Iron String Press Partners with SUNY-led Reporting Initiative
An article written by SUNY Oneonta student Tony Savio, published on Thursday, September 26 by Iron String Press, marks the beginning of a partnership that aims to address the problem of declining civic engagement and local “news deserts” throughout New York State.
That story, titled “City Council Approves Stage, Discusses Zoning of Markets,” is the first in a series of articles to be provided by the advanced journalism students of SUNY Oneonta’s Dr. Gayane Torosyan. Thanks to a collaboration between the SUNY system’s Institute for Local News and Iron String Press, these student-written articles will focus on meetings of the City of Oneonta Common Council and will be published in “Hometown Oneonta,” “The Freeman’s Journal” and on AllOtsego.com.
SUNY Oneonta part-time instructor and local media expert Cassandra Miller fact-checked and revised Savio’s story before submitting it to the editor of Iron String Press. Miller offered to help students covering future events by sharing background and contact information related to local news and public affairs.
“I was the youngest person at the City Council meeting,” Savio said, excited to learn that his story was going to be published: “That’s awesome! … And will I write a similar piece for the next meeting with her help as well?”
According to officials, “The Institute for Local News at SUNY engages
students in university-led reporting programs with local media partners to bolster local news coverage while giving students real-world learning experiences in multi-media storytelling and communications.”
Torosyan is the ILN lead for SUNY Oneonta. Her role is to guide students in the writing of professional-level news stories in their classes, which are then delivered publication-ready to Iron String Press. Through this partnership, students get a guided internship-like learning experience resulting in published work for their portfolios, while understaffed and resourcestrapped local news outlets such as ISP get much-needed original content covering important community issues, officials said. SUNY’s ILN initiative is being developed in coordination with the national Center for Community News at the University of Vermont. SUNY Oneonta Communication and Media faculty member Dr. Andrew Bottomley is a member of ILN’s Faculty Advisory Committee and the program’s coordinator on the SUNY Oneonta campus.
“We ran a pilot for the ILN during the spring 2024 semester and found that the syllabi for our journalism and media production courses needed to be adjusted to match the real-life deadlines of local news outlets. Students wrote interesting stories, but the “shelf life” of their topics required better planning,” Torosyan said.
Both Torosyan and Bottomley were recently honored by the Center for Community News for their efforts in
Continued on page 9
Springbrook Receives $5 Million from Philanthropist Golisano
ONEONTA
Springbrook announced last week that it will receive $5 million to advance its mission of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Philanthropist and Paychex founder
Tom Golisano has made a $360 million donation to more than 80 nonprofit organizations, including universities, healthcare providers, animal care groups, and others across Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and nearby regions in New York State. Among the beneficiaries, Springbrook—an organization with a long-standing relationship with
By TERESA WINCHESTER
GILBERTSVILLE
Original. Whimsical. Colorful. Resourceful. These four adjectives begin, at least, to describe lifelong quilter Ellen Adams and her work. A member of the Night Owl Quilters in the Delhi area and the Calico Geese Quilters in Liberty, Adams was the featured quilter at the 28th annual Major’s Inn Quilt Show, held October 4-6. Adams is also an inductee of the Catskill Mountain Quilters’ Hall of Fame in Arkville, an umbrella organization for quilting guilds in Sullivan, Greene, Delaware, Ulster and Schoharie counties.
Sitting in a room dedicated to her work, Adams chatted freely with visitors, telling them about the themes, materials and special circumstances of her 33 pieces featured at the Major’s Inn. When not engaged with visi-
Tom Golisano—was among one of the largest recipients.
Golisano’s generosity is rooted in his philosophy of giving back.
“The only wealth you get to keep is that which you give away,” he shared while announcing the award, emphasizing that this donation is not just about money but an opportunity for nonprofits to expand and improve their services.
Springbrook is immensely grateful for this generous gift, which will allow the organization to carefully assess and allocate resources where they will have
Continued on page 9
tors, she was working alternatively on several different quilts.
“I put away a quilt when I’ve lost inspiration and don’t know what the next step is. A quilt can sit for three years before I pick it up again. I don’t plan. I don’t even know what size it will be, and when it’s done, it’s done,” Adams said.
“Everything I do is hand-quilted. Appliqué is my forte. I like exploring and manipulating fabric,” Adams said, adding that all her work is made with “found objects,” which she has acquired at yard sales and junk shops, as well as from people just leaving things at her door.
“I keep things in a drawer and draw inspiration from them later. I never throw anything away,” she said.
If naïve art is a genre characterized by childlike simplicity and frankness, then Adams’ work fits the bill. She works intuitively and
Photo by Teresa Winchester ELLEN ADAMS
Photo provided
Tom Golisano, left, recently gifted Springbrook with $5 million in support of the organization’s mission. Above, Golisano is pictured with Springbrook CEO Patricia Kennedy and former Springbrook board member John Anderson during a 2012 Springbrook “Coming Home Campaign” event.
oRHA To Celebrate 40th Year with Free Picnic
MILFoRD
tsego Rural Housing Assistance Inc., a nonprofit that provides and preserves affordable housing in otsego County, will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a picnic in oneonta’s Neahwa Park on Friday, october 18. Community members, oRHA partners, and oRHA clients are all invited to drop in any time between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to meet oRHA’s staff, learn about the organization, and enjoy a free meal, organizers said.
o RHA administers a variety of grant programs to help o tsego County residents afford the costs of housing. Currently, these include repair and rehabilitation programs for lower-income homeowners and rental assistance through the Section 8 program. Past programs have also included homebuying assistance grants and other forms of rental assistance, such as emergency Co VID-19 rent relief funded by an o tsego County Community Development Block Grant award.
Initially founded in 1984, oRHA has completed more than 1,400 home repair or rehabilitation projects for otsego County residents. According to a media release, at the outset, oRHA provided rental assistance to 35 families, which in 1990 rose above 100 for the first time. Since 1990, oRHA’s rental assistance program has served more than 100 families annually, helping them to afford the costs of safe, decent housing. oRHA has also supported the development of two affordable senior housing projects in
the county: Alden Park Apartments in Cherry Valley and Unadilla Neighborhood Apartments in Unadilla.
“It’s humbling to look back on oRHA’s first 40 years and see the impact this organization has had in the county,” said Bridget Stith, who became the executive director of oRHA in 2023. “In oRHA’s lifetime, we’ve administered more than $30 million in housing assistance for otsego County families. That’s the actual cost of our help, like rent payments, rehabilitation project costs, or home buying assistance.
“Most of that is state and federal money that oRHA brought back to the county, injecting those funds into our local economy,’ Stith said.
oRHA’s anniversary picnic will be held at the large pavilion in Neahwa Park, and the public is invited to visit at any time. Attendees will be treated to a free hot dog or veggie dog, chips and a drink, as long as the supplies last. Staff and board members will be available to share information about oRHA’s programs and to catch up with current and former clients.
“If you’ve ever been curious about who we are or what we do, this is a great time to stop by for a chat,” said Stith.
Stith added that, beyond potential clients, she hoped local contractors, other service providers, and municipal officials would visit to learn more about how oRHA can work with them.
For more information about the anniversary picnic, visit www.otsegoruralhousing.org or call (607) 286-7244.
Teams Sought for November Walk to End Alzheimer’s
On Saturday, November 2, the Alzheimer’s Association, Northeastern New York chapter will host its 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s—
Cooperstown at the Clark Sports Center. Participants may check in beginning at 9 a.m. An opening ceremony will take place at 10 a.m., after which the walk will begin. on walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony, a missionfocused experience that
signifies solidarity in the fight against the disease, organizers said. During the ceremony, walkers will carry flowers of various colors, each color representing their personal connection to the disease.
“This is a pivotal moment in the fight against Alzheimer’s. There are now treat-
ments that can change the course of the disease,” said Chelsea Palmer, development events manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, Northeastern New York chapter.
“We hope that everyone in our community can join us by starting a walk team. This walk allows
Continued on page 8
Bowl-A-Rama To Host Event
RIcHFIeLD SPRINGS—The all-new bowl-ARama in Richfield Springs will host a Halloweenthemed grand opening from 2-11 p.m. on Saturday, October 26. It will feature celebrity guests, live music, a costume contest and more. VIP tickets are $39.99, the lawn will have free entry, and bowl-ARama will open for regular business at 7 p.m. with no entry cost. It is located at 20 bronner Street.
Ghost Story Talk Scheduled
FLY cReeK—Fly creek Area Historical Society will host speaker bruce Markusen for a talk on cooperstown ghost stories at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23. Light refreshments will be served at 7:30, followed by the monthly FcAHS meeting. It will be held in the Historical Society/Grange building, 208 cemetery Road.
OGC To Give Away Bulbs
ONeONTA—The Oneonta Garden club will give away free bags of multicolored daffodil bulbs to area residents at the Oneonta Farmers’ Market on Saturday, October 19. They will attend the market from 9 a.m. to noon, although daffodils will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. This community beautification project is supported by a grant from Friends of the Feral.
Guided Theater Walk Is Oct. 19
STAMFORD—The Party Theater will return for its third annual one-night-only “Microcosm” outdoor theater performance at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 19. It is an original, immersive “micro-theater” walk inspired by the landscape, the changing season, and this year’s theme of “time warp.” Food and beverages will be available on a donation basis, and the evening will close with karaoke and a bonfire. Tickets are $10.00 in advance or at the door. The performance takes place at The Mutual Aid Society, 1863 county Highway 30 in Stamford.
CCS Reunions Announced
cOOPeRSTOWN—cooperstown central School will hold a reunion for the class of 1984 and neighboring mid-80s classes, as well as faculty and staff, on Friday and Saturday, November 1 and 2. It will begin at cooperstown beverage exchange at 7 p.m. on Friday, followed by brewery Ommegang at 3 p.m. the next day and cooley’s Stone House Tavern at 8 p.m. RSVP to ccsreunion1984@gmail.com.
