“We are so happy to be included in the Special Olympics for the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The organization reached out to us to do a fundraiser for the Special Olympics and it’s this Sunday, August 14,” Cooperstown Police Chief Frank Cavalieri said.
It’s a fundraiser torch run and the torch gets lit at the Special Olympics.
“The fundraising helps to bring people in to these games with special needs. Ithaca College will host these games in 2023 and 2024. We’re trying to help out to bring in as much money. Law enforcement helps out and tries to collect as much money as we can,” the chief said.
It starts at the Clarks Sports Center at 10 am on Sunday, August 14, in Cooperstown and will be a 1.75 mile scenic course. It ends at Doubleday Field with light refreshments. For more information and to register, contact Michaela Darbyshire at mdarbyshire@nyso.org or call 315-625-3625.
CAR SHOW – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a cruise-in car show featuring muscle cars, restored classics, and street rods. Show will include an award for the Best In Show as well as a Name The Flavor contest for a new ice cream flavor. Pathfinder Village, 3 Chenango Rd., Edmeston. 607-965-8377 or visit pathfindervillage.org
This joyful bunch brought their patriotic pride all the way to Cooperstown from the Dominican Republic to cheer on their fellow countryman, David “Big Papi” Ortiz, on the weekend he and six others were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Our new Dominican friends grabbed prime real estate at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets on Saturday, July 23, when the Village of Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame hosted an hour-long parade featuring some four-dozen Hall of Famers — and when Big Papi came into their view, their cheers could be heard from blocks away.
Special to The Freeman’s Journal/Hometown Oneonta [A byline note: With this as my final piece for publication in The Freeman’s Journal /Hometown Oneonta, I hope readers will indulge a first-person tour through this past weekend’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. I hadn’t attended an induction since 1983 when I covered the event for The Freeman’s Journal. So much has changed since then but one thing has remained constant — the unifying power of baseball. Here’s my take.]
It’s not every day that Cooperstown finds itself festooned with flags from the Dominican Republic, but on the weekend when the National Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed the island nation’s own David “Big Papi” Ortiz into its exclusive ranks, there was no mistaking the party atmosphere pervading the village.
“We’re all ‘Big Papi’ this weekend, my friend!” one gentleman told me when I asked his name. That’s all I needed to know.
He and his family and friends — some dressed in Boston Red Sox garb like thousands of others lining Main, Chestnut, and Lake streets for the July 23 parade featuring some four dozen Hall of Famers — traveled to Cooperstown from the Dominican Republic to cheer on their hero. They staked their position on the corner of Main and Chestnut; the moment Mr. Ortiz’s ride — the last in the hour-long parade — came into view — their jubilant cheers said it all about the weekend.
And what a weekend it was. Dominican pride was well on display the next afternoon, July 24, when more than 30,000 fans poured onto the Clark Sports Center field to watch as Mr. Ortiz — along with Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Bud Fowler, Gil Hodges, Minnie Miñoso, and Buck O’Neil joined the 333 baseball immortals already enshrined. Fans had begun setting their tents, chairs, and blankets to reserve their spaces as early as the prior Thursday; as the 1:30 p.m.
Editor’s Note: We are all excited about this years Induction after a two year hiatus. Thanks to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for submitting information on the weekend.
(COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.) – Their careers span from the baseball’s earliest days to the game’s current generation, so fans of every era will have reason to celebrate the Class of 2022 July 22-25 in Cooperstown.
More than 50 Hall of Famers are scheduled to be in Cooperstown to honor the Class of 2022 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring Bud Fowler, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso, Tony Oliva, Buck O’Neil and David Ortiz will be held Sunday, July 24, at 1:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center — one mile south of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Fowler, Hodges, Kaat, Miñoso, Oliva and O’Neil were elected to the Hall of Fame via the Era Committee process in December. They will be recognized on the Induction Stage with Ortiz, who was elected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in January.
INDUCTEES Bud Fowler, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Minoso, Tony Oliva, Buck O’Neil and David Ortiz
Here is a little taste of events that will be going on July 22-25 for the Hall of Fame Weekend.
PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith — with special guests: Ozzie Smith returns in a fundraiser to support the Hall of Fame’s educational mission with a unique opportunity for fans, featuring Ozzie’s Hall of Fame teammate Cal Ripken Jr. and Jim Thome. This event features non-stop interaction at each station with a living legend and includes special mementos. Space is limited. The donation is $1,000 per person, with Hall of Fame Members admitted for $750. To reserve your spot, please call 607-547-0385. 8 a.m., Friday, July 22.
Hall of Fame Parade of Legends: Join the pageantry and excitement as the Hall of Famers ride down Main Street on their way to a private reception at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Main Street, 6 p.m., Saturday, July 23.
Standing in front of the new Cargo Net, these volunteers made it happen in Cherry Valley. L to R front row: Paige Thayer, Spencer Thayer, Zola Palmer, Angelica Palmer, Baily Thayer, Tucker Cornelia. L to R back row: Lyman Johnson, Michelle Johnson, Nancy Beale, Therijo Snyder, Nathan Emery, Marc-Anthony Polizzi, Ruth Doell, Jim Johnson, Ginger Thayer, Alzina Johnson, Dennis Doell, DJ Cornelia, Ashlee Cornelia.
