August is here with back-to-school plans on the horizon. But, don't rush it too much. There is still so much to do.

And what better way to get prepped for the upcoming Fall Season than Pocketbook Bingo. Get your friends together for a fun afternoon at the Liberty Elks Lodge 1545 for 10 exciting games with chances to win gorgeous designer handbags from Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Coach on August 8 at the Lodge, 21 John Street, Liberty. Doors open at noon with First Calling at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $45. For more information, call 845-292-3434.

Have fun and get fit with free Zumba for Town of Thompson residents! Instructor Jamie Vandervoort will lead free classes at East Mongaup River Park in the upper pavilion every Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays are Zumba Fitness classes where you’ll dance your way to better fitness. Thursdays include both Zumba Fitness and Zumba Toning. You may bring your own weights of 1-3 lbs. Contact Jamie Ferriero at 845-796-3606.

On February 5, 2013, the New York State Legislature officially recognized Monticello, New York as the Bagel Capital of the World. Now, unless you are living under a rock, you must know that this year’s Bagel Festival, presented by the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce, is this Sunday, August 9. With more vendors than ever before, this rain or shine event brings thousands of visitors to Broadway Monticello.

With over 50 food vendors, 70 specialties booths, and over 50 Community Organization booths, music throughout the day by Far Beyond Gone, Larry Stevens. Somerville, and Mekayla Rayne on the Main Stage, Open Mic performances starting at noon on the Courthouse lawn, the all new Great Bagel Challenge to benefit the Hudson Valley Regional Food Bank, and the ever-popular Car Show, attendees are guaranteed a fabulous time. 

Some shout out reminders – If you are looking for a great bagel lunch and/or snack idea make sure to hit up the Landfield Avenue Synagogues popular Bagel Dogs and Knish Booth on the Corner of Landfield Avenue and Broadway. Yes, a delicious kosher hot dog in a bagel bun, their famous knishes, all the fixin's and cold beverages. 

This booth is the only fully Kosher Food Vendor under Rabbinical Supervision at the event. As we know, you don't need to be Jewish to eat Kosher. But, if you know of those seeking Kosher Food while having a good time at the Bagel Festival, please remind them that Kosher Food is available under full Rabbinical Supervision of Rabbi Avi Kilimnick. A washing station will be set up on site.

While at The Bagel Festival, drop by the Sullivan Central Rotary Club booth. Sullivan Central Rotary Club has "adopted" Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley as a partner and will be kicking off their “Baskets of Hope Raffle” to help raise much needed funds to make these wishes come true for critically ill children. 

Each basket is valued at $150 or more with last year's event having a few Baskets valued at over $2,500. Tickets will be available at the booth. While at the booth, learn more about Rotary, and other initiatives, Make-A-Wish, Neighbors- Helping-Neighbors, Polio Eradication, help around the world or to make a donation to help the club with its good work.

The Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce kicks off The Bagel Festival Weekend with its August First Friday Networking Breakfast at the Roscoe Mountain Club from 7:30-9 a.m. on Friday, August 7. Starting with breakfast and networking at 7:30 a.m. For more information, regarding the Networking Breakfast or the Bagel Festival, contact the Chamber at 845-791-4200. 

Don’t miss the Borscht Belt Marker Project’s 18th historical marker celebration honoring Rock Hill & Glen Wild. Before the grand hotels and bungalow colonies transformed the Catskills, Jewish families in Rock Hill and nearby Glen Wild welcomed summer guests to their farms. What began as a practical way to supplement farm income grew into a thriving agritourism economy that helped shape the Borscht Belt.

Before the unveiling, explore the Rock Hill Farmers Market at the Rock Hill Firehouse from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring local farmers and artisans, a special Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project merchandise table, and Borscht Belt–inspired mocktails Forage and Gather. At noon, gather outside Pizza the Rock for the ceremony.

Speakers include Sullivan County Historian John Conway, Assemblywoman Paula Kay, and Naomi Jaffe, great-granddaughter of Shimon and Rivl Jaffe. Naomi will share the story of the Jaffe House, her family’s Glen Wild property, whose roots trace back to Gerson’s, widely recognized as Sullivan County’s first Jewish boarding house. Over more than 125 years, it evolved from a boarding house into a hotel, bungalow colony, and poultry farm, offering a remarkable window into the origins of Jewish agritourism in the Catskills.

Don’t miss the Neversink Fire Department 67th Annual Chicken Barbecue on Saturday August 8, from 3-6 p.m. at the Fireman’s Pavilion. For more information, call 845-866-6036.

Happy Birthday to Joyce Salimeno Gitlin (8/4), Tammi Chaboty, Justin Bonner, Mary Greynolds, Donna Nestler (8/5), Joan Langham, Marie Schall, Alexis Rouis (8/6), Summer Benjamin (8/7), Nathan Steingart, Ron Sherman, Barbara Pinto (8/8), The Honorable William T. Little Jr, Pamela Moss Villegas, Jessica Lopez-Barkl, David Kaplan (8/9), Belle Zhou, Phil Kaplan, Coley Lavere (8/10). 

Busy…busy…busy with so much to do! 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.