News Briefs: October 16, 2025

Remembrance Service Slated

COOPERSTOWN—Bassett Healthcare Network will hold its annual remembrance service for parents, families and caregivers that have lost children or pregnancies from 7-8 p.m. on Thursday, November 6. It is open to all community members who are grieving these profound losses. Bassett’s Spiritual Care Team and Women’s Health Team will bring together people with similar struggles. The service will be held in Clark Auditorium at Bassett Medical Center, 1 Atwell Road. RSVP to gerald.paciello@bassett.org. There will be a virtual attendance option on Zoom at bassett.org/memorial. All attendees are invited to submit names ahead of time for the candle-lighting ceremony.

Halloween Party Scheduled

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, will hold its Halloween Party and Community Fun Day from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, October 19. It will feature escape rooms, crafts, pumpkin carving, door prizes and food. Attendees who donate a costume will receive extra tickets for the door prizes. The party is free and open to the public.

25 Main Releases Calendar

CHERRY VALLEY—25 Main Collective will display its fall exhibition, “Highlight,” through Sunday, November 2. It features extra work by artists who participated in the Cherry Valley Art Trail on October 4-5. Upcoming classes with open spaces include a stamped charm bracelet workshop from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22 and a wire-wrapped moon pendant workshop from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, October 25. The latter class coincides with Falltoberfest, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This family-friendly event will feature vendors, ghost tours, music, a beer garden, Oktoberfest games, cookie decorating, dance performances by the Happy Haggs, pumpkin carving, and more.

The November exhibition, “Inspired by a Book,” will open with a reception featuring food and music from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, November 7 and remain open until November 30. There will be an artists’ talk at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 23. Jessica Capeci will lead a fire cider workshop from 1-3 p.m. on November 9 and Marissa Perkins will demonstrate making sterling silver spinner rings from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. Cherry Valley’s Farm Toy Show will be held at the Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 8. An American Legion 5K will begin at the Old School at noon the same day, with registration open at 10 a.m. For more information or to inquire about a class, contact 25maincollective@gmail.com.

CAA To Host Fall Classes

COOPERSTOWN—Local artist Kristin Stevenson will lead a cold wax painting workshop at Cooperstown Art Association from 5:30-7:30 on Tuesdays from November 4 through December 2. The class is $135.00, with a $5.00 discount for CAA members and all materials included. Cynthia Marsh will teach a class titled “Creating Portals and Painting Light” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 25. It is $130.00 with a $5.00 discount for members. Paul Marcellino will teach a figure drawing class for beginners through advanced students from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from November 4 through December 16. Registration is $230.00, with a $5.00 member discount. Materials are not provided. For more information or to register, visit cooperstownart.com or contact (607) 547-9777 or gallery@cooperstownart.com.

CAA’s fall exhibitions will be on display through Friday, October 31 during gallery hours, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. “Lasting Impressions,” a juried show of waxworks exploring themes of memory and connection, is displayed in Gallery A. “Water’s Edge,” in Gallery B, features Cooperstown-area landscapes by local folk painter Kara Mattice. The Central New York Watercolor Society showcases its Signature Members Exhibition in Gallery C.

GOHS Auction Coming Up

ONEONTA—The Greater Oneonta Historical Society will hold its 19th annual GOHS Live and Online Benefit Auctions in November. The Live Auction will begin in the newly renovated third-floor ballroom at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 14, with doors opening at 5. Admission is free and there will be refreshments available for sale. In addition, there will be an online auction open at 32auctions.com/GOHSAuction2025 from 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 13. Featured items include sports ephemera, Oneonta collectibles, antiques, furniture, toys, framed artwork, tours and experiences, jewelry, apparel, overnight stays, local gift certificates and more. Some items will be available for early viewing at the History Center in October. To make an item donation or inquire about sponsorships or volunteering, contact (607) 432-0960 or directormm@oneontahistory.org.