Free Ecstatic Dance Event
Announced ON e ONTA—Isha
Justyna Kostek, a healer from Poland trained in Indian active meditation techniques, will lead a free evening of dance and healing from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, October 19. The event is supported by a grant from Oneonta community Initiative and will take place at Yoga People Oneonta, 50 Dietz Street, Suite L. There will be “No Mind Yoga” with Meghan cassidy, ecstatic dance with ISHA NOW and a sound healing journey led by Slava Shlomo Yasser. Registration is required via eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/free-ecstatic-danceoneonta-tickets-10325448 28377?aff=oddtdtcreator.
‘Lunch and Learn’
Series
Begins Oct. 23
e DM e STON—The Kennedy Willis center on Down Syndrome has opened registration for its annual fall “Lunch and Learn” webinar series. This year’s course, “Navigating changes of Life,” will be held on four consecutive Wednesdays (October 23 and 30, November 6 and 13) at noon and focuses on helping people with intellectual disabilities cope with grief, loss and other transitions. The $30.00 registration fee covers all four sessions, as well as recordings, a resource toolkit and a digital certificate for three KWc Ongoing Professional Development Hours sessions. Visit kwcdownsyndrome.org to register.
Oct. 13 Is ‘Seen Enough’ Day
NeW YORK STATe—Tobacco Free New York State and Reality check of New York announced that Sunday, October 13 is “Seen enough Tobacco Day.” It is intended to raise awareness about the manipulative marketing practices tobacco and nicotine companies use to get teens addicted. Flavored nicotine products such as menthols and electronic cigarettes are overwhelmingly marketed to young people and vulnerable minority populations, and can lead to a lifetime of addiction and health risks. community members are urged to spread the word on social media with the hashtag #SeenenoughTobacco. For more information or other ways to get involved, visit https://tobaccofreenys.org/our-focus/seenenoughtobacco/.
Historical Society To Meet
SPRINGFIeLD—The Springfield Historical Society will hold its annual meeting at the Springfield community center at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23. New York State Museum cRSP Principal Investigator David Staley will give a guest lecture on the Goodyear site, which extended from cary Meade across the current Glimmerglass Festival campus and beyond. The talk is free and open to the public, and will run from 7-8 p.m.
Film Screening Set for Oct. 20
bINGHAMTON—Gilbertsville filmmakers Jeri Wachter and Joseph c. Stillman will present a screening of their documentary, “Something in the Water,” at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 20. The free event will be held downstairs in the First congregational church, 30 Main Street, in binghamton. It is co-hosted by Veterans for Peace, Peace Action of broome and Pax christi. The documentary covers the quest for common ground in the U.S. before, during, and after the 2020 election. For more information, visit https:// somethinginthewater.today/.
Fiddlers! Festival Returns
ROXbURY—The 31st annual “Fiddlers!” music festival will be held at the Roxbury Arts center, 5025 Vega Mountain Road, from 3-7 p.m. on Sunday, October 13. This ever-popular festival honors catskills music traditions and local fiddling legend Hilt Kelly. The Pine Tree Flyers, The Downhill Strugglers, and The Stoddard Hollow String band will play from 3-6. Tickets and information on the concert, as well as the apple pie and chili cook-offs, are available at www.roxburyartsgroup.org.
Light Pollution Topic of Talk
LeONARDSVILLe—The Upper Unadilla Valley Association invites the public and local policymakers to its annual banquet at the Horned Dorset Inn, 2000 State Route 8, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 7. Justin Levine, a former reporter and award-winning journalist who works in communications for the Adirondack council, will address the meeting on the topic of light pollution. Unneeded and unwanted artificial light is a major, lesser-known issue that obstructs scenic night skies and can have severe ecological and human health consequences.
The three-course banquet costs $53.76 per person, including taxes and gratuity. Reservations are due by Wednesday, October 16 and should be made by mailing a check payable to UUVA to Association President Larraine McNulty, 156 Pritchard Road, West Winfield, NY 13491. be sure to note the number of seats needed and any dietary restrictions.
HOMETOWN Views
EDITORIAL
The Extravagance of AI
In early 2023, it was reported in these pages that a new form of artificial intelligence, in the guise of a newly-developed chatbot, had been introduced by Microsoft’s OpenAI Artificial Intelligence lab in San Francisco and was fast becoming the major go-to for information searches the world over. This chatbot—ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer)—provides answers, conversations, comments, and suggestions in viable human-like text, for the most part both grammatically and, we always hope, factually, correct. It, along with its recently conceived competitors at Google, Amazon, and Meta, is now on the leading edge of a fast-growing market, solving problems in a variety of fields from automotive to climate to research and education, with many interested companies and organizations using it for their own benefit and, it follows, their own financial success. Indeed, ChatGPT holds a massive corpus of highquality text data—in the range of hundreds of billions of words—which allow it to generate coherent responses to a wide range of topics and in a wide range of languages and styles.
But for these generative AI chatbots to find and retain this immense amount of information they must use a disproportionate amount of energy, requiring supercomputers in data centers of immense proportion that suck up enormous amounts of electricity to crunch the data that “trains” the AI systems. Every question asked of ChatGPT—even those that produce non-answers or trivial facts—uses as much electricity as does one lightbulb shining for 20 minutes. The training process for a single AI model, such as a large language model, can consume thousands of megawatt hours of electricity and emit hundreds of tons of carbon.
Our widespread use of AI is not only burning up energy, it is also treading on other precious environmental resources. The data centers need water—fresh water—to cool their power sources, and they are consuming millions of gallons of it. This spent water does not return to its source. Rather, it evaporates, not to come back to Earth for at least a year, leaving us in the midst of our growing global wildfires and increasing global freshwater scarcity. The tech giants have significantly increased their freshwater needs for cooling data centers because of the increased demand for online services and generative AI products.
And there seems to be no end to the pressure. Just last week, Microsoft announced plans to open the undamaged section of the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that was not devastated in the nuclear disaster there in 1979, changing its name to Crane Clean Energy Center, to supply Microsoft’s data centers with the astonishing amount of necessary energy. Talen Industry has agreed to sell Amazon electricity from the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, a nuclear plant near Berwick, Pennsylvania; other inactive nuclear plants, in Michigan and in Iowa, are being considered for reactivation, as are old coal-fired plants. This immediate demand is outstripping the ability of energy producers to build and operate cleaner wind and solar power generators, adding substantially to air pollution and carbon emissions—climate change at its most egregious. Google no longer considers itself to be carbon neutral; Microsoft has given up on its sustainability goals.
As of now, there are no rules, and no regulations, for AI. The European Union’s AI Act, recently passed, which requires high-risk AI systems to report their energy consumption, won’t go into effect until next year; the International Organization for Standardization could issue criteria for sustainable AI later this year. It is now, with no need to ask permission, on all our devices, milking our information for its own. Because of AI’s inherently important benefit to the future, answering questions, proposing new ideas, proffering salient solutions and raising stock value, no company or technology will curtail its oxymoronic and ridiculously expensive charge into our future.
Every question we ask an AI chatbot is routed to a data center, and it is there that massive amounts of energy and freshwater are consumed. So, it’s up to us. Ask yourselves whether your question is essential, and go easy on our challenged resources.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
“Hometown Oneonta” welcomes letters to the editor that reflect the writer’s thoughts on an article or other item appearing in the paper. They must include the writer’s name, address, email and telephone/ mobile number; the opinions expressed must be the writer’s own. Hostile, offensive, factually incorrect or excessively inflammatory content will not be published. The length must be no more than 250 words. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit letters for clarity and space. Please send letters to: info@allotsego.com.
COOPERSTOWn OBSERVED
Our Farmers’ Market: Theme and Variations
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
(Old English Nursery Rhyme)
To market, to market, bright flowers abounding, Home again, home again, nothing short of astounding.
To market, to market, juicy tomatoes, Home again, home again, don’t forget the potatoes!
To market, to market, sumptuous fresh cheese, Home again, home again, a hefty hunk, please.
To market, to market, lovely soft wool, Home again, home again, three bags full.
To market, to market, fresh loaves of bread, Home again, home again, full speed ahead.
To market, to market, pastries and sweets, Home again, home again, laden with treats.
To market, to market, utensils of wood, Home again, home again, could, would, and should.
To market, to market, fine syrup of maple, Home again, home again, an old New York staple.
To market, to market, objects of glass, Home again, home again, at the head of the class.
To market, to market, music played live, Home again, home again, feelin’ the jive.
To market, to market, a hot cup of joe, Home again, home again, full of get-up-and-go.
To market, to market, for so many reasons, Home again, home again, yes, in all seasons!
Sam Goodyear was born in Cooperstown and, because of his father’s profession in the Foreign Service, grew up all over the world and continued that pattern throughout his adult life until two years ago, when he returned to where he was born. It took him only 80 years to do so.
‘Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You’ Fire Prevention Week is October 6-12, which coincides with the efforts of the National Fire Protection Association. This year’s theme, “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!,” underscores the vital role smoke alarms play in day-to-day fire safety. The Firefighters Association of the State of New York recommends the following smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines: installing smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home; testing smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button; and replacing all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or stop responding when tested.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR … In THEIR OPInIOn
Nelson Op-ed Was Appalling
Nelson Op-ed Was Courageous
HOMETOWN ONEONTA
H o metown oneon t a 2008 - 2024 16th anniversary & The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
a publication of Iron String Press, Inc.
