Erratic rain throughout the evening led to the cancellation of Oneonta’s annual Halloween parade, but all manner of ghouls and ghosts made their treat-seeking rounds at local homes and businesses this afternoon and evening. Above, Devin El, Leilani El and Ziyen Giles passed City Hall on their treat-hunting mission, with Lizzette Hopkins and Edward Giles, Maryland, in tow. Inset at right, Oneonta’s Jessica and Paul Benzaleski arrive downtown with their children Adalia and Reilly ready to take home some sweets.(Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
All manner of spooks, ghouls and goblins invaded the halls of Oneonta’s Southside Mall this afternoon for the annual Mall-O-Ween for children and their families. Above, Keith Gray, owner of Luncheons & Dragons game store, the mall’s newest tenant, hands out candy alongside Jessi Wiertz, to Madison Orozco, Alliya Leggett, Skyla Orozco and Rakem Browne. The store is set to open Nov. 1 – Friday – in the former FYE. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Kathryn Demby, her grandson, Lukas Dolan, 10, of Worcester; Cristina Hansen, adjunct lecturer for SUNY Oneonta’s physics lab; her husband, Erik Stengler, professor in CGP’s Science Museum Studies Track; Jim Hill, OCCA vice president, and far right, Jeff O’Handley, OCCA’s program director. (Jennifer Hill/AllOTSEGO.com)
By JENNIFER HILL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – They might not look like space explorers, but the seven who met Saturday morning at the railroad tracks were just that.
Bill Ralston led a tour of the Earth’s solar system, from the sun to Pluto, by using common objects to represent the planets and walking specific numbers of paces between them to represent actual distances between them.
Aaliya Koncklin, Leilanie El and Nathaniel Hurley and the rest of MRs. Wood’s first grade class rush to the the tables in the library full of books for the annual Reading Is Fundamental (R.I.F) event this morning at Valleyview Elementary in Oneonta. Each child is allowed to pick out two books of their choice and hands out over 6000 books a year to students from pre-k to 5th grade. The event is sustained entirely through donations, can be supported by mailing your gift to RIF P.O. Box 703 Oneonta, NY 13820, or by contacting OneontaRIF on facebook. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Above, little Evelyn Covington, Gilbertsville, gets her face painted by Annika Christensen, Gilbertsville, at Copes Corners Park Springfest in Gilberstville on Saturday afternoon. Visitors enjoyed meeting animals at the Utica Zoomobile, building and racing wooden boats, a fishing derby sponsored by Trout Unlimited, Live music, atlatl throwing, fireman’s competition, vendors, chicken BBQ, live music and an ice cream social.(Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Riverside 6th graders Anlye White and Kya Whitbeck, help shovel dirt around an apple tree held by arborist Fred Hathaway, during the annual Arbor Day celebration At Riverside School this morning. This year, the students helped plant 2 apple trees, a cortland and a macintosh, on the lawn near the historic Swart Wilcox House. Judy Pangman read a proclamation from Mayor Gary Herzig, and afterwards 250 Douglas Fir seedlings were handed out to students as they returned to class.(Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Tim Chapin and Gabrielle Bailey hand out cotton candy – an Crayon Carnival favorite – to Chloe Arnold, Cooperstown, during the annual event this afternoon at Cooperstown High Schoo’s Bursey Gym. “This is out fourth year doing it and we love it!” said Chapin. “We had a cotton candy machine and we figured we might as well share!” Visitors could also play games, win prizes, enjoy face painting and balloon animals, as well as potting plants and learning how to test for water purification in local streams. At right, Stefania Aguzzi and son Gregory look over the confectionary delights at the food table.(Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Ghouls, ghosts, princesses, dinosaurs, witches and more filled the Southside Mall this afternoon as youngsters and their families enjoyed indoor trick-or-treating as part of the annual Mall-O-Ween event. Above: At the costume contest, Gavin Tandle, left, brother Aiden and mom Michelle, Oneonta, applaud alongside Colin Walsh, Davenport, and Julianna Everson, Worcester. At right, Phoenix Temple strikes a pose as Rosie the Riveter before taking 2nd place in her age category. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
There were plenty of tears and cheers this morning as children headed off to the first day of school in Oneonta. Above, Jackson Latham wears his best end of summer scowl as mom Christina gives his brother Aaden a goodbye kiss alongside sister Kay as they are dropped off at Greater Plains Elementary. At left, Giana Dionisio holds a sign celebrating her first day of 1st grade. At right, Ari Aiyemo helps her kids Ethan and Eden find their way to class (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
It was arts and crafts galore at the annual City Of The Hills Art and Music Festival on Main Street in Oneonta this afternoon as art lovers flocked to enjoy the creations of our area’s creatives. Here, Jozef Rifenbark, Charlotte Valley, Leila Pierro and sister Anika, West Oneonta, Qimane Williams, Oneonta, and Beth Akulin, Oneonta, all paint panes of glass at CANO’s “Paint What You See” tent. Live music, food, and vendors continue until 5pm today. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Andrew Zeh, Manager of the Oneonta Stewarts Shop, right, hands out free ice cream cones to Arwen and Nova Clapper, Oneonta at OWL’s annual Ice Cream Social at Fortin Park this afternoon. Guests could also enjoy demonstrations from the Oneonta R.C. Racers, make rockects, dance, play with building kits and see the RoboKronos robot. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
FAREWELL CONCERT – 7:30 p.m. The Catskill Symphony Orchestra performs works by Beethoven, Rutter, followed by Maestro Charles Schneider’s farewell performance of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th movements of Symphony No. 5 by Dimitri Shostakovich followed by a reception. Tickets, $30. Hunt Union Ballroom, SUNY Oneonta. Call 607-436-2670 or visit catskillsymphony.net
BABY SHOWER – 9 a.m. – Noon. Annual community baby shower featuring information & mini-classes from providers on pregnancy, breastfeeding, fatherhood, babies, birth, breastfeeding, and beyond. Door prizes & games galore. FoxCare Center, Oneonta. Call 607-433-8000 or visit www.facebook.com/ofoinc/
The annual Easter Egg Hunt at Bookout Funeral Home broke it’s previous attendance record this morning as 93 children and their families came to enjoy the festivities. Children could search for candy-filled eggs in four different rooms, enjoy tasty treats and enter for and chance to win prizes. Above, Kayleigh Deloge, left, and Jordan-Lynn Bordieri, right, Oneonta dig for eggs in the balloon room. At right, Connor Stokes, left, Oneonta, stands with his friend Patrick Grace who he presented with a new bike during the raffle. “His bike was falling apart and I knew he needed a new one. I put my tickets in to win the bike and I said if I won, I would give it to him.” (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Crowds flooded into the Foothills Atrium this morning to enjoy Breakfast with the Easter Bunny! Children and their families enjoyed pancakes, sausage and fruit, hunted for Easter eggs, decorated cookies, colored Easter pictures and or course, got their photo with the Easter Bunny! Above, Toni Goodrich, Otego and her daughter Page color an Easter themed picture for the coloring contest. At right, Brenna Byrnes, DuPont, gives the Easter Bunny a big, fluffy hug. The event was sponsored by Destination Oneonta and the Kiwanis Club as a fundraiser for their future family events. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Oneonta’s Jaelyn Privitera, and sisters Gracie and Gianna look on as their brother Benny Privitera, gets a smooch from Reggie at the kissing booth put on by Super Heroes In Ripped Jeans at the Southside Mall this afternoon. For fifty cents you can get your picture taken with your doggy love until 4 p.m. today. All proceeds go toward the Super Heroes In Ripped Jeans animal rescue agency. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
