The Mountain View United Methodist Church of Walker Valley Women of Faith in Action members are offering free rides for people who don’t drive but would like to participate in the early voting in Ulster and Orange Counties. Early voting begins for Ulster & Orange registered voters on Sat. Oct. 24 and runs through Sun. Nov. 1. Voting locations for this offer are the Ellenville Public Library Community Room, 40 Center St. Ellenville NY (Ulster voters) and Village of Montgomery Senior Center, 36 Bridge St. Montgomery NY (Orange voters).
Hours for Ulster are Sat. Oct. 24, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Sun. Oct. 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Mon. Oct. 26, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Tues. Oct. 27, noon - 8 p.m.; Weds. Oct. 28, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Thurs. Oct. 29, noon - 8 p.m.; Fri. Oct. 30, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sat. Oct. 31, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Sun. Nov. 1, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m..
Hours for Orange are Sat. Oct. 24, noon - 5pm; Sun. Oct. 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Mon. Oct. 26, noon - 8 p.m.; Tues. Oct. 27, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Weds. Oct. 28, noon - 8 p.m.; Thurs. Oct. 29, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Fri. Oct. 30, noon - 8 pm; Sat. Oct. 31, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Sun. Nov. 1, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Please remember that if you vote early you CAN NOT vote on Election Day Tues. Nov. 3. To make arrangements please call Ruth at 845-744-5376 and leave a message. She will get back to you to set up a date & time.

Pastor Greg Higgins would like everyone to know that Sunday services are being held at 8 and 10 a.m. If you would like to attend in person please email wvmountainviewumc@gmail.com. You can also sign up for Live Stream Services on Sundays and Wednesdays at the above email. Offerings to help our community and the church can be mailed to P. O. Box 1577 Pine Bush NY 12566. All ‘in person services’ are held at 3641 State Route 52, Walker Valley NY 12588. Masks are required for live services.

It is that time of year again for the annual Walker Valley Trunk or Treat event. This year, with things still pretty much up in the air day to day with the covid situation, this is what we hope will take place. Charles Garrison, Aliza A. Garrison (Aliza A. Reed, Esq.) and Shawangunk Town Councilman Adrian ‘Binker’ Dewitt are coming together to host the festivities that will be expanded and held at the Verkeerderkill Park, 3232 State Route 52, Town of Shawangunk.
The date is Saturday October 31 from noon- 4 pm. If you would like to be a trunk, food or craft vendor please call 845-800-8431 to reserve your space. Admission to this event is FREE!
Organizers want you to know about some rules: If you, or anyone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19, or has a fever, cough, or shortness of breath in the past 14 days, please stay home. Face coverings need to be worn in settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Please help us keep social distance by staying at least 6 feet away from anyone not in your own household. Family-friendly decorations and costumes are encouraged. No alcohol or smoking is allowed.
All children MUST be accompanied by an adult. SPECIAL NOTE: the bathrooms at the park will NOT be open/available so please plan accordingly.

Shawangunk Town Councilman Brian Amthor announced that for Shawangunk residents, Trick or Treating will occur Saturday October 31 from 6 - 8 p.m. Please check the Town of Shawangunk Facebook page for any updates.

So, before we get into the nuts and bolts of the Walker Valley Fire Company over the next few months, let me give you a little history of the organization. The official name of the group is the Walker Valley Chemical Engine Company No. 1 and it was organized August 11, 1915 at a meeting in the Walker Valley Schoolhouse. There were 21 charter members and Chris F. Keller was elected as the first chief on Sept. 23, 1915.
On July 10, 1919, a committee was appointed to incorporate the fire company and on Sept. 25, 1919 the certified copy of the charter was placed in the hands of the fire company by Chief James Gregston Greer. The first alarm system which was established in December of 1915 called for ringing the church bell with a signal of 4 - 2 for calls west of the church and 4 - 3 for calls east of the church.
The original firehouse building was opened in May of 1920 on a piece of land just south of the Methodist Church and served the community well until the present-day building was dedicated in May 1970 – 50 years later!
The company’s first piece of apparatus worked as a soda and acid extinguisher on large wagon wheels and thus the name Walker Valley Chemical Engine Co. No. 1. The unit could be pulled by men or a vehicle to the scene and turned upside down allowing the soda and acid mix to build up pressure to pump the 50 gallons of water on the fire. Funny side note: There were numerous occasions when the apparatus would prematurely discharge on the way to a fire scene and the firemen would have to bring it back to the firehouse to recharge it.
It wasn’t until 1922 before the company purchased their first fire truck for $150 and three members were assigned to be drivers and maintain the equipment. In 1924 a newer truck was purchased for $1580 and the old truck, which was credited towards the new truck for $50 was then donated back to the fire company. That first truck was put into storage and laid dormant for some time until then Chief Greg Greer retrieved it and restored it. It is still in service today when the firemen go to parades - their first little truck comes with them.

The present firehouse sits on 14 acres of land and contains a social hall, meeting and storage areas and the truck bays. Also on the property is a training tower, expanded training facilities, a water pond, several pavilions, several out buildings, a baseball field and activity areas. The firehouse, through the years, has provided the community with a place to be used as the “hub” in the community. The firemen & ladies auxiliary use the facilities for all sorts of activities such as fundraisers, community picnics, meetings and special events as well as a safe place during weather or fire emergencies as a shelter and hosting training sessions for neighboring fire districts.