BENEFIT LUNCH – Noon – 2 p.m. Support Cooperstown Food Pantry at Empty Bowls Luncheon. Pick a unique bowl by a local potter to enjoy lunch of soup by local chef. Suggested donation $15. Parish Hall, Christ Church, 69 Fair St., Cooperstown. 607-547-2627 or visit cooperstownfoodpantry.org
HELICOPTER – 5:30 p.m. Army Reserve & NY Army National Guard collaborate with Cooperstown Graduate Program for military exercise featuring UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters landing at Bassett. Public is welcome to observe, tour once the aircraft are shut down. Please follow direction of military personnel to ensure a safe distance from the aircraft while it is in operation. Landing will be near Bassett Helipad, across from Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown.
BALLOON FEST – 5 – 9 p.m. Enjoy vendors, performers, bounce house, rock wall, more. Then Hot Air Balloon launch at 6. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-432-2941 or visit www.facebook.com/DestinationOneonta/
SESQUICENTENNIAL – Noon – 9 p.m. Celebrate 150th anniversary of Cooperstown-Charlotte Valley Railway with golden spike, speeches, music, celebratory train ride followed by cannon shoot, ice cream social, historical presentation, fireworks, more. Cost, $30/adult. Depart Milford Depot, 136 E. Main St., Milford. 607-432-2429 or visit www.facebook.com/cacvrr/
Oneonta’s Mark Spaziani, Rick Rogers and Ross Rogers – The Roundhouse Rockers – gave an evening of live music started this afternoon at the second annual Play It Forward event at the Oneonta Vets Club. This seven-hour jam session features live music, a chicken BBQ and raffles, with 100 percent of all funds donated to the American Legion Legacy Run. At right, Oneonta native Sandy Ross shares a kiss on the dance floor with her new husband Robb; the two married this morning. The couple, who flew up from Florida, co-created the event with Sandy’s sister Carla Balnis, and in lieu of a reception, decided to invite family and friends to attend the event and donate to the cause. Musicians from Florida, NYC, Utica and Oneonta will keep you rocking until 10 p.m. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
FINE ARTS – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fine arts on the lawn features works for sale by local artists, members of CAA. Cooperstown Art Association. 607-547-9777 or visit www.cooperstownart.com
WEST KORTRIGHT FAIR – Noon – 6 p.m. Celebrate regions agricultural bounty with afternoon of fun, music, food. Live music features PALEFACE, Richie and Rosie, The Big Takeover. Enjoy local food, group art show, silent auction, rummage sale, activities, local vendors, more. West Kortright Center, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith. 607-278-5454 or visit westkc.org/event/west-kortright-fair-2018/
The Horseshoe Lounge Playboys – Tom Wetmore, Darren Trass, Randy Miritello and Will Lunn – get the dance floor hopping as they get into their groove at the opening night of the second annual Bluegrass Americana Festival,tonight and tomorrow at Foothills. Tickets are still available for Saturday’s noon-10 p.m. performances, including the Gibson Boys as headliners at 8 p.m. Details, tickets at www.foothillspac.org (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
FUN IN THE SNOW! Final day of the 50th anniversary Cooperstown Winter Carnival features snowman building, soup’n’ chili, soccer slushing in Pioneer Park, the “Fatty Bumppo” bike race ghost tours, wine tasting, a chicken wing competition, the Fire & Ice Bar at The Otesaga, Annie & The Hedonists concert, and the carnival closer. For full schedule of events, see www.cooperstownwintercarnival.com/event-schedule
3-D PRINTING – 10-11:30 a.m. Design a keepsake heart box for someone special. Fee based on weight Registration required. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut St., Oneonta. Info, hmloneonta.org/calendar/
YPN NETWORKING – 6-8 p.m. Come meet young professionals from the Otsego area. The topic for this evening is community involvement. The Beverage Exchange, 73 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, www.facebook.com/YoungProfessionalsNetworkYPN/
FUNDRAISER – 7 p.m. Live music will be performed. The public may donate for the opportunity to perform. Donations go to the Cooperstown Lion’s Club fund to support area residents to lessen financial stress. Mel’s at 22, Cooperstown. Info, www.facebook.com/Melsat22/
A rainy Sunday afternoon created a good day for ducks…and teddy bears! The Oneonta Community Concert Band’s annual Teddy Bear Picnic in Wilber Park played a wide selection of music from marches to Mambos. Following tradition, a teddy bear was raffled off to a child who came to see the show. “It is most important to us to make live music accessible to young people.” said the band’s director, Rene Prins, Oneonta, on right. “We made it a rule years ago that the child has to be present to receive the bear.” This year, the winner of the bear was Ashley Buol, who was visiting from North Carolina. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
