From Public Works crews laboring roadside to repair and patch Sloatsburg to Village parks opening for the season, following is a brief round up of news and community life throughout the village and beyond.

Strange Case of Dying Fish — Just a week ago there was a mass fish die-off at the Four Corners Pond and adjacent wetlands in Sterling Forest Park. The Town of Tuxedo and representatives from the NY Department of Environmental Commission said the fish kill was due to a possible depletion of oxygen in the water. Others say the massive mulch pile on Town of Tuxedo land adjacent to Sterling Forest wetlands, and operated by Perfect Cut, is the likely source of contamination into the Tuxedo Lake Basin.

Sloatsburg Elementary School Lunchroom Scandal — Former lunchroom worker at Sloatsburg Elementary School Ann Milliaressis plead guilty this past week to one felony count of fourth degree grand larceny, admitting to stealing $2000 from the lunchroom till at Sloatsburg Elementary School, from 2009 through the 2010 school years. An employee of Ramapo Central School District food contractor Whitsons Culinary Group, Milliaressis was charged with skimming thousands of dollars from Sloatsburg students’ lunch money by literally keeping the change. Many Sloatsburg parents had that eureka moment of clarity on why their lunchroom bills fluctuated oddly.

Sloatsburg Library Budget Vote — More than a hundred people — or only a hundred people, depending on your view — showed up to vote for the 2012 library budget. From yoga and Zumba classes to book clubs and knitters, quilters and gardeners, the library serves as a community meeting house for village organizations and clubs.

Thruway Steel Girders Now In Place — This past week saw another big step toward completion of the Thruway Overpass replacement project on Seven Lakes Drive as three giant steel beams were wrestled into place and secured on the new concrete span that will replace the two old, deteriorating spans. Look up when you pass under and you’ll see the new beams. The new overpass will eventually consolidate space and look sleeker when complete.

Sloatsburg Community Fields Now Open — Play ball! The Community Fields have been cleaned up and restored, with some much needed improvements and site enhancements. And more to come. April 1 is the first official day where the fields are opened for league play.

Bingo For A Cause — The Sloatsburg Elementary School PTA held its big fundraiser Friday night with an evening of bingo and Silent Auction to help raise funds for a very good cause — the wee kids who attend school here in Sloatsburg.

Pine Grove Lakes Egg Hunt — Pine Grove Lakes held its annual popular Egg Hunt on the Green this morning, April 1. It may have been chilly but it was friendly and fun.

Spring Really Has Sprung — Just when everyone thought that warm weather was here, temperatures took a dip. Hopefully, the blossoming fruit trees are fine. A sunny stroll around Sloatsburg shows all sorts of flowers popping, just in time to highlight the moveable feast.