Grilled Cheese Fundraiser For Otsego 2000 Packs ‘Em In

By: Jim Kevlin 02/11/2019 9:44 am

2019 COOPERTOWN WINTER CARNIVAL

Editor’s Note: This feature story first appeared in the AllOTSEGO.life section of Hometown Oneonta and The Freeman’s Journal published last Thursday and Friday. This year’s 52nd annual carnival ends this evening.

By LIBBY CUDMORE • For AllOTSEGO.life

Cars race on Otsego Lake during an early Winter Carnival.

COOPERSTOWN – If you looked out and saw cars out on Otsego Lake today, you would probably call a tow truck.

But in 1974, when Bill Waller was Cooperstown Winter Carnival chairman, it was all part of the fun.

“We had all sorts of events on the lake – Just as long as the ice was 18-inches thick,” he said.

Back then, chief among the favorite activities was the annual gymkhana, where cars would race through cones across Otsego Lake’s ice.

“When we came up for the first Winter Carnival in 1969, I saw all these cars out on the ice,” said Waller. “I took my car out, but I had the wrong tires on, so I didn’t do very well.

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Soup R’ Chili Served ’til 2 As Festive Weekend Starts

By: Jim Kevlin 02/08/2019 12:33 pm

2019 COOPERSTOWN WINTER CARNIVAL

Soup R’ Chili Served ’til 2

As Festive Weekend Starts

As it has for more than a quarter-century, the Cooperstown Winter Carnival begins when Dick Sliter declares, “Soup’s on!” The carnival’s traditional first event, the Soup R’ Chili luncheon at the First Baptist Church, 21 Elm St., is underway until 2 p.m. (and again 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday). Sliter, a retired pastor who came out of retirement in the past year to fill in at the Columbus Community Church, west of West Edmeston, has been head cook at this event for 26 years now. Inset is Dick’s wife Gail, who has a lot of heart, including heart-shaped cookies, also available. (Jim Kevlin /AllOTSEGO.com)

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Bassett Exec Finds Winter Carnival Medallion

By: Libby Cudmore 02/01/2019 11:15 am

Bassett Executive Finds

Winter Carnival Medallion

Cold Cash, Grilled Cheese Close Out Winter Carnival

By: Ian Austin 02/11/2018 6:47 pm

2018 COOPERSTOWN WINTER CARNIVAL

$500 Check, Grilled Cheese

Close Out Winter Carnival

The Doubleday Cafe’s Tim Searles, above, prepares specialty grilled-cheese sandwiches made with goat cheese and elderberry jam at Grilled Cheese For A Good Cause at the Cooperstown Farmer’s Market Sunday evening; the Otsego 2000 fundraiser wrapped up the 51st annual Cooperstown Winter Carnival. Behind him Jim Hoffmann, Cooperstown, gets a bowl of soup from volunteer Susanna Membrino . The event featured live music, ice cream and of course, grilled cheese made special by many area eateries. In inset photo, Winter Carnival Committee chairman Rich McCaffery, right, congratulates Katie Marvel of Oneonta and her boyfriend, John Janitz, Jr. of Fly Creek, on receiving a $500 check for finding this year’s Winter Carnival medallion at Council Rock. The presentation was made at Cooperstown Distillery; the medallion hunt is sponsored by The Freeman’s Journal & Hometown Oneonta. The couple plans on going out to a nice dinner to celebrate. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)

Fireworks!

By: Jim Kevlin 02/10/2018 6:27 pm

2018 COOPERSTOWN WINTER CARNIVAL

Fireworks!

…And There’s More To Come...

As the crowd looks across Otsego Lake from Lakefront Park, the grand finale bursts over the Leatherstocking Golf Course a few minutes ago. But another day of Cooperstown Winter Carnival Fun lies ahead, from a pancake breakfast at the Vets Club, 8-11:30, 60 Main St.; to free-throw and three-point competitions at the Clark Sports Center at 11; to the Winter Carnival Ice Breaker, food and fun at the Cooperstown Distillery, 11 Railroad Ave., 2-4:30. Tonight, enjoy bands at The Farmers Market, Cooley’s and the Pratt. Check the calendar for details. (AllOTSEGO.com photo)

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO for SUNDAY, FEB.11

By: Larissa Ryan 02/10/2018 5:00 pm

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO for SUNDAY, FEB.11

Grilled Cheese For A Good Cause

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GRILLED CHEESE NIGHT – 5 – 7 p.m. Enjoy comfort food from local chefs as well as local beer, wine, cider, live music, more. Proceeds benefit Otsego2000 & Otsego Outdoors. Cost, $25/adult, $15/child. Cooperstown Farmers Market, 101 Main St., Cooperstown. Call 607-547-8881 or visit www.otsego2000.org

