Autumn Dreams 09-09-21

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celebrate fall in oneonta and the greater cooperstown region

AUTUMN s m a e r D Thursday, September 9, 2021 • FREE

► An Amazing MAZE in FLY CREEK

InsiDE: FUN FALL ACTIVITIES TO GET YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE, Page B5 Home

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Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper

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21 Railroad Avenue, Cooperstown, NY 13326 • 607-547-6103 • info@allotsego.com

B-2 autumn Dreams

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Larissa RYAN B e st B E T S

Remembering Sept. 11, Butternut Creek float tour

16 BeeRS on Tap! 4 miles from Cooperstown 20 minutes from Oneonta!

607-286-9330

110 River Street | Milford

www.cooperstownbrewing.com

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, ride your motorcycle with the Legion and the Red Knights, Chapter 44. All proceeds go to scholarships for the children of veterans since the 9/11 attacks. Cost is $20/participant. At the American Legion, Post 259, 279 Chestnut St. in Oneonta. Registration is from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., with kickstands up at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. For info: 607-547-0494 or visit https:// www.alrpost259.org/legacy.

• Bring the family for a morning of fun at the Springfield Library.

For the kids, there will be a scavenger hunt through the library’s historical society collection, and the LEGO Club will have LEGOs available to build buildings from New York City. For the adults, there will be a taped interview with local author/historian Noel Dries who helped establish Hyde Hall.

There will also be a discussion of 9/11 as a memorial and everyone will be asked ‘Where were you Sept. 11, 2001?’ At the Springfield Library, 129 County Route 129A in Springfield Center. From 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 11. For info: 315-858-5802 or visit http:// libraries.4cls.org/springfield/.

• Hop on Zoom for this “Voices of the Game” session with Brooklyn native Hall of Famer Joe Torre.

He will be discussing his career as a baseball player and the team manager for the New York Yankees, especially his experience on Sept.

11, 2001. Presented by The Baseball Hall of Fame. At 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. For info: 607-547-7200 or visit https://baseballhall.org/events/ virtual-legends-of-the-game-joetorre-remembers-9-11.

• Bring out your canoe, kayak, or paddleboard for a guided float down the Butternut Creek with the Otsego County Conservation Association and the Friends of

Butternut Creek. Learn about the natural and human history of our area on this relaxing four-mile float. All ages welcome. There will be OCCA watercraft available. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring food/water/sunscreen. Free, registration required. Begins at Bailey Rd. in Gilbertsville. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept.

11. For info: 607-547-4488 or visit https://occainfo.org/.

• Adults age 21 and older are invited for a tour of the lighting at Hyde Hall. Explore the decades of how people lit their homes, from candles to gas to electric. There will also be samples of historic cocktails paired with each lighting device. Cost, $30/person. At Hyde Hall, 1527 County Route 31 in Springfield. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11. For info: 607-547-5098 or visit hydehall.org/.

• The Fly Creek Methodist Quilters present annual show ‘Draping the Pews’ with the quilts they’ve been working on all year. There are 80+ lap quilts on show. The show is free, there will be a basket to donate to the Cooperstown Food Pantry. Donors will be entered to win a lap quilt of their choice. Fly Creek Methodist Church, 852 County Rd 26, Fly Creek. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.

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The Fly Creek Area Historical Society presents a tribute to Patsy Cline featuring a 5-piece band performing American classics.

Tickets are $20/person. At the FCAHS, 210 Cemetery Rd. in Fly Creek at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept.

15. For info: 607-547-9334 or e-mail flycreeksherl@gmail.com

►ON THE COVER Fly Creek Corn Maze Contributed photo

Thursday, September 9, 2021

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Contributed

Cultivating the corn at the Fly Creek Corn Maze is a family affair for the Pernat family, with multi-generational help.

A maze runs through it Fly Creek Corn Maze opens for the season, promises spooky nights, weekend events

By PATRICK DEWEY The Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch recently opened for its fourth season and will remain open through October.

The Fly Creek Valley Farm, where the maze is situated, has been in the Pernat family for more than 100 years, but the maze opened in 2018.

Ellen Pernat said thinking about how fun a maze would be for her kids and their friends was an inspiration to make use of the family land. She said it was a difficult time economically in the dairy farm industry, so the maze, along with the success of growing pumpkins and selling them roadside, were motivators.

Pernat said multiple family members work together to run the maze.

“We all have different strengths,” Pernat said.

