Glimmerglass Geared for Great Season

Greetings from The Glimmerglass Festival. It is hard to believe we open our 2023 season in just three weeks! This year, our productions offer thrilling stories of romance, joy, tragedy, discovery and laughter. The tale of young artists losing their innocence in “La bohème,” the tragic destinies of the young lovers in “Romeo and Juliet,” the questions about life in “Candide,” and a young knight’s battle to reunite with his beloved in “Rinaldo” serve as poignant reminders of the struggles and idealism of youth. I like to envision our season as a form of time travel—a collection of masterpieces so evocative that they become portals through which we can directly engage with the past. From the Latin Quarter of 19th-century Paris to the vibrant Broadway of the 1950s, our productions transport us and refresh our perspectives with their relevance and immediacy. The theater is like a workout for the soul—come to a show and leave invigorated!

Our season is also a celebration of innovation. On one end of the spectrum, we have the Pavilion project “Love & War,” where some of our finest artists will transport you to the very origins of opera when setting dramatic text to music was just becoming a concept. On the other end of the spectrum, we proudly present “The Rip Van Winkles,” a world-premiere youth opera that takes a comedic look into technology’s profound role in our lives today.

A significant aspect of the festival’s mission revolves around nurturing youthful idealism. The Young Artists and Apprentices who grace our campus each year have dedicated considerable effort to honing their talents. The opportunities and training we provide them often serve as launching pads for successful careers. One example is this season’s Artist-in-Residence, the exceptional countertenor, Anthony Roth Costanzo. Anthony’s journey began as a Young Artist at Glimmerglass. now, he returns as a GRAMMY winner to portray the title role in “Rinaldo” while mentoring our talented Young Artists. It is a gift for them to benefit from his mentorship and a treat for us to witness his remarkable talent and charisma again. Don’t miss their captivating cabaret evening in “An evening with Anthony Roth Costanzo.”

Glimmerglass has always been rooted in this community. The tradition continues, with this season featuring the talents of more than 40 regional performers. We are also proud to offer a free lunchtime concert series, Midday Music. The series showcases the personal stories of our Festival Artists and their favorite pieces. You can catch a lunchtime concert (they all start at noon) on June 29 at Artworks in Cherry Valley, Christ Church in Cooperstown on July 13, on July 27 in the ballroom of The Otesaga Resort Hotel, and on August 10 in the Fenimore Art Museum auditorium. each concert is a surprise, announced from the stage—discover what the stars love to sing when they are given carte blanche!

These are the hallmarks of The Glimmerglass Festival—our commitment to fostering young talent and cultivating new works, the spirit of innovation that permeates our productions, the breadth and diversity of our repertoire, and our unwavering belief that opera is for all. The festival is one of new York’s most fertile grounds for promoting artistic excellence. With our Alice Busch Opera Theater nestled on the banks of Otsego Lake, Glimmerglass has captivated generations—enchanting them into its embrace (including me!). I stepped into the role of artistic and general director in September. The months leading to this summer have been a time of transition, learning, laughter, challenge, welcome and awe. I can’t wait to share this season—my first—with you. I’ll see you at the festival!

Rob Ainsley is the artistic and general director of The Glimmerglass Festival.

Oneonta To Resume Timed Parking Enforcement

OneOnTA—The City of Oneonta will resume downtown parking enforcement in timelimited spaces on Wednesday, June 14. Downtown residents, business owners and commuters are encouraged to park in all-day/24-hour spaces, which can be found in the Dietz Street lot and on Market Street and the Chestnut Street extension. One-hour spots on Main Street and two- and four-hour spots on adjacent streets will be strictly enforced to encourage turnover. Additionally, Oneonta Public Transit will operate a free downtown shuttle loop connecting neahwa Park to Main and Market streets. The shuttle will run continuously from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with stops at Damaschke Field, the parking garage, the transit station by Clinton Plaza and Main Street near Autumn Café. The lots by Damaschke Field and the neahwa Large Pavilion can hold more than 200 vehicles. For more information, contact the city government or visit its Facebook page.

Trout Unlimited Announces Father’s Day Event

OneOnTA—The Dave Brandt Chapter of Trout Unlimited will hold its Father’s Day Fishing program at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 18 in neahwa Park. All are invited. There will be a large aquarium to display the different species of fish caught. no license is required, and TU will provide loaner rods and bait to attendees. Volunteers will be on hand to help participants. every child attending will be given a raffle ticket; the raffle winner will receive a new spinner rod and reel outfit. The drawing will be held at the end of the event, around 2 p.m., and the winner must be present. The Dave Brandt Chapter covers Otsego County and parts of Delaware County. It has about 150 members and holds meetings on the second Monday of each month at The Plains in Oneonta. Their mission is to conserve, preserve, and restore cold-water fisheries and their watersheds in north America. Father’s Day Fishing is their largest annual event.

