News Briefs: December 7, 2023

Kids’ Choir To Open Concert

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Children’s Choir will appear as a featured special guest opening act at the Cooperstown Concert Series presentation “Bach to the Future Holiday Rocks” concert at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, December 15. The choir, a newly-established group made up of local children aged 7-11, will perform a set of rock, pop and holiday songs. The headlining act, which is billed as “a whimsical twist on classical and holiday music favorites re-imagined as rock, jazz and world rhythms,” will play both traditional instruments and unique innovations such as a “Drumitar” and a six-string electric violin. Tickets are available at https://cooperstownconcertseries.org/. For more information on the Children’s Choir, contact Dana LaCroix at (607) 304-1359 or cooperstownchildrenschoir@gmail.com.

Fraley Wins Excellence Award

COOPERSTOWN—The late Gerry Fraley has been elected the 2024 winner of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Career Excellence Award. He will be honored with the prestigious recognition for “meritorious contributions to baseball writing” at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s induction weekend, July 19-22. Fraley covered the Phillies, Braves and Rangers for nearly 40 years and pioneered the use of daily notebooks in beat coverage. According to a release, he formed close relationships with players, coaches, scouts, executives, and umpires to become one of the most trusted voices in the industry. His writing style, the release continues, was “crisp, insightful and punchy, matching his feisty temperament.”

“Frales” died in 2019 at the age of 64. He was named on 173 of the 370 ballots submitted by the electorate comprised of BBWAA members with at least 10 consecutive years of service. He was the runner-up in the 2023 election by two votes and will become the 75th winner of the award. Candidates for the ballot were selected by a three member BBWAA-appointed committee and announced during the All-Star Game meetings in Seattle on July 11.

Historic Sign To Be Auctioned

SKANEATELES—Estate Consultants auction company recently discovered an historic 1886 Village of Oneonta broadside print that announces the renaming of the fire department to the D.F. Wilber Hook and Ladder Co. It commemorates David Wilber’s donation of $800.00 to the Village toward the purchase of a new fire truck.

The broadside is in good condition and mounted behind glass. The sale will be held online in January, with a catalog going online two weeks beforehand. For more information, visit Estateconsultants123.com.

Library To Host Health Talk

COOPERSTOWN—The Village Library of Cooperstown will host Douglas DeLong, MD for a panel discussion on the health effects of social isolation and loneliness at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 10. The Sunday Speaker Series event is free and open to the public. It will be held in the third floor ballroom. Dr. DeLong will give a brief presentation on the epidemiology and consequences of isolation, followed by a panel of representatives from relevant local organizations.

Valleyview Seeks Volunteers

ONEONTA—The New York State Mentoring Program at Valleyview Elementary School is looking for two or three additional mentoring volunteers. NYSMP creates supportive mentor relationships for children in schools, foster care, and the court system; volunteers guide youth with respect, structure, and compassion to help build positive life skills. Mentors are matched one-on-one with students but will also meet as a group with other mentors and mentees. The program is led at each school by a social worker. Prospective volunteers must complete an application at https://www.ny.gov/programs/new-york-state-mentoring-program, complete a 90-minute training and be fingerprinted.

CAA Announces Extended Hours, Events

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association announced that it will have extended shopping hours for the Holiday Show and Sale. The sale will remain open until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5 as part of Welcome Home Cooperstown. It will also remain open until 7 on Tuesday, December 19 in conjunction with the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market’s Holiday Market event. Visitors on both nights will be entered to win a family membership, which entitles the holder to 10 percent off purchases for one year. There will also be complimentary Prosecco for patrons who are of age.

Hall of Fame To Host Holiday Celebration

COOPERSTOWN—The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will host its annual Holiday Celebration with family-friendly activities throughout the day on Saturday, December 9. Beginning at noon, local residents will be admitted to the museum free of charge in exchange for a donation of five non-perishable healthy food items or an unwrapped toy; all donations support the Cooperstown Food Pantry or Toys for Tots. There will be craft activities available in the Learning Center at 1 p.m. and a performance by the Pathfinder Village Bell Choir at 2 p.m.

‘The Nutcracker’ Returns to Goodrich Theater

ONEONTA—The Fokine Ballet Company will present its 36th annual performance of “The Nutcracker” at SUNY Oneonta’s Goodrich Theater at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 15 and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 16. The staging is based on Artistic Director Donna Decker’s grandmother’s restaging of the original production for the Ballet Russe in 1940. It will feature local children and professional dancers, including Dance Theater of Harlem artists Kouadio Davis and Kamala Saara. Tickets are available at the theater box office or online at http://fokineballetcompany.square.site.

‘Shop with a Cop’ Charity Short of Goal

OTSEGO COUNTY—Otsego County law enforcement will repeat their annual “Shop with a Cop” holiday event on Saturday, December 16. Up to 36 local children will be selected by county school districts to receive up to $200.00 to spend on themselves and their families, and to go shopping with a Sheriff’s deputy or member of the Cooperstown, Oneonta City or SUNY Oneonta police departments. Organizers are still short of their donation goal and ask the community to assist; checks made payable to Otsego County Deputy Sheriffs PBA may be sent to 172 County Highway 33W, Cooperstown 13326, Attn: Shop with a Cop by Thursday, December 14.

Feedback Sought on Firefighting Stipend

NEW YORK STATE—The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services announced the opening of a 60-day public comment period for draft regulations establishing the state’s first training stipend program for volunteer firefighters. $10 million was secured in the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget to offset the cost of training courses.

“The role volunteer firefighters play in our communities cannot be overstated, and with so many departments facing recruitment and retention challenges, it’s critical we support these brave men and women who keep our communities safe,” said Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray. “Training is an essential component of firefighting and by offsetting its cost, New York is making it easier for volunteer firefighters statewide to continue serving their communities, without impacting their own bottom line.”

Volunteer fire departments serve about 9 million New Yorkers, nearly half the state’s population. In recent years, more than three quarters of these departments have reported a decrease in the number of volunteers. At the same time, calls for service have increased 29 percent from 1997 to 2020.

The Office of Fire Prevention and Control will administer the stipend to volunteer firefighters for first-time completion of the following training courses after August 31, 2023: basic exterior firefighting operations, self-contained breathing apparatus/interior firefighting operations and fire officer 1. Students must be a member in good standing as determined by their department and stipend applications must be submitted by the fire chief. For more information or to submit a comment, visit https://www.dhses.ny.gov/news/dhses-seeks-public-comment-draft-regulations-establishing-new-stipend-volunteer-firefighters.