Celebrating 25 Years of Musical Excellence, Cooperstown Summer Musical Festival Unveils Spectacular Lineup

Extraordinary performances showcase collaborative spirit, artistic innovation and classical mastery

 

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (JULY 11, 2023) - The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival’s highly anticipated 25^th anniversary season opens on Tuesday, August 1^st at 7pm 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 25^th 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," says 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.

 

2023 Cooperstown Summer Music Festival Lineup

 

Harry Allen's All Star New York Saxophone Band

Tuesday, August 1 at 7pm at the Otesaga Resort Hotel

 

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. 

 

Nuevo Tango: JP Jofre, bandoneon and Tommy Mesa, cello

Tuesday, August 8 at 7pm at the Otesaga Resort Hotel  

 

Argentinian bandoneon master JP Jofre joins highly-acclaimed Cuban-American cellist Tommy Mesa for a program exploring the fusion of classical music and tango. Performing beloved works by Astor Piazzolla alongside original works by the Grammy-nominated Jofre, the duo will show fans the future of tango in a unique musical experience. 

 

Caroga Arts Ensemble: A String Serenade

Tuesday, August 15 at 7pm at the Otesaga Resort Hotel

 

The hometown heroes of the Caroga Arts Ensemble return to CSMF for a summer string extravaganza, showcasing works spanning a variety of sounds and emotions from around the globe.

 

All-Bach

Tuesday, August 22 at 7pm at Christ Episcopal Church 

 

CSMF Artistic Director Linda Chesis combines forces with festival favorites Joseph Lin, violin, Michael Katz, cello and the inimitable Bradley Brookshire on harpsichord for a celebration of the pure beauty and undeniable genius of J. S. Bach. In addition to performing a selection of Bach’s instrumental sonatas -- masterful compositions that reveal new meaning with each encounter -- they will be joined by Glimmerglass Festival Young Artists Emilie Kealani, soprano, and Kyle Tingzon, countertenor, for performances of Bach’s beloved arias. 

 

Borromeo String Quartet with Linda Chesis, flute

Tuesday, August 29 at 7pm at The Farmers’ Museum 

 

Hailed by the Boston Globe as “simply the best,” the Borromeo String Quartet returns to CSMF to perform Beethoven’s op. 127 as well as works by Amy Beach and Elena Alberga.

 

TICKET INFORMATION:

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.

 

ABOUT THE COOPERSTOWN SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL:

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. Concerts are held in venues across Cooperstown, including the grand Otesaga Hotel, The Farmers’ Museum and Christ Church (the church of author James Fenimore Cooper).

 

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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Fighting Tiger Weekly Recap

The SUNY Cobleskill Athletic Department announced today that Kate Isaksen has been named the Fighting Tigers new volleyball coach for the 2023 season. Isaksen most recently served as the Interim Head Volleyball Coach at SUNY Brockport leading the Golden Eagles to a 20-8 overall record with an 8-1 record in conference in 2022.

The Fighting Tiger Athletic Department announced today that Megan Graff has been promoted to the position of Head Athletic Trainer. Graff had been serving as Cobleskill’s Assistant Athletic Trainer since 2020 under Matt Rote who has recently accepted a position at Waverly High School in Waverly, N.Y.

The Fighting Tiger baseball program helped organize in conjunction with the Valley Wolfpack the First Annual Wood Bat Tournament held in conjunction the Marathon For a Better Life at Fighting Tiger Field. The eight-team tournament was won by the North Colonie Bison with a donation of $620 raised in tee-shirt sales being donated to the Marathon For a Better Life.

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Homesteading & Natural Wellness Classes at Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community Saturdays with Stephanie Bandosik

Fonda, NY:  Beginning July 2023, all are welcome to attend homesteading, homemaking, and natural wellness classes on Saturdays with Stephanie Bandosik at Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community, 4934 State Highway 5, Fonda, NY 12068. Topics include meditation, reiki, upcycling, sewing, foraging, gardening, baking, refreshing summer drinks like fruit shrubs and switchel or “Haymaker’s Punch” and more. 

Meditation classes begin on July 15th and 22nd at 10 am for $15. 

Our “Christmas in July” class on Saturday, July 29th at 9:30 am features upcycling an Old Sweater into New Mittens. No sewing experience is necessary but registration is required. 

