News Briefs: February 27, 2025

AllOtsego Debuts Column

COOPERSTOWN—This week, Iron String Press Inc. welcomes a new columnist to be featured on its website, AllOtsego.com.

“Travels with ‘Cesca” is excerpted from “Francesca’s Traveling iPad,” an e-newsletter written by Francesca Zambello since 2011.

Zambello is the artistic and general director, emerita of the Glimmerglass Festival and currently holds the position of artistic director at the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center. She travels the globe as a freelance opera and theater director and makes her home in Richfield Springs with her family.

Titled “Greetings from Mississippi and Yucatán,” Zambello’s first travelogue for Iron String Press will publish on AllOtsego.com on Thursday, February 27. Visit the home page and scroll down to the “Opinion” section, where all columns, letters and editorials can be found.

Workshop Registration Opens

COOPERSTOWN—Fenimore Farm and Country Village announced their annual run of Spring Workshops, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays in April and May. All workshops require advance registration at FenimoreFarm.org/events. There will be a beginners’ blacksmithing class on Saturday, April 5, followed by Baking at Lippitt Farmstead on Saturday, April 12. A broom making class will take place on April 19 and an intermediate blacksmithing session on April 26. The season will end with a home and herbal medicine workshop on May 3. Each class includes materials and lunch in the cost of registration.

Dems To Meet March 14th

MILFORD—The Otsego County Democratic Committee and friends will enjoy music, food and fellowship at the Elm Inn, 104 East Main Street in Milford, from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 14. They will discuss the Ides of March and the fall of the emperor. New friends and members are welcome. For more information or to register, RSVP to otsegodemocrats@gmail.com by March 10.

Awareness Events Scheduled

ONEONTA—Bassett Healthcare Network and Cancer Services Program of the Central Region will observe Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with a series of public educational events. Each will feature take-home screening kits, educational displays and interactive exhibits from other health and cancer organizations. One will be held at Southside Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 13. The other will be at FoxCare Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, March 28.

Youth Clay Class Announced

COOPERSTOWN—The Smithy Clay Studio announced a new introductory pottery class for students ages 11-14. It will meet from 3:15-5:15 p.m. on Tuesdays from March 4-25. Registration is $140.00. For more information or to view other class options, visit www.smithyarts.org.

Bassett To Host Blood Drives

SIDNEY—Bassett Healthcare Network will host two upcoming American Red Cross blood drives. The first will run from 2-6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5 in the second floor conference room of A.O. Fox Tri-Town Campus in Sidney. The second will be held from noon to 5 p.m. in Conference Room 1 at FoxCare Center in Oneonta. Appointments may be made at www.redcrossblood.org, by calling 1 (800) RED-CROSS, or by using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App. Walk-ins are also welcome.

‘Hamlet’ Auditions Planned

COOPERSTOWN—Fenimore Art Museum’s Glimmer Globe Theatre will hold open auditions for paid roles in this summer’s production of “Hamlet” at the museum on Thursday, March 27 and Sunday, March 30. Video auditions will also be accepted, especially for out-of-area actors interested in the title role. Actors of all experience levels are welcome to audition and may sign up for a slot at FenimoreArtMuseum.org/auditions. The production will run on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from July 16 to August 14 at the museum’s Lucy B. Hamilton Amphitheater. Directed by local theatrical mainstay Michael Tamburrino, the production will feature a moody, expressionist nightmare set evocative of classic silent horror films.

The role of Hamlet is non-union and comes with housing at a local shared artists’ residency and a stipend of $2,000.00. Other roles will be paid a stipend between $350.00-$600.00, depending on line count. Inquiries may be directed to auditions@fenimoreart.org.

CCE Offers Help, Preps for FFD

COOPERSTOWN—Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties wishes to remind the public of its extensive collection of winter storm preparation and recovery resources at https://eden.cce.cornell.edu/natural-hazards/winter-storms/. The safety and preparation tips may also be useful for non-agricultural audiences, as they apply to residential buildings in addition to agricultural ones.

CCE will hold farmer informational meetings for Family Farm Day 2025 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4. Farms and agricultural businesses in Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware Counties are encouraged to attend, regardless of past participation. The meetings will be synchronous between the three county offices and on Zoom; participants may join in any way that is convenient, but should register at https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=2025_FFDMeeting_243. Points of discussion will include feedback and ideas from last year’s Family Farm Day, logistics and planning for 2025, and the introduction of CCESO’s new ag educator.

Kids Choir Seeking Singers

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Children’s Choir has opened enrollment for its spring session. Rehearsals will take place at the First Baptist Church from 3-4 p.m. on Fridays from April 26 through June 14, with performances on the weekend of June 15 and 16. Singers ages 7-12 will learn classic tunes from the American pop and rock songbook. Registration is $110.00 per participant, with need-based financial aid available. For more information or to sign up, visit www.CooperstownChildrensChoir.com or contact CooperstownChildrensChoir@gmail.com or (607) 304-1359.

$1M Available for Markets

ALBANY—New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced that $1 million is available to farmers’ markets across the state through the third round of the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant. Funding is available for market infrastructure projects, such as booths or cold storage, and for electronic infrastructure like website development. More information, including eligibility criteria, may be found at https://agriculture.ny.gov/rfa-0359-farmers-market-resiliency-grant-program. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27.