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November 24, 2025

Honoring Traditions, Supporting Our Neighbors

As we move through the holiday season, I want to take a moment to highlight some remarkable things happening throughout our community, and to invite everyone to stay involved in the weeks ahead.

First, I’d like to thank the Greenwood Lake Food Pantry for their tremendous work this month. They recently handed out 75 baskets to local families in need, ensuring that many of our neighbors will have a brighter holiday season. My sincere gratitude goes to Patty Nolan and Chelsea Whittaker for coordinating this effort. As Christmas approaches, please remember that the Food Pantry is always in need of donations—every contribution makes a difference.

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the very first Memory Café, held at the Greenwood Lake Elks Lodge. It was a powerful experience—filled with socializing, music, laughter, and support for individuals with early-stage dementia and their caregivers. The event featured Music Therapist Melinda Burgard of Melinda’s Music, whose program was both uplifting and enlightening. As many as 1 in 8 Americans will suffer from dementia, so programs like this are vital for education, understanding, and compassion.

We also celebrated an important milestone for our community with the Greenwood Lake Cultural Society’s 50th Anniversary Gala, which included honoring the remarkable work of Project Children. The evening was a wonderful, well-attended tribute to decades of effort in building understanding and opportunity between communities. It was especially fitting to honor the Project Children legacy as we enter the holiday season—a time rooted in generosity, family, and coming together.

In that same spirit of community, I’m proud to share that this year’s Village Holiday Festival will take place on Saturday, November 29th, beginning at noon. The festival will include Santa all day, food, vendors, games, and carriage rides through the Village, co-sponsored by the Village and the Chamber of Commerce. The day will conclude with one of our most cherished local traditions—the annual tree-lighting ceremony, which will be performed by none other than the Mulcahy family, the family behind Project Children. It is a wonderful way to honor their legacy of compassion and community, and to welcome in the season together.

Also on November 29th, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus has announced two special holiday movies at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center. This will be the first public event at the theater since the County officially took ownership on November 18th. The schedule is as follows:

Nov 29: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – 2:00 p.m. (doors open 1:00 p.m.)

Nov 29: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – 6:00 p.m. (doors open 5:00 p.m.)

Finally, I want to invite all residents to participate in the Greenwood Lake Comprehensive Plan Workshop on Thursday, December 4th, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM, at Greenwood Lake Elementary School (80 Waterstone Road). This is an important opportunity to help shape the future of our community. Please come, speak, listen, and learn.

Have a safe and warm week, Greenwood Lake.

See you around town,
– Mayor Tom Howley