NORWICH — The SUNY Morrisville Human Services Institute and the Chenango County Historical Society and Museum (CCHS) will be presenting the "National Author's Day Celebration" in two parts beginning at noon on Tuesday, November 1 at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich campus, located at 20 Conkey Avenue in Norwich.

The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided, but attendees must RSVP in advance to receive lunch. RSVP by phone at 607-334-5144 or email at norwich@morrisville.edu.

Part 1 includes author presentations and workshops, starting at 12 p.m. with Dr. Cynthia Falk, a Professor of Material Culture at the Cooperstown Graduate Program, a two-year master’s program in museum studies at SUNY Oneonta. Falk served as co-editor of "Buildings and Landscapes: The Journal of the Vernacular Architecture Forum from 2012 to 2017, and is currently appointed to the National Historic Landmarks Committee of the National Park System Advisory Board.

At 1 p.m. will be Dr. Wyatt Galusky, Professor of Humanities at SUNY Morrisville. He has also served as visiting professor in Environmental Studies, from 2021 to 2022 at Hamilton College, and as the Gretchen Hoadley Burke Endowed Chair for Regional Studies from 2014 to 2015 at Colgate University. His research interests include animals in agriculture and public engagement with science and technology.

At 2 p.m. is Matthew Urtz, Madison County Historian since 2010. He has started the Veterans Story program, which documents veterans' firsthand accounts of their experiences during World War II; the Korean Conflict; the Vietnam War; and Operation Desert Storm.

There will be a break from 3 to 3:30 p.m., followed by Ann Silverthorn, who explores many forms of writing, including biography, creative writing, historical writing, and blogging. She serves in various volunteer capacities in northwest PA, including vice-regent of the Presque Isle Chapter of the National Daughters of the American Revolution, appointee to the Erie School District Athletic Field Commission, and member of the curatorial team at the Erie County Historical Society.

Concluding part one at 4:30 p.m. will be Dr. Andres Lopez, a published Bronte scholar with a PhD in English Literature, and tenured Humanities Professor at SUNY Morrisville, where he has taught writing and literature for 32 years. He was born in Cuba and emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of seven. He was raised in Queens, NY, and became fascinated by literature and writing at an early age.

Part two of the celebration will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with the Chenango County Historical Society Journal Authors Celebration. This event is free and open to the public, and no RSVP is necessary. Light refreshments will be served.

The Journal Authors Celebration will celebrate the works of several Chenango County authors, including Jonathan Stockton, a current SUNY Morrisville Human Services Student, John Antonowicz, Jerry Sayles, Sharon Donahe, Michael Sheridan, Fred Lanfear, Dick White, Gail Merian, Don Windsor, David Moyer, Kathleen Yasas, and Richard Palmer.

-Information provided by SUNY Morrisville