CHOP & CHEESE—6-8 p.m. Get out your gloves, pruning shears, and a beverage of choice and chop back the invasive Japanese knotwood followed by light refreshments in the garden overlooking Otsego Lake. Bags, snacks and soft drinks provided. Registration required. Mohican Farms, 7207 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/calendar/chop-cheese-4/
BLOOD DRIVE—10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Save up to three lives with the American Red Cross. Levine Center, A. O. Fox Memorial Hospital, 1 Norton Avenue, Oneonta. Register at redcrossblood.org
OTSEGO COUNTY—As of 9:50 a.m., the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued air quality health advisories for Tuesday, June 6 in effect for Long Island, New York City Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Eastern Lake Ontario and Central Regions. Air quality levels have been plunging due to smoke from wildfires in the eastern Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Quebec. Above, color photos taken from Cooperstown’s Lakefront Park illustrate the impact those fires are having on air quality this afternoon (top) versus a relatively clear day. When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician. (Photos by Wriley Nelson, top, and Tara Barnwell, above)
COOPERSTOWN—Volunteers are needed for the sixth annual Susquehanna River cleanup in Cooperstown on Sunday, July 29. The event will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cleanup is organized by the Cooperstown Lions Club in partnership with the Rotary Club of Cooperstown, Rotary E-Club of Global Trekkers, the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Dive Team and Otsego County Conservation Association.
Volunteers are needed on—and in—the river, as well as onshore. Tasks include working with the dive team to pull trash out of the river and load it onto rafts and canoes or kayaks; transferring recovered material from rafts and canoes onto trailers; transporting material to the transfer station; procuring and providing refreshments; and documenting the event. Approximately 50 volunteers are needed in all.
BASEBALL STORIES – 6-8 p.m. Local fans are invited to share their stories about Oneonta’s baseball history. Hosted by Bob Brzozowski and Chris Vredenburg at the Oneonta History Center, 183 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-0960 or visit oneontahistory.org/visit/
ONEONTA—Hartwick College has announced the addition of five new minors to its academic programs. Students can now add a minor in game development, cybersecurity, data analysis, web design and digital marketing.
“These five new minors further Hartwick’s mission to provide engaging, relevant coursework that includes experiential learning opportunities for students,” said Dr. Laurel Bongiorno, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty.
Like so many events in our area, Earth Festival, an environmental event focused on recycling, conservation and sustainability, suspended its annual occurrence for several years due to the COVID emergency. Fortunately, the event sponsor, Otsego County Conservation Association, decided to hold Earth Festival for the first time since 2019. Held on Saturday, April 15 at its customary site, Milford Central School, the event drew a number of vendors and a spirited group of visitors on a beautiful day.
ART CLASS – 6-8 p.m. Learn “Water Color Fundamentals” with artist Emily Falco. Registration required. Class held Mondays through June 19. Cost, $90/non-member. Held in the studio behind the Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. (607) 432-2070 or visit facebook.com/CANOneonta
DINE FOR A CAUSE—Each Monday and Tuesday through June 6, eat out at Eighty Main and a percentage of the proceeds will go to raise awareness of and support for local non-profit Helios Care. Eighty Main, 80 Main Street, Delhi. (607) 432-6773 or visit facebook.com/helioscarehospice
Herkimer College recently announced a new Associate of Applied Science degree program, esports management, to begin in the fall 2023 semester.
Esports, which involves professional or semi-professional competitive gaming in an organized format, is a billion-dollar industry and has seen tremendous growth in recent years, both in terms of viewership and revenue. As a result, the need for managers to support this industry is also projected to increase.
FAMILY PRIDE DAY – Noon to 3 p.m. Celebrate Pride month with a festival featuring face painting, spin art, fossil safari and much more, presented by The Barnyard Swing, 4604 State Highway 28, Milford. Visit otsegopridealliance.org/events/
PRIDE FEST – 1:30 p.m. Celebrate Pride with the Oneonta community. Parade lines up at 1 with kick-off at 1:30 and proceeds down Main Street to Muller Plaza, where local organizations will host a block party. Visit facebook.com/otsegopride/ for info.
YARD SALE DAY – All day. Cooperstown Community Yard Sale Day. Find eclectic treasures and more. Visit wearecooperstown.com/coopyardsales/ for info.
SPRINGFIELD CENTER—Virginia L. Stocking, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on May 17, 2023 at the age of 100.
Virginia was born in Cooperstown on December 2, 1922 to Earl and Catherine Richards. She spent most of her childhood in East Springfield and graduated from Springfield Central School in June of 1940. She married Glenn C. Stocking on April 9, 1944. Virginia and Glenn devoted their lives to each other and to their family.
In addition to spending time with her family, Virginia enjoyed playing the organ, singing, gardening, crossword puzzles, and attending both sporting and special events for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
New state regulations banning the intentional use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food packaging took effect on December 31, 2022. The Hazardous Packaging Act prohibits PFAS in paper or other plant-derived packaging materials that come in direct contact with food. The state Department of Environmental Conservation encourages food vendors to request a certificate of compliance from their packaging suppliers.
HOME OPENER – 7 p.m. Support local baseball team the Oneonta Outlaws at the first game of the season. The Outlaws will take on the Boonville Lumberjacks and it’s up to us the cheer them on. Arrive a little early for Happy Hour sponsored by Brewery Ommegang from 5-6 p.m. Admission, $5/adult. Damaschke Field, 15 James Georgeson Avenue, Oneonta. (607) 432-6326 or visit oneontaoutlaws.com
BLOOD DRIVE—1-6 p.m. Save up to three lives with the American Red Cross. Sacred Heart Hall, 27 Harper Street, Stamford. Register at redcrossblood.org
Biological Field Station Research Support Specialist Holly Waterfield conducts harmful algal bloom testing on Otsego Lake in Cooperstown. (Photo provided)
Generous new grants from The Clark Foundation will allow researchers at SUNY Oneonta’s Biological Field Station in Cooperstown to continue to monitor and study the presence of harmful algal blooms on Otsego Lake, just in time for the summer season.
Earlier this spring, The Clark Foundation Board of Directors approved a grant with two components to the State University at Oneonta Foundation: a grant of $100,000.00 payable over two years to the BFS for general support, and a grant of $85,000.00 payable over two years for intensive monitoring and testing of harmful algal blooms. These “blooms,” known as HABs, occur when colonies of algae and cyanobacteria grow out of control and produce toxins that can make people and animals very sick.
The Cooperstown Central School softball team put up a balanced performance in an exciting extra-inning win over Thousand Islands on Thursday, May 25 to advance to the Section III Class C semifinals. Each member of the lineup held their own against an intimidating Thousand Islands pitcher and senior Dani Seamon recorded an impressive full game in the circle, but it was senior Savannah Kirkby who stole the show.
The Hawkeyes scored three runs in the second inning after Kirkby doubled and sophomore Brenna Seamon was hit by a pitch. Both scored after sophomore Emmy Lippitt smashed a hit into center field and doubled on a fielding error. Sophomore Grace Sperry batted in Lippitt.