She said it wouldn’t be the same if any of the family members involved tried to run the business alone.

Pernat said the experience of raising children on family land and being able to let them run and play on the

expanse without fear for their safety contributed to the decision to open the corn maze.

“Those (people) from cities or bigger towns may not be able to sit under a tent and watch their children run and play. That experience is something I wanted to give to more parents,” she said.

Pernat said she loves seeing people have fun on her family’s land. She remembers one family who, when they first arrived, seemed frustrated and reluctant to enter the maze.

“By the end, they were all smiling and the husband and wife were holding hands,” she said.

Since its opening, neighbor Megan Hribar has visited Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze two to three times each year.

Hribar said one of her favorite memories of the maze is when a birthday party for her daughter was held there. Each child received a pumpkin and got to go through the maze. She said the Pernat family regularly updates the atmosphere of the See MAZE, Page B4

B-4 Autumn Dreams

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Fly Creek Corn Maze, Montezuma Winery will team up for special adult event MAZE/Continued from Page B3 maze through haunted mazes, pet dress-up events and other activities.

Hribar said the changes make a visit to the maze fresh and exciting even for repeat customers. She said her daughter looks forward to fall every year in large part because of the maze.

Heather Kovatchitch said she first found out about the opening of the maze through Facebook and since the first year, she and her family have visited at least once a season.

Kovatchitch said she appreciates that, unlike some mazes, Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze is not always focused on haunted houses and Halloween. She also appreciates its friendly atmosphere which, she said, makes it welcoming to all.

Pernat said from 6 until 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, the maze will host a “wine walk” night. The event, in partnership with Montezuma Winery, will allow visitors to go to food trucks scheduled to be on site for the event, and those 21 and over can get a glass of wine and sip it as they go through the maze.

Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze is open on weekends and federal holidays in September and October between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. On select evenings, night mazes and haunted mazes are offered.

The Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch is at 1316 County Route 26 in Fly Creek. Go to Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch on Facebook or www.

Contributed flycreekvalleycornmaze.com for more information.

The Fly Creek Corn Maze has children’s activities but also stages nighttime events for adults.

Porch music

TOMMYJOY Music from the Great American Songbook

LIVE!

Photo credit: Jaye Shelby

Cooperstown’s Rigby family celebrated Worldwide Play Music on the Porch Day with a concert at their Elm Street house Saturday, Aug. 28.

Fri & Sat, Sept.

17 & 18 5 pm until 8 pm Roma’s Ristorante 25 Union Street • Sidney

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Autumn Dreams B-5

Staff Picks

Our best bets for local activities Kathleen Peters Graphics Designer Otsego Land Trust The Husband and I are blessed with a beautiful property in Schuyler Lake.

We decided several years ago it was worth preserving, and opted to get a conservation easement on our 22 acres through the Otsego Land Trust (OLT). We have our own land to explore and enjoy, but the Land Trust has open spaces available for everyone.

Several OLT properties in the county have public access from dawn to dusk, with opportunities for hiking, fishing, paddling, garden walks, bird watching and more.

The Land Trust sponsors occasional activities at these sites, like a guided tour of the Parslow Road site at sundown in search of the American Woodcock, and a Storybook Trail Hike.

OLT also frequently asks for volunteers to help with gardening duties at Brookwood Point in Cooperstown.

I consider myself a fairly accomplished gardener, but I learn so much more every time I go from people who are more knowledgeable than me.

Brookwood Point, Compton Bridge, and Greenough Road are all in Cooperstown.

Deowongo Island is in the middle of Canadarago Lake, and Fetterley Forest to the east of the lake has the best sunset views if you hike up Panther Mountain. Lordsland Preserve is in Roseboom.

Parslow Road in Oaksville is the only one open through the winter.

I highly recommend getting out there and taking in some of the autumn scenery. You can go leaf peeping when the leaves are green, too.

Go for a hike in any of

these beautiful spots, or kayaking, fishing, even dog walking is allowed in some areas. Just please remember to respect Mother Nature and “Leave No Trace.”

No one should ever know that you were there ... until you tell them.

Larissa Ryan Office Manager Cooperstown Artisan Festival A big part of autumn in Otsego County is the craft festivals that permeate the crisp Autumn air making for some great shopping.