Publisher / Advertising Manager
Tara Barnwell
General Manager / Senior Editor Darla M. Youngs
Sales Consultant: Randy Christian Office Manager: Larissa Ryan Intern: Arya Patel
Columnists and Contributing Writers
Terry Berkson, Monica Calzolari, Rachel Frick Cardelle, Elizabeth Cooper, Richard deRosa, Caspar Ewig, Karolina Hopper, Wriley Nelson, Joel J. Plue, Tom Shelby, Dan Sullivan, Teresa Winchester, Jamie Zvirzdin
Web Architect
Xander Moffat Historian Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart Legal Counsel Jill Ann Poulson
Editorial Board
Tara Barnwell, Faith Gay, Michael Moffat, Elinor Vincent, Darla M. Youngs
MEMBER OF:
National Newspaper Association, New York Press Association
The Otsego County Chamber
Published Thursdays by Iron String Press, Inc. 21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown NY 13326
Telephone: 607-547-6103. Fax: 607-547-6080. Email: info@allotsego.com • www.allotsego.com Contents © Iron String Press, Inc.
Your decision to publish the anti-American, anti-Israeli screed written by Wriley Nelson is appalling. [The Partial Observer by Wriley Nelson, October 3, 2024, “J’accuse: Every American Has Palestinian Blood on Their Hands.”]
Your own Letters to the Editor policy states that “hostile, offensive, factually incorrect or excessively inflammatory content will not be published.”
All of those perfectly describe Mr. Nelson’s column.
And to top it off, you thought his article was “well considered and meaningful.”
Have you gone mad?
Mr. Nelson’s description of our members of Congress fellating Hitler is just one of his vulgar, hateful and obscene rhetorical flourishes.
How did you find that well considered and meaningful? How is that not hostile or excessively inflammatory?
You have brought disgrace to yourselves and to “The Freeman’s Journal.”
Eric Bravin Cooperstown
I believe that Emile Zola would applaud not only Wriley Nelson’s op-ed piece, “J’accuse: Every American Has Palestinian Blood on Their Hands” that appeared in your October 3, 2024 issue, but also “The Freeman’s Journal” for having the courage to print it.
On January 13, 1898, the French newspaper, “L’Aurore,” published, on its front page, Zola’s letter, “J’accuse,” in which he accused the French government of blatant anti-Semitism in the Dreyfus Affair and laid out all the incontrovertible evidence upon which he based his sweeping accusation.
That letter tore France apart, politically and socially, because it revealed information that cast dark shadows on many prevailing opinions, beliefs, and resulting actions, and it brought into the light troubling events, facts, dates, and names, that many preferred to overlook or deny altogether because they did not suit their particular perspectives. Zola, like others who dared to criticize what was happening, was
quickly condemned, and he paid heavily for his courage by being found guilty of libel, forcing him to flee France in order to avoid a prison sentence. Even his cause of death remains suspect.
In a fashion similar to Zola’s, Wriley Nelson presented a panorama of troubling facts and realities that have resulted in deadly and seriously excessive injustice toward Palestinians. Tragically, all too many people, seemingly in the interest of being somehow “correct” and “empathic,” choose to overlook and/or deny those injustices, and they condemn those who might want to recognize and respond to them. Simply put, the Israeli slaughter in Palestine must end, and the equilibrium on which true justice is supposed to be apportioned must be reestablished. That is not happening! In fact, the imbalance of justice here, as Nelson points out, is deeply bipartisan politically, motivated on both sides by forces that are, in many cases, monetary or motivated by the desire to secure votes. That should make everyone worry about
Continued on page 6
by Tom HeiTz/SHARoN STUART
70 YEARs AGo
October 1954
50 YEARs AGo
oneonta’s police force may be getting its first women officers soon. City personnel technician John Insetta said yesterday that six women are among 73 applicants for positions at the police department. Civil service examinations will be administered on November 9. There are presently two vacancies on the force. This is the largest group of applicants that the city has ever had for a vacancy in the department, Insetta said. Insetta attributes the increase to pay raises the city agreed to in the recent contract signed by city officials with the oneonta Police Benevolent Association. This is the first time women have ever applied for positions in the department. The terminology has changed as a result. The positions are listed for “police officers” rather than “patrolman.” It sounds better than “Police Person,” Insetta said. October 1974
40 YEARs AGo
A federal judge Tuesday struck down as discriminatory a section of the NYs Constitution which allows election boards to ask students to go to extra lengths to register to vote in the locales where they attend school. “section 5-104 of the NYs Election Law and Article 2, section 4 of the NYs Constitution are unconstitutional on their face,” U.s. District Judge Neal P. McCurn said. Eve Brown, an oneonta state College student association delegate who has been active in election reform efforts, applauded the statewide ruling. “It’s about time that every student in the state was granted their rights as an American citizen – the right to vote. students may now challenge the districting in the city of oneonta which divides the two colleges among six wards, Brown said. October 1984
30 YEARs AGo
A $150,000 grant should help the city make improvements to Damaschke Field, home of the oneonta Yankees. City engineering administrator Joseph Bernier said oneonta has been given preliminary approval for a state grant to help meet the cost of $335,000 in renovations and improvements to the baseball field and facilities in Neahwa Park. some $40,000 from the NYs office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has already been spent on infield improvements.
October 1994
20 YEARs AGo
Faced with a harshly critical new report, President Bush conceded that Iraq did not have the stockpiles of banned weapons he had warned of before the invasion last year, but the president insisted that “we were right to take action” against saddam Hussein. “America is safer with saddam Hussein in prison,” Bush said. “Much of the accumulated body of our intelligence was wrong,” the president admitted, “and we must find out why,” he added. However, President Bush still maintains that the former Iraqi dictator retained the “means and the intent” to produce weapons of mass destruction.
October 2004
Bird-Window Collisions Not Just a City Problem
Birds are facing significant population challenges all over the world. Changes in habitat, seasons that are shifting, severe storms and increased temperatures are all playing a part in an overall decline in numbers. The National Audubon society is working to find ways to change those trajectories through significant and ambitious goals in conservation—from both ends of the spectrum: increasing the chances for successful breeding bird seasons, and reducing bird mortality rates.
following habitat loss and predation by domestic cats.
sad facts:
• Up to 50 percent of bird-window collisions leave no evidence at all.
• Many of the birds that fly away are likely to die later of their injuries.
• Birds most often suffer concussions and internal injuries, which can take days to kill them.
• If a collision kills a parent bird, the young will most likely also die.
• This is all preventable if people take action at their own homes.
We hear a good deal about bird window collisions that occur in urban environments, because really, when you can show pictures of hundreds of bird deaths in a day during migration season, it becomes news. We read about it, we see pictures of it and, in response, we work to find solutions to prevent it from happening again.
What we don’t hear about are the average of two birds per residence per year that occur from window strikes in suburban and rural neighborhoods. Although these don’t feel like they are significant in comparison, if you add those numbers up, the deaths of birds as a result are staggering—more than in any city. It is estimated that up to 1 billion birds die as a result of window collisions per year in North America. It is considered to be the third highest cause of bird mortality,
By MERL REAGLE
But Hey…
Compounding the impacts of window strikes are pollinator gardens and bird feeders that are set up adjacent to our homes, near our windows. If you are providing food and shelter resources for birds, it is important to take additional steps to prevent window collisions in that area. There are some simple solutions that work, including insect screens, hanging cords and patterned dots. Each of these prevention mechanisms can be easy and affordable do-it-yourself projects. small, evenlyspaced markers (2” rows and max 4” columns are recommended) placed on the outside of a window work best and help to preserve your view.
Another practice that can help protect birds from window collisions is to minimize lighting impacts at night from your home. Make sure
Continued on page 9
Photo by Luke Franke/Audubon window-strike specimen: yellow-bellied sapsucker.
our country’s, or even humanity’s, future. I personally commend Wriley Nelson for his thorough treatment of this complex issue and “The Freeman’s Journal” for printing it. Time will tell whether this situation will end up tearing our country apart more than it already is. In the meantime, however, our only hope may lie in the open and sincere expression of perspectives, as was the case in Nelson’s op-ed, that challenge us to come to terms with the injustice that is happening in Gaza.
Zola concluded his famous letter by stating: “As for the people I am accusing,… I bear them neither ill will nor hatred. To me they are mere entities, agents of harm to society. The action I am taking [in writing this letter] is not more than a radical measure to hasten the explosion of truth and justice. I have but one passion, the search for light, in the name of humanity which has suffered so much and is entitled to happiness. My fiery protest is the cry of my very soul.”
(Translation by JeanMax Guieu, Georgetown University, 2001.)
Thank you, Wriley Nelson and “The Freeman’s Journal.” John Webb cooperstown
Proposal 1 Is Dangerous
This November, voters in New York will be asked to vote on an amendment to the state constitution. Proposal 1, the so-called “Equal Rights Amendment,” if passed, will have dangerous ramifications for minor children and their parents. briefly, this proposed amendment would make it illegal in New York to discriminate against persons not only for race, creed, color or religion, as the constitution already reads, but for 12 new categories.
The big concern is with the new category, “age,” which includes minors, e.g., children. Passing this amendment could easily open the door to what the New York State legislature has already been trying to do: to allow children to make medical decisions for themselves, without parental knowledge or consent. This could include permanent sex change procedures and other radical surgeries. New York parents would be prevented from knowing that their children are receiving transgender guidance and procedures in school.
You can look up Assembly and Senate bills A6761 and S762A1A276b to see what the legislature is trying to accomplish.
Additionally, biological males would be allowed to compete in women’s sports and to change in girls’ locker rooms because you wouldn’t be able to discriminate based on “sex or gender.”
Visit ProtectKidsNY. com to learn more.
