APRIL 2021
182
LAKE
ROAD
•
TOBYHANNA,
GOLF COURSE
OPENING Don’t Forget All We Have To Offer!
Junior Camps PGA Junior League Golf Team Clinics for Family & Friends Rental Clubs Golf Memberships And More!
182 Lake Road, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania 18466
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P E N N S Y LVA N I A
18466
IN THIS ISSUE OUR COMMUNITY From Your B.O.D.
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From the General Manager
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B.O.D. Meeting Dates
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Public Safety
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Neighborhood Watch
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Lakeside Grill & Pub Hours
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Congratulations Katrina & Mike!
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Golf Scholarship Application
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B.O.D Candidate Application
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Ad Hoc Committee Application
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2021 Golf Schedule
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Round by Round
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Fun with Fitness
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Community Reminder
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Visit Our New Website poconofarms.com
Newburgh, NY 12550 PERMIT NO. 335
PAID
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
P O C O N O FA R M S
COUNTRY CLUB ASSOCIATION INC. 182 Lake Road • Tobyhanna, PA 18466 www.poconofarms.com • admin@poconofarms.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Director Director Director Director Director
Steve Bunker Frank Milano James Yando Wayne Meyers Richard McCormick Annette Doerr Steve Baker Peter Volpe James Ribardo
COMMITTEES: • A & B/Environmental / Crime Watch • Finance • Golf • Recreation / Fitness / Tennis / Pool • Communications/ Long Range Planning
Richard McCormick James Yando James Ribardo Steve Baker
BY ANNETTE DOERR At our work session in February, the board reviewed the 2020 year with our management team and started making plans for 2021. I think we all can attest to the fact that 2020 was filled with unforeseen challenges because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As an organization we persevered, adapted and overcame each obstacle that the Pennsylvania and Federal governments threw at us. Was it a challenge for us all? Of course. Are we a better organization for it? Absolutely. As we look to Spring, we’re making plans for our Annual Meeting which is typically held in July, but fully realize that we may need to postpone until the fall, due to whatever restriction the state places on us in regard to the numbers allowed for gathering in person. We’ll keep everyone posted as rules and regulations change as quickly as our Tobyhanna winter did. We do truly hope to be able to meet in person this year. Please consider joining a committee this year. For the past 2 years, we haven’t had enough volunteers for committees to meet, aside from our Golf Committee. As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Committees are the backbone of this community and where change happens. OUR 5 STANDING COMMITTEES ARE:
Wayne Meyers
DEPARTMENT HEADS General Manager 894-4435 ext. 100
David Timko dtimko@poconofarms.com
Asst. General Manager 894-4435 ext. 132
Katrina Weithman katrinaw@poconofarms.com
Controller 894-4435 ext. 103
Milt Kwasnik controller@poconofarms.com
Golf Pro 894-4435 ext. 110
Kyle Monahan golfshop@poconofarms.com
Greens Superintendent Jeff Lesoine 894-4435 jeffreyl3@poconofarms.com Chef 894-4435 ext. 130
Len Iorio pfkitchen@poconofarms.com
Recreation Director 894-4435 ext. 113
Nick Gallagher recdir@poconofarms.com
Public Safety & Compliance Director Artie Furman 894-4435 ext. 105 afurman@poconofarms.com Maintenance Dave Winters 894-4435 pfmaint@poconofarms.com Fitness 894-4435 ext. 116
Kristen Aylward fitness@poconofarms.com
Member Services 894-4435 ext. 106
Susan Nevarez admin@poconofarms.com
Pocono Farms Realty Lex Colon 894-0300 lex.colon.realtor@gmail.com Website/Communications Kathleen Nealon Coordinator webcomcord@poconofarms.com 894-4435 ext. 201
The official publication of the Pocono Farms Country Club Association, Inc. PUBLISHED BY NIKI JONES AGENCY, INC. 39 Front Street, Port Jervis, New York 12771 P: 845.856.1266 E: info@nikijones.com Articles appearing in The Weathervane are presented as a community service. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher or of the Pocono Farms Country Club Association, Inc. The publisher and the PFCCA disclaim any liability for any advertisements published herein, in no way endorse or guarantee these ads and reserve the right to reject any ads submitted. Position of advertising in the newspaper is not guaranteed.
