News Briefs: September 12, 2024

NFIB: Main Street Job Growth Stalls

ALBANY—The August jobs report from the National Federation of Independent Business found that 40 percent, seasonally adjusted, of small business owners self-reported job openings they could not fill, up two points from July. Job growth has slowed significantly in recent months, and owners now report “labor quality” as their number one operating problem. Openings were most frequent in transportation, construction, and manufacturing sectors, and lowest in agriculture and finance. State-level data has not yet been made available. NFIB is a large national lobbying and research firm. The full report is available at https://www.nfib.com/foundations/research-center/monthly-reports/jobs-report/.

New Fall Festival Announced

FLY CREEK—The Fly Creek Volunteer Fire Company will host its inaugural Fly Creek Fire Company Fall Festival from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, October 5. Phat Backs and Ye Olde Bubble Tea and More will have food trucks, and there will be games, crafts, and sundaes from Stewart’s. The community will have a chance to meet volunteer firefighters, EMTs, fire police, and other company members, and to learn about safety in conjunction with the start of Fire Prevention Week. Children are welcome to check out the trucks and receive their own helmet. Locally made holiday cards will be available for purchase and the original Susan Kenyon oil painting “Winter Moon” will be raffled. The festival will be held at the Fly Creek Firehouse, 811 County Road 26.

Historical Society Meets Sept. 25

FLY CREEK—The Fly Creek Area Historical Society will host its next monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25 at 208 Cemetery Road. Martin Tillapaugh will present a lecture on the history of burials at 6:30, followed by light refreshments and the meeting at 7:30.

History of Richfield To Be Presented

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Otsego County Historical Association will offer a special Sunday program, “Richfield Springs in the Age of Elegance,” at 134 Main Street at 2 p.m. on September 15. It will feature a pictorial review of the town’s history, hotels, bathhouses and other attractions.
As always, admission to OCHA programs is free.

CCE Schedules Fall Programming

COOPERSTOWN—Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties announced two upcoming programs to help gardeners prepare their land for the winter. Otsego Master Gardener volunteer Kim L’Heureux will share information on cover crops and seed saving at the new demonstration garden at 123 Lake Street in Cooperstown from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, September 26. Free soil pH tests will also be available. The program is free and open to the public.

Dr. Amara Dunn-Silver from Cornell’s New York State Integrated Pest Management Program will lead an extensive, interactive discussion of best wintering practices to control pests and cultivate beneficial insects from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 5. Registration is required by visiting https://cceschoharie-otsego.org/ or calling (607) 547-2536 ext. 235.

Shock-toberfest Returns Oct. 26

ONEONTA—Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center will host the third annual Shock-toberfest from 3 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, October 26. Three locally-made horror films will be screened, and there will be a shadow cast screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The festival will feature local craft beers and ciders, ax throwing, professional pumpkin carving, live music and theater, sideshow performers, and more. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://foothills.ticketleap.com/shock-toberfest-2024/.

Exhibits Highlight Folk Art, Pictures

COOPERSTOWN—Fenimore Art Museum will open “Boundless Spirit: American Folk Art,” a new exhibit highlighting the best of the museum’s distinguished collection of folk art on Saturday, September 14. “Young at Art: A Selection of Caldecott Book Illustration,” will open the same day. It features original illustrations from Caldecott Medal recipients and runners-up, celebrating the best children’s book illustrators. Both exhibits run through Sunday, December 29.

True Blue Weekend Set for Sept. 20-22

ONEONTA—Hartwick College’s True Blue Weekend 2024 homecoming festivities will take place the weekend of September 20-22. Reunion classes, alumni, and families are invited to an array of traditional and new programming that celebrates the college. Among other events, there will be a Presidential Kick-Off Party, fireworks show, Pine Lake Fall Festival, a carnival, varsity athletics competitions and reunion gatherings. The football team will host Juniata College at 1 p.m. on Saturday and women’s soccer faces 2023 Empire 8 champion Nazareth University at 2 p.m. Volleyball plays across town in the Oneonta State Tournament all day, taking on Alfred State at noon and Marywood University at 2:30 p.m. Women’s tennis hosts Drew University in Wilber Park at 1 p.m. on Sunday. For a full calendar of events and registration information, visit https://www.hartwick.edu/alumni-and-friends/true-blue-weekend/.