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Jordanville, NY Author Publishes Science Fiction Novel Will She Be Able To Solve The Problem That She Created

Written By Editor on 7/31/23 | 7/31/23

The Theory of Dreams, a new book by A.R. German, has been released by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.

Years ago, as a little girl, Sasha Palmer was the sole survivor of a tragic car accident that left her traumatized with night terrors and insomnia. Today, during a summer visit to her grandfather’s, she stumbles upon an invention of his he calls - The Dream Machine - After secretly connecting to its interface, she learns to consciously manipulate and control her own dreams and creates a vivid dreamworld beyond her wildest expectations. Meanwhile, her repressed subconscious manifests itself as a trusted ally and guide throughout her dreamworld but unbeknownst to her, develops its own agenda of trapping her in her dreams so it may become free. As the battle of dueling conscious states ensues, we bear witness to Sasha evolving from a nerdy preteen to a raging uncontrollable force.

The Theory of Dreams is a 476-page paperback with a retail price of $28.00 (eBook $23.00). The ISBN is 978-1-6853-7492-1. It was published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For members of the press, to request a review copy, visit our virtual pressroom at https://dorrancepressroom.com/the-theory-of-dreams/ or to buy the book visit our online bookstore at https://bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com/the-theory-of-dreams/.

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ASF's WIM Program Takes Nine U.S. Veterans Kayaking

Written By Editor on 7/30/23 | 7/30/23



WINDHAM – After visiting three local lakes in three days, The Adaptive Sports Foundation concluded its Warriors in Motion® (WIM) kayaking event on Thursday afternoon.


The ASF welcomed nine wounded veterans and six volunteers to its lodge on Tuesday afternoon to kick off the three-day excursion with a group lunch, some basic instruction on operating a kayak and what to do if you’re kayaking in a storm. From there, the WIM participants boarded the ASF shuttle bus and made the short trip to Camp Oh-Neh-Tah in East Windham, where the foundation stores its water vessels. Once everyone picked a kayak, they launched into Silver Lake and paddled a little bit before lightning from the scattered storms in the area forced the group to shore. The warriors and volunteers returned to the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center to spend time together and play friendly games of cornhole. After the warriors left for the day to check into their hotels, the group met for dinner at the Windham Diner.


Wednesday’s weather cooperated, as the participants spent a full day kayaking at North South Lake in nearby Haines Falls. The warriors took in the serene environment as they launched their kayaks at the north beach and ventured across the two-lakes-in-one water feature to the other side. The group returned to shore for lunch before some participants hit the water once again, while others chose to stay on shore and soak in the summer sun. Once everyone had their fill, the ASF shuttle dropped the warriors off at their hotel to allow them to get ready for dinner at the ASF lodge, catered by Windham’s Main Street Market.


The final lake the WIM team visited was Colgate Lake in Jewett for a morning kayaking session. The group paddled, swam and spent some time around the lake for a couple of hours before returning to Windham for a barbecue lunch and to say goodbyes.


“I love participating in these programs with ASF,” U.S. Army veteran Alberto Corales-Santiago said. “Since I suffer from PTSD, these kinds of activities help me to cope much better with my disability. I feel more comfortable doing this rather than taking a pill.”


The ASF’s Warriors in Motion program provides participating injured United States servicemen and women with a basic knowledge and practice of wellness and the importance of lifelong healthy living. All WIM programs are goal-oriented and empower the warrior to take charge of their own fitness and wellness. The ASF will welcome another group of veterans next week when it hosts its WIM kayaking event.


Warriors in Motion is funded by donations that were generously given to the Adaptive Sports Foundation. Thanks to these donations, the Adaptive Sports Foundation will be able to provide equipment, water bottles, all meals, snacks, water, sports drinks, sunscreen, bug spray and ponchos (if necessary) for this upcoming event.


“I want to thank ASF and all of those people who help ASF help us veterans stay in one piece,” U.S. Army veteran Saul Rojas said. “Programs like these help me relieve all the pressure of my life. When I’m among all these veterans, it helps me to stay focused.”


If you’d like to donate to the Adaptive Sports Foundation’s Warriors in Motion program, or any of the other programs the ASF has to offer, visit www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org. 