Do you have a favorite worn-out old sweater hidden in the back of your closet or bottom drawer that you can't wear OR bear to part with because of its exceptional warmth, beauty, or sentimental value? Learn to upcycle an old sweater into warm mittens in plenty of time to make personalized holiday gifts for your family and friends with this Christmas in July class. Some sewing experience is helpful but not required. Good beginner project for those new to sewing. Participants should bring an old sweater with sleeves and cuffs (wool is great but not necessary), and if possible, polar fleece or an old t-shirt for mitten lining, scissors, needle, thread, and sewing pins. We will have extra supplies to share!  The Cost is $25

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary, Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community was re-established in 1993 in traditional Mohawk homelands dating back as early as the 12th century.  Kanatsiohareke's mission is to promote the development of a community based on the traditions, philosophy, and governance of the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy), and to contribute to the preservation of the culture of people as a framework for a blend of traditional native concerns with the best of the emerging new earth-friendly, environmental ideologies that run parallel to these traditions.

Since 2020’s food and supply shortages, there has been a renewed interest in sustainability, homesteading, natural wellness, and learning skills like gardening, food preservation, home cooking, baking from scratch, seed saving, shopping small and local, and community involvement. We look forward to helping the Mohawk Valley community to grow our skills and network.

All are welcome to attend but registration is required by emailing 

UnityGardenHomestead@gmail.com to reserve your space. 

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Flame Rocks Cambodia

The Arc Lexington’s world-renowned band spreads message of inclusivity and acceptance through music during weeklong tour abroad

 

GLOVERSVILLE, NY – Flame’s dream to change the world through music took another step forward in June as the band toured Cambodia, performing for a wide audience and participating in workshops where they shared their story and encouraged acceptance and inclusion of all people, especially those with disabilities.

 

Flame was part of the Arts Envoy Phnom Penh “For the Love of Music” program, a cultural exchange program run through the United States Department of State to engage American artists and arts professionals with people around the world. The highlight of the event was performing at the U.S. Embassy’s Fourth of July celebration and being introduced by Patrick Murphy, the United States Ambassador to Cambodia. Publicity surrounding the band’s tour in Cambodia increased their fan base, and the band was met with a large crowd at a Welcome Home Reception held Friday, July 14, at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts.

 

“We couldn’t have been more proud of the band members and how they interacted with so any people throughout their time in Cambodia. They were wonderful representatives for the U.S., for Lexington and certainly for themselves as very talented musicians,” said Shaloni Winston, CEO of the Arc Lexington.  “They received rousing applause and delightful comments at every conversation. They truly are ambassadors, not only people with disabilities, but for America and for accepting people for who they are and for the talents each person holds.”

 

During the event, Flame shared their experience in Cambodia, which involved collaborative workshop sessions with students at AmCam Exchange in Phom Penh and Epic Arts’ Epic Encounters in the coastal town of Kampot. Epic Encounters focuses on expressing art through dance as a number of the students have disability challenges including hearing, loss of limbs and other developmental and intellectual disabilities.

 

Another highlight of the trip for the band was a sold-out performance at the Hard Rock Café in Phnom Penh. The concert followed the session with high school and college students as part of the AmCam Exchange program run by the U.S. Embassy.

 

Flame vocalist, Andrew Carpenter attributed his confidence, social success and the ability to manage a crazy schedule of full time work, friends, the band, and family to Transitions, a program of The Arc Lexington that prepares teens and young adults with autism and learning differences for colleges, career and life. Carpenter joined Transitions following high school and has gone on to earn his associate degree from SUNY Fulton Montgomery. He is currently a Transitions graduate student and works as a trainer in the HR program.

 

“In addition to performing several times while on the tour, the band was able to share their personal experiences growing up with disabilities, having dreams of being musicians and overcoming various obstacles to achieve their goals and create the band Flame,” said Maria Nestle, the band’s manager. “Often the band credited Lexington and Transitions for the supports these organizations have provided to allow them to form the band, support their practice and performance schedule and share their music.”

