In Ellenville –
Last Friday evening, apparently between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., someone smashed into the side of the Lucille Hand real estate office on Main Street, smashing up the building's roof and front. It looks like it was tall box truck, which left without notification. Call us or the village police if you saw anything. Meanwhile, we're hearing about parental complaints about elementary school punishments including in-school suspension for a variety of infractions at ECSD. We're waiting to see if anything comes up at the next school board meeting.

In Sullivan County –
It turns out that the Thompson Education Center (once known as China City) was going before the town of Thompson planning board this past Wednesday, April 12. More on what happened in next week's issue...

In Orange County –
County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus delivered his fourth State of the County address last week. The takeaway (drum roll, please...) is that everything looks good and may get better as Stewart Airport revs up again and Legoland plans move forward.

In Ulster County –
After rejecting a resolution calling for the repeal of Obamacare the legislature has been wrestling with a motion to get rid of all "memorializing" resolutions. Next up: the county's position on serving as a sanctuary.

In The Region –
What news sources can be trusted? How does one start a conversation about politics? Why is it important to share different views? These were just a few of the topics discussed at a recent "The Mount Speaks Out: Politics" panel at Mount Saint Mary College that included an Orange County Democratic committee person and former party chair, a local mayor who doubles as director of communications for Sen. Bill Larkin, and an assistant professor of communications at the Mount. The takeaway here? Talking about politics may be uncomfortable, but we need to do it to get at new ideas and better solutions to problems, as well as a better sense of community and well-being. We need more of such discussions.