Catskills Link by Weekly Link

Shlomie Goldberg, p.a. will be seeing patients all summer long at our Catskills location.

Catskills’ Only Urgent Care with On-Site Full X-Ray !Services

Catskills’ Only Urgent Care with On-Site Full X-Ray Services!

WEEKLY SPECIALS

DEPARTMENT

FRESH PIZZA & TAKE-OUT

9AM-9PM 8AM-9PM 8AM-9PM 8AM-9PM 8AM-12AM 8AM-1 hr before Shabbos 1 hr after Zman until 1AM

GOOD CARE GOES WHERE YOU GO.

Just Unwrap

13 GREEN AVENUE

Center one shopping Center Woodridge NY 12789

Large selection of frames and designer sunglasses

F ull line of prescription goggles

Order your contact lenses

WE WILL BE DELIVERING EVERY WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY ALL AROUND THE CATSKILLS TO BRING YOU THE BEST SHABBOS FOOD & FINEST MEAT UP TO YOUR BUNGALOW DOOR!

ORDER TILL TUESDAY

Catskills Emergency Numbers

AMBULANCE

800-222-1222

800-232-4636

800-222-4357

Catskill Regional Medical Center 68 Bushville Rd (Rt 17 -Ex 102)

Harris

Bikur Ch New Sq

845-583-7100 or 911

845-338-3700 or 911

845-292-3040

NON EMERGENCY

845-647-8181

845-434-2008

845-295-0236

845-794-6330

845-292-6918

845-434-6763

845-434-6893

POLICE DEPARTMENT

845-794-7100

845-647-4422

845-434-4422

Liberty 845-292-4422

Livingston Manor/Rock Hill/ Swan Lake/White Lake

Loch Sheldrake

845-794-7100

845-434-4422

Monticello 845-794-4422

Mountaindale 845-434-4422

Woodburne 845-434-4422

Woodridge 845-434-6644

STATE POLICE

Ferndale

Ellenville

Liberty

Wurtsboro

Sullivan County

Ulster County

SHERIFF

845-292-6600

845-626-2800

845-292-6600

845-626-2800

845-794-7100

845-338-3640

HOSPITALS

Bon Secours Comm Hospital 160 East Main Street Port Jervis

845-858-7000

Emergency Room: 845-858-7030

St Luke Newburgh Hospital 70 Dubois Street Newburgh

845-794-3300

888-354-2627

Comm Liason (for summer): Yoel Moshe Fried 347-407-0792

Chesed Room: 4th Floor, Rm 455

Ellenville Community Hospital (Rt 209) Ellenville ��

845-647-6400

Orange Regional Medical 707 East Main Street Middletown �� 845-333-1000

Arden Hill Hospital 4 Harriman Dr Goshen ��

845-294-5441

Comm Liason Joel Friedman: ��347-482-5388

Bikur Ch: Rm 163, Follow Blue signs from E R

Horton Medical Center

60 Prospect Ave Middletown 845-343-6161

Comm Liason Joel Friedman 347-482-5388

Kosher Refrigerator in Maternity Unit on 2nd fl Bikur Ch: Ground fl next to the Fish Wall

URGENT CARE

Asisa Monticello, NY 845-419-1000

Chai Care

5208 Main St, S Fallsburg 845-409-2424

Dr Rosenfeld

97 Laurel Ave S Fallsburg 845-436-6027

Maimon Care

432 NY-52, Woodbourne 845-436-6666

ODA Monticello

60 Jefferson St Monticello 845-794-5090

ODA Woodridge

6 Dairyland Rd Woodridge 845-434-2060

Parcare

Ichud Bungalow Colony Ent 2, Rt 42 718-500-0369

Refuah Health

36 Laurel Ave� S Fallsburg �� 845-482-9394

BUS SERVICE

845-561-4400

Catskills Emergency Numbers

ZIP CODES

AIRPORTS

Sullivan County International

White Lake 845-583-6600

BIRTH CERTIFICATES

Cochecton 845-932-8360 Fallsburg 845-434-8810

BUILDING PERMITS

Bethel

Liberty 845-292-8511

Monticello 845-794-6130 x303 Monroe

845-783-8300 x3

Thompson 845-794-2500 x321

CITY COURTS

Bethel

845-583-7420

Cochecton 845-932-8360

Fallsburg

845-434-4574

SUPREME COURTS

Orange County

845-291-3111 Sullivan

845-794-4066 Ulster

New

845-340-3770

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

845-794-2045

PASSPORT OFFICE

Monticello Gov Build 100 North Street, Monticello 845-807-0411 Appointment 877-487-2778

MARRIAGE LICENSE

Bethel

845-583-4350 x11

845-932-8360 x11

845-434-8810

845-292-5110

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Orange County 845-291-2050 Sullivan County 845-794-3344 Ulster County 845-340-3280

