News Briefs: November 16, 2023
Compiled by WRILEY NELSON
Meeting Rescheduled
MILFORD—The Village of Milford announced that the upcoming board meeting will be rescheduled to Tuesday, November 21 at 6 p.m. It will be held at 64 South Main Street.
Villaverde Exhibits at CANO
ONEONTA—Victoria Villaverde of Oneonta was one of two SUNY Oneonta students who displayed their artwork at the Community Arts Network of Oneonta as part of the “Hartwick X SUNY Oneonta Student Show” from October 7 to 22. A reception was held on the afternoon of October 22. Villaverde and fellow student Clayton Davis had work featured in the exhibition alongside several Hartwick students. Both are Art and Design majors and will graduate in the spring of 2024.
Adorn-a-Door Is Nov. 25th
COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association will hold the Adorn-a-Door Wreath Festival from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the upstairs ballroom gallery on Saturday, November 25. It will feature about 100 wreaths available for silent auction that have been decorated by local artists. The event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $2. The popular raffle item “Dinner’s On Us,” featuring a week’s worth of gift certificates to local restaurants and worth about $400, will be raffled at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are currently available at CAA. All proceeds from Adorn-a-Door support CAA and its scholarship fund for area high school seniors.
Bassett Holding Blood Drive
COOPERSTOWN—Bassett Medical Center will host a blood drive with the American Red Cross in the Bassett Hall Auditorium on Friday, November 17. It will run from 12:30-6:30 p.m. Appointments are available by calling (607) 547-3701, visiting www.redcrossblood.org or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Interfaith Service Resumes
ONEONTA—The Oneonta Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will resume after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the First Presbyterian Church, 296 Main Street, at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21. The message will be given by Father Chris Welch of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. Other speakers will include Mayor Mark Drnek, Rev. Casey Bradley of First United Methodist Church, President Troy Turley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and readers from the Oneonta Area Bahá’is and Temple Beth El. Musicians will include organist Kim Paterson, soprano Johana Arnold and clarinetist Robin Seletsky. As a precaution against COVID, there will not be refreshments or an interfaith choir. Donations of non-perishable food items or cash will be accepted and will be divided among Oneonta’s food pantries.
Buck Featured in Art Show
ELMIRA—Maura Buck of Richfield Springs currently has artwork on display in the Term I Student Art Show at Elmira College. The exhibition, housed in the George Waters Art Gallery, will remain on display through Friday, December 1.
Oneonta Gets National Nod
ONEONTA—SUNY Oneonta will offer new incentives, including scholarships, enrollment deferrals and application fee waivers, to AmeriCorps alumni applying for the spring 2024 term and beyond. As a “School of National Service,” it aims to actively recognize AmeriCorps alumni. Earlier this month, SUNY Chancellor John King celebrated the 30th anniversary of AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, and announced SUNY’s system-wide application fee waiver for AmeriCorps alumni.
“As an institution recognized for our commitment to community engagement and service, we will use this new designation to reach students who already exhibit leadership by giving their time to benefit others and who have demonstrated the altruistic nature that aligns with our culture,” said SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle. “It is also a strategy that will help us expand the diversity of our student body and the lived experiences of our students. We are proud to acknowledge the merits and accomplishments of AmeriCorps alumni. SUNY Oneonta’s mission highlights our commitment to nurturing an environment where students can ‘live purposefully,’ and the AmeriCorps School of National Service designation is one more way we can work to fulfill that pursuit.”
No Arrests During Sting
OTSEGO COUNTY—No arrests were made during an Underage Drinking Initiative by New York State Police Troop “C” in Otsego County on Friday, October 27. A plainclothes officer and one or more underage operatives who cannot lie about their age or give a fake date of birth visited 13 local retail establishments. When asked for ID, the operatives must use their real ID. All 13 businesses were in compliance and did not sell to the operatives.
Fiber Workgroup Meets Friday
NEW WOODSTOCK—The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Natural Fiber Textile Development Workgroup will meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 17. Meeting access will be available at: Orchard Empire Apple Conference Room, 10B Airline Drive, Albany; Shirley A. Chisholm State Office Building, 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn; 2069 Elm Street, New Woodstock; Buffalo State University Technology Building 303, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo; and online. Meeting materials intended for discussion and further information may be found at https://agriculture.ny.gov/natural-fiber-textile-development-workgroup.
Eklund Farm Machinery Sponsors USA Luge
STAMFORD—USA Luge announced a new sponsorship with tractor manufacturer Massey Ferguson and Massey Ferguson dealership Eklund Farm Machinery, in Stamford, on Monday, October 23. It is the first tractor sponsorship of its kind in Olympic sport. The sponsorship, which will extend past the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, includes most of the Luge Challenge events.
“It is an honor to have Massey Ferguson and Eklund Farm Machinery join the USA Luge team,” said Gordy Sheer, 1998 Olympic silver medalist and director of marketing and sponsorship at USA Luge.
“We look forward to building value and the sense of family that comes with a USA Luge sponsorship. As our athletes do not receive federal funding, their support means the world to us.”
“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to support our luge athletes as we head toward the 2026 Winter Games,” added Eklund Farm Machinery owner Billy Eklund. “We are very excited to sponsor the U.S. men’s and women’s luge teams and for what is to come.”
The 2023-2024 Luge World Cup will begin in Lake Placid on Friday, December 8.