GRAND OPENING – Noon. Bring your four footed friend to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the Dog Park in Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-432-0680 or visit www.facebook.com/oneontarec/
PIT RUN – Line-up at 10:25 a.m. Run in 28th annual Pit run established to support the “The Ricky J. Parisian Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc” provided scholarships to Oneonta High School students continuing their educations. Even features at 10K, 5K, 2 mile walk, a virtual 100K challenge, a fun run for the children, and a post race BBQ catered by Brooks. Cost, $33 for the 10K. See website for details. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-432-8068 or visit runsignup.com/Race/NY/Oneonta/PitRun
ALZHEIMERS WALK – 1 p.m. Join the Walk to End Alzheimers and help raise money to end this deadly disease. Event will include an opening ceremony at 2 and a Promise Garden Ceremony with flowers brought by participants, the colors signify your connection to Alzheimers. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. Visit act.alz.org to signup or donate.
WALTZ IN THE PARK – 2 – 4 p.m. Join the Otsego Dance Society for fun evening with live music by Peter Blue and friends. Blue is a local musician, caller, & composer. The music will mostly be contradances with a selection of Waltzes. Covid precautions will be observed, bring a mask and be prepared to social distance. This is not a contradance but dancing between couples is allowed. Bring a chair, snacks and prepare for a fun afternoon. Pavillion, Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-965-8232 or visit www.facebook.com/OtsegoDanceSociety/
Kathleen Peters
Graphic Designer
Apple and Pumpkin picking
It’s the perfect time to get out there and pick some apples or pumpkins.
We have both growing on our property — from ancient apple trees and in The Husband’s garden — but there are plenty of local places where you can pick your own. Don’t go for all of those fake apple- and pumpkin-flavored edibles and drinkables. Go for the real thing and make your own.
To me, the best part about too many apples and pumpkins is making apple and pumpkin butter, and apple and pumpkin pies. I haven’t tried mixing the butters yet, but I did try a “pumple” pie that was downright tasty! (Or was it an appkin pie?)
Walk for a cause! The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is happening at Neahwa Park in Oneonta. Every walk around the country is planned with the health and safety of all participants. Get involved by either walking, volunteering or donating. For more information, go to www.act.alz.org/site.
By PATRICK DEWEY • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
With the arrival of fall, many organizations are being innovative, hosting events safely despite the rise of the Delta variant. Destination Oneonta is no exception.
Friday, Oct. 15, at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, D.O. will host a concert with the Legendary Wailers and the Cooperstown-based band Hanzolo.
On Oct. 16, they will hold a “Harvest Party” at Oneonta’s Neahwa Park.
By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
In response to the COVID crisis, many people have been seeking fun activities that can also be done safely with social distancing. Outdoor activities seems to be the natural solution and Otsego County has
plenty of outdoor activities to do for those inclined.
Cassandra Harrington, executive director of Destination Marketing, is well versed in outdoor activities for Otsego County. She goes kayaking and said Gilbert Lake State Park is “one of my favorite places to go
hiking.” She said she also plans on going skydiving with Just Jump at the Westville Airport.
So, when she was approached by people looking for things to do in Otsego County that are socially distanced and outdoors, she had the answer.
“During the pandemic, one of the trends people were seeking to do was outdoor activities,” Harrington said, explaining that Otsego County “has a ton of natural resources.”
Destination Marketing started an initiative called Cooperstown Naturally, which aims to introduce those in need of outdoor activities to the plethora of options that exist near Cooperstown and in Otsego County.
Some of these activities include biking, hiking, boating, camping, fishing and more.
July 22, 2021
Calling all baseball fans!
Tune in for the 2021 awards ceremony live on the MLB Network. The ceremony will include the Ford C. Frick Award winner for broadcasting excellence, Al Michaels; the 2020 Frick Award winner, Ken Harrel-son; the 2021 Baseball Writers’ Association of America Career Excellence Award winner, Dick Kaegel; the 2020 BBWAA Career Excellence Award winner, Nick Cafardo; and the 2020 Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award winner, David Montgomery.
Presented by The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown on Saturday, July 24. Call 607-547-7200 or visit baseballhall.org.
COMMUNITY CONCERT – 7 p.m. Oneonta Community Band presents ‘Going Out’ concert exploring some of the activities we’ve missed and will soon be possible. Selections include ‘American Patrol’ by F.W. Meacham’s, ‘Liberty Bell’ by John Philip Sousa, and more. Birng the lawn chairs and get comfortable in the Park. Bandstand, Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-432-7085 or visit www.facebook.com/oneontacommunityconcertband/
A summer concert series will begin Thursday, July 8, in Neahwa Park in Oneonta.
The series will feature performances every Thursday between 7 and 8 p.m.
The first event will feature the Driftwoods.
Oneonta’s Common Council passed a motion Tuesday, July 6, to accept a state grant of $180,000 for the Hartwick College Grain Innovation Center. The city’s plan is for the center to become part of the eventual Lofts on Dietz Street.
The council met in person at City Hall for the first time since March 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Meetings had been taking place via Zoom and were broadcast on YouTube. However, the July change in state COVID laws opened the meetings up again.
CELEBRATION – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Celebrate the nations independence with sights and souds of the 18th century. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/event/independence-day-celebration/
INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE – 1 p.m. The parade will line up at Noon at Foothills and proceed down Main Street to Neahwa Park for remarks and festivities. All essential workers are invited to participate and will have a chance to win door prizes from local businesses when they register. Bassett CEO Tommy Ibrahim will be serving as Grand Marshall. Main Street, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/FNOneonta/
INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVAL – 2 – 11 p.m. After the Parade enjoy food, entertainment on the main stage, support local artisans, and much more at the festival. Mayor Gary Herzig and mayoral candidates will be presenting remarks to honor our essential workers. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/FNOneonta/
INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS – 9:30 p.m. Five Star Subaru will be presenting the fireworks display, dedicated to Essential Workers, which will be ‘twice as intense’ as years past. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/FNOneonta/
Start your Independence Day celebrations with the Hometown Heroes kick-off concert dedicated to the essential workers who have given so much during the pandemic. The concert will feature the Michael Christopher country band performing their greatest hits. Free admission. Presented by Hometown 4th at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 2, at Neahwa Park in Oneonta. Visit facebook.com/FNOneonta/ for information.
CONCERT – 7:30 p.m. Kimberley Hawkey to perform mix of songs from Jazz, Broadway, and folk. She will be joined by pianist/vocalist Loren Daniels, bassist Evan Jagels, and drummer Graeme Francis. Music charge, $15. Origins Cafe, 558 Beaver Meadow Rd., Cooperstown. 607-437-2862 or visit www.celebrateorigins.com
By PATRICK DEWEY • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA — The Hometown 4th Festival will return to Oneonta’s Neahwa Park to celebrate the July Fourth holiday next weekend, with a theme of honoring essential workers.
The goal is to honor the workers, including grocery store staff, teachers, police officers, firefighters and healthcare workers, who took risks for the community good during the coronavirus pandemic, according to festival officials.
“We wanted to do everything we could to let them know that the First Night Board and the whole community appreciates them,” First Night Board Chair Carol Mandigo said.
The celebration will kick off at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 2, in Neahwa Park, with a free concert by country artist Michael Christopher.
At noon, Sunday, July 4, the parade will line up at Foothills Performing Arts Center on Market Street.