Upstate Life Tourism 2023

Page 8

Complimentary Copy Courtesy of the Daily star TOURISM 2023 promises tunes, tourism & Good times A Soap Box Derby that Celebrates For the Love of Baseball Down on the Farm, it’s Pizza Night & MORE!

Reinterpreting Traditional Music at the West Kortright Centre

For the Love of Baseball

Down of the Farm, it’s Pizza Night Stony Creek Serves Up a ‘Slice of Life’ Every Saturday Night

Southern Tier Music Fest Promises Tunes, Tourism & Good Times

The Walls Talk: Sharon Springs Grows its Future by Preserving the

The Catskill Geologists: Opus 40

2 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023 TOURISM 2023 | VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 3 Contents COLUMNS
with Collins: At-Home
Spiedies 24 12 22 28 20 12 16 8 4
6 8 4 A Soap Box Derby that Celebrates Cookin’
Chicken
Self-Care Corner with Chelsea: Yoga People Oneonta
Past
6
MONICA CALZOLARI

In my 20s, I lived for a while in England. I couldn’t believe that, despite being able to travel the length of the country, north to south, in about seven hours, most of the people I met in northwestern England had never gone to London or Birmingham. Now, I get it. New York City is an even shorter driving trip, and yet, I rarely get there. I rarely get much farther than the grocery store. But when I do venture beyond my bubble, I’m always struck by all that’s out there, even – especially – close to home.

For years, but notably since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been uncovering upstate charms. According to the 2021 Economic Impact Report through Empire State Development, esd.gov, “visitors spent $52 billion across the New York economy” that year, translating to $85.5 billion in the “total economic impact of tourism.”

And while 2021 and 2022 were rebound years, the report notes, “visitor spending increased by 53% in 2021 … after significant declines in 2020.” Calling tourism “an integral part of each region’s economy, generating 5% to 18% of total employment,” the report states, “(tourism) is most important to the Adirondacks and Catskills, encompassing 18% and 15% of total employment, respectively.

“In 2021, all regions recorded robust growth,” it continues, “(but) increases were most significant in Central New York, (at) 80%.” Ours is an area on the rise.

This edition is a nice reminder of, as my best friend is fond of saying, “the haps” here at home. This summer, whether it’s reconstructing historic hideaways, wood-firing farm-to-table pizzas, boyhood baseball, Mauritanian musicians or countrywestern stars under the stars, the upstate region is drawing people in, and for good reason.

TOURISM 2023 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | 3
On the cover Upstate Life Magazine, Winner, New York State Associated Press Association First-Place Award for Specialty Publications, is published by: The Daily Star, 102 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820 © 2023 - All rights reserved. Publisher and General Manager Valerie
Allison
Interested in advertising in Upstate Life Magazine? Call toll-free, 1-800-721-1000, ext. 235 CONTRIBUTED
eDitor’s Corner
Secor Editor
Collins Graphic Designer Tracy Bender
We invite you to email your comments to: upstatelifeeditor@thedailystar.com
Tae Kerr and Maddie Font, of the musical duo Maddie & Tae, pictured performing in this undated photo, will headline the inaugural Southern Tier Music Fest on July 1 in Sidney.

A Soap Box Derby

that Celebrates

Soap box derbies may call to mind a bygone era, but this quintessentially summer spectacle is alive and well in the Catskills. Visit Delhi, in the Western Catskills, this July to watch, and maybe even take part, in this uniquely American tradition.

Begun in the 1930s, in the depths of the Great Depression, soapbox derbies were a mid-century childhood staple, with some events attracting tens of thousands of spectators. The rules are simple: build a small, gravity-powered car (the first cars were built from repurposed – you guessed it –soap boxes), and race it down a steep hill. At their most competitive, the meticulously built derby cars can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour purely by exploiting gravity – no other form of acceleration is allowed. The Soap Box Derby World Championship finals continue to be held annually in Ohio each July.

For the last 10 years, Delhi’s Annual Fair on the Square (FOTS) has hosted its own soap box derby, with locals racing playful, gravity-fueled cars down an intimidatingly steep hill in the town square. Many entrants seem

thouGh time is kept for eaCh run, it’s not really Competitive, per se. people have fun With the event anD really Get into the Whole mooD.”

more interested in whimsy than engineering; recent derbies have seen giant hot dogs, mini tractors, tin foil-coated airplanes and a crazed SpongeBob SquarePants flying down Court Street.

The mood on the spectator-lined streets is convivial, the derby cars offering a mashup of nostalgia and irreverence. And, organizers noted, there’s no winning or losing in Delhi’s soap box derby.

“Though time is kept for each run, it’s not really competitive, per se,” organizers Joan Barriger and Jerry Fitch said together. “People have fun with the event and really get into the whole mood.”

As the cars speed shakily down the hill to cheers from the crowd, it becomes clear that this derby is special. It’s a celebration of creativity and weirdness.

Entries are open to all and there is no cost to attend the derby.

This year’s soap box derby will take place Friday, July 28 during Fair on the Square. More information, including event schedules, is available on the Delhi FOTS Facebook page.

If you’re feeling inspired (and brave), join the derby by emailing delhifots@gmail.com.

4 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023

fair on the square marks 50 years of fun

This year, Delhi’s annual Fair on the Square is celebrating its 50th anniversary. FOTS began in 1973, in response to community needs after a major flood. What started as a fundraiser soon evolved into a keystone community event in Delaware County.

Held in Courthouse Square each Friday in July, the Fair on the Square features a wide variety of children’s activities, live music and local food and drink provided by popular restaurants, wineries and breweries. The first event, July 7, kicks off with a parade and fireworks.

Jeremy Fitch, co-chair of the FOTS committee, called the series “the heart of Delhi in the month of July.”

A common meeting point for families, friends and even class reunions, Fair on the Square offers more than a night of family-friendly entertainment.

Committee member June Barriger reflected on what makes the Fair on the Square special: “It’s the feeling of community. People who haven’t seen each other for years, they come back, and (you see it in) the way they look at each other as they hug.”

For more information, visit the Delhi FOTS Facebook page. +

THEARE A’S PREMIER 18 -HOLEPUBLIC GOLF COURSE GOLFCOURSEDELHI.EDU |607-746 -4 653 85 SCOTCH MTN. RD., DELHI, NY DRIVINGR ANGE PR AC TICE GREEN&CHIPPINGARE A GROUP &PRIVATEINSTRUCTION FROM PGA PROFESSIONAL S LE AGUES,TOURNAMENT S& EVENTS AUDUBONCOOPER ATIVE SANC TUARYCOURSE PUB&RES TAUR ANT
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED Drilling Corp. 264Co.Hwy.38,Arkville,NY12406 www.titanwelldrillingny.com •Finduson Facebook 1-800-GO-TITAN •1-845-586-4000 Contactus for dependable drillingcontractors whoensureyour watersystems areoperatingas theyshould SPECIALIZING IN WATERWELL DRILLING PumpSales &Service, WaterFiltration &Geo ThermalDrilling frombacteria to clay and everything in between We will solve any/all of your water issues Don’t Put Up With Dirty, Smelly water!

Reinterpreting traditional Music

West Kortright Centre at the

Nestled between rolling hills and valley farmland at 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith, the West Kortright Centre offers the local community and out-of-town visitors diverse, re-interpreted traditional music from around the world.

Since 1975, the West Kortright Centre has been a nonprofit organization dedicated to excellence in the arts, featuring a blend of world-class concerts, workshops, art exhibits and community events. This summer, through an array of events, the center seeks to bring high-quality performances, learning opportunities and visual arts to the beautiful northwestern Catskills.

