Autumn Dreams 09-30-21

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celebrate fall in oneonta and the greater cooperstown region

AUTUMN s m a e r D Thursday, September 30, 2021 • FREE

► LOCAL FARM SPICES UP PUMPKIN SEASON

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

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B-2 autumn Dreams

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Larissa RYAN B e st B E T S

Art by the Lake returns!

After being cancelled in 2020 and delayed until Autumn this year, the Art by the Lake Festival celebrating local artists and Otsego Lake is finally going ahead. The outdoor festival will feature regional artists showing and selling in mediums from watercolor to sculpture, oil to pottery, photography, printmaking, and more. There will also be artist demonstrations, tastings from The Cooperstown Distillery and more.

Come celebrate art and enjoy the fall colors on the lake. On the lawn at The Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 2. For info: 607-5471400 or fenimoreartmuseum.org.

• Go to Foothills Performing Arts Center for the Fifth Annual Play It Forward concert.

This year will feature Ian Flannigan who was in the top three on NBC’s “The Voice,” has a top release with Blake Shelton, opened for country singer Trace Adkins, and is from Saugerties.

The Upstate musician will be back to his roots to perform, hang out, and be a part of the Play It Forward legacy.

Proceeds go to the Play It Forward Scholarship to be granted to two Oneonta students going into the music industry.

Tickets are $15/person. At Foothills Performing Arts Center, in Oneonta. At 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1. For info: 607-431-2080 or visit foothillspac.org.

• Come see artwork by artists of Upstate New York. In Gallery A of the Art Association the Central New York Watercolor Society will be holding its annual Members Only Juried Exhibition.

Also on show will be the solo exhibit by wood artist Emilie Rigby.

Opening reception to be held at the Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main St. in Cooperstown from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1. For info: 607-547-9777 or visit cooperstownart.com.

• Get in the mood for the Halloween season with a theatrical production of “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson. Follow the twists and turns as John Montague investigates the psychic activity in the long empty house with the help of three young people. What happens as the house begins to affect them in this creepy and frightening show?

Cost is $20/adult. At Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta.

7:30 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2, 8 and 9 and matinee shows at 2 p.m., Oct. 3 and 10. For info: biggerdreamsproductions.org/.

• The SUNY Oneonta Planetarium is back. Stream a presentation about the night sky in Autumn, and learn about deep space through the lens of the Hubble space telescope. Join the SUNY Oneonta students and faculty to explore the universe.

Registration required. Presented through Microsoft Teams by the A.J. Read Science Discovery Center, SUNY Oneonta. At 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1. For info: 607-436-2011 or visit eventbrite.com/o/sciencediscovery-center-and-planetarium14332374215.

• Come enjoy delicious baked goods and support a local fire department. At Hartwick Seminary Fire Department, 4877 State Route 28 in Hartwick Seminary from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 2.

• Get ready for the winter reading season and support a local library.

Kinney Memorial Library is sponsoring a community book sale at the Hartwick Community Center, 450 County Route 11 in Hartwick from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. For info: 607-293-660.

►ON THE COVER Cullen Pumpkin Farm Photo by Greg Klein The Freeman’s Journal

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Autumn dreams B-3

Greg Klein/The Freeman’s Journal

Cullen Pumpkin Farm offers u-pick and back-of-the-truck sales, plus supplies much of the region with wholesale pumpkins.

Pumpkin people Farm minutes from Otsego County is famous for providing October’s favorite fruit to region and offering fall, family fun as well

By GREG KLEIN CULLEN — In September and October, the delivery trucks stop at Cullen Pumpkin Farm and its twin Shypski Farm nearly every day to load up on pumpkins.

“We certainly hope so,” said Barbara Shypski. “September and October are only two months, so there is a lot of pumpkins to get out.”

Just north of Otsego County, in the town of Columbia, in the hamlet that gives the farm its name, Cullen Pumpkin Farm has been supplying central New York with pumpkins for four, going on five, decades.

Brothers Tom, Richard and John, with help from Tom’s wife, Barbara, and other family members, have been carrying on the family tradition begun by their father, Nester.

The farm was established in the 1950s as a dairy farm. Nester planted his first pumpkin patch in 1985 as something to do for fun and to supplement his corn crop, according to the

family history. However, within a couple of years, he sold the cows and turned to hay and pumpkins as his main cash crops.

Nester’s sons have continued the family tradition in the 15 years since he died. John still has a full-time job, but his brothers are “retired” and the farming they do is something they do for fun and to fill a need, in their lives and in the community, Barbara said.

