I'm so sorry not to have posted the free Taekwon-do demo earlier! It was tonight. They have a great website: www.OneontaTKD.com.

There are a lot of events this weekend:

Ommegang Brewery: Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2009, starting at noon on Fri, continuing all day Sat. Details: www.Ommegang.com

Voice! An annual juried art exhibition celebrating the creative voices of artists with developmental disabilities from across New York State opens Fri at UCCCA, 11 Ford Av Oneonta. Details: www.arcotsego.org

7-9pm Fri July 31 Voice 5th Anniversary Celebration Dance, Flame performs over 100 classic hits and they are changing the way the public views people with disabilities. Asa Allison Municipal Bldg. 4 Academy St. Oneonta, www.arcotsego.org

Fri 10:30-am-noon Explore: Your Backyard children's activity at the Rogers Environmental Education Center, state rt 80, Sherburne, call 674-4017.

2pm Fri: Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors at the Schoharie Free Library (lawn).

Oneonta Tigers vs Tri-City Fri 7:05pm Fri.

Friday's Glimmerglass State Park outdoor movie is 'Enchanted.' 8:30pm. Info: 547-8662.

Sat Aug 1: City of the Hills festival, Main St Oneonta: the work of 50 artists and fine crafters, live musical performances, artist demonstrations and art workshops for children and families. For info: 432-2070 www.uccca.com/index.htm Look for an OWL booth!

Also Sat, 2-4pm, Soccer Hall of Fame: Shannon MacMillan Soccer Clinic, $10, open to kids of all ages.

11am Sat: Dragonflies program at the Rogers Environmental Ed Center, info 674-4017.

And not to be missed on Sat is the 52nd Annual Youth Fishing Derby. Free fishing competition for children ages 5-15. Pre-registration is recommended and will take place at the Recreation Office during normal business hours throughout the month of July. Children will need their own fishing equipment and a clean bucket to bring fish in for weighing. Fishing demonstrations and clinics, as well as event day registration will be held from 3pm until 4pm. The competition will take place from 4pm-5pm with an award ceremony to follow. See you at Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park, Oneonta!

5pm Sat Semi-Pro Football: NY Stallions vs. N.J. Spartans, free admission, Fortin Park.

1-3pm Sat brings 'Dragonflies and Damselflies,' a program at the Landis Arboretum. Info: 518-875-6935.

Sun Aug 2nd is the Soccer Hall of Fame Induction, details: www.soccerhall.org

Sun 6pm, Tigers vs Tri-City. Look for 'Oneonta Tigers' on Facebook.

Looking ahead:

Mon Aug 3rd, 9:30-11:30am: On the Farm Workshop, Glen Brook Farm, info 432-0932.

Tues Aug 2nd, 7pm, Live Music at the Oneonta Teen Center, info 433-2009

Wed Aug 5th, 1-3pm Horseless Carriages Visit, Main St Oneonta. Pre-1915 autos on display. Info 432-0960.

Also next Wed, Felted animals workshop with Adrienne Martini at Glen Brook Farm, Info 432-0932.

Next Thurs Aug 6th: Just Throw Money free, live and in concert at Neahwa park!

Or choose the free Flute Fest at the Otesaga In Cooperstown at 7:30pm next Thurs (part of the Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival. www.cooperstownmusicfest.org

Art in August

The Fenimore Art Museum is bringing back the Art in August kids programs. Here is the best link I've found to more info: on Facebook of course.

Just in case you didn't know

(Well there were some board members who also didn't know): Oneonta World of Learning (OWL) can be found on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter (yes Twitter) in addition to this blog. We also have our own website, which is 'in progress.' I blush to even bring up the website, but just trust that it will be very cool and very useful eventually: OneontaWorldOf Learning.org.

The weekend at long last

I'm exhausted as I write this, so please don't check my spelling and grammar too closely!

Thurs-Sat: St. Mary's Parish Festival at the Parish Center, Walnut Street, Oneonta--live music, refreshments and activities. 4-10pm Thurs and Fri, 10am-10pm Sat.

