Sue Wiand
By Sue Wiand
Can this be true? Where has the time gone? I just finished up five years of columns and this will start my sixth year providing information to you – the local community. If you have any events or activities that you would like me to mention, please let me know. I’ll be happy to post your wedding, birthday, graduation, baby announcement, doggie adoption, fundraiser – anything at all that will let your neighbors know what you are up to! My column runs the second Thursday of the month, so I would need your details by the first Thursday of the month. Look forward to hearing from you.
Trivia Tidbit: on January 25, 2024 will be the Wolf Full Moon. “January’s Full Moon is known as the Wolf Moon, after the wolves that are active during the early parts of the year. The name is thought to have a Celtic and Old English origin, brought over to North America by European settlers. Other Celtic names of the Full Moon include Stay Home Moon and Quiet Moon, while in some Native American cultures, it is called Severe Moon or Center Moon. In Anglo-Saxon culture, January’s Full Moon was also called the Moon after Yule. Yule is the ancient winter solstice festival usually celebrated around December 21.”
Thank you to timeanddate.com/astronomy/ for the meaning. I will be checking in with them each month for an update.
Bill and I attended the swearing in ceremony for the Town of Shawangunk officials. Re-elected Town Clerk Jane Rascoe swore in re-elected Town Justice Mike Voss who in turn swore in the rest of the officials there: Rich Walls, newly elected Ulster County Legislator District 14, re-elected Ulster County Legislator Craig Lopez District 13, re-elected Highway Superintendent Richard Blazeski, newly elected Town Board member Joseph LoCicero, Town Clerk Jane Rascoe and our newly elected Town Supervisor Ken Ronk. Congratulations to all and we look forward to working with you. Re-Elected Councilman Brian Amthor was out of town for this event. I would also like to announce that Councilman Alex Danon will be the Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Adrian ‘Binker’ Dewitt is also still with us.
For those of you that have been following the changing of the guard in the Town of Shawangunk are invited to attend an open house on Saturday January 13, 2024 from 1 - 4 p.m. in the town hall community room, Hamlet of Wallkill, NY. We will be celebrating Supervisor John Valk’s 35 years of service to the town of Shawangunk and recognizing Bob Miller’s 20 years as a town board member. I have been blessed with working with Supervisor John Valk for 25 years and wish him the very best as he begins his new assignment called retirement. I would like to wish Councilman Bob Miller all the best in his future endeavors and appreciate his support with projects here in Walker Valley over the years.
The hamlet of Wallkill Lions Club will be hosting their 8th annual international curling tournament this winter on Saturday, February 3 2024. Curling matches will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be fun and refreshments for everyone so bring your friends and root on your favorite team during this wonderful mid-winter community event. The competition takes place in the Lions Club Pavilion at Popp’s Park, Route 208, Wallkil. For more information regarding team registration or sponsorship opportunities please contact either Dave LaSpada 518-821-7214 davel@acolarusso.com or Chris Keller 914-213-8677.
The Pine Bush Library will have a live demonstration on learning about air pressure! How do planes fly? How does sound travel and what causes the wind to blow? Learn the answers to these questions and more on Saturday, January 13 at 11 a.m. Live demonstrations with audience participation – fun for all ages! Call 845-744-4265 ext. 2 to sign up. Also scheduled in January will be after school chess and checkers at the children’s library Friday, January 12 & 19 from 3 - 4:30 p.m.
This past November, we found out about one of our own in dire need of help. ‘No Shave November’ was initiated by the Crawford Police Department to support Aubrey’s Army. Aubrey is the 13 year-old daughter of Police Officer Joseph Madden. Aubrey is currently battling cancer and was recovering at Westchester Medical Center. Each officer had donated money to participate and 100% of that $ helped the Madden family. The PBA was selling T-shirts and donations were accepted at the station or by contacting the PBA at d.boyd@townofcrawford.org. They may still have some T-shirts and I am sure they will accept additional donations.
If you would like to continue to support the family, there will be a tricky tray fundraiser for Aubrey Madden on January 20, 2024, hosted by Empire of Defiance, 1665 Route 211 in Middletown. A $20 donation includes food and $10 worth of tricky tray tickets and there will be live music. Event will run from 12-5pm. Drawing starts at 4pm sharp. To donate, contact Kimmy Smith 845-978-2349 or Sandy Couno 845-800-2483. Thank you for your continued support.