Clare Consiglio, in white t-shirt facing the camera, at the groundbreaking of the Farmony Garden at Harmony Hall in Sloatsburg, NY, 2007.

Clare Consiglio always had food on her mind. Along with the daily practice of feeding her own family, Clare had a deep interest in “food justice” and the idea that eating healthy would certainly help people become better in body and spirit. Clare became a certified dietician nutritionist and earned a master’s degree in nutrition education at CUNY/Queens College, where she became a tenured professor and chaired its sustainability initiative. She was also a New York State-certified teacher.

Clare Consiglio, active in the Sloatsburg community for some 35 years, died January 18, 2021, at 57 years old.

Clare also taught food science, meal management and nutrition courses in a food management studies program at the City University of New York. In Sloatsburg, Clare was a force for local change, always ready with a warm smile, who shepherded her kids through school and successive life achievements, and broke ground at Harmony Hall to create the Farmony Garden to teach Sloatsburg Elementary School kids backyard nutrition.

Clare Consiglio, left in red, was a longtime active member of the Sloatsburg community and friend of Harmony Hall. Clare stands next to Friends of Harmony Hall President Barbara Berntsen.

Clare died on Monday, January 18, at home on the North Folk of Long Island in Southhold, surrounded by farmland and the coast and her family. She was 57 years old.

Farmony Garden at Sloatsburg’s Harmony Hall is a continuing testament to Clare’s belief that good nutrition and food justice can and should be a community endeavor. Her influence and spirit helped shape the community outreach at Harmony Hall and her vision of a farmers market offering fresh food in Sloatsburg has been partially realized through Valley Rock Market’s selection of fresh produce in the village center and fresh vegetables available at Auntie El’s. The Consiglio name is also proudly imprinted on the walls of the Sloatsburg Elementary gym due to their athletic achievements.

Clare left Farmony Garden in the good hands of the Friends of Harmony Hall, with loving help from members of the Sloatsburg Chamber of Commerce, and it will continue to feed folks fresh foods and a taste of nature now and in the future.

January 15 marked Ken Hayward Day at Hayward’s Deli in Sloatsburg. The annual day of celebration features free coffee and treats in honor of Hayward, who died suddenly in mid-July of 2014 at just 57 years old.

This year the Sloatsburg Food Pantry collected some $20,000 in tips from customers for the Food Pantry.

Whether collecting coins at the deli counter for those in need, delivering holiday turkeys to the Sloatsburg Food Pantry or supporting Sloatsburg Elementary School during Olympic Day, Hayward’s Deli has been generous with its community support.

The tradition of giving back to the community started under Ken Hayward and has continued with Lauren Hayward.

Hayward’s Deli is synonymous with giving. Patrons have given some $15 thousand in coins each of the past three years in the Hayward’s tip jar, which raises funds for the Sloatsburg Food Pantry. That in itself is an amazing feat.