Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County is one of the local chapters, called affiliates, of Habitat for Humanity International. Our official mission is “seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope” with a vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
In the early 1970s, on a community farm outside of Americus, Georgia, Linda and Millard Fuller developed their idea of “partnership housing,” in which those in need of adequate shelter worked side by side with volunteers to build decent, affordable houses. Thanks in no small part to the personal involvement of former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn and the awareness they have raised, Habitat now works in all 50 states and in more than 70 countries. The key to Habitat is partnering with potential homeowners. Partner families actively participate, actually wielding hammers and drills to build their own homes.
COOPERSTOWN – Long time Cooperstown, N.Y. resident Dr. Emery Cline Herman, Jr. died peacefully at home with his wife by his side on Saturday morning, February 26, 2022 at the age of 92.
Born July 24, 1929 in La Grange, Georgia, Emery was the eldest of three children born to Emily Park Herman and E.C. Herman, MD. He was a graduate of Darlington School, Emory University and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (class of 1953).
While at Hopkins, he met Margaret (Peggy) Whitaker of Springfield, Ohio, and they married in 1955. After a stint at the National Institutes of Health, in 1959 Emery took a position at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital and moved his young family to Cooperstown. He began work as a research physician with Dr. Don Thomas and Dr. Joe Ferrebee in the field of bone marrow transplantation. He soon transferred to clinical medicine at Bassett, where he spent his entire medical career as a practicing physician in internal medicine, retiring in 1994. In addition to hospital commitments, Emery was actively involved in the greater Cooperstown community, serving on the Village Board of Trustees and as Cooperstown Mayor in 1970-72. Emery and Peggy raised five children together in Cooperstown until her untimely death in 1975.
A donation to the Community Foundation of Otsego County from Otego author Dennis Fowler has created The Greater Otego Library and Education Fund, focused on maintaining the Harris Memorial Library building, supporting library programs and operations, and encouraging activities to educate and enhance the lives of the residents of the village.
“Otego is such a wonderful place,” said Mr. Fowler, a 50-year resident and writer with nearly 60 books published, including a recent science fiction novel, Earth’s Song. “I just want to see it succeed.”
He and his wife, Peggy, worked in New York City before moving to Otego in the 1970s, where they became deeply involved in the community — she in Orpheus Theatre and Habitat for Humanity, he in the Otego Harris Library, where he became board president and directed an expansion of the building.
Rocky, the saw-whet owl transported accidentally to midtown Manhattan in November 2020, then purposefully to a Saugerties wildlife refuge, which released the owl into the wild.
Perhaps no one knows Rocky’s exact location these days, but at least his tree has come home.
Of course you remember the little bird who last year at this time unwittingly hitched a ride from his home in a tree in West Oneonta all the way to Manhattan’s Rockefeller Plaza, where that same tree stood to herald the holiday season in Midtown. Fans quickly dubbed the little guy “Rocky” as a result, and he attracted plenty of attention from visitors, media, and at least a dozen children’s book authors.
His temporary celebrity status affirmed, Rocky made it back into the wild through the good work of Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in Saugerties, New York. Ravensbeard did not attach a tracking device to the owl and, when they set Rocky free, Rocky was free forever.
OTSEGO COUNTY FAIR – 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Come out for the 6 best days of summer featuring livestock shows, rides, games, food, the Demolition Derby, antique tractor pulls, a performance by the Otsego School of Dance and Performing Arts, much more. Otsego County Fairgrounds, 469 Mill St., Morris. 607-263-5289 or visit www.otsegocountyfair.org
HALLOWEEN FUN – 10 a.m. – Noon. Bring painted or carved pumpkins to enter in pumpkin contest, winners announced at 10:15, followed by costume contest. Prizes available. All ages welcome. Richfield Springs Public Library, 102 Main St., Richfield Springs. 315-858-0230 or Click Here
VOTE – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Early Voting open. Meadows Office Complex, 140 Co. Hwy. 33W, Cooperstown. Click Here for info.
HORROR AT MUSEUM – 6 p.m. Enjoy evening of spooky stories from students, faculty, & staff. Will feature readings and performances of original, classic tales of horror and the macabre. Presented by Yager Museum of Art & Culture, Hartwick College, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/yagermuseum/ for info.
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
WORD THURSDAY – 7 – 9 p.m. Open mic followed featuring poets recently published in ‘Seeing Things: An Anthology of Poetry’ by presentation by Robert Bensen and Pam Strother. Donations welcome. Zoom conversation presented by Bright Hills Press & Literary Center, Treadwell. 607-829-5055 or visit www.facebook.com/brighthp/
CIDER PRESSING – 2 p.m. Learn how to make real apple cider at demonstration of old fashioned cider press. Continues till apples are gone. Also find, apple cider donuts, homemade icecream. Polar Bear Homemade Ice Cream & More!, 5212 St. Hwy. 28 S., Oneonta. 607-434-0148 or visit www.facebook.com/Polar-Bear-Homemade-Ice-Cream-More-538187663021144/
WRITERS SALON – 7:30 p.m. Virtual writers salon by CANO hosted on Zoom. Features author Alice Lichenstein, and an open mic session. Presented by Community Arts Network of Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/CANOneonta for info.
RELAY FOR LIFE – 11 a.m. Join Fall Foliage Run with the American Legion Riders in memory of Robin Enck, Rider & Army Veteran who lost his life to cancer this year. Ride to support American Cancer Society in the search for a cure. Registration begins 9:45 a.m. Cost, $15/participant. American Legions, 279 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 607-432-0494 or visit www.facebook.com/alrpost259
WORD THURSDAY – 7 p.m. Tune in for reading of award winning book ‘The Ruined Walled Castle Garden’ with author Mary Gilliband of Ithaca. Evening will begin with open-mic featuring 5 poets. Presented by Bright Hill Press & Literary Center. Visit www.facebook.com/brighthp/ for info.
DRIVE-IN MOVIES – 6 p.m. Come out for a fun outdoor movie experience. This week showing ‘Jurassic Park.’ Movie starts at dusk. Free admission, donations welcome. Foothills Performing Arts Center Parking Lot, Oneonta. 607-353-7143 or visit www.foothillspac.org
