Setbacks can become comebacks

ONLINE — The Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library presents an online program by Diane Lang titled “Turning a Setback into a Comeback,” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29.

Some issues addressed include fear as a setback. Fear that stops you from taking action, fear of moving forward. Fear that keeps you small.

Due to fear, you don’t take the risk, you don’t take forward action. Instead, according to a program description, you should ask yourself what the consequence of not trying would be.

If one year from now nothing has changed in your life, Lang asks, what would your life look like? Feel like? What would your life look like if you weren’t so scared of failures and mistakes?

She suggests that you visualize yourself living your best life. Really visualize it in detail using your physical senses.

Diane Lang is an author, educator, therapist and positive living coach.

Registration is required at ebcpl.libcal.com/calendar.

To learn more, call the library at 845/794-4660.

Wayne Choralairs present ‘Peace, Peace’

REGION — The Wayne Choralairs have been preparing for the Christmas concert series since September.

Now the community can hear the community-based choir. The Choralairs will perform traditional songs of the season starting on Thursday, December 1 at 7 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church in Carbondale, PA; on Sunday, December 4 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hawley, PA; and on Sunday, December 11 at 2:30 p.m. at the Central United Methodist Church in Honesdale, PA.

Betsy Black is the director, and the Choralaires are accompanied by Cindy Robbins.

This year’s concert will be in honor and memory of Jim Willow, who accompanied the singers for many years with his flute.

The concerts this year will feature songs such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Child of Peace,” “Breath of Heaven,” “Happy Holiday” and “White Christmas.”

For additional information and inquiries, call chairman Nancy Swingle at 570/253-2782, or Betsy Black at 570/983-4761.

‘In the Heights’ at SUNY Sullivan

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — Fans of musicals, take heart: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” is coming to SUNY Sullivan.

“In the Heights” will be performed in the Seelig Theater on campus on Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, December 4 at 2 p.m.; and Wednesday, December 7 through Saturday, December 10 at 8 p.m.

The show’s music and lyrics are by Miranda, and the book is by Quiara Alegría Hudes.

Directed by SUNY Sullivan theater arts professors Jessica López-Barkl and Nick López, the Tony Award-winning play is the Theater Arts program’s musical offering for its 2022-2023 season, titled “Sueñito/Little Dream.”

All campus visitors who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are required to wear masks indoors at all times. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 to the SUNY Sullivan Theater Arts Program/Performing Arts Club.

For further information, contact López-Barkl at jbarkl@sunysullivan.edu.

For advance tickets, visit sunysullivanintheheights.bpt.me.

Land use in 3D at the UDC

NARROWSBURG, NY and ONLINE — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) will host a presentation, titled “3D Visualization of Land Use in the Upper Delaware Corridor,” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 1.

It takes place at the UDC office, 211 Bridge St.

 The presentation will be given remotely by Dr. Claire Jantz and Alfonso Yanez Morillo from the Center of Land Use and Sustainability (CLUS) at Shippensburg [PA] University.

The discussion will center around the creation of a visualization tool for communities in the Upper Delaware River corridor. The CLUS made interactive maps to illustrate current land-use patterns, recent land-use changes and potential growth pressure for the river corridor.

For two municipalities—the Town of Tusten and Lackawaxen Township—the CLUS also developed 3D maps that show current building patterns and what the future might look like, given current zoning ordinances.

The Upper Delaware corridor protects an array of sensitive environmental and biological resources, and supports local economic activities related to tourism and recreation. Due to the scenic and rural character, special considerations are needed to balance land use development and growth.

Development activities and land use regulations within the river corridor must meet “substantial conformance” with the Land and Water Use guidelines, according to a UDC press release.

The UDC’s monthly meeting to follow will include status reports from the Delaware River Basin Commission, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the National Park Service and more.

All UDC meetings are open to the public. For information on how to participate via a Zoom option, call 845/252-3022 or email ashley@upperdelawarecouncil.org.

Check www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or UDC social media pages for any meeting updates.

Holiday concert with Calmus Ensemble Leipzig

MILFORD, PA — The Calmus Ensemble Leipzig hails from the world of a cappella music. The group will perform “Christmas A Cappella” at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 11 at the Milford Theater.

Joining the ensemble will be the Delaware Valley High School Chamber Choir, under the direction of Richard Horst.

The Calmus Ensemble, founded by students in 1999, offers a repertoire spanning eight centuries.

