AllOTSEGO.santa
Christmas BEST BETS
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THURSDAY-FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6-7, 2012
H
E TRAVELS THE WORLD OVER, AND STILL SANTA CLAUS – AND HIS LIFE PARTNER, MRS. CLAUS – APPEAR OFTEN BETWEEN CHERRY VALLEY AND UNADILLA AND MONTICELLO AND EAST WORCESTER. SO OFTEN, REPORTER LIBBY CUDMORE WAS DETERMINED TO TRACK THEM DOWN, SEEKING OUT ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS WE ALL HAVE ABOUT THE MIRACULOUS DUO. HERE’S WHAT SHE FOUND.
A holiday tradition, The Farmers’ Museum is hosting its “Candlelight Evening” Saturday, Dec. 8.
Cooperstown ‘Candlelight Evening’ Due
ST. NICK’S SECRETS E Time Zones Aid Jolly Old Elf’s One-Night Saga
By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
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visit to Santa here is more than an opportunity to ask for an American Girl doll or an Xbox 360: You’ll get a lesson in the Christmas spirit, too. “I’ve been trying to educate them that Christmas isn’t just about receiving,” said Santa Claus in an interview Friday, Nov. 30, in his Pioneer Park cottage. “It’s about giving.” Though busy talking with children all around the world, Santa has a soft spot in his heart for Cooperstown, and stops by the village whenever his busy schedule allows, meeting kids in his cottage, stopping by the PTO
breakfast or visiting Otsego Manor. “Cooperstown is home to the very best boys and girls in the world,” he said. “And it has the best Christmas spirit.” Over 1,500 good boys and girls visit Santa every season, and in the Great Recession of the last few years, he reports requests have shifted from material goods to family needs. “One child asked me to get his dad his job back,” he said. “And another young girl asked me to bring her brother home. I asked her a little more and found out he was in Afghanistan.” Santa cares. He spends a few minutes talking with each child, not just about Ian Austin/ OTSEGO.santa what they want, but what’s going on in their lives. “I Santa presents a baseball card from his favorite team – the Red Stockings see the way they’re pro– to Turner Dolata, who paused at Santa’s Cottage in Pioneer Park while
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visiting the Hall of Fame from Cleveland, Ohio.
Please See SANTA, A3
Mrs. Claus At The Ready When Unexpected Arises Mrs, Claus said. “But the same could be said for him. It’s a good relationship for children to see.” ONEONTA In addition to a full roster of storytelling and craft activities that rs. Claus is a modern keep her busy when in downtown take-charge woman. Oneonta, she is also in charge “I’ve become a comof screening children’s niceness munications specialist, a record levels before they go sit on Santa’s keeper and I’ve already begun to lap. “We’ve never had a child not chart Santa’s course,” she said. on the good list in Oneonta,” she “Because you know, men don’t ask said during an interview before for directions.” a book-reading Mrs. Claus even Saturday, Dec. 1, helped resolve a at the Green Toad potentially disasBookstore. trous situation last In addition, she year, when too many reads all the letters children in Northern that arrive before Europe refused to handing them over go to bed, preventto Santa Claus. “I ing Santa from was really touched landing to deliver by this letter from presents. “I got out a boy who asked a 10-minute bedtime for something for warning while he his little brother dipped down to North and sister too,” she Africa,” she said. By said. “It was so the time he was done sweet of him to ask there, it was dark for things for other enough to return to people.” his previously charted “And,” she course. added. “He said “Someone said my ‘thank you’.” Ian Austin/ OTSEGO.santa Mrs. Claus shares stories of Christmas around the world with song should be ‘Wind She’s helping to keep Another letter young fans at the Green Toad Bookstore. Beneath My Wings,’” The List.” Please See MRS, A3 By LIBBY CUDMORE
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xperience one of the most magical holiday events in the region at The Farmers’ Museum’s “Candlelight Evening.” 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, featuring wagon rides, wassail and Santa Claus. The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 NY 80, Cooperstown. Info, (607) 547-1450. HOLIDAY ART: “Off the Wall” annual Holiday reception and sale. 5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, Main View Gallery, 73 Main St., Oneonta. Info, www.mainviewgallery. com. BENEFIT AUCTION: 15th Annual Brookwood School Holiday Auction. 6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at 687 Cty. Hwy. 59, Cooperstown. Info, Gina Reeves, (607) 547-4060. UNDER THE TREE: Oneonta History Center open with model train layouts, dollhouse, Victorian and 1950s Plasticville & Marx village displays. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec 8, Greater Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. Info, (607) 432-0960, info@ oneontahistory.org. COOKIES, CRAFTS: The Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta holds its 25th Annual Cookies and Crafts sale. Dec. 8. 12 Ford Ave., Oneonta. Info, Elayne Campoli, (607) 432-3491. HARK, THE BELLS!: Pathfinder Village Bell Choir performs at the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Holiday Celebration. Free with donation of 2 non-perishable food items. 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec 8. 25 Main St, Cooperstown. Info, (607) 547-7200. KEEP ON GIVING: Alternative Market features gifts that aid others around the world. Noon-1 p.m. Sunday, Dec 9, First Presbyterian Church, 25 Church St., Cooperstown. Info, (607) 547-8401. KID’S PARTY: Caroling through the village, free photo booth with Santa and his vintage fire engine. 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec 8. Cooperstown Fire Station. 24 Chestnut St., Cooperstown. Info, Eric Pierce, (607) 431-8826.
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Christmas Happenin’s, B4
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL • HOMETOWN ONEONTA • www.allotsego.com • @allotsegonews EVERY HOUSEHOLD, EVERY WEEK IN ONEONTA, WEST ONEONTA AND COOPERSTOWN 5798 State Highway 80 x Cooperstown, NY 13326 x (607) 547-1400 x FenimoreArtMuseum.org
Tasha Tudor: Around the Year Through December 30
Around the Year illuminates the changing seasons and special annual celebrations with outstanding, rarely-seen examples of Tudor’s original art for greeting cards, children’s books, and holidays. Tasha Tudor: Around the Year has been organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachuse�s
FIND� TASH A�TU GIFT�I DOR� TEM IN�OU S� R� SHOP !
(Detail) Untitled, 1973, Illustration for a Christmas card (1973) and Drawn from New England (1979) by Tasha Tudor, Watercolor on paper 8.5” x 9.25”, Collection of Jeane�e and Gerald Knazek ©1973 Tasha Tudor. All rights reserved.
MUSEUM ADMISSION Adults and Juniors (13-64): $12.00 Seniors (65+): $10.50 Children (12 and under): Free NYSHA members, active military, and retired career military personnel: Free
Tues-Sun 10am to 4pm (closed Mondays)