Thank you everyone for all of the positive feedback I received regarding my new column. I even received a phone call from someone I have not talked to in many moons and it was fun catching up with an old friend. I have also been talking with some new-found friends as they provide me with items of interest for the column. Keep it coming. The more you give me the more I have to give back to the community.

Kelli Palinkas Greer is collecting items for another craft supply sale fundraiser for the Walker Valley Community Enhancement Committee. She is looking for yarn, fabric, buttons or any other unwanted, but still usable craft supplies. Donating supplies is a crafty way to support your community while cleaning your house of clutter at the same time. Please contact Kelli at 744-3055 to arrange drop-off.

Once she has collected all of these lovely items there will be a craft sale held at the Walker Valley Schoolhouse Community Center in May, date & time to be determined. This is a great place to get your craft supplies at a really low price while helping to ensure that the Enhancement Committee is able to finance new projects.

With that in mind and a busy 2019 ahead of us, the Community Enhancement Committee is starting early this year with our first meeting on Weds. Feb 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Schoolhouse Community Center. Everyone who wants to contribute to the activities are encouraged to attend and help us keep the momentum going! Schoolhouse is located at 6 Marl Rd. & State Route 52.

Projects we are looking at doing is year are placing a picnic area in the Dot & Greg Greer Memorial Park on the schoolhouse property, transforming the gardens at the schoolhouse for improved ease of maintenance, looking to replace our aging pole banners as well as our standard projects of flowers for the barrels and post office window boxes. There has also been talk of putting in a dog walking trail or a fitness station trail. We are also looking to help support other community groups and residents with projects they would like done in “the valley”. Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions or comments.

This is a special shout out to the Walker Valley Fire Company and their icy water rescue of fellow four-legged fur baby resident Zoey. She found herself out on the lake off of Lake Shore Drive in early January in dire straits. Her knights in shining armor….errrr …..bright orange wetsuits actually, Cody Carroll and James Tremper Jr. came to her rescue. Cody’s quote? “This. This right here is why we do what we do.”

Kudos to all of our dedicated and committed volunteers who make up the WVFC. Thank you.

Wishing a speedy recovery for one of our residents, Walker Valley Marching Band trustee and Walker Valley Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary member Fran McClintock. She has had some really tough health issues lately and could use our prayers and well wishes. Cards can be sent to her at P.O. Box 423 Walker Valley NY 12588. Hope to see you back on your feet soon Fran!

The Mountain View United Methodist Church located at 3641 State Route 52 in Walker Valley is a bee hive of activities and offerings to the community. Here is the list. Sunday services are at 8 and 10 a.m., with an 11 a.m. coffee hour following.

Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at 10 a.m., they offer Zumba at the Memorial Hall in Pine Bush at 2 Church St. Then they have the Women’s Bible study on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at the Crawford Library Annex. The church youth group meets at 7 p.m. at the Horton House on Mondays – contact Joyce at 800-4725 for more information.

Tuesdays find the Prayer Group meeting at Schuyler Crossing and more information can be obtained by contacting Pastor Gregg at625.8629 or email him at ghiggins51@gmail.com.

On the first Wednesday of the month, The Women of Faith in Action meet in the Walker Valley church basement at 7 pm. This active group of women support warming stations throughout our area providing gloves, hats, socks & scarves; they also support the Project Life in Newburgh giving support to our soldiers; providing blankets to the infusion centers, homeless shelters and much more.

If interested in participating contact Kelly at 361-3519.

Thursdays is the day for Lunch & Fellowship at the Cup and Saucer at 11:30 a.m.

For any of the above listed activities you do not have to be a member of the Methodist Church – just an interested member of the community who would like to help make a difference.

On a side note, the women’s group is in desperate need of crocheters. The church will provide the yarn and you can do it at your convenience. All they ask is that you pray over the blanket as it is being created.

The Walker Valley Seniors are ramping up for two Spring trips. The first is a casino trip on April 25th at a cost of $25 per person. The casino will reimburse you with play money and food coupons to use at the casino. The second trip is a ‘Train, Lunch and Boat’ trip to Connecticut on May 30th. That trip will cost $55 per person and they need 35 people to sign up to make it happen.

Non-members are encouraged to inquire about joining them at both meetings and outings. Contact Secretary Ruth Jordan for more info. ruthjordan2009@gmail.com.