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ASF Reschedules Second Adaptive Skateboard Camp Day

WINDHAM, N.Y. - Due to recent rainfall and forecasted thunderstorms, the Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) has postponed its second Adaptive Skateboard Camp day from Saturday, July 29 to Sunday, July 30. In addition, the skateboard camp will take place at the Tannersville Skatepark at Rip Van Winkle Lake Park in Tannersville, N.Y. 

For more information on the ASF’s Adaptive Skateboard Camps and to sign up, visit www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org/summer-programs/.

The Adaptive Sports Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides profound and life changing experiences for children and adults with physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities and chronic illnesses through outdoor physical activity, education, support and community. If you’d like to help support the ASF’s mission of “empowering lives through adaptive sports”, visit www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org. 

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Entering Retirement Solo? Here are Tips for Managing Your Finances as You Grow Older

Written By Editor on 7/29/23 | 7/29/23



Approximately 23 million Americans ages 65 and older are single, divorced or widowed, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Census Bureau.1 That means there are many people in this country who are planning their retirement on their own, without the help of a spouse or partner. 


If you are a part of this group – whether it is your choice or the result of unexpected circumstances – there are unique considerations you may need to keep in mind as you navigate your path to retirement on your own. The following tips can help you craft your retirement plan: 


  1. Align your lifestyle with your savings: Retiring solo may mean you get to call the shots on how you want to spend your time. Whether it’s traveling, volunteering, visiting family, or working part-time, think about how you want to fill your days – then consider how you’ll fund your new lifestyle. 

  

  1. Plan for health care expenses: Decide how you’d like to handle health care expenses, including your possible need for long-term care. Depending on your situation, insurance coverage (including Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care insurance), health savings accounts and investment savings may be part of the solution. 


  1. Update your estate plan: Review and make any necessary adjustments to your estate plan and beneficiaries on key accounts to ensure they align with your wishes. Pick a trusted family member or friend to serve as your financial and health care proxy. An attorney can help you assign someone to make decisions for you in the event you can no longer act on your own.


  1. Consider your mortgage: If you have a mortgage on your current home, think about whether you’d like to pay it off before or during retirement. Consider your tax strategy, cash flow needs today and down the road, and whether you intend to downsize or move in retirement as you make your decision.


  1. For those who are divorced: If you were previously married, additional considerations apply as you think about your retirement plans: 


  1. If you receive alimony payments, be aware that the amount you receive may be modified — or even end — once your ex-spouse reaches retirement age. On the other hand, if you are the one who makes alimony payments, make sure you understand how much you’re obligated to continue paying in retirement. The terms were likely spelled out in your divorce settlement.


  1. You may also consider claiming Social Security benefits based on the earnings of your ex-spouse. You can do so as early as age 62. However, the longer you delay claiming benefits (up to your full retirement age), the larger your monthly benefit will be. Your claim has no impact on the amount of your ex-spouse’s Social Security benefits.


  1. For widows and widowers: Retiring single is likely different than what you envisioned during your married years, and you may still be going through an adjustment period. The following tips can help you as you reframe your retirement years:


  1. If you were not closely involved in managing household finances, enlist a trusted family member or financial professional to review your current situation. Track down passwords to all your accounts and make an updated plan to address your current needs and retirement goals.


  1. If you collected an insurance settlement following the passing of your spouse, focus on investing that money effectively to help generate income during your retirement. You can also claim Social Security survivor benefits if you are at least age 60. You can decide later to begin collecting benefits based on your own work record.


How you decide to spend your retirement days is personal – so your retirement plan should be too. Turn to a tax professional and financial advisor for guidance on what steps to take next.


1 “America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2022 – Table A1,” United States Census Bureau. Last Revised - November 21, 2022. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/demo/families/cps-2022.html


###


Michael D. Lanuto, CRPC®, AWMA® is a Financial Advisor with S.M. Miller & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. in Albany, NY.  He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 8 years. To contact him: 518-949-2039; 4 Atrium Drive, Ste 200, Albany, NY, 12205; Michael.Lanuto@ampf.com; https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/michael.lanuto/lp/request-contact/3/.

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North Chatham Free Library (NCFL) Announces Its Popular “Cocktails in the Garden”

North Chatham, NY– Enjoy signature cocktails, captivating conversation, and an array of scrumptious hors d’oeuvres at the “Cocktails in the Garden” fundraiser hosted by the North Chatham Free Library on Saturday, August 19, from 5 to 8 P.M. in the library garden. The cost per person is $50 and reservations are required by Sunday, August 12 due to limited space. To secure a spot, simply sign-up on the library’s updated website at: https://northchathamlibrary.org/about/fundraising/fundraising-events/

 

“This delightful event brings members of the community together to enjoy one another’s company and at the same time, ensure the library’s continued growth and services for our community,” said Linda Romeo, Chairperson for Cocktails in the Garden.