This season, the West Kortright Centre is focusing on bringing music from around the world so audiences can experience cultures to which they might not have access.

“We try to think about artists who are reinterpreting traditional music in new and exciting ways,” Saira McLaren, center executive director, said. “For instance, Mali, who is performing in September, will be reinterpreting jazz music from a First Nations perspective.”

Saira shared additional highlights for the summer season, saying: “We’re thrilled to have Meredith Monk back again this year, performing with John Hollenbeck on Saturday, July 22. Meredith is a longtime supporter of the West Kortright Centre, and a next-door neighbor. We’ll be celebrating her 50-plus years of music-making. We’re also looking forward to the Medicine Singers, who will be collaborating with Yonatan Gat and Lee

Ranaldo around traditional pow-wow music. It’s still coming together, but we’re anticipating a transcendental set and then a big, loud, raucous punk-rock pow-wow show!”

Saira called the lineup “pretty exciting.”

“The underpinning of our summer season is reinterpreting traditional music, from First Nations traditions to rural traditions in America and around the world,” she said. “There aren’t many musicians from Mauritania that come to upstate New York, so we’re especially excited to have Noura Mint, who was recently featured in the 2021 film, The Mauritanian, come here in September.”

something for everyone

While many of the performances attract people of all ages, Saira noted, the West Kortright Centre is also intentionally creating spaces for young people to enjoy the arts.

“We’re really interested in developing a lifelong appreciation of the arts,” she said. “This summer, we’re hosting Kidstock, which is in its second year. We had about 300 families last year, and it’s a great addition to our summer. We’re trying to introduce children to lots of different types of music, and it’s kind of like a music festival for kids.”

Kidstock will take place Saturday, July 1, featuring live music, face painting, a petal collage station for flower paintings, food and more. The event is by donation and will host Brasskill, a party brass band from Hudson, New York, and Roly Poly Guacamole, an indie rock band from Brooklyn geared toward kids.

For kids 13 to 19, the West Kortright Centre offers “Shakespeare in the Valley,” a series of young people’s theatre arts workshops focused on acting, music, costumes and tech, all culminating in outdoor performances Aug. 4 and 5. This year’s production will be Julius Caesar. looking ahead

The West Kortright Centre is gearing up for its 50th anniversary, happening in 2025, and is working to reconceptualize its physical space for the next 50 years.

“We hope to reimagine the space to make it more flexible for workshops (and) different kinds of performances,” Saira said. “We’re working with an artist duo out of New Orleans to do a large-scale outdoor performance installation, which will be based on the history of East Meredith. We’re also working with a few First Nation partners to make sure we include what was left out of the history.”

For summer season information and tickets, visit westkc.org. +

Noura Mint Seymali, above, will be a featured guest at WKC this summer. | CONTRIBUTED
6 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023

West kortright Centre summer schedule

(from weskc.org)

kiDstoCk! saturday, July 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A fun after noon with live music and activities for kids, including face painting, crafts, an obstacle course and more.

meredith monk and John hollenbeck, Duet Behavior –7 p.m., saturday, July 22

Duet Behavior 2023 is an intimate evening of Meredith Monk’s music as it has never been experienced. Through a conversational approach, long-time friends and colleagues Monk and Hollenbeck expand and improvise on pieces from across Monk’s 50-plus-year catalogue, combining her pioneering vocal magic with his inventive and masterful percussion to generate new arrangements of Monk’s iconic compositions.

medicine singers, featuring yonatan Gat & lee ranaldo (more special guests tBa) – 4 p.m., saturday, aug. 12 The Medicine Singers embody decades of musical genres influenced by Native American music, offering what Pitchfork called a “vivid new context for the sound of the pow-wow drum, highlighting the debt that rock music owes to Native American music.” Their live show with legendary guitarist Yonatan Gat, and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, bridges multiple dimensions of sound and evokes a bodily experience that transcends mere observation.

noura mint seymali – 7 p.m., saturday, aug. 19

Noura Mint Seymali is Mauritania’s defining artist on the international stage. Drawing on the timeless repertoire of the Moorish griot, a hereditary class of musical poets/historians, her band conjures “a full-blown sandstorm of hypnotic grooves, melding traditional Mauritanian instruments within an electrified psychedelic rock band.” Expanding a sound born of Arab and sub-Saharan roots, Noura Mint Seymali bends the arc of Moorish musical tradition to fit our contemporary moment. As described by NPR, “the arrival of Mauritanian vocalist Noura Mint Seymali in front of Western audiences feels like the start of a new era.” Recognized by the African Union at the first-ever AFRIMA awards, Noura Mint Seymali was named “Best Female Artist from North Africa.”

mali obomsawin – 7 p.m., thursday, sept. 28

Mali Obomsawin is an award-winning bassist/composer from Odanak First Nation. Her debut album, “Sweet Tooth” (Out of Your Head Records, 2022) has garnered international acclaim and quickly established her as a rising jazz star and an innovative folk music visionary. Seamlessly melding chorale-like spirituals, folk melodies and post-Albert Ayler free jazz, Obomsawin’s compositions occupy a universe completely their own.

Sweet Tooth has topped year-end lists from NPR, The Guardian, Jazz Critics Poll and more, delivering a suite of “gripping, dynamic and thunderous music.” —Jazz Times

Last year’s Kidstock event at the West Kortright Centre in East Meredith. Mali Obomsawin will perform at WKC this summer. Medicine Singers, featuring Yonatan Gat, are seen in this undated photo. PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

For the Love of Baseball

The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has attracted 18 million tourists to Cooperstown since it opened in 1939. Many of those visitors eat in area restaurants, shop in local gift shops, enjoy breweries, visit museums and other area attractions, go for scenic tours on the Glimmerglass and stay overnight in hotels, bed and breakfasts and nearby campsites.

Baseball contributes significantly to the economic wellbeing of the central New York corridor. However, the region’s love of the game began well before 1939.

Elm Park, now known as Damaschke Field, opened in 1906. Gary Laing, president of the Oneonta Outlaws Baseball Club, Inc.,

said his park, one of the oldest, active parks in America, owes its roots to the railroad. Laing said “the train started it all,” and noted that, “the Model T Ford was not invented until 1908.”

Baseball legends, including Babe Ruth and Connie Mack, drew large crowds to Oneonta for semi-pro and exposition games. Because this region was easy to reach by train, Oneonta also became one of the first stops on the minor league ladder for players hoping to work their way into Major League Baseball. In 1966, A players for the Red Sox played on Damaschke Field and, for three decades, starting in 1967, New York Yankee A players called Oneonta home during training season.

8 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023
Historic Damaschke Field is one of the oldest active ballparks in America. It sits inside Neahwa Park, gifted to the city of Oneonta. Gary Laing, president of the Oneonta Outlaws Baseball Club, Inc., leases the field from the city. | CONTRIBUTED

summer Baseball Camps

Cooperstown Dreams Park opened in 1996, followed by the Cooperstown All Star Village in 2003. These two summer baseball camps bring approximately 100,000 tourists to the region every June, July and August.

Cooperstown all star village under new ownership

Marty and Brenda Patton, born and raised in the area, founded Cooperstown All Star Village nearly 20 years ago. They are now minority owners. In 2022, they sold their resort, offering six-day summer camp baseball tournaments for kids 12 and under, to Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, a company that owns the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils. Billionaires

Josh Harris and David Blitz saw the value of investing in youth sports; they each have five children. In addition to Cooperstown All Star Village, they also bought Ripken Baseball®, with multiple locations from Maryland to Kentucky.

Rick Abbott is the new CEO of Cooperstown All Star Village and has been on the job for two summers.

