8/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE, Contact: Carol O’Beirne, carol.obeirne@gmail.com – 845-586-6622Release: July 15, 2022
Catskill Water Discovery Center Presents Water Stories: History, Cooperation, Conflict and Challenges
August 10, 5:30 pm
The Catskill Water Discovery Center presents a program of talk and music: Water Stories: History, Cooperation, Conflict and Challenges on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. at its headquarters at 669 County Hwy 38, Arkville, NY, geographically located at the center of New York City’s water supply system. The program is free and open to the public. It will also be available by Zoom (link)
Featured speaker is Dr. Sara Ahmed, founder of the Living Waters Museum, a virtual museum focused on India’s water heritage. She is also one of the three Vice Presidents of the Global Network of Water Museums. Dr. Ahmed’s talk: “Water Stories: History, Cooperation, Conflict and Challenges” will center on the importance of storytelling as a means to inform and educate about the myriad issues related to the need for, and threats to, clean, fresh water for all.
Joining Dr. Ahmed on the program will be world-renowned cellist Michael Fitzpatrick who will perform a 25 minute program of melodically flowing and water-themed selections as well as his own INVOCATION OF THE EARTH, which he composed inside the largest cave in the world.
Marcia Brewster, a retired United Nations Senior Officer for Water Resources in the Sustainable Development Division, UN Headquarters, and a member of the Catskill Water Discovery Center’s Advisory Council, will moderate the program.
SARA AHMED is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Indian Institute for Science Education and Research, Pune. Dr. Ahmed has nearly 30 years of applied research experience on water, livelihoods and social equity. She has been actively engaged in teaching and mentoring young development professionals in India, managing large and complex regional research portfolios on water, food security and climate change with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Asia, and advising a range of development organizations and water networks globally. Sara holds a PhD in Environmental Sociology from the University of Cambridge and is currently on the board of WaterAid, India and Wetlands International South Asia. She has published extensively on gender and water governance and her last co-edited book is entitled, Diverting the Flow: Gender Equity and Water in South Asia (2012). Sara and Marcia served together on the Gender and Water Alliance Steering Committee in the Netherlands in the early 2000s.
MICHAEL FITZPATRICK has performed as soloist at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Hollywood Bowl, United States Capitol West Lawn, United Nations, and around the globe, prompting Sir George Martin, Producer of The Beatles, to state: “Fitzpatrick is beyond a marvelous talent – and I could not agree with him more: music is the only thing that can change the world.”
A virtuoso Cellist and 5-String Electric Cellist, he is the recipient of The Prince Charles Award for Musical Excellence conferred by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. For the past 25 years, he has musically tone for His Holiness’ Public Talks and Teachings around the planet. His Holiness stated: “The emotion induced by Michael Fitzpatrick’s music is so powerful, it seems almost verbalized. His sound is Clear Light.” He is the Co-Music Director of the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards.
THE CATSKILL WATER DISCOVERY CENTER, originally chartered as the Catskill Watershed Partnership Museum, was initially established through the historic 1997 Memorandum of Agreement that put into practice numerous provisions that ensure the protection and viability of New York City’s water supply. Its mission is to educate people of all ages about the precious nature of, and threats to our planet’s most vital resource – pure water. It has been operating since 2020 with an anchor exhibit entitled: “Of Rivers and Reservoirs: New York City’s Water Story” and annually features children’s art and poetry about water resources, created by school children in New York City and its Watershed communities. Construction of interpretive trails in its 33-acre nature preserve bordering the East Branch of the Delaware River is scheduled for the summer of 2023.
8/27/2022
"The First Ladies Coalition" https://www.firstladiescoalition.com/ written and performed by Ginger Grace is being performed at the Open Eye Theater on Saturday Aug. 27th at 4pm (90 minute show) The above link describes the show with a short video of Ginger performing it at another venue. Tickets ( $25) are available on line at the website www.theopeneyetheater.orgColleen, a resilient ex-con, immigrant and survivor of domestic violence, invites Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson and Mary Todd Lincoln into her sewing shop! Mysteries and secrets are unveiled – hers and theirs – and with the help of these courageous women, Colleen wrestles insurmountable obstacles into extraordinary possibilities – in the most surprising situations!
In 90 minutes, through the eyes of Colleen, we encapsulate the history of our country and the invaluable impact of these four First Ladies as they spoke out, changing the course of events. They were forerunners – paving the way for our current wave of women in politics, the #MeToo Movement and social justice.
“Ginger Grace is luminous in this searing portrait of women – both the famous and the ordinary – confronting impossible challenges. The play, directed by the esteemed Austin Pendleton, is rich with darkness, wit, and surprise.”
– Janice Maffei, Literary Manager, the Schoolhouse Theater
“Phenomenal. . . The audience wanted an encore.”
– James Trapasso, Budarz Theatre, Events Coordinator,
Ossining Library, NY