 

 

WHAT: North Chatham Free Library (NCFL) Announces Its Popular “Cocktails in the Garden” Event

WHEN: Saturday, August 19, from 5 to 8 P.M.

WHERE: NCFL’s Beautiful Garden at 4287 Rte. 203  


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North Chatham Free Library (NCFL) Announces Its End of the Summer Celebration for All Ages on Saturday, August 12 from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.


North Chatham, NY (July 27, 2023) – Join the fun for all ages at the North Chatham Free Library (NCFL) “End of the Summer” celebration at 4287 Rte. 203 on Saturday, August 12 from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.

Beginning at 8 A.M., and ending at 5 P.M., cyclists and walkers will take the Albany Hudson Electric Trail (AHET) located at either the NCFL or the Valatie Free Library, and starting at either library, bike or walk to the next library, and return to your starting library. Passports, available at the NCFL the week prior to the event, must be stamped at each leg to be eligible for a raffle for prizes. 

Cyclists completing the round trip can enter a drawing for a free tune up, valued at $80, courtesy of Steiner’s Sports and Velo Domestique. Likewise, walkers are also eligible for a drawing to win gift certificates to the Chatham Book Store by starting at one library, biking or walking to the Niverville Trail-head, and returning to the starting library. Young children will also receive ice cream certificates for attending the event.  

Next on the roster, is an Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social where sundaes will be served to all attendees beginning at 3 P.M.

From 3 to 5 P.M., attend the statewide program entitled, Safe Child ID, which is being conducted by the Chatham Police Department.

Using the latest digital fingerprinting technology and high-resolution photography capabilities, a SAFE CHILD ID card is created for parents and guardians to have with them in the event the child's information and photo are needed for an emergency.

The card contains the child's name, pedigree information, (i.e., date of birth, height, weight, hair, and eye color etc.), photograph and images of two fingers. Produced within minutes, the card can be carried in a parent's wallet or pocketbook for easy accessibility. If a parent wishes, they may opt to store the information with the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in the event their child becomes lost or missing. The storage of this information is strictly voluntary and would require the written consent of a parent or guardian for the data to be stored in the DCJS database in Albany, NY.

Having that information would be an invaluable resource in conjunction with the New York State AMBER Alert and/or Missing Child Alert programs. These cards will allow essential missing child information to be disseminated more rapidly, dramatically increasing the possibility of bringing a missing child safely home.

Concluding the celebration, is an opportunity to hear noted author Mitzi Dorton in the Library’s Back Garden at 4 P.M. She will be discussing her newest book, Chief Corn Tassel and sharing pointers on how to get published.  

Mitzi Dorton is a multi-genre writer, a former postsecondary learning specialist and educator. As an adult, she often spent time in local college history rooms. It was there in some antiquated books she came upon, that she discovered Chief Corn Tassel.  

Samuel Cole Williams, historian in William Tatham, Wataugan complained that other than James Mooney's description, there was "no other sketch of this able chief." So Dorton took it upon herself to travel to the old Cherokee towns and various treaty sites, acquainting herself further with his background. By the time she reached Chota, Chief Corn Tassel had become an old friend she grew to know, and she wanted to share his story.



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Red Cross to hold Resource Fair and BBQ for Military Members and Families

Written By Editor on 7/27/23 | 7/27/23

ENDICOTT, NY (July 26, 2023) – After a three-year pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the American Red Cross of Western New York is resuming its annual Military and Veteran Resource Barbeque. The event, scheduled for Saturday, August 12 at Eldridge Park in Elmira, is hosted by the Red Cross Southern Tier Chapter Service to the Armed Forces committee, with food graciously donated and prepared by the Elmira Elks Lodge #62. The event starts at 11:00 a.m., with the program starting at 12:00 noon, and is free for all active and veteran military members and their families and friends. Service providers will be present to share information on community resources available to active and retired military and their families. 


