News Briefs: August 7, 2025

Cannabis Film Fest Announced

ONEONTA—Film Otsego and Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center will host a Cannabis Culture Film Fest at Foothills on Friday and Saturday, September 5 and 6. Doors open at 7 p.m. on Friday, with a screening of “The Big Lebowski” starting at 8 p.m. There will be trivia and costume contests, followed by a “Hippy Hour” with food from Sum Noodle Coop. Hippy Hour tickets are $25.00, while general event admission is free with a suggested donation. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, with a pitch contest at 1 p.m. and a “Creativity and Weed” panel discussion at 2 p.m. Doc Block starts at 3, followed by the Long Shorts film category at 4:20 p.m., Short Shorts at 6:15 and the feature film, “Astral Plane Drifter,” starting at 7:30. Comedian Rob Cantrell will host both days. For more information, visit filmotsego.org.

Zambello Named to Opera Hall

NEW YORK CITY—OPERA America announced that the Opera Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be inducted at the Awards Dinner at New York’s Plaza Hotel on March 20, 2026. Among the nine honorees is Washington National Opera Artistic Director and Glimmerglass Festival Artistic and General Director Emerita Francesca Zambello. She boasts an international career that has spanned decades and included 11 years at the helm at Glimmerglass, from 2011-2022. A full list of inductees, including Zambello’s biography, may be found at https://www.operaamerica.org/get-involved/about-us/press-room/2025/opera-america-announces-2025-opera-hall-of-fame-inductees/.

Dunau and Phillips To Read

TREADWELL—Bright Hill Press and Literary Center of the Catskills will hold its next Word Thursdays at 94 Church Street in Treadwell on Thursday, August 14. Visit the Bright Hill Press Facebook page to view the livestream, which begins at 7 p.m. Featured authors this week are Mark Danau and Andrew Phillips. There is a suggested donation of $5.00. For more information, visit brighthillpress.org.

25 Main Calls for Submissions

CHERRY VALLEY—25 Main Collective announced a juried exhibition of work by local artists that will be on display November 7-30. “Inspired by a Book” will feature work in any medium that celebrates a specific book, with copies provided at the show by the Cherry Valley Bookstore. Interested artists should contact 25maincollective@gmail.com by Tuesday, September 30. Drop-off dates will be November 1-4. The display will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The gallery will hold an opening reception from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, November 7 and an artists’ talk at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 30.

Fine Arts on the Lawn Returns

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association’s annual Fine Arts on the Lawn show and sale will return to the Village Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 30 and 31. Artist CAA members are invited to display up to five framed original works on the porch, with a registration fee of $15.00. Works for display can be dropped off from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, August 29. Artists may also apply for a 10’x10’ tent display space on the lawn, open to works in any medium. There is a $110.00 booth fee and short application. CAA reserves the right to retain a 30 percent commission on all sales. For more information or to register, call (607) 547-9777 or visit cooperstownart.com.

Fetterman Nominations Sought

COOPERSTOWN—The Clark Sports Center seeks nominations for the 2025 Patrick C. Fetterman Award. Named for the long-serving associate director of the Alfred Corning Clark Gymnasium, the award recognizes an outstanding leader in local youth sports each year. Recipients are celebrated at a presentation and reception, and have their names added to a perpetual trophy sculpted by local artist Fred Blatt. To nominate a deserving individual, submit a letter outlining their qualifications to the Clark Sports Center, PO Box 850, Cooperstown, NY 13326, Attention: David Fontaine. For more information, including complete eligibility guidelines, visit clarksportscenter.com.

Blacksmith Demo is Sunday

MILFORD—The Greater Milford Historical Association will host two local crafters for a traditional blacksmithing demonstration from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, August 10. It will be held behind the David Sayre House Museum, 81 North Main Street. House tours and cold drinks are available, and there will be live fiddle music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free and family friendly. Donations are welcome.

