Hometown Oneonta 04-11-24

Otsego SWCD Back On Track after NYS Comptroller Audit

By DARLA M. YOUNGS OTSEGO COUNTY

Following an in-depth audit conducted by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office, the Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District and its governing board “have been strengthened in ways that are exemplary for any type of organization,” SWCD Board Chair Margaret Kennedy said in a telephone interview on Monday, April 8.

“We are right where we need to be,” Kennedy added with assurance. Kennedy, one of two members of the Otsego County Board of Representatives serving on the SWCD board, explained that the OSC audit released last month was a performance audit, intended to examine policies, procedures, and internal controls, and to identify areas in need of improvement.

“The Board of Directors (Board) did not effectively manage grants or ensure that authorized disbursements were supported and for appropriate District purposes,” the OSC report reads under the section titled Key Findings. “As a result, District officials made overpayments, unsupported payments and unnecessary payments at taxpayers’ expense.”

Specifically, the comptroller’s office found that during the initial audit period—January 1, 2017 through July 31, 2022—district officials:

• Overpaid landowners totaling $174,950.00 for six grants resulting in an inappropriate use of local taxpayer money.

• Made 49 disbursements totaling

$145,876 without adequate support (out of 63 disbursements reviewed totaling $154,080.00).

• Paid $11,630 in unnecessary payments, including excess tree purchases, late fees, interest, unused cell phone accounts, sales tax and lease payments for a copier that had been replaced.

• Paid employees for unsupported leave payments totaling $8,860.00 and an unallowed payment totaling $1,192.00.

According to the comptroller’s report, the audit period was extended through December 31, 2022 to calculate unnecessary expenditures and through May 23, 2023 to review grant disbursements and closeouts.

A read through the Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District board meeting minutes beginning in 2021 shows that on April 16 of that year, Brian Steinmuller, assistant director of New York State Agriculture and Markets, was present at the board meeting to discuss concerns about grant reporting and closeouts.

The minutes state that Steinmuller was “here today to stress the fact that grant projects need to get done in the field and office properly.” Administration of the grant is just as important as the field component of the grant, Steinmuller said.

The April 16 minutes go on to report that Steinmuller had e-mailed thenDistrict Manager Jordan Clements on March 12 “expressing concern about past due closeouts, 19 months overdue.” Steinmuller said he would pull in another coordinator from Ag

Totally Awesome

Cooper, Dallas) and Wriley Nelson in Pulaski (bottom photo by Wriley Nelson). There won’t be a total solar eclipse that passes over the United States again until 2045.

New Exhibit, ‘As They Saw It,’ Celebrates ‘Herstory’

By EMILY HILBERT COOPERSTOWN

Women artists are seldom seen and rarely heard in the museum space. This is a known fact that has troubled both professionals in the museum field and visitors alike for ages. Six women curators, however, are rewriting that issue and reclaiming the “herstory.”

Their exhibit, “As They Saw It: Women Artists Then & Now,” opened at Fenimore Art Museum last week to much excitement. The exhibit, a partnership between FAM, Springfield Museums, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is not only a collaboration of institutions, but of female viewpoints as well. As described in a press release, “As They Saw It” is about women, by women and curated by women.” Julia Madore and Ann Cannon, associate curators of American Art at FAM, teamed

up with Maggie North and Sophie Combs from Springfield Museums and Martina Tanga and Erica Hirshler from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Challenging themselves to look through their collections to find what these institutions had in common, they wanted to showcase a diverse array of artists in everything from age, background, race, and art medium.

“It was interesting to see what everyone could bring to the table,” said Cannon.

The exhibit, which travelled from the Springfield Museums, makes its final stop here at FAM before the artwork is returned to their home collections.

The show is unique to FAM, as it is a first to cover such a lengthy timeline of artists—early 19th century to

People all over the lower 48 United States enjoyed the eclipse at varying degrees on Monday, April 8, including Chip Northrup in Texas (top photo by Rob

Photo by Emily Hilbert

“Maremaid,” 1815, Mary Ann Wilson, watercolor on paper.

Eclipse Viewing Party at SUNY Oneonta Attracts Thousands

By MONICA CALZOLARI

Seeing the total eclipse is a very exciting, once-ina-lifetime opportunity for millions of people across the United States,” said Skyler Reed, a junior at SUNY Oneonta majoring in physics with a focus on astronomy.

Reed, who grew up in the Adirondacks, described himself as a science nerd. He used to watch science documentaries on TV, including Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos.” He chose SUNY Oneonta because, he said, “It has one of the best physics programs in all of SUNY.”

Dr. Valerie Rapson, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, said, “We have the largest optical telescope in New York State. We also have three research-grade telescopes at College Camp where our students can conduct research over the summer.” College Camp is a cooperative venture of the Student Association, SUNY Oneonta and Oneonta Auxiliary Services. It sits on 276 acres of former farm and woodland, adjacent to campus, on Hoffman Road.

There are six professors of physics at SUNY Oneonta. Joshua Nollenberg, associate professor who also

teaches astronomy, took some of his students to see the total eclipse in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid.

“About 40 students major in physics,” according to Dr. Rapson.

Several of those students volunteered to staff the eclipse-related event on Monday, April 8 from noon to 5 p.m., which SUNY Oneonta spent months organizing.

Dr. Rapson said, “Our students here are phenomenal. They are passionate and smart.”

She has been at SUNY Oneonta for four years and has a research interest in star and planet formation.

According to the college website, Dr. Rapson “also conducts exoplanet research with students utilizing telescopes at the College Camp Observatory, and designs and presents planetarium shows.”

The A.J. Read Science Discovery Center on campus in the Physical Sciences building had a variety of engaging, hands-on STEM exhibits and art projects on Monday related to the eclipse.

In addition to faculty, staff, and students, retirees and children also attended the SUNY Oneonta solar eclipse viewing party.

Dr. William Walker, an assistant professor of museum studies in Cooperstown, brought

his young son to play with robots inside the Discovery Center on campus and to view the eclipse outside. Oneonta’s Central School District had the day off from school.

SUNY Oneonta was the last place left in Oneonta with free protective glasses to watch the eclipse. They ran out at about 2:30 p.m. The Huntington Library ran out of its initial allotment of 300 glasses by 10:40 a.m. Monday morning.

The SUNY Oneonta event attracted a wide variety of participants. Some included the following:

Ryheime Grant, a physics major with a minor in astronomy, wants to be a mechanical engineer. He said, “I am fascinated by building things and how things work.”

Brendan Barry is a dual major in adolescent education majoring in social studies and history. Originally from Floral Park, on Long Island, Barry was on the board of The Nebula Society, a student organization that uses the SUNY Oneonta planetarium to learn about and spread knowledge of astronomy and related topics.

Samuel Sylvia, a double major in physics and math, transferred to SUNY Oneonta this year because of an interest in meteorology. He is interested in how particles in the atmosphere move.

He explained, “Because the atmosphere is turbulent and fluid, the movement is hard to predict mathematically.” Sylvia is considering becoming a test engineer, a robotics engineer or a plasma physicist.

Cass Szkodzinsky, a SUNY Oneonta physics major who graduated in 2021, now works in the Student Academic Center with STEM students. Szkodzinsky, who is saving for graduate school, said, “I love helping a lot of students at all levels of math and calculus and getting the

light bulb to go off for students.”

Joanne Tobey, director of gift planning, SUNY Oneonta, Division of University Advancement, was pleased that “this event brought so many people together.” She said, “We felt the impact of the solar eclipse on the environment. The campus night lights came on and it got chillier.”

Friends of the Feral-TNR Benefit Set for Next Saturday, April 20

ONEONTA

In response to overwhelming turnout last year, Friends of the Feral-TNR announced that this year’s Feral Fest benefit event will be held at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center from 3-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. The event will include a raffle, food trucks and live music by at least five artists.

In addition to the $5.00 regular admission option, there is a $25.00 ticket which includes a commemorative sampling glass entitling the bearer to free samples of a wide variety of special beers and wines. There will also be a cash bar. Tickets can be purchased at Best Wine and Spirits, 5626 State Route 7, Suite 5, or at the door. The group is also raising money for Tigger, a foster kitten in the care of Friends of the Feral member Kim Harloff; visit https://gofund. me/4b1af082 to make a donation.

Founded in 2021, Friends of the Feral is an organization of cat lovers dedicated to controlling the ongoing feral cat proliferation problem while providing a healthier environment for the animals. Their volunteers work with veterinary professionals to trap feral cats, spay or neuter them, vaccinate them for rabies and other infectious diseases, and release them exactly where they were caught to avoid disrupting their colonies. Their efforts provide a safer, healthier, and more pleasant environment for cats by controlling excess population, reducing injuries due to territorial fighting and preventing urine marking. For more information, visit their Facebook page or contact friendsoftheferal@gmail.com.

FAM To Offer After-Hours Photography Tour

COOPERSTOWN—Photographer Joshua Ives will lead a tour of his new exhibition, “50-Pound Blanket,” at the Fenimore Art Museum at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26. His work presents a deeply personal and introspective chronicle of his journey through depression and healing after his military career. The exhibit features ethereal photographs of Utica taken during twilight. The event costs $25.00 for non-members and $20.00 for members, and registration is required; visit FenimoreArt.org.

