SCHENEVUS – Ms. Shirley Ester Skinner, 106, passed away peacefully in her home in Schenevus, NY, on February 16, 2022.
She was born on her family farm on Badeau Hill, in Westford in the Town of Maryland, NY. She is the descendant of Pierre Badeau who homesteaded in the area in the 1700’s. Shirley is predeceased by her father, Stanley Wing Skinner, her mother, Pearl Gardner, her sister, Marjory, and her friend, Virginia Brady. Shirley’s grandparents were Fred and Jessie Stewart Gardner, and Amzy J. Skinner and Bertha Wing.
Shirley graduated in 1932 from The Town of Maryland Union School, then graduated from the Draper Schenevus School in 1934. She attended the Ballard School for Business in New York City for 2 years.
She had a remarkable life that included her love of nature, animals, politics, and travel. In the 1950’s, her trips to Europe, included sailing on ocean liners like The Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, The Constitution US, and the Mauretania. She also sailed on the last successful trip of the Andrea Doria before she sank off the coast of Cape Cod. She was proud of her ancestry as a Huguenot descendant from France.
The Iroquois chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met this afternoon at the Weiting Building in Worcester for two special events; celebrating the 103rd birthday of Shirley Skinner, their oldest member, and presenting her with a pin commemorating her 75 years with the Otsego County chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Above, after being presented with a carrot cupcake from Chapter Regent Lauren Milavee, left, Shirley blows a kiss to the crowd, who sang her “Happy Birthday.” She is joined by the youngest member of their chapter, Callen Little, Jefferson, State Chaplain Nancy Zwetsch, and state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford. At right, Zwetsch presents Skinner with her 75-year pin. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
CANDLELIGHT EVENING – 3-7 p.m. Experience the magic of the holidays with tasty holiday treats, performances by the Catskill Chamber Singers, Snowflight, others performing holiday favorites. Tickets, $12/adult, $10.50/senior, $6/junior. The Farmers Museum, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org
BEATLES MUSIC – 8 p.m. Enjoy music from the 60’s by the Beatles. Tickets, $15. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. Call 607-431-2080 or visit foothillspac.org
HOME FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN – 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Volunteer with the local Red Cross to install free smoke alarms, complete fire safety checklists, and create personalized fire escape plans with local families. Sign up @ www.redcross.org/local/new-york/eastern-new-york/home-fire-safety or call (315)733-4666
HEALTH SUMMIT – 1:30-4 p.m. Dr. Kevin P. Hill, Harvard University Medical School, presents “Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth about Medical use and Legalization.” Free and open to the public. Room 202 Johnstone Science Center, SUNY Oneonta. Info, www.hartwick.edu/news/hartwick-college-2017-health-summit-focus-marijuana/
CABARET – 7:30 p.m. Featuring the Catskill Symphony Orchestra and entrants to the guest conductor competition, Les Grummons, Jeff Joyner, and Neal Miller. SUNY Oneonta Alumni Field House. Info, catskillsymphony.net
KNITTING MAKERSPACE – 12:30-2 p.m. Experience and beginner knitters invited to share experience. Special guests from the library knitting club. Cooperstown Village Library. Info, www.villagelibraryofcooperstown.org/calendar
OPERA – 12:55 p.m. “La Traviata.” The Met streaming live in HD. Foothills Performing Arts & Civic Center, 24 Market St., Oneonta. Cost $18/seniors, $20/adults, 10/students. Season pass $200. Box Office: (607) 431-2080, foothillspac.org/index.php/shows/metropolitan-opera-in-hd/
PLAY READING – 6:30 p.m. Reading of “Sunset Painting” by local playwright Greg Klein. Fenimore Art Museum Auditorium, 5798 NY-80, Cooperstown. Info, www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
THEATER – 2 p.m. Performance of ‘Love Letters,’ by A.R. Gurney, which tells the story of Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner via the letters they exchanged over their lifetime. The Production Center of the Foothills Performing Arts Center, 124 Market St., Oneonta. Info, (607) 432-5407 or GEStevens17@gmail.com
QUILT SHOW – 11 a.m.-4 p.m.. Thru Sunday Feb. 26. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, www.cooperstownart.com
PLAY READING – 6:30 p.m. Reading of “Lord of the Wilderness” by local playwright Ron Nash. Telling the story of William Cooper and the founding of Cooperstown. Based on Alan Taylor’s book “William Cooper’s Town.”Fenimore Art Museum Auditorium, 5798 NY-80, Cooperstown. Info, www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
CONCERT – 7 p.m. Juice Newton performs her greatest hits. Foothills Performing Arts Center, 24 Market St. Oneonta. Info, foothillspac.org List to “Angel in the Morning.”
HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR – 9 a.m.-4 p.m. featuring quality, handmade crafts by local and regional crafters. Free admission. Hunt Union Ballroom, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine pkwy, Oneonta.
THEATER – 7 p.m. High School musical, “Into the Woods.” Cooperstown Central School, 39 Linden Ave., Cooperstown. Info, cooperstowncs.org
SYMPHONY – 7:30 p.m. Catskill Symphony presents Concert II: Featuring Tenor Jon Frederic West performing Wagner and Vaughan Williams. Symphony also performs Brahms Symphony No. 2. Tickets $30, free admission for veterans, children and the adults who bring them. Hunt Union Ballroom, SUNY Oneonta. Info, tickets, (607) 436-2670, www.catskillsymphony.net
CHINESE AUCTION – 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Milford Central School District 42 W. Main St., Milford. Info, web.milfordcentral.org
HOLIDAY BAZAAR – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Includes lunch and new Children’s Ornament Build $5..The Major’s Inn, 12 Marion Ave, Gilbertsville, Info, (607)783-2393 or (607)783-2967 or visit www.themajorsinn.com
HOLIDAY MARKET AND CRAFT SHOW – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunnycrest Orchards Cidermill Gift Shop, 7869 NY-10, Sharon Springs. For more info visit www.sunnycrestorchards.com
