Thursday, October 28
Legal services: Legal Services of Central New York has attorneys who travel to Oneida on Thursdays to provide free advice, information, and referrals for civil (non-criminal) legal issues. The services will be held in the Gorman Foundation Community Center, 1081 Northside Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 12 noon every Thursday.
Fair Trade Shop: The Fair Trade Shoppe, Stone Presbyterian Church, 8 So. Park Row, Clinton, economically supports people in developing countries by purchasing their products at prices that provide a liveable and sustainable income. The shop’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Thursday and second Saturdays, plus every Saturday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visit Building Stones Fair Trade Shoppe on Facebook to learn more.
Irish Halloween: In old Ireland, Halloween was known as Samhain — the time of year when the barrier between this world and the spirit world was thinnest. Many of the best-known scary legends and Halloween symbols: Jack O’ the Lantern, witches on brooms, costumes, and trick-or-treating trace their origins to Ireland. Join the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, 623 Columbia Street Utica, at 7 p.m. for spooky stories and real fairy tales from Irish folklore. Readings and music will be performed.
Friday, October 29
Concert: Reyna & The Rustics will perform live at Arts at the Palace Theater, Hamilton, at 7 p.m. This group of local musicians plays a mix of bluegrass, country, blues, and original tunes and includes Reyna Stagnaro (mandolin/tenor guitar), John Crespi (guitar/harmonica), and Steve Skollar (mandolin). The band will play songs from “hill and holler” with distinctive vocals and solid harmonies—a toe-tapping blend that will delight and entertain all ages. Favorites include songs by Hank Williams, John Prine, Doc Watson, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Reyna’s signature originals, and traditional fiddle tunes. No advanced tickets needed. Suggested $5 donation at the door. For more information about Reyna & The Rustics, check out reynastagnaro.com/new-band.
Saturday, October 30
Legion Halloween party: The Oneida American Legion presents A Rockin’ Halloween featuring “The 169 Rhythm Section” and “One Man. The Band.” Starting at 6:30 p.m. 398 N. Main Street, Oneida. Costumes strongly encouraged. Cash prizes for best costumes.
Verona Trunk or Treat: This Halloween, enjoy trick or treating from the comfort of your car. Come visit the second Curbside Trunk or Treat at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church from 2 to 4 p.m. Families are invited to drive to each of the stations in the parking lot, including the church front doors, where kids may get out to show off their costumes and trick or treat. Please remain in your car until it is your family’s turn. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church is located at 4897 Old Oneida Road in Verona, right off Route 365. For more information, please call the church at (315) 363-5211.
Halloween in Hamilton: From 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., start your Halloween with a “Trunk or Treat” on Broad Street, hosted by the Hamilton area churches. Broad Street will be closed to street traffic, and children and adults can trick-or-treat from trunk to trunk. Then, head over to the Hamilton Public Library (13 Broad St) from 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. for a special, spooktacular craft time creating spooky witches and jolly pumpkins. Open to kids of all ages. Then, join the costume parade beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the Colgate Bookstore (3 Utica St). Local businesses will hand out candy donated by Community Memorial Hospital and the Partnership for Community Development as the children parade through town. Colgate University Athletics will chaperon the children safely across the downtown streets. Lastly, starting at 1 p.m., the Hamilton Movie Theater (7 Lebanon St) will play the 1990 film, “The Witches” (1h 31m, PG) for FREE, sponsored by the Colgate Bookstore. The movie is based on the book by beloved children’s book author Roald Dahl, where a young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse.
Oneida Halloween Party: From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., residents can celebrate Halloween at 217 Cedar St, Oneida. Activities include: Trunk or Treat; a Haunted House; refreshments; face painting; and games (25 cents a game so bring your quarters). A costume contest will take place for the following age groups: ages 3 & under begins at 4:45 p.m., ages 4-6 begins at 5 p.m., ages 7-10 begins at 5:15 p.m., ages 11-13 begins at 5:30 p.m.
Sherrill Trunk or Treat: In the Community Activity Center parking lot, 139 East Hamilton Ave. This event is for students who live in Sherrill or attend E.A. McAllister Elementary School. 1-2 p.m.: 2nd grade and younger. 2-3 p.m. 3rd -6th grades. Walk through the CAC Halloween pumpkin lot. Enjoy an old-fashioned hayride. Candy will be handed out by community members, businesses, and organizations at the trunk of vehicles. This event is weather permitting.
Eerie Canal Run: The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum will host the Eerie Canal Run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Get ready to run for fun and prizes! The race day packet can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Sullivan Parks and Recreation Building. The race starts at 10:30 am. Register now $50 (15 miles) and $30 (5K). On the day of the event, registration is $60 (15 miles) and $35 (5K). For more information please visit https://eriecanalrun.com.
Vendor Stop & Shop Expo: From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. come down to the Rome YMCA, 301 West Bloomfield St., Rome, and shop with local vendors selling their products and homemade items. Raffle items will be drawn throughout the day. Admission is free. Bring your children in costume and Trick-or-Treat with the vendors.
Classic Horror Films: The Rome Capitol Theatre will present two horror movie classics Saturday, October 30, 2:30 & 7 p.m: Universal Horrors Double Feature, “Besta Lugosi.” The first film is “Dracula.” The second, “Son of Frankenstein.” Tickets are: Adults $7, Seniors/Students $6, Capitol Friends $5, Children $3. They can be purchased at www.romecapitol.com, at the Capitol Box Office (Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.) or by calling (315) 337-6277.
