Cochecton lost another great person, Brian DuBois passed away last week.

I first met Brian when I decided to run for Tax Collector, thank you Peggy Richardson, 15 years ago. I was always amazed that whatever we had to do to get elected Brian had the biggest backing by his family. We would do a penny social and worry no one would show up, not to worry here comes Brian's family. When we would do a dance fundraiser it was always a delight to watch Brian and his daughter Brenda do the polka.

Brian was a big part of the Town of Cochecton being the Highway Road Superintendent for 2 terms. The men who worked under Brian would say Brian is a good man, he treats us well. He owned a farm, you could always see him out doing hay and being with his cows. Brian owned The Ruff Cut, home of the largest roast beef sandwich, and the Sims Pizza.

When the town was doing a fundraiser for the first Cochecton Day on the lake, Brian and his family volunteered to make his famous Sims pizza. His family members got everything donated. It was a great success thanks to Brian. I was there and helping. I watched Brian make the sauce. I could not believe he used tomato juice for the sauce and Swiss cheese.

Many of the locals rolled out the dough, Michael Popolillo comes to mind. They all had a great time following Brian's instructions. I am pretty sure at one point I said gross, and Brian said wait till you taste it. If I remember correctly we sold 100 tickets for pies, some people were ordering 5 and 10 of them to freeze because they loved them so much. At one point I was the only one in the Cochecton Center hall. I was stirring the sauce and weighing out the dough. I cannot remember but it had to be a certain weight, I am thinking 9oz. Those pies could not come out of the oven fast enough; we had so many walk-ins. I think our final count was 130 pies. Yes, Brian your pizzas were yummy! I could go for one right now. May you rest in peace and may God hold you in the palm of his hands.

Congratulations to Richard Ross of Cochecton for swimming his 1000th lap. It might have taken him five years but he did it. It was my pleasure to be there and videoing it for him, you are an amazing man. Keep up the good work.

Heart breaking news, the Town Hall mascot Jack Russell named Boogie passed away. Boogie was 15 ½ years old. I will surely miss him as he greeted me at the front door and waited till I opened my office door to give him treats. Supervisor Gary Maas will be so lonely without his sidekick.

Clean up day will be Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Please see town website for more information.

Keep smiling and have a great week and you can e-mail me at leeniebeans@

citlink.net or call 845/252-3568 if you have any news. My new deadline is Friday.