OTSEGO OCTET – Feb.1 – Apr. 30. Explore local trails at the state parks, forests, and land trust sites. Once you’ve completed eight of the 12 trails send in a form & $5 to receive the Otsego Octet Patch. Participants are encouraged to post pictures. Visit otsegooutdoors.org/our-challenge/ for info.
The back room at The Green Earth is once again filling up with Christmas Cheer as organizer Lisa Nunez, left, and Don Reese counted donations to the 4th annual Shoeboxes For Seniors drive. “I didn’t know how it was going to work out this yer with COVID.” said Nunez, “But I think we are doing pretty great so far!” 188 care packages have already been collected from donors and drop-off sites, with more needed to meet the record set the previous year of 247. People wishing to donate can drop-off at The Southside Mall, The Green Earth and The New York Skin & Vein Center in Oneonta before the final pick up on Monday, Dec. 21st. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
On behalf of the Cooperstown Fire Department, I would like to let you know we will not be doing our annual Equipment Fund Drive this year. Due to COVID-19 and the economic impact it has had on us all we feel that we should forgo asking for donations.
Through your generous past donations we have been able to purchase the most necessary equipment we needed to replace. Although the prices of goods continue to skyrocket during this pandemic time, we felt this was the right decision to make.
We thank you for your past donations and, of course, the department will continue to gratefully accept donations if your circumstances permit.
JIM TALLMAN, Chief
Cooperstown Fire Department (Editor’s Note: Regardless, donations may be mailed to Cooperstown Fire Dept., P.O. Box 1, Cooperstown NY 13326)
Linda Drake, SUNY Oneonta’s Center for Social Responsibility & Community executive director, presents Abe Lippitt, Cooperstown, with the Best Meal Award for his 4H team’s pirate-ship entry in this year’s Canstruction event. The 0415 FIRST Robotics team took the Structural Integrity Prize for its rocket ship; Fox Hospital, Best Use of Labels award for its Operation board game, and SUNY took the Judge’s Favorite award with its soccer field. All in all, the event brought in 2,645 pounds of food that will be donated to area food banks. You can still place your vote for the People’s Choice Award at the Southside Mall throughout the week. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Steve Hughes, Gilbertsville, gives Mrs. Claus a big Christmas hug.
ONEONTA – The end of the Christmas season will mark the end of an era for a Southside Mall mainstay.
For over two decades, Vera Stewart, aka Mrs. Claus, has been volunteering for the Salvation Army by ringing bells and holding doors at her station outside of JCPenney, spreading cheer to holiday shoppers. Dressed in red velvet with white trim, the Southside Mrs. Claus has become a mainstay of the Christmas season to many visitors young and old.
“When they first asked me to be a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, I decided to try it.” said Stewart, “I began doing it only on weekends, then I went to five days a week.”
BOOK FAIR – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Find rare, interesting books and ephemera the Cooperstown Antiquarian Book Fair. Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-2800 or visit www.cooperstownantiquarianbookfair.com/
SPAGHETTI DINNER – 4 – 7 p.m. Donation dinner to benefit the Milford Class of 2019. Milford Central School Cafeteria, 42 W. Main St., Milford. Call 607-286-3349 or visit www.web.milfordcentral.org
TINKERING TUESDAY – 10:30-11:30 a.m. Design and Print a custom fidget spinner. Material fee applies. Registration required. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut St., Oneonta. Call 607-432-1980 or visit hmloneonta.org/adult-programs/
Oneonta Middle School volunteers Sarah Lawrence and Ava Nunez put two more packages on the growing pile in the back room of the Green Earth, the drop-off site for the Shoe Boxes for Seniors. Over 177 boxes have been collected with more coming in from OHS students, Oneonta Specialty Services, SUNY students, The Southside Mall, The Working Kitchen, Green Earth and more from throughout the community. Each box will be delivered to a housebound senior in Otsego County during the weekly Meals On Wheels runs starting on Wednesday. Until then, packages can still be dropped off at the Green Earth as late as Monday morning. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
