July 4th festivities include music, reading

Lafayette — The Six Centuries Club of America begins its six-month celebration of American history in the 1700s and 1800s with a free-to-attend bash at Olde Lafayette Village’s Village Hall on Saturday, July 4, including a concert, poetry reading, and public reading of the Declaration of Independence, all happening “rain or shine,” starting at 1 p.m. The event features professional balladeer Linda Russell performing songs of the 18th century on instruments authentic to the time period. Russell was a music historian for the National Park Service for many years. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, National Park Service sites, and New York and New Jersey state historic sites. Some of her eight albums will be for sale. Russell will be partnered with published poets from Sensations Magazine, alternating songs of the time period with new poems written about the time period of 1700-1776, in rough chronological order. Featured poets will include Lafayette event organizer David Messineo, Davidson Garrett of New York City, Vera Gelvin of Montclair and Cheryl Moore of Ocean Grove. Following that will be public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Six Centuries Club members. Organizers suggest attendees bring lawn chairs for seating.