News Briefs: September 24, 2026

Dream Ball Headed to Hall

COOPERSTOWN—On Monday, September 28, the “Dream Baseball,” on loan from Hideki Tomita, will be added to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Yakyu|Baseball” exhibit. The Dream Baseball is the only known baseball signed by Sadaharu Oh, the all-time professional baseball home run king; four-time Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani; and Hall of Famer Babe Ruth. According to a press release, the Dream Baseball connects nearly a century of Japanese-American baseball history and is a symbol of the enduring bond between Japan and the United States through the game. It is the only known baseball bearing the signatures of these three players, each representing a different era in baseball history. Learn more about “Yakyu Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of the Game” at baseballhall.org/yakyu.

Rebate Check Announced

BINGHAMTON—New York State Electric and Gas and Rochester Gas and Electric encourage customers to utilize resources to help them lower their bill and to watch their mailbox for the POWER rebate check. The POWER rebate checks will be mailed between September and December to full-time residents in New York and are based on 2024 tax returns. Joint filers with incomes below $150,000.00 will receive a check of $200.00; joint filers with incomes between $150,000.00 and $300,000.00 will receive a check of $150.00; and single filers with incomes below $150,000.00 will receive a check of $100.00. Customers can discover ways to reduce their energy use and other beneficial programs by visiting www.nyseg.com/helpwithbill and www.rge.com/helpwithbill.

Scouts ‘Fall into Friendship’

OTSEGO COUNTY—Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways council staff and volunteers are tabling at school open houses across the region over the next few weeks. Families are encouraged to stop by to learn more about programming for girls in grades K–12 and discover how to join or form a troop. Council representatives will also share information about adult volunteer opportunities to lead troops, share skills and guide the next generation of leaders.

Families of girls in grades K-3 are invited to one-hour events specifically designed to give younger girls a hands-on Girl Scout experience. Each autumn-themed session includes friendship-based games, creative crafts, team challenges and dynamic activities. Girls will make friendship bracelets and contribute to a “Friendship Tree” while learning how Girl Scouting fosters kindness, leadership, and lifelong bonds, officials said. Each event offers a welcoming environment for families and girls to ask questions, explore membership options, learn about local troops, and sign up for the Girl Scout year. Caregivers must attend and stay for the duration. Sessions on Saturday, October 3 include: 10: 30 a.m., New Berlin Library, 15 South Main Street; and 10:30 a.m., Richfield Springs Public Library, 102 Main Street. Pre-registration for these events is encouraged at gsnypenn.org/fall.

‘Land and Sea’ Opens Oct. 2

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Art Association will introduce “Land and Sea: From Coastal Maine to Rural New York,” featuring paintings by William Bracken and Deborah Bayly, with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, October 2. The exhibition explores the artists’ connections to the landscapes and places that have shaped their lives, organizers said. Bracken’s watercolor and gouache paintings depict buildings and landscapes transformed by nature and time, while Bayly’s work focuses on the rural places she knows and loves, including weathered barns, disappearing structures, woodlands, hills, water, and open skies. The exhibition will be on view until October 30 during regular gallery hours at the CAA, 22 Main Street, following the opening reception.

The CAA will also launch its biennial “Luck of the Draw” fundraiser on October 2, with tickets going on sale that day. The event features an exhibition of 80 works donated by local artists and craftspeople, with 80 tickets available. Ticket holders will rank the artwork in the exhibition on a personal “wish list.” Those rankings will be used during the final drawing to determine which artwork each participant receives. The drawing event is scheduled for Sunday, October 18 at 2 p.m. For more information, call (607) 547-9777 or visit gallery@cooperstownart.com.