In the process, they have turned the farm into a go-to-Autumn destination, with weekend events, a corn maze, a children’s playground and options for people to self pick pumpkins from the patch or buy them straight from the wagon.

“Every year we try to add something else,” she said.

The farm includes about 30 acres of crops and will produce about 30,000 pumpkins this season. Almost all of them will be sold in the region, but the Shypskis have customers as far away as Syracuse.

See PUMPKINS, Page B4

B-4 Autumn Dreams

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Greg Klein/The Freeman’s Journal

In addition to pumpkin sales at Cullen Pumpkin Farm, there is a kid’s playground, a corn maze and different gourds, plants and foods for sale.

Pumpkin spices may make for good memes, but most pumpkins are sold for decoration PUMPKINS/from Page B3 “We wholesale and retail,” Shypski said. “A lot of the people we wholesale to operate roadside stands. So, a lot of times, when you see a roadside stand, those are our pumpkins, too.”

Although the harvest and selling season is short, the work goes on for most of the spring and summer.

“We probably start two or three months before (opening day in September),” she said. “You have to get the soil ready.

You have to plant.”

According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, pumpkin farming produces about $20 million in annual revenue in New York. Although pumpkin pies and pumpkin spice are popular seasonal treats — pumpkin spice season memes have become a popular trend on social media — Cornell estimates 99% of pumpkin sales are for seasonal decorations.

The Shypskis also sell corn, mums, squashes and gourds and their crop includes several different strains of pumpkin, such as black futsu and white, or ghost, pumpkins. The area around their farm is ripe for other crops and foods as well.

A roadside stand on Cullen Farm Road sells garlic and Ingles Maple Products is just a couple of miles away on State Route 28.

The farm will host a visit from Clydesdale horses from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 9; the Utica ZooMobile from noon to 2 p.m. Monday Oct. 11; and a snowmobile show from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16.

Go to www.cullenpumpkinfarm.com for more information.

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 30, 2021

Autumn Dreams B-5

Staff Picks

Our best bets for local fall activities

Roots Brewery, baking kits from Fly Creek Cider Mill, more Danielle Crocco Marketing Consultant Roots Brewing Company If you haven’t been to Roots Brewing Company in Oneonta, you need to go. It is one of my favorite places to relax and have a drink.

The staff is so nice and attentive. They have a wonderful variety of beers, and cocktails as well as some tasty bites to eat.

My favorite thing to get is the June Shine hard kombucha. It’s a must try if you haven’t had it already!

The atmosphere is relaxing with comfy chairs and high tops for seating. I am usually sitting outside, trying to enjoy it as much as possible before the winter gets here! They are open Friday, Saturday, Monday, and occasionally on Sundays!

Kevin Limiti Reporter Karaoke Night at the Black Oak Tavern In my humble opinion, the best place for a night out in Oneonta, or probably anywhere else in the area, is the Black Oak Tavern.

A lot of that is because they are one of the few places in the area that regularly hosts live music that appeals to the tastes of someone like me, who is into punk and hard rock mostly.

But what you may not know is that apart from the live shows and the previously mentioned open mic night on

Mondays, karaoke is on at full swing every Wednesday, from 10 p.m. to close.

For a weeknight, Wednesdays always end up getting packed for karaoke, and it’s not hard to imagine why. There’s an energy in the room that makes it so much fun. Just like open mic, everyone is super supportive and willing to sing anything and everything.

I heard songs from Subline, Amy Winehouse, Carly Simon, Britney Spears and many others. There was a wide variety of genres that people were singing.

And the best part about it is that everyone, almost without exception, is really good. But don’t let that discourage you. Arguably karaokes are even more fun when the singers aren’t so great. Take from that what you will and see you there!

Larissa Ryan Office Manager Baking at home As the weather cools and turns to fall, it’s the perfect season for baking. It warms up the kitchen, and gives me something to do while I listen to podcasts.

Sadly, I am nowhere near being an experienced baker.

I’ve been trying but it’s slow progress for me. Which is why I picked up a scone kit from the Fly Creek Cider Mill over the summer.

All the dry ingredients are already there, just add butter

and milk. Of course the butter is a bit challenging if you don’t soften it first. But I like to do mindless things while I listen to podcasts, so I was just standing there scraping shavings off the hunk of butter until it was all mixed in. Then just add the milk, mix and scrape it into a greased pan and it’s ready to go in the oven for the next 18 minutes or so.

After that it’s just waiting until the timer goes off.