 

According to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Arts Envoy Program shares the best of the U.S. arts community with the world to foster cross-cultural understanding and collaboration, to demonstrate shared values and aspirations, and to address foreign policy themes and objectives. Arts Envoy programs are arranged upon requests by the embassies and participants are selected by U.S. embassies through collaboration with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

 

The tour in Cambodia trip comes as Flame celebrates its 20-year anniversary as a band completely comprised of musicians who happen to have disabilities.

 

Flame formed in 2003 after singer Michelle King won a talent show hosted by The Arc Lexington. Following her win, King expressed interest in starting a band. Auditions were held and the band came together with King as lead singer, and the name “Flame,” representative of the Olympic torch, was offered by founding and current drummer, David La Grange. In December 2003, Flame performed at The Arc New York’s state conference and have been touring and recording ever since.

 

Today, Flame has seven albums to date, and performs more than 70 shows a year at a variety of venues including music festivals, civic events, community concert series, national and statewide conventions, community parties and more. Some of their more notable performances have included the Special Olympic World Winter Games in Boise Idaho; Athens, Greece; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio; Apollo Theater in New York City; Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and 19^th International Festival of Different Abilities in Carpi Italy.

 

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The Roxbury Arts Group Announces Headwaters Music + Arts Festival Tune In to Main Street

The Roxbury Arts Group Announces 

Headwaters Music + Arts Festival

Tune In to Main Street

July 28 from 8p – 12a

at Cowbella Farm

Saturday, July 29, 3 – 6p

at Main Street Stamford, NY

Headwaters Music + Arts Festival, Celebrates Music, Art, and Community in Stamford, New York

Stamford, NY - July 14, 2023 - The Roxbury Arts Group is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated Headwaters Music + Arts Festival. Expanded from the Porchfest of previous years, the Headwaters Music + Arts Festival is a delightful experience that invites festival-goers to revel in live musical performances on front stoops, immerse themselves in engaging art activities, and enjoy the company of like-minded individuals in a festive atmosphere. This unique celebration is open to all, with no admission fee required. This year’s event kicks off with a free Night Photography Workshop on Friday, July 28 and the main festival takes place on Saturday, July 29 from 3:00 to 6:00p along Stamford New York's enchanting Main Street. For complete details, visit roxburyartsgroup.org or call 607.326.7908.

Festivities will kick off with a special Night Photography Workshop for Beginners led by the acclaimed photographer Matt Hill on Friday, July 28 from 8p – 12a. Participants will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of night photography through a hands-on workshop that covers essential topics including stability, focusing, composing, exposure, and capturing star point photos. Weather permitting, participants will also discover the art of capturing stunning star trails. The workshop will commence with a twilight lecture held in the scenic surroundings of a Cowbella Farm field, providing an ideal setting for budding photographers to enhance their skills. This workshop is free, but space is limited and interested community members are required to pre-register. Complete details and registration information can be found at roxburyartsgroup.org/event/night-photography-for-beginners/.

On Saturday, July 29, Stamford’s Main Street will become a beacon of the arts when porches of homes and businesses are transformed into stages and Veterans Memorial Park becomes a canvas for free arts activities. This year’s event features 21 musical performances ranging from folk to rock, and classical to jazz. Acting on feedback from previous Porchfest events, the event has been extended for an additional hours and music performance start times are staggered between 3:00 - 6p, allowing festival-goers to see more bands! A list of bands and their performance locations can be found on the Roxbury Arts Group website, roxburyartsgroup.org. But be aware that changes can be made up to the day of the event. You’ll be able to find a map of band locations with descriptions at the Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main Street in Stamford.  

A new addition to this year’s event is hands-on arts engagement opportunities. In addition to the Night Photography workshop, Matt Hill will also lead two Photowalks, one along the Stamford Rail Trail with a focus on Nature and one through the festival with a focus on Portraits. Photowalks are walking tours for photographers for varying abilities looking to find inspiration, hone their skills, learn new ideas, and experience different places through your camera's viewfinder. The Nature Photo Walk is from 1:30 – 3p and will start is Veterans Memorial Park. The Portrait Photo Walk, focusing on capturing unpredictable portraits that blend blurred motion and crisp features using flash and long shutter speeds, is from 4 – 5:30p and will also start in Veterans Memorial Park. Participation in the Photowalks are free – just bring a camera!