Also this weekend: Norwich Family Bluegrass Festival, details on WSKG events calendar http://bit.ly/q2BOr

Thurs 23 July 2009, Stop by the Morris Farmers' Market at the Village Park in Morris featuring fresh produce, baked goods, goat cheese and more, info: 263-2618. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Also Thurs: Country Blend performs at Neahwa Park, 7pm (will move to the large picnic shelter in the event of rain).

Thurs 6pm: Ice cream festival and birds of prey program at Otego's Harris Memorial Library, info: 988-6661.

Fri 10:30am-12pm July 24th: Explore: Your Background at the Rogers Environmental Education Center, Sherburne, state Route 80; for children ages 4 to 10. For info, RSVP: 674-4017.

Fri 9:30-11:30 On the Farm workshop, Glen Brook Farm, 142 Glen Drive, Oneonta. For info: 432-0932.

Fri 8:30pm Friday Fun Night outdoor movie: 'Bedtime Stories,' Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown. For info: 547-8662.

Fri 5-9:30pm Fair-on-the-Square, Courthouse Square, Main Street, Delhi; featuring live music, children's games and more. Free, open to the public. (While you are there, may I recommend a stop at the Tuna III for some awesome sushi? But never mind).

Sat July 25 8:30am-12:30pm Kopac Trail Hike, Rogers Environmental Education Center, state Route 80, Sherburne. For info: 674-4017.

Sat 9am-2pm is Grill Day at the Oneonta Farmer's Market, Main St Oneonta.

Sun 26 July 3-4:30pm 'Explore the Catskill Wild Side' plant identification and edible plant walk, Harmony Hill Retreat Center, East Meredith. Free; RSVP requested: 278-6609 or info@harmonyhillretreat.com

Looking ahead:

Mon 27 July 10am-2:30pm Egg tempera workshop with Jane Carr, Glen Brook Farm, 142 Glen Drive, Oneonta. For info: 432-0932.

Tues 28 July 10am-2:30pm 'The Fantastic Rod Puppet' workshop, Glen Brook Farm, 142 Glen Drive, Oneonta. For info: 432-0932.

Tues 10am-2pm Sidney Farmers' Market, Sidney Civic Center, 21 Liberty St, Sidney. For info: 865-6531.

The local libraries are doing a lot of events this summer: EventKeeper

A little rain can't get in the way

I went to a play date at Gilbert Lake State Park today. YES it was overcast and yes, it started to rain an hour and a half later BUT the kids had a truly wonderful time. My four year old asked to go to Gilbert Lake again tomorrow, in fact. When it did rain, it was so light that we just headed over to the playground.

Said @HanfordMills (on twitter): "...I used to postpone outings because it looked like rain, then realized I would never go anywhere if I did that."

Interestingly, one of the moms I was visiting with grew up in Alaska. As she put it, if you let the weather keep you home in Alaska, you really, truly, will never do anything.

My new motto: a 50% chance of rain is a 50% chance of sun (or at the least, no rain).

Meet the Tigers Youth Baseball Clinic

This should be fun. Meet the Tigers Youth Baseball Clinic will be held in (historic) Damaschke Field in Neahwa Park on July 21 2009 at 10am. The City of Oneonta and the Oneonta Tigers make this possible. http://www.oneonta.ny.us/government/departments/recreation.asp

Weekend Events July 16th +

Fri and Sat (6:30pm Fri, noon Sat): Schenevus Firemen's Carnival in Schenevus, Borst Field; carnival rides, children's activities and live music by Border Line. I have heard that there will be fireworks on Friday nite!

Fri, Sat and Sun 9:30am-4pm IMAA Mini-Fest Airshow in Gilbertsville at Polo Fields; featuring demonstrations of radio-controlled giant-scale aircraft. Donations at the door to benefit Hospice.

The Fly Creek Cider Mill is also having activities throughout the weekend.