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From You r Boa r d Of Dir ec tor s
Architectural & Building Committee / Environmental / Crime Watch: The Architectural & Building Committee’s purpose is to guide construction and land use in Pocono Farms to preserve the natural beauty of the area and to protect property values. To meet this objective the Committee performs the functions of review, approval, or disapproval of building plans. In cooperation with the General Manager, it oversees enforcement of Architectural & Building rules and regulations, and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning application and modification of those rules. Communications Committee / Long Range Planning: The mission of the Official Publication Committee shall be to communicate to the membership, pertinent information, relative to Pocono Farms and Coolbaugh Township issues, in a responsible and timely manner, by paper, bulletin board, phone call, special meeting, or any other means. Finance Committee: The mission of the Finance Committee is to advise the Board on matters related to the financial affairs of Pocono Farms, reviewing budgets and capital requirements as proposed by management. The Finance Committee may be asked to undertake a special project or assignment requested by the Board. Upon review the Finance Committee may recommend budget changes to the Board. Recreation / Fitness / Pool / Tennis Committee: The Recreation Committee’s objective and purpose is to plan and coordinate the recreational activities at Pocono Farms. Golf: The mission / purpose of the Golf Committee is to plan, develop, implement and monitor all activities, events, and programs associated with the Pocono Farms golf operations and represent, solicit and communicate to the membership of Pocono Farms all pertinent information relating to golf. Applications can be found on the website (https://poconofarms. com/committees/) and in the office. Please consider getting involved, we need your help to keep Pocono Farms the beautiful, amenity-filled community that we all love to live in. Happy Spring!
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From T he Gener a l M a n ager
2021
BY DAVE TIMKO As winter is hopefully behind us, we look forward to warmer days and spring flowers. Historically when the calendar rolls forward to April, we are planning our summer calendar of events. We are still doing our planning, but the planning is being done under the current guidelines as it relates to the gathering restrictions in place. If the restrictions were to be expanded, then of course we will expand them to safely accommodate as many members as we can. Under the current guidelines, it is not business as usual as it was pre-covid, nor do we anticipate that it will be this summer. Group size restrictions are still in place for both indoor and outdoor events. What we will continue to do is manage the process as safely as we can, within the guidelines allowed, to continue to ensure the safety of our members and staff. We have been successful doing this since the restrictions were put into place last year. As I write this article for the April edition of the Weathervane, there are still 16+ inches of snow pack out there. The 2nd week of March is supposed to see high temperatures in the 50’s. So we should see some significant melting. By the time this article hits the press, we may be seeing green grass!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS ALL MEETING TIMES ARE 7PM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
Friday, April 30th Friday, May 21st Friday, June 18th Friday, July 16th
Saturday, July 17th Annual Meeting 10am
The golf course will be the first outdoor amenity to open. It is hard to imagine right now that we may have the course opened by mid-April. When our Superintendent says that it is okay to open the course without causing any damage, we will do just that. We have only opened twice in March in recent memory. So our April opening date is “par for the course”. Based on what we are reading and hearing, golf will reopen under the same guidelines in which they closed last season. This means that touch points will still be limited and all sanitation processes will still be in place. If those guidelines were to be rolled back, we would take that under consideration for implementation. Our goal has and always will be to ensure the safety of all of our members and staff. Looking ahead to the annual meeting scheduled for July 17th at 10am, at the present time, we are not sure that we can host an indoor group large enough to achieve a quorum to conduct business. We will proceed as if we are going to be able to host the annual meeting. There are certain timelines of notification required within our Bylaws that we must follow leading up to the annual meeting. If we cannot host the meeting in July, as was the case last year, we will defer it until the fall. If the group size restrictions are not relaxed by the fall, the decision to cancel the meeting may be made at that time. Either way, we will communicate the most current status to our members as it relates to the annual meeting. The Board of Directors election process will continue as planned and consistent with last year and the governing documents. In conclusion, we continue to thank our members for their patience, understanding, and cooperation as we continue to navigate through these ever changing waters!
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Neighbor hood Watch
P u blic Sa fet y
BY EDWARD KELLY
BY ARTIE FURMAN April is here and with any luck the course opening will be happening soon. I have tried to knock the rust out of my golf swing, but I am afraid the rust was too much, and I broke something, so my swing will be worse than ever. This month I want to touch upon a few things that are upcoming and some that are ongoing. Spring starts the projects. Painting, roofing, sheds, decks all those things that need permits. Remember to get them before you start your project. Grass will start to grow soon and that means it will need to be mowed. Now you may not be here. You may only come up once a year, or you may come once a month. Regardless of how often you are here, the grass still grows. That means it still must be mowed whether you are here or not. So, if you are not present, please have it taken care of. Also, it is not just the front lawn that must be mowed. It is the front, sides, rear, and sand mound. I have seen front yards look impeccable, but you cannot walk around the house because it is as high as a hayfield. Lastly garbage cans. Tuesday is garbage day. Your cans should go out Monday night or Tuesday morning. The then should be brought back to the house no later than Wednesday. Garbage can are not supposed to be left at the roadside constantly. As always should you have questions or concerns, I am only a phone call away.