Paul Wenner Stamford
Nelson Should Self Reflect
Wriley Nelson (“J’accuse,” 10/3) is no Emile Zola. While he has the same right to criticize the actions and policies of Israel as he does to criticize those of any other country, he does not have the right to deny Israel’s right to exist. Israel is a sovereign nation, and has been so for 76 years.
Mr. Nelson may have stood opposed to the birth of Israel had he been alive in the year it was founded, but that is now history and cannot be undone. by continuing to hold this fanatic rejection of historical fact, Mr. Nelson places himself firmly in the company of the rapists and murderers of Hamas who attacked Israeli civilians one year ago. I suppose Mr. Nelson might call himself proud to be placed in such company. but surely Israel must take all measures to defend itself against those who wish to wipe it off the map, and cannot be expected to negotiate with those who wish to destroy it. If Mr. Nelson seeks to view the hands that hold Palestinian blood, he need look no further than his own.
I will direct my final remarks to Mr. Nelson personally. I know you’re reading this, Wriley, so consider that these words are spoken as I look directly into your bigoted, hateful eyes. You are an antisemite. You are an antisemite as surely as the Pope is catholic. Your attempt to hide your antisemitism by hypocritical words of appeasement are as hollow as would be those of Tomás de Torquemada professing to love the Jews of Spain if only they will accept christianity.
If you’re looking for someone to j’accuse, Mr. Nelson, take a look at yourself.
Robert Garfield Oneonta
Praise for Bold Nelson Piece
I want to thank the paper for publishing this brave piece [The Partial Observer by Wriley Nelson, October 3, 2024, “J’accuse: Every American Has Palestinian blood on Their Hands.”]
Many western media outlets fear posting factual information about Palestine, and Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians.
Since October 7th, we have seen most western media organizations manufacture consent for the genocide in Gaza, through uncritical atrocity propaganda and dehumanization tactics.
After the Rwandan genocide, journalists who were responsible for inciting genocide with false claims were sentenced to life in prison. In a just world, western journalists who repeated false Israeli claims without verification will meet the same fate.
Your paper stands in opposition to this genocidal media policy. This is true journalism.
Zach Sedefian Saratoga Springs
Kudos for Hero Banner Stance
Kudos to Jim Dean for calling out the moneymaking implications of the proposed changes to the village sign laws involving veterans. (“concerns About Heroes banners,” by James R. Dean, Letters, Oct. 3, A-12.)
As a Vietnam veteran who has lived in c ooperstown the past 37 years, I, too, do not need or want to purchase—or pay for though taxes—a banner to hang on a pole with my dated photo to acknowledge my service. This is just another of the various commercial enterprises floating around the country that seek to profit by the exploitation of veterans’ service.
If well-meaning people want to honor veterans in cooperstown, they might consider volunteering or financially contributing to the cooperstown Food Pantry. I dare say, some veterans in our community—and their families—need what the food pantry provides more than they do their photo hanging from a utility pole on Main Street.
John A. Rudy cooperstown
Nelson Piece
Was Immature
Regarding “The Partial Observer” column from the October 3, 2024 edition: before you j’accuse us, Mr. Nelson, take a look at yourself. This overlong essay is less an observation than it is a conceited, anti-Semitic diatribe treating its audience like a bunch of backwoods, know-nothing rubes who should feel lucky to be learning at the feet of a self-appointed master. At the very least, one must question the editorial value of a sentence as crass and unnecessary as this: “I was in D.c. for Netanyahu’s visit on July 24 and saw both Houses and both parties of our congress demonstrate that they would have fellated Hitler on live television if the money was right.”
I’m no prude, as they say, but is that really necessary? I’ll answer my own question: No, it is not. It’s not funny, it’s not appropriate, and a sentence like that deflates any credibility its author may be seeking from the readers of a credible publication.
In the end, whatever observation the author intended in his essay is crushed beneath his overreliance on immature provocation, inappropriate tone and smug sanctimony.
Ted Potrikus Tucson, Arizona
Former editor of “The Freeman’s Journal” and “Hometown Oneonta”
Reminder To Adopt vs. Shop
State Department of Agriculture and Markets Division reports reveal that a Mount Uptonarea animal dealer was keeping dogs in “excessively chewed” and inadequately sanitized enclosures, deprived dogs of protection from
Streetscape Project in Full Swing
Market and Water streets in downtown Oneonta have been a construction zone for about a year since the demolition of the 50-year-old parking garage. While traffic and parking have shifted and caused drivers to change their habits, it’s important to keep in mind that this project is one of the most apparent signs of progress in Oneonta.
The work and disruption are not for naught. It is a temporary challenge for permanent improvement. construction will make this corridor better than before, with updated sidewalks, street lamps, paving, and infrastructure such as drainage structures. It’s a sign of major investment from the state in our city to build a new transit hub.
While the construction has certainly shifted how we navigate downtown, it’s also a symbol of growth. These necessary changes pave the way for the future of Oneonta, one where we can walk, shop and gather in a revitalized corridor designed with the community in mind.
The improvements will enhance the shopping and dining experience downtown and help make these spaces ones that people want to experience. From more pedestrian-friendly sidewalks to welcoming street lighting, the project aims to create a vibrant and attractive destination for both locals and visitors alike.
Much of the work up until now has been significant to the engineers working on the project, but over the next few weeks, the area will become usable for pedestrians and businesses on Water Street.
The final stage of the Water Street project is in full swing through
November. The city of Oneonta has shared the timeline for the following steps via https://local.nixle.com/cityof-oneonta/ (which anyone can sign up for to receive e-mails about city projects).
• beginning Thursday, September 26, a set of gates was added at the entrance of Water Street at chestnut Street, and concrete barriers were removed.
• beginning Monday, September 30, the remainder of granite curbing and brick pavers were removed, and preparation for the installation of new granite curbs and streetlight bases began at the northwest corner of the road from the Yellow Deli to the east.
• On Tuesday, October 8, installation of the new granite curbs started on chestnut Street and working toward Water Street. After the installation, the preparation of sidewalks will begin.
• On Monday, October 14, the sidewalk installation will start at the northwest corner of Water Street at the Yellow Deli to the east. This work is anticipated to be completed in three days. When complete, preparation will begin for asphalt pavement.
• The week of October 21, asphalt pavement will be placed in the roadway, followed by directional signage and striping. Peripheral work will continue with landscaping to the south side of the roadway and miscellaneous placement of benches and other specialty items.
To stay updated on the Market Street project, visit oneonta.ny.us.
Cassandra Miller is a member of the Oneonta Downtown Renaissance Steering Committee and the editor of the “Townie” Substack newsletter.
cFOc $50,000 Fall
2024 Grant Awards cycle Now Open
SPRINGFIELD
As of September 24, the community Foundation of Otsego county Fall 2024 Awards cycle is live online at cfotsego. org/fall-2024-awardcycle. cFOc is allocating $50,000.00 to focus on enrichment programming and needs for children from birth through elementary school.
cFOc seeks proposals to support programs that implement new approaches and expand the number of children served.
Officials said they understand that needs are great, and the total award amount is insufficient to meet all the needs of Otsego county’s children, so this awards
cycle is centering on the following types of programs that:
• Focus on healthrelated needs, including, but not limited to, mental health and dental hygiene
• Provide necessities to support learning (e.g., warm clothing, daily nutrition, language services)
• Help to transport children to facilitate their attendance in enrichment programs
• Assist with the costs of training and credentialing childcare workers
• Remove cost barriers to participation in enrichment programs in the arts and sports Applicants must be 501c3 organizations. Groups fiscally sponsored
by a 501c3 nonprofit organization are eligible, but must submit evidence of sponsorship. Funds will be disbursed through the sponsor, which must provide the identifying information requested in the application, cFOc officials said. The deadline for receiving applications is Friday, November 8. Preference will be given to requests of under $10,000.00 and to programs that fit well with the core mission of the applicant organization. According to a media release, cFOc also favors applications for one-time or start-up expenses. Find applications and further information at cfotsego.org/fall-2024award-cycle
Cooperstown Football Falls to WCV
cOOPERSTOWN—cooperstown football lost 50-22 to West canada Valley in eight-player action on Friday, October 4. Junior brenin Dempsey ran for three touchdowns and Jackson begin converted a two-pointer, but the Hawkeyes were unable to overcome the Nighthawks’ 22-0 first-quarter lead.
inclement weather, failed to have dogs examined by a veterinarian in over a year, lacked licenses for four of them, and more, all in violation of state law.
The neglect found at this operation is exactly why PETA urges the public never to buy from breeders or pet stores.
If you are ready to welcome a new family member into your home, please adopt an animal.
Elise Fisher Evidence Analyst PETA Norfolk, VA
Funds Could Be Better Spent
“So far, the 2024 campaigns have spent approximately $3.9 billion of total funds raised on advertising and campaign promotion.” How about spending these funds on any number of projects that advance human health and welfare? (Good deeds.) Have the news media report these wonderful uses of funds to in turn advance their political initiatives instead of promising
giving away the house to buy votes. I approve of this message.
Gerry Welch cooperstown
WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU Promotions, births, meetings, new hires, events, milestones, grand openings, sports results, anniversaries and more.
Photos welcome, too! info@allotsego.com
Cross Country Plugging Away
c OOP e RSTOWN—
The cooperstown cross country teams visited Mount Markham’s newly redesigned 5K course to face their hosts, Sauquoit Valley, West canada Valley and Poland on Wednesday, October 2.
Nora craig finished third in the girls race, with a time of 23:24. Olivia Temp finished sixth in 26:05, a personal record. They were unable to field a full team.