Sunday, October 31
UU Utica Service: Samhain (pronounced sow-in) is a night when some pagan traditions feel that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is the thinnest. “Join together this Samhain as we reach across the veil to our ancestors for their wisdom, guidance, and encouragement moving again into the dark parts of the year, but finding ways to keep our lights shining,” says the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica. Services are online via Zoom at 10:30 a.m. Visit uuutica.org for Zoom access information.
Church Halloween: The Augusta Presbyterian Church, 2345 Route 26, Oriskany Falls, will hold its annual Halloween Party at 10 a.m. at the church. Kids are encouraged to come in their costumes. Adults can attend the church’s worship service during the party.
Tuesday, November 2
Garden Club meeting: The Sherrill Garden Club will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m. in the Sherrill-Kenwood Library, 543 Sherrill Road, Sherrill. After the business meeting, those present will be making paper flowers to give to cancer patients in treatment in the Oneida area. This service project has brightened the lives of many patients and their families. Refreshments will be served by hostesses Deb Loucy and Eleanor Cmaylo. Community members are very welcome to attend and learn about the Sherrill Garden Club.
Wreaths for sale: St. Patrick’s School is selling Hroboni’s Greenhouse Balsam Christmas Wreaths. 20” Wreath: $22, 24” Wreath: $27, 30” Wreath: $36, 36” Wreath: $50, 48” Wreath: $75, 24” Cross: $40. All wreaths come with a bow. To order, call (315) 363-3620, visit stpatricksoneida.org, or email rbarbano@syrdiocese.org. Orders in by 11/15/21 will be delivered 11/23/21. Orders in by 11/30/21 will be delivered 12/7/21.
Election Day Dinner: Augusta Presbyterian Church, 2345 Route 26, Oriskany Falls, will host its annual Election Day Dinner from 5 p.m. till gone. Chicken and Biscuit dinners are $10 and all meals will be sold as a drive thru or pick up.
Wednesday, November 3
Harvest Supper: St. Paul’s 87th Annual Harvest Supper will be held at 551 Sayles Street, Oneida. Menu: Roast pork and homemade trimmings including dessert. TAKEOUTS ONLY. Takeouts available at 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30, and 6 p.m. (one price, $13). For reservations, call Nancy (315) 335-9046, Lynne (315) 264-4484, Mim (315) 363-0418, or the church (315) 363-1921.
Spaghetti Dinner: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church will hold a curbside spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m.. All meals will be offered as takeout only and pre-orders are encouraged. $10 per dinner. The menu consists of spaghetti with homemade sauce and meatballs, sweet sausage, Italian bread, and dessert. Gluten-free dinners are available on request. Call (315) 363-5211 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, or email office@stpetersverona.org to reserve your meals and your pickup time. Payment may be made by cash or check, or ahead of time by credit card at stpetersverona.org. Additional fees may apply for credit card payments. Proceeds will support St. Peter’s care for the earth through renovated landscaping. When you arrive, please pull into the parking lot and call (315) 363-5211 to have your dinners brought out to you. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church is located at 4897 Old Oneida Road in Verona, right off Route 365. Please call (315) 363-5211 for more information.
Basic Computer Skills Training: Empowered Pathways is seeking participants for a Basic Computer Skills Training Workshop. The virtual training will be held three days a week from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. from November 16 through the 18. Training topics include Google Suites, Zoom, Microsoft Word, and Excel. Pre-registration is required. For more information contact Amanda Fiore at info@empoweredpathwayscny.org or call (315) 724-1718 ext: 104. The mission of Empowered Pathways is to help people create self-directed solutions and move forward with their lives through education, advocacy, and empowerment.
Thursday, November 4
Budget hearing: A public hearing via Zoom will be held on the final proposed budget for the Town of Lebanon on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. Town Supervisor Jim Goldstein submitted a tentative 2022 town budget to the Lebanon town board that proposed a reduction in the local tax levy and tax rate reduction of 19 percent. The Lebanon Town Board will review the budget and make any changes at its Oct 25 budget workshop and then accept public comment at the Town budget hearing and also accept email and letter comments on the budget. The budget will be adopted on Nov. 8 after public comment is taken. Visit the Town of Lebanon website for the Zoom link.
Cazenovia Community Blood Drive: First Presbyterian Church, 27 Albany Street, Cazenovia. Use the Sullivan Street Entrance. Drive runs from 1-6 p.m. Give a power red cell donation if O-, O+, A- or B- and help the Red Cross supply hospitals with the most needed blood products. Please call 1-800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: FirstPresCaz to schedule an appointment. All Presenting donors will be entered to win a $50 VISA gift card to use towards their holiday feast. One winner each day in November.
White Begonia’s Annual Holiday Happy Hour: From 5-8 p.m. enjoy 20% off one regularly priced item at The White Begonia. There will be refreshments, discounts, and raffle items. 622 Sherrill Road, Sherrill.
Saturday, November 6
Oneida County History: At 1 p.m. at the Oneida County History Center, 1608 Genesee Street, Utica, Kirkland and Clinton Historian Richard Williams will present the untold story of how all Oneida County lands in the colonial period were given to government officials, military leaders, and favorite upper class and wealthy individuals….