News Briefs: April 27, 2023

Temple Beth El To Present Concert on May 7

ONEONTA—“From The Shtetl To Broadway,” music from the Old World to the New, will be presented at Temple Beth El of Oneonta on Sunday, May 7 at 4 p.m. This family- friendly community event is free and open to the public. From the Eastern European klezmer folk tradition to swing standards and Broadway favorites, the concert explores the arc of immigrant music to that of established composers such as George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein, and concludes with a Yiddish sing-along. Robin Seletsky, a second-generation klezmer clarinetist who has appeared in venues around the country as well as internationally, will open the program with freylekhs and nigunim. The award winning Siesel/Torgan Duo will contribute several original songs from their project, “Now We Can Sing,” inspired by the emigration of Jewish composers from Nazi Germany to America. Vocalists Colby Thomas and Stan Fox will perform swing standards accompanied by a jazz trio, and Andy Puritz will offer his version of Fagin’s showstopper, “Reviewing the Situation,” from Oliver. Other performers include Michael Bauer and Linda Klosset. The event is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House. Temple Beth El is located at 83 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. For more information, call (607) 222-5687.

Friends of Parks Asks for Help with Annual Clean-up

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Friends of the Parks seeks volunteers to assist with its annual cleanup of Fairy Spring Park and Three-Mile Point Park. “The village does the heavy work to install the docks, the stairs, and to maintain the property, but our Friends always go the extra mile to help keep our beautiful lakeside parks clean for all residents and visitors. Please help,” reads the press release. Volunteers are asked to bring their own rakes, gloves, etc. to assist at Fairy Spring Park on Saturday, April 29 at 10 a.m., and/or to spruce up Three-Mile Point Park on Sunday, April 30 at 1 p.m.

‘HipHop4Life’ Gatherings To Be Held This Weekend

ONEONTA—The coming weekend will feature two multicultural gatherings to connect communities and faith, with a little bit of hip-hop to spice things up. Dubbed “HipHop4Life: A Community Engagement Weekend,” the first event will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 at the Oneonta Red Door Church, 381 Main Street, Oneonta (enter through the Walling Avenue door). The second gathering will be held the following day, Sunday, April 30, at Forest Presbyterian Church, 4019 Center Street in Lyons Falls, beginning at 10 a.m. These events are made possible through the efforts of the Rev. LaDana Clark of ChurchNtheHood—a faith-based HipHop4Life movement—First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, The Utica Presbytery and The Forest Presbyterian Church of Lyons Falls. Programs will feature top area hip hop artists including BIGZU, Good Brothers United, Q’Moshyn, Litty Gz, and the Rev. Clark—aka LADYJAM. Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, call ChurchNtheHood at (803) 403.3763 or e-mail RevLaDanaClark@gmail.com.