News Briefs: May 15, 2025

Trans History Lecture Slated

ONEONTA—The Oneonta Commission for Community Relations and Human Rights will host Dr. Carolyn Wolf-Gould for a presentation on the history of transgender medicine in the United States at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 22 at Oneonta City Hall. Wolf-Gould, who retired last month, is a nationally-recognized leader in the field and founded Bassett’s Transgender Wellness Center in Oneonta. Among other books and articles, she is the author and editor of “A History of Transgender Medicine in the United States: From Margins to Mainstream,” published by the SUNY Press, Albany, in 2025. The talk is free and open to the public.

Notre-Dame Subject of Talk

HARTWICK—The Otsego County Historical Association will host a talk by local contractor and Timber Framers Guild Director Jackson DuBois at Kinney Memorial Library in Hartwick at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 22. He will discuss his experience restoring the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris after the 2019 fire. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Lane Closures Announced

ONEONTA—The New York State Department of Transportation announced upcoming lane closures on Lettis Highway (State Route 23) northbound in Oneonta between Fair Street and Main Street. Drainage installation work will begin on Monday, May 19 and continue for about two weeks. Motorists are urged to slow down and move over for highway workers. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone.

Gas Prices Holding Steady

UTICA—A slight dip in demand and surging inventories across the northeast drove the average price of gas in New York State down a penny to $3.09 a gallon in the week ending Monday, May 12, AAA Northeast announced. Crude oil prices remain near a five-year low due to increased production by the OPEC+ nations, and the return of the Phillips 66 refinery in Linden, New Jersey to full capacity after seasonal maintenance helped pad regional gasoline supply. New York’s average price is two cents lower than last month and 63 cents lower than this time last year. To view the full weekly report, visit gasprices.aaa.com.

Rogers To Read May 22nd

TREADWELL—Bright Hill Press and Literary Center of the Catskills will host poet, translator and artist Bertha Rogers for its Word Thursdays poetry night at 7 p.m. on May 22. Rogers will read from her new collection, “What Want Brings: New and Selected Poems,” and will be joined by nine friends with their own work during the open mic portion of the evening. The event will be held in person at 94 Church Street in Treadwell and via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81577446746. Light refreshments will be served. There is a suggested donation of $5.00. To be considered for an open mic slot, e-mail info@brighthillpress.org.

MGVs Discuss Space Saving

COOPERSTOWN—Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener volunteers will kick off the summer gardening series with a program on space saving techniques at 123 Lake Street at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21. The demonstration garden will be open for self-guided tours at 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.cceschoharie-otsego.org.

‘Talking Opera’ Dates Released

COOPERSTOWN—The Guild of Glimmerglass Festival’s popular “Talking Opera” presentation program will return for its 23rd year this summer, in conjunction with the festival’s 50th season. Each program features background and history on a production and its creators, as well as excerpts from its music and analysis of the upcoming production at Glimmerglass. All five programs begin promptly at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Festival Music Director Joseph Colaneri will present on “Tosca” and “The Rake’s Progress” at Fenimore Art Museum on Friday, May 30 and Friday, June 13, respectively. The remaining three “Talking Opera” programs will take place at the First Baptist Church of Cooperstown, 21 Elm Street. Conductor and noted Sondheim scholar Michael Ellis Ingram will speak on “Sunday in the Park with George” on Friday, June 20, followed by Director Chia Patino’s presentation on “The House on Mango Street” on Monday, June 30. Librettist Kelley Rourke will discuss the restaging of her youth opera, “Odyssey,” on Monday, July 7. All programs will be recorded and posted on glimmerglassguild.org.

Water Trail Opening Scheduled

COOPERSTOWN—New York State’s newest outdoor tourism destination, the Susquehanna Basin Water Trail, will have its grand opening at Council Rock in Cooperstown at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 22. Elected officials, business leaders and other stakeholders from across the Southern Tier will gather to celebrate the official launch of Paddle607.com, connecting 190 miles of waterways from Cooperstown to Corning. Paddlers in canoes and kayaks will break through a ribbon across the river at its source.