POST OFFICES

Monticello - 486 Broadway �� 845-794-7498

Mongaup Valley - 933 State Route 17B 845-791-5956

Parkville - 12 Cooley Road 845-292-5451

Rock Hill - 240 Park Hill Drive 845-796-4535

South Fallsburg - 55 Railroad Plaza �� 845-434-9116

Ellenville - 1 Liberty Square 845-647-9584

Napanoch - 7500 State Route 209 845-647-4249

Middletown - 40 Fulton Street 845-341-1568

Monroe - 787 Route 17M ��800-783-7827

Summer Sparks

Pirkei Avos 6,4

"This is the way of the Torah: Bread with salt you shall eat, water in small measure you shall drink, on the ground you shall sleep, a life of privation you shall live, and toil in Torah. If you do this, "Fortunate will you be, and it will be good for you." “Fortunate will you be" in this world, and "it will be good for you" in the World to Come."

Two days before the new school year began, I sat down with my children with the list of supplies they needed and the piles of things they had from the previous year.

Chavy and Libby squealed as they filled their pencil cases with yellow and pink highlighters and lovingly put the bulging pencil cases in their briefcases.

I scrutinized their briefcases for a quick moment, noting the scratches in the leather, the small hole by the zipper, and the matted design. Hmmm. On second

glance, looking at it overall, it looked fine. By the second week of school they anyways didn’t have that shiny look, and if they were two years old already, what did it matter? Besides, my kids weren’t complaining. So why would I?

We methodically ticked off the list of supplies, and I was pleasantly surprised that this year, all we needed were 3-prong folders, a two-inch binder, and some new white-outs.

Next, we tackled the uniform. B”H I had no first grader this year, and my other girls had gotten everything new the year before. Their shirts still looked starched, and their sweaters were in good condition, if a little faded. The skirts would go to the cleaners - much cheaper than buying even one new skirt.

The first day dawned bright and early. I woke up from my alarm at 7:00 and prepared scrambled eggs for the kids while they donned their uniforms.

My husband popped in after his morning shiur, and I quickly served him and sent him off to kollel with his lunch.

By ten minutes after eight, we were all out the door. Ironed shirts, freshly pleated skirts, and perfectly braided hair.

My heart skipped a beat as the bus rounded the curb and my girls clambered up. The older two climbed up excitedly and waved from the bus, while my third-grader looked back for a reassuring smile before stepping in.

The bus left with a roar, and I murmured a quick tefillah that everything go well for all of them. Then I rushed in, changed out of my splattered clothing into a black cardigan and fresh skirt. I brushed down my sheitel, grabbed my teacher’s bag, and defrosted chicken for supper before stepping out for my van.

That’s when I saw her - my neighbor Chany. Her kids were waiting at the bus stop with her, trendy headbands in their hair, and sparkling loafers on their feet. She waved and I returned the gesture.

The van was still not here by the time her kids’ buses pulled up - it always took time for the transportation to settle at the beginning of the year.

Chany ambled over with an incredulous look.

‘Wow, you’re really heading out to work on the first day of school? Don’t your kids need you there when they come home?”

I swallowed tightly and was about to respond that my husband would be home for the earlier bus, and by the second bus I would be home waiting for them, but she continued.

“And besides, how much longer do you think you can continue like this? Working as a mother of five children while barely making enough to cover the bills?”

Her voice was curious, not accusatory, but her words pierced straight through me and stabbed at my heart.

“Don’t get me wrong,” she added,

“What you’re doing is amazing. But how long can you tell your kids that you can’t afford that trip or toy that all their friends are talking about? I don’t mean to insult you, but I think you’re just not being realistic.”

I looked around the corner with desperation, hoping my van would appear and save me from answering. But the street was quiet and calm.

“I hear you,” I said lamely. “I have to go check on my van,” and I hastily turned and ran for the sanctuary of home. The moment the door closed behind me, the tears appeared.

The difficulties, the uncertainties, the guilt, it all swam to the surface.

Memories of tough calls about tuition breaks, saying no the Shabbos outfit my daughter loved because it was out of our budget, the long hours I coached teachers in the summer so we could pay for Sruly’s braces.

Was Chany right? Were my kids losing out by having a mother who worked four days a week? Were they losing out because their parents didn’t know how they would pay rent the following month, let alone extra expenses like wardrobes for the new season?

Was it time to push my husband to get a job, maybe even just tutoring boys or being a melamed? Perhaps the time had come? How much longer could we keep this up?

More memories surfaced - my kids asking why we never bought meat like their friends mother’s did, receiving bags from my sisters with their children’s outfits from the previous season, attending simchas in my 5-year old sheitel while all my sisters wore new, updated styles.

