With plenty of summer left and abundant natural space to discover, the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet includes state forests, state parks, local parks, Otsego Land Trust properties, private property open to the public, and the “New Lisbon Ride” that links Gilbert Lake State Park and Texas Schoolhouse State Forest.
By completing eight activities before September 21, participants earn a free embroidered Summer Octet patch and get listed on the Otsego Outdoors Challenge Roster. Participants can head to otsegooutdoors.org to find the full range of ‘summer octet’ possibilities.
“The menu of challenges this summer offers many opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors,” said Jeff O’Handley, program director for the Otsego County Conservation Association. “In addition to the hikes and bikes and berry picking, we hope some will join us in some of our dirty and wet invasive species activities.”
Destinations new to the Octet Challenge this year are Bear Swamp State Forest in Decatur, the Robert V. Woodruff Outdoor Learning Center in Jordanville, Emmons Pond Bog in Oneonta, and New Island Forest Trails in Catella Park, Oneonta. Not all destinations are located directly inside Otsego County’s borders, but organizers note all are within approximately 10 miles of the county.
Two days ago, after visiting a friend in the village, I walked home, a jaunt of about five miles.
I am a walker by nature, but it has been a while since I have taken a walk of any substantial length. Most of our walks around here are two to three miles. That, coupled with working in the gardens and doing chores up here on the hill, usually serves as a worthy, and tiring, supplement to longer walks.
However, that walk a few days ago reminded me of the salutary rewards of a long, leisurely walk, a walk Thoreau so sagely described as a ‘saunter.’
As I started my way up Pink Street, a neighbor stopped briefly to chat. After a bit of neighborly catching up, he observed I had two walking sticks. At that moment I was only using one, saving the other for the uphill climb ahead. I informed him of my wife’s encouraging me to walk with two sticks, believing it might help improve my posture.
He paused for a second, I suspect to gather up his philosophical wits and, with respect to my wife’s concern for my posture, said, “that’s why I don’t have one.”
MOVE OUT – 9 a.m. – Used items from SUNY Oneonta students are available. Everything under the tent is free. ReUse Center, 23 Duane St., Oneonta. E-mail Rachel.kornhauser@oneonta.edu.
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE – 7 – 8:30 p.m. Presenting this years Mills Distinguished Lecture, Bryan Stevenson is author of “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” describing the early years of Stevenson’s legal practice after founding Equal Justice Initiative to represent the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children and the injustice he and his clients encountered in our Justice system. Free, open to public. Alumni Field House, Dewar Arena, SUNY Oneonta. Visit oneonta.campuslabs.com/engage/event/2644191
PUBLIC SPEAKING – 5:30 p.m. Practice public speaking with the toastmasters. All welcome. The White House Building, The Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-1466 or e-mail b.fischer@fenimoreart.org.
Dan Wyant, Danny Lapin, Sara Joyner, Joe Vallette, Monika Vallette, Denny Allen, Treei Youngs, Amanda Brandas, Melissa Moore, Nicole Rothernberger, Jenni Critti-LeBeau, Lindsey Rumenapp, Patrice Doxtader, Dylan Wright and Phuong Nguyen prepare to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Primal Revolution Fitness this morning at 144 Roundhouse Road in Oneonta. “We have workouts that are scalable for every fitness level. We have triatheletes and beginners in their 60’s!” said Monika Vallette, who co-ownes the gym with Amanda Brandas and Nicole Rothenberger. “We want to help make everyone into happier, healthier versions of themselves through Crossfit.” said Brandas, “There is a real community aspect here. Everyone is supportive and pushes each other.” Rothenberger added “We start and finish the workout together. That way no one is left behind. That just started happening, it comes with the camaraderie.” At right, Jeff Joyner, President of Fox Hospital, gets into his routine climbing the rope. The gym, which opened in the beginning of March, already has plans to expand to accommodate a larger workout rig and more floor space for their growing membership. The gym is open 5am-9pm.
INSPIRATION WORKSHOP – 6:30 p.m. Work with Linda Foote to create your own Inspiration/Vision Board to help you visualize your path to your ideal life. Woodside Hall, 1 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, Karen Cadwalader, LCSW @ (607)547-0600 or visit www.facebook.com/Woodside.Hall
Cutting the ribbon this morning at Oneonta’s renovated Foxcare Fitness are, from left, Jennie Gliha, Ryan Scott, Mary Hansen, Jeff Joyner, Louise Sandoli, Doug Decker, Seth Haight, Chris Raverra, Barbara Ann Heegan, Stephanie Paluch, Amanda Stanley, Al Rubin, Celeste Gray, Oneonta Town Supervisor Bob Wood, Dave Greene and Alan Sessions. At right, tours of the facility in the Foxcare Center on Route 7 on Oneonta’s East End were led by Ryan Scott, showing off highlights of the gym – the new Strength & Conditioning Studio that features an Olympic lifting platform, a full suspension training rack, a flipping tire, sand bags, jump boxes, heavy bags, speed bags, heavy rope and more. The studio will always be open during business hours. “I’ve been to a lot of gyms in the area,” said Rubin after the tour, “And the equipment they have in there is as good as it gets.” Other upgrades include a new roof over the pool, new flooring and new machines. The public is invited to try out the facility free of charge 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, where a opening party will feature give-aways. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