“I consult with Marty on almost a weekly basis,” he said of the former owner and founder. “His insight is invaluable.” Cooperstown All Star Village welcomed 760 teams in 2023. “Eleven thousand kids and coaches; this year is the largest crowd ever to play at CASV since its inception. The camp expects 40,000 parents, siblings and grandparents to join along.”

And this year, Abbott noted, will bring about a significant first for the camp.

“I am so happy to announce that we will have, for the first time ever, an all-girls team attending CASV this summer,” he said.

positive economic impact

Abbott estimates that “each family spends approximately $5,000 on their summer vacation. That includes the $1,250 per player and per coach camp fees.”

Families from California, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey and many other parts of the U.S. fly into Albany and Syracuse airports, rent cars and book accommodations in the Otsego, Delaware and surrounding areas. Approximately 100,000 tourists spending one week in the area to be part of the six-day baseball camp equates to $500 million in revenue for the region.

elm park, noW knoWn as DamasChke fielD, openeD in 1906. Gary lainG, presiDent of the oneonta outlaWs BaseBall CluB, inC., saiD his park, one of the olDest, aCtive parks in ameriCa, oWes its roots to the railroaD.

from top: Sources said area railroads played an important part in driving baseball’s popularity and baseball-related tourism locally. D&H workers pose for a photo next to the D&H station building on (modern-day) Market Street in Oneonta. Locomotive 79 was built in 1875. | CONTRIBUTED Below: Damaschke Field is home to the Oneonta Outlaws, a AAA Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. Damaschke Field is in Oneonta’s Neahwa Park, 15 James Georgeson Ave. | MONICA CALZOLARI Rick Abbott, the new owner of the Cooperstown All Star Village, is pictured in this undated photo. | CONTRIBUTED

supporting Generations of families

Ken Meifert, vice president, sponsorship and development, has worked for the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for 29 years. He is grateful for the economic impact baseball has had on this region.

“Baseball has provided jobs for many people in our community for many years and will continue to have a dramatic impact on this region,” he said. “Stephen Clark (who started the Hall of Fame)

was a visionary.”

The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum owns 40,000 three-dimensional pieces of American history, including bats, balls, jerseys, photographs and baseball cards.

“Baseball is very much intertwined with the history of the United States,” Meifert said. “We now know that baseball dates back even further than 1839. We also know that Abner Doubleday fought in the Battle of

in 1863

the Civil War.” +

Gettysburg during Below: Cooperstown All Star Village from above. CEO Rick Abbott confirmed that when Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment purchased Cooperstown All Star Village, they also purchased a 60-acre property just north of the Oneonta Country Club, with plans for significant growth. This investment in West Oneonta nearly doubled the baseball resort’s existing 67 acres. | CONTRIBUTED Every July, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum attracts 40,000 to 50,000 visitors to Cooperstown for the annual Induction Ceremony. | CONTRIBUTED

A timeline and numerous statistics tell the story of how the love of baseball is a driving force that has shaped the socioeconomics of this region.

Timeline

Legend has it that Abner Doubleday invented baseball.

By the Numbers

the BaseBall hall of fame

18 million

Albany & Susquehanna Railroad begins running through Oneonta.

Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Railroad begins running through Oneonta.

Mills Commission names Cooperstown the birthplace of baseball.

1906

The original Elm Park baseball field officially opens on Memorial Day.

Henry Ford invents the Model T Ford.

The Clark family opens the Baseball Hall of Fame; celebrates 100th anniversary of baseball.

ILoveNewYork.com tourism campaign begins.

Sam Nader and Sid Levine buy the Boston Red Sox franchise; they play in Neahwa Park.

Nader and Levine buy the New York Yankees franchise; they play in Neahwa Park for 30 years.

Damaschke Field is renamed in honor of Ernest “Dutch” Damaschke, Oneonta’s Recreation Commissioner of more than 30 years.

Cooperstown Dreams Park opens.

Cooperstown All Star Village opens.

Laing buys the Oneonta Outlaws Baseball Club, Inc. franchise; they play at Damaschke Field.

President Obama is the first and only sitting president to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo designates baseball as the official sport of New York State.

visitors 1939 - present

275,000 visitors per year

40,000-50,000 visitors per year, induction Day Weekend

CooperstoWn all star villaGe

500,000

51,000

visitors from 2003-2023

visitors expected summer 2023

760 teams competing in 2023

since 1996, more than 200,000 players, coaches and umpires from around the country have visited Cooperstown Dreams park cooperstowndreamspark.com

DamasChke fielD

70,000

home of the

visitors expected summer 2023 oneonta outlaws

1839 1865 1870 1905 1905 or 1908 1939 1960s 1966 1967 1968 1996 2003 2012 2014 2021
CooperstoWn Dreams park

Down on the Farm, it’s

Stony Creek Serves Up a ‘Slice of Life’ Every Saturday Night

The stillness of early evening is broken by sounds of laughter and lively conversation. Tantalizing aromas from a wood-fired brick oven fill the air. It’s Saturday night at Stony Creek Farmstead, and a pizza party is underway.

It has been more than 15 years since Kate and Dan Marsiglio took over management of the farm owned by Dan’s parents just outside of Walton.

“We loved visiting Stony Creek when we were students at Syracuse University and dating,” Kate said. Later, she noted, the couple married and returned to the farm repeatedly. “It got into our blood. It became our permanent home when our daughter was 1.”

The couple brought to the farm not only muscle and young enthusiasm, but new ideas that have since helped Stony Creek grow. Pizza night began as a special evening for guests occupying the large, platform-style “glamping” tents that the Marsiglios had installed in the woods, steps away from two picturesque

red barns.

“We started glamping before it became a hot trend,” Kate said, laughing.

Situated on 90 acres of verdant farmland with 60 more leased for farm animals, Stony Creek Farmstead is ideal for guests looking for a special camping experience. Visitors can come and go as they desire, or relax and soak up the simple life, far from the hustle and bustle of daily routines. Children love the farm experience, visiting and making friends with farm animals.

Cooking up Camaraderie

Initially, every Saturday night, campers, neighbors and friends were invited to partake in pizzas and salads made with produce from the farm’s fields. Attendees often participated in the pizza-making, choosing from the many fresh ingredients for toppings, then watching as the pizzas browned in the wood-fired, outdoor oven. This farm-to-table pizza happening began to draw locals to the table, too.

12 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023
Kate and Dan Marsiglio enjoy a minute off duty at a recent pizza night. Three just-fired farm-to-table pizzas await diners.

it is WonDerful seeinG hoW pizza niGht has GroWn. pizza niGht fit riGht in With our vision for the farmsteaD as a plaCe Where people CoulD Gather, muCh like the farmsteaDs of olD Where families in the Community Were inviteD to Barn DanCes anD Barn raisinGs. people Came BaCk aGain anD aGain, not only for the fresh pizzas, But for the CamaraDerie.”

top left to right, clockwise: Kate Marsiglio demonstrates her pizza-flipping skills. Eve Foster tosses greens for a fresh, all-you-can-eat salad. Luke Potrzeba pulls a pizza from the wood-fired, brick-oven stove. Stony Creek Farmstead’s signature all-natural, wood-fired pizza. From the fields to the table. Sarah Morgan prepares a pizza for the oven. All of the pizza preparation is done outdoors at a long wooden table

PHOTOS BY LEIGH INFIELD

“It is wonderful seeing how pizza night has grown,” Kate said. “Pizza night fit right in with our vision for the farmstead as a place where people could gather, much like the farmsteads of old where families in the community were invited to barn dances and barn raisings. People came back again and again, not only for the fresh pizzas, but for the camaraderie. Guests often lingered well into the evening to enjoy good conversation and the unfolding of a soft summer night in beautiful surroundings.”