Results In for Brew-to-Brew

SIDNEY—More than 200 runners and walkers took part in the second annual Sidney Brew-to-Brew 5K on Saturday, September 19. The race began at the Wakeman Coffee Co. in Sidney and finished at Muddy River Farm Brewery, along the Susquehanna River in Unadilla. The first male finisher was Charlie Santon, a 20-year-old from Broadalbin, with a time of 19:21. Lydia Dillon, 57, of Oneonta was the first female finisher, with a time of 23:09. At a post-race ceremony at Muddy River, event organizers presented awards for the fastest male and female overall (Santon and Dillon) and in age categories 14 and under, 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-73. Other award winners included youngest finisher (5-year-old Julianna Sellitti of Sidney Center), oldest finisher (73-year-old Dale Fox of Bainbridge) and most colorful (Kali Angell of Otego, who wore a pink and teal 80s tracksuit). Fourteen-year-old Silas Treffeisen of Mount Upton narrowly beat out Benny Schaffer as the finisher who collected the most recycling and trash. Full race results are available on the Sidney Brew-to-Brew 5K page at RunSignUp.com: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Sidney/SidneyBrewToBrew5K. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Sidney Center-based nonprofit the Uplift Collective.

Rummage Sale Starts Thursday

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Church of Christ Uniting, 22 Church Street, will host a rummage sale on Thursday, September 24 from 5-7 p.m. and Friday, September 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a bag sale from 3-4 p.m. on Friday at $2.00 per bag or $10.00 for unlimited items. Two large rooms will be filled with clothes for men, women, children, and infants, as well as housewares, books, toys and much more—all at affordable prices, officials said. For more information, call Church of Christ Uniting at (315) 858-1553.

Women’s Fellowship Hosts Sale

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Presbyterian Church Women’s Fellowship will host a rummage sale on Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, September 26 from 9-11 a.m. The sale will feature used and some new clothes, shoes, kitchen items, bedding, toys, books, jewelry, Christmas items, and more. All sales are by donation. Profits will be used for the church, local charities and broader needs. There is no admission fee and shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags. The sale will be held in the Cooperstown Presbyterian Chapel, at the corner of Elm and Pioneer streets. For more information, call (607) 547-8401.

String Orchestra To Perform

STAMFORD— Friends of Music of Stamford will host “Pegasus: The Orchestra” on Sunday, September 27 at 3 p.m. The intimate 12-piece string-orchestra program features works by Haydn, Bach, Britten, Azarashvili. Concertmaster Ruggero Allifranchini, principal oboist Noah Kay and principal cellist Ari Evan appear as soloists. Admission is by donation at the door; the suggested donation is $15.00 per person, or $10.00 for seniors and students. There is no charge for those under age 13. Cash or check only; no reservations or advance sales. This event takes place at the First Presbyterian Church, 96 Main Street, Stamford. To learn more, visit https://friendsmusic.org/.

Contradance Set for October 2

FLY CREEK—Otsego Dance Society will hold a contradance on Friday, October 2 at the Cornfield Hall, located on County Route 26 in Fly Creek. Music will be by Contrasonics and Robby Poulette will be the caller. Contrasonics is a familiar local band from the Springfield area, organizers said. Members are Kathy Shimberg, playing piano and keyboard, and fiddlers Erik House and John Potocnik. The trio has been playing area contradances for more than 50 years. Poulette has been calling at a variety of dances in the Cooperstown area since a student at Hartwick College. He has a friendly and easy-going calling style and his teaching ability helps new dancers feel comfortable. Contradancing is a lively style of dance done to live music, fun for singles, couples and families of all ages. No experience is needed, as the caller teaches each dance. Beginners can arrive at 7:15 p.m., when there will be a short introduction to some basic steps. Dancing begins at 7:30 p.m. and continues until 10:30 p.m., with a short break halfway through for some light refreshments. Suggested donation is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and teenagers, and free for children 12 and under, with a maximum of $25.00 per family. For more information, call (607) 435-8585 or (607) 547-8164, or visit www.otsegodancesociety.weebly.com.

