Best Bets: July 27, 2023

The Upper Unadilla Valley Association will host demonstrations of unique hobbies by Steve Davis and Richard Sherman at 654 U.S. Route 20, West Winfield from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 30.

Davis, who is hosting the event at his residence, will demonstrate the antique windmill and sawmill he has painstakingly restored.

The wooden windmill, which dates to 1877, came from the hamlet of Toddsville in Otsego County. It was chopped down and fell into a swamp around 1940. Many of its parts had been lost before Davis recovered the remaining mechanism two years ago.

The saw mill, built around 1915, had disintegrated in an Edmeston pasture. Davis raked the field by hand to uncover small pieces. He used the saw mill to prepare materials for the windmill restoration.

Sherman, who grew up in Oriskany Falls, taught himself to play and repair organs. He started playing musical instruments at the age of 6, and spent much of his childhood among the collection of historical, restored, and unusual instruments at the former Musical Museum in Deansboro. He has performed on or repaired organs at the Stanley Theatre in Utica, the Capitol Theatre in Rome, the Shea Theatre in Buffalo and the New York State Fair.

A self-described organ enthusiast, Sherman will discuss various types of organs and will bring a variety of pipes and regulators to demonstrate how the instruments produce their unique sounds.

The UUVA is a nonprofit that promotes the Unadilla Valley region’s historic and unique buildings, gardens, art, nature, and renewable energy sources. Originally founded in 1969 to oppose major dam construction in the valley, it conducts summer tours to show off the area’s natural and constructed treasures.

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The highly anticipated 25th anniversary season of the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival opens on Tuesday, August 1 at 7 p.m. at The Otesaga Resort Hotel. The 2023 lineup of concerts will captivate Cooperstown audiences and beyond with world-class talent and unforgettable performances.

“We’re looking forward to sharing this special 25th year with music lovers of all stripes, as we embark on a remarkable musical journey that showcases an exceptional array of artists from diverse genres,” said Festival Founder and Artistic Director Linda Chesis.

From jazz legends to classical ensembles, each performance embodies the spirit of collaboration, inviting audiences to experience the powerful synergy created when talented musicians join forces. The festival’s commitment to artistic innovation is evident in performances that push boundaries, introducing audiences to new musical territories as well as to novel expressions of more traditional genres.

Taking place every Tuesday in August at various venues in Cooperstown, including The Otesaga Resort Hotel and The Farmers’ Museum, the festival has become synonymous with the fusion of musical excellence, collaborative spirit, artistic innovation, and the celebration of classical masters.

Kicking off the 2023 season is Harry Allen’s All Star New York Saxophone Band. Jazz saxophone legend Harry Allen joins forces with Ken Peplowski and Grant Stewart on tenor saxophone, Gary Smulyan on baritone saxophone, James Chirillo on guitar, Mike Karn on bass and Aaron Kimmel on drums for an evening of small group jazz with a big band feel.

Founded in 1999 by flutist Linda Chesis, the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival has been bringing world-class chamber music performances to the Cooperstown area for 25 years. The festival has featured performances by the American, Juilliard, St. Lawrence, Jupiter, and Jasper String Quartets, Stefon Harris, Bill Charlap, Kurt Elling, Simone Dinnerstein, Mark O’Connor, John Pizzarelli, the Sonia Olla Flamenco Dance Company, and many more.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students under 18. Tickets for all events must be purchased in advance either online from www.cooperstownmusicfest.org or over the phone by calling Purplepass Tickets at 800-316-8559 and selecting Option 1. Please note there is a $2 service fee per phone order.

The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

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25 Main Collective will hold an opening reception for “The Chervillians” from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, August 4.

The exhibition will be open through Sunday, August 27 and feature the work of Cherry Valley artists Nora Crain (charcoals), Pam Noonan (ceramic and metal), Helen Truszkowski (photography), Myra Watkins Searles (ceramics), and Carol Goss (painting).

The reception features the music of Paul Bley.