For more than 140 years, the American Red Cross has provided critical assistance to military families – beginning with our founder, Clara Barton, on Civil War battlefields - and has deployed alongside the U.S. Military for every conflict since. The American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) Program helps members of the military, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to, the challenges of military service and continues to serve U.S. veterans after their service ends. Each year, the Red Cross provides nearly 550,000 services to service members, veterans and their families, including 24/7 global emergency communication, in-person support for troops on all military installations in the U.S. and on more than 35 overseas installations including the Far East, Middle East and Europe and other support in military and veteran health care facilities across the country and around the world.


The Keynote Speaker for the event is Master Sergeant (Ret.) Brian Eisch, a native of Wisconsin, He joined the Army in 1992 as an infantryman and served in various duty positions over his 20-year career including Scout, Senior Scout, Radio Operator, Army Instructor, and Drill Sergeant. Brian attended Airborne, Air Assault, Army Instructor Course, Ranger School, Foreign Weapons Course, and more. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 5 Army commendation medals, 4 Army Achievement medals, and more. In 2010 while on a joint Raid with Afghan National Police in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan, Brian was shot three times in his legs while attempting to save a wounded Afghan policeman. Brian was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his actions and retired in 2012 because of his wounds. Netflix released an Emmy award-winning documentary named “Father Soldier Son” about Brian Eisch and his boys.


Seating space is limited, so please RSVP by August 4 to Darla Roote at 607-454-8795 or darla.roote@redcross.org.



About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or follow us on Twitter at @RedCross.


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SUNY Institute Designated as Regional Entrepreneurship Assistance Center

Written By Editor on 7/26/23 | 7/26/23



COBLESKILL — The Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill is now designated as the Entrepreneurship Assistance Center (EAC) of the Mohawk Valley under a grant from Empire State Development (ESD). This designation will see the Institute receive $73,500 in grant funding for one year to support area entrepreneurs with business creation and growth, sales, access to financing, and job creation. It also represents the Institute’s expansion beyond its focus on farm and food entrepreneurship to serving regional business owners across all industry sectors.


Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers, under the oversight of ESD, are an enterprise development program with centers located in communities throughout New York State. The Centers provide instruction, training, technical assistance, and support services to individuals interested in starting or have recently started their own business, or entrepreneurs seeking to expand or strengthen their early-stage business.


“The Institute’s designation as an Entrepreneurship Assistance Center is a validation of its expertise and success in supporting the entrepreneurial goals of its client partners,” said Dr. Scott Ferguson, Executive Director of the Institute for Rural Vitality. “As we continue to foster economic growth, we stand as a vital resource for business-owners seeking to thrive in the Mohawk Valley and beyond. With this support from Empire State Development, the Institute is now poised to make a lasting difference in empowering and transforming the entrepreneurial landscape of rural communities.”


The Institute for Rural Vitality addresses the region’s most pressing issues to develop and enact sustainable solutions that enhance community and economic vibrance in rural New York. Since its inception in 2018, the Institute has created a strong record of providing a wide range of support services at no cost for new, developing, and established farm and food entrepreneurs, intending to help launch, grow, and sustain businesses. To date, the Institute has served more than 620 farms and food businesses and helped launch more than 70 new products to the local and regional food market.


In addition to financial and technical assistance, client partners of the Institute have access to SUNY Cobleskill’s shared-use facilities, including a Dairy Processing Center, a USDA-certified Meat and Fish Processing Laboratory, four certified kitchens, an operating bistro, a Taste New York retail store, food packaging, brewing, and distilling laboratories, and multi-purpose training and workspaces.



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Hyde Hall Presents Celestial Melodies



On Sunday, July 30, at 7:00 pm Hyde Hall will present Celestial Melodies, a classical
music concert composed by late 18th - and early 19th-century astronomers William and
Catherine Herschel. The concert will explore astronomical developments of both the
past and present and will include the Delta Aquarids meteor shower at the end. Not
only will the concert feature music by the Herschels and their contemporaries, but it will
incorporate visual components that show their significant astronomical legacy.

In addition to the music they composed, the Herschels are remembered today for their
astronomical discoveries, which include infrared radiation, astronomical
spectrophotometry, and the planet Uranus. They also developed sophisticated, far-
seeing telescopes. While William Herschel was an accomplished violinist, harpsichordist,
and organist, his younger sister, Catherine, often sang at his concerts in Bath, England
and later became a celebrated astronomer in her own right. She was the first female
astronomer to receive a salary, and in 1828 she was awarded the Gold Medal of the
Royal Astronomical Society.

