Enjoy a performance by the American String Quartet with acclaimed French cellist Philippe Muller and flutist Linda Chesis. The quartet is internationally recognized. The program is set to include works by Joseph Haydn and Aaron Jay Kernis, as well as Schubert’s String Quintet. General admission is $30; students are $15. The concert is set to be held Sunday, October 2 from 4 - 6 p.m. at Christ Church, Episcopal, 46 River St., Cooperstown. Visit www.cooperstownmusicfest.org/
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Visit the Smithy Gallery and Clay Studio for their open house to celebrate the beginning of their fall classes. Fall into Clay will feature artists’ demonstrations, a chance to explore the gallery, and live music from the Killdeer Trio, who perform all-original music, blending influ ences from modern jazz, hip-hop, rock and free jazz. Light non-alco holic refreshments will be served. Free; open to the public. Will be held rain or shine on Saturday, October 1 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at The Smithy, 55 Pioneer St., Cooperstown. Visit www.smithyarts.org/
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Get an early start on Christmas
shopping while supporting local craftspeople. Proceeds will go to the Women’s Guild of the Church of Christ Uniting. The Fair will be held at the Cullen Pumpkin Farm, which also has wagon rides, a corn maze and pumpkin picking avail able. Come out for a fun time from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 1 at the Cullen Pumpkin Farm, 587 Cullen Rd., Richfield Springs. Visit cullenpumpkinfarm.com/
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The public is invited back for fanfavorite fundraiser The Luck of the Draw. Visit the Cooperstown Art Association to view the works local artists have donated and purchase a raffle ticket to bring home one of the works on display. For the ticket price of $80, you are guar anteed to win. On display in the gallery from September 30 through October 22. Must purchase a ticket on September 30. Held at the Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main St., Cooperstown.
Historic Hyde Hall dressed up for Halloween
Photo: Peter SchaafThe Fly Creek Fire Company has announced their new annual fund raising campaign. The inaugural Holiday Card has been painted and donated by local artist Tracy Helgeson. “Ms. Helgeson’s barn paintings are a true reflection of Fly Creek and our surrounding commu nities, and we are honored that she has contributed her talent to the Fly Creek Fire Company,” officials said.
“My family moved to Fly Creek in 2003. I had taken a break from painting until I saw the beauty of barns in this region,” Ms. Helgeson
said. “I’m proud to donate my work to the fire department.”
Pre-order forms are available on the Fire Company website, flycreek fire.com, and on the Fly Creek Volunteer Fire Company Facebook page. Pre-ordered cards and holiday cards for purchase and will be avail able for pick-up on Sunday, October 9 from noon to 2 p.m., during Junior Firefighter Day, in conjunction with Fire Awareness Month.
The original Tracy Helgeson oil painting will be sold in a “silent auction” on that day.
The Town of Middlefield Historical Association will host Middlefield’s annual Fall Festival on Sunday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old District No. 1 Schoolhouse in the hamlet of Middlefield. Visitors touring the 1875 historic Schoolhouse can view an assortment of handmade quilts, with quilters on hand to explain their workmanship and discuss the heritage and family stories of their creations. Jim Louden, author and railroad historian, will lead a discus sion on the growth and decline of railway operation and develop ment of the area’s railway system.
Outside, the festival will feature local artisans selling wood prod ucts, local honey and wax products, maple syrup, chainsaw carvings, hand sewn table coverings, baked goodies and other handmade items and gifts. Tarot card readings, face painting, a petting zoo, games and other fall activities will also be featured at this free, family-friendly event. Food will be available from Down Home Doughnuts and Phat Backs food truck, homemade pies will be sold by the slice, and festival goers can tap a toe or sing along to the lively tunes of the Blue Grasshoppers Band.
Hyde Hall has had the reputation of being haunted since the 19th century. Stories about the hauntings have been circulating for many years.
“This had fed the imagination over time,” said Jonathan Maney, Executive Director and CEO. “Whether it be tour guides or workers or guests, they have had experiences here that are difficult to explain.”
Mr. Maney stressed that these experiences are very subjective.
“Some people have seen full-body apparitions; others report audi tory events, like parties going on with ice clinking in glasses and people laughing,” he said. “Some of the people working on the restoration throughout the years have experienced their tools being moved around.”
“Some of the public have to turn away when they walk in. These people are super sensitive.”
Mr. Maney has had experiences himself. “I’m reluctant to talk about it because I don’t want to sound foolish, but these are the kind of things
people have experienced,” he said. “You go over each experience in your head again and again and question yourself.”
“I was on the tiger maple staircase just outside of the kitchen by the nursery and I saw a young lady in a long dress with a long braid going down the staircase,” he said. “I went to say something to her, thinking she was lost or got away from a tour, and she turned and walked down the staircase. There was a strong stream of light coming in and I could see the cracks on the wall through her.”
“Her image looked like shattering glass. It looked like refracted light; it was beautiful,” Mr. Maney said.