EOH Awards $67K in Grants

EARLVILLE—The Earlville Opera House announced $67,500.00 in cultural funding for 49 nonprofit organizations and artists through New York State’s 2025 Arts in the Community Grants Program. The Opera House considered applications totaling $147,000.00, demonstrating the vitality of cultural expression and organization across the Southern Tier. Nearly half of the recipients are based in Otsego County, including: Community Arts Network of Oneonta; Orpheus Theatre; Fenimore Chamber Orchestra; Cherry Valley Artworks; Otsego Dance Society; Samye Heritage New York; The Telegraph School; and several local libraries, municipalities, and community organizations. For more information or to view the full list, visit earlvilleoperahouse.com.

Fishing, Heritage Day Planned

SOUTH OTSELIC—The Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage Association’s popular Fishing and Heritage Day will return for its 16th year from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 17. There will be two fishing clinics and demonstrations of aquaculture techniques at the state fish hatchery, as well as displays by a wide variety of environmental, conservation, public safety, and artistic organizations. Doris Wilkins-Wilt of the Oneida Nation Cultural Center will conduct two workshops for crafting beaded strawberry picture frames. Ron Patterson, also of the Oneida Nation, will present on the history of maple sugaring and hunting and fishing techniques, and there will be an exhibit of Haudenosaunee artifacts and history. The Town Park will host art and craft vendors, food trucks, antiques, children’s activities, raffles and live music, as well as more historic industrial demonstrations. There will be a parade of vintage tractors at 1:30 p.m. For a complete schedule of this free family event, visit ovfish.org.

Historical Society To Meet

SCHENEVUS—The Town of Maryland Historical Society will hold its next meeting at the AmVets Building, 25 Main Street, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 18. In addition to the business meeting on plans and programs for the upcoming year, there will be a presentation on the history of the society’s new building at 99 Main Street. The public is welcome.

Ecstatic Dance Returns

ONEONTA—Ecstatic Dance Oneonta will return for a first anniversary celebration at the Unitarian Universalist Society building, 12 Ford Avenue, from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. This judgment-free space for authentic expression through movement will feature “abunDANCE,” a 90-minute movement meditation created by local artist Isha Justyna Kostek. Doors open at 5:45. The event is free, but an RSVP through EventBrite is required due to space constraints. All are welcome, with no experience needed.

Exhibit Submissions Closing

COOPERSTOWN—Submissions for Cooperstown Art Association’s 90th Annual National Juried Art Exhibition are due via cooperstownart.com by the close of business on Thursday, May 15. The show will run from July 12 to August 15. The Regional Juried Art Show, now closed for submissions, will open on Saturday, May 17 and run through June 25.

FCO Hosts Composer Talk

COOPERSTOWN—Fenimore Chamber Orchestra will present a talk on the groundbreaking contributions of women composers by Artistic Director Maciej Żółtowski at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. The free event will be held at the Fenimore Art Museum, and will cover important historical figures such as Louise Farrenc, Amy Beach, Florence Price, Joan Trimble and Graźyna Bacewicz. It will serve as a prelude to FCO’s June 7 concert, featuring work by Trimble and Bacewicz. For more information, visit fenimore-orchestra.org.

Parade Participants Sought

ONEONTA—The Oneonta Memorial Day Parade will return at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 26. It will line up on Market Street at 9 a.m. Marching bands, schools, businesses, community groups and other organizations are invited to participate by contacting info@destinationoneonta.com.

Fire Department Elects Officers

COOPERSTOWN—Members of the Cooperstown Fire Department selected their officers for the upcoming year in an election on Monday, May 12. They will take their seats at the next regular meeting on May 28. The new department organization is as follows: Chief, William Smith (first term); First Assistant Chief, Victor Jones (first term); Second Assistant Chief, Chris Satriano (fourth term); Captains, Joel Bostwick (third term), Joel Roach (fourth term) and Steven Clancy; Fire Police Captain, Jim Leslie (eighth term); Fire Police Lieutenant, Jim Tallman (third term); President, Monica Carrascoso (first term); Vice President, Anthony Ferrara (second term); Secretary, Thomas Redding (10th term); and Treasurer, Frank King (10th term).

