Students in the PREP program at Marlboro High School recently embarked on an enriching educational journey to the Walkway Over the Hudson, following their research on Hudson Valley birds. During the trip, students practiced valuable skills such as map reading, community interaction, recognizing survival signs, photography and personal safety. These hands-on, community-based learning experiences are expected to leave a profound and lasting impact on the students’ development and education!

Sarah Hull Hallock Free Library
Pre-school programs at the Sarah Hull Hallock Free Library with Tammy Foster, lifelong early-childhood educator, begin the first week of October.  Call the library at 845-795-2200 or e-mail miltonlibrary@live.com to come to any one or all the classes.  Everyone is welcome and there is never a program charge at our library in Milton.  These supercharged storytimes run for eight weeks:

Nature Kids, Mondays, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.  Ages 3 and up.  Explore nature with stories and hands-on activities.  Begins October 2.

Pre-Reader Launchpad, Tuesdays 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.  Ages 3 and up.  Get a head start on reading readiness with stories and specially designed activities.  Begins October 3.

The after-school Lego Club at the Milton Library starts back up on October 2.  Youngsters in grades K and up are invited to join in the individual and group building, challenges and games.  Lego Club meets on Mondays from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. in the Library’s Community Room.

Marlboro Free Library
The Friends of the Marlboro Library are holding a raffle for a fall-themed gift basket filled with fall décor, autumn-themed cookie cutters, fall mugs, snacks, a voucher good for two tickets to the Library’s Dark Side of Marlboro Walking tour this October and more!

Raffle tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5, or an “arms-length” for $10, and may be purchased at the Marlboro Library, where the basket is on display near the circulation desk. You must be over 21 to purchase raffle tickets. Proceeds will go towards future Library programs. The drawing will be held on Saturday, October 14, during the Friends of the Marlboro Library’s Family Fall Festival.

Come to the Marlboro Library on Thursday, September 28 at 7 p.m. to welcome back Anthony Musso as he discusses his new book, Madams, Mobsters, and Murders in the Hudson Valley.

Amidst the peaceful and quiet Hudson Valley, a dark element existed in its past. Through the years, that darkness took the form of bootleg distilleries, speakeasies, mobsters and “ladies of the night” operating in plain sight – occupations more often found in large cities rather than rural settings. Yet they chose instead to set up shop in the Hudson Valley, creating large-scale, illegal and extremely ingenious covert activities under the nose of law enforcement. This book is a true account of those activities.

RSVP at marlborolibrary.org, walk-ins welcome.

Weekly Recipe
Perfect Potato Soup
Say goodbye to ho-hum potato soup! Easy to prepare with ingredients you probably have on hand. Garnish with a pat of butter if desired. Best served with warm, crisp bread. Recipe by Marilee Wilson Mack

Ingredients:
6 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
5 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons butter
2 stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch slices
½ large onion, diced small
20 baby carrots, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided.
1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half
1 ½ cups chicken broth
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 dash ground nutmeg
4 green onions, finely sliced
1 dash paprika, or to taste
Directions
Step 1 Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Cook until fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. Step 2 Place bacon in a large saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crispy, about 8 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. Pour out bacon grease Step 3 Melt butter in the saucepan over medium heat, scraping the bottom of the pan with a flat-edged wooden spoon. Add celery, onion, carrots, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; cook and stir until tender, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle in flour; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Step 4 Pour half-and-half and chicken broth into the saucepan. Add potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, thyme, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Stir in bacon pieces. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until flavors combine, about 10 minutes. Step 5 Ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with 1/2 teaspoon pepper, green onions, and paprika

St. Mary’s Church

If you are new to our parish and would like to register as a parishioner, please call the rectory office at 236-4340 during the week.

We have a very part-time secretary for religious ed, which we are so happy to have because now you will have a contact person with specific office hours devoted to the program. The religious ed office is now located in the hall - you would enter in the side door. We also have a locked box if you need to drop anything off – that is located next to the side door and it is red (can’t miss it) The phone number for Religious Ed is 845-393- 5005 and the email is religiouseducation71@gmail.com. Religious Ed hours will be as follows: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Emails have gone out with information to religious ed.

Happy Birthday Anthony Magna, Jennifer Porcelli, Donna Mead, Joseph Mannese, Emily Green, Jane Canosa, Judith Tweed, Tammy Corcoran, Joseph Paolo, Emily Eichler, Shannon Corcoran, Ryan Corcoran, John Marro Tommy Corcoran, Michael Rodelli, Thomas Sorrentino Happy Anniversary: Mr. & Mrs. Steven Calli, Jr. As always, any events, announcements recipes or pictures you want to share, email me: Telltammy123@gmail.com or call 845-430-4394.