Head out to The Farmers’ Museum for a celebration of the machines that power the farms of yesterday and today. The two-day Tractor Fest will include demon strations with tractors new and old, classic and high-tech, doing everything from pulling wagons, to plowing the fields, to baling oat straw. Check farmersmuseum.org for the schedule of events. Held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 8 and 9, at The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown.
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Start the weekend with a concert presented by the Sten & Maria Z Ensemble. The ensemble is known for concerts that celebrate their eclectic musical tastes, from fiery flamenco and Latin music to blue grass. With Spanish and flamenco dancer La Niña, and percussionist Brian Melick rounding out the ensemble, it’s sure to be a lively evening. Tickets are $25 per adult. Friday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. Visit oneontaconcertasso ciation.org
• The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society will host a Hawkwatch Open House on Saturday, October 8
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DOAS Sanctuary and Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch, 52 Grange Hall Road Spur, Oneonta. The “rain or shine” event is free and open to the public, and complimentary refreshments will be available throughout the day. At 10 a.m., DOAS Board Director and Franklin Mountain hawk counter Tom Salo will conduct a workshop on how to identify flying hawks. At 11:30 a.m., there will be guided trail walks (one for adults and one for children) and, at 12:30 p.m., Deborah Saltis of the Falcon Heart Rescue will present a program featuring live birds of prey. Raffle items for the upcoming October 21 DOAS Charter Dinner will be on display, and raffle tickets will be available to purchase. Winners need not be present at that event. Birdfriendly coffee and other DOAS merchandise will also be available for sale. For further information, call 607-397-3815 or e-mail info@ doas.us.
The cast of Oneonta’s Southside Sanitorium
The Fenimore Chamber Orchestra performed its inaugural concert at Cooperstown’s Christ Church on August 27, and it was a huge success. Now they are gearing up for another concert at the same location on Saturday, October 8.
“When we all have time to actually sit and think about what happened in August, we are proud of the work we did and the exceptionally high quality of the performances,” said Thomas Wolf, chair of the Governing Board of Directors of Fenimore Chamber Orchestra.
“When an organization begins, there is much work that continually pres ents itself, so we really have had little time to think of the ramification of that debut; in other words, the work continues.”
The story of how FCO came to be is interesting.
“Rosemary Summers and I were on the phone one day about a year-anda-half ago and we decided then that this is what we should be doing,” Mr. Wolf said. “With our shared background in the arts in New York City and Europe, and Maestro Maciej Żółtowski’s background in Europe, it seemed the logical thing to do. After all, that the three of us should conflate here at the same time is something I am certain must be quite unique.”
Between them, they have around 75 years’ experience.
“In life, there are people who make things happen, people who watch things happen and then people who wonder what happened,” Mr. Wolf said. “We are definitely people who make things happen. And on a purely practical note, Rosemary mentioned something her father told her once: As we become older, the road behind you is much longer than the road ahead of you. So that has summed up a matter of how I want to spend my time and with whom.
“Well, we did the first performance before a near-capacity house,” Mr. Wolf said. “The simple fact of the matter is Rosemary, Maciej, and I have exceedingly high standards and everyone in the orchestra — handpicked, by the way — also displays those high standards. So, it is inevitable that the results will be of a high standard.”
Everyone must remember that FCO is still in its infancy and that there is always room for a new performing arts organization that adds to the artistic scope of the community, Mr. Wolf continued.
“In that respect, we are constantly working to make certain that FCO will continue to provide regular, high-quality performances,” he said. “We are working on major funding, which is so necessary for a not-for-profit organization, and which must be done to properly secure its longevity.”
The next FCO concert, “Music for Winds,” is at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 8 at historic Christ Church Episcopal, 46 River Street in Cooperstown, featuring the orchestra’s wind section in a program by French and Italian composers.
On December 3, again at Christ Church, “Festive Strings” will showcase the string section of FCO, a performance that will be repeated a week later in Utica.
“We are working on dates for the spring of next year. For those wishing to attend the concerts on October 8 and December 3, tickets can be purchased by visiting our website at fenimoreco.org or at the door. And while you visit fenimoreco.org, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel,” Mr. Wolf urged.
Southside Mall and Luncheons and Dragons, located within the mall, have teamed up to bring Southside Sanitorium — a haunted house experience — to Southside Mall.
“Keith and Celeste Gray, owners of Luncheons and Dragons, came up with a nice community event for Halloween,” said Luisa Montanti, general manager of the mall. “They are the masterminds behind the creativity of the actual venue and how it will run through.”