Fri 17 July 10:30am-12pm Explore: Field, Rogers Environmental Education Center, state Route 80; for children ages 4 to 10. For info, registration: 674-4017.

Fri 7-9pm 'The Brushland Melodrama' in Bovina Center at the community hall; performed by area youths, kick-off to Bovina Day events.

Fri 8:30pm Friday Fun Night outdoor movie, Cooperstown, West Shelter, Glimmerglass State Park. For info: 547-8662.

Fri Fair-on-the-Square, Delhi, Courthouse Square, Main Street; featuring fundraisers, children's games, Chee Chee the Clown, live music by Country Express and firefighters' parade.

Sat 18 July 11am Books Alive, interactive concert with singer/songwriter Lee Knight. Children ages 1-9 perform each song as if it were a musical number in a show with costumes,props and puppets. $3 per ticket, brought to you by Oneonta World of Learning and Bugbee Childrens Center. Call 607-432-3528 or visit www.oneontaworldoflearning.com for reservations or purchase tickets at The Green Toad Bookstore.

Sat 10am-2pm Holistic Health Day at The Oneonta Farmer's Market and Main Street Oneonta Sidewalk Sale from 9am-5pm. Badra Bahiya Bellydancing troupe, 11am. Traveling accordion music will be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Stoddard Hollow String Band's acoustic minstrels can be seen between 3 and 5 p.m

5pm Sat The NY Stallions Semi-Pro football team will host the NEPA Miners in their first home game on July 18th. Admission is free. Game is at Fortin Park. www.nystallions.com.

Sat 8am 29th annual Morris Community Yard Sale, throughout Morris; vendors in Guy Rathbun Park, food concessions by area nonprofits. For info: 263-5467. It will be worth your time if you have young kids, based on those I know to be participating.

Sat 9am, Bovina Day in Bovina Center: yard sales, food vendors and more; vintage baseball game, noon; parade, 4 p.m.; live music, fire hall, in the evening.

Sat 10am Free family-rated movie, Masonville Branch Library.

Sat 1pm 'Train robbery' rail ride, Milford depot, 136 E. Main St. Milford, state Route 166; presented by Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad/Leatherstocking Railroad Historical Society. For info: 432-2429.

Sat is also Old Home Day in Sidney Center with parade, 11 a.m., Main Street; activities, throughout the afternoon, Maywood Depot.

Sun 19 July 1pm Blacksmithing demonstration, Old Middlefield Schoolhouse, county Highway 35; presented by Don Avery. Free, open to the public.

Looking ahead:

Tuesday 21 July 10am-2:30pm Doll-making workshop: New Friends from Old Things, Glen Brook Farm, 142 Glen Drive, Oneonta; with Ian Austin. For info, registration: 432-0932.

Tuesday 10am Summertime Arts, Education and Just Plain Fun program: Uncle Rock with Robert B. Warren, Franklin Free Library, 334 Main St. Franklin For info: 829-2941.

Wed 22 July 10am Puppets with Tom Knight, Sidney Memorial Public Library, 8 River St. Sidney, For info: 563-1200. Sidney Library is the most child-friendly library in our area! Check it out and tell me if I'm wrong!

Books Alive Sat 18 July 11am

Only a few more days until Books Alive! I need to gather up the ribbon that I'm bringing for the children's costumes, load the OWL sandwich board signs into the van, and that's it! Here are the details for those of you who haven't signed up yet:

Is your child Stagestruck .. always, singing, dancing and acting? Here's their chance to be part of the action!

Lee Knight has written original songs to their favorite stories.

Children of all ages are invited to perform each song as if it were a musical number in a show with costumes, props and puppets.

Kids will also have the opportunity to make a costume to wear in the show as well as a book.

July 18th, 11am
Tickets $3
Bugbee Children's Center, Auditorium
State Street, Oneonta NY

Reservations:
Call Rachel at 432-3528
or
Email Amy at WorldOfLearning@Live.com

Don't miss Lee Knight's Books Alive Interactive Concert and BRING YOUR CAMERA!

