Little Falls Cheese Festival looks to make history (again)

LITTLE FALLS, NY –

The Little Falls Cheese Festival committee has announced the date for the city’s eighth annual Cheese Festival, which will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023. Planning is well underway for another festival filled with New York cheesemakers, gourmet foods, craft beverages, and more on Main Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Coupons can be used to purchase fruits and vegetables at any participating Farmer’s Market. YOU QUALIFY IF you are at least 60 years of age AND have a monthly income at or below: $2,248 for a one-person household, $3,041 for a two-person household, $3,833 for a three -person household, or are at least 60 years of age and currently receiving or eligible to receive SSI, food stamps, public assistance, or Section 8 housing subsidy. Each eligible older adult living in a household may receive their own booklet, but they must be present to sign for them. If an older adult is unable to pick up the coupons in person, a proxy or power of attorney may sign instead. Coupons will be distributed at the following centers on a first come, first served basis. You can pick up coupons at any of these sites. Please see the instructions following the distribution locations.

2023 Distribution Centers

Mon. July 10 9am -Noon: London Towers, 100 W. Main St., Ilion

1:00-3:30 pm: Prindle Apartments, 80 E. North St., Ilion

Tues. July 11 9am -11:30am: Galinsky Apartments, 105 Protection Ave. Herkimer 1pm-3:30pm Valley View Courts, 760 E. Monroe St. Little Falls

Wed. July 12 1pm -3:30pm: Stoneridge Gems (formerly Midtown Apartments) 315 N. Prospect St. Herkimer

Thurs July 13 9am -11am: Litchfield Manor, 402 S. Litchfield St., Frankfort 1pm-3pm: Greenwood Terrace, 1 Greenwood Terrace, Mohawk

Fri. July 14 9:00-11:00am: Parkside Courts 53 S. Main St., Dolgeville 1:30-3:00pm Rockton Plaza, 550 E. John St. Little Falls

Mon. July 17 9:00am -11:00am Scott House , 56 South St. West Winfield 1:30-3:00pm Willoughby Hall, 3041 Hillside Meadows Dr, Newport

Tues. July 18 10:00am -11:30am Schuyler Firehouse, 120 Newport Rd. Utica

Fri, July 21 10am -Noon: Lakeside Terr. Apts., 110 South Shore Rd, Old Forge 1pm-3pm: Old Forge Farmers Market, Park Ave , Old Forge

“We’ve made history every year with the attendance of our festival, and we are so grateful for all the enthusiastic support,” said Teri Chace of the Little Falls Cheese Festival committee.

“So this year, we’re looking to pay tribute to our city’s roots in the cheese industry. And, of course, we’ll feature more fantastic New York beverages, goodies, and cheeses!”

The festival will feature various New York State farm-produced cheeses, from hard cheeses such as cheddar, gouda, and

Havarti to soft cheeses, goat cheeses, cheese curds, yogurts, and more. Numerous New York-based gourmet food and craft beverage vendors will also be on hand to complement the cheeses. Also returning this year are showcases for local entertainment and musical acts all along Main Street, the Food Truck Food Court, and a free, cheese-themed play. Shuttle busses are returning as well for ease of parking, this time with additional shuttles to reduce the wait to get to the festival.

The Little Falls Cheese Festival is New York State’s premier gathering of cheesemakers, with an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people in attendance last year. Keep up to date with planning and vendor announcements by following the Little Falls Cheese Festival on Facebook and Instagram or by visiting littlefallscheesefestival. com.

LIFE From Page 5 have a letter of intent from the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame to move from Albany to Herkimer. “It’s been in Albany almost 20 years.”

He owns the Herkimer Originals ABA Basketball Team and says that the ABA is also willing to put their hall of fame in Herkimer.

Things seem to be speeding up for the project, with Lambert Will now being considered for entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. “He’s being voted on to be put in the hall of fame. They will have to answer, ‘Why was he nominated, and what did he do?’ And then our story fills that.”

The gentlemen who wrote the book NaisMYTH: Basketball’s Stolen Legacy are also considering moving to the area to curate the collection of historical items proving Lambert Will invented basketball in Herkimer.

“So people in the Village of Herkimer and everywhere around can stop, walk in, and in just a matter of a couple of thousand square feet have a whole new picture on what really happened,” Flansburg said.

“I think that will make a statement that says, ‘Wow, we haven’t heard the whole story.’”

Assembly Resolution No. 1052 is now in front of the New York State Legislature, “Recognizing Herkimer, New York, as the birthplace of Basketball, Lambert Will as the game’s inventor, and the Mohawk Valley as the game’s principal influence in the game’s initial adoption.”

Assemblymember Robert Smullen (R), Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon (D), and Assemblymember Brian Miller (R) have sponsored the bill, which is now in front of the State Senate.

Flansburg said that H. M. Quackenbush, Lambert Will, and Frank J. Baslow are all buried within one hundred yards of each other in the Oak Hill Cemetary in Herkimer. He also said the Quackenbush factory was the first steam-powered plant. “Turning it into a STEAM learning center is pretty interesting.”

He also said they are trying to attract a manufacturing museum to the location. “There’s an association for Central New York Manufacturing we’ve been talking to.”

According to Flansburg, Things invented in Central New York could be housed in the museum section.

Another interesting fact they’ve dug up is, “Thomas Edison lit up Main Street Herkimer in 1891, the same week basketball was invented. He was testing it to take to the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago but used Herkimer’s Main Street as the test location.”

Flansburg said, “It’s been fun putting this together. I’m driven and motivated