“Awake, thou wintery earth,
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!”
Thomas Blackburn

 
   A most beloved saint is St. Patrick, and he is the only Catholic saint whose feast day, March 17, is widely observed, as a secular holiday in cities and towns in the United States.  He is honored by colorful parades with melodious songs and lively dancing.  Everywhere, one sees giant green shamrocks and Leprechauns, enjoys Irish coffee or green beer, and delicious Irish Soda Bread.  The only color of the day is lots of green, and remember, everybody is Irish on that day, as we are often reminded.

However, this year, Irish eyes are smiling, as Catholics were given a dispensation by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, to eat their Corned Beef and Cabbage or any fare, but are asked to do an act of charity.  
         
Happy St. Patrick’s Birthday, March 17, to Jeannine Rogers.  May you be blessed with the gifts of God’s presence in your heart and the joy of peace in your soul.  Dear Jeannine, your family and friends pray the good St. Patrick bless you and keep you in his care, and may Our Lord be near you to answer every prayer from your dear heart.

Town of Newburgh Recreation Department Egg Hunt, for ages 3 -8, is April 1, at 10 a.m., at Chadwick Lake Park. There will be No Walk-Ins!  Pre-register online at townofnewburgh.recdesk.com, or Town Rec. Dept. at (845) 564-7815.  Resident registration began Feb.14; Non-Resident registration will begin March 14.
 
  The Town of Newburgh Recreation Dept. presents a trip to New York Aquarium, Brooklyn, Friday, April 21; Bus departs: 8:30 a.m. and returns approx. 4 p.m.

Fees for Residents: $57; Non-Residents: $67; Pre-register online at townofnewburgh.recdesk.com, or Town Rec. Dept., 311 Route 32 Newburgh; (845) 564-7815.  
 

  Town of Newburgh Rec. Dept. presents Senior Chats, Thursday, April 20, at 9:30 a.m.  This is a Free Health Seminar.  Join MVP Health Care for a morning of trivia games with the health wheel.  Register online at townofnewburgh.recdesk.com, or Town Rec. Dept., 311 Route 32, Newburgh; (845) 564-7815.     
 
Cronomer Valley Fire Department held its annual Installation/Awards Dinner, February 25, at The Powelton Club.  President Jeffrey Miller welcomed everyone; the Pledge of Allegiance was recited; Dominick Greene II read the Invocation; Chief of the Department Robert Dorrmann introduced his officers for the year;
Assistant Chief Frank Patterson Jr. handed out the annual Gag Gifts to members.  Jeff Miller then introduced his officers, and Ladies Auxiliary President Maryann Fogg introduced her officers.  Jeffrey Miller gave out the President’s Award to Charles Dieckman; Fifty Year Plaques were presented to Steve Williamson and George Leghorn, whose son, James, accepted the award. Chief Dorrmann presented the Firematic Awards: Officer of the Year: Captain James Ciccarelli; Fire Police of the Year: James Travis; Probe of the Year: Diana Presutti; Fireman of the Year: Frank Wolf.  Dinner and dancing followed the awards.  Cronomer Valley FD has been serving The Valley for 89 years, 1934 - 2023.  Also, a special Happy Birthday song was sung to member, Wallesca Penz, who was celebrating her birthday.
 
Recently, the Joseph R. Farina Memorial Post 386 of the Catholic War Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1161, each presented checks in the amount of $125 to Lucy Mercado, founder and coordinator of Support Our Heroes, a nonprofit organization, which sends Care Packages and letters to American Heroes deployed all over the world, as a reminder they are not forgotten.

This has been a continued effort by Mercado for the past 19 years, having been inspired by her son, L. A. Mercado, a deployed Marine.  She has a website for the many supporters and donors who seek to assist her.  Website: supportourheroes.today. For more information, call (845) 590-4325.  

CWV Post 386 Commander, Robert Schiela and VFW Post 1161 Commander, Richard Lay expressed their gratitude to Mercado, as it is one of the CWV’s and VFW’s priority donations for the past several years, and that is to help all veterans both active duty and retired.  The funds raised by the CWV primarily come from the Poppy Drive. Cmdr. Schiela stated, the Poppy Drive is alive and well and is currently available at Devitt’s Landscape & Nursery and Adam’s Fair Acre Farms.  Both businesses will host the Annual Poppy Drive during the month of May prior to Memorial Day.
 
May you always have an angel at your side.