Photos by Monica Calzolari

Brendan Barry is a former member of The Nebula Society on campus who is now student teaching; Ryheime Grant, a physics major with a minor in astronomy; Skyler Reed, a junior at SUNY Oneonta majoring in physics with a focus on astronomy; and Dr. Valerie Rapson, assistant professor of physics and astronomy. Reed brought his own telescope to campus to share with the crowd.

Last Call for Children’s Choir

COOPERSTOWN—A few spots remain for the spring session of the Cooperstown Children’s Choir. The program, open to singers ages 7-12, will teach classic rock, pop and holiday songs, as well as basic choreography in preparation for several public performances that will take place at the end of the session. Rehearsals will be held at the First Baptist Church, 21 Elm Street, at 3 p.m. each Friday from April 26 to June 14. Performances will take place the weekend of June 15 and 16, time and location to be determined. The participation fee is $110.00. To register, or for more information, contact Dana LaCroix at (607) 304-1359, CooperstownChildrensChoir@gmail. com or www.CooperstownChildrensChoir.com.

Frazier To Address Democrats

ONEONTA—Michele Frazier, candidate for the New York State Senate in the 51st District, will address the Oneonta Democratic Club at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17. Frazier was born and raised in Oneonta and served on the city Common Council. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, a master of theological studies from Harvard University’s Divinity School, a master of science from American University and a doctorate in law and policy from Northeastern University. She is an assistant professor of criminal justice at SUNY Delhi and

Flowers Are Focus of CAA Gallery Show

COOPERSTOWN

The work of local artist May-Britt Joyce is to be featured in “Meet Me in My Flower Garden,” an exhibit at the Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. The opening reception will be held on Friday, April 12 from 5-7 p.m.

The gardenlike exhibit of color and commentary features more than 40 of Joyce’s floral paintings, with notes on her inspiration, creative process, and background on her chosen subjects, which range back to the classification of plants in the 18th century by Swedish botanist Carl von Linné (Linneaus). Joyce traces her roots to within 20 miles of Linneaus’ birthplace in Småland, Sweden, which may have prompted her lifelong love of flowers.

Joyce came to art later in life, encouraged by her artist daughter, and found fulfillment of her expression through classes with well-known local artists Amy Cannon and Mary Nolan.

In addition to the paintings, two books will also be on display. One is “Herbarium Amoris Floral Romance,” which Joyce calls a beautifully-illustrated book of flowers as classified by Linneaus. The other, ”En Annan Slags Trädgård,” (A Different Type of Garden) was written by a cousin in Sweden. It presents flora of the month and the method of arranging “slow” flowers with a color palette and beauty in every season. An arrangement interpretation of April, created by Deborah Miller of Fly Creek Flowers, will also be part of the exhibit.

“Meet Me in My Flower Garden” runs through Wednesday, May 8, Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional works by Joyce can be viewed at maybrittsart.com.

a local real estate agent. The meeting will be held virtually; RSVP to garymaffei@gmail.com or via the Oneonta Democratic Club Facebook page to attend.

April Is Fair Housing Month

OTSEGO COUNTY—The Otsego County Board of Representatives passed a resolution proclaiming April 2024 as Fair Housing Month at their meeting on April 3. The resolution, sponsored by Representatives Michelle Catan, Jennifer Mickle, Margaret Kennedy, Jill Basile, and Donald Scanlon, follows the lead of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Renewal. It is in accord with the Title VIII Fair Housing Policy of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. The resolution was seconded by Representative Adrienne Martini and passed unanimously.

‘ReImagine’ Returns To CANO

ONEONTA—The Community Arts Network of Oneonta will host its “ReImagine the Local Arts” fundraiser and community night in the historic Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Avenue, from 5-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.

“Last year, we asked our community to invest in CANO by attending the first ‘ReImagine the Local Arts,’” said Executive Director Hope Von Stengel. “Proceeds gave us the ability to hire Gallery Director Jamie Banes, so we could continue to offer visual

art education and exhibitions to the public. While the event was financially successful, raising about $4,500.00, guest speakers were the highlights.”

This year’s event will begin with a performance by pianist Violette Garbarino. David Hayes will introduce the work of painter James A. Richter and lead a lively discussion of the arts with guest speakers Charles Bremer, Christina Hunt Wood, King Koyne, Marcela Micucci, and Cassandra Miller. There will also be open studio tours, a performance by the Wyatt Ambrose Special Trio, an opening reception for exhibitions by CANO artists

Sara Christoff, Emily Falco, and Morgan Doyle, and a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased at https:// www.canoneonta.org/reimagine-the-arts-benefit or at the door, and include dinner and drinks. Old Hollywood Glam attire is strongly encouraged.

CPS Program To Be Presented

DELHI—”Lawyer in the Library” will offer a talk on the basic rights and obligations of parents interacting with Child Protective Services at the Delaware County Courthouse, 3 Court Street in Delhi, from 2-3 p.m. on Friday, April 19. The program is free and open to the public. It will be presented by St. John’s University Assistant Professor of Law Anna Arons, Delaware County Attorney Amy Merklen, Esq., and Otsego County Assistant Public Defender John Santacrose, Esq.

CITIzEn SCIEnCE jAmIE zvIRzDIn

Dancing in the Dirt

We are almost there. Winter is almost over and spring is truly arriving. The highly anticipated solar eclipse has set us on the right course.

What we saw here was only a tiny bit partial and ever so slightly cloudy, but we didn’t have to struggle up to the Adirondacks to see this glorious phenomenon. And so, with spring arriving and summer on our doorstep, it’s time to think about getting outside, maybe even in a garden, at least under some trees, or even out on the lake.

And while we are in those gardens, it would be a good time to think about composting, the production of good fertilizer for such gardens, parks, and landscapes. This long-used process, which dates back to the early Roman Empire, as mentioned in Cato the Elder’s “De Agri Cultura” of 160 BCE, began as a means to conserve organic materials by piling them atop each other until the next planting season, and has been used by farmers and gardeners across the world since. Composting, an aerobic method of decomposing organic waste, is a way to recycle organic material using carbon-rich brown materials (twigs, leaves, paper, wood chips, etc.); nitrogen-rich green materials (fruits, vegetables, grass, spent flowers); oxygen, and water.

Simply put, establish an outside space for a compost pile, or container (a bin or a construction of wire, wood or cinder block), either in the shade or under the sun, that is accessible all year and has good drainage. Enclosed barrels work as well. Then add chopped browns from your yard and chopped greens from your kitchen in a ratio of around three to one. Layer the pile like lasagna, with the browns on top, and add some water if it’s not already soaking wet. Having the right proportions of ingredients will provide the composting microorganisms the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and moisture they need to break down the waste in the compost. Keep the pile wet and turn it over periodically to speed up the decomposition process and aerate the pile, the temperature of which will rise, even to 160 degrees F, especially in the center.

When the temperature is no longer high, and there are no visible food scraps, the pile is cooked and should be allowed to cure, and shrink, for up to four weeks. A wellmaintained compost pile can be ready for a garden in three to five months; if untended it might take a year.

A successful composting program has very positive results: the structure and health of the soil is improved with organic matter; the soil retains more moisture and more nutrients; the soil attracts beneficial organisms, reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers; soil erosion is decreased; carbon is sequestered in the soil; the soil is more resistant to climate change.

Although in Otsego County composting is a large and essential part of our organic-farming establishments, myriad initial efforts to create composting programs for all residents have come to naught. It is not easy to recycle this waste for people who live in apartments, in our towns and in our great City of Oneonta. The Southern Transfer Station in Oneonta will take food waste, for a small price; the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market will take it, for no price; the Clark Foundation recycles the waste from all their organizations.

Kinetic Energy, the ‘Force Vive’

In the heart of Central New York, amid the crisp air and tranquil waters of the Finger Lakes, there’s an unstoppable force of nature that captures the very essence of kinetic energy better than any physics textbook: a 3-year-old loose in the grocery store.

How is it that you, with your longer legs and greater mass and intellect, can be so easily avoided and outstripped, from the candy aisle to the frozen food section and back to the cereal aisle? At time t = 0, when you told the child no, you would not buy Chocolate Nightmare Bombs, your child went from an initial velocity of v = 0 to at least 50 miles per hour (Actually, at full tilt, I estimate a 3-year-old can reach a velocity of 2 to 3 meters per second (m/s), or about 5 miles per hour, which indeed feels like 50 miles an hour when you’re tired and overwrought. For comparison, trained athletes in peak physical condition can do 10 m/s). Cans roll, packages tumble, grouchy looks of shoppers multiply, yet you still can’t catch up. What is this mysterious living force at play in your own child?

Velocity multiplied by itself meant that a very fast-moving body would have extremely high kinetic energy: a fastpitched baseball, a speeding car, a skier in the Adirondack Mountains.

rather confusing name that we use to denote the units of energy, named after an English brewer and physicist named James Prescott Joule. To be fair, “67.5 Joules” is easier to say than “67.5 kilograms times meters squared divided by seconds squared.”). Increasing your own force vive, you scoop up your child right as the first cereal box tumbles to the floor, its motion evidence that objects also have a kind of stored-up kinetic energy, called potential energy, which we’ll talk about next month.

