Storms brought heavy rains over the past week and a half, causing downed trees, some minor flooding of streets, basements, etc. Road crews and first responders were out in full force cleaning up debris and navigating the situation as to best keep us all safe.

On the topic of first responders, they, along with the National Park Service, DEC and more have been incredibly active responding to all the required river rescues. While it has been said time and time again, each of these individuals deserves our gratitude for what they do for our community.

And once again, we urge everyone going out on a boat or swimming in the river to please wear a life jacket.

National Picnic Month

On a lighter note, while perusing the web lately, we discovered that July is National Picnic Month. While all the rain showers don’t excite us to get outside, if you catch a clear day in between, a picnic sounds like a really fun idea. It’s a great way for family and friends to hang out, not to mention take in the scenic sights we have in our backyard.

We’re planning one, hopefully you will too.

Running for a cause

In our Health and Wellness Special Publication, which was inside Tuesday’s Democrat, one of the top stories was on the benefits of running. While there are many health related ones, several upcoming races, including two this weekend, raise money for very important causes (info on all upcoming races can be found in the tab which can be viewed digitally at scdemocratonline.com).

The Turtle Trot in Kenoza Lake, and the River Run in Callicoon, are on Saturday and Sunday respectively. If you feel up for a challenge, give running these races a shot. The Turtle Trot benefits families struck with catastrophic illnesses and the River Run raises money for the Delaware Youth Center, an incredibly valuable piece of the fabric of the local community.

Then on Sunday, August 1, the Monster Classic returns to Monticello. The start of the race, put on by the Monticello Rotary Club each year to benefit the Sullivan County Veterans Coalition, is at Resorts World Catskills casino.

Our veterans have given so much, so let’s give back to them while breaking a sweat and getting some cardio.