Over the years that I have been writing this column I have relished covering the Barryville Area Arts Association which holds their events in a store front location called the Artist’s Market Community Center on Richardson Avenue in Shohola, Pennsylvania.

From art displays from the Olympics (yes in the 1920s they used to award Olympic medals for art) to holding their Coney Island Mermaid Parade including a man in a gorilla suit and a yellow banana ball python called Chiquita who was always the unofficial Grand Marshall.

In all they held one hundred and five wonderful events from lectures, Plein Air trips, discussion groups, parades, music events and many exhibits which were always followed by a free reception. The community just loved it for its upbeat, thoughtful, and always interesting events.

Starting on September 30 at 10 a.m. The Arts Association will be holding their last event called the Orphaned Art Show. Because the building in Shohola that housed the Arts Association exhibits and events for the last six years has been sold they must vacate the space. “We would rather go out with a big bang than a whimper” the staff explained so the concept for the Orphan Show was born.

During the Orphan Show everything on display is free and only one to a customer. Visitors to the exhibit will be given a sticker to place on a piece of art of their choosing. At the end of the reception, they will be able to take the art home with them. What a lovely way to say goodbye to everyone who came to their art shows or went on the plein Aire field trips or marched in their parades.

There is quite a lot of inventory of items looking to be “rehomed” from original art, photographs, sculptures, carvings, and jewelry.

Doors to the “last blast” Orphaned Art Show open at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 30th. The hours for the Orphaned Art Show are from 10-4 p.m. on Thursday, September 30th, and on Friday, October 1st and then 10-6 p.m. on Saturday, October 2nd and the reception is from 3-6 p.m. that day. Exhibit visitors can take home their selected and ‘stickered” art any time after 3 p.m. on October 2nd.

I spoke with Nick Roes one of the Founders of the Barryville Area Arts Association about what the future holds. Nick said that the BAAA will definitely continue to move forward and the “universe will surely tell us what’s next.” Nick told me that the outdoor Plein-Air art trips, lectures, and the discussion groups will continue in different venues, and the Association is very grateful for all the support they have gotten from the community over the years and wants to keep the arts as a positive force to bring people together.

For information about the Barryville Area Arts Association visit their Facebook page or check out the Arts Association’s highly rated You Tube channels for new content.

The Artists Market Community Center in Pennsylvania will continue to sponsor community events at other locations and to produce art-related videos for their popular YouTube Channel.

The Orphaned Art Show is co-sponsored by the Greater Barryville Area Arts Association and by a grant by the John L. Snyder Fund of the Greater Pike County Community Foundation. For more information about the Artist Market Community call (914) 799-0180 or email artistmarket114@gmail.com.

It seems that the Highland Senior Center is back and having meetings and some activities. On Tuesday, September 21st starting at 1 p.m. they will be holding a General Meeting which will feature their mystery Brown Bag Auction. Everyone buys a gift valued at $10.00 and puts it in a brown paper bag (or any type of bag). Then everyone can place a bid and the highest bidder wins the bag not knowing what’s inside.

It’s fun and raises money for the Senior Center. The Highland Senior Center is located at 725 Route 55 in Eldred and refreshments will be available. For more information you can see the Center’s Schedule on the Town of Highland’s calendar or speak with Pete Carmeci the President of the Center.