Otego American Legion Baseball Downs Vestal

OTeGO—The Otego Retrievers of the American Legion 19U District 6 Baseball League defeated Vestal Post 89 6-2 in their first game of the season on June 9. Braeden Johnson earned the win after throwing 18 strikeouts in a one-hitter. Seven Otego players recorded hits. Shea Barber and Brayden nichols each hit two RBI.

Oneonta Outlaws Fall to MV Diamond Dogs

OneOnTA—The Oneonta Outlaws lost a hard-fought game to the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dogs, 8-6, on June 6. each team hit two home runs. Oneonta nearly managed to come back from a 7-1 deficit, but the rally fell short. Justin DeCastro was stuck with the loss for the Outlaws.

Open position: Sexton

28 hours/week

Requirements and a full job description at https://www.ceccoop.net/sexton apply at rector@christchurchcooperstown.org

Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers’ Museum have an opening for:

Full Time Groundskeeper

The successful candidate will be a steady, reliable worker and enjoy working outdoors year-round. Must have sufficient strength and manual dexterity to operate power equipment and lift 50 lbs. Experience with basic construction and carpentry a plus. Duties include maintaining grounds, mowing, clearing roads and pathways of debris and tree limbs, soil preparation, planting, weed removal, plowing, and shoveling snow, cleaning and maintaining power equipment, and performing light carpentry and repair jobs. This is a full-time position, flexibility necessary, must be willing to work occasional overtime. This position offers an excellent benefits package and pleasant work environment. Covid-19 vaccination is a requirement of employment.

Applications are available at fenimoreart.org or farmersmuseum.org. Send letter of interest and completed application to Human Resources, Fenimore Art Museum, PO Box 800, Cooperstown, NY 13326, or email to hr@fenimoreart.org.

Fenimore Art Museum

Custodial Position

Fenimore Art Museum has an opening for a full-time Custodian. This is an entry level position with room to grow. Experience helpful, but not necessary. Excellent benefit package and a pleasant work environment. This position is 40 hours per week, with one weekend day required. Some flexibility and occasional overtime necessary. Covid-19 vaccination required.

Applications are available at fenimoreart.org or send letter of interest and resume to Human Resources, Fenimore Art Museum, PO Box 800, Cooperstown, NY 13326, or email to hr@fenimorart.org.

Parade

Continued from page 1 president of the Historical Society along with his wife, Maureen, who is vice president. According to Culbert, “If we don’t know what has come before, it becomes very hard to make decisions about the future.”

This year, the Springfield Historical Society’s Annual Fourth of July Open House will feature a special display commemorating the lives of two beloved members of the Springfield community; former Historical Society President noel Dries, and former Springfield Town Historian Jane Prior. The recent passing of both has left the town bereft of a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.

The Springfield Historical Society also plans to introduce a new book this Fourth of July, “Around Springfield,” a pictorial history of the Town of Springfield authored by nancy einreinhofer and Suzanne Goodrich and produced by Arcadia Publishing. The book includes a chapter dedicated to Springfield’s parade, the second-oldest Fourth of July parade in the nation.

The Springfield Fourth of July Parade, now in its 109th year, will kick off at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4 in Springfield Center. This year, ernie Whiteman and Tom Mabie will be announcing parade entries from the judge’s stand, and Lyman Johnson and Jordan nott will announce near the Community Center.

Following the parade, a celebration will be held at the Springfield Community Center, with music by the Camden Continentals Fife and Drum Corp and the Cooperstown Community Band, Brooks’ chicken barbecue, homemade pie and hot dogs by Springfield Presbyterian Church, breakfast burritos, baked goods, and coffee by St. Thomas Church, and lemonade sales by the Cherry Valley-Springfield Class of 2028. Other highlights include the Springfield Historical Society Open House, a Revolutionary War- era exhibit by the Fort Plain Museum, and farm animals by the Springfield High Meadows 4H Club, along with various raffles by the Springfield Fire Department, Springfield Baptist Church, Pierstown Grange, and CV-S endowment Foundation, and more.

An invocation by the Reverend Kyle Grennen of St. Mary’s episcopal Church will be followed by a flag raising ceremony in honor of Jane Prior.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Glimmerglass State Park, a free Fourth of July evening Concert by the Council Rock Band will be followed at dusk by a fireworks display.

On Sunday, July 2 at 4 p.m., the Glimmerglass Festival will present its annual “Springfield Appreciation Concert,” previewing performances from this season’s productions at the Alice Busch Opera Theater. Tickets for the concert are $5.00 each and are available at the Convenience Corner Store in Springfield Center. Springfield Fourth of July T-shirts with this year’s parade theme, “Salute to Lady Liberty,” are also available for $10.00 each. All proceeds from concert ticket and T-shirt sales support the Fourth of July Parade and Celebration.

The Springfield Fourth of July Parade welcomes all individuals, families, groups, and businesses to join the procession. Registration is free, and an online entry form can be accessed by clicking the “Sign Up” button on