This speedy body of enviable energy offers a fitting illustration of kinetic energy, a concept dating back to the 18th century and the insightful work of Émilie Du Châtelet and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Understanding this force vive, as they called it, may help you gain enough kinetic energy to catch up with your child before the manager does.

As a pioneering philosopher-mathematician in France, Émilie Du Châtelet argued, as Leibniz did, that a fundamental quantity of motion existed beyond the idea of momentum, which she called the force morte, “the dead force” (momentum is mass multiplied by velocity, or mv). Beyond momentum must be the force vive, the living force, which in time was renamed kinetic energy—the energy an object or body possesses because of its motion. In her book “Foundations of Physics” (1740), she said that the energy of a moving object wasn’t just linked to its velocity, as Isaac Newton was claiming, but to the square of its velocity, or v².

Today, I’ve launched RSSMarketStreet.com, with the intention of benefiting both the public and your organization. One of its goals is to encourage your organization to prioritize transparency and openness in sharing information.

The concern centers on your organization’s website, 27MarketStreet.com.

According to the website, RSS’ goal is to create a “collective vision” for the proposed project on Market Street

Applying Du Châtelet’s words to our grocery store escapee, you gasp in horror (and because you are out of breath) as your 3-year-old bolts down the cereal aisle, intent on knocking down all meter-high cereal boxes. You realize that if your child has a velocity of 3 m/s, then their squared velocity will be 9 m/s. You’ve made the critical error of trying to take the shopping cart with you, which transferred some of your kinetic energy into the cart (Work, remember, equals Force times Distance—the transfer of energy we talked about in the last column).

If you don’t abandon your cart, increase your velocity and fulfill the full kinetic energy formula, KE = ½ mv², you will never catch your child in time. (The ½ factor, by the way, comes from averaging the initial velocity (0 meters per second) and the final velocity (3 meters per second) to get the average velocity over the whole sprint). You must stop doing work on the shopping cart and increase your velocity to win this game.

As you abandon your cart at the top of the aisle, you do a final calculation: Your 3-year-old weighs roughly 15 kilograms (about 33 pounds) and therefore has a momentum of mv = 15 kg × 3 m/s = 45 kg·m/s of momentum. At top speed racing toward the cereal boxes, your child will have a kinetic energy of KE = ½ mv² = ½ × 15 kg × (9 m/s) = 67.5 kg·(m/s)² or 67.5 Joules (“Joules” is the fancy but

and encourages contacting

Christine Nealon.

However, it selectively links to specific news articles while omitting many others. This site has gained attention through news articles, public meetings and social media, serving as a resource for the Oneonta community.

Local media have shown fairness by staying neutral on RSS controversial Market Street project. This ensures all voices are heard. As a nonprofit, I urge RSS to post all news articles or clarify that only favorable articles are published.

On March 29, I contacted

The magnificent living force you have created may be a holy terror sometimes, but as you restore the cereal box from floor to shelf (doing work to transfer some of your energy back to the box) and see the sympathetic smiles of other parents, you pause to appreciate such great force vive in action, how palpable and dynamic and real kinetic energy is. Actual, calculable energy is far more beautiful, vivid and useful than any wishy-washy alternative medicine/new-age concept claiming to own the secrets of “life force energy” or “vital energy.” These counterfeits lack predictability, measurable precision and the empirical foundation of science to explain the world around us. Usually such pseudo-energy practitioners are willing to share their secrets with us for a pretty penny—pennies better spent at the grocery store on healthy food so we can keep up with our kiddos.

The concept of kinetic energy, with its scientific roots and real-world applications, extends far beyond the grocery store. It’s present in the falling leaves of New York autumns, the lapping waves of the Finger Lakes, the cold wind whistling across fields and up hillsides. Each of these instances embodies the force vive Du Châtelet described centuries ago, allowing us to connect with the very dynamics that animate our world, the cosmos and our own bodies.

Jamie Zvirzdin researches cosmic rays with the Telescope Array Project, teaches science writing at Johns Hopkins University and is the author of “Subatomic Writing.”

Christine Nealon, providing links to missing news articles. However, it’s clear she lacks authority to change organization policies. Your 2019 letter to the editor, titled “RSS Friend To Community, Executive Director Avows,” emphasizes RSS’ commitment to the community. Please uphold this commitment by being fair to the Oneonta community. I urge RSS to set a new standard of transparency and openness in information dissemination.

Bryan Shaughnessy City of Oneonta 1st Ward Resident and Market Street Property Owner

Photo by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay

Compiled by Tom HeiTz/SHARoN STUART with resources courtesy of The Fenimore Art museum Research Library

135 YEARs AGo

The Local News—In excavating the cellar for the Bundy building, a Canadian sou (coin) was found several feet below the surface. It was well preserved, and though bearing no date, must be very old. L.H. Blend has it.

The organ grinder, as genuine a harbinger of spring as the robin, made his appearance here on Wednesday. He was afterward arrested for cruelty to a boy in his company, but the justice discharged him.

Louise Arnot and company will begin a week’s engagement at the Metropolitan on Monday evening, opening in the popular drama “49.” Miss Arnot is pronounced one of the best actresses ever appearing in oneonta, and her support is first class. Popular prices: 10, 20 and 30 cents.

There is no better place to form an idea of the number of new buildings now being built in oneonta can be found than on the hill on the south side of the river. In all parts of the village new houses are seen going up, while the East end looks as though it had the chickenpox, so freely is it spotted with newly built unpainted buildings.

April 1889

40 YEARs AGo

Approximately 90 people turned out saturday night to honor oneonta Fire Chief Francis “Cooty” Russo at a testimonial dinner sponsored by members of the sixth Ward Athletic Club. Russo is a former president, treasurer and founding member of the club, which began as a local softball team years ago. Russo was named fire chief on June 30, 1983. Among those honoring Russo were club members Ani Colone, Albert Colone, Garret Huyer, John scarzafava, several city firemen and Roger Hughes, who was mayor when Russo became a fireman. “When I joined the department in 1958 I wanted, someday, to become chief,” Russo said. “You have a good department, and I’m not saying that because I’m chief. You have good firemen who are dedicated. You can sleep easy at night knowing they are there to protect you.” Russo served 15 years before being promoted to captain in 1973. He was appointed fire department instructor in 1975 and became the department trainer in 1976. Russo was cited for “outstanding performance” by the otsego County Fire Association for his actions at a 1974 Delaware & Hudson Railway explosive propane fire at Emmons.

April 1984

30 YEARs AGo

After a three-year absence, an oneonta landmark has returned Nick’s Diner re-opened saturday at 22) Chestnut street. The eatery had closed in september 1991. Nick’s has returned under the ownership of Melissa Burghart, a veteran with eight years of experience in the diner business. “We want to give “the workingman a good place to eat at a good price,” Burghart said. The menu will feature home-cooked foods and fresh pies.

April 1994

20 YEARs AGo

Vince Foti was awarded the Alan Donovan outstanding Community Leadership Award at the 2003 United Way Campaign Celebration dinner at Pathfinder Village in Edmeston on March 22. Foti was honored for his continual dedication and support to the United Way of Delaware & otsego Counties and the community as a whole. Foti served as the 2003 honorary chair. Board President Barry Warren spoke of the past year’s United Way accomplishments before ending his term. Ellen Blaisdell, new board president, said hard work will be needed to reach goals such as the 2004 campaign goal of $405,000. Guests also took a tour of the Pathfinder Village facilities followed with talks by Dr. Edward shafer of Pathfinder Village and United Way Executive Director Terry Fernley.

April 2004

Advocacy an Important Part of Audubon

The most visible activities of Audubon Chapters include public presentations and bird walks or, as in the case at Delawareotsego Audubon society, additional work such as bird counts and research programs that revolve around birds of prey. These efforts can be the impetus for people’s interest in these topics and often lead to greater levels of involvement through membership, financial support or signing up as a volunteer. Programs lead to engagement, and the more engaged people are, the more likely they are to care about and protect our environment.

The Chapter work that often goes unseen is environmental advocacy. The National Audubon society has its roots in coalescing people around bird conservation and working to support laws that protect birds. The Audubon society was established in 1905 in response to widespread uncontrolled killing of birds each year for the use of their feathers in fashion-of-the-day attire. (In 1886, the American ornithologist Union estimated that five million North American birds were killed each year for millinery purposes.). Audubon was the driving force behind creating and passing the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918, legislation that has protected birds in the U.s. for more than 100 years. our own Chapter, Delaware-otsego Audubon society, has a strong and active history in advocacy work. The organization has exhibited at the

By MERL REAGLE

Earth Festival in Milford each year, often with materials for letter-writing campaigns to decision-makers. That tradition will continue in 2024 with materials on hand to support the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act.