The early days of March have given me hope that by the time the April Weathervane gets distributed, we saw the last of our snow storms in February, and the mountains of snow that surround my house and exists on my deck will finally be gone. Remembering that in 2020 we had more storms and snow in march than any other month of the winter. Have you ever looked forward to the blossoms of April as you have this year? The extreme amount of ice and snow in February took a toll on the amount of hours of patrol that we have been experiencing. February showed 80 hours on the road. This isn't too bad considering the conditions we were experiencing. Since people are using their own cars, we can't ask them to put themselves or their vehicles at risk. Even after plowing, some of the cul-d-sac's can be icy and narrowed do to limited places to pile the snow. We still received some of the usual calls about garbage bags being dropped on our roadsides or trash barrels still out on Thursday or Friday. Someone probably received a surprise notice from the township, as garbage bags dropped along seneca had litterer's identified. This usually means a substantial fine levied by the township. As far as i know, the only people that don't have their garbage picked up are those that are not paying their dues, otherwise, pick up or the trash compactor are available. Additional calls was for a tree that fell across laurel view lane and a report of an open front door on what turned out to be an unoccupied house on hounds ear. The township was called about the tree, and within an hour or so, the tree was cut up and moved off the road. The police non-emergency number, 570-992-9911, was called, and an officer responded, checked out the house and let our code official know it was clear. These are a few of the things that our volunteers report on, along with the tenet violations. Our main mission is to be visable, in order to discourage any potential person thinking about breaking into a house or destroying property just for the fun of it. We can't have enough volunteers, so give the office or Russ Kelly a call at 570-894-4034 if you'd like to give it a try.
Tobyhanna, PA
• Tree & Stump Removal • Tree Planting, Landscape Design • Backhoe Service
• Water Mainline Replacement • Clean Ups • Door & Window Replacement
Proudly Serving the Poconos Since 2003 570-336-7299 • www.jegarden.com
Tree Removal Tree Trimming Land Clearing Landscaping
Tree Removal
Light Excavation
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
Land Clearing Chipping
Landscaping Bucket Truck Services Light Excavation Stump Grinding Chipping Bucket Truck Services
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• ROOFING, DECK & SIDING
Fully Insured/Free Estimates
License #PA041576
Our Pocono Farms family is growing by one little heart! Katrina, our Assistant General Manager & Director of Food and Beverage, and her husband Mike welcomed their daughter Claire Catherine on March 11th at 4:41 AM! Claire entered the world 21.5 inches long and a healthy 7lbs 11oz. We are happy to say that both mom and baby are doing very well. Congratulations to Katrina and Mike on the birth of their daughter!
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Pocono Farms Country Club
Golf Scholarship Application Student Name:____________________________________________________ Name of Parent/Guardian:___________________________________________ Pocono Farms Address:_____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Primary Address:__________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Primary Phone #:__________________________________________________ Alternate Phone #:_________________________________________________ School Graduating From:___________________________________________ Date of Graduation:________________________________________________ GPA_____________________________________________________________ College Choice (Top 3):
(1)_______________________________________ (2)_______________________________________
QUALIFICATIONS: • Be a high school senior • Be a resident of Pocono Farms Country Club Association • Have a grade point average minimum of 2.75 • Homeowner must be a member in good standing with the Association (no past due balance) or be on a payment plan for the current year’s dues. IN ADDITION TO YOUR APPLICATION YOU MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: • A description of community activities, volunteer work, and/or school activities that you participate in • A description of your employment history • A copy of your transcript must be attached to this application • A brief narrative on how you feel you qualify for the scholarship award Please return this application to the PFCCA Administration Office by 4:30 p.m. on April 30, 2021. All interview dates TBD. You will be notified of the time of your interview.
