Learn about our beautiful region

ONLINE — Catskill Park Day is Tuesday, February 15.

To celebrate, Catskill Mountainkeeper is holding two webinars that focus on the beauty and importance of and the challenges facing Catskills ecology.

The first begins at 12 noon on Tuesday, February 15. “Wild Wonders: Celebrating the Native Plants of the Catskills” provides a virtual tour of some of the trees, flowers and shrubs growing there. Participants will learn how to select the right plants to grow at home, how to use native plants to create habitats for wildlife and where to buy locally adapted native plants.

At 6:15 p.m. that same day, panelists on “Opportunities and Challenges” will discuss the issues facing the Catskill Park and broader region in 2022. This will be a moderated conversation featuring questions from the audience. The panelists will include Sen. Michelle Hinchey; Basil Seggos, commissioner of New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation; Assemblymembers Aileen Gunther, Kevin Cahill, Chris Tague and Brian Miller; and members of the Catskill Park Coalition.  

The webinars are free but registration is required. Visit https://www.catskilmountainkeeper.org.

DVAA reopens galleries for 2022

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) is launching its 2022 season with a reception for two exhibits: “Breathe,” with paintings by Tif Wolf, and “For the Love of Wood,” a group show curated by Eric Baylin and Bo Stevens. The two exhibits draw inspiration from nature and the natural resources here.

The reception begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 12 at the DVAA building, located at 37 Main St.

Registration in advance is required.

For more information, visit the DVAA website at https://delawarevalleyartsalliance.org/.

The Nesin Cultural Arts (NCA) Young Children's Chorus rehearses in the Eugene D. Nesin Theatre for the Performing Arts on St. John Street in …

Nesin Cultural Arts spring programs

MONTICELLO, NY — Nesin Cultural Arts (NCA) has announced that registration for performing and fine arts programs for the spring 2022 semester is now open. The semester runs from February 25 through May 14.

NCA programs will be operating on-site in Monticello following COVID safety protocols. Virtual options are available by request to ensure the safety of families and artists.

The program schedule is as follows:

• Young Children’s Chorus for pre-K to first grade; tuition: $0.
• Treble Makers Chorus for grades two to five; tuition: $0.
• NCA Chorale for grades six through 12; tuition $0.
• Honors Chorus for ages eight to 18; tuition: $90.

Students must audition to be accepted into Honors Chorus.

Choirs are accompanied by Jeff Yeung.

• Handbell Choir for grades six through 12; tuition is included for Aspiring Young Musicians (AYM) and Honors Chorus students; for all others $60.
• First Steps for pre-K to first grade; tuition $0.
• Tiny Dancers for grades two through five; tuition: $0.
• Dance Company, for grades six through 12; tuition: $0. Ballet for ages eight to 18; tuition: $90.
• Little Actors, for grades two through five; tuition: $90.
• Play Production Practicum for grades six through 12; tuition: $90.
• Children’s Art and Crafts for grades K through fifth grade; tuition: $90.
• Drawing, Painting, and Mixed Media for grades six through 12; tuition: $90.

For information about AYM, contact akiko@sccoplayers.org. AYM tuition is $105 per month, from September through June. Discounts are available for multiple classes, and scholarships are available too, on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, email fiona@nesinculturalarts.org or call 845/798-9006.

NCA provides professional and affordable arts programs for students of all ages.

Winter fun at PEEC

DINGMANS FERRY, PA — Assuming there’s snow on the ground, this weekend offers winter fun for kids and adults at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC).

On Saturday, February 12, beginning at 10 a.m., get an introduction to snowshoeing. Learn the basics and snowshoe your way through the woods. PEEC will provide the equipment and teach you how.

Register early to guarantee a spot.

The cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child.  

Also on February 12, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., kids can play with physics. Build a rocket, make a cushion for an egg, and much more. The cost is $5 per child.

On Sunday, February 13, beginning at 9 a.m., PEEC staffers will teach the basics of cross-country skiing. Skis, poles and boots are provided; give your shoe size when you register.

The cost is $20 per adult and $10 per child.

The availability of the skiing class, as with the snowshoeing class, will depend on the presence of snow. Check the PEEC Facebook page, Pocono Environmental Education Center, for updates. Register online at https://www.peec.org.

The Presby Players study their lines for the upcoming show.

Love is everything

PORT JERVIS, NY — Rehearsals are underway for the Presby Players’ annual Valentine’s Day musical revue, titled “Love is Everything.”

This year’s show will be a live presentation in Marsh Hall in Port Jervis.

All songs are focused on love.

Melissa Thomas is back as the choreographer.

“The Presby Players Valentine Show has become an annual tradition and the most popular of all our musical revues,” said artistic director Jeffrey Stocker. “The cast and crew are very excited to perform their favorite songs, so come celebrate love with us.”