Today, research shows that our bird populations have declined by 2.9 billion birds between 1970 and 2018. The impacts expected in the future as a result of climate change pose a dire risk to many of our most common birds. We need to protect birds at home and also in the places where they winter, as well as important stopover sites in other countries along their flyways. Healthy bird populations are critical to New York’s ecosystems. They help with pest control, seed dispersal, pollination and more. Birds strengthen our economy.

A U.s. Fish & Wildlife service survey found that over 96 million people in the U.s. participated in bird watching in 2022. Consumer spending on

Continued on page 11

Fundraisers, Spring Cleaning and an Open Call for Volunteers

Welcome back to another edition of News from the Heart of Otsego, covering happenings in the Town of Hartwick. Now that both the eclipse and the earthquake are behind us, let’s take a look at what else this month has to offer…

On Saturday, April 13, Kinney Memorial Library welcomes Susan Miller, who will present on the history of the Cherry Valley Massacre. Miller is the Cherry Valley town historian and author of the book “Five Days in November: The Cherry Valley Massacre,” a 66-page history published by Plaide Palette Graphics in 2023. Her talk begins at 2 p.m. Barb Potter said of Miller, “She’s an amazing speaker.” Also on Saturday, April 13, the Hartwick American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Post 1567, will host a spaghetti dinner and benefit auction for Guinevere Millea. A toddler diagnosed in April 2023 with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Guinevere is completing a twoand-a-half-year treatment plan at Golisano’s Children’s Hospital in Syracuse. This event is intended to raise money to assist the Millea family—Scott, Marrissa and Colton—in their support of Guinevere

Herstory

Continued from page 1

through her journey. The dinner will run from noon to 3 p.m., or until the food is gone. The benefit auction begins at noon. Bidding stops at 3:45 p.m.; drawing of prize winners will start at 4 p.m. Monetary donations are being sought, as are auction donations. Contact Jen Millea at (607) 2876862 with questions and for further details. And don’t forget— the Hartwick Literary and Zucchini Soup Society Book Club will meet on Wednesday, April 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the Kinney Memorial Library to discuss “The Personal Librarian” by Marie Benedict. Interested in joining?

The book club meets the third Wednesday of every month. Visit or call the library to learn more. Thanks for the heads up, Barb! When was the last time you attended a Town Board meeting? I know I am woefully remiss, and will be catching up on municipal news as soon as I hire a full-time reporter... In the meantime, Hartwick residents who would like to learn what is going on in the town and perhaps weigh in on the process can catch the Town Board Work Meeting on Monday, April 15 at 7 p.m. If there is anyone out there who is interested in covering and reporting on municipal

today—as well as a diversity of art mediums and even female artists themselves. The layout within the exhibit is also unique, as the curators bridged the gap and paired classically-trained artists next to folk art or any work that has traditionally been deemed “women’s crafts.”

Just because a piece of art falls under the category of “women’s crafts” does not mean it cannot still tell a compelling story. When asked which piece within the exhibit spoke to her the most, Madore pointed to “Maremaid” from 1815, by Mary Ann Wilson. Wilson uses a play on words with “mare,” meaning “sea” in Latin, and a shortened version of her own name to depict herself as a strong warrior of the water. Armed with weapons instead of the usual mermaid comb and mirror, Wilson puts herself in the traditionally male role of protector. The scales on her tail, resembling that of a quilt, reminds the viewer that she can hold both roles at once: warrior and woman. Her romantic partner, Miss Brundage, may have also had an impact on the honesty of her work, as they were in a same-sex relationship, which was publicly acknowledged during a time when scarcely any were.

When asked the same question, Cannon gestured over to the quilted piece toward the front of the exhibit. “Black Barbie,” from 1996, by Kyra Hicks, speaks on women’s bodies and bodily autonomy, which Cannon feels is an especially important topic to bring up in today’s political

meetings, including the Town of Hartwick, please give me a call or reach out to me at darlay@allotsego.com with writing samples. The next regular Town Board meeting is set for Monday, May 13. The Planning Board meets next on Tuesday, May 7.

On Saturday, May 4, the town will hold its annual Spring Clean Sweep from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stay tuned for details or check out the town website for more information at hartwickny.gov.

I received an e-mail recently from Martha Clarvoe, who owns and operates Freight Wheel Café along with husband Paul. The Clarvoes are hoping to get some of their reusable containers back. Martha wrote: “When Freight Wheel Café opened in January 2023, we hoped to use a ‘green to-go’ carryout system. By lending

and cultural climate. The quilt was first displayed in 2008; however, this is the first time it is being brought out for a big exhibit since then, giving the opportunity to create a narrative around inclusivity in beauty standards for all races, ages, and skin tones.

Madore says she hopes people “see the show and realize how far women artists have come, but also how far museums need to go to bring these women forward.”

The exhibit is broken up into four separate sections, but it is always good to start at the beginning. “As they Saw It: Women Artists and Now” is on the second floor, in the Scriven Gallery. The room is unique to other galleries in the museum, as you have to open a door to get in. This creates an enclosed space in which visitors can reflect without the bustle of people looking at other exhibits. When it is quiet, it is a great place for introspection, and to really look at the layout of the pieces on display.

The introductory panel for the exhibit is inside the room to the left side of the wall, enticing visitors to step fully into the world of female artists in order

the pros. A Facebook post on the Hartwick, NY Facebook page on March 13 reads: “So—build or buy your own compost bin and leave the grass clippings on the lawn or around trees and shrubs as a mulch. Just stop the nasty bickering—it is a bad look for the town.”

out the ‘green’ carry out containers, with customers returning the containers to the red collection container on our front porch, our goal is to close the loop and reduce waste. If there is a green carry-out container on your refrigerator or counter, please return it to Freight Wheel Café, next to the Hartwick Post Office. Completing this cycle will allow you and others to purchase a meal without creating waste. Thanks for your help!”

Speaking of the color green, town officials recently voted to close the green waste disposal site located on town property behind the old school building. Apparently this prompted some lively, and not always polite, discussion on social media. At the end of the day, town officials decided the cons of providing a green waste facility outweighed

to read it. As the visitor reads the verbiage, they begin to realize they are face-to-face with a wall of confident eyes. It is then the visitor realizes they are at the first section of the exhibit, “I & Myself,” which “showcases self-portraits and explorations or identity that assert the perspectives of their makers.”

Strong, present, and honest, these works display the selfexpression of the artist and challenge common beauty standards. Such is the case with Polly Thayer’s, “SelfPortrait,” from 1989. Thayer completed the work when she was 87, and she does not shy away from view. Instead, she confidently shows her face, aged in the wisdom gained from a life fully lived. Ellen Day Hale’s “Self-Portrait,” from 1885 exudes another type of confidence, once reserved for men of the time. But here, her masculine posture commands the respect she deserves.

Moving further into the room, the next section is “Sisterhood & Community,” which “honors the networks of support that women artists create to empower one another and overcome discrimination.” Around the corner from this label is a collection of photographs of women athletes from the Springfield Museums. Taken by women, of women, Etta Clark and Cary Herz capture the spirit of female athleticism at all ages, races, and body shapes.

“Legacy & Lineage” is the next section, moving back toward the entrance, and “speaks to the importance of passing on creative practices and techniques, calling attention to multi-generational relationships built on familial ties and mentorships.” No examples of artwork

I reached out to Bryan LoRusso regarding progress at the old school and for an update on the status of the Hartwick Arms, as I had heard through the grapevine that the gun shop might be opening soon. LoRusso said, “Yes, ma’am. Gun shop is almost full but we still don’t have a grand opening date. And the school is almost completely gutted and we’re getting ready to spray foam. Only took 100 years to get insulated.” Don’t miss the “Paint and Snack” event at the First Baptist Church of Hartwick on Sunday, April 21. This “CrafterNoon” event begins at 2 p.m. at the church, which is located on the corner of County Route 11 and State Route 205. Participants are asked to bring any size canvas you like, a snack to share and a friend. Donations are appreciated to cover the cost of supplies. If you plan to attend, organizers have asked that you please RSVP by April 10 at (607) 293-8168. I know this issue comes out

better encompass this section than that of Elizabeth Hickox and Louise Hickox, both titled “Basket,” from 1920 and 1915, respectively. The mother-daughter duo specialized in “tightly woven, lidded baskets.” Traditions passed down are something to be treasured and, as previous generations taught Elizabeth how to weave, Louise also passed this knowledge onto future generations. Another example of learning from observation and passing down generational knowledge is “Doll,” from 1950, which was made by a Seminole girl once known, from Seminole, Florida. Expected to create clothing for the family, young Seminole girls watched their mothers work, and practiced their craft by making clothing for dolls.

The final section of the exhibit is “Women & The Arts,” which reminds the visitor that “although women have always contributed to the history of art, gender discrimination and lack of access to training and art institutions has resulted in an imbalance in the display

a day later, but if you missed the deadline you can still call to see if they can squeeze you in.

I’ll end with an open call from Andrea Vazquez, who is looking for community participation in the upcoming Memorial Day parade. “We want you to be in the parade! We are seeking bands, sports teams, law enforcement, fire [departments], EMS, Scouts, horses, classic cars, tractors, business, school groups, church groups, kids with decorated bikes or bikes in general (it would be great if someone could sponsor the bike decorating activity the evening before) and any other groups that you may be a part of,” Vazquez wrote in an e-mail. “We are extremely excited about the parade this year! We are looking to grow the number of people that participate! Please feel free to share with other organizations!” Andrea’s enthusiasm for the parade is contagious!

