My winter to-do list grows longer every day. I’ve scheduled an appointment at Foxes Service Station in White Lake later this week to have my snow tires installed, and I need to stack my firewood soon. Although the forecast calls for a wetter, milder winter, rising heating oil prices mean I plan to rely on my wood stove more than usual.

Every year I work on making my winter preparations more efficient and easier, but something always crops up throwing a wrench into my plans. This year has been no different in that regard, so I have recalibrated my timeline and chores that need to be done immediately and I can hire help for some jobs, but others I’ll have to tackle myself.

The Masjid Ahlis Sunnah Islamic Center will host a free Community Coat Drive on Tuesday, November 17, from 1–4 p.m. at 8 Main Street in Liberty. Adults and children can pick up winter coats, and donations of gently used coats are welcome. The Center, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt not for profit religious organization, also offers community support services for substance abuse, domestic violence, employment, and other family-related needs. Everyone is welcome to stop by and find a warm coat for winter. For more information, call 845-417-7457.

If you want to get an update on the approval status of the deeply troubling Camp FIMFO project, attend the next community meeting sponsored by The Delaware Riverkeeper Maya K van Rossum, a renowned environmental lawyer who advocates for the river’s well-being and greater transparency about the project’s evolving plans. The developer continues to revise and expand its proposal, seeking permanent cabins along the riverbank, massive waterslides, pools, and laundry facilities suited to a large resort—features that bear little resemblance to traditional camping. I also understand that the Delaware Riverkeeper Network collected testing samples at the Barnes toxic dump site, which adjoins Camp FIMFO in Minisink Ford. These developments and other new information will be discussed on Tuesday, November 17, from 6:30–8 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Parish Hall in Yulan, across from the church.

Thanksgiving is about two weeks away, and the American Farm Bureau Federation will release this year’s cost of a traditional dinner for ten during the week before the holiday. Broader grocery industry surveys indicate significantly higher prices this year, with a typical 16-pound turkey costing up to $60, depending on whether it is frozen, fresh, or organic. To help families reduce food costs, the Hudson Valley Social Care Network’s Access Mobile Grocery Van will return to Sunshine Hall Free Library for its second visit, distributing free shelf-stable foods, fresh vegetables, and refrigerated items. Access team members will also help families connect with medical providers, mental health and substance abuse services, housing, transportation, education, and employment opportunities. An active Medicaid case is required to enroll in social services and receive agency referrals, but not to receive food. No preregistration is needed. For more information, call 888-750-2266.

The Library is also a collection site for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. Founded in Los Angeles in 1947 by USMC Major Bill Hendricks, the program went nationwide in 1948 when the Commandant adopted it and enlisted Walt Disney to design its iconic train logo. Today, Toys for Tots serves more than 800 communities across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It has distributed more than 670 million toys to over three million children. Donations must be new and unwrapped so they can be sorted by age, from infants through age 12. Children’s books are also welcome and much needed. Please donate by December 6 and give as generously as you can during these difficult times.