The July 30th program will also feature new work by composer Max Caplan entitled
Invocation, which draws upon the musical tones from the NASA data sonification
project. The concert is timed to coincide with the Delta Aquarids meteor shower.

Celestial Melodies will take place on Sunday, July 30th at 7:00 pm at Hyde Hall, 267
Glimmerglass State Park Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Ticket prices are $25 for general
admission. To purchase tickets, please visit www.hydehall.org/events-2/.

About the Musicians of Ma’alwyck: Founded in 1999 by violinist and director Ann-
Marie Barker Schwartz, the Musicians of Ma’alwyck is a flexible-sized classical chamber
music ensemble centered in the Capital Region of New York. The Musicians of
Ma’alwyck shares history through music by performing at historical sites and other
venues to cultivate and promote an appreciation for the diverse, rich culture of New
York State.


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SUNY Cobleskill Receives Heckscher Foundation Challenge Grant



COBLESKILL — The Heckscher Foundation for Children has announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind workforce development program intended to create more than 1,100 full-time jobs for underserved young adults in New York State. The Heckscher Foundation Challenge is providing $7.6 million in grant funding to 20 colleges, community-based organizations, and one high school that have partnered with employers to train, mentor and provide full-time jobs to underprivileged youth. Young adults under the age of 25 participating in the programs will develop the necessary skills and receive the training required for success in today’s workforce.


The Heckscher Foundation’s unique initiative is a transformative grant model for work readiness and job placement programs. It differs from traditional models because a full-time job commitment from the employer partner is required to be considered for grant funding. This new initiative will provide job seekers with a clear path to a meaningful career – and offer a critical solution to ongoing workforce shortages.


As part of this program, SUNY Cobleskill is partnering with Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York University (NYU), Einstein, Montefiore Medical Centers, and Rockland Community College to establish NYC- and Rockland County-based histotechnician training programs. Histotechnicians prepare human and animal tissue samples for microscopic pathological examination, playing a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases by turning tissue samples into microscope slides. Once a tissue sample is taken from a patient, histology technicians are responsible for preparing microscopic slides, which a pathologist will examine for diagnostic or research purposes. 


SUNY Cobleskill offers the only accredited, degree-granting histotechnician program in New York State, a two-year associate's degree. In 2022, the College announced a new affiliation agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, allowing students to complete their clinical training at MSK’s Mohs laboratory, surgical pathology laboratory, and cytopathology laboratory. The program has similar affiliations with leading hospitals across New York and in the state of Washington.  


"In partnership with the Heckscher Foundation, we are building histotechnician training capacity for New York State while expanding our program’s reach directly into geographic areas in high need of trained histology professionals," said SUNY Cobleskill President Dr. Marion Terenzio. "Histology is a field that is only continuing to grow, with more job openings than there are people to fill them. Working with the Heckscher Foundation and major players in our state's healthcare system, we can boost access to education in this field and address a talent shortage at a vital stage in medical research and diagnosis.” 


“Traditional models for philanthropic workforce development have remained stagnant for decades, failing to produce adequate full-time job opportunities for the communities that need them the most,” said Peter Sloane, CEO of the Heckscher Foundation. “With an ongoing labor shortage, our new initiative comes at a critical time and serves as a model for shifting the paradigm of workforce development programming. We applaud our grantees and employer partners who are giving these young people a chance at a lifelong career, and we hope the initiative inspires others to adopt our approach of creating alternative paths to full-time employment.” 



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Niagara River Iroquois Dancers at Museum Saturday

Written By Editor on 7/25/23 | 7/25/23



HOWES CAVE — Join The Niagara River Iroquois Dancers this Saturday (7/29/23) at the Iroquois Museum, 324 Caverns Rd, Howes Cave,

Hailing from Tuscarora Nation Territory, the Niagara River Iroquois Dancers troupe was established by Orville and Nina Greene in 1982.   The Greenes were taught by elders Huron Miller and Ron LaFrance and found that performing provided the opportunity to demonstrate a continued Haudenosaunee presence and to travel. Today the dancers are led by Nina and Orville’s son, Randy, and daughter Keeya.  Their obligation to Orville and Nina’s teachings and influence is acknowledged in the pride the group brings to each performance, in the time-consuming detail invested in their outfits, and in their commitment to dance as a method of cultural exchange.  Dances are approximately scheduled for 11 am and 2 pm.