Oops, one last tidbit: Chase Road is now open!

Darla M. Youngs is a resident of the hamlet of Hartwick, a bit of a hermit, and general manager and senior editor of Iron String Press. Those wishing to contribute to this monthly column are invited to send information and photos to darlay@allotsego.com.

and recognition of women’s artwork that continues today.” This goes perfectly with the sentiments expressed in the press release for the museum, which explains how “in an era of debate about women’s rights, and when museums are striving to increase representation in their collection, the exhibition embraces conversations about contemporary issues related to the arts, advocacy, and gender.”

“As They Saw It: Women Artists Then & Now” is one example of a series of exhibits created as part of the Art Bridges Initiative, the goal of which is to expand access to American art across the nation. To learn more about this initiative, visit artbridgesfoundation. org. Several programs related to the exhibit will be held during the spring and summer months—see fenimoreart. org for more information. The Fenimore Art Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “As They Saw It: Women Artists Then & Now” will be on display until September 2.

Photo provided andrea Vazquez is already planning ahead for the hartwick memorial Day parade.

Photo by Emily Hilbert “Doll,” 1950, artist once known, cotton, palmetto bark, wood, and silk.

Photo by Emily Hilbert “as they saw It: women artists then & now” is on display at the fenimore art museum until september 2.

SWCD

Continued from page 1

and Markets and alerted the board that auditors at the state level would be getting involved.

“At this point, NYS Ag and Markets could deem Otsego SWCD as an irresponsible vendor for state programs,” Steinmuller is reported in the minutes as saying. “Every step the district takes to get these projects done will make sure they can continue to provide services to the farmers,” the minutes read.

The minutes show that SWCD board members Meg Kennedy and Ed lentz immediately questioned Steinmuller with regard to assistance with

grant reporting benchmarks and checklists, and ways in which to reprove the district’s worthiness as a responsible vendor. lentz commented then that part of the problem seemed to be the complexity of partnering with Natural Resources Conservation Service, a federal agency that shares office space with SWCD and works with SWCD staff on a number of conservation programs and projects that help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damage caused by floods and other natural disasters.

Clements also referred to communication issues with NRCS, and is quoted

in the minutes as saying, “These are good projects my staff and i have done, and i’m embarrassed this is happening.” Clements resigned from his position as district manager in June 2022.

Steinmuller said that he did not feel state and federal partnering on grants was the root cause here. After much discussion, Steinmuller explained that, at that point in time, things were “in our internal auditors’ hands. We have offered a plan for repayment. it will require OSC [Office of the State Comptroller] approval.”

On a positive note, Steinmuller commented that any district that has gone through an OSC audit “has come out better in the end.”

The job scene job scene

Both SWCD and NRCS provide important services to the residents of Otsego County. New York’s 58 county Soil and Water Conservation Districts offer programs and services to conserve, enhance, and protect soil and water resources across the state. NRCS helps producers, soil and water conservation districts, and other partners protect and conserve natural resources on private lands throughout the United States, with approximately 2,300 service centers in communities nationwide.

While the complexities of state and federal agencies working together may have muddied the waters, reading through the SWCD board meeting minutes makes one wonder if some of SWCD’s difficulties may be yet another fallout from the COViD19 pandemic. in 2020, it appears that many of the board members were forced to meet virtually rather than in person, and in August of 2020, then-District Manager Clements and other staff members experienced issues with daycare and shortened school days which required them to work from home two days a week.

When asked whether or not she thought the pandemic may have

exacerbated issues at SWCD, Kennedy said, “it is possible [social distancing] kept the board from being as involved as they could have been.”

The minutes also show that, from November 2017 to January 2021, there was relatively little change in the composition of the SWCD Board of Directors, which may also have contributed to the oversight problems, in that there were few fresh eyes reviewing the materials and processes during the period in question.

Kennedy did not disagree, though she was quick to praise her fellow board members and SWCD staff for taking immediate action following the April 16 heads-up from Steinmuller—getting materials to the auditors in a timely fashion and working to make things right.

“The board members were so cooperative. When we realized the extent of the issues, and the extent of the challenges ahead, the board attitude was ‘let’s get going to fix this, tell us what to do next,’” Kennedy said.

Once fully aware of the problems and knowing that things had to change, the board met twice monthly in 2022 and partway into 2023 to address the various issues, Kennedy said. And, with assistance from the state and former District Manager Scott Fickbohm, board members have taken all available trainings within the last 16 months.

Kennedy described officials from Ag and Markets and the OSC as being very helpful before, during, and after the audit process.

The June 13, 2022 SWCD board meeting minutes make it clear that board members were examining the district’s shortcomings in order to move forward: “The board discussed how the problems with district finances developed. The main reasons were: a district secretary who was unqualified and unable to perform the functions of the job; a subsequent district secretary who, while very capable, also lacked the requisite experience; a district manager who did not engage in the manage-

ment of district finances or properly oversee the work of the district secretaries; and a complacent board of directors that did not provide adequate oversight of grants management and that did not put in place policies and procedures that might have prevented overpayments and other problems.”

Despite this, Kennedy said it is very difficult to assign blame for what went wrong.

“Many of the SWCD contracts are multi-year, with lots of moving parts. Engineers, other federal partners, various funding packages, et cetera,” she explained.

Staff turnover may also have impacted the effectiveness of the district.

Key overarching recommendations in the Comptroller’s March report were:

• Ensure grant disbursements are approved before payment to avoid overpayments to landowners.

• perform a thorough claims audit to ensure disbursements are supported and for appropriate and necessary District purposes.

• Maintain accurate leave records and periodically review leave accrual balances.

The report also specifies 16 recommendations for the Board to implement, from establishing separate bank accounts for each grant to ensuring that grant disbursements are properly supported and approved before payment to adequately segregating payroll duties and/or establish compensating controls to provide oversight of the payroll process.

A letter to Regional Chief Ann Singer of the OSC dated March 11, 2024—signed by Kennedy—said board directors agreed with all draft findings and recommendations.

“This audit process has allowed us to strengthen our policies and procedures, establishing a firm foundation for future success with grant-funded projects and general operations,” the letter reads.

Kennedy goes on to list each of the OSC’s 16 recommendations and outlines the board’s Corrective Action plan in response to those recommendations. As per OSC requirements, the CAp

is posted on otsegosoilandwater.com for public review.

Meanwhile, things are moving right along at SWCD under new leadership.

District Manager Christos Galanopoulos provided the following recap of SWCD services:

“The Otsego County SWCD engages the local community in a variety of ways, either via financial help, technical assistance, community outreach or a combination of the previously mentioned [strategies].

“On the financial side, the Otsego SWCD can offer farmers a Comprehensive Nutrient Management plan, which may lead to installation of stream exclusion fences, manure storage facilities and runoff management abatement. The technical side has the SWCD employees advising both farmers and non-farming landowners on the best course of action for waterand soil-related issues on their property, along with the installation of mitigation practices such as riparian buffers.

“On the outreach end of [things], the Otsego SWCD conducts the annual Envirothon as well as the tree sale, which is quite popular with county citizens, while maintaining a minor presence in the Earth Day events, the county fair and any other local festival during the summer.

“As for [current] projects, we are looking forward to implementing our Manure Storage Facility grant that we were awarded last year through the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abate-ment program via the New York State Department of Ag & Markets, which will aid in keeping the Unadilla River clean and viable for fishing and other recreation activities,” Galanopoulos explained in an e-mail on Tuesday, April 9.

Chamber To Honor Awards Recipients on Thursday, April 25

ONEONTA

Later this month, the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce will hold its Spring Dinner and Awards Ceremony at The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown.

This year’s award winners include a community leader, a fledgling enterprise and an established business familiar to all.

The chamber event on Thursday, April 25 will kick off with cocktails and networking from 5:30-6:15 p.m., followed by a sit-down dinner beginning 6:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony. For more information, visit otsegocc.com.

2024 Eugene A. Bettiol

Jr. Distinguished Citizen Award

Julie Dostal Award to be presented by Bassett Healthcare Network

From the Chamber: Julie Dostal is an example of what one individual, armed with courage and conviction, can do to affect the world around her. She believes that addiction is a 100 percent preventable disease from which people can, and do, recover. Julie promotes

a stigma-free, openarmed, recovery-friendly community throughout the region. Her work is hard, but this is often the case when a person is dedicated to doing the right thing for her fellow human beings. Everyone knows Julie as the force behind lEAF Council on Alcoholism and Addictions. She has personally provided care and counsel to hundreds, if not thousands, of people in recovery. And while her impact on Otsego County and

Julie DostAl

Eugene A. Bettiol, Jr. Distinguished Citizen Award

Cooperstown AllstAr VillAge Business of the year

this region of Upstate New York is substantial, Julie has a lifelong list of accomplishments that bear witness to her stellar career.