Last chance: A blind date with a book

MONTICELLO, NY — The books are wrapped up and waiting.

At the E.B. Crawford Public Library, patrons can have a blind date with a book—just check out one of the mysterious wrapped books (there are some plot clues on the wrapper) and take a “Rate your Date” bookmark.

Then, as the library puts it, “after you’ve checked out the book, unwrap it to officially meet your date. Give the book a chance but if things don’t work out, simply return it. No hard feelings.”

Not on the library’s part, anyway. Who knows what the book thinks?

When you’re done, fill out the bookmark and return it with the book. “We want to hear all the details,” says the library.

“Blind Date with a Book” will last until February 16. For more information, contact the library at 845/794-4660.

‘My Favorite Husband,’ on the Old Time Radio podcast

ONLINE — Mistaken identities and Valentine’s cards gone astray, ending up in the hands of the entirely wrong person.

A lot can go wrong—or right—on Valentine’s Day.

The Western Sullivan Public Library (WSPL) and the ACT Underground Theatre Company present February’s Old Time Radio podcast: “My Favorite Husband.”

This adaptation of “My Favorite Husband” was edited and directed by Greg Triggs, with sound engineering by Alan Kehoe and stage management by Thomas Cambridge.

It features the ACT Underground Theatre’s Podcast Players, including Janet Burgan, Thomas Cambridge, Tina Gordon, Aaron Hickland, Naomi Holoch, Kyoshin Lohr, Wendy Merritt, Heidi Mollenhauer, Matt Nolen, Ken Parks, Charlie Trowbridge and announcer Warren Anschutz.

The podcast is produced by Dale Blagrove.

Tune in on the WSPL site, https://www.wsplonline.org or wherever one gets one’s podcasts.

Dancer Charles Dennis will perform at the DVAA on Saturday, February 12.

Musician Sal Cataldi will perform at the DVAA on Saturday, February 12.

Movement and experimental music at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance

NARROWSBURG, NY — Wood can be a magical material in the right hands.

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 12, the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) will present a performance of  “2x2x4” in the Krause Recital Hall in Narrowsburg.

This dance/movement duet is led by dancer Charles Dennis and musician Sal Cataldi. They’ll engage in creative play with wooden 2x4s, building and destroying structures and create landscapes that can be danced through.

The performance coincides with the exhibition “For the Love of Wood,” a curated group show with Eric Baylin and Bo Stevens. (See above.)

The event is produced by the DVAA, in cooperation with the NY State Council on the Arts, and is part of the annual Salon Series.  The event will take place at the Krause Recital Hall at 37 Main Street and can be streamed live on DVAA’s Facebook page.  

In-person capacity is limited and advance registration is required. Audiences are asked to socially distance. The DVAA requires proof of vaccination or current negative test results. Masks are required for all.

For registration and info, contact https://bit.ly/3smGxN8.

Sullivan County history at Ten Mile River Scout Museum

ONLINE — Learn the tales of the Delaware’s raftsmen at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 15, in a webinar presented by the Ten Mile River Scout Museum.

Museum chairman Michael Drilinger will moderate the discussion and a question-and-answer session will be held.

All will be available on the Museum’s YouTube channel.

The webinar will be hosted by Glenn Pontier, co-director of the TMR Scout Museum.

The webinar will cover the stories—authentic and less-than-authentic—of the raftsmen. Rafts carried logs from this region down the Delaware, to be sold in Philadelphia, Camden and Easton.

Register in advance for this meeting at https://bit.ly/3uq4vK8.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

For more information, visit the museum website at https://www.tmrmuseum.org/.

February is about healthy hearts

MIDDLETOWN, NY — As part of its community health self-care series, Garnet Health will host a free Women’s Heart Health webinar on Wednesday, February 16, beginning at 7 p.m.

The seminar will feature a panel of medical experts discussing heart disease in women.

Early detection of disease and illness through health screenings and annual doctor visits, as well as a healthy diet, are key components for prevention.

Nearly as many women as men die of heart-related illnesses. According to a study done by the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States.

The webinar will discuss important indicators of heart issues in women, provide tips to reduce your risk of heart disease and dispel many misconceptions.  

Registration for this free webinar is required. Visit https://www.garnethealth.org/events to register.

To learn more about Garnet Health’s Community Health Program, visit https://www.garnethealth.org/communityhealth.

Do you find taxes taxing? Get help from AARP's Tax-Aide program and your local library.

Get free tax help

MONTICELLO, NY — Volunteers trained as tax counselors can prepare and e-file federal and state tax returns at no cost to individuals through the AARP Tax-Aide program, part of the AARP Foundation.