(3) ______________________________________
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Pocono Farms Country Club Association, Inc. 182 Lake Road, Tobyhanna, PA 18466 570-894-4435 • 570-894-3529 fax Website: www.poconofarms.com • Email: admin@poconofarms.com
CLASSIFIED ADS
BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S CANDIDATE APPLICATION
Looking to sell an old couch, coffee table, tv, etc. within our community? You can do so on our website! By logging on to your account at poconofarms.com You can place a classified ad for our community to see! For more information, please contact Katie at 570-894-4435 ext 201 or webcomcord@poconofarms.com.
The Nominating and Elections Committee request from all board candidates, a completed candidate profile – see form below which can be obtained in the Weathervane, on the website or picked up at the Member Services Office. You may submit a separatesheet of paper with your responses. Your information will be published in upcoming issues of the Weathervane and on the website. Please be aware that one very important requirement for candidacy is the attendance. You will be required to attend monthly Board Meetings, General Membership Meeting and assigned Committee Meetings. As stated in the By-Laws (Section 5.7) “Any Director who is absent from either a total of four (4) regular meetings or three (3) regular meetings in succession, of a twelve month period, commencing with the organizational meeting, shall be deemed to have resigned…” This year, there are three seats available on the Board of Directors, each for a three(3) year term. Board candidates must be 21 years of age, an owner of record and be amember in good standing.All applications for nomination must be submitted to the Elections and Nominating Committee, c/o the Association Office, one week prior to the April meeting of the Board of Directors. Deadline for applications is April 23, 2021.
Name:___________________________________________________________________________________________ Pocono Farms Address:_____________________________________________________________________________
To Advertise in the Weathervane Call Crystal at 845-456-1218
Permanent Address:_______________________________________________________________________________ (If seasonal or weekend member)
Primary Phone Number:____________________________________________________________________________ Email Address:____________________________________________________________________________________
CANDIDATE PROFILE How many years have you been a member of the farms? _____________
of the Poconos Experience and Results Matter!
What is your occupation?___________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Keith Torregrossa Team of the Poconos
Please describe committees, clubs, volunteer work and other activities in which you have participated.
of the Poconos ofthe thePoconos Poconos Experience and Results Matter! Experience andResults Results Matter! Experience and Matter! Experience and Results Matter! Keith Torregrossa Team Keith Torregrossa KeithTorregrossa Torregrossa Team Team Keith Team
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Describe any skills, talents, or specialized training, which as a Board Member, you feel will be beneficial to the community. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Keith Torregrossa Broker/Owner
Melanie Melnick Listing Specialist
Keith Torregrossa Melanie Melnick Keith Torregrossa Cheryl Specialist Ehrhart Broker/Owner Listing Listing Agent Buyer’s Agent Keith Torregrossa Melanie
Tara Tall Buyer’s Agent
Linda Dross What is your motivation for seeking a seat on the Board of Directors? Transaction Coordinator_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tara Tall Linda Dross Linda Dross Tara Tall Buyer’s Agent Transaction Coordinator
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
(570) 421-2345 OfficeBuyer’s (570) 424-1521 Direct Transaction Agent Linda Dross If elected, in what areas do you hope to influence the Board concerning the direction and governance of this community? Tara Tall
Keith Torregrossa Broker/Owner MelnickEhrhart Cheryl Listing (570) Agent 421-2345 ListingOffice Buyer’s Agent
Coordinator
Linda Dross
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Coordinator
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Transaction Buyer’s Agent Tara Tall (570) 424-1521 Direct Transaction Coordinator (570) 421-2345 Office (570) 424-1521 Direct Buyer’s Agent Specialist
(570) (570)421-2345 421-2345Office Office(570) (570)424-1521 424-1521Direct Direct
Why should the membership elect you to the Board of Directors? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
NOTE: Applications must be submitted to the Nominating/Elections Committee, c/o the Association Office by April 23, 2021, or postmarked no later than April 22, 2021.
Sales are strong,
105 Blackfoot call toLane find out Sales what your is worth! arehome strong,
call to find out what home is worth! I1111 have North Buyers inFifth the area looking foryour different property Street - Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360 types… Have remaxmtp@ptd.net you had any thoughts of selling?
CERTIFICATION: I, ________________________________________, if elected, will bear my full share of the work of the Board and intend to serve a full term. Date: _________________________________ Signature: ________________________________________________________
1111 North Fifth Street-Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360
Office Independently Owned and Operated 1111 NorthEach Fifth Street-Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360 105 Blackfoot Lane remaxmtp@ptd.net Each remaxmtp@ptd.net OfficeSales Independently Owned and Operated are strong,
I have Buyers inIndependently the area looking for different property Each Office Owned and Operated W E AT H E RVA N E call to find out what your home worth! types… Have you had any thoughts ofis selling?
