Thanks to all our readers who have stuck by us reading the stories and making comments. The community has been thoroughly worth the effort.

From dead fish caused by a mountain of smoldering mulch to a proposed food processing plant in Sloatsburg, life in our bucolic corner of the world had its share of action in 2012. There was controversy, or what might pass for controversy, and tragedy, and small acts of kindness.

Hurricane Sandy created gas lines in the village and also a business bonanza for many local merchants. The death of a young teen by his own hand caused the entire community to stop. There were fundraisers and chili cook offs, municipal improvements, and public debates. Some businesses grew and others shut their doors. Many more private moments were not even recorded. Continue Reading

The Journal News stepped into a visceral thicket of American beliefs when an article on gun ownership by Dwight R. Worley, published on December 23, included a map of people who have pistol permits. The article had the ominous headline: “The gun owner next door: What you don’t know about the weapons in your neighborhood.” Continue Reading

The Suffern High School Select Choir recently visited the Sloatsburg Senior Center for an afternoon of caroling. Composed of select students, the choir is led by Suffern music teacher Debrah Phelps, who took the group throughout the community to perform their magic this holiday season, including appearances at the annual tree lighting ceremonies of all three local villages — Suffern, Hillburn and Sloatsburg.

During their appearance, the students entered the Senior Center  practically breaking out in song and finished with a rousing round of We Wish You A Merry Christmas. The choir then descended on the buffet table ladened with cookies and brownies and other assorted sweets and breezed back out the door they came in, paper plates stacked high with desserts, and leaving the hall in very merry holiday spirits.

Erin knows her way around the Sloatsburg Public Library. Her mother, Annmarie McAnany, is children’s librarian and also regularly helps corral Sloatsburg UMC Food Pantry donations.

Erin McAnany, practically raised in the library, wanted to pitch in too. With her mother’s input, she worked out a creative way to contribute to the community. A student at Sloatsburg Elementary School, Erin set up shop at the recent library Holiday Craft & Vendor Fair to sell homemade items that promised a bit of holiday magic. Continue Reading

Winter Solstice morning Friday brought an odd warm rain that created flash flood warnings and fast water throughout Rockland County. The Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department was out in the early downpour responding to a call on Sterling Mine Road that turned out to be a false alarm. Just as the trucks arrived back at the village station, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the department got another emergency call regarding a partially submerged vehicle adrift in the Ramapo River. Continue Reading

There’s a new Tudor-style bus shelter going up in Tuxedo, complete with shiny copper trim and spacious windows. Eventually, the bus stop will feature a $10,000 town clock.

Times Herald-Record reporter John Sullivan recently wrote that “the chateau,” as one Tuxedo resident called the shelter, will cost the town $63,000. According to Sullivan, Tuxedo Supervisor Peter Dolan, a member of the Tuxedo Local Development Corp. that spearheaded the project, said that the shelter is part of an effort to promote a municipal identity and replaces the worn-out open roadside shelter that was located directly across from the Tuxedo train station. Continue Reading

The ancient calendar is calling, and so is the Ramapo Saltbox house at the end of Torne Valley Road in Hillburn. The Saltbox Environmental Research Center (ERC) has sent out an open invitation to gather for a holiday party and traditional Solstice Celebration on Sunday, December 23 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

You bring the food and drink, and the Saltbox will provide music, stories and offer year end wishes to the four corners — as well as relief, should time continue after the end of the Mayan Long Count Calendar. Continue Reading

Members of the Suffern High School Select Choir

Sloatsburg — The room was bustling and full for the noon buffet of homemade foods and desserts. The Senior Center in Sloatsburg was in celebration mode Wednesday afternoon, with nearly 50 members taking part in the end-of-year party that also doubled as a passing of the presidential torch. Continue Reading

There’s controversy brewing out there regarding craft beer, which has experienced a sustained revival lately, along with home brew kits. Popular bar craft brands Blue Moon and Shock Top are not technically craft beers as both are produced by big-label breweries SABMiller and AB-InBev.

The very definition of craft beer involves small, independently brewed suds with a low production but higher quality beer. One of the features of craft beer is the surprise quotient. With each popped top, you’re not quite certain what you might get. Continue Reading

It’s that time of year for Pine Grove Lakes residents to gather for the Annual Homeowners’ Meeting. And with a recent notice from the Town of Ramampo that sewers might, just might, finally be coming to the Grove in 2013, the annual meeting could be the place to go to get answers. Continue Reading