May 20, 2019 ARKVILLE, NY — On Saturday, May 25, the Catskill Center will mark its 50th Anniversary with a day-long celebration and a host of fun-filled family-focused events at the Catskills Visitor Center on Route 28 in Mt. Tremper, NY.  
 
From 10:00 AM to 4pm, the celebration will feature a chock-o-block schedule of free activities and amusements for all ages including: musical performance by Ira McIntosh; Arm of the Sea Theater puppet theater; Chris Wells of The Secret City, creating art objects with people of all ages; Two by Two Zoo animal fun and petting zoo; face-painting with Karina Marvelina, and hands-on tye-dying for children.
 
Formal presentations start at 9:30am with the Catskill Center’s 50th Annual Meeting, when Executive Director Jeff Senterman will present the State of the Catskills Report, the Ginsberg Award will be accepted by Armand B. Erpf in honor of the Erpf Family, and the Volunteer Recognition Award will be given to Michael Kudish.
 
Lunch will be available for purchase at the Marty’s Mercantile lunch station.
 
The Catskill Center’s 50th anniversary celebration also includes the publication of a book, Natural Resources: 50 Stewards of the Catskills, which celebrates 50 individuals in the region for their contributions to the Catskills’ environment, economy and culture. The book will be released at the Annual meeting and the book’s subjects will be celebrated.
 
Featuring photo portraits by Heather Phelps-Lipton and writing and interviews by Jessie Koester, the publication shines a spotlight on local residents who share “a singular commitment to the Catskills region of New York State, where they all live.” According to the book, they include “...a hiker and a birder, a historian and some farmers, authors and musicians, policy advocates and civic leaders, retired school teachers and a minister.”
 
The book’s honorees also include Sherret S. Chase, founding president of the Catskill Center. The 101-year-old Chase will be present at the meeting.
 
"The Catskill Center could not do the work we do without people like this," said Markey Boyer, chair of the Catskill Center’s board, in announcing the publication. "Our communities are our strength, and the dedicated work of these individuals and their passion for the region are inspirations for all of us that love these mountains."
 
The Catskill Center 50th Birthday Celebration is free, but participation in the 50thAnniversary Honorary Committee is encouraged.  $50 gifts commemorating 50 years of the Catskill Center support the Center’s future work. 50th Anniversary Honorary Committee contributions at the $500 level will receive two tickets to the 2019 Winnisook Club Luncheon in Big Indian, New York.
 
For more information about the Catskill Center to RSVP for the 50th Birthday Celebration, and to find a complete schedule of the day’s activities, visit catskillcenter.org/summergathering.

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