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.

Following are some of the events that SloatsburgVillage followed this past year.

Fish Kill At Four Corners Pond – The March 2012 discovery of dead fish floating to shore at Four Corners Pond led to all sorts of action in the Tuxedo and Tuxedo Park communities. This story also made the top five list of most read stories for the year. The latest word on this issue recently came down to the Four Corners fish contamination is mostly the fault of a smoldering mulch pile.

Next year that giant landscaping project underway along Route 17 at De Marino Trucking may make the list.

Sloatsburg Responds to Sandy — The weather in our corner of the world has certainly thrown curves, one season after another. From freakish windstorms to Hurricane Sandy. Although Sloatsburg was spared some of the worst of the super storm, the village did suffer some damage. The Sloatsburg Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded to the crisis, as did the whole community.

A Sloatsburg Institution Passes — Joseph P. Sorice passed away in September, a Sloatsburger who certainly left his mark.

Sloatsburg School Lunch Scam — This head scratcher had many Sloatsburg Elementary School parents counting on their fingers the lunch dues they paid the school, trying to figure out if they might have been double billed.

Food Processing Plant — Nothing like the idea of a slaughterhouse next door to bring out curious citizens. While the building on Sterling Mine Road remains empty, the effort to convert it into a food processing plant by owner Martin Lichtman has withered on the vine. Lichtman’s effort to seek a zoning variance for the building has been tabled.

Veteran and Voters Celebrated at Village Hall — Sloatsburg had a very heated local election this past November. The dust flew and then settled. But in one of the last village meetings of the year, the community came together for a special celebration.