July 6 – As summer rolls on and the days seem to stretch a little longer, I hope you take time to enjoy all the beauty our community and surrounding area have to offer. Whether it's a walk around the lake, a hike on one of our nearby trails, an afternoon perfecting your water skiing or jet skiing skills, or simply sharing a picnic with family and friends, there are so many ways to make the most of this season. Slow down, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy these special summer days while they're here.

Here are some events happening in our community and beyond:

Mark your calendars for one of the Lake Huntington Lake Association's biggest events of the summer! The 2026 “Peace, Love & Lake Huntington” Gala will take place on Saturday, August 22, at 6 p.m. at The Club at the Villa Roma in Callicoon. This fun, 1970s-inspired evening will feature a full dinner, dessert, live entertainment, raffles, dancing with a live DJ, team trivia, a collaborative community art project, and the popular "We Asked the Lake" community game show. Guests are encouraged to embrace the theme by dressing in their grooviest tie-dye, flower power, and peace-sign attire. Tickets are $90 per person and must be purchased in advance. Best of all, proceeds from the evening will support the Lake Huntington Lake Association's ongoing lake conservation efforts. Whether you're coming for the fun, the friends, or to support the lake we all love, it's sure to be a memorable evening.

The Town of Cochecton is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with a special summer-long series, Cochecton Celebrates America’s 250th: Five Events, One Community, 250 Years of History. The celebration continues on Sunday, July 12, with a program focused on the Hamlet of Fosterdale at the Cochecton Town Hall in Lake Huntington. Guests will learn about the history of Fosterdale while collecting another stamp in their Cochecton Passport and entering raffles for locally donated prizes.

The fourth event, scheduled for Sunday, August 9, will spotlight the history of Lake Huntington and feature the highly anticipated opening of the 1976 Time Capsule. This special community event offers a rare opportunity to look back at local history through items preserved nearly 50 years ago. Organizers expect the time capsule opening to be one of the highlights of the entire celebration series.

The final event will take place on Sunday, August 30, in the Hamlet of Cochecton at the Cochecton Men’s Club Community Hall and Ball Field. The program will explore the history of the hamlet and encourage attendees to bring their own stories, photographs, and memories to share. Organizers have even hinted that the legendary “Uncle Bob” may make a special appearance.

Throughout the summer, attendees can participate in the “Cochecton Passport” program by collecting a stamp at each event. Those who attend all five gatherings and submit their completed passport will be eligible for a commemorative prize. Participants can also enter raffles for gifts donated by local businesses, with additional chances to win earned by attending multiple events.

All programs are free and open to the public. Community members and visitors alike are encouraged to come together to celebrate Cochecton’s rich history, honor the nation’s 250th anniversary, and strengthen the connections that make this community special.

If you have a local business that would like to be spotlighted in an upcoming column, please get in touch! Please email jenn@jennpowelldesigns.com with any news, events, and happenings. You can also find me online at rustic-road.com.