Port Jervis lynching to be discussed

PORT JERVIS, NY — On June 2, 1892, Robert Lewis, a Black citizen, was lynched on East Main Street in Port Jervis, NY. Fueled by a rumor he had raped a white woman, the highly publicized lynching received widespread national attention.

Although news accounts of the day reported that the mob that lynched Mr. Lewis numbered in the thousands, no one was held accountable for his murder.

The Port Jervis Free Library will host an online 90-minute panel discussion titled, “Remembering the Lynching of Robert Lewis: a Community’s Injustice,” on Saturday, September 18, starting at 6 p.m.

It is organized by the Friends of Robert Lewis, and will feature three panelists who will discuss different aspects of the lynching, the era in which it occurred, what Port Jervis was like in 1892, and where things stand today.

A question-and-answer period will follow.

Attendance is limited and registration is required. To sign up, or to learn more, see the library’s Facebook page at www.fb.me/e/1BOVQhXc3.

‘Rebecca’ at the Big Eddy Film Festival

BEACH LAKE, PA — The Big Eddy Film Festival is holding an outdoor screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 thriller “Rebecca” on Friday, September 17.

The show takes place at the Hotel Darby, Manor Drive in Beach Lake. It starts at 7:30 p.m.

Based on the 1938 bestseller by Daphne du Maurier, the movie stars Joan Fontaine as the young bride of a widower. She’s terrorized by the memories of the people around her, who recall her husband’s first wife well.

The film also stars Laurence Olivier, Judith Anderson and George Sanders.

This was Hitchcock’s first American film, and is the only one for which the director received a Best Picture Oscar.

Film tickets cost $10 and DVAA Member discounted tickets cost $8.

For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, go to www.bigeddyfilmfest.com.

Cochecton to host Coffee, tea and history!

COCHECTON, NY — The Cochecton Preservation Society is hosting the rain-or-shine event “Coffee, Tea and History” on  Sunday, September 26 at 1 p.m. at the Cochecton train station, 8537 Rt. 97 in Cochecton.

The guest speakers are Sullivan County Historian John Conway and retired railroad engineer Bill Dudko.

Conway will speak on “From Timber Rafts to Turnpikes—the Role of Transportation in the Development of Sullivan County.”

Dudko will speak on “The Advent of the Erie Railroad.”

Ginny Dudko will present a PowerPoint presentation on “Traveling on the Passenger Trains.”

Admission and light refreshments are free, but donations are appreciated.

Visitors can tour the oldest still-standing train station. It was saved from being demolished, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For more info, call 845/932-8104. You can also email cps12726@gmail.com or visit the website at www.cochectonpreservationsociety.com

‘Stories’ shared at Wayne County Arts Alliance

HONESDALE, PA — It’s about the personal stories of artists and the narratives underlying their work.

The Wayne County Arts Alliance has opened its new exhibition, “STORIES: an Artist’s Narrative.”

It launched on September 10 and will run through November 6 at the Arts Alliance’s gallery on Main Street in Honesdale.

Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Masks are required in the gallery.

The stories could be inspired by the past, present or future, by myth or imagination. The best description for this exhibition, the arts alliance says, is artwork that inspires the viewer to say, “I want to know more.”  

For more information, see the Wayne County Arts Alliance website at www.waynecountyartsalliance.org.

Book lovers, rejoice

HONESDALE, PA — The 10th annual Free Book Swap, sponsored by SEEDS of Northeastern Pennsylvania, will take place at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. It’s open on Saturday, September 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Come meet the books and take some home. “This is the only event in Wayne County that knows no limit!” organizers said in a press release. “No requirements, no limitations, all books.”

The rules are simple. Bring as many books as you want. Take as many books as you want.

“The goal is to see every book into a new home.”

The sale will be located in the red metal building at the fairgrounds.

Large numbers of books should be bagged or boxed, with the number inside written on the container. (It’s all about bragging rights for the swap organizers.)

Donations must be brought at the following times: Thursday, September 16, from 12 noon to 6 p.m.; Friday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, September 18, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Any leftover literature will be shipped to Better World Books, to support global literacy efforts. Those books which cannot be shipped are recycled at the county recycling center.

Financial donations and sponsorships keep the event going and pay for shipping the leftover books. Sponsor and vendor information is located on the event website www.freebookswap.wordpress.com or email info@seedsgroup.net.

For more information, visit www.freebookswap.wordpress.com.

The Sullivan County Chamber Orchestra performs at the White Lake Reformed Presbyterian Church in 2019.....

‘Art of the Quartet’ in Monticello

MONTICELLO, NY — Lovers of chamber music are offered two concerts, one in Hurleyville and one in White Lake.

The Sullivan County Chamber Orchestra presents “Art of the Quartet” on Saturday, September 18 at 6 p.m. at the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre and Sunday, September 19 at 3 p.m. at the White Lake Reformed Presbyterian Church.

The program includes selections from Bach’s “Art of the Fugue,” Amy Beach’s “String Quartet in One Movement, op. 89,” and Beethoven’s “Cavatina” from the “String Quartet No. 13, op. 130.”

Florence Price’s “Folksongs in Counterpoint” will also be performed.

The artists include violinists Akiko Hosoi and Adrienne Harmon, viola player Chiu-Chen Liu and cellist Luke Krafka.

The event is hosted by Emma Tattenbaum-Fine.

Tickets for Saturday’s performance can be purchased at www.hurleyvilleartscentre.org. Tickets for Sunday’s performance in White Lake can be purchased at www.nesinculturalarts.eventbrite.com. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for students at both venues. Seating is limited and safety protocols will be followed as per CDC guidelines at both venues. Masks will be required for all upcoming SCCO and NCA events.

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

For more information, visit www.nesinculturalarts.org, or email marina@nesinculturalarts.org.

Back to nature with the Delaware Highland Conservancy

HAWLEY, PA — The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is holding its annual Back to Nature Celebration on Sunday, September 19.

The event begins at 3:30 p.m. with a tour of the Van Scott Nature Reserve in Beach Lake. At 4:30 p.m., dinner will be served at the Inn at Woodloch in Hawley. A live auction and raffle will be held during dessert.

Event tickets cost $150 per person, which includes a $75 charitable gift to the conservancy.

Varying levels of sponsorships are available. For those unable to attend, the friend level includes recognition in the program.

Sponsorships are a charitable contribution to the conservancy, less $75 per person attending the dinner.

The celebration is the conservancy’s primary benefit event in 2021 and tickets are available for purchase now on www.DelawareHighlands.org.

Reserve your seat or sponsor the Back to Nature Celebration by visiting www.DelawareHighlands.org, by contacting the conservancy at info@delawarehighlands.org or by calling 570/226-3164 or 845/583-1010.