April Showers bring May Flowers even if they happen to be snow showers.  Please remember the general mantra to wait until after Mother’s Day to plant in our area for a beautiful garden and harvest.  

Today is the day - 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 tonight from 6pm - 8pm.  

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

The Liberty Public Library is excited to announce a special Senior Coffee Club event on Monday, May 5, at 10:30 AM. This free event will feature Fred Stabbert, III, Publisher of the Sullivan County Democrat, as guest speaker. 

During this engaging session, Fred Stabbert, III, will share the rich history of the Sullivan County Democrat, one of the region’s longest-standing newspapers, and explore the significant role local newspapers play in fostering strong, connected communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain insight into the evolution of local journalism and learn why newspapers are more essential than ever in today’s world. 

The Liberty Public Library hosts a popular Senior Coffee Club gathering on one Monday every month from April to December providing seniors with the chance to enjoy coffee, conversation, and educational presentations in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. 

Visit the Library Facebook page, or website: www.libertypubliclibrary.org for more information about upcoming topics. This free event takes place in the lower level of the library and is open to all community members. For more details call the library at 845-292-6070 or stop by the circulation desk. 

Don’t forget to pay a visit to any of the 10 Jeff Bank locations holding a Food Drive in conjunction with the Leadership Class throughout the month of April to help with the initial stocking of the Sullivan County Chamber Foundation “The Little Free Pantry” project boxes. Non-perishable shelf stable products are being sought.

The Landfield Avenue Synagogue will be holding its Annual Yom HaShoah – Building Bridges in Our Community (Holocaust Remembrance Day) on Thursday, April 26, 2025 at 6:30pm at the Synagogue. 

Program includes Holocaust Survivors and Survivor’s children to speak, along with Community Leaders and Clergy, Elected Officials, as well as student presentations and works from the Hebrew Day School of Sullivan and Orange County, Monticello My Brother’s Keeper Program, Monticello High School, Ellenville High School and other surrounding area schools. Refreshments will follow and all are welcome.

The Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce Foundation Leadership Sullivan 2025 Class is working hard on this worthwhile Class Project to help the community. They are building and ensuring the initial stocking of “The Little Free Pantry.” 

The desire to do this came from the fact that more of our neighbors are becoming food insecure and many feel there is a stigma to seek support when they are in need. 

“The Little Free Pantry” boxes will be distributed throughout Sullivan County where those is need can visit discreetly and remove non-perishable items they are in need of, and community members can place non-perishable items into the box to provide assistance. Each box will have a sponsor and a partner. The partner will ensure the unit remains stocked. 

If you have a location to place one of these boxes and are willing to serve as a partner, please contact the Leadership Sullivan Class at Foundation@catskills.com. In addition, please send an email if you would like to learn more about sponsoring a unit as well. 

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, Lake Huntington, NY. Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 at the door and can be purchased at https://myrivertickets.com 

Monticello Elks Lodge 1544 opens the doors at 11:30am on Sunday, April 27 for their Penny Social. Tons of fabulous baskets on hand with drawing to begin at 1pm. Proceeds will benefit the great community works the Monticello Elks Lodge conducts in the community including Youth and Veteran Services. 

Last chance to get your tickets for The Boys and Girls Club 3rd Annual Raffle to benefit the fantastic activities run for our community throughout the year. Drawing is April 28 so get your tickets today. 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: https://www.bgcorange.org/news-events/2025-raffle.html 

The Monticello Rotary Club is joining in the Michale J. Fox Unity Walk raising funds to fight and find a cure for Parkinson’s. Sponsored locally by the Liberty Rotary Club, both the Liberty and Monticello Clubs are soliciting funds to garner much needed financial resources to eliminate this terrible disease. 

The local walk will take place on Saturday, April 26 at 10:30am on the Hurleyville Rail-Trail. All are encouraged to join in the efforts by walking/donating with the Monticello or Liberty Rotary teams. A family and pet friendly event. To Join Team Rotary or to make a donation: https://give.michaeljfox.org/team/651164. For more information contact RotaryMonti@gmail.com.

Happy Anniversary to Bob and Eileen Ernst (4/23), and Alex and Myrna Rey (4/24).

Happy Birthday to Rick Belyea, Roy Moskowitz, (4/23), Shirley Hornbeck (4/26). (Please note that one of my birthday sources pages is down so wishing all who celebrate this week, Happy Returns for many years to come.)

With all the May flowers comes a busy Sullivan Catskills season filled with a flurry (pun intentional) of opportunities to get out and celebrate the beauty of our county. 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