Monticello NY Kiwanis Club K02847

10/13/2026

AKTION CLUB OF SULLIVAN COUNTY REMAINS ACTIVE

The late summer weeks ended with two successful fundraising events for the members of the Aktion Club of Sullivan County and proved that a combination of teamwork and community spirit can drive successful results. The club is sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs of Monticello and Woodridge and is an organization comprised of adults with various degrees of disabilities who are affiliated with New Hope Community, the Arc Greater Hudson Valley and the Center for Discovery.

The first event was the Aktion Club’s annual Car Wash, which took place on August 22nd at the Arc Greater Hudson Valley facility on East Broadway in Monticello. While the car wash was free, community members stepped up significantly with tips and donations totaling $400.00. The proceeds directly support the club’s ongoing community service events enabling the members to continue developing leadership skills while giving back locally.

The Club gathered again in September for a moving Walk to End Alzheimer’s hosted at the New Hope Community Garden. The event brought together the agencies’ staff, family and club members walking along the garden with a display of symbolic purple shirts and holding flowers representing various connections to Alzheimer’s cause – whether caring for a loved one, honoring a memory, or supporting the hope for a cure. The walk generated $325.00 which was sent to the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter and will go toward care, family support services and medical research.
Pictured are Aktion Club members and customers at Car Wash and Walk to End Alzheimer’s participants.

The Aktion Club extends their thanks to everyone who stopped by to get their car washed, walked a lap, or made a donation.

10/13/2026

Monticello Kiwanis Annual Fundraiser Dinner

The Kiwanis Club of Monticello is once more making their Annual Bernie Shore/Rose Raimond Fundraising Dinner available at a time of one’s choosing from Yanni’s Café on Pleasant Street in Monticello. Tickets are $30 each, which entitles the buyer to dinner choices of Any Burger with Side Dish, Chicken Kabob or Souvlaki Platter, Grilled Tilapia, Gyro Platter, Moussaka Platter or Pasticcio, Eggplant Parmigiana or Beef Bolognese. Included with these dinners are accompaniments indicated on the menu. Dinners can be socially distant “eat in” or “take out” at the window by ordering ahead.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are valid now through December 31, 2026. They are available by contacting a Monticello Kiwanis member or by mailing a check made out to Kiwanis Club of Monticello, P.O. Box 413, Monticello, NY 12701.

All proceeds benefit charitable projects in the community helping the Kiwanis Club fulfill their mission of “serving the children of the world, one child and one community at a time”.

For further information on obtaining tickets, contact Marvin Rappaport at 845-701-1655.

08/06/2026

07/27/2026

MONTICELLO KIWANIS DONATES TO CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

The Kiwanis Club of Monticello recently donated more than 200 books to the Sullivan County Child Advocacy Center. In Liberty, NY. The donation aims to provide comfort and literacy resources to children visiting the facility. Each child has the opportunity to choose a book to take home, giving them something positive to hold on to as they begin their healing journey from their experiences endured in a cycle of neglect and abuse.

Child Advocacy Center Coordinator Rachel Waldman was very appreciative stating “Thank you Monticello Kiwanis for believing in our mission and for helping us create moments of comfort, courage and joy for children when they need it most.”

It did not take long to rally the Kiwanis members to gather books from their families and friends – including Diana D’Agati, a friend and supporter of our Kiwanis projects, as well as Ethelbert Crawford Library Director Mary Paige Lang- Clouse, who both donated an ample supply of books. The books ranged from interests for toddlers, young children and teenagers. The members and our community supporters were very happy to help out with this project. In addition to this project, Kiwanis provides books to all the second graders at the George L. Cooke Elementary School each year and gives personal items to children going into foster care in order to assist with their transition. All of these projects directly support the Kiwanis mission to improve the world one child and one community at a time.

The Kiwanis Club of Monticello meets the first Monday of the month at Albella’s Restaurant in Monticello, NY at 6:00 PM. For more information about the club and its activities, please check out its page at Monticello NY Kiwanis Club.

Picture One: From Left - Kiwanis P.R. Coord. Sheila Lashinsky and Club Sec. Kathy Garlick pose with Library Director Mary Paige Lang-Clouse and Diana D’Agati, who support Kiwanis missions and donated many books.

Picture Two: From Left – Monticello Kiwanis P.R. Coord. Sheila Lashinsky, Club Secretary Kathy Garlick and Child Advocacy Center Coordinator Rachel Waldman displaying donated books at Child Center.

