BOOK COLLECTION—6-7:30 p.m. Help the Friends of the Village Library prepare for the Cooperstown Winter Carnival book sale. Bring your used books in good condition. Everything from paperbacks to DVDs and hardcovers to audiobooks will be accepted. Please, no outdated travel guides, dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, VHS tapes or cassettes. Use the Fair Street entrance at the Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344 or visit facebook.com/VillageLibraryOfCooperstown/
FIBER ARTS GROUP – 3 – 4 p.m. Bring your knitting, crocheting or other fiber art to work with the group on your current project. Springfield Library, 129 Co. Rd. 29A, Springfield. 315-858-5802 or visit libraries.4cls.org/springfield/
2023 WINTER CARNIVAL – Last day to register for 4/2 planning committee public interest meeting. Call Lions Club president Peter Deysenroth at 607-547-8231 or email at peterdeysenroth@hotmail.com
The Cooperstown Lions Club wants to bring back the Winter Carnival in 2023 and is looking for the public’s input on how best to do it.
The Club will host a public interest meeting for the Cooperstown Winter Carnival at Upstate Bar and Grill, 5418 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, Saturday, April 2, at 2:00 pm. Club members will discuss the recent history of the Winter Carnival and the challenges and experiences of previous committees, with an end goal of constructing a committee for the 2023 Cooperstown Winter Carnival.
The Cooperstown Lions Club welcomes all stakeholders and community members to participate in this meeting to help shape the vision of the Cooperstown Winter Carnival for the future. Please sign up with Lions Club President Peter Deysenroth by calling 607-547-8231 or emailing peterdeysenroth@hotmail.com by Thursday, March 31.
The Cooperstown Lions Club meets the first and third Wednesdays, September through June, 6:30 pm at Upstate Bar and Grill. The Club conducts many fund development endeavors to enhance life in the Cooperstown area for various groups, families and individuals. The mission of Lions Clubs International is to create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation. For more information about Lions Club, visit www.lionsclubs.org or the Cooperstown Lions Club’s Facebook at facebook.com/CooperstownLionsClub/.
This year, the Cooperstown Winter Carnival’s theme is “Around the World, but Safe at Home.”
Scheduled Feb. 16-21, a couple of weeks later than usual, the carnival’s “Around the World” theme was intentionally broad to allow for more participation, according to Committee Chair Molly Myers.
And, because of COVID-19, it sought to reflect the need to stay safe. In past years, all events were held in-person; precautions are being taken this year.
CONCERT – 3 p.m. Enjoy mix of American music for ‘Good Ol’ Summertime in Winter’ concert. Beat the winter blues with pieces like Carousel, America The Beautiful, more performed by Oneonta Community Concert Band. FoxCare Center, 1 FoxCare Dr., Oneonta. 607-432-7085.
STATE OF THE STATE – 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Hear from your elected officials in local, county, state, federal government on the State of Otsego County. Learn about legislation & initiatives that may impact your business. Featuring Antonio Delgado, James Seward, John Salka, others. Cost, $40/non-member. Otsego Grill, Morris Hall, SUNY Oneonta. 607-432-4500 or visit otsegocc.com
FUNDRAISER – 5:30 – 8 p.m. Support Tracy Abrams to provide wigs to local community members who have lost their hair to chemotherapy. Enjoy Quarter Auction, food, drink, preview items. Partnered with 501c organization Wigs & Wishes. Oneonta Vets Club, 279 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 607-287-4294 or visit www.facebook.com/OneontaVetsClub
Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal – Riley Dennis, 2, of Cooperstown takes her first horseback ride during the “Blizzard of Family Fun” event Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Cooperstown Winter Carnival. Leading her are Beth Heinrich and Quincy Chase of the Cooperstown Equestrian Center
Linda Cunningham, Cooperstown, marvels at the multi-colored quilts at The annual Fenimore Quilt Club show at the Coopers- town Art Association at 22 Main. The show opened for the 2019 Winter Carnival, but continues until Feb. 24.
Cooperstown’s Jack Stanton tries his luck at Irish Beer Curling, but instead of throwing the traditional “rocks,” contestants slid a case of beer toward the target. It happened Saturday, Feb. 9, in the parking lot of the Railroad Inn on Railroad Avenue. Ask organizer Dave LaDuke for the particulars.
Kelly Richmond and mom Shirley man the Creations by Kelly booth at the Winter Carnival Craft Show at 25 Chestnut, the fire hall, Saturday, Feb. 9.