Coffee House, Open Mic Slated

SCHUYLER LAKE—The Schuyler Lake United Methodist Church Coffee House and Open Mic, now in its eleventh year, continues its monthly schedule on Saturday, September 26 at 7 p.m. at the church, 128 Church Street, Schuyler Lake. All types of performance and performers are welcome—music, banjo playing, stories, legal briefs, poems, dance, jokes. “If you can do it in 10-15 minutes, you can try it out here,” organizers said. This is a free event, with free parking, light refreshments, good acoustics, a PA system, a piano and a forgiving audience. Donations are welcome to support the Schuyler Lake Food Pantry. “September 26 provides a veritable treasure trove of famous birthdays: Saint Francis of Assisi, Olivia Newton-John, T.S. Eliot, Marty Robbins, and the great George Gershwin,” the press release reads. “Come celebrate! Extra credit if you can do a mashup of “El Paso,” “Have You Never Been Mellow,” “Summertime” and “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.”

Art Garage Holds Free Talk

COOPERSTOWN—Artist Marylynn Karp of Charlotteville and New York City, joined by Robert Seward of Bowerstown, will discuss her art pieces on Thursday, September 24 at 5 p.m. at The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Road. The gallery will open at 4:30 p.m. The program—offered in conjunction with the current two-person exhibit, “Surprising Unions”—is free. Seating is limited and reservations are highly recommended by e-mailing leartgarage@gmail.com or texting (315) 941-9607. To ensure public safety, parking is on the gallery grounds, not on the town road. In “Surprising Unions,” Karp’s pedestal works are displayed with complex wall assemblages by Matjames Metson, whose work has garnered considerable attention and has been displayed in galleries and museums in Los Angeles and New Orleans. His building blocks include wooden match sticks and Popsicle sticks. An art historian as well as an artist, Karp is the director of the Museum of History of Charlotteville and taught at New York University for 42 years, where she is professor emeritus. She is best known for a body of work that is based on accretion/accumulation of small, manufactured objects in combination with natural materials such as seeds and hives, creating unexpected unity. The exhibition will be on display Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October. 17, and every day with a text or call. On Friday, October 2 at 4 p.m., Metson will discuss his art, interviewed by Karp. For periodic Art Garage updates, visit @CooperstownArtGarage on Facebook and Instagram.

Fall Craft Fair Scheduled

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Cullen Pumpkin Farm, 587 Cullen Road, will host a Fall Craft Fair on Saturday, October 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, now in its sixth year, is coordinated by and will benefit the Women’s Guild of the Church of Christ Uniting, Richfield Springs. Upwards of 70 crafters from near and far are expected, showcasing a wide variety of handcrafted items, and the Richfield Youth Sports organization will return with its food booth. Neither pets nor smoking are allowed, due to Cullen Pumpkin Farm regulations. The application deadline is Thursday, October 1. Crafters can e-mail fallcraftfair@yahoo.com for space availability after the application deadline.

GOHS To Hold Annual Dinner

ONEONTA—The Greater Oneonta Historical Society will hold its Annual Dinner and Meeting fundraiser on Wednesday, October 14 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Toscana Northern Italian Grill, 76 Chestnut Street. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are available for $60.00 for GOHS members and $65.00 for non-GOHS members, and will include tabled appetizers, a plated salad, a choice of an entrée, dessert, and soda and/or coffee. One complimentary house beer or red or white wine will also be included in the ticket price. A cash bar will be available for additional beer, wine and cocktails. This event is open to the public. To view the evening’s menu, visit https://oneontahistory.org/events-programs/. The Annual Dinner also doubles as GOHS’s Annual Meeting. The meeting will be brief and will include voting on new trustees and officers for the GOHS Board, and the awarding of the 2026 Eduard Hofbauer Outstanding Service Award, Albert E. Morris Award, and John M. Pontius Award. Officials warn that tickets for this event are limited and sell quickly. Seats can be reserved by filling out a registration form, available at the History Center, 183 Main Street, and for download on the GOHS “Events & Programs” at www.oneontahistory.org. Completed registration form and payment can be submitted in person at the History Center and Museum or by mail to PO Box 814, Oneonta, NY 13820. The deadline for registration is Friday, October 9. Any dietary restrictions should be noted on the registration form. Questions can be directed to the History Center at (607) 432-0960 or to Marcela at directormm@oneontahistory.org).