These events are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, a Humanities NY Action grant, and friends and members of the Iroquois Museum. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information contact: info@iroquoismuseum.org.



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August Events at Landis Arboretum

Herp Hike

Saturday, August 5, 2:00 – 3:30 PM


Know and Nurture: Outdoor Yoga at Landis

Sunday, August 6, 2:00 PM


Landis Perennial Forest 5K

Saturday, August 12, 8:00 AM race start


Landis Book Sale Saturday

Saturday, August 12, 10:00 AM -2:00 PM


AAAA Annual Meeting and Star Party to follow (weather permitting)

Thursday, August 17, 7:30 PM


Recalibrate: Silent Excursions

Tuesday, August 22, 11:00 AM


Full Moon Celebration

Wednesday, August 30, 8:00 – 10:00 PM


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FRANKLIN STAGE COMPANY Presents TOLIVER & WAKEMAN, a New Play by KYLE BASS

Written By Editor on 7/24/23 | 7/24/23


Directed by VERNICE MILLER

Starring

BRIANNA JOY FORD and JELANI PITCHER

Performances August 4 – 20, 2023

Franklin, NY: The Franklin Stage Company (Patricia Buckley, Executive Artistic Director), Delaware County’s renowned professional summer theater, will present a new play by Kyle Bass entitled TOLIVER & WAKEMAN, directed by Vernice Miller. It will begin performances on August 4 and run through August 2, 2023.

Set at the start of the American Civil War, TOLIVER & WAKEMAN theatricalizes the wartime experiences of two actual historical characters from two very different (and not so different) backgrounds who lived in Delaware and Chenango Counties. Toliver Holmes was a young black man born into slavery in Virginia who escaped to New York, changed his name to avoid capture, and mustered into the Union Army’s 26th Regiment of Colored Troops (NY), later settling in Delhi, NY. Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, a young white woman born in Bainbridge, New York, disguised herself as a man and mustered into the Union Army—the 153rd New York State Volunteers—using the alias Lyons Wakeman. 

“In reality, their life paths did not intersect. But in my play, poetic license in service to a poetical dramaturgy brings them into each other’s lives,” said playwright Bass. “Theirs will be a shared narrative drama and a drama of identity.” The play is a historical fantasia, exploring what two very different characters have in common, as each has escaped something they find untenable. Each has cloaked their true identity before joining the Union Army. Each is looking to define freedom on their own terms.”

The cast includes Brianna Joy Ford (Regional: Our Town, Summer and Smoke), and Jelani Pitcher (Regional: Topdog/Underdog) as Toliver. The creative team Zachary Paul (Fiddle player), Scott Holdredge (Set Design/Lighting Design/Technical Direction), Kevin Bartlett (Sound Design),  Lindsey Quay Voorhees (Costume Design),  Riley Israel (Stage Manager), Katrina Ali (Assistant Stage Manager), and Evan True (Production Manager) 

FSC began developing the work through a 2021 Support for Artists Grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). The commission is written by the author of Possessing Harriet, which FSC produced during their 2019 summer season. The production will be directed by Vernice Miller. “It's wonderful to have the opportunity to bring this new play to life and to produce our first world premiere," said Artistic Director Patricia Buckley, "Possessing Harriet was an audience favorite, and we're thrilled about Kyle's new piece, an exploration of local and historical facts and imaginings." 

The Franklin Stage Company season and the play run through August 20 at Chapel Hall, 25 Institute Street, in Franklin, NY. The show will play Thursday–Saturday at 7:30 pm, Saturday Matinee at 3:00 pm, and Sunday at 5:00 pm. General Seating. Admission is free—the suggested donation is $25 per person.

