The 17th Otselic Valley Fishing & Heritage Association will take place this weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, in South Otselic. (Submitted photo)

OTSELIC VALLEY - The Otselic Valley Fishing & Heritage Association invites you to join its 17th annual Fishing & Heritage Day in South Otselic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.

The rural hamlet is home to one of NYS' Fish Hatcheries since 1932, and the former world renown Gladding Fishing Line Co., which began in 1816.

There will be two fishing clinics at the Hatchery, where young anglers are invited to fish for brook trout. The clinics are free and fishing poles are provided for those who don't bring their own. Fly tying demonstrations and an aquarium will be inside the hatchery in addition to its fish rearing tanks where trout and salmon fingerlings get their start.

n the adjacent pole barn, 2nd graders and older are invited to participate in workshops conducted by Doris Wilkins-Wilt from the Oneida Nation Cultural Center to make "Friendship feathers.”

Ron Patterson, also from the Oneida Nation, will give a presentation and demonstration of the native American game of Lacrosse.

A collection of Haudenosaunee artifacts will also be on display, while outdoors numerous environmental, conservation and public service organizations will have information and displays.

top by early at the South Otselic Fire Department's open house to order their takeout BBQ chicken.

n the Town Park there will be arts, craft and antiques vendors, old time carnival games for children, raffles, food and live music, along with exhibits in the Town Hall featuring the 1906 story of resident Grace Brown, and a display of historical photos and items of the Town of Otselic.

Gladding will display one of their vintage rope braiding machines. At the Otselic Valley Central School, an art show will be exhibit work by students and other local artists. There will also be a special traveling Power House displaying and demonstrating green technology. In the center of town, vintage tractors will again be on display, with some going on parade at 1:30 pm. Be sure to check out this year's pictorial cancellation postmark at the nearby P.O. between 8 and 11:45 a.m.

lease join South Otselic's residents on Saturday, May 16th for this free, family event in hamlet, once touted as “the fishing line capital of the world”. For a complete schedule of activities and programs, please visit our website at ovfish.org.

- Information from the Otselic Valley Fishing & Heritage Association