Masterworks Gallery Opens

COOPERSTOWN—Fenimore Art Museum’s new American Masterworks Gallery, a reimagined, state-of-the-art exhibition space designed to showcase the museum’s collections, including the recently acquired American Masterworks Collection, will open to the public on Saturday, September 26. According to a press release, “In 2023 and 2024, a landmark gift from the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust enhanced Fenimore Art Museum’s permanent collection. With a generous $33.8 million donation, the museum acquired 27 exceptional works, significantly deepening and broadening its holdings of American art.” Artists represented in this group are Albert Bierstadt, Mary Cassatt, William Merritt Chase, Frederic Edwin Church, Childe Hassam, Martin Johnson Heade, Robert Henri, George Inness, Eastman Johnson, Thomas Moran, Georgia O’Keeffe, John Singer Sargent, Max Weber, and James McNeill Whistler, among others. Paul D’Ambrosio, FAM’s president and chief executive officer, has led the project and shaped the vision of the American Masterworks Gallery. He said, “For the first time we will have a gallery that shows the broad story of American art from 1800-1930, mixing fine art, folk art, and Native American art. It will be a way for visitors to see who we are as a museum and these collections that are unique to us.” This labor of love is a culmination of Dr. D’Ambrosio’s career, officials said, as his retirement—previously announced in November 2025—will officially take place on September 27. As president emeritus, D’Ambrosio will have continued involvement with the museum and the American Masterworks Gallery. Fenimore Art Museum is open through December 31, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.fenimoreart.org or at the door.

Cider Mill Takes Top Spot for Best Cidery

FLY CREEK—The Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard has been voted the Best Cidery in the United States in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, earning the historic Upstate New York destination its second number one national ranking in three years. Fly Creek was named America’s Best Cidery in 2024 and finished third nationally in 2025. The USA TODAY 10Best competition nominated leading cideries from across the country, with the final rankings determined by public voting, according to a press release. “To be recognized as America’s Best Cidery for the second time in three years is an extraordinary honor,” said owner Bill Michaels. “This recognition belongs to our dedicated staff and the generations of customers who have made Fly Creek part of their visits to the Cooperstown region. We are tremendously grateful to everyone who voted for us.” Located three miles from Cooperstown and built in 1856, the mill still produces cider using its historic 1889 Boomer & Boschert rack-and-cloth press powered by water from the millpond. A 1872 water turbine harnesses a 10-foot head of water to operate the historic equipment.

Isaacson Book Topic of Talk

COOPERSTOWN—The Village Library of Cooperstown and the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area will host a reading and discussion of Walter Isaacson’s best-selling book, “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written,” on Sunday, October 4 from 1-3 p.m. The book offers a short, engaging analysis of one of history’s most powerful statements: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Isaacson’s book explores the word-for-word revisions to Thomas Jefferson’s draft by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, as well as the history and philosophies that guided the nation’s founding fathers. The event is free and open to the public and will feature guest readers sharing excerpts from Isaacson’s work, followed by a discussion and question-and-answer session led by Zachary McKenney, professor of sociology at the Hartwick Institute of Public Service, to help place these words in historical context. The event is cosponsored by LWVCA and the NAACP.

HUD Increases Flexibility, Lowers Barriers

WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced updates to its public housing demolition and disposition program to make it easier for public housing authorities to address distressed public housing and maintain affordable housing in their communities through redevelopment. The updated guidelines focus on three main areas: expanding the definition of obsolete buildings; barriers for small agencies; and relief for financially struggling properties. To learn more about these updates, visit www.hud.gov.