Museum Hosts Conference

COOPERSTOWN—The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum hosted about 100 American and Canadian guests for the International Sports Heritage Association’s Annual Conference on October 7-9. Established in 1971 as the Association of Sports Museums and Halls of Fame, ISHA includes more than 130 member institutions. Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark received this year’s Legacy Award. The Hall of Fame also earned awards for its social media campaign for School Resource Kits, its Black Baseball Initiative outreach program, the video presentation in the “Souls of the Game” exhibit and the 2024 East-West Classic game program magazine. For more information, visit baseballhall.org/education.

DuBois To Discuss Restoration

LEONARDSVILLE—Cooperstown-based craftsman Jackson DuBois, executive director of the Timber Framers Guild, will present an account of his work restoring the spire of Notre-Dame de Paris after its 2019 roof fire on Friday, November 7. Held at the Horned Dorset Inn, 2000 Main Street in Leonardsville, the talk will be the highlight of the Upper Unadilla Valley Association’s annual banquet, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $64.00, including a prix fixe dinner, tax and tip. A cash bar will be available. Note any dietary restrictions when making reservations. To RSVP, send a check to Larraine McNulty, 156 Pritchard Road, West Winfield, NY 13491 by Wednesday, October 29.

Artists Talk About Botanicals

STAMFORD—Artists Andie Hope, Tracy Qiu, Ali Shockey, Kathleen Sweeney and Carol Woodin will discuss their creative process and botanical influences at Headwaters Art Center, 66 Main Street in Stamford, at noon on Saturday, November 1. It accompanies the final day of the “Botanical Impressions” exhibition. For more information, visit roxburyartsgroup.org/botanical-impressions.

Website Improvements Made

ALBANY—New York State Homes and Community Renewal announced major improvements to the New York Housing Search website. It consolidates listings of housing lotteries and waitlists for all HCR-financed projects. By giving New Yorkers the opportunity to apply for affordable housing online, it makes the home search process easier for all. For more information, visit HousingSearch.ny.gov.

Speakers To Present on AI

COOPERSTOWN—Friends of the Village Library of Cooperstown will open the 2025-26 Sunday Speaker Series from 3-4 p.m. on Sunday, October 19. Renowned artificial intelligence experts Dr. Izabella Lokshina and Dr. Cees J.M. Lanting will discuss the origins and implications of AI. The talk is free and open to the public.

Pumpkin Glow Set for Oct. 26

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association’s annual Pumpkin Glow will return on the steps of the Village Hall from 6-7 p.m. on Sunday, October 26. All community members are invited to submit their decorated pumpkins for display. Bruce Markusen will present ghost stories starting at 6:30 p.m. The Pumpkin Glow is free and open to the public, although donations are welcome. For more information, visit cooperstownart.org.

Fire Dept. Seeking Donations

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Richfield Springs Fire Department and Village of Richfield Springs seek public donations to bring their firehouse up to NFPA standards. More resources are needed to supplement a $1.5 million grant through Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Checks may be sent to PO Box 1456, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. Members of the public are invited to visit the firehouse and ask questions during weekly training from 6-8 p.m. each Wednesday.

Pilot Project Announced

OTSEGO COUNTY—The Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Otsego County and the Vernonburg Group announced the Butternuts Neutral Host Mobile Tower Pilot Project, a groundbreaking rural wireless infrastructure initiative backed by Governor Kathy Hochul’s Connectivity Innovation Mobile Service Grant Program. This pilot project will expand mobile service and broadband access in the Town of Butternuts. It was awarded more than $843,000.00 through Gov. Hochul’s program and will deliver shared, multi-operator mobile coverage from a new county-owned E-911 public safety tower. Using a neutral-host architecture, the tower will allow multiple mobile operators to share a single set of radio infrastructure and the associated costs. Up to 200 households and businesses will become accessible to mobile and fixed wireless service, and the project will serve as a model for the Otsego County Broadband Expansion Initiative and future expansions statewide. Deployment is scheduled for next year. For more information, visit otsegocounty.ny.gov/broadband.php.

Lachance To Sing at Museum

CANAJOHARIE—Renowned mezzo soprano Joelle Lachance and piano accompanist William Shi will perform her original “Guys or Dolls” piece in the Original Gallery of the Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Boulevard, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 18. Attendees may visit the galleries and enjoy Prosecco before the show. Tickets are $40.00 or $75.00 for pairs. For more information or to register, visit arkellmuseum.org/content/joelle-lachance-guys-or-dolls.

