Hartwick College Professor of Anthropology David Anthony, guest curator for New York University’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, recently opened “The Lost World of Old Europe: The Danube Valley, 5000-3500 BC” to great acclaim and interest at the New York City institution. Anthony curated the exhibition during his sabbatical from Hartwick, while co-editing the show catalog with Jennifer Y. Chi, the ISAW’s associate director for exhibitions.
The unprecedented exhibition, never before seen in the United States, brings together 250 objects recovered by archaeologists from the graves, towns, and villages of Old Europe. It features works on loan from 20 museums in Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova. Included are goddess figures, golden jewelry, elaborate metal ornaments, and weapons from Europe’s first civilization.
New York Times science reporter John Noble Wilford authored a piece for the Nov. 30 edition on the exhibit titled, “A Lost European Culture, Pulled From Obscurity.”


Oneonta Orcas swimteam members Madison Allen, Chelsea Beckemeyer, Lucy Bischoff, Codi Boheen, Sarah Brackett, Akiva Garfield, Claire Garfield, Jacob Glueckert, Stephanie Havens, Emma Knudson, Kari Knudson, Liz Knudson, Jordyn Krone, Josh Levins, Abby Miller, Mackenzie Miller, Sinzia Reese, Zinnia Reese, Michelle Rossi and Dylan Sickler all had first place finishes when they met with the Oswego Dolphins on Saturday, Dec. 5.

At Home Care, Inc. announced this week that it has been named to the 2009 HomeCare Elite™, a compilation of the top performing home health agencies in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 25 percent of agencies and further highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. Winners are ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.
SUNY BEST: Steve Lester Almeida, Heather Bailey, Jessica Bailey, Dawn Condon, Sarah Herger, Jennifer Ross, Arina Shnaider, Tobias Smith and Zishan Wariach, all of Oneonta, were recently named to SUNY Oneonta’s Best and Brightest list for the fall 2009 semester.

Michelle L. Christiance, daughter of Bill and Karen (Hayes) Christiance of
Oneonta has graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology. She was awarded a BFA, with high honors, from the School of Photographic Arts & Sciences. Christiance majored in advertising photography, and minored in photo journalism.

To the Editor:
The to-do over Tiger Woods’ recent auto accident points out strongly something that has been evident for years. It seems that too many think (or the media seem to think) that they deserve to know all the details of the incident.
The fact that Woods is a well-known and admired celebrity, I believe, is beside the point. Do we feel the need to know all the details about every similar incident? Hardly.
The point, is seems to me, is that people are too “concerned” about matters that really don’t concern them personally – the anti-abortion movement a prime example. How much difference might it make if all this misplaced curiosity was turned upon the activities – or, more precisely, inactivity – of our elected “representatives”?
And, following up on such increased awareness of the work being done, or not, more citizens urging state and federal officials to actually work for the public good, not primarily for personal gain.

WILLIAM F. ROBERTS
Otego

By JIM KEVLIN

‘Two Nicole Kidmans and a Jessica Alba,” Dana Simonds calls out, hanging up the phone.
And James Gloster, her colleague at Fat Mike’s Deli next to Hearths Afire on Route 23, gets to work.
“Fat Mike” Joubert – he’s not fat, but explained, “Chubby Mike’s just didn’t sound right” – has a favorite sandwich: The Bill Cosby.
Salami, cappicola, a pickle and more, it’s a tribute to TV’s Dr. Huxtable, who always made such a sandwich, but always seemed to be distracted before he had a chance to eat it.
But the sandwich-making entrepreneur doesn’t have his eyes just on the stars. His plans are quite concrete.
This weekend, Dec. 11-13, he’s expecting to open a second enterprise, Fat Mike’s Dirty Dogs at 182 Main St., next to the recently opened Tino’s Pizzeria.
His idea is to put a “fun, fresh spin” on fast-food offerings downtown, where subs and pizzas aplenty are available: “The classic New York-style hot dog.”
He’ll be cooking nothing but Sabrett’s premium dogs, and frying them, which create a bit more snap than simply steaming them.
And he’ll stay open until 3 a.m. to catch college students heading home after a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night on the town.
The man who created a movie pantheon on the Southside is bringing that same razzamatazz to his new venture. For instance, The Californ-Eye-Aye, a dog with avocado and onion.
Mike’s parent moved their family to New Berlin from New Jersey when he was 15, and he gravitated to Oneonta after getting out of high school.
He worked in various restaurants, including a stint as chef at the Autumn Cafe, before striking out on his own three years ago, opening a pizza parlor in Franklin.
While planning the Dirty Dog, the father of three – Jacob, 14, Ivan, 4, and newborn Kayla (his wife is Simone) – drove past Danny’s Deli, which was closing.
He decided that, while waiting for the downtown establishment to open, he would jump in there.