Once the scones are done you can either wait for it to cool and eat it with whipped cream, or you can be ambitious and make Devonshire cream (a recipe included with the scone kit), which is sort of like a light frosting and is delicious. All Contributed you need is heavy cream, cream of tartar, and some The Inside Out will play at The Black Oak Tavern powdered sugar. Then of at 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 2, at 14 Water St. in course a bowl and, if you Oneonta. don’t like whipping by hand, an electric beater.

Once the cream’s been whipped to a soft peak you can cut out your piece of scone and put the Devonshire cream on top and enjoy.

Just don’t make the mistake I did and put all the cream on the scones at once because if you want to warm them up later well, lets just say the soft peak state of the cream does not survive the microwave.

Well, that’s one way I beat the Autumn chill and get delicious goodies.

Don’t miss the train robberies!

September 18 and October 9 at 2 pm $22 Adults, $21 Seniors, $19 Children Ages 3-12

in OtsegO COunty _________ Tom SHELBY The DOG CHARMER

My Yorkie won’t go upstairs Hi, Mr. Shelby: I recently adopted a sweet little nine-year old Yorkie named Abbey from Susquehanna SPCA. She speeds up my front and back porch steps with no problem, but refuses to climb the 15 steps to my upper floor sleeping quarters (both hers and mine!)

Come to find out, her previous owner had a one-floor home, and when they often visited the owner’s sister’s home, Abbey was prohibited from going up the stairs to the second floor.

She apparently was trained well to stay on the first floor.

Fortunately, a few years ago, we had a stair lift installed.

So, now I give Abbey a ride up at night and down in the morning, with her shaking all the way. I think our choices are: 1. Have Abbey sleep in her crate alone downstairs.

2. Continue to carry her upstairs (she’s only 10 pounds), either under my power or on my lap on the stair lift.

3. Retrain her to go upstairs on her own power I wonder if you would offer your advice; if retraining is the answer, would it be possible?

I’m sorry, I don’t recall seeing your column before, but I will definitely pick it up in the future.

Jan McGrath Cooperstown Dear Jan, First, thank you for being one of the beautiful people by adopting a nine-year old dog and giving her a new lease on life.

What makes this interesting is that in the majority of “dog vs. stairs” issues, I’m teaching the dogs to negotiate going down the stairs, not up. To many young pups the feeling of the first look down a long staircase is probably similar to the feeling I had when the guy yelled “GO,” and I jumped out of the airplane on my first time skydiving. With those pups I start them one or two steps from the bottom and lure them down with special people food treats, working my way up the stairs with a leash and harness in case the puppy starts to fall.

As for going up the stairs, thankfully, Abbey weighs a lot less than a Lab, and with a leash and harness it will be easy for me to lift her up a step or two if she balks as I’m luring her up the stairs with pieces of chicken.

If experience is any indicator, she’ll be joyfully running up the stairs in about 10 minutes.

Best of luck and thanks again for being an adopter.

Dog Charmer Tom Cooperstown author Tom Shelby will answer pet owner questions on dog training.

Email your questions to dogsrshelby@msn.com.

B-6 Autumn Dreams

what’s fun _______

Thursday, September 30, 2021

in OtsegO COunty

►Thursday, Sept. 30

HARVEST CELEBRATION – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate the harvest season in 1800s style.

Walk around the historic village, learn from the interpreters and enjoy fall activities. Included with admission. The Farmers’ Museum, near Cooperstown.

607-547-1450.

BLOOD DRIVE – Noon - At 5 p.m. Zion Episcopal Church, 162 Main St., Morris For info: 1-800-733-2767.

WARD MEETING – At 7 p.m. First Ward members are invited to attend a meeting with Common Council Member Luke Murphy. First Floor conference room, City Hall in Oneonta. For info: 518-275-7365.

The Freeman's Journal

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Tara Barnwell

The Freeman's Journal P.O. Box 890 Cooperstown NY 13326 / OTSEGO

(607) 547-6103

Iron String Press, Inc. 21 Railroad Ave. Cooperstown NY 13326

Tara Barnwell P.O. Box 890 Cooperstown NY 13326 Greg Klein 21 Railroad Ave. Cooperstown NY 13326

Iron String Press, Inc.

21 Railroad Ave./ P.O. Box 890 Cooperstown NY 13326

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►Friday, OcT. 1 HARVEST CELEBRATION – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate the harvest season in 1800s style.

See Thursday Listing.

►Saturday, Oct. 2 CLEAN SWEEP – From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents of the town of Hartwick are invited to dispose of damaged furniture, yard trash, and scrap metal.

