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OTSEGO.life
THURSDAY-FRIDAY, AUGUST 14-15, 2014
Oneonta’s Wilcox Bros. Live In Legend Tales Related Of Apples And Baseball, Dares And Terror By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA
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ever married, dressed in old, tattered clothes and driving a horse and buggy even into the 1940s, Mert and Fred Wilcox were an enigma to the people of Oneonta. “They were from another time, another era,” said Helen Rees. “They were misunderstood.”
Mert Wilcox, left, and brother Fred.
But to the kids of the Sixth Ward, the mythology of the Wilcox brothers was one of apples and baseball, of dares and terror, of old stories and close friendships, related Aug. 10 at the Swart-Wilcox House’s Summer Sundays talk, “Growing Up in the Sixth Ward.” “Mert was a nice old gentleman,” said Orrin Higgins. “Too bad more kids couldn’t see him as a decent person.” Please See WILCOX, B3
HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO
BEST BETS
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From their Sixth Ward boyhoods, Orrin Higgins, right, and brother John recount memories of the Wilcox brothers. Albert Colone is in the background.
Rising From The Briny Deep:
BLUE JEANS!
Sisters Evangeline, Carolina, Suzanne and their parents Suzanne and Lernando Del Valle, along with some fuzzy friends, enjoy the 2013 Teddy Bears’ Picnic.
Plush Pals Will Gather For Teddy Bear Concert
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eddy Bears and other plush pals – and their owners too – are invited to the Oneonta Concert Band’s annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic concert. 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17, Upper Pavilion, Wilber Park. Info, (607) 746-2196. ON LAND, BY SEA: Farmers and sailors can enjoy music, drinks and a tour of The Fenimore at “The Farmer and the Sailor should Be Friends” themed cocktail party. Prizes for best costumes. $20 includes one drink. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15, The Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 NY 80, Cooperstown. Info, (607) 547-1461. FREE MOVIE: Bring a blanket, a picnic and enjoy “Muppets Most Wanted” under the stars. 8:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15, Clark Sports Center, 124 County Rd. 52, Cooperstown. Info, (607) 547-2800. CAMP HISTORY: Experience life in a Civil War camp with music, drills, even a chance to enlist in the militia! 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 16-17, The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. Info, registration, www.farmersmuseum.org
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Luke Funke and Paul Lord examine Blue Jeans’ sails, which, while stained, are still sea-worthy. In top photo, The divers who recovered the sailboat, lost in Otsego Lake’s depths in 1995, are, from left, Kevin Shemerhorn, Kaylee Herzog, Jennifer Piacente, Gary Busch from Pathfinder, Pat McCormack and Lee Ferrara.
SUNY Prof Lord’s Divers Salvage Sailboat From Glimmerglass’ Floor Kevin Cimbalo, Paul Lord, Luke Funke and Gary Busch look over the area of the center board to make sure it is shipshape as they prepare Blue Jeans for its postresurrection launch later this week.
CELEBRATE THE LAKE: Goodyear Lake Day features a 5K run, live music, boat parade and more. 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, Krol Field, Milford. Info, www.goodyearlakeny.org
By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
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FISHING FOR FUN: Kids 5-15 can fish for prizes at Oneonta’s annual fishing derby. Bring pole, baits/lures and a clean bucket. 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug 16, Hodges Pond, Neahwa Park, Oneonta. Info, (607) 432-0680.
hen Paul Lord saw the blurry image on the side-scan sonar at the bottom of Otsego Lake, he knew as clear as day what he was looking at. “I knew what it was, because I’d been searching for it since 1995.” The image was Blue Jeans, a 16-foot fiberglass sailboat that sank off the Pathfinder Baptist Camp on East Lake Road. In 1995, Rev. Doug Deer’s children, David and Katherine, lifeguards at the camp, were racing sailboats when the Blue Jeans ran into trouble. As another boat offered to bring them in, the bow Please See SUNKEN, B2
EVENING JAZZ: Trio Da Paz plays Brazilian jazz as part of the Cooperstown Music Festival. $25 adults, $15 students. 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17, The Otesaga, 60 Lake St., Cooperstown. Info, tickets, www. cooperstownmusicfest.org.
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