TOASTMASTERS—6:15-7:30 p.m. Join the Oneonta Toastmasters to practice your public speaking in a supportive environment. Meets each 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month and may be attended in person or online. Held at The Green Earth, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. Visit facebook.com/OneontaToastmasters
BLOOD DRIVE—12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Save up to three lives with the American Red Cross. Cooperstown Fire Department, 24 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown. Register at redcrossblood.org
TOASTMASTERS—6:15-7:30 p.m. Join the Oneonta Toastmasters to practice your public speaking in a supportive environment. Meets each 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month and may be attended in person or online. Held at The Green Earth, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. Visit facebook.com/OneontaToastmasters
Chief Pidgeon examines mementos of his retirement, including a flag carried aboard Marine One, the President’s helicopter, with a citation in his honor. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
‘The Dark Horse fire,” Oneonta’s retiring fire chief, Pat Pidgeon, immediately responded when asked about the worst blaze he tackled in 36 years with the OFD.
Pidgeon was strapped into the jump seat of the fire engine as it arrived around 5 a.m. March, 1, 1992, at 18 Market St.
“There was an explosion,” he said. He looked over his shoulder. “A beam blew out, and landed on a line of cars. I knew it was going to be a long night.”
The site was what’s now that parking lot a couple of buildings east of the Green Earth health food market. Also on fire was the attached J.J. Maloney Building, a candy distributorship at 12-14 Market.
Pidgeon and Bobby Russo, his crew captain and brother of Fire Chief Francis “Cootie” Russo, set up a 2½-inch hose at the hydrant at today’s Cooper Fox, at the back end of Clinton Plaza.
“I remember the blue flames from all the alcohol that was burning,” he recalled.
At one point, as the fire appeared very close to a neighboring apartment house, he and Russo hammered on the doors of apartments in the building, awakening college coeds and protecting them with their shields as the girls hurried to safety.
VIRTUAL TOUR – 2 p.m. Zoom meeting featuring walk through of exhibit ‘Decking The Halls’ with discussion of the artifacts followed by live Q&A with Manager of Arts Education, Kevin Gray. Free, registration required. Suggested donation $5. Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400 or visit www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
ART TALK – 2 p.m. ‘Winter in the Arkell Museum Permanent Collection’ discussion with curator Mary Alexander. Learn how winter is portrayed in works by Walter Launt Palmer, Edward Redfield, many others in permanent collection. Free Zoom conference. Presented by Arkell Museum. 518-673-2314 ext. 113 or visit www.arkellmuseum.org/events-calendar
The back room at The Green Earth is once again filling up with Christmas Cheer as organizer Lisa Nunez, left, and Don Reese counted donations to the 4th annual Shoeboxes For Seniors drive. “I didn’t know how it was going to work out this yer with COVID.” said Nunez, “But I think we are doing pretty great so far!” 188 care packages have already been collected from donors and drop-off sites, with more needed to meet the record set the previous year of 247. People wishing to donate can drop-off at The Southside Mall, The Green Earth and The New York Skin & Vein Center in Oneonta before the final pick up on Monday, Dec. 21st. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Susquehanna SPCA board member Jill Basile, right, hands a prize bag to Helen Mead, Oneonta, after she won a round of BINGO at the Green Earth Market in Oneonta Sunday morning, a fundraiser for the animal shelter. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
GINGERBREAD JUBILEE – 1 – 4 p.m. View gingerbread houses by area individuals, businesses. This years theme is your favorite movie. May the best house win. Atrium, Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431-2080 or visit www.foothillspac.org
PUBLIC SPEAKING – 6:15 p.m. Practice your public speaking with the Toastmasters. The Green Earth, 4 Market St., Oneonta. Visit oneonta.toastmastersclubs.org
WORKSHOP – 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Master Gardener Francine Stayter will co-host an interactive workshop, “Gardening for Health and Well-Being.” Free. Classroom One, FoxCare Center, 1 FoxCare Dr., Oneonta.
MUSIC FESTIVAL – 8 p.m. Honest Brook Music Festival winter season concludes with Tesla String Quartet. Cost, $30/person at-door. Stamford United Methodist Church, 88 Main St., Stamford. 607-746-3770 or visit hbmf.org
PUBLIC SPEAKING – 6:15 p.m. Practice your public speaking with the Toastmasters. The Green Earth, 4 Market St., Oneonta. Visit oneonta.toastmastersclubs.org
MUSICAL PROGRAM – 6:30 p.m. Mezzo Soprano Joelle Lachance performs musical works about love, accompanied by CHS pianist Tim Iversen. Free, open to public. Woodside Hall, 1 Main St., Cooperstown. Advanced reservations recommended. Info, 607-547-0600, ext. 101
VIGIL – 6:30 p.m. Take Back The Night recognizes the rights of those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. March, followed by a candlelight vigil. Milne Library, SUNY Oneonta. Info, (607) 433-8013.