Among these achievements are: adjunct instructor at SUNY Oneonta; master trainer in Communities that Care; certified New York State trainer in Screening Brief intervention and Referral to Treatment; New York State licensed mental health counselor; certified prevention professional; president of the National professional Association of Council Executives; president of the Council on Addictions of New York State; Board of Directors member of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependencies; and a New York State Woman of Distinction.

Julie is just as special on the personal level. She is an award-winning poet, a middle school choral teacher, a valued friend, and a woman in long-term recovery, as she says, “by the grace of God.”

Julie’s hard work, perseverance and dedication have exemplified the highest standards of citizenship, integrity, leader-

ship, and a commitment to making a positive difference in our community. Her tireless efforts and unwavering dedication have left a lasting impression inspiring all to strive for excellence and service. Through her remarkable achievements, Julie has enriched the lives of those around her and has also helped to shape the future of Otsego County for the better.

Nomination Excerpts: “…has been a leader in advocating for better health, helping those with addiction issues with alternative programs for years and has made the lEAF organization a major player in all community discussions and events. She has raised the bar of awareness of ways the community can improve, and her staff and board have made several keystone events for the community to enjoy for years.”

“Julie and her team have served as a leader in the advancement of health and well-being of individuals and family in our communities. She has created an impactful, positive footprint across the county and in the dayto-day lives of students, parents, and workers. She had the opportunity to bring a new strategy, the ONEbox, to Otsego County. Oneonta was the first community in New York State to implement the ONEbox strategy.”

Thoughts from Julie:

i was completely speechless when i got that call from the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce to tell me about the award. it was a surreal moment in my life. i am both excited and honored to stand amidst this year’s exceptional awardees, Cooperstown All Star Village and Vêsucré, as well as the list of those who have received the Eugene Bettiol Jr. Distinguished Citizen Award in previous years. i look at that list and i see people, leaders, whom i have truly looked up to in our community. i saw a Facebook post this morning about the award, and one of the most important sentences in the post started with, “Julie and her team…” i am keenly aware that this award would not have been possible without an amazing, talented, heartcentered team and an equally amazing Board of Directors that have supported us at every step. Just thinking about them makes me smile. i am definitely a grateful human being!

2024 Breakthrough Award

Vêsucré

To be presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

From the Chamber: The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce 2024 Breakthrough Award recipient is Vêsucré, a womanowned business that is shattering barriers, pushing the boundaries and pioneering work in innovation. Sarah Hartmann and her team at Vêsucré are fearless innovators who dare to dream and challenge convention. They have demonstrated exceptional creativity, determination, and vision, and are revolutionizing the world of creamy frozen desserts.

Vêsucré is an innovative and health-conscious company that burst onto the scene in 2023. This maker and purveyor of vegan desserts can now be seen at events and along Main Streets throughout the region on their unique “icicle Bicycle.” Their product can also be found at local eateries as the operation continues to grow in scope.

Vêsucré is the accomplishment of Sarah Hartmann. Born right here in Otsego County, Sarah’s professional career took her to multiple places, including New York City. After a successful

stint in Gotham, Sarah decided to come back to her roots and take the leap of faith to start Vêsucré. in just over one year, Sarah has willed Vêsucré into a thriving business that has gained considerable attention. Sarah was awarded a micro-enterprise grant from the City of Oneonta to aid in her expansion. Cornell University took notice as well, awarding Sarah a scholarship to the New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture.

Today, Vêsucré has three full-time employees, with Sarah, Charlie Shaw and Gwen Calchi forming the nimble team of dedicated pros that have brought this business to the next level.

Nomination Excerpts: “…a testament to their outstanding innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to community impact. Their dedication to social responsibility sets Vêsucré apart as a beacon of ethical and inclusive business practices. Sarah Hartmann, owner and founder of Vêsucré, exemplifies the essence of communitydriven entrepreneurship. Sarah’s focus on collaborating with local family-owned farms and markets to bring their plant-based treats directly to consumers not only supports the local economy but also fosters a sense of connection and authenticity.

Vêsucré fills a crucial gap in the market by catering to individuals with dietary restrictions, offering sweet treats that are both indulgent, plant based, dairy and gluten free. Sarah’s creativity in flavors and product naming, coupled with her unwavering commitment to community engagement, exemplifies the epitome of a Breakthrough Business.”

“…developed this

Continued on page 9

photo provided Julie Dostal, executive director of LEAF Council on Alcoholism and Addications, is this year’s Eugene A. Bettiol Jr. Distinguished Citizen.

photos provided Vêsucré is an innovative and health-conscious company that burst onto the scene in 2023.

Awards

Continued from page 8

product in Oneonta, utilizes another local business for their manufacturing facility and is now expanding. They offer the product to various health food stores and restaurants locally and across Upstate New York, have a mobile bike that sells the treat in the summer months, and is continuing to grow. They received grant funding to hire new employees and have a working relationship with the ARC Otsego, Springbrook, and Pathfinder Village to hire intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals to help manufacture and sell their products. This outof-the-box thinking helps supports those living in our community who are not always offered a job in the traditional positions available. Sarah has done a fantastic job creating a one-of-a-kind product and is looking to continue to grow her business with more products and more job openings to those with IDD.”

Thoughts from Sarah:

“We are deeply honored to receive the Breakthrough Award from the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce. This recognition speaks volumes about the dedication and hard work of the entire Vêsucré team, as well as the exceptional support we’ve received from local business owners [and from] city and county resources and programs. Our partnerships with The Arc Otsego and Springbrook have been instrumental in providing opportunities to individuals with ID/D (intellectual or developmental disabilities), highlighting our commitment to equity

and inclusivity. Winning this award reinforces our belief that Otsego County is a place where startups can thrive while making a positive impact in the community. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the team at Cooperstown All Star Village and Julie Dostal for their remarkable achievements.”

—Sarah Hartmann

2024 Business of the Year Award

Cooperstown All Star Village

To be presented by NBT Bank

From the Chamber: Cooperstown All Star Village has undergone quite the transformation over the last few years. In March 2022, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment purchased an 80 percent share of the business from its founders and local residents, the Patton Family. Since then, Cooperstown All Star Village has made numerous improvements to the facility, with more on the horizon. The current ownership has made significant, if quiet, investments in local communities as well. They have eagerly supported many youth-focused and nonprofit organizations as a partner in efforts to increase quality of place. According to tourism reporting firm Sports Destination Management, Cooperstown All Star Village is a Champion of Economic Impact. The 2023 season brought $94.79 million of spending into Otsego County. And the future looks even brighter.

Rick Abbott, chief executive officer of Cooperstown All Star Village, has been the person entrusted to accomplish the organization’s goals in this market.

He is an experienced leader, a trusted community partner, and a great friend to this county.

Nomination Excerpts:

“Cooperstown All Star Village was named 2023 Champion of Economic Impact in sports tourism. As a world-class family resort for 12U baseball teams from around the world, Cooperstown All Star Village experienced its most successful summer in 2023 with an estimated economic impact of $94.79 million. This year, Cooperstown All Star Village welcomed a record 763 teams and 12,000 participants from 35 states and countries as far away as Australia.”

“In the Sports Destination Management article, Rick Abbott, chief executive officer of Cooperstown All Star Village, is quoted: ‘I’m incredibly proud of our team and their attention to detail to provide an incredible experience for every player, coach, and family member that makes Cooperstown All Star Village their youth baseball destination… We’re much more than baseball. We’re a destination that young players and their families will remember forever. And,

in turn, they have a lasting impact on our region.’”

Thoughts from Rick:

Being nominated for the award alone was quite the surprise. The region is filled with so many deserving companies who do so much to make their neighborhood a better place to live and work. Needless to say, upon hearing that we had been selected as the winner, we were overjoyed and humbled by the recog-

nition. Cooperstown All Star Village has, and always will be, a part of what makes this area great. We deeply care about our customers, who come to experience the premiere youth baseball resort in the country. That caring also translates to how we take care of our employees. We are always amazed by how many local students, teachers, parents, retirees…want to come work with us

each summer. We strive to create an inclusive and fun work environment for everyone. On behalf of everyone at CASV… we are thrilled to have been named Business of the Year!

—Rick Abbott

Photo provided

This past year, Cooperstown All Star Village welcomed a record 763 teams and 12,000 participants from 35 states and countries as far away as Australia.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public hearings in the Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York on Monday, April 29th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard, to discuss the following:

Proposed Local Law No. 3 of 2024- local destination of Type II actions under the Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)

Any resident of the Village of Cooperstown is entitled to be heard upon the proposed Local Law at such public hearing. Disabled citizens, who require assistance in attending said public hearing, or in furnishing comments or suggestions, should contact the Village Clerk to request assistance. A copy of the proposed local law is available for inspection at the Village Clerk’s office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Dated: April 8, 2024

By order of the Village Board Village of Cooperstown

Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) LegaL nOtice

RESTORE NY Grant, Round 8 for 217 Main Street

Any resident of the Village of Cooperstown is entitled to be heard upon said proposed application at such public hearing. Disabled citizens, who require assistance in attending said public hearings, or in furnishing comments or suggestions, should contact the Village Administrator to request assistance.