Community members are also invited to visit the Catskill Mountain Speak-Out House a modular sound booth that provides a private space amidst the festivities for folks to record their reflections about life in the Northern Catskills. Prompts will be provided to inspire and guide your storytelling journey. The collected recordings will be added to the Living Archive, a project of Roxbury Arts Group in collaboration with Delhi-based multimedia artist Christina Hunt Wood. 

Located outside the booth attendees will be able to find an activity table where kids and adults alike can color illustrations of and learn more about our neighbors in the local communities. In addition, guests are invited to create fascinating white-on-blue photographic prints, called cyanotypes, using flat objects on the sun-sensitive paper, expose the materials to the sun. All of these activities are free and located in Stamford’s Veterans Memorial Park, located at the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue.

The Headwaters Music + Arts Festival promises to be an unforgettable experience for all attendees, with a diverse range of 21 musical performances, captivating art activities, and a strong sense of community. This event is free, open to all, and will take place rain or shine. For complete details, a schedule of performers and their locations, and more information about arts activities, visit roxburyartsgroup.org or call 607.326.7908.

The Headwaters Music + Arts Festival is sponsored by the Margaretville Telephone Company. The Roxbury Arts Group 2023 Season is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature, the A. Lindsay & Olive B. O'Connor Foundation, Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, the Tianaderrah Foundation, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Humanities NY, Loving Live, Inc, the Delaware National Bank of Delhi, numerous business sponsors and individual donors like you.

                  

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North Chatham Free Library (NCFL) Announces Its Popular “Cocktails in the Garden” Event on Saturday, August 19, from 5 to 8 P.M.

Held in NCFL’s Beautiful Garden at 4287 Rte. 203  

North Chatham, NY (July 10, 2023) – Enjoy signature cocktails, captivating conversation, and an array of scrumptious hors d’oeuvres at the “Cocktails in the Garden” fundraiser hosted by the North Chatham Free Library on Saturday, August 19, from 5 to 8 P.M. in the library garden. The cost per person is $50 and reservations are required by Sunday, August 12 due to limited space. To secure a spot, simply sign-up on the library’s updated website at: https://northchathamlibrary.org/about/fundraising/fundraising-events/

“This delightful event brings members of the community together to enjoy one another’s company and at the same time, ensure the library’s continued growth and services for our community,” said Linda Romeo, Chairperson for Cocktails in the Garden.

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5 Word Games You Should Play Today

Satriyo



Word games are among the effective means to sharpen your linguistic skills and provide endless hours of fun. Whether you're a word enthusiast, a puzzle aficionado, or simply seeking an enjoyable way to pass the time, these games offer a delightful blend of challenge and entertainment, allowing you to embark on a journey of linguistic exploration by playing with words in ways you've never imagined.

Top 5 Word Games You'll Want to Try

1. Word Swipe

In Word Swipe, each puzzle is intricately connected to a clue presented on the screen. Your task is to locate and identify all the words hidden within the assortment of letter blocks, filling the vacant spaces in the process. In case you encounter a challenge, you can seek assistance by requesting a clue or rearranging the letter blocks to spot the mystery words. Upon discovering a word, swipe your finger over the letters, and watch as they seamlessly fill the vacant spaces above.

2. CodyCross

Meet CodyCross, the amiable extraterrestrial visitor who made an unexpected landing on Earth and is eager to unravel the mysteries of our planet. Through the medium of themed crossword puzzles, your mission is to educate CodyCross by helping him understand our world. Within each game, you'll encounter a succession of words awaiting your exploration.

A word related to solar system, inventors, marine life, and other themes emerges for our curious alien friend to learn. As you engage in the game, you'll enhance your general knowledge and enrich your vocabulary simultaneously.

3. Classic Words Solo

The gameplay of Classic Words Solo bears resemblance to the popular board game, Scrabble. Here, two players participate, and each is allotted a set of seven letters. Your objective is to skillfully combine these letters with the ones already on the board to construct meaningful words. By forming words using the given letters, you earn points based on the value of each letter and the length of the words you create.

The board has certain squares that hold the power to double or triple the value of the letters placed on them, adding an exciting strategic factor to your word-building endeavors. The gameplay extends until all the letters are discovered, the board reaches its word limit, or no more word formations are possible. At this juncture, the player with the higher score emerges victorious.

