WHAT'S UPSTATE NEWS!

Holiday 2023

Downtown Utica's new mural is finished!

UTICA

PARK IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE COLORFUL ART

Utica Mayor Robert M. Palmieri and artist Steven Teller announced the completion of the mural at Liberty Corner. The mural took just over 90 days to complete, required hundreds of can of spray paint and was document on social media by residents across the Mohawk Valley.

Teller’s concept includes a river of roses and local wildflowers in dynamic colors that symbolize the diversity and vibrancy of Utica’s population. The colors are contrasted with curated black and white images of Utica’s past, reminding viewers of Utica’s rich history. READ MORE

MEET UJJWAL RAI

A grocery store in Utica is celebrating another year in business.

Muju International Groceries is owned by Ujjwal and Grace Rai, who are originally from Nepal and Bhutan, respectively. The name Muju is a version of the word for aunt in the Nepali language, māijū.

"The word is hard to pronounce, so we modified it a little bit," Rai said. "It's in remembrance of how to make people feel like they're at home," he said of using the word as his store's name. READ MORE

HARDWORKING GRANDMOTHERS

Hut Number 22 seeks to empower grandmothers by providing them with income, entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, independence, and community engagement opportunities.

"Refugee grandmothers, most American citizens now, from Bhutan worked hard to ensure their families stayed together and survived in refugee camps. Men had to leave home to find labour jobs far from the camp and their families, said Grace Rai, Founder of Hut Number 22.

Grace said, "Grandmothers stepped up. Moving to the United States is an excellent and exciting opportunity for many, but unfortunately, not for our grandmothers. Language and demographic barriers prevent our grandmothers from thriving. We want to change that. Our grandmothers have gone from “control to couch”, from feeling connected to isolation, interacting with people, and filling hours with Youtube, resulting in mental illness."

DISCOVER THE SPICE OF LIFE

Maiti Devi, from Nepal’s Ghandruk village, embodies the essence of spices, crafting a flavorful legacy passed down through generations.

OTSEGO COUNTY

MEET COLEMAN & HEATHER COVINGTON

For Coleman and Heather Covington, life in Otsego County is pretty sweet. As the owners of Five Kids Bakehouse, a bakery and cafe in Gilbertsville, their breads, pastries, and coffee fuel the local community. What started with selling Heather’s homemade baked goods from their front porch grew to a retail location in June 2021, thanks to support from the Gilbertsville community. Coleman remembers the line of cars waiting by the house for their Porch Pastry Saturday, this popularity convincing him that they needed to expand the business. READ MORE

GLIMMER NIGHTS IN COOPERSTOWN

Glimmer Nights, a six-week holiday light show extravaganza, will take place on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from November 24 – December 30 (closed Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve). At Glimmer Nights, visitors of all ages will experience the Farmer's Museum as never before on a self-guided walking tour through a wonderland of elaborate, multi-colored light displays. The path winds through the museum’s Country Village and other areas, each creatively illuminated with a unique theme.

MORE INFO!

MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT!

The Otesaga in conjunction with the Farmer's Museum is offering special travel packages during Glimmer Nights!

CHECK IT OUT!

More Cooperstown and Otsego County Events.

CLICK HERE

HERKIMER COUNTY

The Mohawk Valley's Largest Crochet Christmas Tree

“So often, tradition and innovation seem at odds with each other,” explained John Ossowski, “we see them as part of a necessary process of change that happens regardless of whether we want it to or not. Every tradition starts out as an innovation – we are all standing on the shoulders of giants.”

After 11 months of work, John Ossowski and Mike Beehm installed the tree at the Little Falls Public Library. John Ossowski and Mike Beehm started this project 11 months ago using leftover yarn from past projects and a considerable amount from John’s late grandmother’s ample stash. READ MORE

ROME

SMALL BUSINESS SEASON

The Rome Chamber of Commerce supports small businesses this holiday season by providing a place to promote and share deals on their website.

SMALL BUSINESS PROMOTIONS LIST

SUBMIT YOUR SMALL BUSINESS PROMO

SBDC OFFERS FREE ADVISEMENT AT ROME CHAMBER OFFICE

Starting December 12, Kerri Beiswenger will be available every other Tuesday for advisement with existing small business owners and those looking to start a small business.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

For a community battered by decades of economic challenge, it’s time to take pride in our remarkable progress—and time to look to the future. Just as today’s progress happened because people had faith in our area, and the confidence to back that faith with financial support, our community’s future will be even brighter if we continue to invest in it. READ MORE