News Briefs: August 6, 2026

Carson Resigns from Council

ONEONTA—Councilmember Len Carson, R-Fifth Ward, has resigned from the City of Oneonta Common Council effective Monday, August 3. He cited personal reasons connected to a recent death in his family as his reason for leaving. City Clerk Kerri Harrington formally announced his resignation. Carson, a U.S. Army veteran, retired City of Oneonta fire captain and longtime public servant, has been a prominent figure in city government for decades. The city issued a statement thanking Carson for his “decades of service to the Oneonta community,” noting how Carson “has devoted much of his life to serving his country, his community and the residents of the City of Oneonta.” Comments on the city Facebook post echoed the community’s deep appreciation for Carson and highlighted just how much he will be missed by his constituents.

Fly-in Breakfast is August 15

MIDDLEFIELD—The Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department’s Fly-In Pancake Breakfast will return on Saturday, August 15 from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Held at the Cooperstown/Westville Airport on State Route 166, it offers all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, beverages and real maple syrup. Admission is $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for children under 12.

VA Home Loans Topic of Talk

ALBANY—The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services will host a free virtual conversation on VA home loan benefits from 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19. The panel of experts will discuss lesser-known benefits that many veterans and military families are not aware of. Pre-registration is recommended. Visit meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/r854dfb9510dfddc1168cc7938f751a08 for more information.

Sale Will Support Smithy

COOPERSTOWN—Smithy Studio member artist Anda Stelian will sell much of her original work in preparation for a move downstate, with a portion of all proceeds supporting The Smithy Gallery and Clay Studio. The sale will be held at 103 Hillary Road in Roseboom from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 8, 9, 21 and 22. Cell service in the area is limited and purchases may be made only by cash or check. For more information, text (857) 753-8013.

Homestead Workshop Slated

MOHAWK—Mohawk Valley Economic Development District will hold a free “Refresh and Reuse” homesteading workshop at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 27 at 26 W. Main Street in Mohawk. It will teach a wide variety of sustainable homesteading practices, from clothing repair to gardening. For more information or to register, visit mvedd.org.

‘Art by the Lake’ Is Saturday

COOPERSTOWN—Fenimore Art Museum’s popular annual Art by the Lake show and sale will return to the scenic lakefront lawn from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 8. More than two dozen artists from across the region will showcase and sell original works in a variety of media. The event will feature live music by Small Town Big Band, tastings of local food and beverages, and lunch available for purchase. Additionally, Glimmer Globe Theatre’s production of “As You Like It” will conclude with a final show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 13. To view a full list of upcoming events, visit fenimoreartmuseum.org/calendar-a-4.

Smithy To Open Photo Show

COOPERSTOWN—The Smithy Gallery will host “Where Winter Sleeps…Sand and Snow,” a photography exhibit by members of the Lake and Valley Garden Club, from August 6-29. The exhibition explores the many faces of winter across climatic regions. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Mayor Will Pass Peace Torch

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, history’s largest peace torch relay, will pass through Richfield Springs at noon on Thursday, August 6. An international team from seven countries is on a four-month loop through all 50 states to spread the message that peace begins with the individual. Richfield Springs Mayor Richard Spencer will pass the torch at the Village Offices, 118 W. Main Street, at noon. For more information, visit peacerun.org.

Herb Workshop Announced

COOPERSTOWN—Cornell Cooperative Extension will host local herbalist Gert Coleman for a hands-on workshop on harvesting and preserving culinary herbs from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12. Held at the CCESO Grow Garden, 123 Lake Street in Cooperstown, the workshop is intended for gardeners of all experience levels. Space is limited and registration is required by Tuesday, August 11. Visit cceschoharie-otsego.org for more information.

Author Loudon To Discuss Book

HARTWICK—The Otsego County Historical Association will host local author Jim Loudon for a presentation on his book, “The Boxcar Settlement: Oneonta’s Lost Neighborhood,” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 13. The book examines a neighborhood of more than 20 households that was condemned and moved across railroad tracks to another part of the city. The program will be held at Kinney Memorial Library in Hartwick and will include the annual election of OCHA officers. For more information, call (607) 547-8070.

CCP Auditions Coming Up

ONEONTA—Catskill Community Players will hold open auditions for John Van Druten’s “Bell, Book and Candle” from 2-3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 22-23, at 297 River Street Service Road, Suite 3 in Oneonta. Roles are available for two women, three men and a youth. The show will be presented at Worcester’s Wieting Theatre on November 13-15. For more information, visit catskillplayers.org.

Kids Art Camp Is Next Weekend

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association’s Kids Art Camp with instructor Emily Falco will run daily from 1-3 p.m., August 10-14. Designed for children ages 6-14, the camp will explore a different creative medium each day. Participants can attend individual days or the entire week. All sessions are held in the CAA Classroom at 22 Main Street. Registration is required by Friday, August 7; call (607) 547-9777 or contact gallery@cooperstownart.com to sign up.

FCAHS To Host Open House

FLY CREEK—The Fly Creek Area Historical Society will hold an open house to showcase its museum and archives from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 9. It will be held at 208 Cemetery Road in Fly Creek.

Bassett Hosting Blood Drives

ONEONTA—In light of the ongoing nationwide emergency blood shortage, Bassett Healthcare Network will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive in the Levine Conference Room at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5. Another will be held in the Bassett Hall Auditorium at the intersection of Beaver and Pioneer streets in Cooperstown from 12:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 6. Donors may sign up by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-733-2767 or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App. Walk-ins are also welcome.

New Book Highlights Pitchers

COOPERSTOWN—The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and Epic Ink/Quarto will release “Baseball’s Greatest Pitchers,” an authoritative, photo-rich celebration of the 86 pitchers elected to the HoF, on October 13. For more information, visit quarto.com.

Old Franklin Day Set To Return

FRANKLIN—The popular Old Franklin Day summer festival will return to the village’s Institute Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 29. It will feature live music by local bands, kids’ activities, a free pancake breakfast, craft and food vendors, and the famous St. Paul’s Pie Sale. There will also be a Franklin Central School all-class reunion, village-wide yard sales, shopping at local businesses and a vintage baseball game. Visit franklinny.org/ofd26 for a full schedule and updates.

Concert Season Opens 9/13

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Concerts’ 2026-27 season will open with Grammy-nominated bluegrass band The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 13. It will be the first Cooperstown Concerts show held in the Glimmerglass Festival Pavilion at 7300 State Route 80. Tickets are available at cooperstownconcerts.org.

NY State Gas Prices Level Off

UTICA—The average price of a gallon of gasoline in New York State fell by a penny to $4.22 over the week ending Monday, August 3, AAA Northeast announced. Crude prices fell sharply last week, by $4.00-7.00 per barrel, on reports of easing hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, but these trends began to reverse themselves on Monday as talks once again broke down. Domestic gasoline production reached near-record levels, achieving a 97.2 percent capacity use not seen since the end of 2018. Production has averaged about 1.5 percent higher over the last month than during the same period last year. Domestic demand remains slightly weaker than the summer average. New York’s price is 15 cents lower than last month and up $1.05 from this week last year. To view the full report, visit gasprices.aaa.com.