4. Word Crossword Search

This captivating game blends the engaging elements of a word jumble with the structured layout of a crossword, offering a unique and enjoyable experience. In lieu of conventional clues, the game presents you with a word jumble, which becomes your puzzle-solving tool to uncover and form as many words as possible. As you advance through the game, the crossword puzzles gradually expand in size, challenging you to unearth an increasing number of words from the jumble.

5. Wordalot

In Wordalot, your task is to construct words based on the visual cues provided in each picture. With an impressive collection of over one thousand levels, this game promises to keep you delightfully occupied and engrossed. Your challenge is to create words using the visual hints provided within each picture. With a staggering array of over one thousand levels, Wordalot guarantees to keep you thoroughly engaged, ensuring you won't run out of puzzles to solve anytime soon.

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Beating Boredom as a Senior

Beating Boredom as a Senior



During the senior years, the conditions often become favorable for the flourishing of Boredom Grass.

In 1980, Alan Caruba introduced "National Anti-Boredom Month" in July, a time dedicated to combating boredom and embracing engaging activities.

Caruba's intention with this celebration was to encourage people to break free from mundane activities like twiddling their thumbs, engaging in idle gossip (Marites stuff), or exhibiting complaining behaviors (doing a Karen). Instead, he aimed to inspire them to find more meaningful and productive pursuits to fill their time.

Indeed, thaasophobia or the fear of boredom is real. And now I return to Daily Puzzle Answers to compare my puzzle answers.

The mere association of boredom with a "medical" connotation might imply seriousness. And playing 7 Little Words, Wordscapes or any other game, indicates that I'm approaching the levels of Marites or Karen in terms of boredom.

In my neighborhood, numerous seniors can be seen gazing out of their windows, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the second installment of their pension. Meanwhile, others choose to sit on pawnshop benches, quietly observing the world as it unfolds around them.

What if boredom wasn't even defined by the Greeks, who regarded it "as natural as breathing"? Should we be worried about its impact on us today?

Well, maybe yes, because researchers have found that having an excess of idle hours can lead to various psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, aggression, and even heart ailments, among other problems.

If you find yourself feeling bored with the current topic, let's delve into a bit of history instead (as history is something we should never grow tired of, due to the fact that it shapes who we are).

In the 2nd Century A.D., a Roman leader rescued a town from the clutches of boredom. In 1852, Charles Dickens used the concept of boredom for the first time in his novel "Bleak House."

In a groundbreaking citation within Prose-Sake, it's revealed that seniors can be significantly affected by boredom, particularly due to their confinement at home with a lack of activities to engage in.

Boredom isn't just limited to seniors, though, as even non-seniors can grapple with it. Take the wisdom of the Greeks to heart – just like breathing, boredom is a shared human experience.

Combat boredom. Perhaps my neighbor has a point as she spends her time in front of the village pawnshop. By doing so, she has the opportunity to connect with familiar faces and engage in discussions about the latest Marites topics or contribute to Karen-related issues.

The key to alleviating boredom is to be proactive and get moving. Push yourself if necessary to step outside, take a walk, and engage in conversations with others to shift your focus away from yourself. First aid for boredom involves getting up and actively redirecting your attention.

If going out is not possible, exploring activities like CodyCross and other game apps can help alleviate the sense of doing nothing and make the experience more enjoyable.

Thelma, a senior with a passion for quilting, generously shares her skills by organizing complimentary quilting sessions at her church's social center. Through these gatherings, both young and old have the opportunity to learn and master this wonderful craft.

By engaging in these quilting sessions, Thelma not only widens her social circle but also returns home feeling rejuvenated and invigorated.

It's a good idea to Indulge yourself with a treat and visit the newly opened milk tea kiosk in your village. Explore flavors you've never experienced before. Embrace new activities as effortlessly as breathing to combat boredom.

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THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Performance in Tannersville July 13 & 14

JULY 13 & 14 @7:00, 15 @ 2:00 & 7:00

ORPHEUM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

TANNERSVILLE, NY

Tickets: $30/$25/$10

Mature content, PG-13

(This is not an actual Spelling Bee, it's a musical!)

Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.

