The O-town Scene

Scene the O-Town Vol. 1, No. 37 www.otownscene.com 102 Chestnut St., P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820 (607) 432-1000, ext. 255, editor@otownscene.com EDITOR Cassandra Miller ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE DAILY STAR Adrienne Wise PUBLISHER Armand Nardi CONTRIBUTORS Tammy Doyle, Emily Greenberg, Trevor Hayes, Terry Ludwig, Jim Koury, Karen Miritello, EDITOR OF THE DAILY STAR Sam Pollak Genevieve Pedulla, Jacob Pucci, Lisa Ryther, James Frazier Sapienza, Mark Simonson, Sam Spokony and Jennifer Tighe. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sean Lewis The O-Town Scene is published Thursdays by The Daily Star Inc. Free copies are distributed throughout Oneonta, as well as parts of Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties. Member of The Associated Press and CNHI News Service Editor’s Note I recently went down to New York City to do an on-camera interview for this reality TV show about changing your life. However, when the casting director started asking me questions about things I’d like to change, I kept saying that I was pretty happy with each area of my life she asked about. She looked at me like, “What are you doing here?” And in this nonverbal exchange, I answered: “Yeah, this show isn’t for me. But thanks for the experience.” I came back to Oneonta calmer, trusting that all is as it should be _ I’ve got supportive family and friends, I live in a town I love where there is always something interesting happening, and my state just legal- ized same-sex unions. Two of our columnists talk about that last one in this week’s issue. Diversity Rules colum- nist Jim Koury shares his reaction on Page 24, and college columnist Sam Spokony notes on Page 5 that years from now children will learn about this time in school and “wonder what kind of blockheads had been stumbling around in the dark ages of the early 21st century.” This area where there is always something interesting happening is filled with events this weekend. Some major ones are West Kortright Centre’s Haitain-themed Gala Under the Stars, Taste of the Catskills, and various 2 O-Town Scene June 30, 2011 Independence Day activities. Information is in our calendar on Pages 21 and 22. The Stagecoach Run Art Festival is also this weekend _ with 22 studios, galleries and museums open to the public for self-guided walking tours in and around Treadwell. A story with some quotes from the founders is on Page 19, and one of the artists participat- ing, Albert Crudo, is featured on our cover and on Pages 8 and 9. A profile on Page 11 of the Franklin Stage Company, which begins its 15th season this week with performances of Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit,” emphasizes the familial feeling of the theater community there. (The daugh- ter of the founders is now running the show, which also emphasizes the family roots of the company.) As for my supportive family and friends _ a lot of them were at the Saturday event I or- ganized, the Adult Prom at Foothills Perform- ing Arts and Civic Center. My parents even worked the door. Photos from the event are on Pages 12 and 13. All is well in One- onta. Enjoy the holiday weekend! _ Cassandra Miller Miller is the founding editor of the O-Town Scene. She can be reached at editor@ otownscene.com

• Cover