MORRIS — Heavy rains Saturday, July 17, led to massive flooding in the western part of Otsego County and left officials in several towns and villages assessing the damage Sunday morning.
Main Street in Morris looked like a disaster zone, Sunday, July 18, with construction crews and the Morris Fire Department working to clean up the damage from the previous night’s storm.
Morris FD officials said nearly every business was damaged by flooding, with water reaching as a high as a foot at a certain point and rain fall accumulating to three and half inches in less than an hour.
RICHFIELD SPRINGS – About 15 people gathered Sunday, May 24, on Main Street in the village to turn the site of a formerly blighted home into a “pocket park.”
The property at 177 Main St. had been abandoned years ago, one of a handful of old houses in the area that had gotten too run down and where the former owners could not afford to restore it.
The Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank bought the property and demolished the house, but rebuilding on the L-shaped .67-acre property is complicated.
Richfield Springs freshman Braydon Misenick, left, and junior Damon Boss spread soil to prepare to plant a vegetable garden in the back of the park. (Greg Klein/Allotsego.com)
“According to the modern zoning laws, this lot is too narrow in the front to build a house,” said Allysa Dupont Rader, who works as the “zombie quarterback” for the land bank, finding abandoned houses and shepherding them back onto the tax rolls.
The village will revisit the zoning laws this summer, but the location of the property and its status as having the only remaining outdoor, uncovered sulphur spring in the village, made it an ideal candidate for a park in the meantime.
Despite significant delays because of COVID, the Memorial Day parade in Oneonta is set to continue on Monday, May 31, as scheduled, following the traditional route.
The parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Foothills Performing Arts Center, go down Main Street and end in Neahwa Park, for a somber memorial service.
The city of Oneonta is still looking for parade entries to join the lineup at 9 a.m. at Foothills PAC. Community groups, sports teams, veterans groups, faith organizations and clubs are welcome.
The parade is held in partnership with Destination Oneonta.
EASTER ART – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Celebrate spring. Come enjoy community art project ‘It’s For The Birds’ featuring hand-decorated birds perched around town. Will be displayed through Memorial Day. Main St., Cherry Valley. 607-264-3080 or visit www.facebook.com/cherryvalleyartworks/
HOLIDAY PARADE – 3 p.m. Celebrate the holidays on Main St. Line up at 3, parade at 4. Main St., Oneonta. Visit www.foothillspac.org
TREE FESTIVAL – 3 – 7 p.m. View Christmas Trees beautifully decorated by area individuals, businesses. Production Center, Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431-2080 or visit www.foothillspac.org
TREE LIGHTING – 5:30 – 8 p.m. Celebrate the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Muller Plaza, Oneonta.
ANGEL TREE PROGRAM – Give the Gift of Christmas this holiday season. Adopt a family in need. Visit www.allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ to learn how.
DECORATION – 2 p.m. Help decorate Santa’s cottage, village lamp poles for the holidays. E-mail to reserve a pole. Decorations provided, bring gloves/ladders if available. Pioneer Park, Cooperstown. cooptownchristmas@gmail.com
Expecting rain, the CCS Marching Band dropped out, but a Gecco (John Hodgson) and a travelling witch (Pat Thorpe) were undeterred, leading and cheering on Cooperstown’s annual Halloween Parade from Cooper Park, down Main Street, to the Chamber of Commerce on Chestnut. Heavier rains are expected later this evening, causing Oneonta to cancel its annual event. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
CONCERT – 7 p.m. Young Artists present “Glimmerglass Festival,” a season preview, in Bandstand/Covered Pavilion. Spring Park, US Rte. 20, Richfield Springs. Info, 315-858-0964.
Tonight’s Rapper Sean Kingston concert in Neahwa Park was cancelled over gang-rape allegations from nine years ago, but despite warnings of rain, the 13th annual OH-Fest Street Carnival went off without a hitch today as Main Street was filled with throngs of locals and students alike gathered to enjoy music, food and festivities. Above, Oneonta’s Yussef Romeo and Fay Pikul, played one of the carnival games, while Paige Stewart, right, hugs Tiny Tim, a pygmy goat from New York Goat Yoga in Gilbertsville. OH-Fest is an annual joint celebration of spring by Hartwick College and SUNY Oneonta students. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
PONY PALOOZA – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Horse rescue opens doors for family friendly celebration. Includes pony hugs, tours, games, local vendors, rides, food, face painting, more. Rosemary Farm, 1646 Roses Brook Road, South Kortright. 607-538-1200 or visit www.facebook.com/RosemaryFarm/
HOPS FOR HISTORY – 2 – 8 p.m. Downtown venues offer food pairings with local beers. Tickets, $30 day-of. Available only at Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-0960 or visit www.oneontahistory.org
HARVEST SUPPER – 4 – 7 p.m. Community potluck supper to celebrate autumn. Bring a dish to pass, tableware, beverages, enjoy meal with friends. Features live music by Stoddard Hollow String Band, games for kids on library lawn. Main St. between River & Fair St., Cooperstown. E-mail kristen mgriger@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/GrowingCommunityCooperstown/
BENEFIT BREAKFAST – 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pancake breakfast, raffles to support Corena Martin, who has worked as Laurens School Nurse and volunteered with Laurens Fire & Emergency Departments, as she battles deals with health problems. Laurens Central School, 55 Main St., Laurens. 607-432-2050 or visit www.facebook.com/otsegonyfirewire/
