticello Motor Club. Sponsored by the Center for Workforce Development/Sullivan County Career Center, this promises to be a fun-filled way to start your weekend. Please contact the Chamber Office at 845-791-4200 to register as seats are filling quickly.

It’s back! The Liberty Public Library is excited to return to its Senior Coffee Club Series on Monday, April 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the Library. Guest Speaker Russell Reeves, Sullivan County Clerk will present an overview of all of the functions of the Sullivan County Clerk’s Office.

He will be focusing on the topics of Property Fraud and Real ID. As always, bring your questions.

Mark your calendars and get your tickets now for the River Rep Theatre’s 2nd Annual Gala Benefit for fund the 2025 season to be held on Saturday, April 26 at the Delaware Valley Opera Center in Lake Huntington. Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 at the door and can be purchased at https://myrivertickets.com.

The Rock Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps is looking for volunteers for their Easter Egg Hunt to be held on April 5 with a rain date of April 6. If interested please reach out to Jessica at 845-313-8663.

Passover is around the corner and Landfield Avenue Synagogue is here to meet your Passover needs. Sale of Chometz will be available for those who would like to participate with Rabbi Hillel Grossman conducting the sale.

Please contact the Synagogue Office to obtain contract. LAS is also happy to provide a means to purchase handmade shmurah matzah for your Passover Seder. A one-pound box of handmade shmurah matzah will be available for $23. Payment is due at time of order.

Supplies are limited so you are urged to order early. You will be able to pick up your order at the synagogue. Please call the office at 845-794-8470 to arrange pick up. Pick up will need to be on or before April 10th. Payment link to purchase Shmurah Matzah: https://buy.stripe.com/fZe4gC7JC1ya2ze4gq. Donation link to sell Chometz: https://buy.stripe.com/5kAbJ4e806Sua1G28j.

The Boys and Girls Club insconducting its 3rd Annual Raffle to benefit the plethora of activities run for our community throughout the year. Sponsor donors include Bethel Woods, Monster Golf Club, Mr. Shane’s, Lemoncello, as well as spa, scratch-off basket and more! To secure your chance to win for a good cause: www.bgcorange.org/news-events/2025-raffle.html.

Hope Alive 845 has its Hot Dog With A Cop event bringing residents and law enforcement together for a day of fun, food, and friendly competition! This free family-friendly event will take place on April 5 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The highlight of the day will be an exciting Kickball Showdown between Hope Alive 845 and officers from various local police departments starting at 1 p.m. This event is about building bridges, promoting unity, and creating lasting memories.

And what would a Sullivan County Weekend be without a delicious Community Pancake Breakfast? The Neversink & Grahamsville Fire Department will hold the Annual Spring Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, April 6 at the Neversink Firehouse from 7 a.m. – noon. Known for its famous local maple syrup, you won’t want to miss out on this event.

No joke - Penny Social Season has begun with one of the best ones around on April 27th at Monticello Elks Lodge #1544. Doors Open at 11:30 a.m. with drawing beginning at 1 p.m. Don’t miss out on the fabulous prizes, baskets, gift certificates and door prizes.

The RJK Middle School PTO will hold its 2nd Annual RJK Panther Pride Fun Run (or Walk). A ‘Color Run’ style event is a 1.5 mile, untimed ‘fun run and walk’ over the grounds of our beautiful school! A wonderful opportunity to get outside as a family and a community and enjoy that fresh spring air! Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Monticello/RJKPTOColorRun.

The Monticello Rotary Second Annual Taste of Sullivan in collaboration with SUNY Sullivan to benefit the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless will take place at the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse at SCCC on April 22 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Over 20 Sullivan County restaurants, distilleries, and food distributors will be serving samplings of their culinary delicacies. From appetizers to desserts, participants will enjoy the multicultural and diverse eatery options in our area. Students from the SUNY Sullivan Culinary Department, along with SUNY Rotaract Members and Fallsburg High School Interact Clubs, will be on hand to showcase their culinary talents and assist in the operations of this event.

In addition, raffles will be available for gift certificates to the vendors present and many others throughout Sullivan County to help raise funds for this worthy cause.

Tickets (which go quickly) are priced at $40 per person and are available online: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/PGFWGZAT853LN, through Monticello Rotary members, or by contacting RotaryMonti@gmail.com.

Condolences to the Kulchinsky family on the loss of their beloved son and brother, Barry. May his memory be for a blessing.

Happy Birthday to Gail Picciallo (4/2), Omnia Elghaly, Josh Murphy, Teresa Lanuti (4/3), The ONE and ONLY Bill Liblick, Jimmy Brawley, DJ Pugh, Ann Marie Kurthy, Mike Ryan (4/4), Bob Bellamy, Sofia Heimowitz (4/5), Tashara Bridgeforth (4/6), Jill Padua, Pastor Seth Switzer, and, Jaclynn Sorensen (4/7).

So, don’t joke around! Get out there and join in all the fabulous things Sullivan County has to offer! And, just in case I really don’t “Know It All,” please keep me in the know by emailing me at LoriJames.SCDemocrat@gmail.com