NARROWSBURG – The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) will host a public presentation, “The Semiquincentennial in the Upper Delaware: How We are Celebrating, and Why,” on Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m., at the UDC’s Narrowsburg, NY office and by Zoom.

Sullivan County Historian John Conway, who co-chairs the county’s Semiquincentennial Commission, will discuss the Upper Delaware River Valley’s connections to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States.

John Conway is an internationally recognized historian and historiographer. He has served in the appointed role of Sullivan County Historian since 1993. Conway has written thousands of newspaper columns, dozens of magazine articles, and nine books; discussed Catskills history on radio and television shows as well as podcasts in several countries; and averages more than 50 speaking engagements per year, talking to students, service organizations, and public gatherings throughout the country. He is a founding member of the non-profit history education group, The Delaware Company, and has served as its president since its 2012 inception. The Delaware Company operates Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History in Narrowsburg, among its other endeavors.

John and his wife, Debra, who is the official historian for the Town of Highland, NY and co-chairs the Sullivan County Semiquincentennial Commission, live in Barryville with their Newfoundland dog, Quill.

The UDC’s monthly business meeting to follow will include reports from the Delaware River Basin Commission, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, National Park Service, and UDC Executive Director; discussion of old and new business; and public comments.

All UDC meetings are held at 211 Bridge St. in Narrowsburg, NY are open to the public. To request the Zoom link for remote participation, please contact UDC Administrative Support Stephanie Driscoll atstephanie@upperdelawarecouncil.org or (845) 252-3022. Check www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or UDC social media pages for any meeting updates.