Monticello, NY – Sullivan County’s Bureau of Fire, Join Sullivan Fire Task Force, and the Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighters Association co-hosted a course Sunday designed to encourage firefighters to seek excellence not just in fighting fires but in operating their fire departments.

More than 60 first-responders gathered at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, where they spent the morning diving deep into accountability and professionalism on & off the scene, from the words they say to the clothes they wear.

Hurleyville, NY – Housed in the Sullivan County Museum, the Frederick Cook Society is pleased to present an afternoon talk with Vern Tejas – world record-holding mountain climber – on Thursday, March 13 at 1 p.m.

Tejas is known for Mt. Denali’s first solo winter ascent, the first solo of Mt. Vinson (Antarctica’s highest), the first winter ascent of Mt. Logan (Canada’s highest) and lead guide for Col. Norman Vaughan’s first ascent of Mt. Vaughan in remote Antarctica.

Guest speaker John Johnson encouraged all listeners to focus on empathy and education in order to be empowered to make positive differences in their homes and communities.

Monticello, NY – Sullivan County legislators started their regular monthly meeting in February with an hourlong recognition of Black History Month.

Hurleyville, NY – On Sunday, March 2, at 2 p.m., the Frederick Cook Society will present an afternoon of live Americana and folk music featuring Hudson Valley favorites Annie and Mike Baglione.

Mike Baglione is a founding member of the bluegrass bands Tin Roof, Oxford Depot and the Jersey Mountain Boys. He has performed at coffee houses and on festival stages throughout the Northeast, and has also been heard live on radio stations WFDU, WJFF, WTBQ and WNYC. 

Liberty, NY – Sullivan County Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz, Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo and Village of Liberty Mayor Joan Stoddard jointly issued the following statement today:

“We are deeply concerned about PepsiCo’s decision to shutter their Liberty food manufacturing facility, which has been an integral part of our community for decades and employs hundreds of locals. This action will have many impacts, which we intend to sort out with PepsiCo’s assistance in the coming weeks.

Monticello, NY – The NYS Department of Taxation and Finance this week began mailing letters to property owners who receive the Basic STAR property tax exemption, requiring them to provide verification information within 45 days in order to continue receiving the exemption.

“Due to the short response timeframe and the concern that letters might get lost in the mail, we want people to be aware that this is occurring – and more importantly, to find out if they are impacted,” noted Sullivan County Treasurer Nancy Buck.

Monticello, NY – The Sullivan County Department of Solid Waste & Recycling is pleased to announce the expansion of its partnership with PaintCare, having launched a successful paint recycling program at the Monticello Transfer Station last fall.

Every Sullivan County-operated transfer station will now serve as a drop-off site for PaintCare’s Statewide paint recycling program, which allows households and businesses to recycle leftover paint, stain, and varnish conveniently and sustainably.

Glenn Kreisberg next to one of the stone structures he has been researching

Hurleyville, NY – It’s a triple-play of fascinating local history at the Sullivan County Museum, 265 Main Street, Hurleyville on Sunday, February 23, starting at 2 p.m.!

These free presentations are sponsored by the Frederick Cook Society. Refreshments will be served, and donations are welcome. Call 845-434-8044 or visit www.frederickcooksociety.org for more info.

From left: Shoshana Mitchell, Justin Rocque, Gabriela Nolan, and Austin Davis of the Sullivan County Division of Planning on the Hurleyville segment of the O&W Rail Trail.

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW YORK – Kick off the New Year by safely exploring the outdoors!

Liberty, NY – With neighboring Ulster County confirming the presence of bird flu, Sullivan County’s Department of Public Health remains vigilant in preparing for potential local outbreaks.

What Is Bird Flu?

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is caused by Influenza A viruses that naturally occur in wild birds. While many AI viruses cause minimal harm to birds, certain strains, particularly highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses like H5N1, can lead to severe illness and death in poultry and some wild bird species.