Wildflower walk in the woods

MILANVILLE — On Sunday, May 6, at 1:00 p.m., the Delaware Highlands Conservancy will sponsor a wildflower walk along the wooded John Davis Road that winds above the South Branch of Calkins Creek.

Naturalist Ed Wesely will lead the search for bloodroot, hepatica, bluets, spring beauty, painted trillium, marsh marigolds and Dutchman’s breeches. Wesely will have hand lenses so walkers can see delicate flowering structures up close.

Wear comfortable clothing, and bring water and binoculars if you have them.

Walkers will meet at 1:00 p.m. at the Conservancy’s Butterfly Barn Nature Center, located on the PA River Road, 1 mile south of the Skinners Falls Bridge and Milanville. From the Nature Center we will car pool to John Davis Road, 2 miles away.

There is no charge for this walk. For more information or directions call 570/729-7053.

Taste the water

SULLIVAN COUNTY — To learn more about how to protect water quality or to get information about how to test your drinking water, visit the exhibit by the Sullivan County Water Quality Coordinating Committee and Cornell Cooperative Extension, which will be in the Government Center Lobby in Monticello throughout the week. A representative will be available from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to answer any questions.

Also during this time of year, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Department of Health promote a series of informal, unscientific competitions to select the best tasting water in New York State. Again this year, Sullivan County is taking part during Water Week—May 6 to 12.

The Water Tasting Contest for Public Water Supplies in Sullivan County will take place on Thursday, May 10, at 12:00 noon, in the Government Center Lobby.

Kyle Myers, Water Specialist of Cornell Cooperative Extension and Co-Chair of the Sullivan County Water Quality Coordinating Committee, is helping to coordinate this year’s event. Water tasters are needed to help choose the best tasting water supply.

Public water suppliers have been asked to bring two chilled gallons of their sample to be tasted. Water must be “finished” water that has undergone all normal treatment for that system and is ready for a consumer’s tap. No untreated water is accepted.

This is the first round of the competition. The second level pits counties against each other by region in July and August. The top two winners from each region go to the state fair for semi-final and final competition at the end of August.

Last year, the top three in Sullivan County were: first place, Town of Rockland; second place, Town of Liberty; and third place, Village of Jeffersonville.

For more information call 845/292-6180.

Safe biking

JEFFERSONVILLE — Students are invited to learn safe biking skills by attending the Bicycle Skills Course on Saturday, May 5, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., in the school parking lot of the Sullivan West at Jeffersonville-Youngsville school.

The event is sponsored by the Sullivan County BOCES, CTIPP, and is being organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 4-H School Programs.

The course is designed to teach bicyclists the skills needed to reduce the chance of injury. Bring a helmet and bike. All children must have a parent’s signed consent.

There is no fee to participate, and everyone will receive a prize.

For more information call Barbara McCausland at 845/292-4641.