‘Some Bodies’ Exhibit Opens

ROXBURY—”Some Bodies,” a group exhibition exploring identity and intimacy through depictions of the human figure, will open at the Roxbury Arts Center, 5025 Vega Mountain Road, with an artists’ reception from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, May 24. This exhibit, featuring work by more than 30 artists from Delaware County and across the Northeast, will be on display through July 26. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit roxburyartsgroup.org.

CAA Holds Classes for Kids

COOPERSTOWN—Artist and educator Claire Jensen will host pop-up after school art classes for children ages 6-14 at Cooperstown Art Association from 3:15-5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 13 and Friday, June 20. The first session will focus on acrylic still life painting, while the latter will cover drawing. Lexi LeRoux will run a kids’ art camp from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from Monday, July 14 to Friday, July 18. The daily sessions will focus, respectively, on rock photo holders, painting with unusual items, ribbon wall hangings, decoupage, and sidewalk painting and mindfulness jars. Daily and weekly rates are available. For more information or to register, visit cooperstownart.com or contact (607) 547-9777 or gallery@cooperstownart.com.

NAACP To Screen Film

ONEONTA—The Oneonta NAACP will host a screening and discussion of the film “Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP,” on the oft-forgotten civil rights leader who led the organization from 1929 to 1955, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15. Held at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, the event seeks to trace White’s life and explain his disappearance from the popular conception of history. Like all Oneonta NAACP Third Thursday Series Films, the event is free and open to the public.

Tennis Wins Two, Loses One

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown tennis defeated Herkimer 5-0 on the road on Wednesday, May 7 during a brief break in the rain. Owen Marling, Alfred Hom and Hayden Spencer won the singles matches 10-3, 10-0 and 10-0, respectively.

The team narrowly defeated Sauquoit Valley 3-2 at home on Thursday, May 8. Henry Ayers won the first singles match 6-2, 6-2. Marling and Hom won second and third singles 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-0, respectively. The doubles teams, consisting of Bianca Adam and Alexis Wolfe and Micah Raffo and Rigzin Gazan, were each defeated. The Hawkeyes received the second seed in team sectionals for the Class C Tournament.

Cooperstown fell 4-1 to seventh seed Cazenovia in the Section III Class C quarterfinals at home on Monday, May 12. Ayers took their only victory of the day with a 7-5, 7-5 win at first singles. The Hawkeyes fell to 8-1 for the season and will compete in the individual sectionals at Watertown on Monday, May 19.

Sofball Up, Baseball Down

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown softball rolled past Laurens/Milford for a 12-3 win on the road on Thursday, May 8. Junior Katie Crippen had an outstanding afternoon, going four-for-four with a home run, four stolen bases, four runs and four RBI. Senior Grace Sperry hit two triples, scored, and batted in three more runs. Senior Emmy Lippitt earned the win with two strikeouts, allowing four hits, two earned runs and walking seven.

Lippitt struck out 10 more batters over seven innings in a 9-4 road victory over Oriskany on Monday, May 12. She allowed only two hits and two walks. Junior Evie Baldo went three-for-four, scored a run, and stole two bases. Sperry recorded another run and two more RBI. The Hawkeyes rose to 6-1 for the season and 3-0 in their division, and will host Waterville after press time on Tuesday, May 13.

Cooperstown baseball fell 4-1 to Oriskany on Monday, May 12. Brody Murdock, Joey Paterno and Elijah McCaffrey held Oriskany scoreless in all but one inning, but their four-run third inning made all the difference. Murdock took the loss, giving up five hits and two walks in three innings. Braden Rawitch reached base on an error in the top of the seventh, and Wyatt Butts and Aaron Katz walked to load the bases. Murdock grounded into a fielder’s choice double play to bring Rawitch home for the lone Cooperstown run of the evening. The Hawkeyes fell to 2-3 for the season and 1-1 in their division.

Check out our website, AllOtsego.com, for additional news stories, columns and briefs each week. Access to AllOtsego.com is free with a hard-copy newspaper subscription. Those who prefer to read their news online can subscribe at allotsego.com.