News Briefs: November 21, 2024

‘Gift of the Magi’ Reading Set

ONEONTA—The 37th annual Friends of Christmas Community Dinner, presented by Saturday’s Bread, will once again host a staged reading of the classic O. Henry holiday tale “The Gift of the Magi.” The touching story is adapted for stage reading by Jon Jory and will be directed by renowned actor, playwright, and screenwriter Patrick Breen. It will be performed at the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut Street, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3. Admission is free with donations graciously accepted to support the Community Dinner. The dinner itself will be held at the same location from 12:30-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 21. It is intended to ensure that no one must spend the holiday season alone. To reserve a dinner, sign up to volunteer or donate, visit www.friendsofchristmas.org or call (607) 431-8025.

CAA Wreath Festival Returns

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Art Association’s ever-popular Adorn-a-Door Wreath Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 30 in the upstairs ballroom gallery at 22 Main Street. It will feature about 100 wreaths by local artists and businesses to be sold by silent auction. The event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.00. “Dinner’s On Us,” a package of gift certificates to local restaurants valued at $400.00, will be raffled off at 4 p.m. All proceeds support the CAA and its scholarship fund for area high-school seniors.

Art Garage Exhibit To Open

MIDDLEFIELD—The Art Garage will hold an opening reception for its final exhibition of the year, “Multiples,” from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, November 22. The new show features ceramics by Marcie Schwartzman of Cooperstown, animal wood carvings by Lavern Kelley of Oneonta, stained-glass tabletop “light boxes” by Trevor Wilson of Hobart, photographic collages by Gail Peachin of South Worcester, and brushless paintings by Michael Fedorov of Maryland. It will be on view through January 25. The gallery is open for regular hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and by appointment any day of the week at (315) 941-9607.