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Woodstock party needs planning By Steve Israel Times Herald-Record Bethel – The pilgrim from Rochester had such a blast at last year's Woodstock anniversary celebration, he's already planning to get back to the garden. The pilgrim, Robert Agnello, might even arrive a few days early in August, so he and his band can welcome more Woodstockers home. You can bet a slew of other pilgrims are planning to make their annual trek to the garden – Max Yasgur's old homestead on Route 17B in Bethel, which is now owned by Roy Howard and Jeryl Abramson. There's just one problem. Getting back to the garden is illegal. The Town of Bethel has a restraining order against the annual gatherings at Roy and Jeryl's. Of course, that hasn't stopped the couple from inviting a few friends – sometimes a few thousand – to their fields and woods. But just about every year, these celebrations of peace and love somehow end up being more about courts and cops. It even happened last year, when Roy and Jeryl said they were giving the gatherings a break. The well-meaning dude who wanted to stage a "political rally" with lots of music started too late. He didn't get the right permits. Bethel took him to court. He canceled the bash. The pilgrims headed to Roy and Jeryl's. Bethel winked and held its breath. The cops and neighbors worried. How about changing things this year? How about Roy, Jeryl and any other possible reunion hosts sitting down with the Town of Bethel to figure out what will happen with the 33rd anniversary of Woodstock? And while they're talking peace and love, they could invite the cops, the Health Department, the neighbors and anyone else with a stake in a safe reunion. The officials could explain what official stuff they might need. The neighbors could express their concerns. The Woodstockers could say what they want to do. Everyone knows the pilgrims are coming back to Bethel. Wouldn't it be nice to know they'll be celebrating in peace? Tuning In Everyone loves a good mystery. Tomorrow night, you can be part of one when Big Sky Productions presents its interactive murder-mystery "Last Will and Testament" at the social hall of the Grahamsville Fire Department. Admission, which includes dinner, is $20. No tickets will be sold at the door. More info: 985-2284 or stop by Grahamsville Hardware on Route 55 in Grahamsville. It's a great, uplifting subject: the beautification projects of Sullivan Renaissance. It features some fine photographers: Laverne Black, Linda Berkowitz, Myrna Charry, Neil Davidson, Amy Erlwein, Ruth Gilmore, Joseph Klimasiewfski, Judy Sternberg, Debra Steingart, JoAnn Woodruff and Chrystyna Czajkowsky. It's the Delaware-Hudson Photographers Exhibition and it opens Sunday with a reception from 2-4 p.m. at the Beck Gallery in the Sullivan County Museum in Hurleyville. The exhibit runs through March. More info: 436-4227. Sunday afternoon, Orange County gets to check out an exciting and innovative Sullivan County artistic treat. It's the poetry and music of Lunch With Clothes On, a collaboration by Sullivan poet Walter Keller and pianist and vocalist Elisabeth Sterling. The performance will be held at 2 p.m. at the Orange Hall Gallery of SUNY Orange on Wawayanda Avenue, Middletown. Admission is free. More info: 341-4891. Steve Israel is a reporter in the Times Herald-Record's Sullivan County bureau. He can be reached at sisrael@th-record.com.
Copyright 2002 Orange County Publications, a division of Ottaway Newspapers Inc., all rights reserved. |
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