The boys defeated Poland, Sauquoit Valley and West canada
Valley—their record against weekly competitor Mount Markham does not contribute to league standings after the first matchup. Senior Jonah Hitchcock finished second (19:26), followed by Owen capozza Flannigan (5th, 20:45), Hu Agostino (6th, 21:09), and brendan Heavner (7th, 21:41). elias MacLeish rounded out the scoring in 11th place (22:58). cooperstown ran in the Whitesboro Invitational in Deerfield on Saturday, October 5, in a crowded field from more than two dozen schools. The varsity boys finished
10th and second out of five class D teams in a race of more than 170 runners. Oneonta won the invitational for the third consecutive year. Hitchcock once again led the squad, finishing in 18:59 for 24th place. capozza Flannigan was out sick. Agostino came in 55th (20:29), followed by Heavner (74th, 21:42), MacLeish (97th, 22:36) and George Riesenfeld (114th, 23:44), who set a personal record. craig was the only cooperstown runner in the girls varsity race and finished a strong 18th (23:05) in a field of 137 athletes.
Coop Soccer Game Recap
c OOP e RSTOWN—
The Hawkeyes’ girls soccer team slipped past Westmoreland 1-0 in a home Division III match on Wednesday, October 2. Junior Mia Pelcer scored late in the first half on an assist from senior Annelise Jensen. brenna Seamon made 11 saves, and the pinkclad team raised more than $800.00 for bassett cancer Institute in honor of “Play for Pink” cancer research day. cooperstown lost 21 to Mount Markham’s
Head Start Health Specialist
Toddler Classroom Teacher Toddler Classroom Aide
FT Head Start Positions - with school breaks and summers off:
Preschool Assistant Teacher Preschool Classroom Aide
second-half comeback on Friday, October 4. Pelcer scored in the first half on an assist from Jensen, and Seamon recorded eight more saves. The Hawkeyes fell to 5-6 for the season and 3-3 in Division III.
cooperstown’s varsity boys team fell 4-1 to Division III leader Hamilton under the lights on Tuesday, October 1. exchange student Romain Guerra scored with an assist from senior Riley Diamond. Junior cooper coleman recorded four saves.
The Hawkeyes fell in a heartbreaking second-
half 3-2 loss to Mount Markham on Thursday, October 3. cooperstown led 2-1 at the half, and senior cooper bradley scored twice on assists from Diamond and Guerra. bradley chalked up two more goals and another assist in cooperstown’s 5-2 victory over Herkimer on Monday, October 7. Freshman Henry Ayers had a goal and an assist, while Diamond and sophomore Hayden Spencer scored the other goals. The team stands at 8-4 for the season and 52 in their division.
CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST
Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial Hospital Society seeks Clinical Laboratory Technologist for Oneonta, NY. Bach or equiv degree in Chem, Bio, or Med Tech. License from NYS ED as a Clinical Lab Technologist, or licensure eligible with a lmtd permit or lmtd license as a Clinical Lab Technologist. 1st, 2nd, 3rd shifts and weekends as business needs req. Possible travel to local network labs. Salary range is $62,712 - $94,078.40. Resume to https://jobs.bassett.org/jobs/ 11593?lang=en-us
SAVE FOR THE SEASON
“with a lot a mediums— whatever strikes my fancy. I like to incorporate a lot of weird stuff,” Adams said of her work.
Her quilt titled “Snow” provides a comprehensive study of her work. The quilt is comprised of 10 blocks of varying sizes, all but one featuring a fanciful snowman (or two, or three). A label from an old wool coat (from Jackson’s of New York) becomes a bowtie. Vintage broaches become buttons or merely random features in a particular block. Oldfashioned buttons become eyes. Pieces cut from a neck tie morph into birds, sometimes landing on a snowman’s head. The snowman in the center
block, wearing a stovepipe hat, reaches for a gold star hanging from a scraggly evergreen. Medallions from lacework become snowflakes. And, conforming to Adams’ non-conformist approach to quilting, the bottom right block of “Snow” features a flamingo, a buckle at the base of its neck giving it a pilgrimlike air.
The largest quilt in Adams’ exhibit is her take-off on the traditional “Dear Jane” quilt, named after Vermont native Jane Stickle (18171896). Stickle’s quilt is composed of 5,602 pieces, making up 169 blocks, each measuring five inches square. The quilt is now in the permanent collection of the Bennington Museum and is exhibited for short
periods of time in the autumn of each year.
Adams has made two “Dear Jane” quilts. The first one “more or less” replicates Stickle’s quilt while the second one, displayed at this year’s quilt show, “branches out more,” with her own choice of subjects in each of the 169 blocks: stars, fruit, animals, flowers and more.
The non-conformity of Adams’ work is evident in her life, and vice versa. Her appearance announces a person who does not abide by norms. The frames of her trifocal glasses are two concentric black circles, conferring upon her an owl-like aura. On day one of the quilt show, her spiky, bleached blonde hair was encircled by a blue ribbon. Her name tag took the form of a duck made from felting, hanging upside down, its spindly legs attached to her blouse. Attached to the duck was a sales tag—the heavy-duty manilla cardstock kind with a grommet reinforcing the hole. Her name was written on the tag. On day two of the show, Adams showed up in a floor-length black dress—a rather classy looking witch’s costume from New York City’s iconic Rubies Costume Company—to which she had added dollar bills to adjust the cleavage.
“I don’t like cleavage,” she affirmed.
Adams has lived in East Branch since relocating from Michigan in 2005. There, she owns
and operates Plum Crazy Bed and Breakkfast (sic), advertised on her business card as a place “where nothing is normal.”
While living in Michigan, Adams drove a school bus for 18 years. She always carried a bag of quilting paraphernalia with her. In dead moments, she said she would “just pull out my handwork and sit and sew.” She even got the male bus drivers interested in quilting and had sewing machines set up in the bus garage. They mostly made rag quilts, which they gave to charitable organizations, Adams said. When there were all-day events, such as skiing competitions, she would set up a sewing machine in a school cafeteria and get to work.
“I never waste time,” she said.
In her earlier years, Adams, now 71, was as adventurous as she was industrious. In her late 40s, she biked 9,000 miles over two summers—biking around Nova Scotia and later through Vermont and Florida. She also biked across Canada on the King’s Highway.
“Even on bike trips, I had a small piece of handwork with me all the time—and always a bottle of wine, too,” she recounted.
One of the more eccentric details of Adams’ life involves her pet rats, which she procured from a breeder. Adams is specifically partial to the Dumbo breed, characterized by its large, rounded ears set low on the sides
of its head and its affectionate and gentle temperament. “They would sit on my lap and ride in my pocket,” she said.
“Dubby-Do” was her favorite.
“She would sit on my shoulder while I was at the sewing machine. I would put M&Ms in certain spots on the floor and she would jump off me and go get them. Rats are smart. People think they’re nasty, but they’re not. I put mine in the bathtub and they would bathe and wash their faces and swim around,” Adams said.
It’s often said that the only thing certain in life is death and taxes, but another certainty is that as long as she lives, Ellen Adams will
be working on several of her fascinating quilts at a time, and she will have equally fascinating stories to tell.
Walk
Continued from page 2 us to raise awareness and funds for local families facing the disease today, as well as invest in research – both globally and right here in New York State – to take more steps toward treatments and finally end this devastating disease, Palmer added.
hailedfromtheBroomeCountymunicipalitiesofConklinandBinghamton.
Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In New York, there are more than 426,500 people living with the disease and 543,000 caregivers, according to a media release.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The Cooperstown Walk is supported by local Presenting Sponsor NYCM Insurance. The goal for this year’s Cooperstown walk is to raise $45,000.00.
To register as an individual walker or team captain, and to receive the latest updates, visit alz.org/walk.
Price Chopper
Accepting S3 Cards
SCHENECTADY— Price Chopper/Market 32 announced a new partnership with Optum Financial that will make it easier for S3 health benefit holders to apply their health plan funds to eligible products.
As of Wednesday, October 2, customers can use S3 cards at checkout to purchase healthy foods, over-thecounter medications and other items that promote healthy living. For more information, visit http:// www.pricechopper. com/benefit-card.
Photo by Teresa Winchester
Ellen Adams, featured quilter at the 2024 Major’s Inn quilt show, works on one of her many quilts-in-progress.
Reporting
Continued from page 1
helping to grow SUNY’s ILN. Torosyan and Bottomley were named CCN Faculty Champions last month for developing new journalism-focused programs and collaborations with CCN.
According to a media release, newsacademic partnerships have emerged as a critical contributor to the national news landscape and one solution to the crisis facing local news. “As the largest system of higher education in the nation, SUNY’s contribution to the state of local news and information could be profound for underserved regions,” officials said.
“The news coverage that these programs are providing in coordination with their local outlets is helping to meet critical information needs,” said Center for Community News Director Richard Watts. “Most importantly, they offer students a chance to contribute to public life and develop skills that will serve them in journalism and far beyond.”
Approximately 80 million Americans live in news deserts, according to the Local News Initiative at Northwestern University. Researchers at the University of North Carolina identified 14 New York counties as being considered news deserts in 2020. Between 2004 and 2018, New York State lost 40 percent of its operating newspapers and saw a 63 percent decrease in newspaper circulation. According to the CCN, researchers have also found links between the lack of local news and lower voter turnout, less choice in political officials running for office, participation in community events and higher levels of municipal funding.
The lack of local news also leads to increased polarization and the spread of non-verifiable and false information, according to those same researchers.
“Dr. Torosyan and I first began talking about a possible partnership in May, when I reached out to SUNY Oneonta Communications and Media faculty members regarding a staff writer job opening here at Iron String Press,” said ISP General Manager/Senior Editor Darla M. Youngs.
“We are delighted to have SUNY Oneonta students covering Oneonta’s Common
Council beat. The disappearance of local news is a threat to American democracy—we agree with the Center for Community News that our colleges and universities can play a critical role in both addressing this threat and in shoring up our local news ecosystem,” Youngs said.
