An escape artist, the Country Gardeners and more

What's going on in your community, July 28-August 3

Posted 12/31/69

Keep escape artist prisoner, win cash

HONESDALE, PA — Escape artist Michael Griffin will appear at the Wayne County Fair. Reported to be the best living escape artist, he says he has …

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An escape artist, the Country Gardeners and more

What's going on in your community, July 28-August 3

Posted

Keep escape artist prisoner, win cash

HONESDALE, PA — Escape artist Michael Griffin will appear at the Wayne County Fair. Reported to be the best living escape artist, he says he has surprises up his sleeves for fairgoers of all ages.
Griffin has been featured on “America’s Got Talent.” Although he isn’t saying much, according to a report, it sounds as if there will be open challenges from fairgoers. Will he be kept a prisoner, or will he escape? There could be cash prizes for success, the report said.
Griffin is known for a challenge by police to escape from regulation handcuffs and leg irons from inside a tightly sealed waterproof and airtight bag—all in full view.
What’s his secret? “I do not use drugs or alcohol. I never have and I never will,” Griffin said. “I simply do not believe in their illusion, nor the illusion of negative thinking, which is the toughest straitjacket we will ever face.” However, he said, “if you put your mind to it, and you believe in yourself, you will always escape.”
Learn about Griffin at www.escapeguy.com.
For more information about the Wayne County Fair, visit waynecountyfair.com.

September plans for Country Gardeners

HAWLEY, PA — On Thursday, August 4, the Country Gardeners will hold their annual picnic.
The group’s monthly meetings will resume at 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 1 at the Brookfield Environmental Learning Center. It’s by the PPL dam, 126 Lamberton Ln.
The guest speaker will be Marcia Dunsmore, and anyone interested in gardening is welcome to attend the club meeting, which is free.

Rails before steam

SHOHOLA, PA — Did you know that there was transportation on rails before the invention of the steam engine?
Join the Shohola Railroad and Historical Society (SRHS) and find out about this little-known topic. Tony Perito, assistant manager of the Wayne Bank’s Milford branch will bring it to light on Wednesday, August 3 at 7 p.m.
The SRHS meets at the Shohola Township building at 159 Twin Lakes Rd.
Also open that evening is the museum room in the building. It previously housed the first through fourth grades of the Shohola Elementary School, when Anna Smith was the teacher during the 1950s.
For more information, visit the Shohola Railroad & Historical Society on Facebook.

Monti Elks hold soccer shoot

MONTICELLO, NY — Monticello Elks Lodge #1544 held its soccer shoot competition for boys and girls aged 13 and under. The competition was held on June 18 at Somerville Field.
The Elks soccer shoot is an annual competition held nationally to provide a fun, positive character-building activity for local youth, a spokesman for the Elks said. Winners from this local competition advance to the district-level soccer shoot in Port Jervis on September 17.
For more information about the Monticello Elks, visit bit.ly/3vbsFrt

Second-graders receive books from Monticello Kiwanis

MONTICELLO, NY — Before the close of the school year, several members of the Kiwanis Club visited the Cooke Elementary School and delivered chapter books for the summer reading enjoyment of all 12 second grade classes.
The books were selected by Kiwanian Doris Motl, who is a retired fourth grade teacher in the district.
Accompanying Motl was Jane Sorensen, a Kiwanis member and the EPIC family engagement program manager for the district.
Each student was able to choose two books. “It’s been a very hard year for both the children and their teachers,” said Motl, “and all these surprise gifts brought beaming smiles to all.”
Kiwanis aim to improve the world one child and one community at a time. This project is certainly consistent with that goal, said a spokesperson.
For more information about the Monticello Kiwanis Club, call president Marvin Rappaport at 845/701-1655.