Several weeks later, as they were preparing for a gala, Mr. Maney found another young woman who seemed to be looking for something.
“She said she was there helping with the decorations. She was looking for the lady with the long braid that her friend had seen a few weeks ago and she wanted to find her,” he said. “That gave me confirmation of what I saw.”
There is no science to any of these experiences.
“Most experiences are very tame and peaceful,” Mr Maney said. He explained there are different kinds of ghosts: Some will see you and respond to you, some will speak to you, and some will just look straight ahead. They don’t see you. They are what Mr. Maney calls a memory.
The ghost tours tell stories about the house.
“We aren’t trying to scare anyone, we don’t leap out from behind doors,” he said. “We tell the stories that have been told for the last 150 years. The stories are about the history of Hyde Hall and the people who have lived here and their lives,” he said.
“Hyde Hall is the only museum that can offer this period lighting,” he said. “Other museums will offer tours in candlelight, but we have much more,” Mr. Maney said.
“There is nothing malevolent here, there’s nothing disturbed here, I love this house at any time of the day. You never feel alone here,” he said.
By Monica Calzolari
Approximately 150 people gath ered at the Foothills Performing Arts & Civic Center for the eighth annual TedXOneonta on September 24, to hear five speakers share their “ideas worth spreading.”
The theme of this year’s event was “Tranformations.”
Micah Wonjoon Kessel described the transformative power of empathy in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings he and his company design. According to Google research, “psychological safety” and feeling included are the key to what makes teams great.
Lisa Powell Graham of Troy, New York, suggested meditation and yoga as two ways to “cultivate calm in chaos” and offered tips to overcome anxiety and depression. Graham reminded the audience to “give yourself permission to be imperfect” and shared her personal journey of healing from the trauma of being stalked.
Anne Therese Gennari described her transformation from “angry activist” to “climate optimist.” She explained how her angry approach to environmental activism only led to overwhelm and exhaustion. Instead, approaching change with “curiosity, courage, and excitement” fuels her work as an educator and consultant. Gennari reminded the audience that change requires courage.
Lisa Meschutt, a New York State STEM Master Teacher who teaches middle school in Oneonta, inspired the audience by recounting three expe riences that led to her growth: a painful divorce, breast cancer, and avoiding euthanizing a rescue dog prone to biting her and others.This taught her that for the dog to change, she had to change.
Rosalia Rivera spoke about “consent being the greatest virtue of any civilized society.” She is a sexual literacy advocate and survivor turned thriver who teaches the importance of educating children and parents about these topics.
L to R: Micah Wonjoon Kessel, Boston; Lisa Powell Graham, Troy; Anne Therese Gennari, NYC; Lisa Meschutt, Oneonta. Not shown, Rosalia Rivera.FUNDRAISER Now available. Stock up on bird seed, support programs of the Delaware Otsego Audubon Society. Now through 5 p.m. October 23. Visit doas.us/2022-bird-seed-sale/ to order.
DRAW AND GATHER 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Come for an evening of drawing, read aloud, engage with people, pen cil, and paper. Free, open to public. Re freshments served. The Bushel Collec tive, 106 Main St., Delhi.
THEATER 7:30 p.m. The SUNY Oneonta Theater department pres ents Nord-Ost (North East) by Torsten Buchsteiner, with translation by David Tushingham. A play in 3 parts about the 57-hour hostage crisis in Moscow’s Du brovka Theatre. General admission, $5. Hamblin Arena, SUNY Oneonta. 607436-4500.
LUCK OF THE DRAW – First day. Back by popular demand, the fundraiser for the Cooperstown Art Association re turns. Purchase a ticket and you will walk away with one of the artworks donated by regional artists. Up your chance by entering the Joker’s Wild raffle (only available to ticket holders). Tickets, $80/person. Cooperstown Art Association. 607-547-9777.
VOICES OF THE GAME 2 p.m. Hear from Bill Mikita, the screenwriter and producer of “Chasing 3000.” Bullpen Theater, The Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown. 607-547-7200.
OPENING RECEPTION 5 - 7 p.m. Celebrate opening of exhibit Radiant Edges by encaustic artist Regina B. Quinn, whose work invites the viewer to “stay closely connected to the natural world and, thus, to all living things and to one another.” Cooperstown Art Asso ciation. 607-547-9777.
BASEBALL FILM 5 p.m. Enjoy screening of Chasing 3000, the story of two brothers who drive cross-country to see Roberto Clemente’s 3,000th hit. Followed by a short Q&A with screen writer and producer Bill Mikita and pro ducer Ryan R. Johnson. Free admission, reservations required. Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown. 607-547-7200.
PLAY READING 7 p.m. Local play wright presents new work Toliver and Wakeman. Set at the start of the Civil War, the main characters are Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, from Bainbridge,
who disguises herself as a man to join the Union Army and Toliver Holmes, who escaped from slavery to New York and then changes his name to join the Union Army’s 26th Regiment of Colored Troops and later settles in Delhi. The play brings these historical characters together (who never met) to explore themes of freedom and identity be tween these two very different charac ters. Presented at The Franklin State Company, 25 Institute St., Franklin. 607-829-3700.