Main Street Oneonta’s Friday Nights On The Plaza are among the arts-related activities in Otsego County that have been funded by a state grant administered by the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts.
The money will be used for 15 nights of entertainment in Muller Plaza, beginning May 29, UCCCA announced.
Other activities funded in the city include:
• The Oneonta Concert Band Association’s Salute to the Veterans next Nov. 7
• The Oneonta Community Alliance for the Youth’s concert highlighting professionals who have come through the programs, March 20.
• Orpheus Theater’s production of “Bye, Bye Birdie” May 14-16 at SUNY Oneonta’s Goodrich Theater.
• The Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble concert featuring Kim Patterson playing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” May 2.
• The City of the Hills Chorus/Sweet Adelines’ Barbershop Road Show at nursing homes and other venues, May 1-Dec. 15.
• The Catskill Choral Society’s “African Sanctus,” including a brief lecture on the history of African music, May 7 and 9.
The so-called decentralization grants were awarded to UCCCA by the New York State Council on the Arts.
The grants were also awarded for programs in Cooperstown, Richfield Springs, Gilbertsville and Pathfinder Village.

COOPERSTOWN – Clyde S. “Beck” Becker Jr., 89, a native of Cooperstown and World War II veteran who worked for New York Telephone Co. in Oneonta, died Monday Nov. 30, 2009, at Bassett Hospital, following a short illness.
Beck was born July 21, 1920, the son of Clyde Shepard Becker Sr. and Laura (Green) Becker. He graduated from Cooperstown High School, Class of 1940, and thereafter from the Manlius Military Academy.
He was employed by the National Commercial Bank & Trust Co. of Albany for about a year before he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He took basic training in Atlantic City, N.J., where he completed Radio School and Control Tower School and was assigned to the 55th Troop Carrier Squadron 375th Group.
Serving in the South Pacific as a radio operator aboard C-46 and C-47s, he took part in five campaigns and received two Air Medals, one with an oak leaf cluster, as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his combat service. He was discharged in June 1945.
After his return to Cooperstown, he married Harriet A. Morgan, a high school friend (CCS Class of 1941), on May 31, 1947, in Cooperstown Presbyterian Church. They had four children, all of whom survive: Gail (Joseph) Monington of Cooperstown, John Becker of Schenectady, Laura (Tom) Greene of West Oneonta and Sue (Paris) Reidhead of Hartwick.
Other survivors include nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, many of whom referred to him affectionately as “papa,” a number of nieces, nephews and cousins; his brother and sister-in-law, John and Ruth Becker of Pittsburgh, and by his special friend, Aline Heller and her family of Cooperstown.
Beck worked for New York Telephone, first in Cooperstown, then in Cherry Valley and Oneonta. He retired on Dec. 31, 1979, and in 1986 returned to Cooperstown.
He was a member and past president of the Cherry Valley Rotary Club, a member of Otsego Lodge #138 F&AM, VFW Post 7128 of Cooperstown, the Telephone Pioneers of America and the Mohican Club.