It is official – the Autumnal Equinox has come and it is Fall in Sullivan County. The leaves paint our sky and ground with vibrant colors indicative of a Monet painting. And although the signs of Fall represent the closing of a year for many, for other in our community it is the start of the New Year. Wishing all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah a sweet New Year.

And speaking of fall and sweets, The Cunnigham Family Farm in Bethel is open for the season with pumpkin picking, hay rides, gem mining, sunflower field maze, miniature golf and tons of family fun. Mark your calendar to be there on October 18 for Lemonade and Sweet Treats of Wishes. This now annual event at the farm run by Wish Kid Madelyn and her siblings Hannah, Adam, and Noah run this special “Treats Stand” to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley. You will love to visit many times over the season and support this wonderful cause.

Cornell Cooperative Extension presents “Discipline is NOT a Dirty Word.” This fun, all virtual workshop presented in an interactive four session series is filled with resources about child development, parental coaching, and powerful parenting tools that support caregivers on their parenting journey. Series dates are Thursdays, October 2,16, 30, and November 13 at 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. The program fee is $40 per family.  Yet, if this amount is a hardship, during registration, you have the option to pay what you can or select solidarity to waive the fee. Advance registration is necessary for attendance. To register go to https://sullivancce.org/events. Please contact Suzan Sussmann at 845-344-1234 or by emailing sls536@cornell.edu with questions.

NCA (Nesin Cultural Arts) has a Pop-Up performance of “Folk Songs Along the Trail” on Saturday, September 27 at 3pm at 16 Bova Road, Summitville, (note - your GPS may say Wurtsboro) at 3pm. This concert features professional musicians from the Sullivan County Chamber Orchestra alongside students from the Aspiring Young Musicians program. The concert is along the Sullivan County Rail Trail at the Delaware & Hudson Canal Interpretive Center.  In case of rain, the performance will be at the Museum.

The Harvest Festival at Hurleyville Performing Arts is Saturday, September 27, at 11am – 4pm.  With Music, Food, Vendors, Bounce Houses and more, come celebrate the season of harvest! This is a free community event.

The Town of Fallsburg invites you to join in planting 3000 daffodils at Morningside Park on Sunday, September 28 at 11am as part of the World Daffodil Project. This world-wide initiative has a goal to plant one daffodil for every child lost in the Holocaust. Please come partake in this event as the project locally expands its reach in Sullivan County.

Think of the stars at the Ethel B. Crawford Library presentation of Our Universe: Astronomy Talk on Monday, September 29 at 6pm. This one-hour talk explores the wonders of the cosmos. Join as John Johansen guides you through the fascinating story of the universe – from the Big Bang to the formation of the stars, planets, and galaxies. Discover how our solar system came to be; and learn about the sun and moon, and explore what the future may hold.  No background in science required – just your curiosity.

Happy Birthday to our very own Bethel Supervisor Dan Sturm, Helen Jersey (9/24), Rick Lara, Dan Marty, D.J. Ledina (9/25), Melissa DiCostanzo (9/26), Paul Ciliberto, Nicole Gold-Germann, Delores Sheeley, Charlie Degliomini (9/27), David Rosenberg, Joan Mingo, Lois Kaufman, Al Shamah (9/28), Sullivan County Coroner Michael Speer, Shane Phillipy, Randy Resnick, Debbie Napolitano (9/29).

Lastly, it seems hard to believe, but the “Know It All” column is officially a year old!  Thank you to Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred Stabbert for asking me to write this column. And thanks to you, the readers who share information and upcoming events, and who let me know that you look forward to reading the column. Sullivan County is our home and it is my honor and privilege to serve you and its beauty in this manner.

So – get out there and enjoy!  And, as always, just in case I really don’t “Know It All,” please keep me in the know by emailing me at LoriJames.SCDemocrat@gmail.com.