It has been a busy couple of weeks for good ol’ N’burg, NY.  The New Narrowsburg (Newrosburg?) Farmers’ Market has proven to be a success, with lines at several vendors Saturday morning. The gym at the Chi Hive opened; it’s gorgeous and is sure to improve the cardiovascular and bone-density health of all our residents.  Gerard’s Café, a terrific new diner, opened on Kirk Road. Their delicious food may end up undoing some of the good work at the Chi Hive, but such is life. Things with good intentions sometimes work against each other—same as it ever was. Pass the pancakes.

What a week for local artist and curator Brandi Merolla. Her wonderful show, Tat Art, inspired by the art of tattooing, opened at the DVAA on Main Street. I am personally obsessed with the piece I think of as Theda Bara in a turban. Brandi also curated a group show featuring five other artists at the Narrowsburg Union. Both shows are hanging until the end of June. Please try and see them; you’ll be glad you did.

The Merolla trifecta’s most visible achievement is, however, the new Welcome to Narrowsburg sign greeting people driving into town on Bridge Street. With the help of Sean Harrington and Scott Porter, she created a sign that does an excellent job of representing our community. 

The background of the sign is a gentle grey, representing our skies too often these days: overcast and cloudier than we’d perhaps like. The blue letters of “WELCOME TO NARROWSBURG” optimistically peek through. They are a lighter blue, representing either the river or, I think, the sky, as evidenced by the majestic eagle bordering the sign on the right-hand side.

Anchoring everything is a recreation of the green Narrowsburg Bridge, providing the foundation on which Welcome to Narrowburg rests. All aspects of the sign are three-dimensional, leaping off the grey background, throwing shadow depending on how the sun hits. The whole effect is wonderful and represents our town perfectly.  I’ve smiled each time I’ve driven past it.

The icons chosen—the bridge and eagle—seem especially apt these days.  Aspirational. In a week where local politics have been contentious, perhaps there is something to be learned from the new sign. Our iconic bridge brings people from opposite sides together in the hopes that unity can inspire soaring like an eagle through a sky that has room for everyone.

Well done, Brandi Merolla.

Welcome to Narrowsburg, a sign of the times for sure.