Organizers, Sponsors Deem
Lake Celebration a Success
COOPERSTOWN -- "A beautiful way to end the day" is how Susan O'Handley described Carolyn Clarvoe's a capella rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner," which concluded Otsego Lake Festival 2006.
Originally set for July 8, the Lake Front Park event was rescheduled to August 28 as a result of severe flooding throughout the area in late June. Despite the change in date and rainy weather for the second year running, the festival was a success, said O'Handley, as attendance figures were on par with 2005.
"Lake Front Park is a wonderful place for the event," said O'Handley. "The village staff were wonderful to work with and were very understanding of our dilemmas stemming from the date change."
O'Handley, this year's festival organizer, is an environmental educator and the co-founder of Wildlife Learning Company in Hartwick. While she marshaled the general activities of the day, her husband, Jeff, manned one of the event's more popular, and interactive, exhibits. Young and old alike continually crowded around the Wildlife Learning Company’s traveling marine invertebrate touch tank.
The Otsego Lake Festival is sponsored annually by the Otsego County Water Quality Coordinating Committee, a coalition of government agencies and private organizations working to ensure that Otsego County residents enjoy the benefits of clean water.
Although the Lake Festival is not a fund-raising event, per se, officials had no trouble measuring the return on their investment.
"We can quantify success to some degree based on attendance and how much exhibitors were able to interact with members of the community about their work," explained O'Handley. "Certainly, we all had a busy day - which means that a good deal of information was relayed."
"Any time we can make people more aware of the work taking place in our communities, there is the opportunity to gain greater interest and support, and involvement," she continued.
"If some of our exhibiting non-profit organizations were able to increase their memberships, which provide both financial and volunteer support for continuing their work, then I think that also contributes to the success of the event," O'Handley said.
"I was impressed this year, as last, by the attendance and real interest in the programs various organizations are working on for Otsego Lake," commented Teresa Winchester, assistant director of Otsego County Conservation Association. "The numbers of people standing around the information booths indicates that there is real interest. At OCCA, in particular, we signed up 20 new members!"
According to O'Handley, 18 exhibitors were in attendance this summer, 10 of which represented WQCC member organizations.
"I think one of the exhibits that had the most impact was the Village of Cooperstown's Water Quality Supervisory Committee's exhibit, which displayed some of the alternative residential septic system technologies available to homeowners who live along the Otsego Lake shoreline areas," said O'Handley.
This year's Lake Festival was kid-friendly, as well as informative.
Throughout the afternoon, youngsters enjoyed a variety of activities, including Fly Creek artist Tracy Helgeson's watercolor painting station, an interactive watershed model demonstrated by Kevin Castendyke of SUNY-Oneonta's Earth Science Department, and even a bean bag toss.
O'Handley was not alone as she prepared for Otsego Lake Festival 2006. She thanked the Lake Festival Executive Committee - Winchester, Otsego 2000's Martha Frey, Scottie Baker of Natura Productions, and Win McIntyre, OCCA's new president - for general support and guidance throughout the planning and execution.
Also credited were all those who contributed with financial donations and raffle items to support the undertaking of the festival, and a host of others who helped - from set up to break down - on the day of the event.
One festival Executive Committee member aptly summed up this year's festival as "an overall happy day at the lake." Already, plans have been set in motion for a repeat performance in 2007, with updates to be posted periodically on the Lake Festival website, www.otsegolakefestival.com.
Among the suggestions being discussed are use of the Lake Front Park bandstand as the central staging area, a move to acoustic musical entertainment only, and a possible catered fund-raising event to be held in conjunction with the Lake Festival.
Renowned painter Thomas Locker is at the top of O'Handley's wish list for 2007.
"Locker's work, both as an artist and as a children's book author, reflect a profound passion for our connections to water," she explained. "They teach about water cycles and river systems, and inspire a great appreciation of water -- the main focus of Otsego Lake Festival. His participation can help draw family audiences, as well as the education community, to the event."
