The Otsego Lake and SUNY Oneonta communities worked together to protect property, life, and the environment around Otsego Lake on Saturday, November 5.
Saturday morning had me concerned about whether the autumn no-wake zone buoy Buoyfest would be a success or would be only the first day of a multiple day effort to retrieve our NWZBs. Winds were strong enough to cause concern, and we had lost the services of four divers, who we had planned to work with us, in the 24 hours prior to the event.
Health and other good reasons prevented those four divers from participating. The preparation work provided on Friday by Otsego Lake Association members Bill Richtsmeier, Mickie Richtsmeier, Doug Willies and Peter Regan facilitated an early departure. The focus and experience of graduate students Sarah Coney and Brian Hefferon provided core successes which inspired our SUNY Oneonta undergraduate students and recent graduates, Liv Bartik, Alan Brault, Zach Lebid, and Katlin Mancusi, to see the work through to completion.
The OLA Board of Directors was well represented, providing essential tender services: Wayne Bunn, Peter Regan and Kiyoko Yokota. Chuck Hascup masterfully employed his barge to support our work. I am grateful to all.
The last two NWZBs, at Springfield Landing and Lake Front, will be retrieved and swapped for spar buoys, as is our tradition, on the weekend prior to Christmas Eve. That typically involves breaking through thin ice along the shoreline to reach those buoys, but the shallow depths involved encourage a lighthearted attitude about this December work.
Paul H. Lord SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Divemaster and Instructor
Cooperstown will host the Lakefront Concert series, which began Tuesday, July 6, and will take place every Tuesday from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and non-alcoholic beverages. The next concert will be Tuesday, July 13, and will feature the Kennesaw Mountain Boys.
Richfield to host concerts in the park
The Richfield Springs ‘Concert in the Park’ series, a free event, will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesdays on state Route 20, starting Wednesday, July 14.
Attendees should bring a blanket or chair.
The first event will feature classic country from the Nelson Brother’s Band.
BOAT PARADE – 3 p.m. Get out for the annual ‘We Love Our Lake’ decorated boat parade. This years theme ‘Lets Celebrate – It’s The 4th Of July.’ All boats welcome from human powered to motor powered and all in between. Participants are reminded to practice social distancing. Parade assembles at 3 Mile Point and proceeds on West Side of the Lake to Lakefront Park, Cooperstown. 518-542-6630 or visit otsegolakeassociation.org for info.
Cali Paterno, 9, right, found the 2020 Cooperstown Winter Carnival Medallion this afternoon under a fake rock in Lakefront Park. Cali and her whole family, including brother Joey, were scouring the site at the time she found the prize. She will be awarded $500 by The Freeman’s Journal & Hometown Oneonta during the Cooperstown Winter Carnival, Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 6-8, with activities throughout the village.
CONCERT – 7 p.m. Cooperstown Lakefront Concert Series presents D’Funk’D, a 9 piece pop horn band performing pop, funk, soul, other genres of music. Bring chairs, picnic and relax in Lakefront Park, Cooperstown. richcooperstown.org/lakefront-concert-series
CONCERT – 7 p.m. Cooperstown Lakefront Concert Series presents the Cooperstown Community Band, featuring local musicians performing everything from marches to showtunes, more. Bring chairs, picnic and relax in Lakefront Park, Cooperstown.
FAIR OPENING – Noon. Celebrate opening of the Fair with NY State Sire Stake Harness Racing, Fire Service/School Band Parade, fireworks show, much more. Otsego County Fair, 48 Lake St., Morris. 607-263-5289 or visit www.otsegocountyfair.org
COMMUNITY PROGRAM – 6:30 p.m. Join The Gathering Place for toe tapping fun with ‘Ah Coopella’ performing vocal music in variety of genres. Refreshments to follow. Free, open to public. Woodside Hall, 1 Main St., Cooperstown. 607-547-0600 ext. 101 or visit www.facebook.com/Woodside.Hall/
OLDEST PARADE – 11 a.m. The second oldest parade in the country kicks off again, with a full day of festivities to follow, including a concert and fireworks at dusk. Springfield Center Community Center, 129 Co Rd 29A, Springfield Center.
CONCERT – 7 p.m. The 20-piece Easy Money Big Band will play at Lakefront Park’s historic bandstand, 1 Pioneer St., Cooperstown. Info, 607-547-5256, www.richcooperstown.org
To the delight of spectators watching from Council Rock, a new entry in this year’s 57th annual General Clinton Regatta, rose from Brookwood Point shortly after the races began and rode the winds sedately to Cooperstown, stopping to say hi to the flagpole at Main and Pioneer before settling down off Lakefront Park to enjoyed the event. Events are planned throughout the day at the Bainbridge terminus, with a Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m. and an awards ceremony at 5 (approximately) in General Clinton Park. Meanwhile, watch for the canoes along the route. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
In dark of winter, lights – in the form of fireworks – lit up the sky over the south end of Otsego Lake a few minutes ago, marking the midpoint of the 2019 Cooperstown Winter Carnival. As it traditional, the display was made possible through contributions of County Clerk Kathy Sinnott Gardner, County Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr., Diistrict Attorney John Muehl and County Treasurer Allen Ruffles, as well as the Casale Group and the Lions Club, which organized the annual carnival. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
CONCERT – 7 p.m. Fritz Henry, solo singer, guitar offers fun, interactive music for all ages. Lakefront Park, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-5256 or visit richcooperstown.org/lakefront-concert-series/
CONCERT – 7 p.m. Wintergreen, folk trio performs traditional, contemporary, original music with variety of folk instruments. Lakefront Park, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-5256 or visit richcooperstown.org/lakefront-concert-series/
NATURAL HISTORY – 2 p.m. Presentation features interactive slideshow, live animals to introduce kids to unique reptiles, amphibians of Vermont. Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie. 518-673-2314 or visit www.arkellmuseum.org/events-calendar