A project that was started almost three years ago, the Cherry Valley Playground was completed this past weekend. It is finally ready to accept kids of all ages to come play!
It all began when two young ladies who are part of the Cherry Valley Girls Scout Troop wanted to get their Bronze Award. “You have to complete a journey in order to get a bronze award,” Zola Palmer, 11, said. “We had to think about what would make our community better. We had to figure out an active community service.”
“We really wanted to do something that would draw people to our community, since we’re so small,” Bailey Thayer, 12, said. “We thought if we made a playground, more people would come and visit Cherry Valley.”
DRAGON DATES – 5 – 6:30 p.m. Teens are invited for monthly virtual cook-a-long. This month, learn how to make vegetable stir fry. Register by 6/22 to receive the ingredients, free. Registration required. Presented by The Family Resource Network, Oneonta. Call Kristen at 607-432-0001 for info or visit familyrn.org/event/ts-dd-gardening-series-part-3-transplanting-and-beginning-our-gardens-outdoors/
WALKING CLUB – 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Enjoy a fun walk on Mondays & Fridays with friends old and new and listen to music of the 70s. Free for members, non-members aged 50+. Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. 547-2800, ext. 109 or visit www.clarksportscenter.com
BLOOD DRIVE – 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Quality Inn, 5206 St. Hwy. 23, Oneonta. 1-800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org
CROCHET MANDALA – 6:30 p.m. Learn how to make your own crochet mandala, which will give your the skills to make wall art, Christmas ornaments and more. Basic crochet skills recommended. Will be taught by experienced knitter/crocheter Liza Lauritzen. Materials will be provided. Registration required. Presented by Huntington Memorial Library in Huntington park, Oneonta. Visit www.eventbrite.com/o/huntington-memorial-library-12633934784
OPENING RECEPTION – 5 – 7 p.m. Celebrate the opening of new exhibit ‘American Ideal: Picturing Otsego County in 1937’ featuring pictures of Otsego County curated by Dr. Cynthia Falk and students of the Cooperstown Graduate Program. Displayed in the 3rd Floor Gallery through September 3. The Smithy, 55 Pioneer St., Cooperstown. 607-547-8671 or visit www.smithyarts.org
GARDEN RECEPTION – 5 – 8 p.m. Art in Bloom returns featuring floral arrangements by the Oneonta Garden Club inspired by the works of the CANO Mansion Show. On view June 11 & 12, Noon – 3 p.m. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Ave., Oneonta. 607-432-2070 or visit www.canoneonta.org
BLOOD DRIVE – 1 – 6 p.m. Quality Inn, 5206 St. Hwy. 23, Oneonta. 1-800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org
PHOTOGRAPHY – 6:30 p.m. Visit the museum’s historic village with your camera at the ‘golden’ hour just before sunset. Staff member Kevin Gray will walk you through the ground and provide tips on photo composition, more to send you home with fantastic photos. Cost, $17/non-member. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/event/sunset-on-the-farm-photography-excursions-2/
OPENING RECEPTION – 5 – 7 p.m. Celebrate the opening of 3 popular shows ‘ESSENTIAL ART’ the 31st Annual Regional Juried Art Show, ‘Into The Light’ featuring acrylic paintings by Mimi George, and the 55th year of the annual Leatherstocking Brush and Palette Club Fine Arts Exhibition showcasing works by Otsego County artists. Cooperstown Art Association. 607-547-9777 or visit www.cooperstownart.com
BAKING CLASS – 6 p.m. Learn how to make light and fluffy Cinnamon Rolls at home with amateur baker Alex Benjamin. Zoom link & ingredients will be sent 5/13. Cook-a-long or just enjoy the show. Presented online by the Huntington Memorial Library, Oneonta.
BLOOD DRIVE – 2:30 – 6:30 p.m. Donate through May 19 for chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps eight. Richfield Springs Community Center, Walnut St., Richfield Springs. 1-800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org
HISTORY CENTER OPENING – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Celebrate the grand re-opening of the renovated history center featuring new exhibit ‘Small Community, Big Ideas.’ Evening will include opening remarks, exhibit tours, and live entertainment. Free, open to the public. Beer & wine will be served. Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-0960 or visit oneontahistory.org
BLOOD DRIVE – Noon – 5 p.m. Donate through May 19 for chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps eight. Quality Inn, 5206 St. Hwy. 23, Oneonta. 1-800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org
COOK-A-LONG – 5:30 p.m. Join nutrition educator for 6 week series of classes on the why and how of healthy eating. Nutrition lesson includes a cook-a-long dish each week with a recipe. Free, registration required. Presented by the Cornell Cooperative Extension. 518-234-4303 ext. 120 or visit cceschoharie-otsego.org/events/2021/11/22/whats-for-dinner-virtual
