New places are popping up along
the Beverage Trail with interesting takes on classic locally sourced fare
By Kevin Limiti • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
Otsego County is famous for its Baseball Hall of Fame, art museums, hiking trails and more but there is also another thing that draws people to the region, its craft beverages.
Otsego County has its own beverage trail and is home to the internationally known Ommegang Brewery. But new places are popping, each with their own unique history, many of which source their ingredients locally.
Two of these places is Rustic Ridge Winery and the High Burl Brewery, which are on state Route 80, nestled between adjacent farms. The brewery and winery dogs, Ruger and Jake, greet the patrons as they beg for animal crackers and popcorn. Inside is a homey place filled with wine and good vibes, and bartended by Holly Bennett, no relation to the Bennett family who owns the winery.
“It’s a big family get-together here,” Bennett said and the winery/brewery pairing is the only one in the area with both that she knows about.
Honorees at the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce’s “Ignite the Fire of Entrepreneurial Spirit” banquet that ended a few minutes ago at The Otesaga are, from left, Helios Care’s board Chairman Connie Jastremski and President/CEO Dan Ayres, winners of the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Breakthrough Award; Laura and Rick Bennett, proprietors of Rustic Ridge Winery, Burlington, winners of the Key Bank Small Business Award; and NBT Insurance Agency Interns of the Year Jared Ciccarelli from SUNY Oneonta and Caitlyn Herlihy from Hartwick College. At right are Chamber President Barbara Ann Heegan and board Chair Al Rubin. Some 250 attendees helped celebrate the honorees’ accomplishment. Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield, presented Assembly citations to the honorees; and Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig delivered the closing remarks where, among other things, he urged Caitlyn and Jared to pursue their careers in Otsego County. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Otsego County’s Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield, top left, shares lessons from the campaign trail with attorney Mark Masler, Cortland, candidate for state Supreme Court judge for the Sixth Judicial District, which includes Otsego County, this afternoon at the freshman assemblyman’s first annual Fall Festival at Rustic Ridge Winery, Town of Burlington. In the background, Rob Norris of Leonardsville, right, and Tripp Swart, West Edmeston, provide the foot-tapping music; the musicians usually play with Loose Canon, a four-man band. Inset, Army meets Navy, as Maj. Gen. (ret.) Tony German of Oneonta, left, shares war stories with David Rees of Oneonta and Five Mile Point, a retired Navy man. German, who stepped down as commander of the New York State National Guard in February, is running for 19th District congressman; in the 1990s, Rees ran for the Assembly seat Salka now holds. Attendees ranged from state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, and wife Cindy, to Bobby Walker, Fly Creek, the SUNY Albany senior who is president of the New York State College Republicans. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
CONCERT – 3-5 p.m. FLAME performs a free concert as part of the Family Resource network’s 25th anniversary. Foothills Performing Arts Center, 24 Market St., Oneonta. www.foothillspac.org.
HARVEST FESTIVAL – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 2 days of music, performances, activities, workshops, meet the animals, learn about old-time trades, participate in the harvest. Entry, $12/adult. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/Harvest-Festival
BENEFIT JAM SESSION – 3 – 10 p.m. “Play it Forward” all day jam session with musicians from Florida, Long Island, Brooklyn mix with local musicians. All instruments, genres, vocalists invited. Enjoy raffles, BBQ, music. All proceeds go to American Legion Legacy Run, helping children of fallen heroes since 9/11. Oneonta Vets Club, 279 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 607-432-0494 or visit www.alrpost259.org/legacy
OPENING RECEPTION – 5:30-7 p.m. “Our Town” exhibit featuring works by the students of the Cooperstown High School. The Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 NY-80, Cooperstown. Info, www.fenimoreartmuseum.org/Our-Town
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS – 6-8 p.m. Come meet young professionals from the Otsego area. Allen Ruffles will host with representatives from local businesses like Bassett, NYSHA, NYCM, NY Life, and Otsego County. They will be giving resume and application tips, interviewing advice, and presenting about their businesses. Rustic Ridge Winery, 2805 St. Hwy. 80, Burlington Flats, Info, www.facebook.com/YoungProfessionalsNetworkYPN/