There will also be a yard sale of donated items. Check the website for the full list of what can be dropped of for disposal and the charges. Hartwick Town Hall, 103 Town Dr. in Hartwick.

For info: 607-547-8070.

HARVEST CELEBRATION – From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Celebrate the harvest season.

See Thursday Listing.

LIFESKILLS – From 4 to 6 p.m. Teens are invited to learn to cook with Lynn. Menu posted to FB. Seating limited, reservations required. Presented by The Oneonta Teen Center. At 50 Dietz St. in Oneonta. For info: 607 441 3999 or www.facebook.com/oneonta.teencenter.

►Saturday, October 2 OUTDOOR CONCERT – 7 p.m.

Enjoy an evening out with Corey Harris, one of the performers who popularized the Blues in the 90s. Tickets, $26/nonmember. West Kortright Center, 49 West Kortright Church Rd., East Meredith. 607-278-5454.

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►Sunday, Oct. 3 HARVEST FEST – From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrate Autumn with the Middlefield Historical Association. Fest includes a history exhibit, games, activities like pumpkin painting for the little ones.

There will also be a tractor show, an artisan booth, and the Lucky Draw Auction featuring items donated by local crafters.

Food available from Tickled Pink Food Truck. Free, open to the public, donations appreciated. At the Old Middlefield Schoolhouse, 3698 County Route 35 in Middlefield. For info: 607-242-6449.

what’s fun in OtsegO COunty _________

Autumn Dreams B-7

FRANKLIN MARKET – From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find delicious local produce from the Franklin area, everything from bread to beef to plant seedlings and more. Also, enjoy music in the market from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., featuring Thumbs & The Professor performing wide variety of blues, traditional and original tunes. At the Franklin Farmers Market lawn in front of Chapel Hall at 15 Institute St. in Franklin.

WELCOME HOME FEST – At 12:30 p.m. Parishoners, new and old are invited to return to church to welcome new Pastor Michael Cambi. There will be food, prizes, games,

TOMMYJOY Music from the Great American Songbook

LIVE!

Fri & Sat, Oct. 1 & 2, 15 & 16, and 29 & 30 5 pm until 8 pm

Roma’s Ristorante 25 Union Street • Sidney

and more. Must be present to win. St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm St., in Cooperstown. For info: 607-547-2213.

►Monday, Oct. 4

547-4230 or visit sqspca.org.

by Franklin Free Library. For info: 607-829-2941.

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P H O T O G R A P H Y EXCURSION – From 7 to 8 a.m.

Enjoy early morning walk and photo lesson all about how to photograph Otsego Lake at sunrise. Presented by staff member Kevin Gray providing tips on composition, light & shadow, techniques and more.

Cost is $17/non-member.

At Fenimore Art Museum, near Cooperstown. For info: 607-547-1400.

RABIES CLINIC – From 4 to 7 p.m. Free rabies vaccination for cats, dogs, ferrets.

Scheduling to follow social distancing. First come, first serve. At the Susquehanna SPCA, County Route 28 near Cooperstown. For info: 607-

►Wednesday, OCT. 6

what’s fun TRAP SHOOT – At 1 and 6 p.m. Bring your shotgun and shells for fun afternoon and in OtsegO COunty evening trapshoot.

(Weather permitting). Cost is $1/round.

Please follow all firearm regulations. At Crumhorn Rod & Gun Club, 574 Crumhorn Lake Rd. in Maryland. For info: 607-638-9379.

AUTHOR READING – At 7 p.m. Author Lila Nordstrom ‘Some Kids Left Behind’ discusses her book about her experience as a student at Stuyvesant High School in Lower Manhattan on 9/11 to her adult life as an activist testifying before congress for the Victim Compensation Act to include civilians who were exposed to toxins in the aftermath of 9/11. Come listen and discuss. Registration required for Zoom meeting. Presented

►Thursday, Oct. 7 OPEN HOUSE – At 2 p.m.

Celebrate the completion of a three-year project to improve the water treatment plant. At the south end of Linden Ave. in Cooperstown.

For info: 607-322-4039.

►Friday, October 8 HARVEST CELEBRATION – 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Celebrate the harvest season in 1800s style. See Thursday Listing.

GHOST TOUR – 6 - 7:30 p.m. Take guided lantern tour through 200 year old mansion full of spooky stories and restless souls. Cost, $20/adult.

Extended walking and stair climbing is part of the tour.

Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park Rd., Cooperstown 607-547-5098.

Thursday, September 30, 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