“At the same time,” Youngs said, “the focus on university-led reporting programs becomes even more vitally important as we see journalism studies programs deactivated due to lack of interest, as is the case with my alma mater, SUNY Morrisville.”
According to CCN officials, university-led reporting programs have the potential to help forge a sustainable future for local news and civic information. New funding to CCN of $5 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and $2 million in additional matching funds from the MacArthur Foundation and the University of Vermont is expected to triple the number of programs, students and published work over the next five years.
“Some of these student reporters will go on to be journalists; many will not. But they will all be engaged citizens armed with transferrable skills that can be applied broadly in civic life,” Watts said.
“I tell my students that showing up is half the battle,” Torosyan added. “Tony Savio showed up at the City Council meeting after a full day of classes and before his evening shift at a local venue. Even if his future career as a media studies major develops in a different direction from journalism, he will have some professional experience to show for his years at Oneonta.”
Golisano
Continued from page 1
the greatest impact, officials said.
Golisano and Springbrook have shared a long-standing relationship, dating back over a decade. In 2010, Golisano provided funds to establish the Golisano School, which expanded services for children with autism.
In 2012, the organization completed the $22.5 million “Coming Home Campaign,” opening the Tom Golisano Center for Autism, a state-of-the-art facility offering specialized care and support for people with autism.
Springbrook’s pro-
gram, which includes applied behavior analysis, art and music therapy, and various educational services, has become a beacon of hope for families across New York State. The organization celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Golisano Center for Autism in October 2022, reflecting on the progress made and the lives transformed over the past decade.
Patricia Kennedy, chief executive officer of Springbrook, expressed gratitude for Tom Golisano’s unwavering support of the organization’s mission.
“We are grateful to Tom for his generous gift,” Kennedy said. “His generosity has helped the organization improve the lives of many children who come to the Golisano School program. On behalf of Springbrook, the children and individuals we support, and the board, we thank him!”
Golisano’s continued support and friendship has also extended to training Springbrook’s nurses through The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing, at Rochester’s St. John Fisher University, enhancing the quality of care for people with developmental disabilities. His ongoing commitment continues to inspire and drive the mission of Springbrook and many other nonprofits, marking this donation as a spark for positive change in the community.
Springbrook provides at-home care, residential and educational services, day services, and clinical, therapeutic, and behavioral support to over 1,100 people with developmental disabilities across New York State. The organization is Otsego County’s third-largest employer, with more than 1,300 employees.
Continued from page 5
OBITUARIES
Michael A. Welsh 1959-2024
COOPERSTOWN—
Michael Anthony Welsh, 65, of Cooperstown, passed into eternal life following a motor vehicle accident on October 1, 2024. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, former United Methodist pastor and retired teacher.
Michael was born July 22, 1959 and grew up in Owego. After graduating from the Owego Free Academy in 1977, he attended Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he received a bachelor’s in religion and philosophy in 1984.
In May 1990, he received his master of divinity degree, summa cum laude from the Theological School, Drew University, in Madison, New Jersey. He was the recipient of many academic awards and distinctions.
Michael was accepted into the doctoral program of the Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, California, but instead he decided to pursue ordained ministry within the United Methodist Church.
His first assignment for the church was as student pastor of the Fern United Methodist Church in Randolph, New Jersey. As the director of the church’s youth group, he took the youth to Kentucky to work on the Appalachia Service Project.
In September 1990, he received his first assignment as minister of the Fly Creek United Methodist Church and the Schuyler Lake United Methodist Church. As a
to close curtains, shades, and blinds and limit outdoor lighting. Set up motion sensors so that lights only switch on when they are needed, and make sure to direct your outdoor lighting downward. These actions help to minimize attracting birds and keeps them from getting disoriented, particularly during migration seasons.
For more information and step-by-step guidance on installing prevention mechanisms for your home windows, visit Pennsylvania Audubon’s
minister, his goal was to see people become more aware of their own spirituality, and how it relates to God, their family, and friends, and their community. In the summer of 1991, he was ordained as a minister of the United Methodist Church.
In 1992, Michael attended Syracuse University, where he earned his master’s in elementary education and teaching. In September 1993, he started teaching at the Sidney Central School District, where he remained for the duration of his 30-year teaching career. He retired June 30, 2023.
Beyond work, Michael loved spending time with friends and family. He had many passions, including golfing, listening to music, cultivating his rare music collection, maintaining his lawn, detailing his car, and enjoying spending time outside.
On May 24, 1994, Michael married Margaret Ann Lee in Tioga Center. They enjoyed 30 years together. In addition to his wife, Michael is survived by his mother, Theodora “Teddie” Welsh of Owego; stepdaughter Sarah (Willis) and grandson Jared Mansfield of Seattle; twin brother Christopher Welsh (Maria Wackett) of Binghamton and his
resources at https://pa.audubon. org/conservation/protectingbirds-striking-glass-windows. To learn about ways to get involved with our local Audubon chapter, visit Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society online at https://www. doas.us.
Primary Source: BirdSafe Homes by the Bird-window Collision Working Group, a collaboration between The Acopian Center for Ornithology, Muhlenberg College, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, Wyncote Audubon Society and Audubon. Other sources include
“Reflections of a Bird Collision Monitor,” originally published in Audubon magazine, Spring 2024 issue, and “Unseen
son, Trevor Welsh; his sister, Suzanne (Charles) Munroe of Owego and their three children, Theresa, Mark, and James Lepkowski (Jenny Li); two sistersin-law, Marian (James) MacFarlane of Batavia and their daughter, Ada (Nicholas) Wolfanger, and their children, Louis and Elizabeth; and Barbara Crampton of Johnson City and her sons, Lester (Sarah) Crampton and their children, Gerald and Clifford, and John Crampton. He is further survived by his beloved Boston terrier, Ruby. He will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched.
He was predeceased by his father, James Welsh, and stepson Jared Good.
A special thank you to the New York State Troopers, Morris EMS and Otsego County EMS.
Family and friends may call and pay their respects from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.
A funeral service will be offered at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at the funeral home, with the Rev. Michele K. Clark, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Greene, officiating.
The Service of Committal and Burial will be private in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the Susquehanna SPCA, 5082-5088 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Danger: One Day of Deadly Window Strikes for New York’s Birds” on Audubon.org.
Susan O’Handley, education chair for the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, has been involved with local Audubon chapters for more than 30 years and has served on the Board of Directors for the DOAS since 2012 (10 years as a co-president). O’Handley also works with the Audubon NY/CT Council Board, which is composed of 27 Audubon chapters in New York State and six chapters in Connecticut, and serves on the Advisory Board for the Audubon NY/CT Regional Office as the chapter representative.
Photo provided michael a. welsh
LegaL nOtice
Notice of formatioN of Brewed & Baked, LLC
N.Y. Articles of Organization
Filed with the Secretary of State of New York (“SSNY”) on August 15, 2024. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY is designated agent of LLC upon whom process may be served and SSNY shall mail process to Brewed & Baked, LLC located at 135 Chestnut Ridge Road, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Any lawful purpose.
6LegalOct.10
LegaL nOtice
Notice of formatioN of WAYSTONE PRESS LLC
Arts. of org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/19/24. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, PO Box 607, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.
Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity for which entities may be organized under the laws of the state of New York.
6LegalOct.17
LegaL nOtice
Notice of QualificatioN of CLVEN BETA XI, LLC
Appl. for auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/04/24. Office location: Otsego County. LLC formed in Indiana (IN) on 08/27/24. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. IN addr. of LLC: 710 Adams St., Carmel, IN 46032. Cert. of form. filed with IN Secy. of State, 302 W. Washington St., Rm. E018, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 6LegalOct.17
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Notice of formatioN of
Gates Grain, LLC,
a NY limited liability company (LLC). Arts. of org. filed with NY Sec. of State (NYSS) on 08/26/2024. Office: Otsego County.
NYSS designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. NYSS shall mail process to: The LLC, 7149 County Highway 18, West Winfield, NY 13491-3709. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalOct.17
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Notice of formatioN of EVER AFTER FARMS NY LLC.
Filed 8/28/24. Office: Otsego Co.
SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 222 Crawford Rd., Otego, NY 13825. Registered Agent: United States Corporation Agents, Inc., 7014 13th Ave., Ste. 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: General.
6LegalOct.17
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Notice of formatioN of The Matheson Starling House, LLC.
Articles of organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 8/7/24. The office of the LLC is to be located in Otsego County.
The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.
The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon it to: The LLC, 590 County Highway 3A, Unadilla, NY 13849. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act.
6LegalOct.17
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Notice of formatioN of Porter Pickles LLC, a limited liability company ( the “LLC”).
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (the “SSNY”) on 8/29/2024. Office location: Otsego County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC, upon whom
process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to the LLC, 146 River Street, Oneonta, New York 13820. Purposes: any lawful activity.
6LegalOct.17
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Notice of formatioN of Zuill Realty, LLC,
a Limited Liability Company (LLC) filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on August 13, 2024. NY office Location: OTSEGO County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Zuill Realty, LLC, 4631 State Highway 205, Hartwick, NY 13348. General Purposes.
6LegalOct.17
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Notice of formatioN of Diedrick Enterprises LLC.
Arts of org. filed with SSNY on 8/21/2024. Off: Otsego County. SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to PO Box 434, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalOct.24
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SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF OTSEGO
INDEX NO.
EF2023-615
Plaintiff designates OTSEGO as the place of trial situs of the real property
Mortgaged Premises: 59 NORTH STREET, EDMESTON, NY 13335
Section: 108.13, Block: 1, Lot: 7
LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, vs.
