Cloudy, with a chance of meatballs

Posted 8/21/12

That bizarre title of a 2009 SONY Pictures film stuck in my head over the last few days, as the wildly unpredictable weather made its way through the Upper Delaware River region, delivering sunny …

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Cloudy, with a chance of meatballs

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That bizarre title of a 2009 SONY Pictures film stuck in my head over the last few days, as the wildly unpredictable weather made its way through the Upper Delaware River region, delivering sunny skies and balmy temperatures followed by snow, freezing rain and hail. I had a lot on my plate (sans meatballs), so the Wonder Dog and I made the best of it like everyone else, and dressed in layers, understanding that Mother Nature was being a bit bi-polar in her attempt to define spring.

Our first stop was a preview of the new museum exhibit at Bethel Woods, titled “Rights, Race & Revolutions,” showcasing the work of LIFE magazine photographer Grey Villet. South African-born Villet “traveled America and the world [for the iconic magazine] like an observant explorer, mapping its emotional contours in the faces and lives of its people” (www.bethelwoodscenter.org), and “his in-depth, personal studies of the American scene of the 1950s and ‘60s illuminated the complex reality of those years with a truth that, in his own words, was ‘as real as real could get.’” Museum Director Wade Lawrence was on hand to guide volunteers, employees and members of the media through the exhibit prior to the official opening last Saturday, and (as always) his commentary was fascinating. Rest assured, however, that the photographic installation is thorough in its self-guided explanatory manner and Villet’s illuminating view of those turbulent times is (IMHO) well worth seeing. During his years at the magazine, Villet captured scenes involving JFK, the civil rights movement, the death of Martin Luther King, Che Guevara, Richard Nixon et al, and many of the photographs on display were never actually published, making this rare and informative exhibit riveting. The museum’s desire to engage the public is made clear, employing social media alongside the photographs, asking the public to join the conversation in addition to a new screening room, currently showcasing a film (“The Loving Story”), which delves into the lives of Richard and Mildred Loving, a mixed-race couple, and their struggle for the right to marry, while fighting prejudice.

As the sun hid behind some clouds, I scoured the skies for marinara sauce and helped Dharma slip into a winter coat, throwing caution to the wind and a bow in her hair (don’t judge!) and made my way to Loch Sheldrake, NY for the Liberty Rotary Club’s Inaugural Recognition ceremony, honoring the club’s Paul Harris Fellow and Hummingbird Award recipients. Named after Rotary’s founder, the Paul Harris Fellow awards honor Rotarians who exemplify the organization’s mission: “Service Above All Else.” The public service of the recipients (Barbara Blakey, Barbi Neuman Marty, Daniel Parkhurst, Gary Silverman and David F. Thompson), as described by MC Gary Siegel, is inspirational in scope.

The Hummingbird Award takes its name from the words of Haitian Wangari Maathai, who “tells an inspiring tale of doing the best you can under seemingly interminable odds,” featured in a documentary regarding the need for clean water in third-world nations (www.dirt themovie.org). It recognizes the contributions of individuals and businesses that continually strive to make a difference. “The only remedy for disconnecting people,” the movie’s website states, “is connecting them to it again,” and Hummingbird Award honorees Daniel Berkowicz, Les Kristt, Penny Medina and Thunder 102 Radio’s on-air personalities Paul Ciliberto, Michelle Semerano and Mike Sakell were all on hand to accept their awards.

In-between presentations and lunch, attendees were informed about the Liberty Rotary Club’s Haiti Clean Water Project and its ongoing mission to provide Haitian families with clean, potable water through their program, which utilizes a water filtration system that is simple, inexpensive and effective in design. The presentation reminded us that clean drinking water is something that many Americans (including myself) take for granted, but is not so easily accessible in Haiti and many other countries.

Following a brief video and hands-on demonstration that illustrates how the system works, everyone participated in a communal “toast” with water purified from a source right here at home and a flyer informing how we can help. “For only 50 dollars,” the paperwork reads, “you can purchase a filtration system for a family in need.”

Both the exhibit at Bethel Woods and the awards ceremony really gave me pause, as each was a moving illustration of the plight of others and reminded me of the good fortune that many of us have on a day-to-day basis, while others have fought for rights that need to be recognized. To learn more about “Rights, Race & Revolutions” visit the Bethel Woods website and one can visit the Liberty Rotary Club’s Facebook page, email gsilver@stoloff silver.com or call Gary Siegel at 845/798-2188 to contribute to the Haiti Clean Water Project. I’ll drink to that!

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