Presented by Oneonta World of Learning and Bugbee Children's Center

Lee Knight's website: http://www.lee-knight.com/Main/index.html

Pausing to reflect

I'm waiting for my kids to wake up, pondering what to give them for breakfast, and going over my to-do list for Oneonta World of Learning. It's a loooooong to-do list. Funny, but one year ago, the to-do list was a lot shorter! Now that the 'ball is rolling,' so to speak, there seems to be no end of work to be done. Luckily it's satisfying work and we have developed an outstanding and mulit-talented team.

On the list today: get web hosting and get our 'starter' web site online. Again, more outstanding people have stepped forward, including our newest and youngest volunteer, Dante. Robin, I hope you're reading this! Because it's time to rock.

History Day Camps for Kids at Hanford Mills Museum

This summer, Hanford Mills Museum will offer two history-themed day camps for kids. The first Summer Apprentice Workshop (S.A.W.) camp, for children 8-12, will be held July 20-23 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The S.A.W. Jr. camp, designed especially for kids 5-7, will be held August 3-6, from 9:00–11:30 am.

At the camps, kids can experience the power of hands-on history through activities that explore working in the Mill, agricultural traditions, home life in the early 1900s, and the natural history and settlement of the Catskills. 

 

“Kids will learn about history by living it,” says Liz Callahan, executive director of Hanford Mills Museum. “We look forward to the S.A.W Camp each year, it’s great fun for the kids.” 

 

The S.A.W camp at Hanford Mills for children 8-12 features:

• 19th century photography
• wooden toy and box making
• nature activities
• butter making and baking
• horse harnessing and driving
• blacksmithing
• nine men's Morris game boards and other games of the past.

 

 

At the S.A.W. Jr. Camp, kids 5-7 will tour the Mill and see the waterwheel in action. There will be hands-on crafts and activities each day, including sculpting with sawdust clay, painting a wooden milk crate, and playing the same games that kids played a century ago. 

 

The camp will be led by the Museum’s professional and interpretive staff as well as local crafts people.

 

The cost for the SAW camp is $90, or $75 for Museum Members. Saw Jr. Camp costs $65, or $50 for Museum members. To register or for more information, call 607/278-5744.  Hanford Mills Museum is located at the intersections of Delaware County Routes 10 & 12 in East Meredith, just 10 miles from Oneonta, 15 miles from Delhi, and 30 miles from Cooperstown. 

Room for music lessons

The school Stamford Central School has found a unique way to add to music programming. Pamela West-Finkle, vocal director, has "started an after-school program through her Community Music & Arts Network." $25 for a ten week program provided guitar, drum, piano or vocal lessons, with funding from various sources and scholarships for those who need them!

http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_141073106.html

Youth theatre performances this weekend

Orpheus Theatre's children and teen workshops are presenting their shows this weekend. Be ready to be fully entertained.

"Aladdin" will be performed at 7 p.m. July 10 and 3 p.m. July 11.

"Seussical" will be performed at 7 p.m. July 11 and 3 p.m. July 12.

Both groups will be performing at the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall.

Details are in The Daily Star.

The Morris Farmers' Market is tonight from 3-6:30pm, Thursday 9 July 2009 in the Village Park, Morris, NY, featuring fresh produce, baked goods, goat cheese and more. For info: 263-2618.

Also Thurs night, Ventriloquist and comedian Sylvia Fletcher will be at the Schoharie Free Library, at 7pm, 103 Knower Ave, Schoharie. For info: (518) 295-7127.

Fri 10 July, Fair-on-the-Square will be at the Courthouse Square, Main Street, Delhi; live music, games, clown, vendors and more. Free admission.

Fri also brings another Fun Night outdoor movie to Cooperstown at the West Shelter, Glimmerglass State Park. I see the time listed as 8:30am (?). You'll want to call for the correct time 547-8662.

