ONEONTA – Harbor Freight Tools, America’s leading retailer of quality tools at the lowest prices, will celebrate the grand opening of its new store in Southside Mall at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 15.
“We’re excited to serve customers in the great city of Oneonta,” said Jennifer Oates, store manager, in a press release. “At Harbor Freight, we’re passionate about providing our customers with the tools they need to get the job done, and always at an affordable price.”
Noah Tejada, 5, and Xavier Baranona, 1 year, four months, were up from Sidney at Southside Mall in Oneonta this morning to meet the other BMOC of the Season – the Easter Bunny. Palm Sunday is tomorrow, and Easter Sunday, April 28. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
EARTH FEST – 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Annual Earth Festival features a clothing swap, an art contest, free paper shredding, workshops and more. Milford Central School, 42 West Main St., Milford. Info, (607) 547-4488. occainfo.org/earth-festival/
Jay Egg, CEO, Geo Egg, inset photo, speaks about heating Southside Mall with geothermal energy at a packed Oneonta Town Board meeting this evening in West Oneonta, as Town Board member Randal Mowers listens. “The writing is on the wall,” Egg said about future energy use. Municipalities and counties like Westchester are already declaring moratoriums on expanding natural-gas use while the state is green-lighting renewable energy. The Town of Oneonta is considering installing a geothermal heating system in Southside and other parts of the municipality, while the City of Oneoneta this week contracted with Geo Egg for a feasibility study on retrofitting a geothermal heating system in South Main Street. (Jennifer Hill/AllOTSEGO.com)
Linda Drake, SUNY Oneonta’s Center for Social Responsibility & Community executive director, presents Abe Lippitt, Cooperstown, with the Best Meal Award for his 4H team’s pirate-ship entry in this year’s Canstruction event. The 0415 FIRST Robotics team took the Structural Integrity Prize for its rocket ship; Fox Hospital, Best Use of Labels award for its Operation board game, and SUNY took the Judge’s Favorite award with its soccer field. All in all, the event brought in 2,645 pounds of food that will be donated to area food banks. You can still place your vote for the People’s Choice Award at the Southside Mall throughout the week. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Scott Richardson and Doug Alliano of SUNY Oneonta’s Student Athletics Advisory Council work on the council’s submission for the annual Canstruction competition at the Southside Mall. Judging will be at 4 p.m. this afternoon, so stop by and see these canned culinary creations! (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.life – Southside Mall Manager Luisa Montanti catches up with Kay Jeweler’s Manager Bob McCann, who says he’s seen sales rise 20 percent this year.
With 36 Tenants, Manager Montanti Says Entertainment Will Invigorate County’s Largest Warm, Covered Space
By JIM KEVLIN
ONEONTA – On Feb. 19, the national chain, Payless Shoesource, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced it is closing its 2,500 North American stores, including one in Southside Mall.
That made it a local news story.
But right down the marble-tiled mezzanine, the expansive Shoe Department is doing so well it’s looking to expand, Mall Manager Luisa Montanti will tell you.
Doug Hunt, organizer of the annual Tom & Doug’s Cruise-In Cabin Fever Car Show, examines the American Eagle decoration on his pickup. The cruise-in, featuring models from years past – including a Sweet Dreams Ice Cream truck – is underway again at Southside Mall until Sunday, March 3. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
ONEONTA – Payless ShoeSource, which operates a store in Southside Mall, confirmed it will close all of its 2,100 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It started liquidation sales Sunday.
The company is also shuttering its e-commerce operations, according to a report in USA Today.
CAREER FAIR – 2 – 4:30 p.m. Join New York State Department of Labor meet with local businesses, explore options for your future. Bring updated resume, dress for success. Southside Mall, Oneonta. 607-432-4800 or visit www.cdoworkforce.org/news/southside-mall-job-fair
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – 7 – 9 p.m. Join panel to discuss Economic development, renewable energy possibilities, existing conservation/renewable energy programs, more with Karl Seeley professor of economics at Hartwick, Dan Butterman candidate for NYS Assembly district 121, Leslie Orzetti executive director Otsego County Conservation Association. Followed by Q&A session. Elm Park Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut St., Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/Concerned-Citizens-of-Oneonta-196346611258936/
Steve Hughes, Gilbertsville, gives Mrs. Claus a big Christmas hug.
ONEONTA – The end of the Christmas season will mark the end of an era for a Southside Mall mainstay.
For over two decades, Vera Stewart, aka Mrs. Claus, has been volunteering for the Salvation Army by ringing bells and holding doors at her station outside of JCPenney, spreading cheer to holiday shoppers. Dressed in red velvet with white trim, the Southside Mrs. Claus has become a mainstay of the Christmas season to many visitors young and old.
“When they first asked me to be a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, I decided to try it.” said Stewart, “I began doing it only on weekends, then I went to five days a week.”
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/
A CHRISTMAS CAROL – 3 – 5 p.m. Live performance of Charles Dicken’s classic tale featuring local performers. Tickets, $15/adult. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/A-Christmas-Carol
THEATER – 2 p.m. Musical performance of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” by Orpheus Theater. Goodrich Theater, SUNY Oneonta. 607-432-1800 or visit www.facebook.com/OrpheusTheatre/
ONEONTA – Harbor Freight Tools, America’s leading retailer of quality tools at the lowest prices, will celebrate the grand opening of its new store in Southside Mall at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 15.
