Seeing Art Everywhere: A Tribute to the Art of John Russo

HONESDALE, PA — On Friday, June 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., Missing Pieces Gallery, located at 959 Main St., will host an opening reception for its new exhibit, “Seeing Art Everywhere: A Tribute to the Art of John Russo.” The show will be on display from Thursday, June 3 to Saturday, June 26 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Russo didn’t invent the phrase “thinking outside the box,” but if you gave him a box, he could turn it into a work of art. “I can make art out of anything,” he used to say. “If I see a piece of string on the floor, I say it’s art.” Russo passed away in March of 2012, but his art and inspiration live on in two generations of Parsons designers and in his own body of work.

For more information, call 724-433-1438.

Drinks for the Delaware, local businesses supporting conservation

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER REGION — The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has announced the relaunch of a program to benefit the Upper Delaware River region, Drinks for the Delaware. Through a small upcharge on a featured drink at participating local businesses, the program offers residents and visitors the opportunity to contribute to the protection of clean drinking water with every sip.

Each month, the program will rotate to a different town in the Upper Delaware River region in Pennsylvania and New York. In June 2021, Drinks for the Delaware comes to Honesdale, PA. Participating businesses include Black and Brass Coffee, Be Kind Bakehouse, Camp Umpy’s Bagels and Native. Each business will offer a featured drink for the month with proceeds from a small upcharge donated to the conservancy to support its mission of protecting working farms and forests, clean waters and wildlife habitat in the Upper Delaware River region. In July, the program will rotate to Hawley, PA. In August, the program will take place in Callicoon, NY.

For more information, visit www.delawarehighlands.org/drinksforthedelaware.

NEPA Gives benefits local nonprofits

ONLINE — NEPA Gives, a one-day donation extravaganza to benefit the community, will take place Friday, June 4. Scranton Area Community Foundation, Carbon County Community Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, Greater Pike Community Foundation, Wayne County Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Endless Mountains, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit and Community Assistance Center (NCAC) have teamed up to host NEPA Gives.

For 24 hours—from 12 midnight to 11:59:59 p.m. this Friday—donors can make secure donations to their favorite local nonprofit organizations through the NEPA Gives online platform. Donations to participating nonprofits will be enhanced with bonus funds provided by NEPA Gives sponsors, making donor dollars stretch further. Nonprofits will also be eligible for cash prizes.

Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving residents in Northeastern Pennsylvania, such as Lacawac Sanctuary and the Wayne County Arts Alliance, can participate in NEPA Gives.

For more information and to donate, visit www.nepagives.org.

Rafter’s Tavern presents ‘Earthly,’ an exhibit by Naomi Teppich

CALLICOON, NY — On Friday, June 4 from 5 to 7 p.m., an opening reception for Naomi Teppich’s “Earthly” will take place at Rafter’s Tavern, located at 28 Upper Main St. The show will be on display through the month of June. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 12 noon to 9 p.m., and Thursday and Sundays, 12 noon to 8 p.m.

Teppich creates ceramic wall sculptures and three-dimensional pieces that are inspired by many organic forms. Sculptures are modeled by hand as well as electric tools, and works are fired in several different kilns. “I chose the  title ‘Earthly,’” Teppich says, “because of my deep connection and concern for our environment. My intention is to lend a feeling of preciousness to these natural objects that I find and sculpt.” She also builds large outdoor ferro-cement sculptures, one of which has been on display in The Nest, the backyard space at Rafter’s Tavern. 

For more information, visit www.naomiteppich.com and www.rafterstavern.com.

Need or got extra plants? Stop by the June 5 garden swap

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Narrowsburg Beautification Group (NBG) is hosting its biannual Garden Swap benefit on Saturday, June 5 in front of the Tusten-Cochecton Library, located at 198 Bridge St.

This is an opportunity to exchange plants, seeds, bulbs etc. from your garden with your neighbors. Label your items with plant name and information. If you don’t have anything to exchange, make a donation instead. Funding for this project was made possible in part by a Community Beautification Grant from Sullivan Renaissance. 

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/NBGtusten.

Barbecue and lecture at Lock House 16, Reuben Fast Horse

GLEN EYRE, PA — The ever-entertaining Reuben Fast Horse is the guest speaker on Saturday June 5, at 4 p.m. as part of the Pike County Historical Society’s Lectures At Lock House 16, a series that offers outdoor seating and a lecture followed by an old-fashioned barbecue with dogs, burgers, potato salad, Aunt Betty’s baked beans and dessert. The event will take place at historic Lock House 16 in Glen Eyre, along the towpath of the D&H Canal and on the Lackawaxen River.

Fast Horse is an accomplished showman and Lakotah language instructor who has lectured on Native American culture to audiences abroad and in the United States. He is a member of the Hunkpapha Lakota. As an educator and cultural ambassador, Reuben speaks eloquently about the contributions of Native America to contemporary life.

The cost is $35 per person and reservations can be made by calling 570/296-8126 or emailing pikemuse@ptd.net.

Fun at the Lost Catskill Farm

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — Fun at the Lost Catskill Farm will be held on Sunday, June 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Time and the Valleys Museum on St. Rt. 55.

This unique 1930s Lost Catskill Farm includes a reconstructed early barn, outhouse, farm house, milk house, electric plant and shop with working waterwheel, all with digital interactives, games, puzzles and activities for all ages. 

Held rain or shine, activities include guided tours, quilting demonstration, old fashioned games, live animals and more. Visitors will go back in time to dairy farming in the 1930s to see how different life was not so long ago. 

The cost is $5 adults and $2 for children under 16; museum members can attend for free.

For more information, call 845/985-7700, email info@timeandthevalleysmuseum.org or visit www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org. 

Botanical walk

MONGAUP VALLEY, NY — Sullivan Renaissance will present a guided botanical walk on Saturday, June 5 at the Forest Reserve at Smallwood. The program, led by Heather Houskeeper who is known as “the Botanical Hiker,” will begin at 2 p.m. and will consist of a gentle walk, guided meditation and play.

Along the way, Heather will introduce participants to the unique plants, some edible and medicinal. She will also provide a brief introduction to “forest bathing,” a practice that involves using your senses to engage with natural surroundings, quiet the mind and bring greater awareness to the present moment.

The Forest Reserve is located at 48 Richard Crumley Dr. This event is limited to 20 participants and registration is required. Families are welcome. Due to the nature of the program, dogs need to sit this one out.

For more information and to register, visit www.sullivanrenaissanceorg.