On Thursday, October 16, the Sullivan County Bar Association canceled its monthly 6 p.m. meeting at Albella’s Restaurant and Pizzeria in Monticello, but virtually nobody knew about the cancellation. Since Treasurer Michael Davidoff asks lawyers to call to confirm their attendance for a head count, the few callers were told to cancel.

But lawyers traditionally don’t call in advance and, depending on their work schedule, just show up late for potluck. 

However, at 6 p.m., lawyers are hungry—very hungry—so when the lawyers straggled in, the two young, cheerful, enterprising hostesses/waitresses, Hannah and Lucja, said, “Have a seat at our candlelit table and check out Albella’s Dinner Specials.” 

The Italian dinners were reasonably priced, starting with meatballs and spaghetti at $20, including large, warm Italian bread and fresh salad. The variety and diversity increased from veal parmigiana to twin lobster tails, and there was plenty to take home. 

A quick note. An additional brightly lit room, facing the road at Albella’s, was a busy take-out pizzeria with a large kitchen in the back. 

Throughout the building, low sounds of violins, guitars and accordions playing beautiful folk melodies and traditional songs from Italy could be heard. 

In prior years, the Bar Association would meet monthly in fine restaurants throughout Sullivan County. The attractiveness and the fine food would attract over 50 members, including Supreme Court, County Court and Family Court judges and town and village magistrates, plus prominent guest speakers. Occasionally, before the meeting, there would be legal seminars for CLE credits. 

This writer highly recommends at the next Bar Association meeting at Albella’s, before the start of the monthly meeting, each member be given a menu to select their fine dinner of their choice. 

In addition, we can proudly invite local members of the Delaware, Orange and Ulster County Bars to join us to discuss and question complex issues and update proposals.

William Brenner, Esq. 
Member, Sullivan County Bar Association
New York University School of Law, Class of 1965
Grahamsville, NY