I’m writing in to express our deep gratitude to all who made our sold out Grilled Cheese for a Good Cause, a community fundraiser for the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, a happy success.
Hats off to the talented chefs who served up deliciously inventive sandwiches and soups: Alex Webster from Alex’s Picnic, Tim Searles from Doubleday Café, caterer Mark Loewenguth, Alex Guenther and Brian Wrubleski from Mel’s at 22, Kyle Morris and Elizabeth Schula from Origins Café, Peter Calhoun from The Otesaga, Jesse Pascale from Rock Hill Farm, Michelle Ianelli-Rubin and Sierra Tompkins from Social Eats Café, as well as Cheryl Zamelis and Carlin Thompson from Sunflower Café.
COOPERSTOWN – The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market will hold a special Holiday Market with 26 local farmers, artisans, crafters and food producers on Tuesday, December 20 from noon to 5 p.m. The event will feature free mulled cider from Middlefield Orchard and live music. The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, which operates year-round on Saturdays, is located in Pioneer Alley at 101 Main Street.
Cooperstown Composting is now offering a free weekly compost drop-off outside of the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market while the market is underway.
Accepted materials are: fruits and peels; tea bags and coffee grounds; vegetables; egg shells; yard clippings; leaves and flowers; cardboard and paper; meat and dairy; and table scraps. Plastics, animal waste, glass, metals, and waxed or glossy paper are prohibited.
The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., is located at 101 Main Street, Cooperstown, in Pioneer Alley.
FIBER ARTS WEEKEND – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visit for demonstration and hands-on activities in everything from spinning to weaving to quilting with local groups on hand to discuss the art. Admission, $15/adult. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit farmersmuseum.org
FREE FISHING DAYS – All Day. Fish the freshwater of New York State. No license required. All the other freshwater fishing regulations apply. Visit otsegooutdoors.org/event/free-fishing-days/
DANCE PERFORMANCE – 3 – 5 p.m. Visit the museum for a vibrant afternoon featuring 2 dance performances from singer/songwriter Bear Fox at 3 and then the acclaimed Allegany River Dancers at 4. Cost, $15/adult. Lucy B. Hamilton Amphitheater, The Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400 or visit fenimoreartmuseum.org
COOPERSTOWN – Amelia ‘Molly’ Holtje of Lima, New York, (formerly Cooperstown), passed peacefully at home on February 13, 2022 at age 90. She is survived by her children, Thomas, Susan, Daniel (Julie) Holtje; grandchildren, Jeremey, Zuri Ryan, Jess Holtje, Madeline (Thomas) Campbell, Ellie, Noah Holtje: great granddaughter, Lillyanna Ryan; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Henry (Harry) j. Holtje, Jr.; brothers, Charles and Frank Caparelli.
Molly was known as an accomplished seamstress, caterer, and jack of all trades. She was a self-starter who continued learning throughout her lifetime. As a young girl Molly worked at a dress factory that was converted into a uniform factory for WWII soldiers. This was the beginning of a life devoted to the wide variety of creative arts she produced. Molly taught sewing classes for children and adults at Cooperstown Central School as part of the adult education program, was a gifted wedding dress maker and sold a variety of American Girl Doll clothing at the Cooperstown Farmers Market.
Beth Redd, a volunteer with the Cooperstown Farmers Market, helps a customer with their purchase.
The worst pandemic in a century has impacted the daily lives of everybody including farmers markets, which are a staple of the community in Otsego County.
However, some farmers markets, such as the Cooperstown Farmers Market and Richfield Spring Farmers Market, have turned that misfortune into an advantage by implementing new ways of doing business, market officials said.
With increased interest in customers buying local, farmers markets and their vendors have put in place safety regulations and have adapted to the new reality of social distancing by abiding to USDA regulations during the age of COVID.
In order to limit exposure, the Cooperstown Farmers Market, which is operated by Otsego 2000, has established a curbside pickup where customers can order food on their website between 5 p.m. Mondays and 2 p.m. Wednesdays and pick up the order on Saturdays.
Product offerings will be updated every Monday on the website.
CELEBRATION – 1 p.m. Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos on Zoom with Coop Graduate Program. Features storytime & craft activity. Pick up materials at the Library during 11/5 & 11/6 (3-5 p.m.). During the week public is invited to place a copy of a photograph of a deceased loved one on the ofrenda (altar) to celebrate & honor loved ones who are no longer with us. Cooperstown Village Library. Visit diademuertoscgp.wordpress.com
HALLOWEEN FUN – 10 a.m. – Noon. Bring painted or carved pumpkins to enter in pumpkin contest, winners announced at 10:15, followed by costume contest. Prizes available. All ages welcome. Richfield Springs Public Library, 102 Main St., Richfield Springs. 315-858-0230 or Click Here
VOTE – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Early Voting open. Meadows Office Complex, 140 Co. Hwy. 33W, Cooperstown. Click Here for info.
STREAMING – Theater returns with ‘An Evening of Lanford Wilson’ featuring 3 plays performed by local actors. ‘Days Ahead,’ with Gary Stevens, ‘A Poster of the Cosmos’ with Steve Dillon, & ‘The Moonshot Tape’ with Brooke Tallman-Birkett. Cost, $10 for 2-day steaming access. Presented by Stuff of Dreams Productions. 607-432-5407 or visit www.foothillspac.org
CIDER PRESSING – 2 p.m. Learn how to make real apple cider at demonstration of old fashioned cider press. Continues till apples are gone. Also find, apple cider donuts, homemade icecream. Polar Bear Homemade Ice Cream & More!, 5212 St. Hwy. 28 S., Oneonta. 607-434-0148 or visit www.facebook.com/Polar-Bear-Homemade-Ice-Cream-More-538187663021144/
RELAY FOR LIFE – 11 a.m. Join Fall Foliage Run with the American Legion Riders in memory of Robin Enck, Rider & Army Veteran who lost his life to cancer this year. Ride to support American Cancer Society in the search for a cure. Registration begins 9:45 a.m. Cost, $15/participant. American Legions, 279 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 607-432-0494 or visit www.facebook.com/alrpost259
DRIVE-IN MOVIES – 6 p.m. Come out for a fun outdoor movie experience. This week showing ‘Jurassic Park.’ Movie starts at dusk. Free admission, donations welcome. Foothills Performing Arts Center Parking Lot, Oneonta. 607-353-7143 or visit www.foothillspac.org
OPENING RECEPTION – 5 – 8 p.m. Celebrate exhibit opening featuring Eileen Crowell’s ‘Plant Portraits,’ Ruben and Damian Salinas’s ‘The Spirit of Gesture,’ and Pooh Kaye. Free, open to public, masks required. Displayed through 9/27, by appointment only. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Ave., Oneonta. 607-432-2070 or visit www.canoneonta.org/event/art-kaye-crowell-salinas/
VIRTUAL ARTS FEST – 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival goes online this year with juried art, fine crafts for sale, art demonstrations, much more all on the festival’s YouTube channel. Visit colorscape.org/2020-virtual-festival/ for the link.