Pizza night also afforded Kate the opportunity to indulge in one of her passions. “I love feeding people,” she said. “It’s part of my Italian heritage.”

kneading to Grow

As the popularity of pizza night grew, the Marsiglios realized they had to expand. Dan added picnic tables and a wooden platform for a new pavilion to accommodate more diners. The couple hired local men and women to help prepare and bake the pizzas, and young people from the area to serve them.

The Marsiglios encourage guests to come with a hearty appetite. Pizza night is an all-you-can-eat, pizza-plus-salad affair. Menu favorites include vegetarian pizza, made with seasonal selections from the field, and, for meat lovers, a pizza topped with the farm’s bacon and sausage, plus pepperoni.

Two specialty pizzas are named after servers: “The Cella” is a pizza made with caramelized onions, garlic, kale, capers and artichokes and “The Jimmy” is white pizza with basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, sausage and pickled jalapenos. Guests can also order custom pizzas. Can’t make up your mind? Go for the chef’s choice and let the pizza makers work their magic.

To accompany pizzas, guests can choose one of Stony Creek Farmstead’s fresh salads: kale with lemon juice and oil, green salad with house vinaigrette or classic coleslaw. Or ask to try a sampler salad of all three.

al fresco appetites

The action starts at 6 p.m., when the wood-fired oven is lit. Cars can pull in close to the two barns. Early-bird guests and their children are often invited to walk up a small path to visit the lambs and their newborns, before being seated at one of the picnic tables set up in a secluded grove under strings of twinkling lights.

The pizza preparation is all done outdoors, at a long wooden table where guests can watch Kate and her team prepare large bowls of salad and flip pizza dough. Servers bring pizzas, hot and bubbling, straight from the brick oven to your table. Guests are invited to bring their own wine and beer. Juices and seltzers can be purchased at the farm store, just a few steps from the pizza area.

The farm store features free-range red meat and chicken, fresh eggs, homemade soups, salads, granola that Kate may have made that morning and much more.

Call or text your order to Kate at 607-434-9788 for pick-up. The store is open daily, May through October. During the fall and winter months, the farm store makes deliveries to New Jersey, New York City and Delaware County. Or, shop online year-round.

To reserve a table for pizza night, Stony Creek asks that guests contact the farmstead by noon on the Saturday they plan to attend. Call (607) 865-7965, e-mail office@stonycreekfarmstead.com or text Kate at (607) 434-9788. Pizza night is $25 per person. Cash, checks or credit cards are accepted.

For more information on farm stays, workshops and apprenticeships for children, visit www.stonycreekfarmstead.com. +

AWideVarietyofCheese &Cheese Curds Jams,Jellies,Salsa &Hot Sauces Maple Syrup, Honey&PancakeMix Crackers,Homemade Canned &Baked Goods, LocalPotter y, Soaps,Lotions &Jewelr y, Christmas Wreaths &GiftBaskets Delicious Homemade Cheesecakes! 3941 NYSHwy 28, Milford 978-257-4635or607-222-9875 Monday-Sunday 10am-6pm 4850StateRoute28inCooperstown607-547-2767 Cooperstown Experience is aone of akind family ballparktournament vacationexperience! Nowacceptingreservations forthis upcomingseason,2024. Register at cooperstownexperience.com Boys 12u /13uBaseball Girls12u /14u /16u /18u Softball COMINGSOON ThisSeasonof2024!
Eve Foster serves a wood-fired pizza topped with fresh ingredients from the farm.
(607)286-4061 sybilsyarnshop.com 65S.MainSt. Tuesday-Friday 12pm-6pm Saturday 10am-5pm FAMILYOWNED &OPERATED •Water Remediation •MoldRemediation •FireDamage &Smoke DamageCleaning •Residential/Commercial Carpet &Upholstery Cleaning WorkingHardtoGiveYou PEACEOFMIND 607-988-2516 servicemasterbyburch.com SE AT IN G AHEAD FranklinStageCompany.org –RESERVE g ALWAYS ADMISSION FREE JUN30–JUL16 JUL21–23 APALOSECOFLAMENCO JUL28–30 JULIANFLEISHER&HISBAND"DETOURS" AUG4–20 TOLIVER&WAKEMAN JUN 30–JUL 16 A PALO SECO FLAMENCO JULIAN FLEISHER & HIS BAND "DETOURS" JUNE 30 – AUGUST 20 2023 SEASON 2023 SEASON 2023 SEASON PR OF ES SI ON AL THE AT ER OF THE GRE AT WE ST ER NC AT SK IL LS
MakethemostofyourtriptoCooperstownwith visitstoourgalleries,featuringlocaland regionalar tists! 22MainSt.Cooperstown(607)547-9777 GalleryHours: Tuesday -Saturday11-4pm www.cooperstownart.com 55 PioneerSt.Cooperstown(607)547-8671 GalleryHours: Tuesday -Saturday11-4pm www.smithyarts.org TheSmithy Gallery &ClayStudio TheCooperstownArt AssociationGalleries
Support theArts!

Four Towns Forward is bringing Nashville to Sidney this summer.

The nonprofit organization, representing Afton, Bainbridge, Sidney and Unadilla, will host the inaugural Southern Tier Music Fest, Saturday, July 1, at the Sidney Municipal Airport. The one-day festival will showcase award-winning country duo Maddie and Tae alongside regional and local country acts, including Cassidy Lynn, Jason Wicks, Sundown, Devon Lawton & the In-Laws, Restless Road, Rylee Lum and more.

Four Towns Forward President Teri Schunk said Sidney businessman Ed Curley conceptualized the event roughly two years ago.

“In August of ’21, I bought tickets to a Kip Moore concert in Sylvania, Ohio for my wife,” Curley said, “He had a muscle shirt on and big muscles and it became crystal clear (why people would want to attend). Sitting there in Ohio in this outdoor amphitheater – Syvlania, Ohio is about the size of Sidney, Bainbridge and Unadilla combined –, I wondered, ‘Why can’t we do something like this in the tri-town area?’ We flew to Detroit, rented a car, drove to Sylvania, rented a hotel, bought gas, bought meals and spent quite a bit of money in Sylvania, Ohio, so why not do this locally and bring people to this area and have some economic development?”

Communities in Collaboration

Curley said his initial step was contacting Sidney-area leaders.

“The first person I called was Jim Reynolds at the (Sidney Federal) Credit Union, and he said, ‘This sounds like a good idea; let’s get Four Towns Forward involved,’” he said. “So, we called Teri, got the village, and said, ‘Let’s see if we can’t get this ball rolling.’ That was about a year and a half ago.”

Curley and Schunk credited a roughly 15-person committee, including representatives from each of the titular towns, with bringing the event to fruition.

“When we initially sat down … it was like, ‘OK, what organization do we want to run this through,’” Curley said. “We could’ve run in through the chamber (of commerce) or Rotary, but we decided the best place was Four Towns Forward, because they have the 501-C-3 and a structure, and the four towns are involved.”

“And it brings us more people to help with it,” Schunk said. “Terry Potter is the promoter – he does Spiedie Fest and the Dick’s Open – and (Sidney mayor) Ray Baker is involved; all the mayors involved.”

Promises Tunes, Tourism & Good Times

PRODUCTIONS|FREEPIk

Four Towns Forward will hosT

The inaugural souThern Tier Music FesT, saTurday, July 1, aT

The sidney Municipal airporT.

16 UpSTATe LIfe mAGAZINe TOURISm 2023
ImagEByPv
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
From top: Country singer-songwriter Cassidy Lynn performs in this undated photo. Rylee Lum will be a featured local-regional performer at the July 1 festival. Restless Road performs in this undated photo. Country duo maddie and Tae are headlining the event.

