But the name "Pine Bush" also applies to two rather different entities. On the one hand there's a small hamlet, on the border between Orange and Ulster counties, once known for having a vital real estate market. On the other, there's the sprawling school district that spills across three counties and seven towns.

All was well with both entities, at least on the surface, until the fall of 2013. Then came a lawsuit from a small group of local Jewish families alleging indifference by the school district towards anti-Semitic bullying and harassment of their children over a period of several years. Things escalated rapidly when the New York Times put the matter on its front page and then Governor Andrew Cuomo weighed in, long before the case even had a court date. State police were ordered to investigate the matter and then the governor mentioned Pine Bush directly in the 2014 State of the State speech.

The lawsuit's details were unpleasant, even horrific. The plaintiffs, two girls and three boys, testified that they were called "Kike," "Christ killer" even "dirty disgusting Jew." Swastikas were drawn on playground equipment, books, desks. Sometimes the plaintiff's names were added. Physical violence was included, with one student beaten with a hockey stick.

The initial reaction in the community was one of shock and self-defense; many discounted what had been reported. Considerable anger was directed at the governor and New York Times and a series of night rallies were held against the charges.

All that anger lingers, but at the same time many in the community will no longer comment publicly on all that's taken place, fearing reactions from customers, employers and family members.

The school district settled with the plaintiffs and their attorneys for $4.5 million, okayed by a split 4-2 school board, and the community has reacted with a spectrum of responses from outrage to resignation. A complicating factor was the refusal of the district's insurance company to pay the district on its claim, which has led to the district suing its insurance company. And all the while the story has gone not just national but global, with many news outlets mixing in reminders of this past winter's brouhaha over the reading of a pledge of allegiance in Arabic for International Language Week.

One fairly common response to all this was voiced this week by Joanne Root, a long time resident.

"If the goal had really been to effect change," she noted, "then it could have been done without such a burden to the taxpayer. Don't get me wrong, it's great to crack down on bullying. There is always a tendency for some kids to do that, and we have to teach kids to stick up for each other. But this is a very large award and I think change could have been brought about without suing and taking it out of the taxpayer's pocket."

Farther along in denial stands Jay Presutti, a community business owner and father of two PBSD graduates.

"I don't agree with any part of the case or the findings. I just find it hard to believe," he said. "And the reason why is that I have a son who went through Pine Bush High School and has special needs, disabilities. Kids would be rude to him, taunting him. I immediately went in to talk to principal Hopmayer and asked him to handle it, and it was solved immediately. I could not have asked for a better school district or one that would be more accommodating to my son's needs."

Another viewpoint was voiced by Becky Christner, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the school board last year. She also has a child attending Pine Bush Elementary, one of the schools mentioned in the lawsuit.

"Going forward, we need to stress accountability. We need to hold each other accountable and that includes taking care of our students," she said. "Our students are going to go out into a world that will be very diverse. They have to understand different points of view and learn to work collectively with not only ethnic diversity but cultural diversity, too."

But Christner added that she sees a district now working to overcome prejudice.

"I'm experiencing it as it's become a priority in Pine Bush elementary schools. The effort is actually sticking," she added. "My son is seven and going into the second grade at PBE. I hear him talk about bullying, talking about strategies that you use in dealing with it. So, I'm seeing that the effort is having an effect and the concepts are sticking."

Christner also suggested that more diversity would be useful on the school board.

"As adults we need to celebrate diversity, too, and that means having different opinions and ethnic backgrounds on the school board," she said. "That's how we can learn how people think and we can have a more diverse conversation. If we're all homogenous there and not practicing what we preach, we limit our influence in this area."

Chuck Davidson, retired corporate executive and an artist living in Cragsmoor, has a long involvement in PBSD about to include grandkids.

"The settlement is a big sum, but this is what it takes to get a response," he noted. "This is making people go 'wow!' and take notice. These issues have been glossed over and put on the backburner; the weight of all that money provides the tipping point."

Davidson added that the governor's comments may have done more damage, but then noted how, "You used to be able to say whatever you wanted," which is no longer the case.

"Academics are only one part of education. What you learn in school is partly social interaction and learning how to deal with society. You've got to live in a society of other people and if you don't learn how to do that, it doesn't matter how smart you are," he concluded. "Getting to these kids young and getting them to understand hurt and prejudice so they understand the defining factors and get over that bump in the road and learn to express themselves and not clam up is important work."

A measured response comes from Dave Smith at R.J. Smith Realty, the premier real estate concern in the area.

"Adversity can reveal character and trigger progress. That is precisely what we're witnessing," he said. "The school district has proven they understand the cause and effect of cultural bullying and are taking every measure to protect and educate our students... As a community we will overcome and heal. It's easy to get mired down in the distress of the moment but the bigger picture is that Pine Bush's future will see an even more inclusive, resilient and compassionate community. The same correlation applies to the local real estate market; slight anxiety in the short term but the future is healthy and bright."

Finally came the view from someone who graduated from Pine Bush High School only a few years ago. Jennifer Newman, who graduated from SUNY New Paltz and is now in Florida, working for Disney Corporation, said, "My experience was from the southern end of the district, down past Route 17K. It was so diverse in the schools there that we never experienced any of this drama. I was really shocked to hear about it. Everyone there grew up together and so we were comfortable with each other. I can imagine that on the other side, in the northern end, it's a bit more rural and could be a different experience. When I went there, the Pine Bush district was the district to be in. Now it's turned into a district with a reputation for racism. But I still love my area and I find it disappointing that some people with terrible values have ruined its reputation."