Sloatsburg resident Jack Scanlon was a legend on the baseball field while pitching, catching and power hitting for Suffern High School. Scanlon seemed to take lazy swings of the bat that would easily fly far over the fences for home runs.
Heavily recruited by colleges, especially in the highly competitive western states (and even by the New York Mets), Scanlon eventually settled on the Oregon Ducks at the University of Oregon in Eugene. The Ducks circled Scanlon and finally got their man because they really really wanted him. He started this past year for the team as a freshman, playing catcher and picking up where he left off by smacking the baseball around the park.
Now back in Sloatsburg for home quarantine with his family, Jack Scanlon received a nice writeup by KEZI 9 Sports Anchor/Reporter Julian Mininsohn. The Oregon ABC affiliate featured Scanlon and his work at the family’s Sloatsburg coffeehouse and eatery, The Village Blend.
Proud of this guy. #GoDucks https://t.co/HZDwmqRfBB
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) May 17, 2020
Started almost a year and a half ago by Nicole Scanlon and Barbara Berntsen, The Village Blend is a quaint coffee shop next door to the Valley Rock Market at Sloatsburg’s Commuter Lot. It’s quickly established itself as a vital village place to meet and greet, catch a bite to eat or just spend an afternoon getting things done … that is when things were normal in the Ramapo Mountains.
The Village Blend has weathered these coronavirus times by hard work and responding to community needs. The shop quickly pivoted to a text and pickup order service and then began taking big lunch orders for Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY. Good Sam has been an essential neighbor, helping local businesses while acting as one of Rockland County’s foundational medical centers.
Local groups coalesced support around Good Samaritan Hospital by organizing programs to service essential workers — the lunchtime food delivery includes restaurants from around the corridor communities.
Hayward Deli, Valley Rock Market, Jessie’s Bagels, Steve’s Pizza, and Dottie Aubrey’s have all participated. Corridor community goodwill has been vital to local businesses.
Amy Wright and Gail Sorice from Sloatsburg work with the Good Sam Hospital Food Train and Tuxedo’s Pam Breeman and Maurene Combs work with Tuxedo Salutes Good Sam Heroes (Combs’ sister is a nurse so the effort rings close). The Village Blend has filled more than a thousand orders between the two.
The Ramapo Valley Rotary has contributed to the Good Sam cause.
Suffern restaurants also participate in the program.
The Village Blend has established a flexible working approach that helps keep the doors open and coffee coming – like many in the food service industry.
The Village Blend takes orders big and small and is thankful for regular local support. Jack Scanlon learned his work ethic and knack for community service from those around him – which comes down to hands on service. In years past, Jack could be seen helping install Sloatsburg Chamber of Commerce Block Party banners along Village Walk. Through the Village Blend, Scanlon is able to give back in small ways to a community that has given much to him and his family.
These @suffernhs Ss are raising $ to buy breakfast for essential workers in the community. The @Sloatsburgny Girl Scout troop created a lawn sign campaign in the hopes of giving back to those helpers on the front line. Full story on FB! #MountiePride #SuffernCentral pic.twitter.com/hpOKXTfKKJ
— Suffern Central (@SuffernCSD) May 11, 2020
