More than just school kicks off in September across the Hudson Valley. The change in season also starts a colorful parade of local events and festivals, including in and around the Village of Sloatsburg and Route 17 corridor communities. Continue Reading

Stop over at Harmony Hall for an afternoon seasonal celebration of summer. The Friends of Harmony Hall and Town of Ramapo sponsor the Saturday, June 17, event — Music for the Summer Solstice. The event is free and open to the public and is set to include a nature walk around the Harmony Hall grounds and peek at the curator’s Blunt Mountain Mint plantings — mountain mint is native to the Highlands with a variety growing in the nearby Ramapo Mountains … there’s even a report of the Hoary Mountain Mint growing wild up on Torne. The Blunt Mountain Mint in the Curator’s garden is on the New York/New Jersey threatened species list. Continue Reading

The NYSDOT Region 8 Complete Streets Project for Route 17 promises change for Sloatsburgers. Just how much change will take place now rests with the Village Board. Where it all began … 1 Liberty Rock Road and Route 17 at the Sloatsburg Public Library.

The Village of Sloatsburg Board opted to explore options more before making its Complete Streets recommendation. Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright announced at the past Tuesday, May 23, board meeting that Trustees John Bonkoski and Tom Buckley wanted to meet with the New York State Department of Transportation Region 8 Complete Streets team, led by Sandra Jobson, to gather more information on the options being presented to the Village. Continue Reading

The Village of Sloatsburg didn’t let morning rain ruin its Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 29. Although the Village cancelled the scheduled parade, the local Fire Hall was filled by residents and veterans, scouts, the Suffern High School Band, and guest dignitaries to mark the occasion.

Memorial Day parades across Rockland County ran into rain Monday morning, experiencing lots of cancellations. But the Village of Sloatsburg carried on by holding its annual Memorial Day celebration at the Sloatsburg Fire Hall. Continue Reading

Sometimes local elections can stir up controversy. And sometimes, that controversy galvanizes voter turnout — in which case, the public wins. Find plenty of budget information here. Continue Reading

Village of Suffern Mayor Ed Markunas wants to create a communal spirit while making it easier for residents to stay fit. The Village recently collaborated with Good Samaritan Hospital and the Rockland County Health Department to install a marked walking loop around the village downtown area. Continue Reading

NYSDOT Region 8 will host Sloatsburg’s Complete Streets Public Workshop II – Concept Evaluation on Thursday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

Whether from curiosity or to make a contribution, Sloatsburgers showed up en masse at the first Complete Streets Public Workshop. The meeting was hosted by a team from the New York Department of Transportation Region 8 and focused on an open conversation about community transportation issues along Route 17. Continue Reading

Sloatsburg is one of the anchor communities in the Ramapo Central School District. The community has had a local school since before the Village was incorporated in 1929, with the old Sloatsburg Union Free School established in 1870 in operation until 1943, when the Sloatsburg Elementary School opened in its present location. Continue Reading

Harmony Hall in winter, fronted by the Great Lawn. / Photo by Geoff Welch

Spring was about to be sprung early this year, when winter temperatures climbed to record highs. And then, suddenly the thermometer plunged back to below freezing. But no matter. The Vernal Equinox will be right on time and marks the official beginning of spring while also featuring a perfectly balanced day with equal parts day and night.

Harmony Hall Curator Geoff Welch will host an afternoon celebrating the Vernal Equinox on Sunday, March 19, from 2-4 p.m. (The actual Vernal Equinox takes Monday, March 20, at approximately 6:29 a.m.) Continue Reading

Sloatsburg lost one another of its treasured World War II veterans with the passing of Elizabeth “Betty” Lahm, who was 96 years old.

Betty Lahm sits between two other Sloatsburg WII veterans, Village Historian Harrison Bush and George Heller (now deceased), during a special Village Board ceremony in 2012 to honor village veterans.

Betty Lahm was a longtime member of both the Sloatsburg Senior Center and the The Ladies Auxiliary of the Sloatsburg Fire Department. As a member of the Senior Center, Lahm could be found many a Wednesday afternoon, welcome smile on her face, behind the old-style raffle bin which she ran for a $1 a ticket. Continue Reading