Earth Care Coffeehouse: Pete Seeger Tribute

EARTH CARE COFEEHOUSE
Celebrating the Music of Pete Seeger and the Hudson Sloop Clearwater

Pete Seeger’s banjo is inscribed with the words, “This banjo surrounds hate and forces it to surrender” On May 2nd, 2026 at 7:00 pm people will gather again at the 1st Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake’s Great Hall to celebrate Earth Care and Pete’s life work by sharing his music together.
Over 50 years ago Pete and his wife, Toshi, spearheaded an effort to build the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. They hoped if people had intimate knowledge of the pollution on the Hudson and could feel the wind and the water, they would be inspired to solve big problems one song at a time. The Clearwater project’s efforts helped to pass the Clean Water Act in 1972. The act’s preamble declared that our nation’s waters would be swimmable and fishable within a decade, with no discharges of pollutants within a dozen years, but our public waters remain under threat. Unfortunately, the current administration in Washington has been undermining this effort. The Clearwater continues to be a leader in ensuring clean water for all people. Pete stated, “I guess I’ve learned more from the Clearwater than anything else. All I did was help plant a seed.”
On May 2nd at 7:00 pm in the Saranac Lake Presbyterian Church Great Hall, local performers are freely offering their energy to celebrate Pete Seeger’s life and to help continue to clean the water and the earth. Come celebrate Pete’s life work for the environment and social justice with song! Confirmed performers include Curt Stager, Keith Gorgas, Duane Gould, Lisa and Klaus Meissner of the Rustic Riders, Tom Techman and Slo’ Jam, and The People’s Chorus will lead songs.
Free refreshments provided by the bakers of the Presbyterian Church are available.
It’s free! Donations for the Clearwater will be accepted. You can learn more about the Clearwater and its mission at http://www.clearwater.org.
The First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake is a Certified Earth Care Congregation. To obtain and retain this certification it not only continually upgrades its facility to reduce carbon emissions and pollution, but also actively works to help its members and our community to care for God’s creation.
This promises to be a great night with lots of inspiration for people of all ages. There’s sure to be lots of jamming and singing and harmonizing! Come listen, sing and help make change – one song at a time!