SUGARING OFF—8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a full pancake breakfast in the morning then contemporary, historic demonstrations of maple sugar production. Admission, $15/adult. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. (607) 547-1450 or visit farmersmuseum.org/events/
Last Sunday the annual Sugaring Off celebration, heralding the evasive but long-hoped-for beginning of spring, made its first appearance of the season at The Farmers’ Museum. This event, which runs for four Sundays, offers maple syrup and everything that goes with it to myriad visitors; the village and farm buildings are open for exploration, and the animals are eager for a pat on the head. Sugaring Off Sundays anticipates the April opening of the Farmers’ and Fenimore’s doors and gates for the 2023 season.
The reason for this activity is local maple syrup, provided by the Otsego County Maple Producers. The syrup, boiled down from sap tapped from 30-year-old sugar maples, is an ancient and local phenomenon first produced by Native Americans in the mid-16th century.
SUGARING OFF—8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a full pancake breakfast in the morning then contemporary, historic demonstrations of maple sugar production. Admission, $10/adult. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. (607) 547-1450 or visit https://www.farmersmuseum.org/events/
BENEFIT BREAKFAST—8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are invited to the Cabin Fever Breakfast, featuring eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes with real maple syrup, biscuits and sausage gravy—the works! Includes a 50/50 drawing, a lottery to win $100 in scratch-off lottery tickets and a basket raffle. Support the Laurens Fire Department, 34 Main Street, Laurens. (607) 433-2906 or visit facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064565867355
COOPERSTOWN—On January 24, the community lost a beloved figure. Zeb, a Percheron at The Farmer’s Museum since 1997, passed away at age 29. He was 83 in human years. Zeb was born on August 10, 1994. He arrived at The Farmers’ Museum from Vermont as a three-year-old and was immediately put to work on the Lippitt farm. Zeb’s duties included field work—plowing, harrowing, cultivating and discing—and pulling the wagon for horse-drawn wagon rides. Zeb weighed in around 1,500 pounds and was 16.1 hands tall, or 5.3 feet from the highest point of the withers, where the neck meets the back, down to the ground. Zeb was retired from physical labor about nine years ago, since which time it has been his job to meet and greet visitors to the museum grounds. Zeb departed for that big pasture in the sky on January 24. He will be much missed.
In Memoriam
A. George Eccleston, 71
August 28, 1951 - December 26, 2022
NEW BERLIN – A. George Eccleston, 71, of New Berlin, NY, passed away Monday December 26, 2022, in Cooperstown, NY, with his family by his side.
George was born in Cortland, NY on August 28, 1951, the son of the late Clifford and Dora Watts Eccleston. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two sisters Emily and Kathy and brother Ron.
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS—5-10 p.m. Drive through beautifully decorated Neahwa Park, featuring more than 40 displays from local businesses, individuals and organizations celebrating the holidays. Open evenings 12/18 through 1/1. Neahwa Park, 1 Neahwa Place, Oneonta. (607) 376-7599 or visit destinationoneonta.com/calendar
COOPERSTOWN – The Farmers’ Museum has announced the return of its annual live performances of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, “A Christmas Carol,” on Friday, December 16 at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 17 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 18 at 3 p.m.
This production of the fabled tale of Ebenezer Scrooge—a bitter old man who devoted his life to money and business until three spirits arrive to show him the error of his ways—is directed by and stars Michael Henrici as Ebenezer Scrooge, supported by a cast of local actors.
CHRISTMAS CAROL—3 and 7 p.m. Enjoy a live annual performance of the classic story, “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens. Directed and performed by local community members. Admission, $18/adult. Performed at The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. (607) 547-1450 or visit farmersmuseum.org
BIRD COUNT—All Day. Contact a local bird counting circle to participate in the 2023 Audubon Christmas Bird Count to see how many of each kind of bird are in the area. Participate with the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society. Contact Sandy Bright at (607) 287-4465 or visit doas.us
CANDLELIGHT EVENING—1-7 p.m. Bring the kids for the expanded Candlelight Evening, featuring holiday crafts, a visit from St. Nick, and a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” The museum is decorated for the season with holiday greenery and aglow with luminaries. Take a ride through the grounds on the horse-drawn sleigh with jingle bells and warm up with a cup of complimentary wassail around the bonfire on the Tavern Green. Music and performances will be held throughout the day. Tickets, $15/adult. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. (607) 547-1450 or visit farmersmuseum.org
BE AN ANGEL – The community is invited to adopt a family and then find Christmas gifts for each of the children listed. Gifts are due unwrapped and without tags to either the office of The Freeman’s Journal at 21 Railroad Ave. in Cooperstown, or at the Salvation Army Church at 25 River St. in Oneonta. Visit allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ for details
THANKSGIVING – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Walk off the Thanksgiving meal with a stroll through the Historic Village. Visit the turkeys, see tools made at the blacksmith shop, and watch food be prepared on an open fire at the Lippitt Farm House. Saturday only, enjoy a telling of the history of Thanksgiving from the Native American perspective from Onondage storyteller, Perry Ground. Free admission with donation. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit farmersmuseum.org/event/thanksgiving-at-the-farm/
SANTA PARADE—5 p.m. Bring the whole family to welcome Santa to the Cooperstown Christmas Cottage. Followed by visits with Santa, Hot Apple Cider, and the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Parade proceeds down Main Street to Pioneer Park, Cooperstown. (607) 547-9983 or visit wearecooperstown.com/events/santas-arrival-parade-2/
BLOOD DRIVE – Noon – 6 p.m. Save up to 3 lives with the American Red Cross. Elm Park Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. Register at redcrossblood.org
This year, Glimmerglass Film Days is offering five days of independent films, filmmaker talks, art, parties, live music and events. The films will be screened at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers’ Museum, Templeton Hall and the Cooperstown Village Hall.
“Connection is the theme this year,” Ellen Pope, executive director of Otsego 2000, said. “After two years of the pandemic and social isolation, we thought a lot about what the theme should be. The film festival used to be about not just great films but the social and human connection of watching films together. We didn’t have that for two years, so we wanted to focus on how important connection is—the human connection, connecting the dots between humans and climate and nature.”
“This year we started a submission process on Film Freeway. It’s a database where filmmakers can put their films out there for festivals to review and hopefully choose,” Pope said.
FALL FLING – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Get out meet artisans, neighbors, enjoy good music, and get started on the holiday shopping. Presented by the Cooperstown Rotary Club at the Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. Visit facebook.com/cooperstownfallfling
BLACKSMITHING – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Come see demonstrations of the versatility of the blacksmithing craft, hear the sound of the hammers, and enjoy the hands-on-activities available throughout the day. Included with admission. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit farmersmuseum.org
COMMUNITY SUPPER – 4 – 7 p.m. The Cooperstown Community is invited for family style potluck Harvest Supper. Bring a dish to share that highlights our local bounty and enjoy dinner with your neighbors. Will include live music by the Stoddard Hollow String Band. Tables will be set up on Main Street between Fair & River Street infront of the Cooperstown Village Library. 607-547-6234 or visit facebook.com/GrowingCommunityCooperstown/