CARLTON WOODBECK, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MEGHAN E. WOODBECK A/
LEGALS
K/A MEGHAN
ELIZABETH WOODBECK
F/K/A MEGHAN LUM; AIDEN LUM, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MEGHAN E. WOODBECK A/ K/A MEGHAN
ELIZABETH WOODBECK
F/K/A MEGHAN
LUM; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF MEGHAN E. WOODBECK A/ K/A MEGHAN
ELIZABETH WOODBECK
F/K/A MEGHAN
LUM, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.
To the above named Defendants
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days
of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
Notice of Nature of actioN aND relief SouGHt tHe oBJect of the above caption action is to foreclose a mortgage to secure the sum of $62,755.00 and interest, recorded on June 04, 2012, in instrument Number 20122739, of the Public records of otSeGo county, New York., covering premises known as 59 NortH Street, eDmeStoN, NY 13335.
the relief sought in the within action is a final judgment 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 because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
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 the
mortgage company will not stop the 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: August 30th, 2024
ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC
Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590
516-280-7675
4LegalOct.10
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Notice of formatioN of S & D 94 MAIN STREET LLC
Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 9/12/24. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 137 Main St., Unadilla, NY 13849, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalOct.24
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Notice of orGaNizatioN of Dangca Excavating LLC under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law.
1. The name of the limited liability company is Dangca Excavating LLC.
2. Articles of Organization of Dangca Excavating LLC were filed with the New York Secretary of State on August 7, 2024.
3. The county within this state in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is Otsego County.
4. The street address of the principal business location of the limited liability company is: 257 Townline Road, Laurens, NY 13796.
5. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served.
The post office address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: Dangca Excavating LLC, 257 Townline Road, Laurens, NY 13796.
6. The limited liability company is organized to carry on all lawful activities. 6LegalOct.24
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Notice of formatioN of limiteD liaBilitY Company: DREAMOID LLC.
Art. Of Org. filed with Secretary of State of NY on 09/19/24. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. Office in OTSEGO COUNTY. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, PO BOX 214, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalOct.31
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Notice of orGaNizatioN of BES HOUSE AND SUPPLY LLC under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/18/24. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Ma Eden Marquinez and Bjorn Marquinez, 1 Susquehanna Ave., Apt. 2, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalOct.31
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Notice of formatioN of LBNAN LLC
Art. Of Org filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) 09/20/2024. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of process to 7665 State Highway
28, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalOct.31
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Notice of formatioN of Tom Hunt Excavating LLC
Art. Of Org filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) 8/30/2024.
Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail a copy of process to the LLC at 159 Mravlja Hill Road, Worcester, NY 12197. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalOct.31
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Notice of formatioN of CATSKILL DRONE SERVICES LLC
Arts of org. filed with SSNY 7/8/2024 Otsego Co. SSNY design. as agent for process & shall mail to ZENBUSINESS INC., 41 STATE ST #112, ALBANY, NY 12207. General Purpose 6LegalNov.7
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Notice of formatioN of DREAMWORX CONTRACTING
L.L.C.
Arts of Org. filed SSNY 9/9/2024 Otsego Co. SSNY design. agent for process & shall mail to 41 STATE STREET, SUITE 112, ALBANY, NY, UNITED STATES, 12207. General Purpose 6LegalNov.7
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Notice of formatioN of Stonehouse Design
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on January 26, 2024. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Stonehouse Design, 173 Deerfield Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalNov.7
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Notice of formatioN of
B & C CONTRACTING OF CNY LLC.
Filed 8/19/24. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 163 Armstrong Rd, West Winfield, NY 13491. Purpose: General.
6LegalNov.7
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Notice of formatioN of a NY limiteD liaBilitY comPaNY
CHIEF SCHENEVUS RESTAURANT LLC.
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 30 September 2024. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to PO Box 133, Schenevus, NY 12155. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalNov.7
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SummoNS Supreme Court of New York, Otsego County.
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR TREEHOUSE SERIES V TRUST, Plaintiff,
-against-
PATRICIA
LAMPHERE A/ K/A PATRICIA A. LAMPHERE, POSSIBLE HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTHER M. LAMPHERE A/K/A ESTHER LAMPHERE; BURDETT J. LAMPHERE, POSSIBLE HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTHER M. LAMPHERE A/K/A ESTHER LAMPHERE; HEATHER BOURG A/K/A HEATHER NICOLE BOURG, POSSIBLE HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTHER M. LAMPHERE A/K/A ESTHER LAMPHERE; JENNA KING, POSSIBLE HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTHER M.
John Michael Hungerman
1945-2024
COOPERSTOWN—
John Michael Hungerman, 79, of Cooperstown, died unexpectedly on August 23, 2024 at The Cooperstown Center, where he was receiving rehab following a fall in his Cooperstown home. He was looking forward to returning home to his wife, Georgia Meeter Hungerman. Having been very healthy and active all his life, he began facing physical challenges with progressive supra-nuclear palsy, a brain-muscular disorder diagnosed in November 2023. Sadly, before he could return home, he succumbed to the weakened swallowing effects of PSP.
Born in Martins Ferry, Ohio on July 19, 1945, the first of six children, his father John was a mechanical engineer and mother Peg a homemaker. Michael attended St. John Vianney High School Seminary, graduating as salutatorian. He discerned he was not called to be a priest and took the path to become a psychologist. He graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and earned a master’s degree and PhD at Kent State University in 1970. Next he worked as a counselor and adjunct professor at the University of Akron, and later as a counselor at the College of Wooster. Michael went into private practice in the 1980s as a therapist and court forensics psychologist. During this time, he
from Pg. 10
LAMPHERE A/K/A ESTHER
LAMPHERE; MEAGAN LAMPHERE, POSSIBLE HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTHER M. LAMPHERE
A/K/A ESTHER
LAMPHERE; UNKNOWN
HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF ESTHER M. LAMPHERE A/K/A ESTHER LAMPHERE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(NORTHERN DISTRICT); NBT BANK; CAPITAL ONE BANK USA, NA; LVNV FUNDING LLC; “JOHN DOE” and “JANE DOE” said names being
moved from Akron, Ohio to New York City and then Newtown, Connecticut, where he and late wife Joyce Livingston lived until her passing in 2017. Known as having a kind spirit, Michael showed it in his caring faith practices and sensitivity in helping people. He was very influenced by his parents and Uncle George Hungerman, a medic in World War II who worked among Holocaust patients and later became a physician. He devoted his medical training to the poorest indigenous tribes in Peru and other countries with minimal equipment. Michael was deeply affected by his uncle’s compassion and dedication to people. This impacted Michael’s career choice and his support of charities to Native American families and children in mission boarding schools. Michael fondly remembered his childhood family vacations at the Outer Banks, North Carolina and likewise with his children, especially when fishing and watching sunsets. His children also remember their dad’s talent decorating their home for Christmas. Lifelong, he enjoyed teaching college students, counseling, exercising, and tennis (until his knee gave out). He loved cooking, concerts, and ballroom dancing and became an enthusiastic CD music collector. He also enjoyed later in life leading a faith group in his Newtown,
OBITUARIES
Connecticut home. Traveling to other countries became an interest as “empty nesters”—walking the Great Wall of China, climbing Kilimanjaro, touring St. Petersburg, Russia, seeing Alaska on cruise, and other places. He and his wife also taught health seminars in Italy.
Highlights of Michael’s life with Georgia fulfill a line from R. Browning, “Grow old along with me! -The best is yet to be! The last of life…” And it was, beginning in their 70s with a lovely marriage in Christ Church, Cooperstown, in August 2020. Their life became hospitality, cooking, volunteering, reading, liking movies, gardening and especially enjoying visiting their children all out-of-state. They took cruises to the Caribbean Islands, Panama Canal and Latin America, intent on relaxing and learning about an area’s early history and current culture. In retirement, they especially enjoyed living in Cooperstown, with its friendliness, museums, music and art venues, meet and greets, and book club discussions hosted by Christ Church. Michael helped Georgia with the UPBEAT Kids Club she developed with wonderful retirees sharing their talents/hobbies with second- through eighthgrade children on days when Cooperstown Central School was closed for holidays and conferences. When COVID ended club meetings, Michael helped
leW i S, HurleY & pietrobono Funeral Home
51 Dietz Street oneonta, nY 607-432-1511 www.lhpfuneralhome.com
fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants
Index No.
EF2024-72 Mortgaged Premises: 53 East James Street a/k/a 53 James Street East Richfield Springs, New York 13439
Section: 25.05
Block: 4
Lot: 17.00
TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above captioned action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within
Georgia deliver about 35 holiday themed, grade level activity packets to UPBEAT students’ homes.
An abiding memory will always be Michael’s joy in attending several seminars with Georgia on “Benedictine Values for Today-A Deeper Walk with God” and Lectio Divina, led by Pat Mackey Stone and Bishop Michael Smith, held annually at the Episcopal Spiritual Life Center in the scenic hills of Greenwich, New York. Michael’s “last of life” retreat there was this past April, 2024.
Michael is survived by daughter Megan Hungerman, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; son Daniel Hungerman and wife Laura Batt, South Bend, Indiana, and children Sarah and Zachary; son Matthew and wife Erin Hungerman, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and children Ryan and Sean. Michael was a special stepdad to Georgia’s children Jennifer Meeter and husband Joshua Darichuk, Silver Spring, Maryland; Jeffrey and Kerry Meeter, Port St. Lucie, Florida, and children Steven, Brianna, and Hadley; and Jordan and Alyssa Meeter, Pensacola, Florida, and children Aubrey, Olivia, and Josephine.