Woodridge Kiwanis announce scholarships

WOODRIDGE, NY — Kiwanis of Woodridge awards scholarships each year to graduating seniors from the Fallsburg Central School District.
Recipients must be in good academic standing, have participated in community service, and will attend a two- or four-year college or trade school.
The Kiwanis met the recipients at Krieger Park to congratulate them and take photos.
The winners are:
Nabiha Shah Jahan of Woodbourne will major in accounting at SUNY Sullivan. The daughter of Mirza Baig and Farkhanda Begum, she is an outstanding student, a Kiwanis spokesperson said, who worked hard to give back by participating in many activities to benefit the community.
Jonathan Espinoza of Woodridge will major in health sciences at SUNY Sullivan. He is the son of Edgar and Jeannette Espinoza. An excellent student, the spokesperson said, Jonathan volunteered every year to give back to his community, working many times with the Allyson Whitney Foundation.
Maritza Rivas Joya of South Fallsburg will major in nursing at St. John’s University. The daughter of Vilma Joya Gutierrez, she was involved in many activities and clubs throughout her school years. The spokesperson called her a hard worker, dedicated to improving the lives of those in her community.
Josie A. Galeas Irabeta of Woodridge will major in radiology at SUNY Orange. He is the son of Greyssy Irabeta and Jose Galeas. His volunteer service is exemplary, the spokesperson said, and he is also an outstanding athlete.
Kyle Tremper of Woodridge will major in mathematics at SUNY New Paltz. He is the son of Aaron and Cheryl Tremper. His work ethic and community involvement, the spokesperson said, made him a perfect choice to be awarded a scholarship.

Outdoor stage closer to reality at Community House

MILFORD, PA—“Milford has been very good to me throughout my life. It’s important to give back,” said James Pedranti, a retired Altec Lansing executive and founder of Greater Pike Community Foundation.
For many years, he served as its chairman.
Pedranti and his family are upholding that ideal with a
gift of $40,000 to the Milford Community House, a cornerstone of Pike County’s history.
The gift will help to construct a multipurpose outdoor
performance stage on the Community House grounds.
The facility, to be named the Pedranti Pavilion, will host cultural and community activities such as music, theater, educational seminars, poetry readings, story hours for children and holiday events. It will include a professional lighting and sound system and
improved landscaping.
The Community House, located at the corner of Broad and Harford Streets, first served as a private residence for the Pinchot family in 1824. The New York City architecture firm of Heins & LaFarge remodeled it in the late 19th century to be used by the Yale School of Forestry.
In 1924, the Pinchots created the Community House board. The building was to be used as a welcoming space for public use.
The building underwent an extensive restoration in 2016, in consultation with Pedranti’s son Richard, an architect and Community House board member.
Matthew Osterberg, Community House board chair, said, “The Pedranti family has always supported Milford and the county. We are very grateful for this generous donation. This gift helps us fulfill the board’s vision of the Community House as the cornerstone of the county. This pavilion will bring educational, theatrical and musical performances to the community.”
If you are interested in supporting the project, donations can be made to the Milford Community House at PO Box 361, Milford, PA 18337.

Walk the trail

BETHEL, NY — Join Sullivan Renaissance at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3 for an interpretive historical walk along the Bindy Bazaar Trail.
This trail, located at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, is being restored by the Museum at Bethel Woods. Phase II of the restoration project includes the newly expanded Groovy Way and a recently discovered archaeological site. Dr. Neal Hitch, Bethel Woods senior curator, and Eleanor Hein, landscape preservation fellow, will lead the walk.
The area was an active part of the festival, with a variety of vendors, artists and festival attendees. Whispers of the past, heard through oral histories and physical marks left from 1969, highlight the event.
Participants will meet in Parking Lot A near the Bindy Bazaar Trail entrance at the start of the walk. Remember to wear hiking-appropriate footwear and pack rain gear.
The event will be limited to 40 participants. Families are welcome. Dogs are not allowed.
This phase of the project was funded in part by a Sullivan Renaissance healthy community grant.
For more information or to register, visit the events page at www.SullivanRenaissance.org or call 845/295-2445.

Fish in your pond

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The Sullivan County Soil & Water Conservation District has begun its annual fish-stocking program. If you are interested in stocking your pond with bass, trout and minnows, call the conservation district at 845/292-6552. You can request that an order form be mailed to you, or you can find one online at sullivanswcd.org.
The district will accept orders until Monday, September 26.
For more information, visit  sullivanswcd.org.
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Shohola Railroad and Historical Society, Country Gardeners, Monticello Elks, Monticello Kiwanis, Wayne County Fair, Woodridge Kiwanis

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