AWARENESS EVENT – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Main Street Oneonta goes blue for colon cancer awareness. Raffles, refreshments, giveaways and take-home screening kits. Muller Plaza, Oneonta. Info, 1-888-345-0225, www.bassett.org/medical/services/cancer-institute/cancer-services-program-central-region
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM – 6:30 p.m. Bring a dish to pass, table service for potluck dinner, followed by candlelight service. United Methodist Church, 2878 St. Hwy. 28, Portlandville.
TREE LIGHTING – 4:30 – 6 p.m. Inaugural ceremony with Otego Mayor Ernie Kroll followed by Christmas tree lighting at the library, then caroling. Bring non-perishable food for Otego Food Bank. Begins at Otego Firehouse, 5 River St., Otego. 607-988-6661 or visit www.facebook.com/harrislibrary/
FUNDRAISER – 6 p.m. Cat Yoga with Lisa Brown and Susquehanna SPCA. All proceeds to Susquehanna SPCA. Suggested donation, $10. Bring your own mat, be prepared to meet adoptable kitties. First Baptist Church, 21 Elm St., Cooperstown. 607-547-9371 or visit www.facebook.com/ctownfirstbaptist/
Some 90 Oneontans – including, above, Ad Van Buren, Oneonta, Bill Van Buren of Sidney and his wife Julie, and Bruce Van Buren, Oneonta – rallied in Oneonta’s Muller Plaza this evening in solidarity with the Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller investigations into 2016 campaign irregularies. At right, as passing cars honk in support – and a few against, Betsy Holland, Oneonta, stands with fellow protesters along Main Street with her sign that states “Trump is not above the law!” The Defend The Mueller Investigation protest, started by Moveon.org and organized locally by Amy Pondolfino, began in response to suspicions that President Trump will be firing Robert Mueller, who is currently investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 Presidential election, or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who overseers Mueller’s work. Mueller’s efforts have already garnered 20 indictments and several guilty pleas. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
ONEONTA – As part of a nationwide protest of the president’s new acting attorney general, a Rally to Protect Mueller Investigation is planned at 5 p.m. today in Muller Plaza, downtown Oneonta, organized by Butternut Valley Indivisible. “Everyone who loves their country” is invited.
“The Mueller investigation was expected to wrap up quickly as soon as the general election was over,” an invitation emailed overnight says. “BUT WAIT – The very day after the election, Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and appointed a partisan loyalist, Matt Whitaker, to take his place.
OUTDOOR GAMES – 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Features lumberjack competition, BBQ contest, open obstacle course, more. Alden Field, 2 Genesee St., Cherry Valley. E-mail cwatbeau@gmail.com or visit cherryvalleyoutdoorgames.com
ART IN BLOOM – 5 – 7 p.m. Opening reception for show featuring flower arrangements by the Oneonta Garden Club interpreting works from the Mansion Show. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Ave., Oneonta. Call 607-432-2070 or visit www.canoneonta.org/event/art-in-bloom-2018-floral-exhibit/?instance_id=1031
OPENING RECEPTION – 5 – 7 p.m. Exhibits featuring works by Lilian Vorhees, paintng, Robert Seward, glazed clay sculpture, and David C.T. Wilson, stained & painted glass will launch the gallery’s summer season. On view thru 7/8. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Rd., Cooperstown. Call 607-547-5327 or visit www.facebook.com/TheArtGarageCooperstown/
MANSION SHOW – 5 – 8 p.m. Artists present works interpreting “Conceal/Reveal.” Prizes awarded for Best, second, third places. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Ave., Oneonta. Call 607-432-2070 or visit www.canoneonta.org/event/art-exhibit-2018-mansion-show/?instance_id=1029
