Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Sales has always been a family business, owner Brent Baysinger said. Now, with business booming, he shows his 10-month-old son, Ben, the ropes. (Greg Klein/AllOTSEGO.com)
PORTLANDVILLE – Brent Baysinger looks over the calm waters of Goodyear Lake and the growing business empire he has built on its banks and said it feels humbling.
“I am blessed,” he said. “I think the biggest thing is I am just so thankful for the support, not only from family and friends but also the local community.”
Baysinger, a 2000 Cooperstown Central School graduate, was doing hospitality work in Vail, Colorado, in his 20s, when he said his mother, Lonetta, proposed a business idea.
“I very much grew up a water kid,” Baysinger said. “It was actually my mom who had the idea first. She was the one who was living here and had her finger on the pulse and saw there was a need for this. I was ready for a change and I always liked to be my own boss and do my own thing.
“I basically had the opportunity to start this, and being outdoors and on the water, I didn’t have to think long about it,” he continued.
Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Sales launched in 2009 in the town of Milford, along state Route 28. Although the economy was still reeling from the 2008 recession, the weather gave Baysinger’s business a break.
FUN PADDLE – 1 – 4 p.m. Take in the sights, sounds on beautiful creek, learn about plants, animals, history of this diverse region with Otsego County Conservation Association. Bring your own (cleaned, drained, & treated) canoe or kayak or reserve one of OCCA’s. Bring water, a snack, & sunscreen. Free, registration required. Butternut Creek. 607-547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/occa-calendar/
HOPSEGO – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Family friendly festival featuring activities, fun, games, opportunities to learn local history and craft brewing. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/Hopsego
ART & MUSIC – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Outdoor street festival featuring outstanding regional artists, crafters, musicians, writers, more. Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-2070 or visit cityofthehillsartsfestival.com
O-COUNTY FAIR – 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. See best Otsego County has to offer. Daily shows, rides, more. Highlights include equestrian Gymkhana, bicycle giveaway, truck pull, livestock parade of champions, Supreme Champion Showmanship, talent contest, more. Otsego County Fair, Mills St., Morris. 607-263-5289 or visit www.otsegocountyfair.org
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/
PADDLE & PULL – 1-3 p.m., Bring your Canoe or Kayak and enjoy a leisurely paddle on Goodyear Lake. OCCA has been working to remove invasive Water Chestnuts and now you can enjoy the benefits. If you find any stumps, OCCA will pull them up. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Meeting at the Portlandville Fishing Access site on Rt. 28. occainfo.org/calendar/paddle-pull-goodyear-lake-2/
SW BIRTHDAY – 1-3 p.m. Celebrate the 30th birthday of the Swart-Wilcox House Museum. Features “Remembrances” by the Friends of Swart-Wilcox, music by Kathy Shimberg and Local Seisiun Trio, and a birthday cake. Free and open to the public with informal tours. Bring your own lawn chair. Swart-Wilcox House, Junction of Wilcox Ave. & Henry St., Oneonta. swartwilcoxhouse.wordpress.com
ONEONTA MEMORIAL DAY PARADE – 10 a.m. Line up on Market St., members of the armed services, and many more organizations will proceed down Main St. to Neahwa Park for memorial services by the American Legion. Info, Vic Bronner, (607) 263-5349, vicjbronner@frontiernet.net
COOPERSTOWN MEMORIAL DAY PARADE – 11 a.m., from the Cooperstown Vets Club up Main Street to the Soldiers & Sailor Monument in front of the county office building, where commemorations are planned.
GENERAL CLINTON CANOE REGATTA – 7 a.m. Entrants in the 55th annual, 70 mile canoe regatta, enter the river for this test of endurance. Brookwood Point, 6000 St. Rt. 80, West Lake Rd., Cooperstown. The finish line is in the General Clinton Park, Bainbridge. Info, otsegolandtrust.org/places-to-explore-103/brookwood-point
DOUBLE HEADER – 12:30 p.m. The Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team face off against 1st the Cooperstown Fire Dept. and then a team of representatives from the sponsors of the game. Doubleday Field, Cooperstown. Info, woundedwarrioramputeesoftballteam.org/event/cooperstown-ny/
PADDLE BOARD DEMOS – 10 a.m.-3 p.m. If you’ve ever wanted to try stand-up paddling, here’s your chance. Free. General Clinton Park, 2507 Hinkley Ln., Bainbridge. Info, www.canoeregatta.org/SUP.html
OPENING RECEPTION – 5-7 p.m. Opening “8×10: Recent Paintings by Edward McDaniel, Leatherstocking Brush and Palette Club Fine Arts Exhibition, and the 26th Annual Essential Art Regional Juried Art show. Cooperstown Art Association. Info, www.cooperstownart.com