Singing the area’s praises, Curley said, remained his motivation throughout the planning process.

“We formed the committee with the purpose of driving economic development and getting some people to come to our communities that haven’t been here,” he said. “Maybe they say, ‘This isn’t such a bad place; maybe I should move here from Utica or Binghamton or enroll my kids here’ and just be some type of draw for the area.”

music & more

Highlighting country artists, Curley noted, was based on the genre’s popularity locally. And while music is at the heart of the event, Schunk said, the festival will feature a full day of family-friendly fun.

“(Terry Potter) is the one that got us the two Nashville (acts), and there’s a committee of local people,” she said. “(Unadilla mayor) Jake Cotten is in the music industry, so we have five local bands to keep things a little bit local. And the drummer from Restless Road is from Harpursville, and they’re excellent.

“But the music is just one small piece of the day,” Schunk continued. “We have vendors – over 50 arts and crafts –, some food trucks and the United Way of Sidney is sponsoring all the kids’ activities, because it is a family event. Tickets for super VIP will have (Sidney restaurant) Club 55 and (local caterer) Suzie Decker sponsoring food and Mike Gavin (of Gavin’s Pizza) is for VIP, so we’re trying to do as much locally as we can. And there will be beer and wine. We want it to be a family day: come, bring a blanket, sit on the grass, let your kids run around and there’ll be fireworks at the end of the night.”

Curley and Schunk said the festival, announced in February, is striking a chord.

“(People) are on board,” Schunk said “It’s a nice, central loca-

tion; we did look at Unadilla, Bainbridge and Afton, and (the airport in Sidney) was really the best fit. We’ll have parking at (nearby) ACCO (Brands) and shuttle buses to bring people to the airport. Everybody is excited; ticket sales are over 800.”

“The goal was 1,000,” Curley noted in early May, “and we haven’t really advertised that much, so the promoter is thrilled. We’re getting a lot of draw from the Utica and Binghamton areas. And having it at the airport we thought was … a great idea. We can draw people to it – we have a nice, local airport where people can learn to fly or charter a flight, and a lot of people don’t even know that – so I thought it was kind of exciting to have it (there).”

Schunk and Curley said the festival is being funded by “pretty incredible” area sponsorships.

“The key is economic development, and it wouldn’t be possible without the local community support,” Schunk said, noting that she and Curley hope to make the event annual. “None of this would be possible without local businesses and local money. And a lot of these businesses have bought tickets for employees, so that’s very cool, and they’re all definitely embracing it. We started getting commitments in the fall (of 2022), and it was hard, because we couldn’t tell people the acts, but once the bands came on, we hosted a sponsor night and brought them up to speed and I’ve had people call and say, ‘I want to be a part of it.’”

“We raised $121,000 in sponsorships, just in local business, all from the four towns,” Curley said. “The intent isn’t to make money – but if we do, that is a big step forward for 2024. The intent is to draw people to the community.”

Festival gates open at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com. For more information, find “Southern Tier Music Fest” on Facebook or visit southerntiermusicfest.com. Also, contact 4townsforward@gmail.com. +

But the musiC is Just one small pieCe of the Day. We have venDors – over 50 arts anD Crafts –, some fooD truCks anD the uniteD Way of siDney is sponsorinG all the kiDs’ aCtivities, BeCause it is a family event.”
ALLISON COLLINS Devon Lawton & the In-Laws Devon Lawton & the In-Laws, pictured, will be among the performers at the inaugural Southern Tier Music Fest. | CONTRIBUTED
visit s get t Private tours, events, a great family outing Schedule at www.rosemaryfarm.org “A hidden gem Catskills!” Sanctuary Rosemary Farm Sanctuary Rosemary Farm Sanctuary Privatetours,events, agreatfamilyouting Scheduleatwww.rosemaryfarm.org or findus on Facebook !@R osemaryFarm RosemaryFarmSanctuary (501c3nonprofit) 1646RosesRd. S.Kortright,NY607538-1200 iroquoismuseum.org •(518)296-8949 324CavernsRdHowesCave,NY EXPERIENCE •CONTEMPORARY IROQUOISART •ARCHEOLOGY •NATURE PARK &TRAILS IROQUOIS MUSEUM IROQUOISARTS FESTIVAL9/2 &9/3 ONEONTASPORTS PARK MakingSummerGreat Ages12andolderwelcome. Onehour rental$25perperson, FREEinstruction. Call 607-432-0624 forreservations OneontaSportsPark 132CountyHWY47,Oneonta,NY Newfor2023AXETHROWING •CRICKET •BALLOONPOP •ZOMBIEHUNT Play3 differentgames: OrderOnlineor ByOurApp BrooksBBQ.com Barbecueis notjusta business, it’saway ofLIFE Forthe Brooks family Since1951 HomeoftheLargest IndoorCharcoal BBQPit Sunday,Tuesday-Thursday11am-7pm Friday &Saturday11am-8pm ClosedMonday CURBSIDE •CARRYOUT •CATERING 5560StateHighway7,Oneonta,NY13820 607-432-1782brooksbbq.com

Chicken Spiedies

Spiedies are a simple, no-nonsense staple of the Southern Tier.

Though the origins of the marinated meat classic are disputed, most sources agree that spiedies began in the late 1920s, when Italian immigrants living in the suburbs of Binghamton began serving them with lamb. And the name, according to bonappetit.com, comes from the Italian word “spiedino,” which translates to “skewer.”

Endicott immigrant Augustine Iacovelli is credited, according to several sources, with introducing spiedies in his restaurant, Augie’s, in 1939, and calling the original marinade “zuzu.” According to whatscookingamerica.net, Iacovelli’s spiedies “caught on so well among the local railroad workers and shoemakers that, for years, every little corner grocery had a spiedie stand on the street in front of it.”

The simplicity of spiedies has perpetuated their popularity.

“This simple dish … doesn’t sound like

anything special,” the bonapetit.com article notes. “The zesty marinade tastes a little like Italian dressing, and when it hits the grill, it caramelizes quickly on the outside and remains super tender on the inside. It’s instant gratification at its finest.”

And a 2022 Vice: Munchies article calls spiedies “deceptively simple,” saying, “(It’s) marinated meat on a roll and nothing more, but biting into one is a life-changing experience.”

Over the years, chicken replaced lamb as the meat of choice for spiedies, though they can also be made with beef, pork or venison. Classically, the just-grilled meat skewers are slid on to a slice of Italian bread, though sub-style rolls are equally favored. Marinade recipes are closely guarded, but all use a good amount of either red or white vinegar, giving the cooked meat its signature tang, and a blend of Italian spices, including a surprising amount of mint.

Spiedies’ popularity spurred the Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally, begun in 1983 and held annually in Otsiningo Park. This year’s

festival begins Aug. 4.

According to spiediefest.com, “Over the past three decades, the (festival) has grown into a full, three-day event that attracts over 100,000 people from across the country.” The event, the site notes, features “music performances from Top 40 and local artists, two volleyball tournaments, cooking contests, a car show, arts and crafts … rides and all kinds of vendors.”

This marinade melds all the standard spiedie spices, but livens things up with fresh mint instead of dried. Though you can purchase bottled spiedie sauce at most stores, the at-home marinade is easy and inexpensive to make, and a great go-to for summer barbecues.

20 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023
at-home
Cookin’ Collins WITH
most sources agree, the bread acts as “a mitt” for the meat.
Serve finished spiedies simply, with no toppings, in an Italian sub-style roll or on a piece of sliced bread.

