Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye. (Photo by Trista Haggerty)
By Trista Haggerty
Scotland had been calling to me for several years. Its moody skies and mist-shrouded lochs, meandering stone walls and wandering sheep all stirred a sense of returning home. As a tour guide to ancient sites, it’s the perfect place to bring a group because there is so much to discover—ancient ruins that predate Christianity by a few thousand years. And a landscape that invites you to explore its mysteries and unveil truths long forgotten.
Our journey began as I guided my group to the top of Dunadd in Kilmartin Glen, the oldest prehistoric site in all of Scotland. It’s where the kings placed their feet onto the stone atop the hill, and “married” themselves to the land. By this, they swore to rule the kingdom in service to the goddess, dedicated to following the guidance of both cosmic and earthly wisdom. We each took a turn, placing our foot into the well-worn footprint embedded in the stone. In our own way, we each made a commitment to serve both humanity and the earth in accordance to natural law.
CONCERT SERIES – 7 p.m. Bring the kids, a chair and some blankets for fun evening featuring a performance by The Driftwoods. By the bandstand, Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-432-0680 or visit www.facebook.com/oneontarec
FIRST DAY HIKE – 9 a.m. – Noon. Celebrate the new year with beautiful 1.3 mile walk around Gilbert Lake and then warm up by the fire in Briggs Pavillion. Counts towards the Winter Octet challenge by Otsego Outdoors. Gilbert Lake State Park, 18 CCC Rd., Laurens. 607-432-2114 or visit otsegooutdoors.org/events/
FIRST DAY HIKE – 9 – 10:30 a.m. Celebrate the new year with a guided tour with Forest Ranger Erin Petit. Dress for the weather and bring Water & Snacks. Counts towards the Winter Octet challenge by Otsego Outdoors. Free, registration required. Texas Schoolhouse State Forest, Jones Rd., New Lisbon. 315-778-4107 or visit otsegooutdoors.org/events/
FIRST DAY HIKE – 10 a.m. – Dusk. Celebrate first day of 2022 with self-guided hike along the Overlook Trail. First 100 will receive First Day Hike giveaway. No minimum age, leashed pets are welcome. Please dress for the weather, wear appropriate winter shoes/boots. Will also be collecting nonperishable donations for the Cooperstown Food pantry. Glimmerglass State Park, 1527 Co. Rd. 31, Cooperstown. 607-547-8662 or visit www.facebook.com/GlimmerglassStatePark/
HYDE HALL HISTORY – 7 p.m. Learn the history of the buildings, grounds, and collection contained in Hyde Hall. RSVP required. Springfield Library, 129 Co. Hwy. 29A, Springfield. 315-858-5802 or visit libraries.4cls.org/springfield/adult-programs/
VIRTUAL TOUR – 2 – 3 p.m. Join live tour of exhibit ‘Manzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams’ which features photographs documenting the Japanese internment camp in California in 1943. Free, suggested donation $10. Presented by The Fenimore Art Museum. 607-547-1400 or visit www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
LOCAL HISTORY – 1:15 p.m. Presentation “History On Ice” presented by Liz Callahan of Hanford Mills. Learn about past, present ice harvesting, and about the historic mill. Cooperstown Senior Center, behind St. Mary’s Church, 31 Elm St., Cooperstown. coopseniorcenter@gmail.com
CARNIVAL – 5 – 6 p.m. Bring the kids to enjoy annual Halloween Carnival followed by trick or treating through Residence Halls. Hunt Union Ballroom, SUNY Oneonta. 607-436-2514
ART IN THE DARK – 6:30 p.m. Tour folk art exhibit by Lantern Light, learn some of the mysterious, melancholy, untold stories behind the pieces. Limited to 15/tour. Cost, $14/non-member. Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400 or visit www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
SCI-FI & HORROR – 11 a.m. Day 2 of the strange and horrific festival. Features authors, vendors, speakers, activities, more. Cost, $6/person for day pass. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/SciFiHorroFest/
FINE ARTS – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fine arts on the lawn features works for sale by local artists, members of CAA. Cooperstown Art Association. 607-547-9777 or visit www.cooperstownart.com
WEST KORTRIGHT FAIR – Noon – 6 p.m. Celebrate regions agricultural bounty with afternoon of fun, music, food. Live music features PALEFACE, Richie and Rosie, The Big Takeover. Enjoy local food, group art show, silent auction, rummage sale, activities, local vendors, more. West Kortright Center, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith. 607-278-5454 or visit westkc.org/event/west-kortright-fair-2018/
THEATER – 2 p.m. Operatic rendition of Homer’s “Odyssey” features rollicking sailor songs, storms, siren songs, more. General admission, $20. Auditorium, Cooperstown Central School. 607-547-2255 or visit glimmerglass.org/events/odyssey/
MANSION TOURS – 7 – 8 p.m. Tour historic Fairchild Mansion with Bruce Van Buren and other Masons. Cost, $3/non-gohs-members. Enter through Portico on west side of lodge. Oneonta Free Mason Lodge, 322 Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-0960 or visit www.oneontahistory.org/upcomingevents.htm
FAMILY PROGRAM – 6 – 6:45 p.m. Ross Park Zoomobile presents sit down program featuring opportunity to learn about, handle exotic animals. Cooperstown Village Library. 607-547-8344 or visit www.facebook.com/VillageLibraryOfCooperstown/
BASEBALL – 7 p.m. Support the Oneonta Outlaws against Albany Dutchman. Damaschke Field, 15 James Georgeson Ave., Oneonta. Call 607-432-6326 or visit www.facebook.com/oneontaoutlawsbaseball/
WALKING TOUR – 7 – 8 p.m. Bob Brzozowski & Gary Wickham lead walking tour, “Downtown Revitalization Then & Now” through Main & Market Streets. Learn urban renewal plans of 1970s to today’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Admission by Donation. Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta 607-432-0960 or visit www.facebook.com/OneontaHistory/
TOWN HALL – 7 p.m. Meeting features Antonio Delgado (Running for Congress), Joyce St. George (Running for State Senate), & Chad McEvoy (Running for State Assembly). Sponsored by Sustainable Otsego. Free, open to the public. Templeton Hall, 63 Pioneer St., Cooperstown.
TOUR – 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Travel the country roads and discover the landscape and how people have enhanced it with their garden schemes. This years tour will be through the Cooperstown area. Pre-registration required for directions to first garden. All must being tour before 1 p.m. Cost, $18. 607-278-5454 or visit westkc.org/event/2018-landscape-garden-tour/
