News Briefs Part Two: August 7, 2025

Waller Appointed to NYSCA

ALBANY—Sydney Waller, curator and owner of the Cooperstown gallery The Art Garage, was confirmed to the New York State Council on the Arts by the State Senate, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on June 13. Raised in Connecticut and France, Waller holds a degree in art history and a graduate degree in education. She ran the Pioneer Gallery in The Smithy, co-founded Gallery 53 and led the international “Diamonds are Forever” baseball art show for the Smithsonian and New York State Museum. For more information, visit The Art Garage Facebook page. 

Otsego WWII Stories To Be Told

HARTWICK—On Thursday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m., the Otsego County Historical Association will feature a presentation at the Kinney Memorial Library by James Greenberg, titled "Stories Behind the Stars, Otsego County's World War II Fallen." Greenberg, retired director of teaching, learning and technology at SUNY Oneonta, has researched the profiles of many of the Otsego County natives who were killed during WWII. This project is sponsored by "Stories Behind the Stars," a national network of volunteers dedicated to writing the stories of every American killed in WWII. The program is free of charge and refreshments will be served after the presentation. Kinney Memorial Library is located at 3240 County Road 11, Hartwick.

Kids’ Art Camp Returns

COOPERSTOWN—Nicholas Stein will instruct a five-day Kids’ Art Camp for children ages 6-14 at the Cooperstown Art Association from 1-3 p.m. on August 11-15. Registration is $30.00 per day or $145.00 per week for CAA members, or $35.00 per day or $170.00 per week for non-members. Participants should bring proper clothing, a water bottle and a snack. Each day will focus on a specific project: multi-media abstract self-portraits on Monday, taste-resist city skylines on Tuesday, nature printmaking on Wednesday, color emotion wheels on Thursday and a collaborative mural on Friday. Seats are limited. Contact gallery@cooperstownart.com or (607) 547-9777 to register.

NAACP Announces Picnic, New Officers

ONEONTA—The Oneonta Area NAACP will hold its annual community picnic from noon to 4 p.m. at Neahwa Park on Saturday, August 16. The public is invited to enjoy music, refreshments, games and community discussions. The chapter also recently resumed in-person meetings at the Yoga Center at 50 Dietz Street, under new leadership elected last November. Poletta Louis is now branch president, assisted by Vice President Erin Wagner, Treasurer Dan Maskin, Secretary Marilyn Simurro and Assistant Secretary Paul Conway. General membership meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month. The chapter continues to respond to local allegations of discrimination against people of color and promote overall respect for human rights.