Ingredients:

1 c. extra-virgin olive oil

½ c. white vinegar

Zest of one lemon

3 cloves garlic, minced

Juice of half a lemon

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. red pepper flakes

1 tsp. garlic powder

AT-HOME CHICKEN SPIEDIES

1 tsp. paprika

½ tsp. dried rosemary

1 ½ tsp. dried basil or 1 tbsp. fresh, chopped

2 tsp. dried oregano

Three to four fresh leaves, minced (or 1 to 2 tbsp. dried, if you don’t have fresh)

3 to 4 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed

Soft Italian-style sub rolls, for serving Wooden skewers

tips:

n Store the marinating chicken in a glass or similar non-plastic container in the fridge. Plastic will absorb the scent of the marinade and may also leech the smell into the rest of the fridge.

n Before cubing the chicken, prick it all over with a fork.

n Soak your skewers in water for about 30 minutes before grilling.

Directions:

Combine all marinade ingredients (oil through mint) and whisk.

Pour marinade over cubed chicken breast.

Refrigerate for up to three days, but at least overnight.

When ready to cook, skewer chicken cubes and grill over medium heat.

Serve on fresh Italian rolls. +

4 5 6 2 3 1
1. Though the blend of spices varies from marinade recipe to recipe, all lean Italian, with a good dose of mint. Red or white vinegar can be used in the marinade base. The vinegar helps give the finished spiedies their signature tang. 2. Cut meat into roughly 1-inch chunks. 3. Whisk marinade ingredients together. 4. Pour marinade over meat of choice and allow to marinate for a couple days, but at least overnight. 5. When meat has marinated, pierce onto dampened wooden skewers. 6. Grill skewered meat over medium-high heat. Turn skewers while cooking, ensuring an even char.
PHOTOS BY ALLISON COLLINS

This month, I got to interview Kelsie Rockefeller, owner of Yoga People Oneonta and a truly talented yoga instructor who has created a welcoming, holistic space for the local community, students and visitors alike to partake in the ancient practice of yoga. We also spoke about self-care practices anyone can easily integrate this summer. From cooling foods to allowing yourself to some downtime amid the fire of summer, there’s something for everyone. tell me about yoga people oneonta and how yoga contributes to your clients’ overall wellness.

Rockefeller: Yoga People Oneonta is the area’s only dedicated yoga studio and, as such, we intend to serve as a home and resource for anyone seeking to learn about or practice yoga in its various forms. Our approach is steeped in the core practices of:

• Awareness - Both the intimate awareness of self as well as how this ripples out to community awareness;

• Balance - Comprised of empathy, patience, joy and the ability to adapt to changing environments; and • Stress Management - Especially as it relates to pain management, injury prevention and techniques that help tone and downregulate the nervous system. Our weekly class offerings seek to provide a full spectrum approach to wellness –from gentle and meditative, to hot and challenging, as well as regular workshops that integrate a yogic lifestyle beyond its physical practices. Wellness is complex, and one size does not fit all the time; what is balancing and nourishing in one season or for one person is not the same for the next. Many people have tried and abandoned yoga because they went to a class that was not the right fit for them at the time. Our programming is guided by both Ayurvedic and Yogic principles to acknowledge the changing landscape of community wellness needs.

What are the top three wellness practices that you recommend to clients at this time of year?

Summer, as you might guess, is ruled by the element fire, but also water. When the fire goes unchecked, the water boils, steams and evaporates. We tend to be more impatient, more energized, more “get-itdone” and even more dominating in this

season, so the task of summer balance is to emphasize the cooling and flowing nature of water as a complement to our fiery energy. First, cooling foods, like those that comprise the cuisine of the tropics – lime, coconut, cilantro, cucumber – are excellent choices this time of year. Second, with all the extra energy, some folks might love to get in a sweaty “Hot Power” class, but if doing so, emphasize postures that take concentration, like balancing poses and back-bending poses, while minimizing postures that compress the belly, like twists. This is also a great time to practice more patience-focused yoga, like Yin and restorative, so long as you find yourself able to enjoy that downtime rather than wait impatiently for it to end. Finally, the absolute best thing you can do when you’re feeling fiery in the summer is get involved in passion work – volunteer, teach or speak about a topic you love, organize a potluck, anything that gets your heart involved!

Self-Care with Chelsea CORNER

22 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023
Yoga People Oneonta is a community-centric yoga studio rooted in the living principles of yoga as a place where all feel welcomed and encouraged to begin, express and deepen their practice.

What’s your favorite self-care practice during summer?

I’m the type of summer person who cannot get enough sunshine, but all that heat can be overwhelming to the system, so my favorite self-care summer activity is to spend a leisurely day by a body of water. Gilbert Lake is a local favorite, with lots of walking trails, water activities and my personal favorite – no cell phone service. I pack cooling essentials, like watermelon and homemade limeade, and sit back to enjoy some unplugged, unscheduled time.

What inspires you about your work? What are the challenges?

I love the opportunity to share about something that has radically changed the way I live. You can take a yoga class and enjoy the physical benefits without ever diving deeper, but I truly feel all the teachers at Yoga People Oneonta live their yoga and share this passion from a deep desire to inspire others to do the same. It’s inspiring to see these changes in real-time, as we witness clients prioritize their own wellbeing and all that they’re able to accomplish by doing so. As the saying goes, when one teaches, two learn. As guides and teachers, we have the opportunity to learn each and every day, forging deep connections with our community members. As with all things, it doesn’t come without challenge. We’re still recovering from lockdown and, while things have been wonderful this year, there are a lot of changes that still limit our reach and accessibility. Yoga as an industry is a bit of a paradox to start with, so it is always challenging to balance all the moving parts that keep our doors open and our heat on, while staying aligned with our values. how can people learn more about yoga people oneonta?

We’re fairly active on our Instagram and Facebook pages, @yogapeople_oneonta, and our website is updated in real-time with class offerings and events at yogapeopleoneonta.com. The best way to see what’s going on with us is to stop in and say hello at 50 Dietz St. Suite L in Oneonta. +

Kelsie teaches a class in the studio, where YPO offers heated and non-heated, varied-pace classes seven days per week. Chelsea Frisbee Johnson is a life coach, writer and spiritual leader who loves helping people find more joy and peace in their life. While most classes take place inside the studio, summer offers a unique opportunity for outdoor classes, usually part of events such as the City of the Hills Festival (Sept. 16 and17), summer holidays or private group events. PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Nearly 200 years ago, Sharon Springs became a destination place for visitors wanting to take advantage of its “healing” sulfur waters.

Once the Erie Canal was opened in 1825 and the value of the waters was discovered, it was only a short stagecoach ride from Palatine Bridge to Sharon Springs. From 1836 to 1860, several large hotels were built to accommodate the increasing number of visitors to the village. Since the 1950s, the resort destination went into decline. Recently, there have been onagain, off-again efforts to revitalize some of the old bathhouses on lower Main Street. Other buildings were lost to deterioration and fires. And recent success stories of reopening some of the grand hotels have come about slowly.

But Sharon Springs has new reason to be optimistic about preserving its past, through reuse of some of the older, unused buildings near the property of the Sharon Springs Historical Society Museum, 238 Main St.

Through work underway by the society, there will soon be a new “old” general store, post office, doctor’s office, barber shop, millinery and dress shop, print shop, Jewish synagogue, ice-cream shop, church and a much larger museum building – all ready for viewing this summer.

Next door and behind the present museum at 238 Main St., there was a series of small guest cabins, long since abandoned, now being repurposed to house these new shops and places of worship. A typical cabin included a small kitchen, bathroom and two beds.

