News Briefs: June 1, 2023

Popular Duck Derby Returns This Weekend

ONEONTA—The Family Resource Network has announced the post-COVID return of its annual Duck Derby, to be held on Saturday, June 3 from noon to 3 p.m. The derby features multiple heats of rubber duck racing on Mill Creek, face painting, music, and make-and-take crafts. There will be cash prizes for the top finishers in each race. Ducks can be purchased on the day of the event or ahead of time at FRN, 48 Oneida Street. The ducks are $5.00 each or 6 for $20.00. For more information or to get involved, contact the FRN at (607) 432-0001 and ask for Kristin. To reserve a space for an agency table, contact kwinn@familyrn.org.

Bank To Host Mortgage Event

ONEONTA—Bank of Cooperstown, a subsidiary of Wayne Bank, will hold a home finance meeting at its Oneonta Community Office, 34 Main Street, from 5-7 p.m. on June 6. Mortgage professionals will be available to discuss residential and commercial mortgages, refinancing options, home equity lines of credit, and construction loans. Participants will be entered to win a $25.00 gift card to Latté Lounge. Contact Mortgage Originator Amanda Rifanburg, (607) 282-8315, for more information or to register.

GMU Voters Approve Budget

BUTTERNUTS—Gilbertsville-Mount Upton school district voters approved three propositions and elected two Board of Education members on May 16. Jed Barnes and Christopher Ostrander were each re-elected to three-year terms on the board. Voters approved an annual budget of $11,050,000.00, a capital fund to support infrastructure projects, and a $5,200,000.00 capital improvement plan. The project includes extensive exterior and interior building renovation and maintenance. Nearly $8 million of the district budget will come from New York State aid. The board included a $100,000.00 small capital outlay projects fund.

Second Gathering Place To Open

ONEONTA—The Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Center, located in Cobleskill, will open a new location in Oneonta this summer. The Cobleskill center opened in June 2021 and has enjoyed tremendous success. It is approaching 900 members, including visitors from Otsego County and Albany. The Gathering Place implements a Healthy for Life wellness model that focuses on physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, vocation and environmental health. For more information, to register for membership, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit https://www.schoharieseniors.com/.

Bird Walk Scheduled at Museum

EAST MEREDITH—Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society will host a morning bird walk starting at 8 a.m. on June 17 at the Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith. Veteran birders Suzanne Gaynor and Kathryn Davino will lead. The walk will cover half a mile in about 90 minutes. The program is free and pre-registration is recommended. Participants should bring binoculars, sturdy shoes, insect repellant and water. To register, visit https://doas.us/events/hanford-mills-exploration-days-bird-walk/. Contact Kathryn at (607) 746-7396 with questions. The walk is part of the Hanford Mills Exploration Days.

Funds Raised for Dog Rescue

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—American Legion Auxiliary Unit 616 in Richfield Springs ran a “Fill the Hill with Flags” fundraiser to raise money for the Rescue Dog/Rescue Solider Sanctuary in Cherry Valley. Unit 616 asked community members to buy flags in memory or in honor of a loved one. Each flag bore the name of the donor and honoree. About 120 flags were placed by the Garden Club of Richfield Springs’ memorial garden. Donors were able to take their flags after the Memorial Day ceremony. The Auxiliary Unit extended thanks to its members and volunteers, the Village Department of Public Works, the Village Office, the Girl Scouts, and the Sons of the American Legion. Rescue Dog/Rescue Soldier is a non-profit that helps troubled teens rehabilitate and train rescue dogs to support injured veterans.

Grief Workshops Scheduled

ONEONTA—Helios Care, the hospice and palliative care organization, will offer two free instructional workshops in June and July as part of the Healing Grief Workshop series. The “Art of Bereavement” and “Sound Healing” workshops will be presented by members of the Helios Bereavement Department. The programs are open to all individuals 18 and older. Sound Healing, hosted by Beth Patella and Kristen Jastremski, is a six-week program that focuses on the practice of sound healing and will provide relaxation and stress reduction at each session. This program will take place at the Cabin Hill Church in Delancey on June 3, 10, 17, and 24 and July 1 and 8, from 10-11:30 a.m. The Art of Bereavement workshop, presented by Elizabeth Bryan-Jacobs and Rebekah Smith, is a four-week program offering a research based, creative approach to explore grief and loss through art engagement. This program will take place in Delhi at the Office of the Aging on June 14, 21, and 28 and July 7, from 10-11:30 a.m. Registration for either program is required. Contact the Helios Care office at (607) 432-5525.

Committee Announces Contest

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Winter Carnival Committee will hold a contest to determine the theme of the 2024 festival. The Winter Carnival has worn many faces through the years, including this year’s “Snow Place Like Home” theme. Ideas for the upcoming carnival, with a few sentences of description, should be sent to CooperstownWinterCarnival@gmail.com by June 15. The winner will be announced and will receive the festival’s commemorative button, mug, and stickers for free.

Rubber Duck Hunt is June 18th

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown residents should keep an eye out for rubber ducks hidden around the village on June 18. Kernan Cross, a Cooperstown graduate in the class of 1965, passed away in January, leaving behind his duck collection. Cross enjoyed hiding the toys for friends and strangers to find. The Class of 65 will continue that tradition. Children of all ages are encouraged to find, rescue and adopt the ducks. For more information, contact the Cooperstown Class of 65 Facebook page.

Choral Society Hosting Tournament

WEST LAURENS—The Catskill Choral Society will host a golf tournament fundraiser on Wednesday, June 7 at the Colonial Ridge Golf Club in West Laurens. The tournament will feature a captain and crew four-person team format with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. It will have skins, mulligans, pin shots, a 50/50 drawing, a putting contest and brown bag raffles. There will also be cash prizes for the best team scores. The cost is $65.00 per person and includes a buffet at the turn. To register a team, contact Colonial Ridge Golf at (607) 263-5291 or colonialridgegolf@gmail.com. For more information on sponsoring a hole sign or to donate a raffle prize, contact the Catskill Choral Society at CCS@catskillchoralsociety.com.

Bassett to Hold Three Blood Drives

OTSEGO COUNTY—Bassett Healthcare Network will host three Red Cross blood drives at different locations in the upcoming weeks. Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome. Donors will receive a $10.00 e-gift card to the merchant of their choice by e-mail. The first event will be at the A. O. Fox Tri-Town Campus in Sidney, conference room N-112, from 1:30-6:30 p.m. on June 5. The second will be at the Levine Conference Room in Oneonta’s A. O. Fox Hospital from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 7. The third drive will be at the Bassett Hall Auditorium, on the corner of Beaver and Pioneer streets in Cooperstown, from 12:30-5:30 p.m. on June 16. For more information or to make an appointment, visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/ or use the American Red Cross Blood Donor app.