SNOWSHOE WALK – 10:30 a.m.-Noon. Look for signs of life past, present and future with a guide from OCCA. Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/calendar/winter-carnival-snowshoe-walk/

Action Now At Lakefront: Sledding, Horses, More

By: Jim Kevlin 02/10/2018 3:08 pm

2018 COOPERSTOWN WINTER CARNIVAL

Action Now At Lakefront:

Sledding, Horses, More

The sledding hill at Lakefront Park is packed as Cooperstown Winter Carnival fun shifts there this afternoon. Matthew Perrino, Max Koffer and Brenin Dempsey, top photo, join the fun; also available for sledding are large, inflatable sleds, with a giant Duck able to carry five kids at a time. At right, Owen Nolan, 9, tries out sugar on ice as Farmers’ Museum docent Pat MacGregor advises. Owen’s mom Stephanie and brother Aidan look on. There are also pony rides and wagon rides. The activities at Lakefront culminate with fireworks at 6, but bands and fun are planning throughout downtown this evening. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

Following In Fire Chief’s Footsteps,Tallman Grandkids At Open House

By: Jim Kevlin 02/10/2018 12:48 pm

2018 COOPERSTOWN WINTER CARNIVAL

Following In Fire Chief Footsteps,

Tallman Grandkids At Open House

Village Fire Chief Jim Tallman’s grandkids dipped their toes in the water this morning at the Cooperstown Fire Department “Heroes” Open House at the fire hall on Chestnut Street this morning, part of the 26th annual Cooperstown Winter Carnival. Visiting from the Albany area, Chief Tallman’s daughter-in-law Allison brought Claire, 4, and Nolan, 20 months, to witness firefighting demonstrations and other activities. The state police had a contingent, and the dean of the EMS squad, Fred Lemister, was demonstrating the Autopulse, a new apparatus that allows CPR to be administered automatically in the ambulance en route to the emergency room. How often has it been used? “Too often,” Lemister replied with his characteristic dry wit. (Jim Kevlin /AllOTSEGO.com)

Frank Wilsey Claims Laurels At Annual Bob Smullens 5K

By: Jim Kevlin 02/10/2018 12:35 pm

2018 COOPERSTOWN WINTER CARNIVAL

Frank Wilsey Claims Laurels

At Annual Bob Smullens 5K

A determined Alexander Kahn (108) led runners off the starting line at this morning’s Bob Smullens 5K Run, part of the 26th annual Cooperstown Winter Carnival. But it was Christian Hill’s Frank Wilsey (116), in red top, who crossed the finish line minutes ahead of the second-place winner. In this day where there’s a 5K or more every weekend, Clark Sports Center Special Events Coordinator Doug McCoy, the official at today’s race, noted the Bob Smullens, under various names, is Cooperstown’s oldest 5K. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

Soup ‘r’ Chili Luncheon Launches Weekend Fete

By: Jim Kevlin 02/09/2018 1:35 pm

2018 COOPERSTOWN WINTER CARNIVAL

Soup ‘r’ Chili Luncheon

Launches Weekend Fete

For the 25th year, Cooperstown’s Dick Sliter pours broccoli and cheddar chowder at the Soup ‘r’ Chili celebration underway until 2 at Cooperstown Baptist Church, Elm Street. Sliter, a local businessman who has also acted as interim pastor for the local Baptists, first began ladeling at the event in 1993. The chowder, he said, contains 8 pounds of broccoli and 8 pounds of potatoes. The luncheon is the traditional start of the Cooperstown Winter Carnival, which has events planned throughout the weekend. Soup ‘r’ Chili will also be served 11 a.m-2 p.m. Saturday at the Baptist Church. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO for TUESDAY, FEB.6

By: Larissa Ryan 02/05/2018 5:00 pm

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO for TUESDAY, FEB.6

Carnival Free Throw

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CHILDREN’S FREE THROW – 3-4 p.m. Elementary Free Throw contest for the Winter Carnival. Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-2800 or visit www.facebook.com/clarksportscenter

FAMILY COOKING – 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Learn to cook “Valentine Desserts” with Executive Chef Jim Perillo. Cost $99/adult + 1 child. Includes all materials. The Otesaga, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-9931 or visit www.otesaga.com

Steaming Hots Wings At Farmers’ Market

By: Jim Kevlin 02/04/2017 3:57 pm

50th WINTER CARNIVAL • WEEKEND II

Steaming Hots Wings

At Farmers’ Market

If you hustle down to the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market – right now! – you still may help judge the best chicken wings in Baseball’s Mecca. The competition, a perennial hit at the Cooperstown Winter Carnival, which winds up today, continues until 4:30 p.m. Serving the wings are, from left, Josh McMahon, Georgia Hren-Saphier, Claire Kepner, John Saphier and Shirley Tyler. In right photo, Parker Davidson, 7 months, on mom Marassa’s lap, seems in awe of a new delicacy. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)