Dated: April 9, 2024

By order of the Village Board Village of Cooperstown

property

that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public hearing in the Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York on Monday, April 29th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard, to discuss making application in the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process for the following:

Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) LegaL nOtice SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF OTSEGO NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, Plaintiff, -againstUNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF ELEANOR M UTTER DECEASED their wives, husbands, heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, assignees, lienors, creditors, successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said ELEANOR M. UTTER, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and the respective husbands, wives, widows or widowers of them, if any, all of whose names are unknown to plaintiff, LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2022-SL1 MORTGAGEBACKED NOTES, SERIES 2020-SL1, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the plaintiff’s attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within 30 days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant an Order of the Brian D. Burns, a Justiceof the Supreme Court, of Ostego, dated March 15, 2024 and entered March 19, 2024.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage in the amount of $65,000.00 recorded in the Otsego County Clerk’s/City Register’s Office on March 7, 2006 in Book 1478 of Mortgages at Page 822 covering the premises known as 4 ROSE AVENUE, ONEONTA, NY 13820. Thereafter, the Mortgage was assigned to NEWREZ LLC F/K/A NEW PENN FINANCIAL, LLC D/B/ A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, by an Assignment of Mortgage dated December 14, 2022 and recorded with the Otsego County Clerk on December 20, 2022, in Instrument No. 2022-6834. The relief sought in the within action is a final Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. Otsego County is designated as the place of trial on the basis of the fact that the real

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your Property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: Westbury, New York

February 14, 2024

DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC, By: Maria Sideris, Esq.

Attorneys for Plaintiff, 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 (516) 876-0800

4LegalMay.2

LegaL nOtice NOTICE

City School District City of Oneonta, New York PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Public Hearing of the qualified voters of the Oneonta City School District, Otsego County, New York, will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Oneonta Senior High School pursuant to Section 2017 (4) (5) of the Education Law of the State of New York, for the presentation of the budget document.

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that the Annual Meeting and a vote, by voting machine, will be

held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at The Foothills, 24 Market Street, Oneonta, at which time the polls will be open from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., EST, for voting on the following items:

To adopt the annual budget of the Oneonta City School District for the fiscal year 2024-2025 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable real property of the District,

To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education, each to serve three (3) year terms, commencing on July 1, 2024 and expiring on June 30, 2027, to succeed Susan Kurkowski, and Michael Iannelli, whose terms expire on June 30, 2024.

To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education, to serve the remainder of a vacated seat previously held by board member Shari Johnson Ploutz the term for this seat is July 1, 2022 and expiring on June 30, 2025.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to the Education Law of the State of New York.

Voting at said Annual Election will be by use of voting machines.

ALL VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE AT: THE FOOTHILLS 24 MARKET STREET, ONEONTA, NEW YORK

Petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education to fill two (2) expired terms of three (3) years and one (1) vacated seat for one (1) year shall be filed with the Clerk of said School District at the District Office, no later than May 1, 2024 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Each petition must be directed to the Clerk of the District, must be signed by at least one hundred (100) qualified voters of the District and state the residence of each signer; the name and residence of the candidates. NOTICE, is also given that any person, otherwise qualified to vote, who is currently registered for any general election, pursuant to Section 352 of the Election Law, shall be entitled to vote without further registration pursuant to Section 2014 of

the Education Law. Military voters who are qualified voters of the School District may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk. For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 3, 2024. In a request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. The School District will transmit military ballots to military voters on May 3, 2024. Completed military ballots must be received by the School District by 5:00 p.m. on May 21, 2024, in order to be counted.

PLEASE TAKE

NOTICE that

the Board of Education of the Oneonta City School District has fixed May 7, 2024 as the date on which the Board of Registration of said school district will meet at 31 Center Street, in Oneonta, New York, in said school district, for the purpose of preparing a register for each school election district for the Annual City School District Election to be held on May 21, 2024. Said Board of Registration will meet for said purposes on May 7, 2024 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

At such hours and place, any person who has not permanently registered by May 7, 2024 or who did not register for the general election held on November 7, 2023, or who is permanently registered, but at the time of such registration resided in a school election district other than the one in which he or she presently resides or has not voted in an intervening election, must in order to be entitled to vote at said election, present himself or herself personally for registration. The register so prepared pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District at the Board of Education Offices at 31 Center Street, Oneonta, New York 13820 and will be open for inspection by any

qualified voter of the district beginning May 8, 2024, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and each day, except Saturday or Sunday, prior to the day set for the election, May 21, 2024, and at the polling place on the day of the vote.

Copies of the proposed budget may be obtained by any resident of the Oneonta City School District each day of the week other than Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, during the period of seven days immediately preceding the date of the public hearing to be held on May 8, 2024.

Copies of the proposed budget will be available on said days at the Board of Education Office, 31 Center Street, Oneonta, New York, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Board of Education of the Oneonta City School District shall provide for early voting and absentee ballots for the election of Board of Education member, the school budget and any other referenda stated in this notice. Applications for early voting and absentee ballots for said annual election are available at the Board of Education Offices, 31 Center Street, Oneonta, New York. Completed applications are to be submitted to the Clerk of the Board of Education at said address no later than May 14, 2024 if mailed, and May 21, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. if personally delivered. Early voting and absentee ballots are to be submitted no later than 3:30 p.m. on May 21, 2024 the day of said election, to the address of the Clerk of the Board of Education.

A list of all persons to whom early voting and absentee ballots have been issued will be available in the office of the District Clerk from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on each of the five days prior to the day of the election, except weekends, and on the day set for the election. Any qualified voter may challenge the acceptance of the ballot of any person on such list, by making his/her challenge and reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. AND FUR-

THER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that any other proposition not requiring official notice in the call of the Annual Meeting may be voted upon at said election, subject to the provisions of Section 2035 of the Education Law, provided a proposition is filed with the District Clerk on or before April 26, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. prevailing time; said proposition must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District: must be signed by at least one hundred (100) qualified voters of the District; and must state the name and residence of each signer. The School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, or any proposition that fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition.

PROPOSITION

1 – PURCHASE OF SCHOOL BUSES

Shall the March 20, 2024 bond resolution

authorizing the purchase of (1) one 66 passenger school bus, (1) one 30 passenger bus and (1) one 7-passenger van for student transport for the City School District of the City of Oneonta, at a maximum cost of $349,185; authorizing the issuance of up to $349,185 bonds (five year maximum maturity); providing for a tax levy therefor in annual installments; pledging the District’s faith and credit for debt service; delegating powers with respect to bonds and notes; and providing for an estoppel procedure, be approved?

PROPOSITION

2 – Capital Reserve Fund

Proposition RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Oneonta, is hereby authorized to expend $2,000,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund on the capital improvement project approved by the voters on December 18, 2023 which will reduce the amount of bonds to be issued therefor. Dated: March 21, 2024 Oneonta, New York BY

DOAS

Continued from page 5

birdwatching generates almost $100 billion annually in economic output in the U.S.

The NMBCA, established in 2002, is a grant program that has been a keystone for providing funding for

Jane Crosby

Spinney Huber

1932-2024

SEBASTIAN, FL—

Jane Crosby Spinney Huber, age 91, of Sebastian, Florida passed away on Monday, April 1, 2024.

She passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, David Eastman Huber, sister Joyce Spinney Canning, son David Steven Huber, and her late-in-life partner, Jesse Knipshild, with whom she shared 15 years of love, travel, friends, and families.

Jane was born on August 31, 1932 in New York City and grew up in Montclair, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Frank Oakman Spinney and Judith Downer Hamilton. She graduated from high school in 1950 and from The University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts in 1954.

Jane was involved in many activities throughout her life. She followed her husband, David Huber, in his Air Force career and lived in many places in the United States and in Okinawa, where she taught English to Okinawan students.

Jane and David raised their family with love throughout their travels and she formed many lifelong friendships and found time to pursue

bird conservation through partnerships across the western hemisphere. The Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act (HR 4389 https://www. congress.gov/bill/118thcongress/house-bill/4389) has been introduced in the U.S. House to enhance the NMBCA by reauthorizing the program and growing

its funding level to $10 million, and making program updates. The legislation would improve accessibility and management of the program by easing matching requirements and raising the cap on administrative support from 3 to 4 percent. The spring birds that we will enjoy in the coming weeks need to be

protected all along their flight paths. The large New York Congressional delegation is important and each member’s vote—including those of Representatives Molinaro and Stefanik—is vital to getting this policy passed this session. DOAS asks our area residents to urge members of Congress to cosponsor the Migratory

OBITUARIES

personal interests. She remained humble and seldom drew attention to her accomplishments. Rarely outspoken, she possessed a sharp wit yet quiet, gentle humor and loved to observe the human condition. She was chairwoman of the Cooperstown Winter Carnival and active in the League of Women Voters. Jane enjoyed playing tennis, running, masters swimming, and traveling, including her many cross-country road trips. She was a founding member of the Sebastian Friendly Tennis Club and played tennis into her

80s. In 1973, Jane swam the length of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown— 9 miles. She also ran the Miami Marathon in the 1980s.