TheCooperstown Chamber of Commerce recently held the Artisan Festival on the lawn at the Otsego County Courthouse. It was a two-day festival with a huge amount of vendors, live music and food. There were artisans from all over the state selling soaps, quilts, artwork, jewelry and so much more. It

was a great spot to spend an afternoon browsing, making an impulse purchase, and chatting with the vendors.

Probably the best thing I found was my new purse.

It’s quilted and the pattern is gray with golden brown leaves. It has one outside pocket and the inside is divided into three spaces. It’s rather understated, but I like the fabric and the warm color palette. Kate’s Kreations also had wallets, cosmetic cases, clutches and big bags. The person was super friendly.

Once I was done with the artisans, I walked down Main Street to the library where Fine Arts on the Lawn was being held. It is an art exhibit on the porch of the library, with of paintings from the members of the Cooperstown Art Association.

You can also go inside to see the current exhibit in the gallery.

Happy shopping!

Kevin Limiti Reporter Green Toad Bookstore I don’t consider myself a very outdoorsy person, but even someone like me needs to get out and about once in a while.

That’s why it’s luck that the Green Toad Bookstore, on Main Street in Oneonta, is a perfect way to get out of the house while doing one of the least strenuous activities possible: reading.

This independent bookstore is perfect, especially if you want to support local businesses. Not only does it have a great selection of classics, non-fiction, and modern novels, but it also has the Latte Lounge coffee shop connected. It’s perfect for grabbing a coffee and a book and sitting on the patio reading. Their sandwiches are great also if you want to feed your stomach as well as your mind.

Candlelight Ghost Tours

October 8 & 9,

15 & 16, 22 & 23, 29, 30 & 31!

6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 PM Mask Required

Purchase Tickets at HydeHall.org or Eventbrite.com

B-6 Autumn Dreams Thursday, September 9, 2021

It’s time! Chenango County has what you’ve been waiting for.

Tom SHELBY

BACK & BETTER THAN EVER!

The DOG CHARMER

How to help an anxious new puppy stay home by itself Dear Tom, She came to us at 12 weeks at the start of pandemic lockdown. Well, I know it’s my fault for taking her everywhere with me, for putting her in her crate at night and staying until she settles, etc.

With three adults in the household, she focuses on me ALL the time. If I go out without her, she’s a mess till I return.

How can I help her to stay alone for a few hours without losing her mind?

Sadie is an 18-monthold Havanese.

Marty DeLaney Dear Marty, You’re so right in referring to Sadie as a pandemic puppy!

You’re not alone.

I was writing and telling people at the beginning of the pandemic, “Get out and get the puppy used to being alone.”

My guess is that 40 to 50% of the (hopefully) post-pandemic questions I’ve been getting have to do with separation anxiety.

The first thing I’d suggest is that you start making Sadie less dependent on you by asking the two other adults in the house to help. If they feed her for a couple of weeks instead of you, and take her out for occasional walks it will broaden her worldly view. You’ll always be her sun amongst many stars, but decreasing her neediness for you will make her more confident,

which is exactly what you want, and a good start.

It would be great if the other two adults in the house called her from time to time and when she arrived, she got a treat.

Sadie will appreciate it, too.

Henceforth, when you leave the house, deemotionalize leaving and coming! If you appear sorry to go or overly excited to return you’re emphasizing the separation.

Your goal is to make Sadie happy to see you go because that’s the only time she gets fantastic treats, like a hollow marrow bone with chicken or ham wedged in the middle of the bone. Remove it when you get home! The best toys only happen when you’re not home. Then there’s exercise.

I’ve been saying it for many years, “A tired dog is a well behaved dog.” In my book, “Dog Training Diaries,” aside from my crazy experiences and stories, the dos and don’ts of separation anxiety and aggression are given a great deal of attention.

Good luck, The Dog Charmer Cooperstown author Tom Shelby will be answering pet owners’ questions on training their dogs. E-mail your questions to dogsrshelby@msn.com.

SATURDAY 9/11/21 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM SUNDAY 9/12/21 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Colorscape Chenango is a free juried exhibition of art and fine crafts in an interactive atmosphere featuring artist demonstrations, literary, dance, music and arts activities for all ages; student art exhibit; and creative food vending. Entertainment on three stages.

