Salsa, Caribbean and tropical dance fusion performance at Harmony in the Woods

HAWLEY, PA — Closing out Harmony in the Woods’ inaugural summer season is El Caribefunk, a band from Colombia, known for their tropical fusion, salsa, dance and funk music. The band will be performing over Labor Day weekend, on Friday, September 3, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“Approximately five years ago, we featured El Caribefunk in the Boiler Room of the Hawley Silk Mill, and everyone was dancing,” said Jill Carletti, creative director for Harmony in the Woods. “It didn’t matter if you had bad knees, or were 102 years old, you were dancing… We are beyond thrilled for the return of this phenomenally talented and fun group.”

El Caribefunk is composed of Funkcho Salas (percussionist and singer) and Andres Mordecai (guitarist and singer). They will appear with Bronson Tennis (bassist and singer).

Salas and Mordecai were born in Cartagena de lndias, a city in the Colombian Caribbean. They have performed in 20 countries over the past decade, and were nominated for the Best Contemporary Tropical Fusion Album Latin Grammy award in 2021.

Tickets for the show cost $25 and $35, depending on seats chosen; bring your own refreshments and drinks from local area restaurants. The show begins at 6 p.m. and doors open at 5 p.m. Parking is available on site. Rain location is at the Hawley United Methodist Church.

For more information or to get tickets, visit http://www.harmonyinthewoods.org. Tickets will be available to purchase in person on Thursdays and Fridays from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at 508 River St. in Hawley.

An adult deer tick, just waiting for an unwary host.

Learn about tick-borne diseases at the fair

MILFORD, PA ― The Pike County Tick-Borne Diseases Task Force will have an educational table at the Greene Dreher Sterling Fair through  Saturday, September 4.

They will also share information about a recent study on the prevalence of tick-borne disease in the county.

The task force and the Dr. Jane Huffman Wildlife Genetics Institute of East Stroudsburg University conducted a study of 1,000 black-legged ticks from various locations throughout Pike County. Results indicated that 38.9 percent of ticks collected tested positive for Lyme disease, 18.9 percent were positive for bartonellosis, and 13.8 percent were positive for anaplasmosis. Additional pathogens/diseases such as mycoplasmosis, babesiosis, B. miyamotoi, and the Powassan virus were also present among the tick population. Of the 1,000 ticks tested, 123 were identified as carrying more than one pathogen/disease.

The Pike County Tick-Borne Disease Task Force was established in 2015 by the Pike County Commissioners after a group of concerned citizens created the Pike County Lyme Disease Task Force, to address the issue of tick-borne pathogens/diseases. The current task force includes medical professionals, educators, legislators, members of the public, county commissioners, and county personnel.

The task force meets on the fourth Thursday of the month. The meetings are open to the public and the group welcomes new members.

For additional information visit www.pikepa.org/tick.

Figure drawing at the Wurtsboro Art Alliance

WURTSBORO, NY — Artist Jeffrey Wiener will lead drawing workshops at the Wurtsboro Art Alliance, teaching students to use traditional and/or digital tools to capture a live nude/semi-nude model in short and medium length poses.

The workshops will take place on Thursday, September 2 and Thursday, September 9. Both will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A $40 fee will be charged per class, and payment is required at the door.

Students will need a drawing pad and pencils or an iPad with the “Procreate” app installed.

Masks are required and seating is limited to 12 students.

To learn more or reserve a space, email JeffreyWiener.artist@gmail.com.

Kids’ dance classes at the Hawley Hub

HAWLEY, PA — Kids can now take tap and musical theater dance classes at the Hawley Hub in Hawley.

Classes will take place on Mondays after school. Beginner tap classes for ages five to nine will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Intermediate Tap, for ages 10 to 14, starts at 5 p.m. Both classes are taught by Alison Hoffmann and both begin on September 6.

Musical theater dance classes will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. beginning September 13, and are taught by Caroline Lehman.

Classes are held in the Eddy Studio, located on the second floor of the Hawley Hub.

Students are expected to attend all classes throughout the season. There is a $15 fee per class, but if you pay for the season up front and in full, discounts may be available.

For more information about the classes, the teachers, and the Hawley Hub, visit thehawleyhub.com.

New York senator Mike Martucci will speak at the Upper Delaware Council's annual award ceremony on September 12.

Martucci to speak at UDC awards banquet

 BEACH LAKE, PA — New York State Senator Mike Martucci (R-42) will deliver the keynote address at the Upper Delaware Council’s 33rd annual award ceremony on Sunday, September 12.