According to Ron Ketelsen, president of the Sharon Springs Historical Society since 2021, “Restoring these cabins has taken a lot of work and has included some changes in roof lines, putting in large glass windows for viewing and general facade improvements.” The cabins were structurally sound, but needed extensive refurbishing, he said. The cabins looked much alike at the start, but the refurbishing work will give each a unique appearance when completed.

Also behind the village-in-progress is a former boarding house on Center Street called the Ganz House, built in 1927. The historical society has purchased it and will reimagine it as home to the new main museum.

“We don’t have much room in the current museum,” Ketelsen. “(Ganz House) has four floors. We’re going to add a wrap-around, Victorian-style porch to it. The existing museum will become a welcome center and gift shop. Visitors will access the historic village and, in time, be able to enter the larger museum and all its exhibits.” Ketelsen expects the museum on Center Street to open by 2024 as it, like the cabins, needs to be cleared out and refurbished.

Sharon SpringS Grows its Future by Preserving the Past

restorinG these CaBins has taken a lot of Work anD has inCluDeD some ChanGes in roof lines, puttinG in larGe Glass WinDoWs for vieWinG anD General faCaDe improvements.”

The Walls Talk

24 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023
top to bottom: The current museum building, open on weekends while the project is completed. The entrance to the Sharon Springs Historical Society Museum.

top

Over the years there have been many donations of items from former hotels, businesses and houses of worship to the society, and these will now be housed within the restored buildings. The counter to be used in the ice-cream shop is coming from the former Shockley’s Drug Store in Sharon Springs.

promising preservation

The lack of space at the museum spurred the society to take on this massive project. Ketelsen describes himself as a visionary regarding the possibilities for the museum.

“When I first talked to the society’s board of directors, they said there’s ‘absolutely no way we could take on something this big,’” he said. “They asked where we could get the money to do all this, and I had an idea. I knew a man named Nicholas Juried, who grew up here in Schoharie County, and loves the historical aspects of the county.”

While 93 and living in Austin, Texas, Juried was contacted by Ketelsen. Juried thought it was a tremendous idea and sent a sizeable check to the society to buy the property for the historical village, as well as another check to get started on the restoration. Donation of a few hundred thousand dollars to date by Juried has made this possible.

Ketelsen said Juried has donated funds to projects in Schoharie County such as The Gathering Place in Cobleskill, a museum build-

ing in Gilboa, another museum in Jefferson and The Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave. “He’s taken a huge interest in this project,” Ketelsen said.

A public appeal for funding is also in progress by the Sharon Springs Historical Society, with plans to build an endowment fund to maintain the project once completed.

Much of the building materials, windows and fixtures have been re-purposed for the historic village project. While some of the labor is volunteer-based, most of the reconstruction is being done by paid independent contractors, working on daily to get the village completed during summer. An official opening date will be announced soon.

Bringing vigor to the village

Ketelsen is fairly new to Sharon Springs. He came to the area in 2014, following a career as an executive in human resources in Silicon Valley, California. Ketelsen owns the Roseboro Hotel in Sharon Springs, which itself has undergone a major restoration in recent years.

Life in Silicon Valley grew tiresome for Ketelsen, as he sought somewhere more peaceful and quiet. Originally, he’d hoped to buy a farm in Vermont, but the deal got away from him. It was the wellknown Beekman Boys of Sharon Springs who contacted Ketelsen, encouraging him to take on the Roseboro Hotel project.

left, clockwise: An interior view of a typical cabin. Ron Ketelsen, society president, stands in front of a former tourist cabin. The front sides of the cabins, with restoration in progress. The back sides of the series of cabins demonstrates how much work was required to restore them.

“So, it doesn’t scare me to take on another big project like this,” he said. “I love to be creative, and this is definitely giving us an opportunity to do that.” The project, he noted, began without blueprints and is progressing as it grows.

Ketelsen got involved in historic preservation because of The Roseboro.

“I just felt that there is so much history being lost, and that the membership base of the historical society is aging,” he said. Ketelson is working to not only bring in money, but also new interest and membership to ensure the society’s longevity.

The historic village is planned as a tourist destination, and between the Sharon Springs and Schoharie County Chambers of Commerce, it will be marketed well. Ketelsen has worked on previous tourism projects with both. Also, watch The Daily Star for announcement of the grand opening event.

The Sharon Springs Historical Society Museum, in its current building, as well as the adjacent Chestnut Street Schoolhouse, is from 1 to 4 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day Weekend. Sneak peeks at the project’s progress are welcomed.

Follow project progress or donate by visiting sharonhistoricalsocietyny.org. +

Historian Mark Simonson grew up in Oneonta. He has worked in public relations, marketing and broadcast journalism. Simonson was appointed Oneonta City Historian in 1998. He writes a historical column in The Daily Star and has published books highlighting local and regional history. Here, Simonson shares stories about old buildings of interest in the upstate region.

DianaFriedelrD

Psychic-Intuitive Reader, Teacher, Medium an dHealer;Minister, Institute for Spiritual Development

•Confidential PsychicReadings607-433-2089

•IntuitiveEnergy Healings

Lookingorgrddance in thesechangindmes?

Windows

We have afullselectionofenergyefficient windowsanddoorsinstock.Comeseeoursolid woodkitchencabinets &bathroom vanities.

"Very inspiringand healing." "Amazingandright on target Agreat help withguidance" "I was skeptical cominginandonce Iwas told thingsnoone elsecould know ' Ileft with an entire new outlook! Thank you." � � every � 5 :30p _fL. Likeuson LJfacebook.

“Ver yinspiringandhealing.”“Amazingandright on target...A greathelpwithguidance.”“Iwas inspired cominginandonce I wastoldthingsnoone else could know,Ileft with an entire newoutlook! Thankyou.”

26 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023
&
& Doors Kitchens
Baths
TO FIT YOURNEEDS 4189STATEHWY.28,MILFORD,NY~607-286-7856 Hours: Tuesday• Friday8:30-5;Saturday8:30-4;ClosedSunday&Monday www.anjwindows.com
MANYITEMSINSTOCK CUSTOMORDER
,r..
moreinfo
@TuninglnTuningUp @ISDOneonta
-www.dianafriedell.com Lookingforguidanceinthesechangingtimes!
The former Ganz House, to become the main museum for the Sharon Springs Historical Society in 2024.
i Just felt that there is so muCh history BeinG lost, anD that the memBership Base of the historiCal soCiety is aGinG.”
• Fun,Interactive ExhibitsatOur VisitorsCenter • FreeEvents& Activitiesforthe Whole Family • EarlyAmericanLife atHistoricLansing Manor (Seasonal) Blenheim-Gilboa PowerProject 1378 State Route30,NorthBlenheimNY Blenheim- Gilboa VisitorsCenter andLansingManor Scanfor Info 2023EVENTS SatJun10 Touch-a-Truck SunJul16 AntiqueAutoShow Aug1-31 Summerof STEM SatSep9 B-G’s 50thAnniversary SatSep23 WildlifeFestival Oct1-31 Energy AwarenessMonth SatOct21 FestivalofFrights Nov5-26 SundayAfternoonMovies Dec1-31 FestivalofTrees SatDec9 HollyJolly Party Powerful Fun! Learnthe HistoryofPower Feel thePowerofHistory FREEADMISSION &P ARKING OPENALLYEAR S PR AY FOAM *15+ YEARS EXPER IENCE* K ANE D IBENEDET TO D ENVE R,NY WWW.HOMEFOAMIN SULATION.NET HOMEFOAMIN SULATION @ YAHOO.COM FR EE ESTIMATES FULLYINSUR ED look for the summer issue of upstate life, publishing in July 2023 Phone:607-847-6173•LikeusonFacebook

Opus 40

This is the tourism issue, and, if you want to do a little Catskills touring then, we have a very good geology destination for you: Opus 40 on George Sickle Road in Saugerties, very near Woodstock.

