The weekend

If you are reading this, then presumably you are lucky enough to still have power during what has been termed a 'snowpocalypse' by The Watershed Post. In the hopes that we will all have dug ourselves out by Saturday, here is a listing of family friendly events:

Step into Seuss: Sat Feb 27th at 10am, enjoy Seuss stories at The Green Toad in Oneonta (www.greentoadbookstore.com), then go to Southside Mall from 2-6pm (http://www.shopsouthsidemall.com/) for more Dr. Seuss. Rumor has it that there is a 7 foot tall Horton the Elephant stomping about town.

Also Saturday: "Heat Up the Night" at the Farmer's Muesum in Cooperstown from 6-9pm (http://www.farmersmuseum.org)

Looking ahead:

Tues Mar 2: St. Mary's School, Rt. 7, Oneonta will be hosting a life size Dr. Seuss event open to the community from 5 to 8pm. Come with your family to celebrate the silly and sensational stories of Dr. Seuss. Children are invited to step into their favorite Seuss story, literally by stepping into one of eleven selected Seuss stories. That evening, St. Mary's is also hosting a ham dinner from 4:30pm to 7pm. (http://www.stmarysoneonta.org/school/index.php)

Also, Sugaring Off Saturdays begin March 7th at the Farmer's Museum!

The weekend

Wow, maybe it's time for me to stay home and clean house. There are some wonderful family-friendly events coming up, but not many are happening this weekend. If you are a music lover however (and you don't have an antsy three year old), you are faced with a tough decision. The Horseshoe Lounge Playboys are playing Sat at 7pm in Walton, while the Manhattan String Quartet is playing on the same day at 8pm in Norwich. Unless you can fly, you won't be going to both.

Sat 7pm: The Horseshoe Lounge Playboys in Walton (click here for ticket prices and info, including a 'family price').

Sat 8pm: The Manhattan String Quartet will be playing in Norwich (click here for details).

Looking ahead:

Mon Feb 22: St. Mary's Seuss Festival Kickoff event at The Green Toad bookstore. Meet a 7-foot tall version of Dr. Seuss's "Horton Hears a Who," and find out more about the upcoming Seuss Festival, GreenToadBookstore.com.

Local Winter fun

If you have your own ice skates, you can hit the pond at Oneonta's Neahwa Park (details are on the recreation department's facebook page), go to Fortin Park (most flexible hours), or even head to Badger Park in Cooperstown.

If you need to rent skates: I stopped by and got the latest on ice skating in Norwich, which remains the only place where you can borrow skates in this area. Everything is free (including skate rental, and they have all sizes, even toddler skates). Of course, donations are welcomed.

The Norwich ice rink is located on Borden Road, Norwich NY. You can call the recreation department at 607-334-1206 between 8am-noon for details and skating conditions. The rink is open Sat and Sun from noon - 9pm. On Mon, Wed and Thurs open skating is from 5-9pm. Tues and Fri they are open 4-9pm.

Glimmerglass State Park has been offering tubing and sledding this year, including some moonlight tubing events. The Cooperstown Chamber has a great calendar: http://www.cooperstownchamber.org/calendar/

There are endless ski trails in this area, virtually every state park or forest has a few.

If you have a favorite tubing or sledding spot, I'd love to hear about it! My favorite remains the hill right behind my house.

The weekend!

Looks like a great weekend for getting outside and enjoying the snow!

Ice skating in Norwich is free and they have skates of all sizes. If you have a better link (one with operational hours and phone number) please share it!http://www.wbng.com/younews/37892534.html

America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk is the biggest event going on this weekend, Sat 13 Feb 2010, 9am-noon. The event will be indoors at the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Field House. New this year: Outdoor 5k run begins 10:30 am. Help the American Heart Association step out against heart disease & stroke. Last minute teams are welcome! Info: 266-5403

Saturday evening is the Oneonta Nursery School Valentines’ Spaghetti Dinner, at 71 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. Call ahead, (607) 434-607. There are 5:30 and 6:45pm seatings. Tickets $30 per couple or $100 for a table of eight, and include homemade dinner and dessert for two, live entertainment, and child care. A light snack will be provided for the kids (they will have fun).

Looking ahead:

Register now for the Orpheus Theatre Winter Break Workshop (ages 7-12, Feb 15-19, 10am-5pm). 2nd floor, 99 Main St. Oneonta, NY 13820. http://www.orpheustheatre.org/workshops.htm

The 15th Annual Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump & Chinese Auction will be on Feb 20th! http://www.pbjump.com

Register now for the Oneonta State Spring Fever Baseball Camp, Feb 21-22 6-9 pm, Alumni Field House. Call 607 436-2661

Announcement!!!

DTi has made us an offer we couldn't refuse! We've been invited to participate in their Giving directive. In other words, they are re-designing our website! Altogether, DTi will be donating four Giving Directive Website Projects in 2010.

Work has already begun on the Oneonta World of Learning logo. Don't panic if you are hooked on the owl because we are too. Think of it more as a trip to the spa to re-energize and refresh. I'm hoping to give everyone a sneak peak at some point.

Know a non-profit who could use an online face lift? DTi is accepting nominations.

The weekend at last

There are some surprisingly big events this weekend! Let's get out and enjoy the sun on the snow, the company of friends, and the fun little community that is our home.

Sat Feb 4th, 10am - 4pm Come to the region's coolest event: The Ice Harvest Festival at Hanford Mills! Participate in a traditional ice harvest and ice fishing, enjoy ice sculptures and horse-drawn sleigh rides, have some soup and some family fun. Call 544-1123 or visit www.hanfordmills.org

All weekend: The Cooperstown Winter Carnival runs Fri-Sun.

Sat 10-11 am free storytelling for toddlers at the Green Toad Bookstore on Main Street in Oneonta.

Sun will be UCCCA's annual Chili Bowl, www.uccca.com.

A big thank you to NYCON

I want to take a moment and give New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) a big thank you for an excellent board member training session tonight. The words 'board member training' alone could put a person to sleep, but on the contrary, everything we went over was relevant, doable, and tailored to fit our unique needs and position in this community. Of course, I must thank the wonderful Oneonta World of Learning (OWL) team for also making it fun!

I'll post the weekend events first thing in the morning! Have a great night world!