I just got off the phone with Fr. Bill. He sounds great, but does not think he will be home for Christmas. He is scheduled for some tests and is going in for a bladder operation. He asked me to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy, blessed New Year. Keep him in your prayers, as he is praying for all of you.

Update on my husband Tommy: his tumor grew over his nose cavity and into his left sinus. He starts radiation and chemo on the 22nd, Monday through Friday with weekends off. I told the doctors: “I am not driving back and forth five days a week to the Bronx. Tax season is starting the day after Christmas.” So they are going to admit him into the hospital for the seven weeks.

Speaking of taxes, my hours as tax collector are going to be different this year. I am not going to be able to work on Saturdays. During the month of January, I will be at the town hall on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. You can always call me to make arrangements to meet me there at another time.

I have been shopping and wrapping for the last week for the Open Your Heart for Local Children toy drive. Over 60 local children are going to have a very nice Christmas. I might be the organizer, dropping off the collection boxes, collecting the toys, separating them and wrapping, but it is really the help I get from the community that makes it all come together. Thank you to Peck’s for letting me put the Christmas tree for the toy drive in their store; St. Francis, Our Lady of the Lake and St. Paul’s for helping me with donation boxes; the Narrowsburg Inn and all who made monetary donations. I did get some strange looks shopping with two carts full of toys. I had to make three trips when I went to Rite-Aid.

The Lake Huntington Fire Company will be holding a New Year’s Day chicken barbeque on Thursday, January 1, 2015 starting at 3 p.m. It will be take-out only. Your $10 take-out will include a half-barbequed chicken, potato salad, baked beans, cranberry sauce, roll with butter and dessert. See a fireman for tickets, or call Betty at 845/932-8378 or RuthAnne at 845/932-8514. Please come out and help support our local fire department.

Have a great week and e-mail me at leeniebeans@citlink.net or call 845/252-3568, if you have news.