The O-town Scene

the O-Town Scene Vol. 3, No. 27 The Scene is published by The Daily Star each month. Free copies are distributed throughout Oneonta, as well as parts of Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties. www.otownscene.com 102 Chestnut St., P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820 editor@otownscene.com EDITOR In Chief Adrienne Wise awise@thedailystar.com, (607) 432-1000, ext. 206 Page designer/ copy editor Emily Popek epopek@thedailystar.com, (607) 432-1000, ext. 217 CONTRIBUTORS Mark Boshnack, Ashok Malhotra, Cheryl Petersen, Emily Popek, Marguerite Uhlmann-Bower PUBLISHER Mitchell Lynch mlynch@thedailystar.com, (607) 432-1000, ext. 214 ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sean Lewis slewis@thedailystar.com, (607) 432-1000, ext. 235 EDITOR OF THE DAILY STAR Sam Pollak spollak@thedailystar.com, (607) 432-1000, ext. 208 Member of The Associated Press and CNHI News Service 2 O-Town Scene Feb. 7, 2013 Editor's Note |by Adrienne Wise February is a time to celebrate many things February brings many things to celebrate. It means the longest days of darkness and winter are behind us, with hopes for spring and warmer weather. It also brings holidays — some stoic and steeped in history, others sweetened with candy hearts and those giant greeting cards that need a ton of stamps to send in the mail. It is a month to remember the accomplishments of presidents rather than savor the Presidents Day sales that waft seductively before our eyes and into our ears. Do you really think Honest Abe would care if you got 20 percent off of your new set of 1,000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets? Lincoln has become my favorite president by far these days — do people still have favorite presidents when they can have favorite reality show cast offs, bloggers and YouTube video sensations? As a history buff — with an honest-to-goodness master's degree in history, thank you very much — I still have to say it's Abe all the way. I mean, according to recent movies, the man freed the slaves through considerably modern means of lobbying politicians (in "Lincoln") while simultaneously putting down a rebellious mob of vampires bent on national domination (in "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" based on a book of the same name) by wielding a silver-bladed axe with a single-shot muzzler loader in the handle. Yes, cinematic and literary licenses have been to historical fact, but the way people often cast Lincoln with mythic power, you can almost believe some of it to be true. ("Lincoln" also happens to be nominated for a bunch of Oscars this year.) The best in film also will be celebrated this month on Sunday, Feb. 24. See Page 19 for details on an Oscars party at the Red Caboose. With Seth MacFarlane hosting, we can only hope for a "giggity giggity" or two and an appearance by Ted, the plush stuffed bear that comes to life in MacFarlane's movie. While I'm thinking of Lincoln, others of thinking of love. Valentine's Day seems to elicit desires to outspend and outdo your significant other, luring him or her into passionate submission by dangling giant stuffed teddy bear and chocolate-diamond rings and elaborately staged romantic dinners and getaways. Associated Press This publicity film image released by DreamWorks and Twentieth Century Fox shows Daniel Day-Lewis portraying Abraham Lincoln in the film 'Lincoln.' Now there might be genuine sentiments of affection being expressed, which I support and willingly accept. Simple signs of love and kindness are just as valid and even more appreciated by those we care about. Something heartfelt could mean more to someone than material wealth. Just saying. If you're in a more festival mood, Mardi Gras — Fat Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday as some call it, which will be Feb. 12 this year — brings the jazz and beads and raucous fun of New Orleans and Brazilian Carnival. Check out area festivities on Page 18. If you have an event or holiday gathering you'd like to see in The O-Town Scene, email me at awise@thedailystar.com or arts@ thedailystar.com. Adrienne Wise thinks celebrating celebrations is a good thing. We all need to celebrate something sometimes. She is the editor of The O-Town Scene and associate managing editor of The Daily Star.

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