The first Winter Carnival weekend was a success, said Stewart, with robust participation in events like the Kids Disco, the fireworks that drew close to four hundred spectators and the K-9 Competition.

The parade may have been the biggest ever in the Winter Carnival, Stewart said. All participating fire departments took first place, followed by all Boy and Girl Scouts, then all schools in third place. For fourth place: everyone else.

The winners of the billiards tournament were: first place, Rick Butts, second place, Charlie Murray and April Ives in third.

Sunday's pitch tournament winners included Bill and Keith Dickison in first place, Les Weir and Debbie Pashley in second, Claude Wilson and Audry Skubitz in third and Mark Althiser and Curtis Johnson in fourth. High game went to Wayne Johnson and Candy McCord.

Almost 150 treasure seekers participated in the Hall of Fame's treasure hunt on Saturday, and another hundred turned out on Sunday. More than three dozen viewers at any given time took in a baseball film at the HoF on Saturday.

The winners of the wing contest were: Garrett Goodnough, first place for "Pollo Diablo" (1819 House); Scott Heffner, second place and Eric Swart of the Hoffman Lane Bistro, third. Diane Wells won fourth place. 2nd, 3rd & 4th place were within one vote.

The K-9 Winter Olympics winners were:

Pet Tricks: Gold: Ginger, handled by Katy Snell. Silver: Shane, handled by Kevin Bristoll and bronze: Ginger, handled by David Kent.

Hoss, handled by Joe Bradford, won an honorable mention.

In the retrieval contest: Gold: Brick, handled by (first name unavailable) Lewis. Silver: Hoss, handled by Joe Bradford. Bronze: Sadie, handled by Gary Baldmyer.

Last weekend's most delicious treat, chocolate, was even more delicious for the contest winners. In the individual category, there was a first place tie between Marjorie Schleining (teacher), Matt Schwartzman and Myriah Zeien-Tarantelli from the French V class at Cooperstown Central School for their Chocolate Mousse Cake and Kelly Heitz for her Dutch Chocolate Cake.

Cherry Chocolate Bars by Cheryl Wright took second honors and Kathleen Gallagher's Incredible Nutty Fudge came in third.

In the Commercial category, Mud Slide Brownies from the 1819 House won first place, Tigger's Heath Bar Crunch by Kristen Stevens of Kat's Kreations won second and Sinfully Good by Diane Koffer of It's Sinful took third.

With one weekend of the Winter Carnival down and one to go, it's time to start working off that chocolate to make room for cheesecake.

The weekend will begin with Soup and Chili at the First Baptist Church on Elm Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on Feb. 8.

At 7 p.m. two member teams, one adult and one youth, can compete in a traditional bowling tournament at the Clark Sports Center for a fee of $3 for members, $6 for non-members.

Dance the night away at the Middle School Winter Dance from 8-10:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Church. For more information, contact Ian or Amanda Smithson at 547-7488. For those looking for something a little more exotic, there's a Hot Night in Puerto Rico DJ Dance from 10 p.m. to close at the Bold Dragoon. Beachwear is optional, and participants must be 21.

Saturday, Feb. 9 will start with a Lions' Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon. The Lions' Club collects eyeglasses for people who need them, so any spare pairs would be greatly appreciated.

Weather-permitting, the "Let it Snow," Sculpture Contest and the Snowman Show will take place on Feb. 9, and a Skating Party will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Village Gardens Rink behind the Great American. No props or paint are permitted for the sculptures. For more information, call Kathleen at 547-2566.

The Crayon Arcade, a new event sponsored by the Cooperstown PTO, will be held at the Cooperstown Fire Hall from noon until 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served, arts and crafts created, and somebody will get dipped in a dunking booth. For more information, call Wendy Reich at 293-7712.

The Third Annual Great Food Deserves Great Beer Series is from noon until 5 p.m. at Brewery Ommegang, where an area restaurant will prepare a dish with one of the Ommegang beers to highlight the region's best chefs. For more information call Wendy Littlefield at 547-8184. Wine tasting events will be hosted by Pioneer Wines and Spirits and Rudy's Liquors.

The Bob Smullens 10K Run, a thirty year old tradition, will begin at 1 p.m. Runners can register the day of the race from 11 a.m. until 12:45 at Carnival Headquarters in Pioneer Park. For more information, call Katie at 547-4406.

The afternoon will be filled with contests and games-bowling at the Clark Sports Center, a children's talent show at 3 p.m. in the high school auditorium and a free throw contest at the Clark Sports Center. The day will draw to a close with a spaghetti dinner at the Christ Episcopal Church and an 80's flashback DJ Dance and Lip Sync from 8 p.m to close at The Pepper Mill. The Cooperstown Diner will be open at midnight for a late snack or an early breakfast.

The last day of the Winter Carnival, Sunday February 10, will begin again with pancakes at the Vets' Club, sponsored by the Lions' Club. The rest of the day will be packed with outdoor activities starting with Cap Smith's Hike from the steps of the Village Library at 10 a.m to Star Field and Fairy Springs. To register, call Mark McCloud at 547-7290.

At 11 a.m. there will be a sled race from Lakefront Park and an adult free throw contest at the Clark Sports Center. From noon to 5 p.m. carnival-goers can sample "dream beer" at Brewery Ommegang.

Then the event everyone's been waiting for! The Polar Bear Jump will take place at 1 p.m. at Lakefront Park. Three local people, Tiffany Kenner Knecht, Bob Cornell and Nicole Prescot, will benefit from the bravado of the divers.

"The lake," Stewart said, "has started to freeze."

But there won't be enough ice, he said, to move the jump back to Three Mile Point.

Eric Swart, third place wing champion of the Hoffman Lane Bistro, is planning to make the dive.

"I've never done it before," Swart said. "I never wanted to jump into the frozen lake by myself, but Milo asked me to do it. I'm excited."

To be a Polar Bear or sponsor one, call Stewart at 547-8209 or Jamie at 286-7101.

The Polar Bears will jump again the following weekend at Goodyear Lake.

The Invierno Softball game also begins at 1 p.m. To play, call John DeGrace at 547-1228. Or, to play in the Pitch competition, call Sharky Nagelschmidt at 547-2800.

The Twelfth Annual Quilt Show at the Cooperstown Art Association will be open from 1-4 p.m.

Cheesecake Tasting will take place at 88 Chestnut Street to benefit Camp Hole in the Woods at Lake Luzerne, New York. For more information call Linda at 547-2532.

Toss your beans into a pot for the Chili Contest at the Hoffman Lane Bistro from 3-5 p.m. as the Carnival winds to a close. Hundreds of great prizes will be raffled off, admission is free, and door prizes will be given out.

When the last of the lingerers leave the Bistro, the carnival will close. But that means we're just one weekend closer to spring.