Otesaga Receives Recognition

COOPERSTOWN—The Otesaga Resort Hotel was named fourth on Condé Nast Traveler’s 38th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards list of the top 10 resorts in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. More than 757,000 readers submitted survey responses. This was the sixth time The Otesaga has been recognized in one of the travel industry’s longest running and most prestigious recognition programs.

HartLand Promise Expanded

ONEONTA—Hartwick College announced the expansion of its HartLand Promise Scholarship to include students from Albany, Broome and Schenectady counties. Launched in 2022, the program guarantees Hartwick’s top scholarship award of $10,000.00 annually for eligible students from across the region. More than 18,000 high-school seniors at nearly 600 schools in the new counties will join those already eligible in Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego and Schoharie counties. Since its inception. HartLand Promise has supported nearly 250 students. For more information, visit hartwick.edu/hartland.

Rotary Road Rally Returns

ONEONTA—The 4th Annual Oneonta Rotary Road Rally Scavenger Hunt will take place at Damaschke Field from 1-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 19. The family-friendly event will lead teams around a 30-mile loop through Otsego County to follow clues, answer riddles and take photos. Teams are judged on a combination of mileage, time, clue answers and group photos. The top three teams will have a grant of $1,000.00, $750.00 or $500.00, respectively, donated in their honor to the food bank or program of their choice in Otsego, Delaware or Schoharie counties. All proceeds support the service work of the Oneonta Rotary Club. Registration is $25.00, $10.00 for ages 12-18 and free for children under 12. Payment may be made on race day by cash or check. All teams must have at least two responsible adults to serve as driver and navigator. Pre-registration is available at oneontarotary.org.

Clerk To Host Passport Fair

UNADILLA—Otsego County Clerk Jennifer Basile will host a passport fair at Unadilla Town Hall, 1648 State Route 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 18. Photo services will be available. Attendees should bring a check or money order to accompany the application, a completed DS11 application in black ink, a certified copy of a state-issued birth certificate and a copy of the front and back of their drivers license. Cash or card are accepted for county clerk fees. To view a complete list of required documents, visit travel.state.gov. Call (607) 547-4276 for more information.

CV ‘No Kings’ Event Planned

CHERRY VALLEY—Cherry Valley Indivisible will co-sponsor a local iteration of the “No Kings” Day of Peaceful Action on Saturday, October 18. According to a release, No Kings is a nationwide mobilization uniting millions of Americans against what they view as the Trump administration’s corrupt ends and authoritarian means. More than 2,500 peaceful demonstrations are expected to attract about five million participants nationwide on Saturday. The Cherry Valley event will take place at the traffic light from 10-11 a.m. About 200 people attended Cherry Valley’s first No Kings protest on June 14. Participants are encouraged to bring a friend. Associated events will take place in Canajoharie at 11 a.m., Cobleskill at noon and Oneonta at 1 p.m. For more information, contact indivisiblecv@proton.me.

Coop Soccer Suffers Setbacks

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown girls soccer dropped an overtime match to Hamilton 3-2 on Tuesday, October 7. Freshman Lanie Nelen and junior Sophia Johnson scored on a corner kick from senior Mia Pelcer and a pass by junior Ruby Stevenson, respectively. Eighth-grader Emma Johnson made 25 saves.

Nelen and Pelcer again scored in the first half to lift the Hawkeyes to a 2-1 upset victory over Sauquoit Valley on Thursday, October 9. Stevenson and sophomore Claire Baldo made assists and Johnson recorded 17 more saves. Cooperstown moved to 6-8 for the season and 5-3 in their division. They will host Waterville after press time on Tuesday, October 14.

Cooperstown boys soccer fell 2-0 to Westmoreland in a Center State Conference match at home on Monday, October 6. Cooperstown outshot Westmoreland 9-6 and senior Cooper Coleman made a save in the net. The Hawkeyes fell to 7-4-2 for the season and 4-2 in their division.