Michael is also survived by his siblings: Margaret Joan Cybulski (Vincent) of Akron, Ohio; Mary Ann Lieser (husband Leon deceased), Martins Ferry, Ohio, son Jason and his children, Brooke, Jason, and Maxwell; Joseph
Heller & Skinner Funeral Home
155 Main Street Worcester, nY 607-397-9711
www.hellerskinnerfh.com
Proud to be family-owned John & Kathleen (Heller) Pietrobono
twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJEC-
and Robin and children Jamison and Jonah, and her son, Jacob; his brother, Messianic Rabbi Judah Hungerman and wife Cathy of Sarasota, Florida, and son Tony Hungerman and children Sydney and Abbigail, Florida, and their daughter, Kristy, and Isaac Brownman and children Isaiah, Joshua, Elijah, Rebekah, and Judah of Sarasota, Florida; and Michael’s brother, Brian Hungerman and wife Julie of Wooster, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, in 2017; his parents, John J. Hungerman and Margaret Ann Hungerman; and brother Christopher Hungerman.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 69 Fair Street, Cooperstown. Afterward, there will be visiting and refreshments in the Parish Hall and all are welcome. Donations in Michael’s memory can be made online to The Episcopal Relief and Development for Hurricane Helene, or CHILDREN, “Moments that Matter,” a three-year childhood development program for children in impoverished countries. Scroll down to the program description to donate. https://www.episcopalrelief.org/what-youcan-do/give/donate-now
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
LEGALS
TIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Mortgage to secure $59,061.76 and interest, recorded in the Otsego County Clerk’s Office on July 25, 2003 in Book 1196, Page 98, Instrument Number 15398, covering the premises known as 53 East James Street a/k/a 53 James Street East, Richfield Springs, New York 13439. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Otsego County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mort-
gaged premises is located.
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 com-
pany 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.
FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff. 4LegalOct.31
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF
Freer’s Property Management, LLC:
Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY 05/31/2024. Off. Loc. Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent of LLC on whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 119 Shulgay Road, Cherry Valley, NY, 13320. Purpose: all lawful activities. 6LegalNov.14
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF
SOUTHEAST USA 2, LLC
Articles of Org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 10/1/24. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 477 Chester St., Uniondale, NY 11553. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Principal business loc: 65 Ford Ave., Oneonta, NY 13820. 6LegalNov.14
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Desnoyers Deals,LLC.
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF HILL CITY BOOKKEEPING LLC
Arts of Org. filed with SSNY 9/19/2024. Otsego Co. SSNY design as agent for process & shall mail to 41 STATE ST, STE 112, ALBANY, NY, US, 12207 General Purpose 6LegalNov.14
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (“SSNY”) on 08/30/24. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY may mail a copy of any process to the LLC, 673 Talbot Rd West Winfield NY 13491. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 6LegalNov.14
Photo provided JOHN MICHAEL HUNGERMAN
►Fri., Oct Ober 11
LIBRARY 10 a.m.
“Coffee & Puzzles.” Each Friday. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
SENIOR MEALS
11:30 a.m. Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal Monday-Friday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $10.60 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of egg bake, ovenroasted potatoes, muffin and fruit cups. Nader Towers Housing, 2 Mitchell Street, Oneonta. (607) 547-6454.
SENIOR COFFEE
HOUR Noon to 1 p.m.
“Chilling, Chatting & Coffee.”Coffee, tea, pastries, games, puzzles, special events and good conversation. Held each Friday. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Highway 11 Hartwick. (607) 293-6600.
OUTDOORS 1 p.m.
“Get the Kids Out: Parslow Road.” Presented by the Otsego County Conservation Association. Parslow Road Conservation Area, 127 Parslow Road, Hartwick. (607) 547-4488.
DINNER 4:30-6 p.m. (or until sold out). Roast Pork Dinner. Fees apply; open to the public. Laurens American Legion, 11 Main Street, Laurens. (607) 226-7725.
GHOST TOUR 5:30 p.m. “Things That Go Bump in the Night.” Six tours each night (last one departs at 8 p.m.). Fees apply; registra-
tion required. Also held 10/12, 10/18, 10/19, 10/25 and 10/26. The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471450.
GHOST TOUR 6-7 p.m. “Hyde & Shriek! Candlelight Ghost Tours.” Tour the hall and hear tales of the ghostly apparitions who have lingered for over two centuries. Also held 10/18, 10/19, 10/25 and 10/26. Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park Road, Cooperstown. (607) 5475098.
THEATER 8 p.m.
“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.” Presented by Bigger Dreams Productions. Fees apply. Also showing 10/12 with a matinee on 10/13 at 2 p.m. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080. ►Sat., Oct Ober 12
DEADLINE Last chance to RSVP for the “Whole-Food Plant-Based Community Potluck.” Beverages available, Halloween costumes welcome. Crumhorn Coffee House, 2525 State Highway 28, Oneonta. (607) 4377054.
BOATING 8 a.m. to noon. “New York Safe Boating Course.” Free 8-hour course introduces basic principles of safe and responsible boating. Continues 8 a.m. to noon on 10/13. Registration required. SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station,
7027 State Highway 80, Springfield.
FESTIVAL 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Renaissance Fair.” Vendors, food, readings, more. Costumes encouraged. Presented by Bewitch Me Joyful LLC at 1398 East Side Road, Morris. (607) 267-0617.
GILBERTSVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET 9 a.m. to noon. Corner of State Route 51 and Commercial Street, Gilbertsville. (607) 783-2305.
FARMERS MARKET
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local vendors, food trucks, music, more. Continues Saturdays through 10/19. Eastern Otsego Farmers’ Market, Borst Field off State Highway 7, Schenevus. culinaryanthropology@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Customer Appreciation Day: Getting to Know You.” The Green Giraffe, 179 Main Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3234.
BENEFIT RUN
10 a.m. “5K Mud Run.”
Ultimate obstacle race for all ages, shapes and sizes. Proceeds benefit the Family Service Association. Waterhill Farm, 3050 County Highway 8, West Oneonta. (607) 4322870.
TRACTORS 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 10th Annual Tractor Fest. Learn how these machines powered NYS farms through the ages of farming technology.
Included with museum admission. Continues 10/13. The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 547-1450.
MAKERS MARKET 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Fall Shopping Fest.” Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 432-4401.
PLANETARIUM Fees apply; registration required. SUNY Oneonta Planetarium, Room 018A Perna Science Building, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta. Visit suny.oneonta.edu/ science-outreach-activities/planetarium
• 10:30 a.m. “Betelgeuse’s Galactic Vacation: An Alien’s Search for Planets.”
• 11:30 a.m. “The Sky Tonight.”
EXHIBIT 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “CrazyCool Part II: Extended.” Open each Saturday in October. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown. (607) 5475327.
KIDS WORKSHOP
1-3:30 p.m. “Board Game Making Workshop for Kids.” Open to children aged 8-12. Fees apply; registration required. Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471400.
REPAIR 1-4 p.m. “Oneonta Repair Café.” Presented by the Otsego
ReUse Center at 77 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 353-7831.
REVOLUTION 2 p.m. “Rendezvous with Treason.” Dramatic program presented by the Iroquois Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Wieting Theatre, Main Street, Worcester. Visit facebook.com/IroquoisChapterNSDAR/ FALL FESTIVAL
2:30 p.m. Trunk or Treat. Includes costume contest, BBQ, s’mores and prizes. Gilbert Lake State Park, 18 CCC Road, Laurens. (607) 432-2114.
WORKSHOPS
2-4 p.m. “Promoting Art & Culture.” Presented by Cassandra Miller, founder and president of Culture Rally. Fees apply; registration required. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. Visit canoneonta.org/fallworkshops
FUNDRAISER
5-8 p.m. “Annual Art Auction.” Music, refreshments and more. Proceeds benefit the West Kortright Center. Held at River Rock Events, 739 County Road 18, Delhi. (607) 278-5454.
GHOST TOUR
5:30 p.m. “Things That Go Bump in the Night.” Six tours each night (last one departs at 8 p.m.). Fees apply; registration required. Also held 10/18, 10/19, 10/25 and 10/26. The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471450.
POTLUCK DINNER
Glimmerglass State Park Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5098.
►Sun., OctOber 13
FUNDRAISER
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Harvest Breakfast.” Raffle baskets and Lotto board. Features pancakes, real maple syrup, eggs, sausage and more. Laurens Fire Department, 34 Main Street, Laurens. (607) 441-3045.
FUNDRAISER 8 a.m. to noon. “Fall Pancake Breakfast.” Support the Fly Creek Area Historical Society. Suggested donations apply. Old Fly Creek Grange, 208 Cemetery Road, Fly Creek. (802) 345-5406.
OUTDOORS 1-3 p.m. “October Mushroom Walk.” Last mushroom walk of the fall presented by Otsego County Conservation Association. Registration required. College Camp, 119 Hoffman Road, Oneonta. (607) 547-4488.
HALLOWEEN
1-4 p.m. “Mystery at the Roller Rink!” Fees apply. Interskate 88, 5185 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 433-1714 ext. 80205.
FIBER 1-3 p.m. “The Gatehouse Fiber Guild.” New knitters welcome. Held each Sunday in the lounge. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 285-4111.
6:30 p.m. Fly Creek United Methodist Church, Downstairs Fellowship Hall, 852 County Road 26, Fly Creek.
HALLOWEEN
7-10 p.m. “Orange County NY Paranormal.” Hear the evidence from the paranormal team, followed by the chance to conduct your own investigation. Hyde Hall, 267
DISCUSSION 2-4 p.m. “Are You Ready For The End? A community meeting on preparing for end of life.” Presented by the Butternut Cemetery Association at Butternut Valley Grange Hall, 7 Bloom Street, Gilbertsville.
FUNDRAISER
5-7 p.m. “Local Foods, Local Spirits.” Dishes made by a dozen area chefs using ingredients from the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market. Includes music, basket raffle and more. Fees apply; registration required. Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, 101 Main Street, Pioneer Alley, Cooperstown. (607) 5478881.