2021 P E R F O R M E R S • N BT M A I N S TAG E

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

10:00......LJ Gates 10:45.......Opening Ceremony 11:00 .......Mustard’s Retreat 12:00 ......The Kennedys 1:00.........Vance Gilbert 2:15 .........Shanelle Gabrielle, Actor, Poet & Educator 2:30 ........Prof. Louie & the Crowmatix with the Woodstock Horns 4:00........The Slambovian Circus of Dreams

11:00 .......Answer the Muse 12:00 ......Alisa Amador 12:45 .......Shanelle Gabrielle, Actor, Poet & Educator 1:00.........The Kennedys 2:00........Bob Malone 3:30 ........The Slambovian Circus of Dreams

PLUS entertainment all weeked long on Peggy’s Stage & the Art Zone Stage!

Times are approximate. Subject to change without notice.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

info@colorscape.org • www.colorscape.org PO Box 624, Norwich, NY 13815 • 607-336-FEST Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival is made possible in part by the Broome, Chenango & Otsego Decentralization Program, administered by the Earlville Opera House and made possible by the NewYork State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature.

Moving CHENANGO Forward facebook.com/ChenangoTourism

@CmrceChenango

www.visitchenango.com/events/ or call 607-334-1400

AUTUMN Dreams

®NYSDED

Advertise what you’ve got going on in Autumn Dreams!

Call 607-547-6103 for details!

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Thursday, September 9, 2021

Autumn Dreams B-7

what’s fun in OtsegO COunty

go to: www.allotsego.com/otsego-county-events-calendar/

SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY GARLIC FESTIVAL Saturday, Sept. 18 • 10 am - 5 pm GARLIC FESTIVAL

RAFFLE! MUSIC ALL DAY

20th Anniversary!

Free eventDonations welcome!

The BEST local garlic you can buy! Learn how to grow, store & use garlic. Braids, dried, pickled & fermented garlic.

LOTS OF GARLIC FOOD!

NYS Covid-19 rules in place

WOODBULL ANTIQUES Route 28, Milford

MUSIC • GARLIC FOODS

svgarlicfestival.com or call 607-638-9016 or find us on facebook

FRIENDS OF ONEONTA THEATRE GOLF TOURNAMENT Join us for our golf tournament fundraiser Sunday, September 19 • 1:00 pm Oneonta Country Club to benefit the Friends of the Oneonta Theatre. Help us reopen the historic theater as a performance venue. $75 per player!

Includes BBQ!

Sponsors starting at $100!

Shotgun Start • Chipping Contest Closest Pin & Closest Line Prizes Mulligans for Purchase • 50/50 Raffle Silent Auction • Cash Bar • BBQ at 19th Hole For more information, contact Elaine Bresee (607)434-1930

Serving you for over 70 years!

Online Restaurant Curbside Delivery Catering Gift Shop Sauce Production

Thank you for your patronage!

www.brooksbbq.com 607-432-1782 5560 NY Rte 7 Oneonta

Thursday, September 9, 2021

B-8 Autumn Dreams

A Perfect Day on Otsego Lake The Blue Mingo Grill Lake Otsego’s only open-air lakeside dining spot offers creative grill cuisine on its Adirondack porches at the water’s edge. Inspired by a multitude of international cuisines, the Blue Mingo Offers an eclectic menu that The New York Times has calleD “the area’s most interesting dishes.” dinner reservations recommended (607) 547-7496

Sam Smith’s Boat Rentals

Spend some quality time on the lake in a rental boat at Sam Smith’s. .ZWU SIaIS[ KIVWM[ IVL Å[PQVO JWI\[ \W TIZOM IVL [UITT XWV\WWV JWI\[ ZMV\IT[ IZM available by the hour to a full day. Call for reservations (607) 547- 2581

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On your way to the dining porches of The Blue Mingo Grill, you will pass through the LMTQOP\N]T IVL M^MZ XWX]TIZ 4ISM +TI[[QK 7]\Å\\MZ[ I JW]\QY]M ÅTTML _Q\P IV MKTMK\QK collection of clothing, gifts and accessories inspired by the classic casual elegance of Adirondack Great Camp style

The Mingo Market a contemporary take on the classic country store, with a unique and wide-ranging offering of authentic products and provisions from around the world and around the corner. From gourmet foods, take-out lunches and locally-sourced grocery items and produce to kitchen and entertaining essentials, pet and garden supplies, treats for \PM SQL[ ]VQY]M KTW\PQVO TWIL[ WN PIZL \W ÅVL Q\MU[ IVL U]KP U]KP UWZM

All at one lakeside location 2 1/2 miles north of cooperstown on west lake road, 6098 state highway 80 general information: 607-547-2543 www.bluemingogrill.com