HAMLET HAPPENINGS
by Kathleen Sullivan
November 2021
HURLEYVILLE-SULLIVAN FIRST
The members of Hurleyville-Sullivan First are still busy working on projects to make Hurleyville more beautiful.
Updated historical and informational panels are ready to be placed in the newly repaired historical kiosk at the Hurleyville Firemen’s Park. New larger weather-proof cabinets are ready to be installed soon at the Little Free Library at the Hurleyville Firemen’s Park.
Barrels and planters will be made ready for winter this month.
Please visit www.hurleyvilleny.com for more information about Hurleyville-Sullivan First. You can also visit Hurleyville-Sullivan First on Facebook.
HURLEYVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The Bread of Life Food Pantry at the church will be open on Thursday, November 11 and on Thursday, November 18 from 3 until 5 p.m. Food for Thanksgiving will be distributed on a first come, first served basis on November 18. Anyone who is not vaccinated should wear a mask when visiting the food pantry.
Sunday services at the church begin at 9 a.m. Children of all ages are invited to attend Sunday school at the church during services.
Pastor Jorge is delivering sermons online on Facebook at 11 a.m. on Sundays.
The Bible study group meets in the sanctuary at the church every Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Fully vaccinated churchgoers do not have to wear a mask in the church.
You can pray with others over the phone on the church’s prayer line on Sundays from 7 to 8 p.m. The prayer line phone number is 605-472-5491 and the access code is 251678.
“Messy Church” has started again. The next date is Saturday, November 6..
Youth Group meetings and the women’s group meetings are still cancelled for now.
Please call Katrina at 845-436-7942 for more information. You can also get updates at the church’s page on Facebook.
THE SULLIVAN COUNTY MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Sullivan County Museum is open. Visitors are welcome and the archives are open for research.
Guided tours (behind the scenes and regular exhibits) are available on Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., and on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. There is no charge for the hour-long tour, but registration is required. Please call 845-428-3111 to register.
The Sullivan County Historical Society will open its annual Holiday Theme Tree Exhibit at the museum on Sunday, December 5. The event will feature holiday-themed trees decorated by individuals and organizations. The trees can be set up between November 26 and December 4. Please call 845-434-8044 for information on setting up a tree.
Donations to the museum and the historical society are welcome. Support is always needed for the ongoing increase in the amount of funds needed to operate the museum.
Anyone interested in genealogy and the history of life in Sullivan County can send an email to info@scnyhistory.org for information on volunteering at the museum.
Please call the museum at 845-434-8044 or email info@scnyhistory.org for more information or to schedule group tours.
The museum, located at 265 Main Street in Hurleyville, is open on Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Per Sullivan County guidelines, visitors to the museum are required to wear masks.
Visit the Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum on Facebook or at www.scnyhistory.org.
COLUMBIA HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE (CHNA)
The CHNA steering committee meets monthly to prepare for the next appearance of the Gan Eden Estates project on the agenda of the Town of Thompson Planning Board.
There were reports in August of a crane truck entering the site of the proposed project. It was later discovered that the crane truck was used to install water pump(s) in the four wells there. The next week, a trailer-loaded generator was seen being used to conduct water pumping tests on the wells. Neighboring residents who were negatively impacted by previous tests were not notified that the pumping tests were going to be done. Were the tests a redo of the flawed 72-hour pumping tests performed several years ago, or were they conducted to determine potential yield again? The validity of the tests to determine capacity for future use by the proposed high-density project is called into question by having them done during one of the rainiest summers on record.
The last site plan submitted by the owner, Atlantic Development Corp. of Suffern, New York, called for the building of 89 structures with 6 town houses in each structure (a total of 534 units), a community center, basketball/tennis courts, 1,100 parking spaces and four miles of paved roads on the 134 buildable acres of the property.
The members of CHNA and the community have voiced many concerns. Among them are:
• water supply
• storm water runoff
• wastewater treatment plant and discharge
• traffic
• noise pollution
• light pollution
• electric grid capacity
• 110-foot 400,000 gallon on-site water tank
The full build-out of the development means the possibility of more than 3,000 residents on Columbia Hill, forever changing the bucolic character of Columbia Hill and Hurleyville.
The developer has not yet returned to the Thompson Planning Board for site plan approval, nor has the developer secured any of the multiple permits needed to proceed, but the members of CHNA feel it could just be a matter of time before the approval process starts again.
The members of CHNA continue to monitor the dramatic increase of rapid and questionable over development in the area of Huschke Road and East Mongaup Road.
Visit CHNA at www.columbiahill.org and on Facebook to learn how you can help to protect your environment and your community by demanding responsible and sustainable development.