1111 North North Fifth Fifth Street-Stroudsburg, Street-Stroudsburg, Pa. Pa. 18360 18360 1111
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Pocono Farms Country Club Association, Inc. 182 Lake Road, Tobyhanna, PA 18466 (570) 894-4435 (570) 894-3529 fax
Ad Hoc Committee Member Application Ad Hoc Committee Member Application
The application for The Ad Hoc committee shall be considered for approval by the Board of Directors at the next regular meeting The Ad Hoc committee will serve from the date the approval to the committee until the committee satisfies its obligation
Name: Pocono Farms Address
Tobyhanna, PA
Alternate Address
If Applicable
Phone
Alternate Phone
Email address Current Membership
Homeowner
Lot#_____________
Lot Owner
COMMITTEE
Ad Hoc E & N Committee What Dates and times are you available to attend meetings?
Your Occupation: Please state your educational background, experiences, skills or interest applicable to the committee you have chosen (Please use a reverse side if needed)
Signature
Date
Thank you for your willingness to serve on this committee Thank you for your willingness to serve on this committee Pocono Farms Country Club Association, Inc. 182 Lake Road, Tobyhanna, PA 18466 phone: 570-894-4435 | fax: 570-894-3529
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R ound by R ound With all of the snow we had this winter, it’s difficult to commit to an opening date for golf. Some may think that with the amount of the snow on the ground that opening day will get pushed back or delayed. In the past 15 years, we have only opened twice in the month of March, so there is no need to worry about that. Typically our opening day is in the middle of April once the conditions permit us to open and our Superintendent gives the pro shop the go ahead to start booking tee times. There is a lot of work to do to get the course opened up. We not only have to replace all of the sod that is removed to allow the melting snow to run off the green surfaces, we also have to pick up a lot of tree and limb debris throughout the course that has fallen over the winter season. With the amount of snow that we have realized, it will take some time for the turf to dry out as well. As all of these things evolve, we will communicate our tentative date of opening as soon as Jeff feels confident that he can chose a date. We look forward to starting our greenside bunker project on or about April 1st. This project will have such a positive impact on the playability, maintenance, and the overall enhanced look of the bunker complexes. We are all very excited to get started with this project and ultimately to be out there playing golf again. The 2021 tournament and event schedule is up on the website for your review.
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F un w it h Fitness BY KRISSIE AYLWA RD, PFCCA FITNESS DIRECTOR
April showers bring May flowers, at least that is what I am hoping for this month. I would much rather see some rain than snow, how about you? March was an exciting month for the fitness center!! The addition of two new ellipticals and the new IC5 bike have brought in new faces and I am loving it. The energy is amazing. Funny what a couple new cardio machines can do. We also had the Fit Fore Golf sessions which were a success! I learned so much myself about golf and the mechanics around it. Having the opportunity to work side by side with Kyle was not only a learning experience but we had fun. It is my feeling that fitness in general should be fun. Pairing fitness with golf and sharing our knowledge to get people ready for the golf season was the goal and we succeeded at that. I am looking forward to the course opening and possibly working with Kyle again to bring you the next level of Fit Fore Golf. Who knows maybe this season you will see me out there on the course with my own set of clubs! As the weather gets warmer and we start to shed our sweaters and sweatshirts, we may notice that we have some work to do to get ourselves ready for those shorts and tank tops. This month I would like to offer a onehour personal training session to you. Having received my certification back in November and working one on one with several people I have realized that I have a gift and I need to give that gift away. By now most of you have received your Fitness vouchers so bring that in for your free day of fitness and a one-on-one session with me. If you are interested, please email me or call me to schedule a time. I am taking on new clients as well if you are interested in training. As always, I appreciate all your support, Krissie
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COMMUNITY REMINDER Household trash & Recycling Household trash and recycling cans are picked up every Tuesday. Cans need to be out at the end of your driveway, 3 feet apart, with the handles facing your home by 6:00AM. Cans must be brought in by 6:00PM. At times due to weather and delays beyond County Waste’s control, the “normal” pick up time and route may vary. To avoid having your cans missed, please have them out by 6:00AM. If you cannot have your cans out by 6:00AM for pick up, our compactor, located at The Maintenance Yard off Kilmer Drive, is open Wednesday & Friday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM and Sunday from 10:00AM – 2:00PM where you can bring your household trash and recycling.
To Advertise in the Weathervane Call Crystal at 845-456-1218