“We’ve always loved Halloween and decorating for Halloween, and we were talking about ways to get people out of the house and into the mall. We had a lot of ideas, but the Southside Sanitorium was the best,” Celeste Gray said.
The Grays went as far away as Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida for ideas on the haunted house.
“We took a group of people to Orlando for Halloween Horror Week to see what they were doing for Halloween,” Ms. Gray said. “Of course, they have a much larger budget than we do, but we got some great ideas.”
According to Ms. Montanti, the haunted house is in a nice-sized area, utilizing every room of the former Myers Cabinetry space near TJ Maxx.
They have created seven different rooms to explore.
“Nothing is gory, it’s all jump-scares — people jumping out and things you aren’t expecting!” Ms. Gray said.
“We have a cemetery, a hospital, a graveyard, a clown’s room, a haunted forest, the Demon Netherworld room and Pleasantville,” Ms. Gray said. “Pleasantville is like a “Leave it to Beaver” room; every thing looks normal but nothing is normal. It’s all in fun!”
The haunted house experience will feature a full-fledged cast of live actors, and all are locals.
“Friends and customers from our store heard what we were doing and they all came forward, wanting to be involved,” Ms. Gray said.
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There is no age limit to enter the sanitorium; parents can use their judgement.
“Parents know their children better than we do, so it will be up to them if they allow their children to come in to the haunted house,” Ms. Gray said. “Some kids aren’t phased by anything; some are very sensitive.”
The Southside Sanitorium haunted house will offer up chills and thrills every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from October 6 - 29 as well as on Sunday, October 30 and Monday, October 31.
DONATE – Bring your clean winter apparel to donate to local families in need. Accept ing gently used boots, hats, gloves, scarves, winter coats, snowsuits and snowpants. September 30 through Novem ber 14. Bring to the collection bins in the Lobby at The Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. 607-547-2800, ext. 120.
SANITORIUM 5-10 p.m. Take a haunted walk through the Southside Sanitorium
as presented by Luncheons & Dragons. Southside Mall, Oneonta. 607-432-4401.
DRAW AND GATHER – 5:307:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of drawing, listen to music and engage with people, pencil, and paper. Free, open to pub lic. The Bushel Collective, 106 Main St., Delhi.
RABIES CLINIC 9-11 a.m. Free rabies vaccination for cats, dogs, ferrets. Masks re
quired. First come, first serve; bring your pets’ vaccine cer tificate for the vet’s reference. Susquehanna SPCA, Rt. 28, Cooperstown. 607-547-4230.
QUILT SHOW 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Say “We’re Back” for the annual Major’s Inn quilt show, returning after a two-year pan demic absence. Show features 150+ quilts made in our area throughout the years. Featured quilters are Katrina Thomas and Wanda Thompson. Admis sion is $5/person with lunch available for $7. Proceeds will go to maintenance and
restoration of this historic in. Major’s Inn, 104 Marion Ave., Gilbertsville. 607-783-2967.
WETLAND EXPLORATION 10:30 a.m. to noon. Join the Otsego County Conservation Association for an outing on the kids’ day off from school. Explore the edges of a beaver pond, identify trees and plants on the way, and pack a picnic lunch for the end of the hike. Free, open to all. Held at the The Forest of a Dozen Dads, 325 Blacks Rd., Cooperstown. 607-547-4488.
PERCUSSION 3:30-4:30 p.m. Children aged 4-10 are invited to explore the world of percussion with drums made from everyday material. Led by percussionist Brian Melick. Admission is by donation; preregistration required. Oneonta World of Learning, 167 Youngs Rd., Oneonta. Register at worl doflearning@live.com
SANITORIUM 5-10 p.m.
Take a haunted walk through the Southside Sanitorium. See Friday listing.
OPENING RECEPTION 5-8 p.m. Celebrate opening of new exhibit La Femme, a group show featuring works by Chris tina Ganio, photography; Mary Lou Ganio, monotype; Kris ten Griger, oils; Suzanna Van Schoohoven Hunter, ceram ics; Phyllis Lapi, pastels; and Kathy VanLoan, pastels. 25 Main Collective, 25 Main St., Cherry Valley. 607-264-5340.
CONTRADANCE 7:3010:30 p.m. Enjoy a fun social dance with the Otsego Dance Society. Will feature music by the Catskill Gamblers band with Robby Poulette calling the dances. Suggested dona tion, $8/adult. New location at Cornfield Hall, 655 Co. Rd. 26, Fly Creek. Visit otsegodance society.weebly.com more Calendar, page 7
the public. St James Episco pal Church, 305 Main Street, Oneonta.