A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fast-paced crowd pleaser and an instant theatre patron favorite. (MTI International Website for full synopsis)

If you'd like to volunteer, or for more information, please email maudeadamsinfo@gmail.com

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Wildlife Wednesday Aquatic Critter Program offered at Schoharie Crossing

 

Fort Hunter, NY – Schoharie Crossing will host environmental educator George Steele as part of the 2023 Wildlife Wednesday series on July 12^th at 6pm. The program will focus on aquatic creatures and water life impacts. This program will be held at the Visitor Center, 129 Schoharie Street, Fort Hunter.

Steele has decades of environmental experience as part of the NYSDEC and now as the Schoolyard Naturalist. His wealth and depth of knowledge in local ecology, bird species, and habitats is also enhanced by an infectious enthusiasm for the natural world.

This look at water critters will give us an opportunity to spot various species that exist in our local waters, and discuss the impact of pollution and human interference on their habitats.

Other programs in this series are scheduled as: Historic edible and medicinal plants with Anita Sanchez on August 16^th.

For more information about programs at Schoharie Crossing, please contact the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our NYS Parks webpage. The Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Visitor Center is location at 129 Schoharie Street, Fort Hunter, NY 12069.The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 individual state parks, historic sites, golf courses, boat launches and recreational trails, which are visited by 78 million people annually.  For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com,

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Franklin Stage Company Presents A Palo Seco Flamenco Dance Company

FRANKLIN — Franklin Stage Company presents a dance concert featuring New York-based dance company, A Palo Seco Flamenco, July 28–30 at Chapel Hall in Franklin. “People loved Rebeca Tomás’ work last year with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana,” said Buckley, “and after discovering she had her own company performing modern, contemporary flamenco, I knew we had to get her back.”

A Palo Seco Flamenco explores the age-old dance form with a unique voice, employing their Flamenco expertise, while also taking into account the contemporary context in which we live. Their work innovates by combining traditional techniques with a modern, metropolitan flare. Founded by Artistic Director and Choreographer Rebeca Tomás, the company debuted its first production in May 2010 at Theatre 80 St. Marks (New York City), and was described as "a feast for the eyes and the ears" by Linsday Miller writing for Theatre On-Line. Reviewing for The New York Times, Jack Anderson wrote, "Tomás is seeking to develop Flamenco in new ways." 

The company has appeared throughout the U.S. at venues such as the Chicago Flamenco Festival, Eastman School of Music’s World Music Series, Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, the Pocantico Center (Rockefeller Brothers Fund), New York City’s SummerStage, and the New Victory Theater on Broadway. “A Palo Seco” is a phrase that refers to a bare-bones style of flamenco music, often consisting of singing or percussion alone. This stripped-down aesthetic has become a central theme in Tomás’ choreography, characterizing her biggest departures from tradition, while also rooting her work in the emotional rawness that lies at the heart of the art of Flamenco.

Showtimes for A Palo Seco Flamenco are Friday, July 21st and Saturday July 22nd at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, July 23rd at 5:00 pm. All performances are at Chapel Hall, 25 Institute Street in Franklin, NY. Admission is free—suggested donation is $25 per person. FSC encourages, but will not require, mask wearing at shows; FSC will provide masks for any who would like one. Any updates to FSC Covid policy can be found on their website. For reservations, visit www.franklinstagecompany.org or call 607-829-3700.

Programming at the Franklin Stage Company 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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Dine Out For a Cause in July

Old Schoolhouse Inn & Restaurant in Downsville is hosting a Dine Out for a Cause day and a percentage of the proceeds will go to support Helios Care's hospice and palliative care programs and services.

Thursdays, July 17th, 24th, and 31st

11:30 am - 9:00 pm

Old Schoolhouse Inn & Restaurant

28218 NY 206

Downsville, NY

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Davenport Man Allegedly Stole Electricity, Engaged in Animal Cruelty

On July 6, New York State Police at Oneonta arrested Reginald M. Ross, age 62 of Davenport for the class “D” felony of Criminal Mischief in the second degree and the misdemeanors of Theft of Services and Criminal Tampering in the second degree.  He was also charged with the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law of Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance. 

Troopers were dispatched to an address on Ross Road in the town of Davenport after it was discovered that Ross was stealing electricity from a residence on Charlotte Creek Road.  An investigation revealed that Ross also damaged a circuit breaker box and some electrical wires in order to steal the electricity. 