Frankie Panzarella, 13, of Cooperstown, accepts a $500 check for finding the Winter Carnival Medallion. From left are dad Frank, brother Matthew, mom Jennifer and sister Emma, plus the family’s dog Rocco, who with Frank was with Frankie when he found the prize. Making the presentation is Jim Kevlin, right, editor/publisher of The Freeman’s Journal, Hometown Oneonta and AllOTSEGO.com.
The Rev. Joe Perdue, Cooperstown Baptist Church, and his wife, Julia, left, flank the Rev. Elsie Rhodes, First Presbyterian Church, at Grilled Cheese for a Good Cause, which drew 250 supporters of Otsego 2000 Sunday evening to The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market.
FUNDRAISER – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Grilled Cheese for a Good Cause features gourmet sandwiches prepared by favorite local chefs with local ingredients, live music. Support Otsego 2000’s historic preservation program in Otsego county. Tickets, $30/adult. Farmers Market, Cooperstown. 607-547-8881 or visit www.otsego2000.org/2019/01/08/grilled-cheese-good-cause-february-11th/
SNOWSHOE HIKE – 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Strap on showshoes, look for signs of animal life in snow-covered woods. Limited number of snowshoes available. Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. 607-547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/calendar/making-tracks-and-finding-tracks/
COMEDY – 8 p.m. Not Too Far From Home comedy tour returns featuring emcee Aaron David Ward, headliner Chris Coccia, & Jeremy Goff. Tickets, $20/person at-door. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431-2080 or visit foothillspac.org
Icy Lake Was Village’s Playground In Winter Carnivals Of Yesteryear
By LIBBY CUDMORE
Ian Austin / WINTER DREAMS
By LIBBY CUDMORE
Longtime Coopers- town Winter Carnival fans Bill and Carol Waller (Bill is a former carnival chairman) review clips of the days when frozen Otsego Lake was the revellers’ playground
COOPERSTOWN – If you looked out and saw cars out on Otsego Lake today, you would probably call a tow truck.
But in 1974, when Bill Waller was Cooperstown Winter Carnival chairman, it was all part of the fun.
“We had all sorts of events on the lake – Just as long as the ice was 18-inches thick,” he said.
The 52nd Winter Carnival kicks off Friday, Feb. 8
Back then, chief among the favorite activities was the annual gymkhana, where cars would race through cones across Otsego Lake’s ice.
“When we came up for the first Winter Carnival in 1969, I saw all these cars out on the ice,” said Waller. “I took my car out, but I had the wrong tires on, so I didn’t do very well.
“But Hank Phillips” – at the time, he ran Withey’s Pharmacy on Main Street – “he had this funny little Volkswagen, and he beat the pants off everyone.”
HEALTH FAIR – 9 a.m. – Noon. Participate in the indoor Heart Walk, learn hands-only CPR, get free blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose check, visit the pet therapy booth, more. FoxCare Center, 1 Foxcare Dr., Oneonta. Call 607-432-2000 or visit www.bassett.org/heartwalk/
QUILT SHOW – 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The 28th Annual Fenimore Quilt Club Show opens with spectacular pieces both old and new on display thru Feb. 25. Quilt Club members will be available each day to demonstrate their craft or answer questions. Cooperstown Art Association. Call 607-547-9777 or visit www.cooperstownart.com
CHILI LUNCHEON – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Enjoy Homemade chili or soup to warm the soul for Winter Carnival. All you can eat with bread, drink, tasty dessert. Donations support ongoing ministries. First Baptist Church, 21 Elm St., Cooperstown. Visit www.cooperstownwintercarnival.com/event-schedule
ART SHOW – 4 – 6 p.m. Opening “Art in Winter: Rural Resonance” features 3 well know local artists: Tracy Helgeson, Alice Hudson, & Lavern Kelly. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Rd., Cooperstown. Call 607-547-5327 or visit www.facebook.com/TheArtGarageCooperstown/
John Janitz Jr. and his girlfriend Katie Marvel pose with this year’s Winter Carnival Medallion. Janitz, Fly Creek, spent two hours searching for the medallion this morning with his girlfriend Katie Marvel, Oneonta, when Janitz found the medallion in a small bag under a tree stump near Council Rock. The two have already decided to split the prize money. (Parker Fish/AllOTSEGO.com)
