I am so very much overwhelmed with all the lovely cards and emails I have received over the past few weeks, from my family, my friends and most touching my readers who do not know me or Tommy and took the time to console me. I thank you and feel very blessed to have you in my life. When the undertaker met me at the funeral parlor, he handed me a blue folder and said, “the VA hospital wanted me to give this to you.” Paperwork, lots of paperwork.

I tried filling it all out, and it was just too much, so I remembered Tommy talking about Sullivan County having a Veterans Service Agency. I called the county and was given to John Crotty, the director at the government center. I made a appointment. When I showed up, I was treated very specially. I was hugged, condolences were given, and that blue folder was taken from me. John Crotty thanked me for being a wife of a disabled veteran, and said he will take care of everything. All I had to do was sign some papers and everything was done. I was amazed that the Veterans Service Agency has nothing to do with the VA. It is a county-run office there to help Sullivan County Vets get help and benefits. John made a difficult time very pleasant. He and his team did everything for me.

When it came to what was going on Tommy’s tombstone, all I could think of was what he said when we first starting dating: “When I die I want, ‘He lived, he died’ on my tomb stone,” so that is what he will have. So if you are a vet or the wife, sibling or friend of a vet with questions, please give John Crotty a call at 845/807-0233, or email him at John.Crotty@co.sullivan.ny.us, and he will be more the willing to help you. Thank you, Sullivan County, for employing a great office full of helpful loving people.

The 2015 town tax season is over; my books are closed, and everything is back to the county. If you have questions call 845/807-0200 or go to www.taxlookup.net.

The Cochecton Youth Commission has a new Facebook page: please like us at New Cochecton Youth Commission, to see all the upcoming events free to Cochecton youth.

On April 4, the Cochecton Preservation Society is having a meeting in town hall. Come on out and listen to Art Hassis speak about Boucher’s boat livery.

The Cochecton Firemen’s Field Day has been set for Saturday, July 11. For information, call 845/932-8444.

Have a great week and email leeniebeans@citlink.net or call 845/252-3568 if you have news.