CRAFT—6 p.m. Back by popular demand, come to the library to learn to create Origami snowflakes. Also include cookies, hot chocolate bar and music. Registration required. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980 or visit facebook.com/hmloneonta/
TAX PREP—6-8 p.m. Get ready for tax season with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Hartwick College accounting students certified by the IRS, with their professor, will be available to provide one-on-one assistance in preparing individual tax returns. Either in person or online. Held at the Golisago Hall, 2nd Floor, Hartwick College, Oneonta. (607) 431-4338 or visit facebook.com/ofoinc/
Editor’s Note: Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek was a panelist at the recent Otsego County Chamber of Commerce “State of the State” Breakfast. The following is his address.
Good morning, everyone. I want to thank the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, and especially Sean Lewis, Katrina Van Zandt, and Karen Laing, for putting this presentation together.
I feel confident saying that the folks on this panel are immersed in the service of our constituents…And though every day we deal with new challenges and opportunities—sometimes quite successfully—people we serve don’t always know (like we do) the progress being made. Or the obstacles overcome.
It was a sellout crowd last Friday, January 20, as the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual “State of the State” networking breakfast. The conference, which took place in the Otsego Grille of SUNY Oneonta’s Morris Hall, was introduced by Sean Lewis, president and chief executive officer of the chamber, as a vehicle to “allow the panelists a chance to express their view of where we are and their vision of where we are heading.”
The panel of eight public figures included New York State Senator Peter Oberacker and Assemblymen Brian Miller, Chris Tague and Brian Maher, whose constituents reside in various portions of Otsego County.
The county itself was represented by County Administrator Steve Wilson and Treasurer Allen Ruffles. Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek and Village of Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh rounded out the panel.
COMEDY—7-10 p.m. Enjoy an evening of stand-up comedy from the North Country Comedy Tour, featuring laughs, cocktails and a roaring good time. Tickets, $20/person. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, Oneonta. foothillspac.org
BLOOD DRIVE—Noon to 5 p.m. Save up to 3 lives with the American Red Cross. Springbrook, 103 County Highway 44, Oneonta. Register at redcrossblood.org
ONEONTA – First Night Oneonta has announced a name change to Hill City Celebrations and a new collaboration with the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce. This expansion and re-branding better reflects the year-round events and activities First Night organizes for the community.
The mission of First Night has always been to provide healthy, alcohol-free activities and events for families, the announcement reads. Community partners include LEAF Council on Alcoholism and Addictions, Five Star Subaru and dozens of generous local foundations, individuals, and businesses. Hill City Celebrations also works closely with the City of Oneonta, SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick College and Bassett Healthcare Network to produce events such as the Oneonta Festival of Lights, First Night at the Foothills, and the Hometown 4th of July.
Hill City Celebrations, formerly First Night Oneonta, is partnering with the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce in the planning of this year’s Festival of Lights.
Volunteers are needed in the following areas: builders; designers; display workers; traffic flow; parking; vendor assistance teams; and more.
If you can help, or for more information, e-mail kvanzandt@otsegocc.com or call 607-432-4500.
Pictured left to right: Mary Earl, Jocelyn Plows, Carmen Laymon, Nicole Southard, Beth Foster, Jacqueline White, Danielle Johnson, Don Wyckoff, Assemblyman John Salka, Kavin Winto, Kathleen Cen, Kyleen Joslyn, Brenda Manchester, Stephanie Bader, Gretchen Meyer, Marcie Foster, Kathryn Prada, Emily Gleason, Loretta Garcia
Every year the Otsego Chamber of Commerce welcomes in a group of people to their Leadership Otsego program.
The curriculum explores current leadership topics such as motivating teams, understanding local challenges, managing conflict, building professional networks, building teams and enhancing leadership presence in our community.
OPENING DAY – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join the community for day of crafts, food, music to celebrate the area and the opening for the summer season. Meet community organizations, enjoy tours of the State Park, meet the Rolling Meadows Clydesdales, learn with Utica ZooMobile, relax with Springfield Reads, more. Free, open to the public. Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park Rd., Cooperstown. 607-547-5098 or visit hydehall.org
CRAFT FESTIVAL – 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Friendship Craft Festival returns after a 2 year hiatus. Find hand made gifts for those special people in your life from local vendors, artisans, and crafters. Sponsored by the Church of Christ Uniting. Spring Park, Scenic Route 20, Richfield Springs. 315-858-1553 or visit festivalnet.com/26292/Richfield-Springs-New-York/Craft-Shows/Friendship-Craft-Festival
Local child care providers will get together at The Barnyard Swing in Hartwick Seminary on Saturday, May 21, to let area families know more about the services they provide, and enjoy a day of talking and meeting about their profession.
The ‘Spring Swing Child Care Professionals Appreciation Celebration’ — an idea that arose from a discussion at a winter women’s group meeting with the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce — takes place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. An Otsego County Community Events grant helps cover the expense of hosting the event.
“One of the topics at our meeting was the absolute lack of affordable child care in Otsego County. Our area has been deemed a ‘child care desert’,” said Marcy Birch, owner of The Barnyard Swing. “The idea to have this event percolated out of those sessions.”
OPENING GALA – 5:30 – 7 p.m. Celebrate the opening of the exhibit of the works entered in the Leaf Art & Poetry Contest. Will feature refreshments, live music, & poets reading their works. Free, open to the public. Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-432-0090 or visit www.facebook.com/LEAFArtContest
The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce addresses area child care needs and opportunities in a free Zoom webinar, “Child Care Desert Grant Explained,” on Thursday, March 17, beginning at 9 a.m.
Rebecca Matthews of Catholic Charities, the lead organization behind the program, presents the webinar teaching local employers how to register and apply for funding to start childcare in your business, help a spouse of an employee set up a childcare for workers, or help expand an already existing childcare facility near your business. With $11 million available in this grant funding beginning in April, employers should begin the two-step registration process immediately.
To register for this free Zoom event, visit www.otsegocc.com and click on ‘upcoming events.’
GET ON BOARD – Noon. Zoom meeting for local non-profits to pitch their organizations to the public and discuss what they need, from board members to volunteers to furniture. Presented by the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce. 607-432-4500 or visit otsegocc.com
Congressman Antonio Delgado headlines a roster of local officials outlining 2022 priorities during a virtual “State of the State” presented by the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, January 11.
The Chamber offers free Zoom access to the event but requires pre-registration at www.bit.ly/2022-StateofState.
Edward May, Kim Whitehead, Linda Osborne of The Village Printer; at left, they’re with Five-Star Subaru’s Ben Guenther. (contributed by the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce)
The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce this week named Five-Star Subaru’s Ben Guenther as its Eugene A. Bettiol, Jr., Distinguished Person of the Year as part of its year-end award ceremony.
Chamber officials stopped by Five-Star and other award winners on December 21 and 22 in surprise visits to present framed certificates to this year’s honorees.
The Chamber’s Board of Directors and local citizens met December 1 to wade through multiple nominations in each category, with the Board choosing winners on December 15.
Along with Mr. Guenther, the Chamber presented these awards:
CHRISTMAS – Be an Angel. Sign up to give the gift of Christmas to local families in need with this years Angel Tree Program. Visit www.allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ for details.
CRIMINAL ELEMENT – 6 p.m. Mystery and Thriller authors come together to write a short story live on this edition of ‘Once Upon a Crime’.Presented by Huntington Memorial Library, Oneonta. 607-432-1980 or visit www.facebook.com/hmloneonta/
