The Beat

Scheduled for Saturday, March 24

Utica, N.Y. - Joe Kelly's Sesquicentennial Scrapbook celebrates Utica's history in a series of fun and entertaining vignettes. The booklet was originally written for a weekly column in the Observer-Dispatch to commemorate the city's 150th anniversary. A lot has changed in since the city’s sesquicentennial, but Utica’s history hasn’t. Join Joe Kelly to discuss and sign copies of the 35th Anniversary Edition of his popular book. This program takes place in the Oneida County History Center’s main gallery on Saturday, March 24 starting at 1:00 PM.

Utica, N.Y. – Janet Dangler, Town of Marshall Historian, will discuss the Brothertown Indians; a Christian group of Native Americas who settled the Deansboro area in the 1770’s and later relocated to Wisconsin. The Brothertowns formed by choice from several northeastern tribes to preserve their common culture and identity. Dangler will discuss the group’s history, share stories of several well-known Brothertons, including Samson Occum, Asa Dick, and Romance Wyatt, and address issues facing the Brothertown Indians today.

Cooperstown, N.Y. – A new year has brought an entirely new team to Otsego County’s Destination Marketing Corporation (DMCOC). The organization’s mission is to actively promote and market Otsego County for the purpose of encouraging overnight visitation, thus contributing to the economic impact of tourism in our community through the generation of occupancy tax revenues. This is accomplished by creating overnight stays – “heads in beds” – by marketing outside the area, to potential visitors within at least a three-to-four hour drive from Otsego County.

Renovations to I-81 Rest Area in Broome County Include Larger Taste NY Facility and Refocus the Center on Southern Tier Tourism

Investment Complements "Southern Tier Soaring" - The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that work is complete on a state-of-the-art Southern Tier Welcome Center rest area on Interstate 81 northbound in Kirkwood, Broome County, approximately two miles north of the Pennsylvania state line. Building on the success of the Long Island Welcome Center, which opened last fall, the revamped Southern Tier Welcome Center will encourage travelers to visit new tourism destinations across the state and region, and promotes New York's world class food and beverage products at an expanded Taste NY facility. The renovation project complements "Southern Tier Soaring," the region's multi-billion-dollar investment to support economic and community growth.

Peterboro, N.Y. – The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) commemoration ceremonies for the 2016 inductees to the Hall of Fame will be held Saturday, October 21, 2017 at NAHOF, 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY 13134. The inductees are Rev. John Gregg Fee, Beriah Green, Angelina Grimké, and James W.C. Pennington. This is the last year of the two year induction-commemoration cycle. Beginning in 2018 inductions and commemorations will be completed in one year.

Evening concerts August 4 and 6, and Daytime Family Music Fest on August 5

Cooperstown, N.Y. (July 23, 2017) – The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival will present three concerts the weekend of August 4-6, featuring the Jasper String Quartet, pianist Gilles Vonsattel, and flutist and Festival artistic director Linda Chesis.

On August 4 at 7:30 pm at Christ Church in Cooperstown, the Jasper String Quartet will perform a program called “Paysages,” featuring four works that convey a sense of place. Winner of the prestigious CMA Cleveland Quartet Award, Philadelphia’s Jasper String Quartet is the Professional Quartet in Residence at Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians. The Jaspers (J Freivogel and Sae Chonayashi, violins; Sam Quintal, viola; Rachel Henderson Freivogel, cello) have been hailed as “sonically delightful and expressively compelling” (The Strad) and “powerful” (New York Times).

Personalized Itineraries & New Bike Paths Now Available

July 20, 2017, Rome NY — History in the Mohawk Valley has never been more alive, and now it’s easier than ever to experience historic battlegrounds and striking monuments while traveling through scenic New York.

New bike paths are available on the Mohawk Valley Path Through History website, www.BikeThruHistory.com. Cyclists can now easily navigate to culturally-significant destinations within several local counties, including Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego, Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie, and Saratoga. More than thirty bike paths are offered, featuring turn-by-turn directions, printable cue sheets, downloadable app information and GPS tracking. Cyclists can view their current location directly from the website, and the majority of the bike paths can also be driven.

Get creative this summer at the Iroquois Indian Museum!

Howes Cave, N.Y. – Starting on July 26th, Jay Havens will be at the Iroquois Indian Museum producing a 10' x 40' mural in the Children’s Museum. Jay will invite visitors from 8 years of age to elders to take part in the painting of this unique permanent installation. Related activities will be available for younger visitors. Jay will debut his collaboratively created mural during our annual Iroquois Indian Festival on September 2 & 3.

David Krakauer and Kathleen Tagg to offer dynamic evening of music July 9 in Cherry Valley

Cooperstown, N.Y. – Grammy-nominated clarinetist David Krakauer has been praised internationally as a key innovator in modern klezmer as well as a major voice in classical music. South African-born pianist, composer and producer Kathleen Tagg has performed on four continents in leading venues such as Carnegie Hall.  These two acclaimed artists will perform at Cherry Valley’s Star Theater on Sunday, July 9 at in a concert presented by the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival and Cherry Valley Artworks.

175 BOGO Ticket Promotion and New Website Debuts to Mark the Anniversary, May 22

Howes Cave, N.Y. --- May, 11, 2017 --- When farmer, adventurer and entrepreneur Lester Howe and his cow Millicent accidentally discovered the entrance to a mysterious cave on May 22, 1842, little did he know, that 175 years later, it would be the second most visited natural attraction in New York State, only preceded by Niagara Falls. Ironic, because while he was also an entertainer and eccentric genius, Howe unknowingly discovered what remains to be the largest cave opened to the public in the Northeast, and now Howe Caverns welcomes 150,000 to 200,000 visitors each year.