Fri 10:30am-noon Children's program: Explore Pond Life, in Sherberne at the Rogers Environmental Education Center, state Route 80. For info: 674-4017. This is part of a larger series of events, so mark your calendars.

Sat Jul 11, 1-4pm Bullthistle Model Railroad Society Inc. Museum, 33 Rexford St. Norwich (great for a rainy day!) Also open by appointment. For info: 334-4522 or 336-5951.

Also Sat from 10am-4pm is Lake Appreciation Day, Cooperstown. at Glimmerglass Sate Park; featuring outdoor activities, demonstrations, potluck lunch, exhibits and more. For info: 547-4488. We camped there two weekends ago (free coffee and donuts in the morning, a great time at the beach, the concessions stand sells grilled tuna over green salad (quite tasty) and the chicken nuggets were the real thing, not processed.)

Also Sat at 10am Adams Farm outing, Sherburne, Rogers Environmental Education Center. For info: 674-4017.

Sat at 11am is the 11th annual Jefferson Heritage Day throughout the hamlet; live music, food, parade, demonstrations, crafts, children's activities and more. For info: 652-8797 or 652-9224.

Sunday July 12th at 2pm and again at 5pm is the Kelly Miller Circus in Richfield Springs at Skinner and Damulis Field. We had a good time at the Kelly Miller Circus last year when it came to Norwich.

Looking ahead:

Tuesday 14 July at 10 am the Summertime Arts, Education and Just Plain Fun program at the Franklin free Library continues with Merry-Go-Round Playhouse presents 'Cinderhood', 334 Main St. Franklin. For info: 829-2941 or 829-8559. The Franklin Free Library is known locally for the outstanding programs it sponsors every year.

Wed 15 July, Skip West performs at the Sidney Memorial Public Library, 8 River St. in Sidney. For info: 563-1200. Not to be missed!

Day Camp!

History Day Camps for Kids at Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith, NY: This summer, Hanford Mills Museum will offer two history-themed day camps for kids. The first Summer Apprentice Workshop (S.A.W.) camp, for children 8-12, will be held July 20-23 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The S.A.W. Jr. camp, designed especially for kids 5-7, will be held August 3-6, from 9:00-11:30 am.

"At the camps, kids can experience the power of hands-on history through activities that explore working in the Mill, agricultural traditions, home life in the early 1900s, and the natural history and settlement of the Catskills."

There still spaces left in Paperkite Creative Workshops! Write a fairy tale! Learn to be a designer! Create a travel guide! Write your own life story! Tell a tale about your favorite food! Register online by emailing workshops@paperkitecreative.com.

Get your tickets: Cooperstown Music Fest is August 2-21 there will be a Jazz, chamber music, comedy and kids' concert http://www.cooperstownmusicfest.org.

And of course, Sat July 18th at 11 am is Books Alive at the Bugbee Children's Center Auditorium! Get your tickets ($3) at The Green Toad, call Rachel at 432-3528, or email me at WorldOfLearning@live.com.

Tying in literacy

Allison Billman, from Berkeley, gave a wonderful, impromptu presentation last night during our monthly meeting on the ties between language and literacy, and how we can incorporate language into science and art activities.

Many of her suggestions involved giving children the words they need. For instance, blocks can be labeled by shape, such as ‘rectangle’ or ‘square,’ which reminds parents and older siblings to use these words when playing with the blocks. She also recommended giving parents the words to use, labeling items such as an ‘inclined plane’ or explaining why things happen, such as ‘friction slows the ball down.’

She introduced two activities that we’ll be incorporating during Books Alive (not this Saturday but the next). The first is an origami book—one sheet of paper folds up nicely into a little book in which the child will tell her own story. The second is a story cube—each side of the cube has a picture which helps the child to share a favorite story with others by reminding her of what comes next. Inside the box can be additional cues, such as Red Riding Hood’s (miniature) basket.

During Books Alive, children will be making their own costumes and acting out their favorite stories using props and puppets. Kids will have the opportunity to sing and dance along with Lee Knight’s original music. Books Alive is on Saturday July 18th in the Bugbee Auditorium at 11am. Get tickets ($3) at The Green Toad or give us a call or email (more info).