HARTWICK CLEAN SWEEP 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Hartwick residents are invited to dispose of old furniture, yard trash, scrap metal and more. Drop-off is free, pick-up has a fee of $30. Visit the web site for the full list of items that can be disposed of. Drop-off location is at the Hartwick Town Hall, 103 Town Drive, Hartwick. 607-547-8070.
BLACKSMITHING 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Come see demonstrations of the versa tility of the blacksmithing craft, hear the sound of the hammers, and enjoy the hands-on activities available through out the day. Included with admission. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450.
FALL CRAFT FAIR 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Find wide selection of crafts at this fall fair presented by the Church of Christ Uniting at the Cullen Pumpkin Farm, 587 Cullen Rd., Richfield Springs. 315858-1451.
FALL INTO CLAY 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fun Open House for the public to com memorate the beginning of the fall season and to view ceramic works by Smithy artists. Will include artist dem onstrations, discussion and music by the Killdeer Trio, featuring Evan Jagels, Wyatt Ambrose, and Sebastian Green. Non-alcoholic refreshments will be served throughout the day. Admission is free and will be held rain or shine. The Smithy Gallery & Clay Studio, 55 Pi oneer St., Cooperstown. 607-547-9777.
LECTURE 3 p.m. Attend first an nual Elizabeth Hearn Gleich Lecture presenting independent scholar and author William Cross. Cross will be pre senting on the works of Winslow Homer, some of whose works are housed at the museum. All welcome, free, registration requested. Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie. 518-673-2314, ext 113.
made in class. This week’s workshop is “Surrealist Exer cises and Speculative Imag ery” led by Mercedes Teixido. Suggested donation, $15. The Bushel Collective, 106 Main St., Delhi.
►Sunday, Oct Ober 2
BLACKSMITHING 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Come see demonstra tions of the versatility of the blacksmithing craft. See Sat urday listing.
FIGURE DRAWING 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Drawing prac tice for young artists aged 5+ hosted by Helen Quinn. Reg istration required, suggested donation $10. The Bushel Col lective, 106 Main St., Delhi.
Youth aged 8 - 18 are invited to Dog and Handler Skill Class. They will learn to work with their dog through techniques that are clear and kind and are useful for rallies, obedience, agility training, and more. Reg istration required. Dog must be at least 3 months of age. Cost, $40. Cornell Coopera tive Extension, 123 Lake St., Cooperstown. 607-547-2536, ext. 225.
in OtsegO COunty
DOG HANDLING 2 p.m.
DRAWARAMA 2 - 5 p.m. Stretch your drawing muscles in three-week series of work shops culminating in a closing night exhibition of the works
PLAY READING 3 p.m. Lo cal playwright presents new work “Toliver and Wakeman.” Set at the start of the Civil War. See Friday Listing.
MUSIC FESTIVAL 4 - 6 p.m. The Cooperstown Sum mer Music Festival presents its last concert of the season, featuring the American String Quartet with acclaimed French cellist Philippe Mueller and Festival Artistic Director, flut ist Linda Chesis, for works by Joseph Haydn and Aaron Jay Kernis, as well as Schubert’s sublime String Quintet. Tick ets, $30/adult. Christ Epis copal Church, 46 River St., Cooperstown. Visit www.coo perstownmusicfest.org
BUSINESS SEMINAR 8 - 11 a.m. The Otsego County Chamber presents their annu al Labor Law Update with the Hinman, Howard and Kattell Attorneys presenting on legal updates and everything from paid sick leave, family leave, wages, benefits, and much more. Attend in person or by Zoom. Cost, $15/non-mem ber. Held at Kellery Williams Training Center, 31 Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-4500.
JOB FAIR 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Hop online for new opportuni ties with the Mohawk Valley Regional Virtual Career Fair. Pre-register at nysdolvirtual5. easyvirtualfair.com/landing
RABIES CLINIC 6 - 8 p.m. Free rabies vaccination from Dr. Fassett for cats, dogs, fer
rets. All cats and dogs are re quired to be vaccinated. Bring your pet’s vaccine certificate for them to receive a booster. Provided by Otsego County De partment of Health, at Fire De partment, 5 River St., Otego. 607-547-4230.
QUILT SHOW 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Say “We’re Back” for the annual Major’s Inn quilt show, returning after a 2-year pandemic absence. Show fea tures 150+ examples of quilts made in our area throughout the years. Featured quilters are Katrina Thomas and Wan da Thompson. Admission, $5/ person with lunch available for $7. Proceeds will go to mainte nance and restoration of this historic inn. Major’s Inn, 104 Marion Ave., Gilbertsville. 607783-2967.
Lake Otsego’s only open-air lakeside dining spot offers creative grill cuisine on its
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