Hometown Oneonta 11-16-2023

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& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch GROWING UP IN A 500-ROOM HOTEL, page 9

VISIT www.

AllOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S DAILY NEWSPAPER/ONLINE COMPLIMENTARY

Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, November 16, 2023

Volume 16, No. 4 General Election Results

Otsego Awarded Grant Funds for Public Safety

Insinga, Basile Win Their Races OTSEGO COUNTY lection Day 2023 has come and gone and, according to the unofficial results currently posted on the Otsego County Board of Elections website, Republicans won the top two spots.

Cheryl Insinga defeated Deirdre Hay for State Supreme Court Justice, 6th Judicial District, and current Otsego County Deputy Clerk Jennifer Basile prevailed over MacGuire Benton for the role of county clerk.

Basile, when asked if she was concerned at any point that she might not win, said, “I think it’s only natural for a person to think of the what-ifs.”

“It is reassuring to know that the voters of Otsego County understand the importance of this role. I am overwhelmingly thankful to have their support,” Basile added.

Basile said she is already prepared to take over for current County Clerk Kathy Sinnott Gardner on January 1, 2024.

“With me already being in the office, it will be a smooth transition and there will be no interruption of services to the community,” Basile explained.

Benton, who called Basile to concede the race and congratulate her on her victory, said he wishes her all the best as she prepares to serve as county clerk.

“Naturally, I’m disappointed that the result wasn’t in our favor. However, what a blessing it was to have the opportunity to be considered for service. I took my campaign to every corner of Otsego County, no matter how red or how blue.

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INSIDE

NEW YORK STATE overnor Kathy Hochul announced that a combined total of $55 million in state funding was awarded to 57 counties and New York City, including Otsego County, to improve the state’s emergency communications systems and public safety answering points on Wednesday, October 25. Funding was made available by two grants under the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant Program. It will be administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and will directly support local emergency response capabilities and promote interoperability and compatibility for public safety agencies throughout the state. The programs allow the state to reimburse eligible expenses that aid localities in sustaining and improving public safety communications infrastructure.

“Public safety is my number one priority here in New York State and I’m proud to announce this year’s round of funding to enhance communication systems that help our emergency responders work more efficiently,” Hochul said.

“It’s critical [that] first responders have the equipment and infrastructure they need to maintain clear communication during times of crisis, and this funding plays a key role in these efforts,” added Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray.

“Through these grants, our local partners will have the resources they need to enhance their emergency communications Continued on page 11

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Photo by Amy Gardner

Gardner Posts New Personal Best STANLEY PARK, MA—Oneonta High School graduate Brandon Gardner, now a freshman at SUNY New Paltz, ran a personal best on Saturday, November 11 in the NCAA Division III Mideast Region Cross Country Championships. Gardner ran the 8K race in 28 minutes 32.2 seconds, beating his previous personal best time by 42 seconds.

He finished 121st out of a field of 173 runners. New Paltz finished 16th out of more than 25 teams. Gardner is the son of Jeff and Amy Gardner of Oneonta. Jon Hendley, also an OHS graduate, competed in the event as well. Hendley, a senior at Castleton University, finished 96th overall with a time of 27 minutes 17.3 seconds. On the women’s side, OHS graduate Anya Sloth—a freshman at SUNY Plattsburgh—placed 104th out of 174 runners with a time of 24 minutes 31.3 seconds.

Beloved Store Owner Prepares for Next Chapter

► carnival theme announced, page 2

By ELIZABETH COOPER

► new warming station now open, page 2

COOPERSTOWN f you’ve lived in Cooperstown a long time, you probably know Neil Weiller.

He’s the affable, gray-haired fellow with a giant golden retriever you might see lurking in the old entry drive of the former Cook’s Garage building. If you looked a little more closely, you would realize he was tending to the myriad displays of Tshirts and folksy decorative items there.

He’s been doing that for more than three decades, but after Christmas this year Weiller is closing Muskrat Hill, the shop he has owned and operated, and heading off on a new adventure.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said on a recent afternoon. “It’s time, though.”

By the end of the year, Weiller, 70, hopes to have sold what’s left of the inventory of

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► VOTING RIGHTS EXHIBIT ENDS NOV. 18, page 5 ► THE DOG CHARMER RETURNS, page 6 ► DICK DEROSA REFLECTS ON WASTE, hUMANITY, page 6 ► DR. STALTER’S TREASURES UP FOR AUCTION, page 7 ► nEWS bRIEFS ON cano, caa, BASSETT, page 10 Follow Breaking News On

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the store, so if you are looking for a deal on one of the trademark Life is Good T-shirts the store is known for, this is your chance.

As is common with endings, Weiller has been thinking about the beginning.