It takes place at the Central House Family Resort in Beach Lake. A reception starts at 3 p.m. and dinner is served at 4 p.m.

Martucci’s speech will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the presentation of awards to those who have contributed to the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River region’s quality of life and protection of resources.

Martucci was elected in 2020 to his first term, representing the New York State 42nd Senate District, which includes all of Sullivan County and parts of Delaware, Orange, and Ulster.

Tickets cost $30, with advance reservations needed by Friday, September 3. A downloadable reservation form and the dinner menu are available at upperdelawarecouncil.org.

For more information on the 33rd annual river valley awards ceremony, please contact the UDC office at 845/252-3022 or email info@upperdelawarecouncil.org.

RedTail Flight Academy opens the skies to minority youth

NEWBURGH, NY — Black or Brown young people who have always wanted to be pilots have a way to get their wings.

The RedTail Flight Academy Fund (RFA) has joined the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS). The academy is based at Stewart International Airport in Newburgh.

RFA has a 10-month curriculum that gives students between the ages of 18 and 21 commercial multi-instrument certifications that will allow them to earn flight hours and start a career in aviation.

It is part of Tuskegee Airmen. Inc.’s youth flying program.

“As pilot demand continues to soar, the RedTail Flight Academy is a critical next step in increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the aviation industry,” said Glendon Fraser, head of the academy’s steering committee.

On September 10, a group of seven students will start the inaugural class. An opening ceremony is planned for that day at 1:30 p.m. at Stewart Airport.

For more information about the RedTail Flight Academy, visit redtailacademy.org.

For more information about CFOS, see cfosny.org.

See the Art Train, paint plein air in Hawley

HAWLEY, PA — Come paint plein air on Saturday, September 4 as the Stourbridge Line’s Art Train rolls in from Honesdale.

The event takes place at the Hawley train station from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Participants will paint landscapes and can visit a pop-up gallery at the station. Framed works will be available for purchase in the gallery.

Registration is required for artists, and space is limited.  For information, email info@ZaneGreyPleinAir.com or see the website, ZaneGreyPleinAir.com.

Fourth group show opens at the Birdhouse in Hancock

HANCOCK, NY — The tiny Birdhouse Gallery in Hancock will showcase self-portraits by four artists from Saturday, September 4 through Thursday, September 23.

An opening reception will be held on September 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The artists featured are Carly Haffner, Georgia Elrod, Jennifer MacDonald and Sunny Chapman.

For more information, see the Birdhouse Gallery’s Facebook page at TheBirdhouseGallery.

Creative Differences asks, ‘What’s your process?’

SHOHOLA, PA — The Barryville Area Arts Association is holding its Creative Differences discussion group at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 5 at the Artists Market Community Center in Shohola.

Artists and artisans are invited to bring a piece and share their process with the group. Art lovers are invited to listen, drink coffee and share the free snacks.

RSVP to barryvilleareaarts@gmail.com.

For more information, visit barryvilleareaarts.org.

Dance classes at the Janice Center

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — Registration is open now for fall 2021 ballet and hip-hop classes at the Janice Center in Jeffersonville.

Ballet classes start on Saturday, September 18 and hip-hop begins the week of September 20. Both are open to students ages four-18.

Ballet is held on Saturdays and hip-hop every weekday after school.

For more information and to register, see janicecenter.com, email ken@janicecenter.com or call 845/482-3324.

The annual lighting of the fire towers honors the men and women who survey for forest fires.

 Lighting the fire towers to honor former workers

ARKVILLE, NY — To commemorate the men and women who watched for forest fires in the Catskill Park, the Catskill Center will hold the eighth annual lighting of the Catskill fire towers on Saturday, September 4, from 9 to 9:30 p.m.

Each Labor Day weekend, Catskill Center volunteers and staff climb to one of the five backcountry Catskills fire towers (Balsam Lake, Hunter, Overlook, Red Hill, and Tremper) and, after dusk, illuminate the top cabs for about 30 minutes.

“The forested land and local communities all around the Catskills region are indebted to the work of the men and women who surveyed for fires, using maps and compasses before the most modern forms of technology,” said Olivia Bernard, coordinator for the Catskill Fire Tower Project. “We can look up and appreciate that history.”

The rain date is Sunday, September 5, from 9 to 9:30 p.m.

For more information, call the Catskills Visitor Center at 845/688-3369 or email info@catskillcenter.org.