Jane shared a friendship of more than 70 years with a circle of three ladies from her college days. They called themselves “The Dragons.” Inspired by this lifelong friendship, Jane took a four-week tour to mainland China in the 1980s.

Jane was an avid reader and a member of book clubs wherever she lived. She spent many summers attending writing camp

at Skidmore College as well as attending the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

Through the book clubs, her avid reading, and writer workshops, Jane wrote and published a number of short stories about her family.

She is survived by her brother, David Gildersleeve Cruickshank (Kathie); sister Virginia Gildersleeve Cruickshank; her loving children, Frank Hamilton Huber, Joyce Alden Huber, (George) Weir and Clair Eastman Huber (Thomas) Ball; granddaughter Emily Bajjaly Ball; nieces Raina Koenitzer and Jane Burgess; nephews Gregory Cruickshank and James Cruickshank; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

She will be forever loved and remembered by her children, her

Birds of the Americas legislation and to support fully funding NMBCA appropriations in FY24. To submit an easy, online letter, go to https://act. audubon.org/a/nmbca2024?ms=R12. Residents can also call their representative and leave a message. Contact information can be found at the DOAS website at

https://doas.us/how-tocontact-your-elected-officials/. DOAS will also have postcards available to fill out at their Earth Festival exhibit on April 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Milford Central School. Susan O’Handley is a Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society board member and DOAS education and publicity chair.

siblings, her granddaughter, her many nieces and nephews, and her many friends.

Formal services and a memorial will be held in

Fly Creek, New York at a later date. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to The Salvation Army or Red Cross.

Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar.

Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home will take the time to find out what made your loved one special. Whether it’s finding just the right flowers, or finding a musician to play her favorite tunes on her old guitar, we’ll do what’s necessary to make her service as unique as she was.

Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home

14 Grand Street, Oneonta • 607-432-6821

www.grummonsfuneralhome.com

Funeral Home

Dignity, Respect, Tradition

Dignified and Caring Service since 1925 Peaceful grounds. Home-like atmosphere. Suitable for large or small gatherings.

Peter A. Deysenroth

82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown | 607-547-8231

www.cooperstownfuneralhome.com

Photo provided JANE CROSBY SPINNEY HUBER

1:304:30 p.m. Open Studio. Experienced potters are invited to work on personal projects and hone their skills. No instruction provided. $30/session.

Held Monday, Wednesday, Friday and 6-9 p.m. on Thursdays. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@SmithyArts.org.

CHICKEN DINNER

4:30-6 p.m. Laurens Legion Chicken BBQ. Open to the public. Cost, $12/dinner, $7/half. Laurens American Legion, 11 Main Street, Laurens. (607) 293-7356.

FUNDRAISER

5-6:30 p.m. Spring fundraising dinner to benefit the Gilbertsville Free Library. Includes meatloaf, baked potato, string bean casserole, rolls, dessert and beverages. Tickets, $15/adult. Gilbertsville Baptist Church, New Life Fellowship Hall, Commercial Street, Gilbertsville. (607) 783-2463.

OPENING RECEPTION 5-7 p.m. “The Oakroom Artists” opens in Gallery A with “Meet Me In My Flower Garden” by May-Britt Joyce opening in Gallery B. Both on view through 5/8. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5479777.

►S At., April 13

SAFETY

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hunter Safety Course. Dress for the weather and complete the homework before class. Registration with NYSDEC required prior to class. Must be 12 years old by hunting season.

Bring drinks and lunch or purchase at the club. Gilbertsville Rod & Gun Club, 158 Gun Club Road, South New Berlin. (607) 859-2393.

SECURITY

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ox-Locks Security & Safety Expo. Local vendors and demonstrations. Otego Fire Department, 5 River Street, Otego. FARM MARKET

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Open each Saturday. Pathfinder Produce, 3 Chenango Road, Edmeston. (607) 965-8377.

BLOOD DRIVE

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. RedCrossBlood. org

SAFETY

9 a.m.to

3:45 p.m. “AARP Smart Driver Course.” Learn defensive driving techniques, safety strategies, new traffic laws and the rules of the road. $30/ non-member. Registration required. Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, 597 County Highway 54, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-3265 ext. 518. MARKET

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Second Saturday Shopper’s Market. Craft and vendor market featuring crafts, home décor, baked goods, more. Oneonta Vets Club, 279 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. MAKERS MARKET

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Spring Fling Shopping Showcase.” Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 4324401.

TAX PREP 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Free Tax Preparation.” Get help with taxes from IRS-certified volunteers. Held Saturdays through 4/15. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.

BENEFIT Noon to 3 p.m. or until gone. Spaghetti dinner fundraiser and chance auction to benefit 3-year-old Guinevere Millea in her fight against leukemia. $12/dinner. Chance auction noon to 3:45 p.m.

with drawing at 4 p.m.

The Hartwick Vet’s Club, 3099 County Route 11, Hartwick. (607) 2937511.

WRITERS GROUP

1:30-3:30 p.m. Supportive group to practice writing exercises and get feedback. Session held through May 18. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.

DRUM CIRCLE 2 p.m.

Drum and dance with the group. Green Earth Market, 4 Market Street, Oneonta.

DANCE 2-6 p.m. “2nd

Annual Bunny Hop Swing Dance.” Featuring beginner lessons, food, more. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080.

HISTORY 2 p.m.

Historian Susan Murray-Miller presents her book, “The Cherry Valley Massacre.” Get the latest information on this local history. Followed by Q&A. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Route 11, Hartwick. (607) 2936600.

CONTEST 2 p.m. “The Southside Market Baking Contest.” Cookie contest sponsored by King Arthur Flour during the Spring Shopping event. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 434-3454.

FOOD & GARDEN

3-5 p.m. “Global Roots at Origins Café.” Explore the world through food. Get a passport at the door and visit the greenhouses, featuring mini-food tastings and seed starting at each stop. Free, donations accepted for the education programs of Origins Community Foundation. Origins Café, 558 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown. (607) 4372862.

CONCERT 3-5 p.m.

Junior Recital featuring Maximillian Jackson on clarinet. Anderson Theater, Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta. (607) 431-4000.

BENEFIT 5-7:30 p.m.

“Re-Imagine The Local Arts.” 2nd annual benefit for visual arts programming and artistic performances, featuring dinner, drinks, auction, guest speakers and more. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. POTLUCK 6:30 p.m. “Second Saturday” Community Dinner. Good food, fellowship and some after-dinner games. Bring a dish to share and a friend. Everyone is welcome! Fly Creek United Methodist Church, 852 County Highway 26, Fly Creek.

CONCERT 7-9 p.m. Thespians Hawkeye Revue. Cooperstown Central School, 39 Linden Avenue, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8181.

CONCERT 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m. “Dark Sarcasm: A Tribute to Pink Floyd.” Tickets, $30. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080.

►Sun., April 14

RUN/WALK 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. “26th Annual SADD Strides for Safety 5K Run/Walk.” Raise funds for school programming to support students making healthy, responsible choices. Includes Health Fair. 9:3011:30 a.m. Oneonta High School, 144 East Street, Oneonta.

WRITING 1-3 p.m. “Cooperstown Writers Group.” Held each Sunday. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main

Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344.

CONCERT—2-4 p.m.

Thespians Hawkeye Revue matinee performance. Cooperstown Central School, 39 Linden Avenue, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8181.

BIRDING 6:45-8:20 p.m. “Hike to Watch the Woodcock Courtship Dance” with the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society and Otsego Land Trust. Parslow Road Conservation Area, 169 Parslow Road, Hartwick. (607) 397-3815.

RELIGION 7 p.m. “Oneonta Kirtan.” A devotional practice featuring song and chant of Indian or Sikh origin. Admission by donation. Yoga People. 50 Dietz Street, Suite L, Oneonta. Cmarshstudio@ gmail.com

►Mon., April 15 tAx DAy!

PLAY & LEARN 10 a.m. Guided sensory learning for children aged 5 and under. Held each Monday. Cooperstown Village Library, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344.

TECH SUPPORT

11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (during lunch) “One on One Tech Support.” Reserve a spot to get help using a personal device, from iphones to tablets. Held each third Monday of the month with Eric Camier. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com

MUSIC Noon. “Midday Music at St. Mary’s: Brian Murphy & Jeff Ruzich” Featuring rock, jazz and folk classics, as well as original tunes. Free. Refreshments provided, bring a bag lunch. Sanctuary of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 7690 State Highway 80, Springfield Center. (607) 233-4523

ext. 101. SENIOR MEALS Noon. Seniors are invited

to enjoy a delicious meal each Monday and Wednesday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $10.60 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of sweet sausage with peppers and onions, three bean salad, German potato salad and strawberry ice cream. Cherry Valley Facilities Corporation Café, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 5476454. CONNECTIONS 12:30 p.m. Conversation and Cookies. Share thoughts, experiences and insights on the provided topic. Cookies served. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com.

EXERCISE 2-3 p.m.

“Choga Flow.” Chair yoga led by certified instructor

Wanda Hunt. Cost, donation of 1 non-perishable food item for the Richfield Springs Food Pantry. Held each Monday. Richfield Springs Public Library, 102 West Main Street, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-0230. TAX PREP 6-8 p.m. “Free