FSC will not require masks but will provide them for anyone who prefers to mask. Any updates to FSC's Covid policy can be found on their website. For more information and reservations, visit www.franklinstagecompany.org. The New York State Council on the Arts makes programming at the Franklin Stage Company possible with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

Bios:

KYLE BASS (Playwright) is also the author of Tender Rain, which premiered at Syracuse Stage in May 2023. Salt City Blues which was produced at Syracuse Stage in 2022, Citizen James, or The Young Man Without a Country, about a young James Baldwin, which was commissioned by Syracuse Stage, has streamed nationally since 2021 and has been optioned for an international feature-length film, and Possessing Harriet, which premiered at Syracuse Stage in 2018, was subsequently produced at Franklin Stage Company, at the East Lynne Theater Company, and is published by Standing Stone Books. The Society for New Music commissioned his libretto for Libba Cotten: Here This Day, an opera based on the life of American folk music legend Libba Cotten. With National Medal of Honor recipient Ping Chong, Kyle co-authored Cry for Peace: Voices from the Congo, which premiered at Syracuse Stage and was subsequently produced at La MaMa Experimental Theatre in New York. Kyle also worked with Ping Chong on Tales from The Salt City, which premiered at Syracuse Stage. Kyle is the co-author of the original screenplay for the film Day of Days (Broad Green Pictures, 2017) and is a three-time recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship (for fiction in 1998, for playwriting in 2010, and for screenwriting in 2022), a finalist for the Princess Grace Playwriting Award, and a Pushcart Prize nominee. As a dramaturg, Kyle worked with acclaimed visual artist and MacArthur "Genius" Fellow Carrie Mae Weems on her theatre piece Grace Notes: Reflections for Now, and he was the script consultant on Thoughts of a Colored Man, which premiered at Syracuse Stage in 2019 and opened on Broadway in 2021. His plays and other writings have appeared in the journals Callaloo and Stone Canoe, among others, and in the anthology Alchemy of the Word: Writers Talk about Writing. Kyle is an assistant professor in the Department of Theater at Colgate University, where he was the 2019 Burke Endowed Chair for Regional Studies. Previously, he was faculty in the MFA Creative Writing program at Goddard College. He taught playwriting in the Department of Drama, theater, and dramatic literature courses in the Department of African American Studies at Syracuse University and playwriting at Hobart & William Smith Colleges. The Susan P. Stroman Visiting Playwright at the University of Delaware and the Flournoy Visiting Playwright at Washington & Lee University, Kyle holds an MFA in playwriting from Goddard College, is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America and is represented by the Barbara Hogenson Agency. A descendant of African people enslaved in colonial New England and the American South, Kyle writes in central upstate New York, where his family has lived free and owned land for nearly 225 years. He thanks Colgate University for the support of his creative research. And he is indebted to his cousin, historian Diane Ciccone, whose research into their family history remains a gift and an unceasing source of inspiration.

VERNICE MILLER (Director) Most recently directed the world premiere of Our Verse in Time to Come for Folger Theatre in Washington, DC. She is a Jamaican-born, Afro-Caribbean theater artist passionate about the arts as the most universally accessible agent for positive social change. Directorial highlights from Miller's career include long-term collaborations with; Pulitzer Prize-winning jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, opera diva Jessye Norman, HBO comedienne Hazelle Goodman and Hip Hop legend Malik Work. International credits: Three Women (Break the Silence) by anthropologist Dr. Omotayo Jolaosho for South Africa's Market Theatre Lab (a performance about women finding their voices amidst gendered repression of their bodily and sexual autonomy); Nomansland (performed/co-directed) with Seth Baumrin's Subpoetics International in Slovenia, Ukraine, and Poland. Network television: Shadowed director Felix Alcala on the CBS series “Madam Secretary” while filming season 6, episode 9 of “Carpe Diem.” Miller directed the inaugural and revived productions of Bee Trapped Inside the Window by Saviana Stanescu for Heartbeat Ensemble, the Romanian Cultural Institute, and Ithaca's Civic Ensemble. Commissioned by Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., Bee is a work that explores the effect of modern-day slavery on the lives of three ethnically different American women living in CT. She co-founded A Laboratory for Actor Training Experimental Theatre Company with Joann Maria Yarrow to evolve the work they began with Roberta Carreri at Eugenio Barba's Odin Teatret in Denmark.

 FRANKLIN STAGE COMPANY'S dual mission is to produce professional, admission-free theater that brings together audiences and artists to create community and celebrate the enduring power of stories; and to ensure the preservation of Chapel Hall, our historic home, as both an architectural treasure and a center of community activity.

Founded in 1996, the Franklin Stage Company is dedicated to producing classic and new plays that stimulate thought and provoke discussion to illuminate as well as entertain. FSC also presents both emerging and established artists working in a variety of performance disciplines. The company was founded on the principle that great theater should be accessible to all.


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