Have you noticed all the balloons decorating Narrowsburg’s intersections this week? It is a festive indication of all the graduation parties being held in backyards around town. We enjoyed some devilled eggs, pasta salad, and s’mores at Will and Vanessa Reeves’ last week, celebrating their oldest daughter Ally’s graduation from high school. It’s a happy time of year, acknowledging the class of 2018, and all of our young adults entering college or the workforce (or in many cases, both).

We’re getting ready to head out on a Tusten Youth Commission sponsored getaway to Hershey Park, an amusement and water park in Hershey, PA. It’ll be a mini vacation for our family, and we’re taking our friend Jean Raazi along to celebrate her birthday. While we’re in that neck of the woods, we’re planning to spend an extra day in Lancaster County, PA to experience the Dutch Country. And of course eat plenty of chocolate.

With the Fourth of July landing mid-week, we’ll be back in time to celebrate Independence Day at home with the annual parade doing the loop around town on Wednesday, July 4 at 3 p.m. After that, you’ll find us at the chicken barbeque ($12) at the Narrowsburg Fire Department (203 Bridge St.) from 4:30 to 6.pm. On Friday, July 6, Narrowsburg’s annual fireworks show will kick off at dusk (rain date is Saturday, July 7). Last year, we had a great view of the fireworks from Main Street. Hope to see you there.

I recently got an update from town council member Jane Luchsinger on the Municipal Partnership Grant funds the Town of Tusten received from Sullivan Renaissance to help improve the playground and ball field on the Flats and transform it into a multi-generational park. This summer they will be adding a children’s community garden to the park. Children (and their families) will be able to grow and harvest vegetables and flowers in the raised beds. Campfield Blue Stone is laying a bluestone walking trail, which will also feature exercise stations. Several overgrown white pine trees were removed this spring to make room for deciduous and fruit trees to be planted. The new trees will provide a shaded picnic area, without the nuisance of sap on the picnic tables, and reduce the risk of toppling trees and falling branches. The funds will also be used to add trees along the railroad tracks on Kirk Road.

There’s so much going on this time of year, it’s hard to keep track of it all. If you have an event or other news to share, feel free to drop me a note at tina.spangler@gmail.com.