Influenced by the tradition of the old masters of Leipzig, the quintet performs the vocal music of the Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic periods, as well as folk, jazz and pop songs.

Horst said that “being able to perform on a program with an ensemble of the caliber of Calmus will open our students to what it is like to experience musical performance at such a high level.”

Tickets for adults cost $30, and students in the Delaware Valley School District will be admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased at themilfordtheater.freshtix.com/events/kindred-christmas, or at the door starting the day of the concert.

The Milford Theater is located at 114 East Catharine St.

For more information, visit www.kindredspiritsarts.org, email kindredspir@yahoo.com, or call 570/409-1269.

WCAA’s annual holiday art sale

ONLINE; WHITE MILLS, PA — The Wayne County Arts Alliance’s (WCAA) sixth annual Art Under $100 sale begins Friday, November 25 and runs until Friday, December 16 at its online shop at www.waynecountyartsalliance.org.

In-store shopping will also be available from December 9 to 11 at the Dorflinger Factory Museum, located at 8 Elizabeth Ave., close to Hawley Winterfest. The museum’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Different artwork will be available in-store and online.

Depending on each artist’s preference, sold work can be picked up directly from the artist, shipped for a fee, or picked up in Honesdale on Tuesday, December 20 at the WCAA Main Street Gallery.

The artworks are priced up to $99, and offer painting, ceramics, collage, jewelry, mixed media, photography, printmaking, sculpture and more. The works are by over 30 member artists of the Wayne County Arts Alliance.

For more information, visit www.waynecountyartsalliance.org.

Greg Triggs’ new novel nominated for award

NEW YORK, NY — Greg Triggs’ newest novel, “That Which Makes Us Stronger,” has been nominated for a 2023 PEN/Faulkner Award.

This story is a tribute to Triggs’ brother Art Radke, and addresses special needs, addiction and growing up LGBTQ+ in the Midwest.

“It’s humbling and exciting to be nominated,” said Triggs. “It certainly validates the faith needed to write any novel, much less one as personal as ‘That Which Makes Us Stronger.’”

The PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction honors the best published works of fiction by American storytellers. Three writers are chosen annually by the board of directors of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation to serve as judges, ensuring that the awards selection process is free of commercial influence.

The author of the winning book receives a $15,000 prize. The authors of each of the other finalists receive $5,000.

The award is presented at an annual celebration of the year’s distinguished books and authors.

For up-to-date news and award announcements, follow Greg Triggs at www.gregtriggs.com.

Take a walk through ‘Peace, Love & Lights’

BETHEL, NY — Sullivan 180 and the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts bring back Walkthrough Mondays at “Peace, Love & Lights.”

The two-mile walk lets viewers get up close and personal—at other times, the show is seen from the car—every Monday from November 28 through December 26. The hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the final walkers for the night are admitted at 7:30 p.m.

Bethel Woods is located at 200 Hurd Rd.

Admission costs $10 per person; children aged 11 and under are admitted for free. Admission is also free for participants who bring a new, unwrapped toy. Toys will benefit the children’s holiday gift program at the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless.

Sullivan 180 is calling for 600 walkers this year. If the goal is reached, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and Mullally Tractors, along with other local businesses and organizations, will each donate $600 to the Federation for the Homeless.

“Grab your sneakers or winter boots, zip up your coat, and get ready for some winter movement for a great cause,” said Amanda Langseder, Sullivan 180 executive director. “Not only is walking ‘Peace, Love & Lights’ good for your heart, it fills your heart, knowing that you’re helping bring holiday gifts and support to an amazing community resource, the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless. It’s a win-win all around.”

To be a matching sponsor, call Elise Yamen at 845/295-2680 or email eyamen@sullivan180.org.

Learn more at www.bethelwoodscenter.org/events/peace-love-lights.

RiverVibes with Scott Ainslie at the Cooperage

HONESDALE, PA — RiverVibes Concerts brings bluesman and historian Scott Ainslie to the Cooperage on Saturday, November 26, with a guitar workshop from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and a concert at 7:30 p.m.

The Cooperage is located at 1030 Main St.

The slide guitar workshop will teach standard tuning, five new hand skills, muting techniques, hand and guitar posture, controlled slide movement and more.

Tickets cost $20 for the concert, $25 for the guitar workshop or $40 for both. Purchase tickets at www.thecooperageproject.org.

For more information, email info@thecooperageproject.org or call 570/253-2020.

