It’s the 100th birthday of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” and given Berlin’s association with Sullivan County—he had a residence in Lew Beach for several decades starting in 1938—there will be a couple of events in his honor this weekend.

Retrospective in Roscoe

ROSCOE, NY — A retrospective of the life of Irving Berlin and his ties to Sullivan County, titled “Irving Berlin —  An American Blessing,” will be presented on Saturday, September 22 at the Rockland House by the New York Ontario and Western Railway Museum. The presentation, led by Sullivan County historian John Conway, will feature music by Irving Berlin, a videotaped interview with his daughter and much more.

There will be a meet-and-greet at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m., with the presentation starting at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $35 per person; the menu is a choice of prime rib, chicken marsala, or broiled salmon. Proceeds will benefit the Roscoe O&W museum. For information and payment information call

Half-time celebrations in Manor

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — At the football game between the Blue Devils (Livingston Manor, Roscoe and Downsville) and Dover, to be held on Saturday, September 22 at Livingston Manor High School, the half-time show will celebrate Irving Berlin. The school music department will perform music by the song-writing legend, while a dance routine will be performed to Annie Got Her Gun. The Berlin family will be in attendance. If you can’t make it but wish you could know more about it, check out next week’s Currents feature by Ted Waddell.