Winchester said, "Perhaps next year we should have a roving interviewer at the fest, to ask attendees how they feel about the educational value of the event."
Lake Festival supporters can make contributions all year round by purchasing limited edition posters which commemorate lake festivals past and benefit the event's future.
The official 2006 poster - designed by Peter Johngren and Scottie Baker - is especially collectible. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from this poster, bearing the original date of Saturday, July 8, will support Otsego Lake Festival 2007.
Photography and arrangement for the 2005 poster was the work of Richard Walker, with poster design and production by Natura Productions. Walker, who lives in Schenevus, is a commercial still-life photographer recognized both locally and abroad for his classic arrangements of antiques, memorabilia, and natural objects.
Further details on both posters are available on the website.
The WQCC functions as a sub-committee of the Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District. All of the groups under the WQCC umbrella are working to implement the Otsego Lake Management Plan, the primary goals of which are to ensure the quality of drinking water drawn from the lake for both public and private water supplies, and to preserve the lake's natural beauty as well as its fishing resources.
By organizing the Otsego Lake Festival, the WQCC hopes to engender an appreciation of this county's key natural resource and to educate the public about programs protecting Otsego Lake.
Even though this summer's event has been deemed a success, officials continue to look forward to a Lake Festival minus the rain.
"We would love to see wonderful, sunny weather next year," said O'Handley.
Lake Fest Poster Sales
Benefit 2007 Event
FLY CREEK – Although Otsego Lake Festival 2006 has now been and gone, limited edition, commemorative posters by Natura Productions keep that event forever in the big picture.
The official 2006 poster – designed by Peter Johngren and Scottie Baker – is especially collectible. Severe flooding throughout the region in late June forced postponement of the Lake Front Park festival, which was then rescheduled for August 26. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from this poster, bearing the original date of Saturday, July 8, will support Otsego Lake Festival 2007.
Photography and arrangement for the 2005 commemorative poster was the work of Richard Walker, with poster design and production by Natura Productions. Walker, who lives in Schenevus, is a commercial still-life photographer recognized both locally and abroad for his classic arrangements of antiques, memorabilia and natural objects.
These Otsego Lake Festival mementos make great gifts – measuring 17” x 24”, both are available, unsigned, for $20 plus $5 shipping and handling. The 2005 poster, signed and numbered 1-100, is $40 including shipping and handling.
Natura Productions specializes in photographs, prints and posters, shirts, and caps that show man’s essential connection to water. The Fly Creek-based company, owned by Baker, is committed to education and preservation and, to that end, a portion of its profits benefit organizations that preserve our natural environment and traditional wooden watercraft.
The Otsego Lake Festival is a celebration of Otsego Lake, and its vital role in this region, which strives to bring together the Otsego Lake community for a day of celebration as well as education. This annual event is sponsored by the Otsego County Water Quality Coordinating Committee, a coalition of government agencies and private organizations working to ensure that Otsego County residents enjoy the benefits of clean water.
The gift of an Otsego Lake Festival poster will not only delight the recipient, but will also help ensure the future of lake festivals to come. The holidays are fast approaching -- to purchase Otsego Lake Festival posters, contact Natura Productions at 547-5356 or e-mail scottieb@naturaproductions.com.
Lake Festival Back on Track
COOPERSTOWN -- Though destined to take its own place in area history, June’s severe flooding has not dampened the spirit which motivates this month’s tribute to James Fenimore Cooper’s famous “Glimmerglass.” Originally set for Saturday, July 8, Otsego Lake Festival 2006 is back on the local agenda, and plans are rushing forward as the August 26 “rain date” nears.
Estimated to have drawn approximately 1,000 visitors last July, the lake festival is sponsored by the Otsego County Water Quality Coordinating Committee. Preparations are going well for the rescheduled event, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at Lake Front Park.