Have you ever heard of Opus? Maybe not. It has a split personality. Opus came into existence as a run-of-the-mill bluestone quarry, like many others throughout the Catskills. Later, it was transformed into a work of art. It’s now a very peculiar sculpture, created long ago by a professional sculptor named Harvey Fite.

Fite was an art professor at Bard College, practicing his art on the side. He bought an old, abandoned bluestone quarry, intending to set up a studio in it and have a home there. But it became something different.

The Catskill Geologists

We have explored many such abandoned quarries and they are ugly, all of them. But Harvey set about making this one into art. He collected countless blocks of bluestone and piled them up into his sculptures. See our first photo. Look at all the carefully stacked stones in the foreground. That’s a single column of rock high above. Today, as a preserve, it is an increasingly popular place to visit. People wander about and admire the art.

Bluestone Beauty

But we visited as geologists, and found a lot of special, fascinating things. Bluestone, almost all of it, records petrified river channels. The quarry was once part of a great river delta, called the Catskill Delta. That was during the Devonian time period, perhaps 385 million years ago.

28 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | TOURISM 2023
The stone obelisk makes the center of Harvey Fite’s sculpture.

We explored the stone walls of the quarry, finding cross-sections of ancient rivers that flowed through the area almost 400 million years ago. See our second photo. The darker rock above defines the cross-section of a river channel. The currents of that river did some very ancient sculpting, creating ripple marks in the now-petrified river sands. See our third photo. We wandered, and everywhere we looked, saw more and more geology. This sculpture happens to be one of the best outcroppings of Devonian rock anywhere in the Catskills. Like Harvey Fite, we began to see the quarry as something altogether different.

We are putting together a guide to the geology at Opus; it just might be available when you get there. Don’t miss the art, but be sure to see the science. +

SPRING 2023 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | 29 CONSTRUCTIONSERVICES,INC. SepticSystems Sitework Ponds Excavation Driveways Tr ucking Foundations ConcreteSlabs COMMERCIAL &RESIDENTIAL 607-865-4916 Tweedie-Construction.com
PHOTOS BY ROBERT TITUS
Contact the authors at randjtitus@prodigy. net, read their blogs at thecatskillgeologist. com or find “The Catskill Geologist” on Facebook. Also, visit opus40.org.
The upper half of this ledge is the cross-section of a river channel. Petrified ripples from the old river channel.

READY FOR YOUR ARRIVAL

Relax in Montgomery’s only rooftop pool and spa. Escape to the elegance of Mobile’s historic Battle House Hotel. Come experience Alabama’s top hotels, resorts, and courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Stay in eight luxury hotels and play 26 world-class courses from the Tennessee River to Mobile Bay. Laugh, play, explore, and relax in picturesque settings. Pamper yourself in luxury spas. Tee off with family and friends. Walk to area attractions. Enjoy farm-to-table cuisine. It’s time to plan your next trip to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

To learn more, visit rtjgolf.com or call 800.949.4444. We will be here awaiting your arrival.

ANNISTON/GADSDEN » AUBURN/OPELIKA » BIRMINGHAM/HOOVER » DOTHAN » FLORENCE/MUSCLE SHOALS GREENVILLE » HUNTSVILLE » MONTGOMERY/PRATTVILLE » MOBILE » POINT CLEAR

Business Directory

Advertising & Media (Publishers, Public Relations, Marketing)

The Cooperstown Crier 102 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-1000 coopercrier.com

The Daily Star 102 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 607-432-1000 thedailystar.com

Auto, Motorcycle & Campers (Automobile Dealers, Auto Body & Painting, Auto Clubs, more...)

Oliver’s Campers Inc. 6460 State Hwy. 12, Norwich, NY 607-334-3400 •oliverscampers.com

Construction & Building Services (General Contractors, Construction, Engineers, Architects)

Windows & Doors Kitchens & Baths

A&J’s Windows & Doors Kitchens & Baths 4189 State Hwy. 28, Milford, NY 607-286-7856 anjwindows.com

Gilbert Plumbing & Heating P.O. Box 96, Gilbertsville, NY 607-783-2289 • www.gilbertph.com

Home Foam Insulation Denver, NY • 845-594-7413 www.homefoaminsulation.net

Construction & Building Services (General Contractors, Construction, Engineers, Architects) Titan Drilling Corp. 264 Co. Hwy. 38, Arkville, NY 1-800-GO-TITAN • 1-845-586-4000 titanwelldrillingny.com

Meet the Locals

Health & Fitness

Drilling Corp.

Tweedie Construction Services, Inc. 90 Crystal Creek Rd., Walton, NY 607-865-4916 • 607-865-4913

(Medical Centers & Clinics, Dentists, Rehabilitation Centers) Otsego Outdoors otsegooutdoors.org

Home & Garden (Home & Garden, RemodelingBath & Kitchen)

Personal Services & Care (Salons & Spas, Funeral Homes, Driver Training, more...)

Shopping & Retail (Appliances, Clothing Apparel, Accessories, more...)

Homestead Pet & Farm Supply 3 Railroad St., New Berlin, NY 607-847-6173

Like us on Facebook

Entertainment (Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Travel, Events, Museums)

ASSOCIATION GALLERIES

22 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 607-547-9777 • cooperstownart.com

purecatskills.com

Diana Friedell

Spiritual Counseling, Psychic Readings 607-433-2089 dianafriedell.com

Restaurants

(Full Service, Casual Dining, Fast Food)

Sybil’s Yarn Shop 65 South Main St., Milford, NY 607-286-4061 • sybilsyarnshop.com

BROOKS’ House of BBQ 5560 State Hwy. 7, Oneonta, NY 607-432-1782 • brooksbbq.com

Clinton Plaza, Oneonta, NY wolfwilde.com

Sports & Recreation

(Golf Courses & Country Clubs, Sports Facility, Sports Team, Campgrounds)

Iroquois Indian Museum 324 Caverns Rd., Howes Cave, NY iroquoismuseum.org

Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center 1378 State Rt. 30, North Blenheim, NY 1-800-724-0309

nypa.gov/BGVisitorsCenter

ServiceMASTER by Burch 607-988-2516 servicemasterbyburch/com

Non-Profit Organizations

(Family, Community & Civic Organizations)

Rosemary Farm Sanctuary

1646 Roses Brook Rd., S. Kortright, NY 607-538-1200 • rosemaryfarm.org

Shopping & Retail (Appliances, Clothing Apparel, Accessories, more...)

Franklin Stage Company Franklin, NY • 607-829-3700 franklinstagecompany.org 85 Scotch Mountain Rd., Delhi, NY 607-746-4653 • golfcourse.delhi.edu

Cooperstown Cheese Company 3941 NYS Hwy 28, Milford, NY 978-257-4635 or 607-222-9875

OpenSaturdaysYear-Round

Expandedhours 9am - 2pmbegin May7

30+local farmers,artisans, crafters,andspecialtyfoodproducers

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market 101 Main St., Cooperstown, NY in Pioneer Alley cooperstownfarmersmarket.org

101MainStreetinPioneerAlley, Cooperstown Cooperstownfarmersmarket.org

WithSNAPMatch,yourspendingpower attheMarketisdoubled (up to $15)

TOURISM 2023 | UPSTATE LIFE MAGAZINE | 31
at
132
Oneonta,
ONEONTA
4850
The College Golf Course
Delhi
County Hwy. 47,
NY 607-432-0624
SPORTS PARK
State Rt. 28, Cooperstown, NY 607-547-2767

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.