‘The Nutcracker’ at Delaware Valley High School

MILFORD, PA — The Delaware Valley Dance Company will perform the ballet “The Nutcracker” on Saturday, November 26 at 12 noon at the Delaware Valley High School, located at 256 Rte. 6.

“The Nutcracker” is a two-act ballet from 1892, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s 1816 short story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.”

This production features the students of the Dance Center, a studio in Sparrowbush, NY that has offered classes in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop and contemporary dance for over 20 years.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors, and will be available at the door. For more information, visit www.thedancecenterpj.com or call 845/856-3373.

Swingin’ Jazz and ‘The Nutcracker’

SCRANTON, PA — The Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite brings the music of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” ballet to downtown Scranton on Sunday, November 27, at 6 p.m. at the Ritz Theater, located at 222 Wyoming Ave.

The concert and toy drive will benefit the Scranton Jazz Festival and the Children’s Advocacy Center.

Under the direction of Marko Marcinko, the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band will perform the “Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite.” The student jazz ensemble from the PA Jazz Institute will open the show with some featured selections and holiday favorites.

Tickets cost $10 to $35 per person and guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to benefit children in need in the greater Scranton area.

For tickets and more information, visit ritzpac.com, call 570/252-4156 or email ritzpac.scranton@gmail.com.

Help Forest City—join the Action Team

FOREST CITY, PA — The next meeting of the Outdoor Town Action Team will be held on Thursday, December 1 at 6 p.m at the Elegante Restaurant.

The Outdoor Town Action Team assists the borough of Forest City with various community projects.

Interested members of the community are welcome to attend.

Dr. Katie Zefran, team chair, will preside over the meeting.

Topics for discussion include the building façade program, the mural grant, Center Street Park, Trailhead to Main Street improvements, trailhead sculpture, marketing and more.

For further information or questions call board member Juliann Doyle at 570/499-4908 or email jdoyle@nep.net.

Join the Winter Wonderland parade

HONESDALE, PA — The Greater Honesdale Partnership will host the borough’s Winter Wonderland parade on Friday, November 25.

Participants, including businesses and organizations, are welcome to join with a float.

If interested, register online at www.visithonesdalepa.com or call 570/253-5492.

Blood drive at the Browndale Fire Station

BROWNDALE, PA — The Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at the Browndale Fire Station on Friday, December 2 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The station is located at 620 Marion St., Route 247.

To make an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800/733-2767.

Santa comes to GAIT

MILFORD, PA — On Saturday, November 26, Santa will arrive at GAIT Therapeutic Riding Center, riding a fire truck instead of a sleigh.

The event takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the GAIT facility at 314 Foster Hill Rd.

Goodie bags will be given to children, and snacks will be available for all.

Learn more about GAIT at gaittrc.org.

Jeffersonville native tours with ‘Frozen’

NATIONWIDE — Jeff-Youngsville graduate Angela Jamieson has joined the first national tour for Disney’s “Frozen” as an assistant conductor.

Prior to the pandemic, Jamieson was an assistant conductor and rehearsal pianist for Disney’s “Lion King” at the Minskoff Theater on Broadway in New York City.

Her career has taken her throughout all fifty states including Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, according to a press release.

Starting with the national tour of “Cats,” she continued with “Peter Pan,” starring Cathy Rigby, and the first and second national tours of “Lion King.” She also toured in Europe with “Phantom of the Opera.”

Three of her most cherished achievements, she has said, were conducting “The Lion King” at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, CA; and conducting “Phantom of the Opera” at the Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Jamieson graduated from Jeff-Youngsville Central School and the Conservatory of Music at Ithaca College. She is the daughter of the late Kevin Jamieson. Her mother, Virginia, resides in Beach Lake, PA.

Sullivan Catskills to celebrate success at annual meeting

BETHEL, NY — The Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association (SCVA) will hold its annual meeting and cocktail party on Wednesday, December 7. The reservation deadline is Thursday, December 1.

The meeting will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd.

An SCVA spokesperson said that the celebration marks tourism growth and member successes, and will “honor those who have made an impact in our hospitality industry.”

The evening will include an award ceremony. There will be live music, a cash bar, food and a silent auction, from which all proceeds will benefit a local charity.

SCVA members will receive two complimentary tickets. Additional tickets and tickets for non-members are available at a cost of $65 each.

All guests must preregister by December 1, and then print a hard copy, or download their tickets to their phones to gain entry—tickets will be scanned at the front door.

There will be no on-site registration.

To learn more or to register, call 845/747-4449, or email lmh@scva.net.