"A few changes have occurred as a result of the postponement," said Festival Event Planner Susan O'Handley, "but so far, the positive outweighs the negative. The new date conflicts with a Cooperstown Fire Department annual event, so we are currently seeking an alternate 'main item' food vendor for the day - not something we want to be doing at the last minute, but it couldn't be avoided."
On the plus side, however, O'Handley said an exciting addition to the event may be in the works, made possible by the extended planning period - an exhibition of radio-controlled sailboats by hobbyists from the nearby Albany area.
"Participation of this group will be confirmed by the end of July, but there is interest from its members to do a racing exhibition, as well as to allow people to try their hand at this interesting hobby," revealed O'Handley. "We are excited about this 'on the water' activity, and are hopeful that the club will commit to joining us in our celebration of Otsego Lake."
The festival will also feature other lake-related activities and entertainment, including live music, children's activities, terrific food (much of it sold by local non-profit organizations), and lots more.
Another positive consequence of the later festival date is the extended time period for raffle ticket sales, O'Handley added.
"Although two prizes were drawn on July 10 (tickets to Glimmerglass Opera performances scheduled prior to August 26), the rest of the prizes are still available," O'Handley explained. "We are also currently pursuing the addition of tickets for the Bob Dylan concert, scheduled for early September, to include in our raffle.
"The bonus is that we have more time to sell advance tickets to help support the event. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can find them through any Water Quality Coordinating
Committee organization or through the official website at www.otsegolakefestival.com. At $1 per ticket -- or 6 for $5 -- there are chances for some wonderful prizes!" she said.
Based on the success of last year's event, the WQCC decided to continue to provide this educational opportunity as an annual undertaking. The Otsego Lake Festival is a celebration of Otsego Lake, and its vital role in this region, which strives to bring together the Otsego Lake community for a day of celebration as well as education. As in 2005, non-profit groups that support water quality initiatives will have exhibits detailing their efforts to improve and safeguard Otsego Lake's water quality.
"Otsego 2000 is pleased to support the Otsego Lake Festival. The festival provides an ideal opportunity for everyone, young and old, to learn more about what they can do to support and protect the Otsego Lake Watershed," said Otsego 2000 President Henry S.F. Cooper Jr. For the second year, Cooper joins Jane Forbes Clark and Louis Busch Hager as an honorary sponsor.
This year's festival is being dedicated to the late Bob Seaver, an avid promoter of Otsego Lake conservation efforts.
“This is the first summer since World War II that Bob Seaver is not in attendance at Otsego Lake,” said Kent Barwick, vice president of the Otsego 2000 Board of Directors.
“He managed to be born too late for the summer of 1924 but otherwise, except for the war, he was here – as a kid learning to swim at Wranglehurst, his parents’ place up from Millers on the west shore; as a young camper for years at Chenango, the Braider’s venerable academy on the east shore; as a young family man at Red Camp, the old dance hall at Hickory Grove; as a patriarch presiding over a dockload of grandkids at Brown Camp,” continued Barwick.
“The lake and Bob were constant with each other. For a small lake, there’s a lot to it,” Barwick said. “Bob loved its stories, its shifts in the weather, and the incredible characters that lived along its shores. Through his eyes, we came to see it better.”
The WQCC is a coalition of government agencies and private organizations working to ensure that Otsego County residents enjoy the benefits of clean water. The WQCC functions as a sub-committee of the Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District. All of the groups under the WQCC umbrella are working to implement the Otsego Lake Management Plan, the primary goals of which are to ensure the quality of drinking water drawn from the lake for both public and private water supplies, and to preserve the lake's natural beauty as well as its fishing resources.
By organizing the Otsego Lake Festival, the WQCC hopes to engender an appreciation of this county's key natural resource and to educate the public about programs protecting Otsego Lake.
For further details on the Otsego Lake Festival, visit www.otsegolakefestival.com or contact O'Handley at Wildlife Learning Company, (607) 293-6043.
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