The area of the Town of Tusten is approximately 48.8 square miles. That’s a lot of ground to cover should a fire occur, but we are fortunate to have men and women in Tusten willing to be on call for such emergencies. They are the volunteer members of the Narrowsburg and the Lava fire departments. Although each department has specific areas to cover, the truth is, they are willing to work together and will cross over into the other’s territory if needed. We owe a lot to our volunteer fire fighters. A small way to show our appreciation is to support their annual chicken barbeques. The Lava Fire Department will be serving take-out chicken barbeque on Sunday, April 17 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. For $10 you will enjoy a complete meal, and you are demonstrating your support. A real bargain for sure.

Speaking of showing thanks, we should be thankful we have a library in our community. This year National Library Week will stretch from April 11 thru April 22. If you have an overdue book or movie, now is the time to return it. There will be no fine charged no matter how long overdue; however, you are still responsible to replace lost items. Bring those overdue books in during the amnesty period.

Too often, we take for granted the American system of voting for our choice of those we wish to lead our governments. Coming up on April 19 will be your opportunity, once again, to vote for the candidate you wish to see on the ballot for President. We have been bombarded with media coverage of the presidential candidates vying for office, and now is the time to cast your vote to help determine who will be on the ballot this November. It appears that the input of New York voters will be especially significant this year and will provide valuable votes for party nominations. The polls will be open from 12 noon to 9 p.m. Please remember to exercise your privilege as an American citizen.