Although intended for those taxpayers age 50 and over, there are no fixed age or income limits. However, complex returns and certain types of income are beyond the scope of the program.

Preparation of tax returns, both federal and NY State, began on February 7 and will continue through Thursday, April 14.

Contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension office, Ferndale-Loomis Road, in Liberty, 845/292-6180, or the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello, 845/794-4660, for additional information and to make an appointment.

A limited number of appointments in March will also be available at the Liberty Public Library, 845/292-6070; the Sunshine Hall Free Library in Eldred, 845/557-6258; and the Mamakating Library in Wurtsboro, 845/888-8004.

This service is sponsored by AARP and the IRS, with help from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service of Sullivan County, the Sullivan County Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and the participating libraries.

Helping to keep hearts healthy and strong. Members of Wayne Memorial's cardiac rehab team are helping to keep hearts health and strong. Pictured here …

Hearts need loving care

HONESDALE, PA — Cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to significantly make a difference in the lives of many people who survive a heart event. National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, February 13 through 19, helps raise awareness about cardiac rehab and celebrate the many successes of cardiac rehab teams and their patients.

Heart disease remains the number-one killer of men and women in the U.S.  According to the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), an estimated 800,000 people per year suffer heart attacks.

For almost 30 years, Wayne Memorial Hospital’s certified cardiac rehabilitation program has been providing supervised programs to help patients improve their health and well-being, and change lifestyle habits through exercise training and education.

Pike County tri-state job fair returns

PIKE COUNTY, PA — “We are back!” said Randy Philhower, events coordinator at Pike County’s workforce development agency. The agency and its community partners have scheduled the next Working Pike Job Fair on Tuesday, April 5, beginning at 10 a.m. It will be held at the Best Western Inn at Hunt’s Landing in Matamoras.

“We are calling all employers to register early and secure their tables,” said Cynthia DeFebo, director of the Pike County Workforce Development Agency. “Our 2019 event was filled to capacity and we are anticipating the same for this year.”

The organization known as Working Pike is a collaboration of the county government, faith-based assemblies and private organizations. Its mission is to build a stronger community through this partnership, according to a press release. Working Pike will bring individuals who are unemployed and underemployed together with employers from the tristate area.

If you, like most employers, are struggling to find qualified workers, don’t miss the event. Job seekers will be recruited from Pike, Monroe, Wayne, Sullivan, Orange and Sussex counties, and all will receive an employer directory that highlights your company and employment opportunities.

Space is limited. To reserve a table, contact the Pike County Workforce Development Agency at 570/296-2909 as soon as possible to guarantee your reservation.

You can also register online at https://www.pikepa.org/workforce.

The cost for employers is $55, and there is no fee for job seekers.

For more information, contact Cynthia DeFebo, Pike County Workforce Development Agency, 570/296-2909.

Sullivan Catskills Go gets you places

SULLIVAN COUNTY — The Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association (SCVA) has launched its brand-new app, called Sullivan Catskills Go. The app features the best of the best that all of the Sullivan Catskills has to offer, according to a news release from SCVA, providing information on lodging, restaurants and things to do.

“This app brings us into the modern era and is truly an asset to our visitors,” said SCVA president/CEO Roberta Byron-Lockwood. “As more and more travelers discover the Sullivan Catskills, this app will give them the best experience possible.”

The interface helps people find what they are looking for. “We’ve cultivated our member businesses into one place, so it’s easy to find recommendations,” Byron-Lockwood said. “Think of this as your guide to the Sullivan Catskills.”

The SCVA office and visitors center is located in Liberty, NY where you can stop by to pick up brochures, maps, and travel guides. Or check out the website at https://www.sullivancatskills.com.

But if you’re out on the road, looking for something to do or a bite to eat, you can consult the app.

The Sullivan Catskills Go app is free to use and can be downloaded through Apple and Google; just search for “Sullivan Catskills Go.”  

For more information, visit the Sullivan Catskills website at https://www.sullivancatskills.com.

The price of milk is increasing, helping our dairy farmers.

Milk prices go up

PENNSYLVANIA — Progressive Agriculture Organization (PRO-AG) announced recently that the class prices for milk have been released by the market administrator.

The Class I price is $22.96 per cwt. (per one hundred pounds of milk) for January’s milk.

The Class II price is $22.83, Class III is $20.38 and Class IV is $23.09.

The Class IV price, notes PRO-AG manager Arden Tewksbury, is higher than the other prices, and PRO-AG estimates that the price paid to dairy farmers for January’s milk could be at least $22.50. Butter and powder prices have increased as well.

“We always know that it’s dangerous to estimate prices when we don’t know how each class was utilized,” Tewksbury said in a press release. “This price will be the highest since 2014.”

For more information, visit the PRO-AG Facebook page at Progressive Agriculture Organization.