By the late 1980s, Weiller had built a successful career in New York City as a corporate accountant in finance, but the job didn’t fulfill him.

“So I did what you are not supposed to do and I quit,” he said.

Though he grew up mainly in California, Weiller comes from an old Cooperstown family. His father—an executive in the aeronautics industry—was a member of one of the earliest Cooperstown families, the Wyckoffs. Their roots here go all the way back to the mid-1700s. Like his dad, Weiller spent time here growing up and the place is in his blood.

Continued on page 9

Photo by Tara Barnwell

Neil Weiller and Henry

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER EDDM PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ONEONTA PERMIT NO. 890

A-2 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

THURSDAY, novEMBER 16, 2023

Carnival Committee Announces 2024 Theme, Launches Raffle COOPERSTOWN he 2024 Cooperstown Winter Carnival Committee has been hard at work planning the 56th Annual Cooperstown Winter Carnival, which will take place Thursday, February 1 through Sunday, February 4, 2024. On Monday, October 23, the committee released the theme of next year’s carnival and announced a special raffle fundraiser with more than $3,100.00 in cash prizes to be awarded.

Shortly after the close of the successful 2023 event, the committee put out a call to community members to send creative theme suggestions for next year’s carnival. After reviewing all the submissions, the committee announced that the theme of the 2024 Cooperstown Winter Carnival will be

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“It’s a Winterful Life,” which committee members referred to as “a dazzling idea submitted by Marcia Nye.” This year, the committee has also created a calendar raffle to raise funds to cover event expenses. Now through December 26, community supporters near and far can obtain tickets to participate in “Zuzu’s Treasure Trove January Calendar Raffle.” All tickets will be entered into a drawing that will take place every day in January. Thanks to local businesses and community groups, each drawing will have a $100.00 winner that will be announced daily on the Cooperstown Winter Carnival Facebook page.

Tickets to enter the month-long raffle Photo provided are a donation of $10.00 for one ticket or $50.00 for six tickets. To participate, visit Cutting the ribbon for the City of Oneonta’s new warming station were: Sister Betsy Van Deusen, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany; Jennifer www.cooperstownwintercarnival.com.

Reynolds, case manager at Catholic Charities; and Christy Houck, executive director of Catholic Charities for Delaware, Schoharie, and Otsego Counties. They were joined by Michelle Catan of the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce and Chamber President and CEO Sean Lewis.

New Warming Station Offers Emergency Shelter, Services ONEONTA atholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany and the Otsego County Department of Social Services opened a new warming station at 291 Chestnut Street in Oneonta in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 12. The station will expand access to life-saving emergency shelter during the upcoming winter season. It provides a safe, warm place to spend the night, showers, snacks and drinks, and laundry services.

Case management services will also be available to address issues such as access to housing, food and medical care. The new warming station will be open through Sunday, March 31. Organizers said this is the first time services are being provided to address the individuals’ long-term needs as well as the short-term.

“This is our third year operating the warming station, which has had some issues with its location and was in need of a long-term home,” said Christy R. Houck, executive director of Catholic Charities of Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie Counties. “The warming station is a response by the county to the Executive Order put in place by Andrew Cuomo stating that whenever the temperature goes below 32 degrees, people must be sheltered to keep them safe from freezing to death.

“With our new location, we have a three-year lease. Our shelter is a 10-bed emergency shelter open from 5:30-7:30 p.m. There are two shifts of two staff each, who are required to stay awake and monitor the individuals staying with us,” Houck said.

According to organizers, safety was a top priority when establishing the new warming station. The facility features a fire alarm system and outside lighting and cameras. In addition, the staff is being safety trained in first aid and CPR, how to respond to a mental health crisis, the use of Narcan, when to call EMS and police, de-escalation techniques and working as a team.

“On behalf of the City of Oneonta, I salute the efforts of Catholic Charities and all those local organizations who have made this new facility a reality,” praised Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek.

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Matching Challenge To Double Pantry Donations Up to $15,000 COOPERSTOWN Supporters of the Cooperstown Food Pantry have an opportunity to double their impact with a donation during the months of November and December.

Organizers say you might find it hard to imagine hunger around us in our beloved communities, but food pantry workers see hunger every day in the faces of parents, children and senior citizens who visit them to make sure they can have breakfast on the stove every morning…and supper on their tables every night.

To date this year, the Cooperstown Food Pantry has served on average 157 households, translating to 521 people in need every month. Now through December 31, The Scriven Foundation and a generous anonymous donor will match all Cooperstown Food Pantry donations dollar for dollar—up to $15,000.00.

Donations to the food pantry can be made via PayPal at www.cooperstownfoodpantry.org or by mailing a check to 25 Church Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Funds received will support the Cooperstown Food Pantry’s mission to feed their neighbors in need across northern Otsego County.

