Donating blood is safe and easy. Because of the Coronavirus, it is critical that healthy people come to donate to ensure that there is a blood supply for hospital patients.
The Highland District is holding an emergency blood drive on Thursday, March 26, noon – 5 p.m. at the fire house, 25 Milton Avenue. Schedule an appointment to donate at RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code Highland.

Highland Hannaford has changed shopping hours from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. for all community members. They are also offering a special shopping hour from 6am-7am daily for community members 60+ and individuals certified by the CDC as being high risk. While they will not be checking IDs, they do request our community support to keep one another healthy.

As the late Mr. Fred Rogers is famously known for saying “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” We can find those helpers in our Town of Lloyd. Residents of Highland are finding ways to bring out positivity and help within the community. I would like to share a few of them with you.

Debbie Southworth is one of the Highland Central School District bus drivers delivering breakfast and lunch to the students of highland district. Anyone that needs some assistance for food for the children can call the transportation department at (845) 691-1040.
The bus drivers collect the meals from the school in the morning and travel to the pre-determined drop off locations to meet the family member for the drop off. Southworth says “It is the least we can do for our students families in a time like this”. Many of our districts students rely on the school lunch program for a meal during the week, and this extended time off can create a real hardship for many families.
Highland Resident Tricia Chapman, saw an idea about putting rainbows in our home windows on the Highland Parents Facebook group, which is a great community resource. The idea had been reshared from a local COVID 19 Facebook group. Tricia thought it was a great idea because it combines a pretty simple thing anyone, any age, could do that would give others a smile with motivation for getting outside and walking. She encouraged the neighborhood to participate in the activity of drawing a rainbow and posting it in their window!
“Going out for a rainbow hunt with my family was a fun way to do something healthy all together and connect with our neighbors in these difficult times”. Tricia shared that other neighbors are carrying the idea forward and from daily walks with her daughter Miranda, they had already counted at least 27 rainbows! Tricia explained this has been such an easy activity to spread positivity, we are going to do a flower theme next and also put up Christmas lights as a sign of hope and joy.
Highland Resident and massage therapist, yoga instructor, meditation teacher and owner of Black Creek Wellness Casey Huchital, has taken to her Facebook page to share daily moments of peace and calm through short videos of guided meditation for anyone who wants or needs to take a moment of meditation. Casey acknowledges the high level of anxiety and uncertainty we are all experiencing through the uncertain times, and wants to do her part
“A huge part of what I do is helping people manage stress. I love my work so much and I’m sad not to be able to share it with people now when we seem to need it the most,” she said. “ “Since my life and work is all about self-care I decided to practice what I preach”. With fear and anxiety surrounding us on the news, social media, in the stores etc.. Casey recognized the same fears in herself so she wanted to share the tools with her community members that have helped her cope with these feelings. “I hope it helps people to feel calmer, to know their feelings are valid an that they’re not alone. We’re all in this together”.
Highland Elementary School Fourth Grader, Quinn Ahrenholz, goes to visit her 100 year old great-grandmother on a weekly basis at the nursing home.
After the facility transitioned to prohibiting visitors, both Quinn & her Nanny struggled with this change. Quinn and her mom, Rachel, have continued talking on the phone with Nanny, and dropped off care packages on a regular basis for the nursing home staff to deliver, but as Rachel Ahrenholz says “for someone that is nearing 101 years old not having a visitor for a full week feels like a very long time!”
Ten year old Quinn took matters in to her own hands. She decided to make a large sign so she could let Nanny know she misses her and has been thinking about her! Quinn shared “I just wanted to make Nanny smile and remind her that I love her and miss her!” Not only did Nanny smile and wave when she saw Quinn standing outside the nursing home, but, it turns out many of the residents (and even some staff) found this to be a heartwarming visit and smiled and waved at Quinn from indoors. So, the next visit, the poster simply was wishing all resident in the building a Hello! So that they all felt the love and warmth Quinn had to share.

As always, any and all news is welcome, as are photos. Do you have a special accomplishment, birthday, anniversary or great news you can’t wait to share about yourself, family or business/organization? You can reach me at mrskendraelliot@gmail.com or give me a call at (845) 706-9582.