All
OTSEGO.seniority
THURSDAY-FRIDAY, MARCH 27-28, 2014
THE
PAGE B-1
JOY OF POLKA
For Decade, Fran Raeder Danced With Top Troupe
HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO
BEST BETS
By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
H
AllOTSEGO.com
Ian Austin/
Fran Raeder shows off a dance step in the red boots, part of the costume she wore for 10 years as a Polish dancer. She and her partner, Gene Karczewski, were featured on the album cover of “Polka Melody Time� and danced in both the Metropolitan Opera, top left, and at a party Elizabeth Taylor threw for her husband Mike Todd, bottom left.
OLDER AMERICAN ACT HAS A FRIEND IN U.S. REP. GIBSON
T
his year, U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-19, is a co-sponsor with two other congressmen – Tom Reed, R-NY, and Betty McCollum, D-Minn. – of a bill that would reauthorize the Older Americans Act as it was passed in 1966. The act expires in 2006, but Congress has continued to fund pieces of it annually since. For details, visit WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM
‘All Shook Up’ Brings Elvis’ Hits to the Stage
L
onesome Tonight? Nothing but a hound dog? Hear all The King’s hits at the OHS spring musical “All Shook Up.� $10 adults, $5 students. 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday March 28-29, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 30, Oneonta High School, 130 East St., Oneonta. Info, (607) 433-8241. A Cappella Chorus: Cantus performs as part of the Oneonta Concert Association. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 28, Oneonta Theatre, 47 Main St., Oneonta. Info, www.oneontatheatre.com DOUBLE DRAMA: “I’m an Emotional Creature,� directed by Rebecca BurkSciallo at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 28 and “The Vagina Monologues� at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 29. Tickets $10 at the door. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, (607) 547-9777. PAPER PLEASURES: 10th annual Greater Oneonta Historical Society Postcard & Ephemera Show. Postcards, Posters and lots of surprises! Admission $2; GOHS members $1; early admission $5. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, March 28, Chapin Memorial, 12 Ford Ave., Oneonta. Vendor and other info, (607) 432-0960, info@OneontaHistory.org CRAYON CARNIVAL: Crayon Carnival and Stroll of Nations includes bouncy rides, games, dance, music and more. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, March 28, Cooperstown High School, 39 Linden Ave., Cooperstown. Info, coopPTA@gmail.com, (607) 437-8761.
the foundation.� The newly formed foundation has begun raising money for its scholONEONTA arship, starting with selling raffle tickets. “This is going to be our main t’s a chance for one generation to fundraiser,� she said. give to future generations. The raffle tickets, available at the “We’ve been giving scholarSixth Ward Athletic Club on West ships for years, and we’ve always Broadway, will be drawn for cash talked about setting up a foundation� prizes: a grand $500 prize, two $250 said Kathy Gravelin, who is chairing prizes and $100 prizes. “There’s a Ian Austin/ OTSEGO.com lot of chances to win,� said Gravthe newly formed Sixth Ward AthKathy Gravelin, left, is letic Foundation board. “But what elin. president and Roseanne used to come from the Sixth Ward Athletics are the primary focus of Athletic Club will now come from Miller secretary of the new Please See 6TH WARD, B4 By LIBBY CUDMORE
LOOK SHARP: Black tie masquerade ball, with Chinese auction, live dance performances and more. 6-11 p.m., Saturday, March 28, Gallagher’s Pub, 99 Main St., Oneonta. Info, (407) 574-0613.
I
MUSIC LESSON: Darcy Gibson and Jackie Cypress teach the ukulele. 4-5 p.m., Sunday, March 30, Oneonta World of Learning, 277 Main St., Info, worldoflearning@live.org.
All
Allotsego.com
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL • HOMETOWN ONEONTA • www. FOR DAILY NEWS UPDATES, VISIT www.
wn rsto Coope
&
THINK LOCAL FIRST
of Co mm erce
AllOTSEGO.com
Ian Austin/
Hannah Harby and Joe Casassa star as Sylvia and Jim in the Elvis jukebox musical “All Shook Up�
Sixth Ward Athletic Foundation Plans To Carry Club’s Good Deeds Forward
foundation.
ave red boots, will travel. “All the dancers had these boots custom made for our feet,� said Fran Raeder. “They only cost $25!� Those red boots – and her full Polish polka costume – can be seen on the cover of Ted Maksymowicz’s “Polka Melody Time� record. “I got this call asking if I had a Polish costume,� she said. “We posed for the cover, and my partner Gene Karczewski and I made $100 – big money for an hour of work!� Maksymowicz was the premier polka bandleader of the 1950s, selling out every Monday night from 1949 to 1957 at New York City’s largest ballroom, the Roseland. He was also responsible for bringing Polish dancing to the Harvest Moon Ball, where Fran and Gene performed in 1956. The boots were purchased part of the costume she wore almost every weekend for 10 years as she hopped, twirled and spun as part of dancer Yurek Lazowski’s traditional Polish dance troupe. Lazowski taught at the New York School of Ballet, specializing the dance tradition of Michel Fokine, great uncle of Oneonta ballet instructor Donna Decker. Fran grew up in the Please See DANCE, B3
s Ot er b seg o County Cham
AllOTSEGO.com EVERY DAY
Many dealers Measure their success by the voluMe of cars they sell. not us. We measure our success in the volume of customers who are completely satisfied with the car they bought and with their experience of doing business at our dealership. Enjoy a better way to buy a car when you think local first.
ContaCt our SaleS team:michael Simmons, Sales manager, George odbert, Stephen Sheldon, Vernon Sliviak, Jim Brophy, edward C. Smith, Dealer Principal, Chad G. Welch, Finance manager
5069 Route 28 South, CoopeRStown www.smithcooperstown.com
607-547-9924