TRR photo by Tom Kane Residents and fans of bluegrass gather around the river overlook deck on Main Street in Narrowsburg. (Click for larger image)

Down home bluegrass on the river

By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG — The rains came just as the bluegrass band called “The Linemen” from New York City ended its first set.

Residents and fans sat on the Main Street deck on easy chairs and benches and lined the wall in front of the post office.

When the clouds passed over, the group set up under the covered sidewalk in front of Rasmussen’s Furniture Store and continued playing, a smaller crowd gathering around the deck despite the light drizzle. “The Lineman” played another hour.

The  event, which was attended by 125 people,  was sponsored by the Narrowsburg  Chamber and by Nicolina Country Place It was part of the Narrowsburg Beautification Group’s ongoing effort to enhance community. Refreshments were served with a donation requested. Two kinds of brownies were donated by the culinary program at the Delaware Valley Job Corps in Callicoon.

“We’re calling these events ‘The Garden on the River,’” said Laurie Stuart, spokesperson for the beautification group. The group’s first project is the landscaping of the town hall, the library, the theater and the firehouse, Stuart said.

Stuart, who acted as MC for the event told the crowd, “We’re attempting to build community, so talk to the people around you and get to know who they are.”

Nicole Gonsalves, owner of Nicolina County Place, presented pots of lavender, urging residents to plant the flower around the hamlet.

“Lavender is the symbol of our beautification program,” she said. The group is also urging the planting of ornamental fruit trees in the hamlet.

The Garden on the River project meets each Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Additional information is available at the Tusten-Cochecton Branch