With help from college students, police and Royal Chrystler employees, more than $10,000 worth of toys were donated to Toys for Tots annual toy drive. “Every year, we set an increasing goal,” said manager Rob Howard. “We hope to hit $12,000 next year.” The toys will be distributed to local families. Students, on left, are Austin Hughes, Jaclyn Logotto, Natalie Longo, Caroline Roman, Kate Wood, Karlene Ziegler, Nicole Johnston, and Emma Romeo. Royal Chrystler employees, on right, Amy Williams, Jeremy Hoyt, Tony Ross, Jim Westcott, Scott Pickwick, Brandon Shelly, Lee Bartlett, Erica Utter, Rob Howard, Heather Canahan and Josh Roe. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Gaylord Dillingham, Susquehanna Animal Shelter Board President watches as Executive Director Stacie Haynes pouring water out of a cat carrier after Saturday night’s rains left their isolation building flooded. While there were some wet paws, all animals were safe and were relocated to dry rooms while the building is cleaned up. A large stock of blankets and dog food were lost, and the shelter is currently seeking donations. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
FAMILY GAME NIIGHT – 5-10 p.m. Bring Family and Friends to Board Game Night. Serenity Hobbies, 254 Main St, Oneonta. Info, serenityhobbies.com
CHRISTMAS DINNER DONATIONS – 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Donations of food to the Friends of Christmas Dinner should be dropped off at First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Oneonta. Accepting baked pies, fruit breads, Christmas cookies, fresh fruit, apple and cranberry juice. Volunteers needed as cooks, drivers, servers and cleaning. Info, Ann Steen 432-1283 or Kelly Ahlqvist 432-1871
SOUTHSDIE MALL SANTA – 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta.
ONEONTA SANTA – 4-6 p.m. Muller Plaza, Main St., Oneonta.
MUSIC – 6-9 p.m. Come de-stress with Dan Schilling. Timber Creek Saloon and Restaurant, 2957 ST. HWY. 23, West Oneonta. Info, www.facebook.com/TimberCreekLLC
We still have 6 families in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program in need of a benefactor this holiday season. CLICK HERE to learn how you can help them.
CONCERT – 3 p.m. “Christmas in the Catskills: Songs of the Season” the winter concert of the Catskill Chamber Singers. Unitarian Universalist Church, 12 Ford Ave., Oneonta. Info, Emma Kirsch (607)433-0999, or visit www.catskillchambersingers.com
YULETIDE CELEBRATION – 1-4 p.m. Hunt for the Yule log and then settle in for an afternoon of arts and crafts for the whole family. SUNY Oneonta College Camp, off upper East St.,Oneonta. one mile from intersection of Bugbee Rd. and East St., Oneonta. Info, 436-3455
WASSAIL WEEKEND – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Demonstration on how to make Wassail, the traditional holiday drink. Savory spices blended with sweet cider at The Fly Creek Cider Mill, 288 Goose St., Fly Creek. Info, 1-800-505-6455, flycreekcidermill.com
It was chilly this morning, but that didn’t keep Desiree Wheeler and the Hillside Commons Bear from standing outside at the annual “Fill The Bus” event this morning at Southside Mall to benefit Toys For Tots. The bus, provided by OPT in conjunction with Hillside Commons, will be back at the mall 9-11 a.m. Sunday. And toys can still be dropped off at many locations around the county before they are collected on Dec. 14. “I didn’t get a lot of toys this year.” said organizer Sharron Wheeler, “I am still about 700 toys short. I hope our county can step up to help the kids this Holiday season.” If you would like more information, or, to drop off toy donations, call 432-7052. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
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.
To Learn How You Can Help Area Families This Holiday Season CLICK HERE.
INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE – 7:30 p.m. Hosted by Rev. Craig Schwalenberg. Rev Randolph Palada will deliver the message. Choir to sing hymns from the Unitarian Universalist Hymnal, “Singing the Living Tradition”. Donation of money and non-perishable food requested, to be distributed to Oneonta food banks. Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, 12 Ford Ave., Oneonta. Info, Ric Chrislip Frederic.Chrislip@gmail.com or call 431-4189
KNITTING GROUP – 1:30-3:30 p.m. Village Library, 22 Main St., Cooperstown. For more info CLICK HERE.