Chany’s comments stung. It doubled the difficulties, added fire to my uncertainties, loaded on the guilt.

But I couldn’t sit and wallow in misery now. I have to be in the classroom in ten minutes. Wiping away my tears, I put in a call to the school about the delayed van.

That night, at supper, I brought up the conversation, careful to omit Chany’s name.

My husband listened carefully as he chewed the chicken nuggets and rice I had thrown together barely thirty minutes ago.

“Rivky, you know we thought about this carefully. Why would a neighbor’s comment make you doubt yourself? We’re doing the right thing. We asked daas Torah, we thought it through from every angle. Just let the comment slip off you.”

He was right. Of course, he was right. But I found it difficult to heed his advice and just forget about that comment.

Every time I saw Chany, the memory of her remarks surfaced and I felt the sting again.

The days passed quickly, and soon Sukkos was upon us.

I had no idea how we would afford new robes for the children, daled minim, meats and wine for Yom Tov.

But as usual, everything fell into place.

My sister sent over robes her girls had worn last year. One of her daughter had worn it for only half a season before she shot up a few inches and it was small on her. My sister had a bunch of girls similar ages to mine and she wanted them all in matching robes, so all the barely used robes came to us.

I got paid on time and even got

“You’re working to build your house down here. I’m working to build our house up in shamayim.”

a nice bonus, which covered the Yom Tov expenses.

And then, erev Sukkos, I opened the fridge to get milk for my early-morning coffee, but it was room temperature. With rising dread, I removed other items, fruits and yogurts and pans of apple muffins I had baked last night - nothing was cold.

When my husband came home, he inspected it and ruefully announced, “The fridge is a goner. We need a new one.”

Deep breath. Focus on the positive. At least none of my Yom Tov meats had been in the fridge overnight.

But how? How were we going to cover this new expense? We had just about scratched by, paying only for what was strictly necessary to get to Yom Tov. From where would we pull out a few hundred dollars now?

My husband reassured me that everything would fall into place and stayed around a few minutes to ensure I was fine.

I shooed him off to learn. “Don’t worry about me, we’ll figure this out, Hashem will help,” I said optimistically. But inside, I didn’t feel as optimistic.

My sister called just then, and I jumped at the chance to thank her for the clothing she had sent over.

“Oh, I’m happy it’s coming to good use,” she said. And then she went on breathlessly, “You know my husband has ties with this baal tzedaka from the community? So he called my

husband and asked him for a favor - he wants to donate money to someone for Yom Tov, but not just money - he wants the money to go towards a certain large expense, like a fridge or freezer. He wants to know where his money is going.”

I actually laughed. “Don’t pull the wool over my eyes. I know you’re joking.”

“Why would I be joking? You want to speak to him directly to confirm?”

“Come on. You know that my fridge broke down and you’re trying to help.”

“Your fridge broke down?” Her voice was incredulous, and it hit me then that this was real.

Yet another kiss from Hashem.

The first night of Sukkos, I served hot apple-cinnamon tea with fresh mango slices, cold from our new fridge.

The table was cleared, the kids in PJ’s, and a balmy breeze ruffled through our Sukkah.

My husband opened a Sefer and hummed the timeless sweet melody, steam rising from the tall glass at his elbow.

I looked up at the stars twinkling above and felt wrapped in Hashem’s embrace.

If only I could hold on to this feeling of contentment, of knowing I was doing the right thing, of clarity, of love.

I really tried. Throughout that long winter, I tried to forget Chany’s words and lean into Hashem’s embrace. And he

came through for us, every single time.

And then the new school year was upon us again.

As I waited for my children’s buses, gently reassuring them and listening to their prattle about who would be their new teachers, my neighbor’s door opened and she stepped out. Chany.

But this time, she was dressed in a blazer and perfectly set sheitel, carrying a pocketbook with her.

“Hi Chany,” I said, mustering all my enthusiasm to sound friendly and sincerely happy to see her.

“Hi,” she said briskly.

“Heading out to do errands?” I asked conversationally.

“No,” she replied, blushing slightly. “I’m starting a new job today.”

My mouth must have dropped open because she hurried to explain. “We’re building a new house, and we need the additional salary to cover the mortgage.”

I opened my mouth. Closed it. So many thoughts and words swirled through my mind. Her accusations from last year. A mother belonging home with the children, not working to support the family.

I finally found my voice.

“Chany,” I said softly, mindful of my kid’s inquisitive faces, “You’re working to build your house down here. I’m working to build our house up in shamayim.”

As told to Esty Steinmetz •

Tatty, my glasses broke!

I can't see anything... and now I have to come home from camp to get new ones...

Photo

DESSERT

The perfectbun

There is no better way to end a satisfying BBQ dinner than with a Sprinkle’s parve dixie cup. It will bring back all your childhood memories and leave you with nothing but sweetness.