Farm Day Expands to Weekend

NEW YORK STATE—By popular demand, Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego County’s 13th annual Family Farm Day will now be an all-weekend event on Saturday and Sunday, August 23-24. Visitors will have more opportunity to explore open farms, meet local producers and sample products. More than 40 farms will participate one or both days this year, with full up-to-date schedules available at FamilyFarmDay.org. There will be a wide variety of interactive activities, tastings, demonstrations and products for sale. For everyone’s safety, guests are reminded to bring coolers or insulated bags for produce, stay within designated areas, wear appropriate footwear and follow all posted biosecurity protocols. Pets are not allowed.

‘Art in the Park’ Is Sept. 7th

WEST WINFIELD—Upper Unadilla Valley Association will host an art exhibition and sale at the pavilion in the Town of Winfield Park from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, September 7. Artists who live in West Winfield, Bridgewater, Unadilla Forks, Leonardsville, West Edmeston or the surrounding areas are invited to display. There is no cost to participate and no commission on sales. For more information or to reserve a spot, contact jlmcn@frontiernet.net or (315) 855-4368.

Dance Festival Is Saturday

MOUNT VISION—The Visionary Stage for New and Explorative Art will hold its annual Visionary Dance Festival at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 9. Musician and composer Johnny Butler will lead an extraordinary group of dance artists in a series of visceral movement and sound performances in the black box-style theater. Tickets are $20.00 or $17.00 for seniors and students. They are available at thevisionaryny.com or at the box office starting at 6:30 p.m. before the show. The theater is located at 2381 State Highway 205 in Mount Vision.

Walking Tour Explores Hartwick

HARTWICK—Otsego 2000’s Dr. Cindy Falk will lead a walking Historic Preservation Tour of Hartwick at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 10. The tour costs $10.00, with pre-registration available at otsego2000.org or (607) 547-8881. The Historic Preservation series will continue with tours of Roseboom on Sunday, September 7, Middlefield on Sunday, October 19 and Cooperstown on Sunday, November 16.

Festival Benefits Food Pantry

CHERRY VALLEY—The annual Cherry Valley Folk Fest for Food, a benefit for the Daily Bread Food Pantry, will return to Main Street in Cherry Valley later this month. Sam Whedon will open for The Currys on Thursday, August 14, followed by Gravel Yard performing on Thursday, August 21. Fan favorite Scattered Flurries will return for the final performance of the year on Thursday, August 28. Non-perishable food and monetary donations will be accepted at each concert or directly at the food pantry, 2 Genesee Street at the back of the Old School, during open hours. Checks may also be mailed to Daily Bread Food Pantry at PO Box 328, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. All proceeds from food and merchandise sales at the concerts will also benefit the pantry.

Fly-in Breakfast Scheduled

MIDDLEFIELD—The Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department will hold its next fly-in pancake breakfast at the Cooperstown/Westville Airport from 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 16. All-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, real maple syrup, and beverages are available for $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for children.

OLA Annual Meeting Is Aug. 9

COOPERSTOWN—The Otsego Lake Association will hold its annual gathering at the Otsego Sailing Club, 5992 State Route 80, on Saturday, August 9. Coffee service and the silent auction will open at 8:30 a.m., followed by a brief business meeting at 9 a.m. Presentations will cover this year’s ice-off, updates on harmful algae blooms, a review of student research and the winners of the inaugural “Reflections” photo contest. All lake lovers are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to bring a friend and a chair.

Hall Mourns Ryne Sandberg

COOPERSTOWN—The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum issued a commemorative statement following the death of Hall of Fame second baseman and manager Ryne Sandberg on Monday, July 28. The quiet, dignified defensive specialist played 15 of his 16 major league seasons for the Chicago Cubs, leading them to their first postseason since 1945 in 1984. He earned nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards and made 10 straight All-Star Game appearances. Sandberg retired with 282 home runs, 277 of them as a second baseman, at the time the career record at the position. The entire Hall of Fame mourns his passing. For more information on Sandberg’s career, visit baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/sandberg-ryne.