07/02/2026

Monticello Kiwanis and Aktion Club Maintain Flowerbeds

The Monticello Kiwanis Club, with the vital assistance of the Sullivan County Aktion Club, continued their tradition of tilling, weeding , planting and maintaining the flowers in the Village of Monticello flower beds on Jefferson Street and on Route 42 near B**r World.

Past Kiwanis President Jane Sorensen and Kiwanis Board member Martha Johnson were in charge of this project and were so thankful for the Aktion Club members coming out early in the morning to assist. While they were working on the Route 42 flower bed, B**r World staff came out and generously handed out cold drinks to everyone, which was very welcomed and much appreciated.

Town of Thompson Supervisor Scott Mace made arrangements for the Parks & Recreation Department to tend to both flower beds during the summer season. “I want people to get a good first impression when they visit us”.

The Aktion Club, proudly sponsored by the Monticello and Woodridge Kiwanis Clubs, is a service leadership club for adults with various degrees of disabilities who are affiliated with The Center for Discovery, Arc Greater Hudson Valley and New Hope Community. They are always ready, willing and able to assist in serving the community.

The mission of Kiwanis is to improve the world one child and one community at a time. For more information about Kiwanis, visit the Monticello, NY Kiwanis page.

Picture One – Aktion Club President Tommy Abelson poses with flowers in front of the Jefferson Street Flowerbed.

Picture Two – Kiwanis Past Pres. Jane Sorensen and Board Member Martha Johnson pose in front of flowerbed next to B**r World.

Picture Three - Members of Monticello Kiwanis Club and Sullivan County Aktion Club and advisors pose by the Route 42 Flowerbed.

06/22/2026

MONTICELLO KIWANIS DONATES BOOKS TO SECOND GRADERS

Monticello Kiwanis Club representatives recently visited the George L. Cooke Elementary School for a Reading Assembly and distribution of 200 books to ten second grade classes for their summer reading pleasure.

Jane Sorensen, Past Distinguished Kiwanis President and current EPIC (Every Person Influences Children) Family Engagement & Program Manager for the Monticello Central School District, led the assembly by reading a book entitled “Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon” by Patty Lovell. The book was about Molly who was bullied in school and how she learned to gain self-esteem and overcome challenges and negativity from others. The students loved listening to the story and Mrs. Sorensen received a round of applause.

At the end of the assembly, Mrs. Makayla Kilcoin’s class posed with big smiles as they each held a chapter book.

Cooke School Principal Virginia Gallet commented “Thanks to the generosity of the Kiwanis Club, our second graders are building their home libraries and discovering the joy of reading. This meaningful gift will inspire curiosity, confidence and a lifelong love of learning”.

This project was a group effort spearheaded by Jane Sorensen with the assistance of Kiwanians/retired elementary school teachers Doris Motl and Ellen Nesin as well as the current second grade teachers helping to select the most appropriate reading levels for their students.

The book distribution was consistent with the Kiwanis mission of improving the world one child and one community at a time. For more Kiwanis information, visit the Monticello NY Kiwanis Club page.

Picture One – Jane Sorensen reading “Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon” to students

Picture Two – Maykayla Kilcoin’s second grade students posing with books. On left are Teacher Aide Ms. Medina and Mrs. Kilcoin and on right are Kiwanians Jane Sorensen and Sheila Lashinsky

06/06/2026

Monticello Kiwanis Hosts Community Leaders

Over the past few months, the Kiwanis Club of Monticello has hosted a very interesting lineup of Community leaders and officials, including –

Hon. Jacqueline Ricciani was sworn in as Sullivan County Family Court Judge on December 29, 2025. Judge Ricciani described how she has been working to assist vulnerable children in our community through the legal system.

Hon. Kathleen Lara was elected County Treasurer in November 2025 after serving as Deputy Treasurer for eleven years. She discussed the numerous responsibilities as County Treasurer, including disbursing funds, collecting property taxes, revenue collection, financial reports, etc.

Matthew Sush was appointed as the President and CEO of the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce on February 2, 2026. From Day One he has been busy directing the organization’s efforts to promote, support and advocate for the local businesses in the community. His past experience as a business relations officer at Jeff Bank is definitely beneficial with his new duties.

Hon. Scott Mace was elected Town of Thompson Supervisor in November 2025. He delivered an informative power point presentation focusing on long-term comprehensive plan covering zoning developments, housing, recreation, parks, youth programs, etc.

It was easy to determine that the above presentations were a hub for learning about the inner workings of our community since club members and guests were intrigued with the subject matters and lingered buzzing with many questions.

The Kiwanis Club of Monticello meets on the first Monday of the month at Albella’s Restaurant at 6:00 PM. Their focused mission is dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. Please check out their page at Monticello, NY Kiwanis Club.