July 4th Weekend Events!

Briggs Pool in Wilber Park opens today, Thurs July 2, http://www.oneonta.ny.us/government/departments/recreation.asp

Fri July 3, The Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne begins a summer children's series. Every Friday at 10 a.m. children ages 4 to 10 will meet for fun learning about plants and animals, explore the different habitats at the center, play games, go on discovery walks and more. Children are encouraged to wear boots. Call Rogers Center to register 647-4017. Preregistration is encouraged.

Also Fri, July 3, The Rogers Environmental Education Center presents an Evening Fireflies program at at 8:30 p.m. For info call 674-4017.

Sat July 4 9am-12pm Independence Day at Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith: Sample ice cream made in an ice cream maker powered by the Mill and frozen with ice from the Winter Ice Harvest. (My family helped to harvest the ice from the Hanford Mills pond last winter!) Enjoy live music by Hilton Kelly and the Sidekicks (noon to 4 pm), see the steam engine run, and explore the working mill (all day). Don't miss the traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon. Kids can bring their poles and try the catch and release fishing derby (starts at 11:00 am and runs through 2:30 pm - prizes given out at 3:00 pm), and families can participate in traditional games and contests, including frog jumping (Bring Your Own Frog), sack races, and tug-o-war. Join a Medicinal and Edible Wild Plant walk at 2:00 pm. Info: (800) 295-4992.

Sat at 11 am Fourth of July parade and celebration in Springfield Center at the Springfield Community Center. Theme to be 'Red, White, Blue and GREEN.

The Polar Bear Homemade Ice Cream Fundraiser is Sat from noon to 8pm at the corner of Main and Grand Streets, Oneonta at the Benson Agency Real Estate & Hughson -Benson Associates parking lot. Bring nonperishable food item and receive free ice cream cone. Other items available for donation. Proceeds to benefit Oneonta Family YMCA, Oneonta Boys & Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, Opportunities for Otsego Food Pantry and St. Mary's Food Pantry.

Let's not forget Oneonta's 4th of July celebrarion, music and fun from noon until fireworks at dusk, Neahwa Park.

Also at Neahwa Park: YMCA presents $2 single rides and $10 wrist band for all day play. Call Oneonta Family YMCA for details 432-0010.

In Neahwa Park at Damaschke Field: Oneonta Tigers vs Aberdeen. Bring a canned good and get a free GA ticket! Gates open at 4:45pm, first pitch is at 6:05. You'll have a great view of the fireworks after the game, Tigers on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oneonta-NY/Oneonta-Tigers/79769022677

Sunday July 5 6:05pm, another Tigers game.

Looking Ahead:

Mon July 6, 7:05pm Tigers game.

Also on Mon, Children aged 8-18 can join a photography scavenger hunt sponsored by the Huntingon Memorial Library. View details at http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=4CLS

The Franklin Free Library hosts children's programs every Tuesday at 10 a.m. Topics include Iroquois folklore, Classic and folk dance, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Uncle Rock, Tour of world music, Children's West African drum and dance troupe, The Little Delaware Players, Irish music, Art of mime, and Annual Book Sale. For schedule and more information cal LIna Burkart 829-2941 or visit www.franklinfreelibrary.org.

Tue July 7, Oneonta World of Learning (OWL) planning meeting, 7pm at the Main View Gallery, Main St. Oneonta, next to the fire station. Call 433-0160 for details.

Wed 8 July, 10am La Leche League breast-feeding information group in Oneonta at the First United Methodist Church, corner of Chestnut and Church streets. Call Kate for into 432-5984.

Thurs 9 July Free Concert in Neahwa Park, featuring Polish Moses, Oneonta 7pm.

Random contest: Nestlé is asking aspiring artists aged 6 to 12 to submit designs for the treat's wrapper. Details at www.scholastic.com/pushupandcreate.