Calendar from page 6
THEATER 7:30 p.m. The SUNY Oneonta Theater de partment presents Nord-Ost (North East) by Torsten Bu chsteiner, with translation by David Tushingham. A play in three parts about the 57-hour hostage crisis in Moscow’s Du brovka Theatre and it’s shock ing conclusion. General admis sion, $5. Hamblin Arena, SUNY Oneonta. 607-436-4500.
►Saturday, Oct Ober 8
MEET THE MAKERS 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Stop in new em porium to meet the makers behind their selection of lo cally sourced art, craft, food, and beverages. Will include samples, outdoor activities, demonstrations and more. Pickin’ Patch Emporium, 7487 St. Hwy. 7, Maryland. 607638-6086.
TASTE OF THE CATSKILLS
10 a.m. Come enjoy the fla vors of the Catskills from food to music, artisans and work shops, and much more. Held at Maple Shade Farm, 2066 County Highway 18, Delhi. Vis it tasteofthecatskills.com
QUILT SHOW 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Say “We’re Back” for the annual Major’s Inn quilt show. See Friday listing.
TRICK TRAY AUCTION 11 a.m. Find items large and small at the annual Maryland His torical Society auction. Items range from a woodsplitter and a snowblower to smaller inter esting items. Drawing begins at 1 p.m. Held at American Veterans building, 16 Main St., Schenevus. 973-288-5158
SANITORIUM 5-10 p.m. Take a haunted walk through the Southside Sanitorium. See Friday listing.
THEATER 7:30 p.m. The SUNY Oneonta Theater depart ment presents Nord-Ost (North East). See Friday listing.
7:30 p.m. Participants of the Drawarama workshop are invited to dance, talk and view the works completed during the class in this closing night exhibition. The Bushel Collec tive, 106 Main St., Delhi.
10 a.m. Come enjoy the fla vors of the Catskills. See Sat urday listing.
QUILT SHOW 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Say “We’re Back” for the annual Major’s Inn quilt show. See Friday listing.
THEATER 2 p.m. The SUNY Oneonta Theater department presents ‘Nord-Ost’ (North East). See Friday listing.
MUSIC 3-7 p.m. Fid dler’s29! presents bands of young professional musicians championing the traditions of Celtic, bluegrass and country music. Tickets available at the door, $30/adult. Roxbury Arts Center, 5025 Vega Mountain Rd., Roxbury. 607-326-7908.
ART EXHIBIT 4:30-6:30 p.m. Celebrate the “Colors of Oneonta” art exhibit cre ated by the students at SUNY Oneonta. Light refreshments will be provided. Foothills Per forming Arts Center, Oneonta.
FIGURE DRAWING 6-8 p.m. Learn and practice your skill in drawing a human figure with charcoal. All skill levels welcome. Open to teens and adults. Cost, $30/class. The Studio at the Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Ave., Oneon ta. 607-432-2070.
GARDEN CLUB 6:30 p.m. Join the Oneonta Federated Garden Club for refreshments followed by a presentation on Kokedama with Kaytee Lipari, owner of Local Gal Florist. Kokedama is a modern art form where plants and flow ers are presented in unusual combinations. Free, open to
DEADLINE Make reser vations for turkey dinner to be held October 15 at 4 p.m. Take-out available. Dinner is by reservation only. Cost, $14. Church of Christ Unit ing, 22 Church St., Richfield Springs. 315-796-1644 or visit rschurchofchristuniting. com/events/
Join the Friends of the Up per Delaware River for two-day conference, “Water, Water, Ev erywhere,” to catch up on all
the critical issues facing the upper Delaware River. Reg istration required for online conference. Visit www.fudr. org/wwe-2021
COMMUNITY HIKE Time
TBA. The community is invit ed for a group hike with the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Bring appropriate clothing, gear and enough water to stay hydrated. Hikes will be rela tively easy. This week’s hike will be at the Audubon Sanctu ary in Oneonta with hike lead er Diane Aaronson. Register by calling 607-432-9391.
WRITING GROUP 6:30 p.m. Bring your notebooks, pens/pencils and be ready to
share your writing in a support ive writing group. Springfield Library, 129 County Rd. 29A, Springfield. 315-858-5802.
PAPER SHREDDING 9:45 -11:30 a.m. Securely dispose of sensitive documents, old bills, credit cards, and more. Open to the public. St. James Manor, 9 St. James Place., Oneonta. (607) 436-9974.
BAKE-A-LONG 6-7 p.m. Hop on Zoom and make some delicious cookies. All ages wel come, children must have adult supervision. Presented by the Huntington Memorial Library, Oneonta. 607-432-1980.
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