During the investigation, the Troopers also found several dogs on the Ross’ property, including one dog which had visible porcupine quills on its face and mouth and were determined to have been on the dog for several days.  Davenport Animal Services assisted on scene and the dog was removed from the property to receive proper care. 

Ross was processed at SP Oneonta.  He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance and scheduled to appear in court on July 17, 2023. 

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Free Summit Summer Events 2023 in July-August.

Saturday, July 15 from 12:30—1:30PM

2861  Rte 10, Summit,  Indoor Pavilion, Upper Parking Lot

(above the Seventh Day Adventist  building).

Everyone is welcome to attend. Rain or shine.       
Call 518-287-1660  for more info.

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Dine Out For a Cause Aug 9 & 10

Bella Michael's Restaurant is hosting a Dine Out for a Cause day and a 

percentage of the proceeds will go to support Helios Care's hospice and 

palliative care programs and services.

Wednesday, August 9th and Thursday, August 10th

11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Bella Michael's Restaurant

57 River Street

Oneonta, NY 13820

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Bushel Presents a Double-Feature Community Film Pick: Wild River & Beneath Pepacton Waters

DELHI, NY—As part of its Community Film Picks series, Bushel is pleased to present a screening of two films: Wild River, directed by Elia Kazan in 1960; and Beneath Pepacton Waters, shot locally by George Hoag in the mid 1950s and edited by his daughter Alice Jacobson, with Bob Jacobsen, in 1995. This screening, curated by writer and Margaretville resident Jennifer Kabat, takes place on Friday, July 28; doors at 6:45 pm; screening begins at 7 pm. This program is free and open to the public. Bushel is located at 106 Main Street, Delhi.

Starring Montgomery Clift and Barbara Loden, Wild River is part melodrama, part land-rights film that looks at property seizures to build the TVA dam. It is also an unvarnished picture of racism in the South, including a nod to James Baldwin, Kazan’s friend, whose writing on race partly inspired the director to make this work. The film is based on two books: Borden Deal’s Dunbar’s Cove and William Bradford Huie’s Mud on the Stars.

Beneath Pepacton Waters recounts stories of both ‘progress’ and loss as it captures the lives of people in Shavertown and the surrounding area just before the dam comes in. This rarely shown film—constructed from Hoag’s films and news footage and narrated by Hoag’s daughter Alice Jacobson—is bucolic, melancholic, and aching.

About the selection of these two films, Jennifer Kabat writes: “In a place defined by water, these two movies (one shot and made locally) look at how reservoirs—brought with great dreams of progress and change—define and divide their places. In water, we here are inextricably tied to other places, such as the Mohawk reservation of Akwesasne, where lands were seized for NYPA hydro-projects that provide affordable power to large parts of Delaware County. These two films reveal the emotions and politics behind the losses here and in the Tennessee Valley. Both films ask whose lives are sacrificed for progress.” 

Jennifer Kabat’s twinned books The 8^th Moon and Nightshining will be published by Milkweed Editions in 2024 and 2025. The diptych is tied to histories in Delaware County, the 1840s Anti-Rent War, and the 1950 Rainmaker’s Flood. Awarded a Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant for her criticism, she has written for Frieze, Granta, BOMB, Harper’s, The Believer, and McSweeney’s and been included in Best American Essays. She lives in Margaretville, serves in her local fire department, and teaches in the Design Research MA program at SVA.

This screening is organized in conjunction with Bushel’s current exhibition, “Waiting In the Deep,” a group show that brings together works on the theme of “water.” The included artworks, texts, and engagements ask us to notice, and possibly shift, the ways in which we attend (or don’t) to water. 

BUSHEL is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, volunteer-led, mixed-use space dedicated to art, agriculture, ecology, and action. It is located at 106 Main Street in Delhi. For more information, go to www.bushelcollective.org.

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Free Cancer Screening July 13th in Walton

Walton Free Cancer Screening Mobile Coach Event. July 13th from 9 - 3. Walton High School: 47-49 Stockton Ave., Walton, NY. Free mammograms, breast exams, pelvic exams, Pap tests, and HPV tests are available to eligible uninsured and underinsured individuals 40 and older. Take home colorectal cancer screening kits available to eligible individual 45+ years old. Call to make an appointment and check on eligibility. Insurance also accepted. 1-888-345-0225.

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One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD