One of the joys of living in our part of Upstate New York is the ability to recognize and appreciate some individuals who truly make our world better, and who, in a larger populated area, might go unnoticed.
In this particular case, I would like to thank and congratulate Liane Hirabayashi and Lynne Mebust for the success of the “Looking in the Mirror: Cooperstown Reflects on Racism” programming made possible this year via Zoom and sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area and The Friends of the Village Library.
The ability to participate in this important series from the comfort of our homes, and to view at a preferred time through Zoom – all recorded and available through the Village Library website – was a truly brilliant concept.
I am sure that all speakers who shared their expertise so generously would not have been willing to travel on our wintry roads to attend a live event.
Participation was high, technology worked! Our community has a better understanding of racism and now has some tools in our toolbox with which to combat racism here and in the larger world.
SUNDAY SERIES – 3 – 4 p.m. Friends of the Village Library presents ‘From Antebellum to Anti-Racism: Redirecting Your Down South Tourism’ featuring Sydney Waller discussing sites to include on a Civil Rights themed trip through the American South. Cooperstown Village Library. 607-547-8344 or visit www.facebook.com/VillageLibraryOfCooperstown/
ANGEL TREE PROGRAM – Give the Gift of Christmas this holiday season. Adopt a family in need. Visit www.allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ to learn how.
GOHS BENEFIT AUCTION – Noon. The Greater Oneonta 14th annual auction goes online at www.32auctions.com/GOHSBenefitAuctionand continues to 5 p.m. 11/21. Find art, antiques, furniture, gift cards, more available. Many items on view at the Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-0960 for info or visit www.instagram.com/oneontahistoricalsociety/ to view items.
ANGEL TREE PROGRAM – Give the Gift of Christmas this holiday season. Adopt a family in need. Visit www.allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ to learn how.
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
COOPERSTOWN REFLECTS – 7 p.m. Join panel on Zoom to for ‘Cooperstown Reflects on Racism and Tourism’ discussion with representatives from The Baseball Hall of Fame, The Otesaga, Destination Marketing, Adirondack Diversity Solutions, & Destiny Does Happen. Presented by Cooperstown Village Library. Visit fovl.eventbrite.com to register.
COOPERSTOWN REFLECTS – 7 p.m. Join panel on Zoom to for ‘Cooperstown Reflects on Racism: History, Demographics, and Current Issues’ discussion with representatives from Oneonta NAACP, Cooperstown Graduate Program, Say Their Names exhibit, & Opportunities for Otsego. Presented by Cooperstown Village Library. Visit fovl.eventbrite.com to register.
COVID-19 TESTING – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Otsego County residents are invited for free rapid testing for Covid-19. Find out quick, help stop the spread. Pre-registration required. Foothills Performing Arts Center, 22 Market St., Oneonta. 607-547-4279.
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.
CONCERT – 3 p.m. Stamford Friends of Music present Pegasus: The Orchestra performing American masterpieces Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland, others. Suggested donation, $12/person. Stamford United Methodist Church, 88 Main St., Stamford. Visit friendsmusic.org
RACE – 9 a.m. Run the 4.4 mile Council Rock to Council Rock Race sponsored by Clarks Sports Center. Proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team Kid’s Camp. Registration: $25/indiv, $55/family (5 ppl max). Race starts at 11 a.m, Council Rock Park, Lake & River Sts., Cooperstown Info, www.clarksportscenter.com, 547-2800, ext 111.
Russians meddlers in the 2016 U.S. elections played up racial, ethnic and other divisions among Americans, recirculating articles from major newspapers that highlighted those issues, the Washington Post’s Craig Timberg, who summers near Cherry Valley, told an SRO crowd this evening in Cooperstown Village Hall. A Pulitzer Prize winner, Timberg said many details about the Russian’s interference and its extent are still unclear to reporters – 20 at the Washington Post – who are working on the story full time. Here he fields a question from Patty MacLeish of Cooperstown. Timberg, son-in-law of Ed and Joan Badgley of Cooperstown, spoke on the topic, “Russian Disinformation: Will it Happen Again?” The talk was sponsored by the Friends of the Village Library. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
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/
SUPER-SENIOR PROM – 8 p.m. – Midnight. Relive your Senior Prom like it’s the very first time. Features music from 1950-1999, prom attire encouraged. Cost, $10/couple. Production Center, Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. Call 607-432-5407 or visit www.facebook.com/GEStevensOneonta/
SPRING FEST – 9 a.m. – Dark. Celebrate Spring, includes a visit from the zoomobile, a fishing derby, fire department competitions, kids’ boat-float contest, live music all day, more. Copes Corners Park, 620 St. Hwy. 51, Gilbertsville. Call 607-783-2203 or visit copescornerspark.org
SHOWSHOE HIKE – 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Enjoy a hike around Gilbert Lake State Park led by Jeff O’Handley and featuring fun ecological facts about Otsego County. Gilbert Lake State Park, 18 CCC Rd., Laurens. Call 607-547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/calendar/cabin-fever-fest-snowshoe-hike/
SEED SWAP – 10 – 11 a.m. Exchange seeds and discuss plans for the coming growing season with the Otsego County Master Gardeners. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 Co. Rd. 11, Hartwick. Call 518-234-4303, ext. 119 or visit cceschoharie-otsego.org/events/2018/01/27/national-seed-swap-day
WILBER POOL OPENING – 1-5 p.m. The Wilber outdoor pool opens for the season. Featuring open swim, family swim from 5-7:30, and lap swimming. A great way to spend a hot day. Cost, free for Oneonta residents, $1 per child, $3 adult, $8 family. Wilber Pool, 1 Wilber Park Dr., Oneonta. Info, www.oneontaymca.org/upcoming-events.html
COMEDY – 8 p.m. Presenting the hysterical words of Kevin Johnson and his guests, local funk reggae ensemble, Hanzolo. Tickets, $15 adults, $12 youth, seniors, and veterans. The Church, at the decommissioned Baptist Church, 2381 St. Hwy. 205, Mount Vision. www.upsi-ny.com/upcoming-events-news/