Over 400 people marched from Oneonta High School to Muller Plaza this morning as they took part in the national March For Our Lives protest for tougher gun legislation. Above, Caroline Bagby, a OHS senior and recent recipient of the Women’s Trailblazer Award, delivers an impassioned speech to those gathered in the plaza. Numerous people spoke including Mayor Gary Herzig, Assembly candidate Daniel Buttermann, Abbey Koutnik and others. At right, county Representative Danny Lapin, D-City of Oneonta, holds his sign high as the crowd marches down East Street during the first leg of the march. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Over 100 people gathered in Muller Plaza this evening to rally in solidarity in response to the violence in Charlottesville, VA. and to denounce white supremacy. The gathering was organized by Craig Schwalenburg of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta. After an invocation by Schwalenburg, the mic was available for anyone to use to share their thoughts and experiences. Above, Christina Hunt Wood, above, Delhi, tells the crowd of her recent experiences at the Delaware County Fair when her protest group approached the Fair Board about banning the sale of Confederate flags, they were barred from the fairgrounds. The crowd closed the evening by singing “This Little Light of Mine.” (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Above, owners Deggie Monroy, husband Antonio, and mother Elvira Nieves cut the grand opening ribbon alongside their extended family and Mayor Gary Herzig as they celebrate the official opening of Trendy Foods on the corner of Muller Plaza in Oneonta this evening. At right, Elizabeth Karson, Oneonta, brings out colorful menu selections for the public to sample during following the opening.(Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS – 6-8 p.m. Come meet young professionals from the Otsego area in this networking event. J&D’s Wagon Wheel, Main St., Oneonta. Info, www.facebook.com/YoungProfessionalsNetworkYPN/
OPEN HOUSE – 5-7 p.m. The Otsego Area Occupational Center open house includes display’s games, open enrollment for adult education classes, child fingerprinting, and demonstrations from the CTE programs. Otsego Nothern Catskills BOCES, 1914 Co. Hwy. 35, Milford. Info, www.facebook.com/ONCBOCES/
ALDEN SCHOLAR SERIES – 7 p.m. “Rethinking Clutter: An Anthropological Take on the Stuff that’s Hard to Let Go” presented by Dr. Sallie Han. Free reception to follow. Alden Room, Milne Library, SUNY Oneonta. Info, E.K Lee, (607)436-2159
FAMILY GAME NIIGHT – 5-10 p.m. Bring Family and Friends to Board Game Night. Serenity Hobbies, 254 Main St, Oneonta. Info, serenityhobbies.com
CHRISTMAS DINNER DONATIONS – 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Donations of food to the Friends of Christmas Dinner should be dropped off at First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Oneonta. Accepting baked pies, fruit breads, Christmas cookies, fresh fruit, apple and cranberry juice. Volunteers needed as cooks, drivers, servers and cleaning. Info, Ann Steen 432-1283 or Kelly Ahlqvist 432-1871
SOUTHSDIE MALL SANTA – 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta.
COOPERSTOWN SANTA – 1-4 p.m. Christmas Cottage, Pioneer Park, Cooperstown. Info, cooperstownchamber.org/santas-house-in-cooperstown/
ONEONTA SANTA – 4-6 p.m. Muller Plaza, Main St., Oneonta.
MUSIC – 6-9 p.m. Come de-stress with Dan Schilling. Timber Creek Saloon and Restaurant, 2957 ST. HWY. 23, West Oneonta. Info, www.facebook.com/TimberCreekLLC
KARAOKE – 8 p.m. With DJ Donna. Empire House 136 Marion Ave, Gilbertsville. Info, www.facebook.com/theempirehouse
We still have 6 families in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program in need of a benefactor this holiday season. CLICK HERE to learn how you can help them.
CANDLELIGHT EVENING – 3-7 p.m. Participate in a beloved holiday tradition. The museum is decorated with greenery and candles with wagon rides, a dramatic reading of “A Christmas Carol”, arts & crafts for the kids, visits with Saint Nicholas, complimentary wassail, a bonfire on the Tavern Green, and Caroling by the Catskill Chamber Singers. The Farmers Museum, 5775 NY-80, Cooperstown. Info, www.farmersmuseum.org/Candlelight-Evening
WASSAIL WEEKEND – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Demonstration on how to make Wassail, the traditional holiday dring. Savory spices blended with sweet cider at The Fly Creek Cider Mill, 288 Goose St., Fly Creek. Info, 1-800-505-6455, flycreekcidermill.com
OPERA – 12:55 p.m. “L’Amour de Loin.” The Met streaming live in HD. Foothills Performing Arts & Civic Center, 24 Market St., Oneonta. Cost $18/seniors, $20/adults, 10/students. Season pass $200. Box Office: (607) 431-2080, foothillspac.org/index.php/shows/metropolitan-opera-in-hd