Encouraging philanthropy throughout Otsego County is a major

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-3

Family-Friendly Activities Increased Foot Traffic to Main Street

By MONICA CALZOLARI

ONEONTA ump ropes, pogo sticks, sidewalk chalk, a bubble machine and a mega chess game were just a few of the familyfriendly additions to the City of Oneonta’s Muller Plaza this past summer.

Kaler Carpenter, program manager of the Youth Clubhouses operated by Friends of Recovery of Delaware and Otsego Counties, summarized his organization’s contributions at a Common Council meeting on October 17, 2023.

Carpenter said, “Muller Plaza was designed as a community space and is underutilized.”

A concerted effort is being made to increase foot traffic on Main Street in Oneonta and to find other uses for the plaza.

Carpenter said, “It was Mayor Mark Drnek’s idea to reimagine Muller Plaza by having the plaza be full of activities and community events five days per week as well as have it be an attractive space where tourists can find information about local businesses and the surrounding area.”

When Destination Oneonta closed its retail storefront on Dietz Street, the city lost a central location where newcomers could visit and ask questions.

Carpenter was a member of the initial planning committee for “Muller Plaza Reimagined.” He reached out to Mayor Drnek and the Common Council about the possibility of having FOR-DO take the lead with this initiative.

FOR-DO is a grassroots addiction recovery community organization.

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Carpenter said, “I proposed that we act as plaza ambassadors.”

The City of Oneonta agreed and contracted with FOR-DO to provide services at Muller Plaza for a total of $16,500.00, according to Carpenter.

For 62 days, every Tuesday through Saturday from June to September, for eight hours a day, FOR-DO offered games and activities on the plaza.

Carpenter explained that the goal was to “change the culture of the plaza” by making it more comfortable and inviting to visitors.

FOR-DO and The Redemption Movement supplied several tables and chairs, an umbrella, a speaker system, and a PA system for live music.

The City of Oneonta supplied menus to area restaurants.

“A Wheel of Lunch encouraged conversations about local restaurants as well as helped people decide where to eat,” Carpenter wrote in his summary hand-out.

Approximately 100 guests attended a ribbon cutting in June 2023 to kick off the summer’s worth of activities planned and overseen by Carpenter, FOR-DO and FOR-Do’s Club Odyssey staff.

Carpenter counted 6,183 total interactions over the four-month period and estimated that the new, family-friendly activities attracted an additional 5,256 visitors to the plaza.

Carpenter said, “We had about 100 people per day visit the plaza.

Many included the baseball families who visit Oneonta during the summer months.

Participation doubled when the college students came back.”

On September 16, when the Community Arts Network of Oneonta hosted the City of the Hills Festival, more than 500 people visited Muller Plaza.

Some of the other community members who participated are: Junior’s Jerk Chicken provided food on Saturdays; Christina Perry offered dance workshops; Head Start provided children’s activities; several organizations provided live music; and SUNY Oneonta students helped Club Odyssey make custom Oneonta T-shirts.

Photo by Monica Calzolari Carpenter summed The mega chess set was a popular choice among new Muller Plaza activities in the City of up the experiment this Oneonta this past summer. Above, players think carefully before their next move. way: “This proved to be what I like to call a supplied by FOR-DO. FOR-DO operates win-win-win arrangetwo youth programs, ment; a win for FORDO’s youth programs, Club Odyssey and The because we were able Oneonta Teen Center.

Club Odyssey, located to generate revenue for at 80 Water Street, the programs as well as provides a sober space promote recovery to the to socialize as well as community; a win for the recovery services for City of Oneonta, because people ages 18-25 in FOR-DO was able to Otsego County. provide this commuThe Oneonta Teen nity service much more Center, at 4 Academy economically; and a win Street, serves youth 12for Oneonta, because What could be better than Thanksgiving 18 years of age. the downtown experiDinner from your favorite Brewery? ence was enhanced for Three members of Fully cooked complete Thanksgiving dinner with everybody in a variety of the Common Council reheat instructions.Individual complete Turkey dinners . ways.” publicly thanked Mixed White & Dark Meat Turkey, FOR-DO used money Carpenter at the meeting Mashed Potatoes, Turkey Gravy, from its programming on October 17 for his Sausage stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, budget to fund the activi- leadership and dedicaCorn bread, Apple Crisp $24.95. ties at Muller Plaza. tion as a Muller Plaza Family Style Thanksgiving “The mega chess set Ambassador.

They dinner feeds 4 to 6 people with a was the biggest expense, at were Mayor Drnek, Len tray of Apple Crisp. All of the above $539.00,” said Carpenter. Carson representing the $105.00. For service for Water guns, a hose and Fifth Ward and David 8 to 12 people $210.

Slow Lightly Smoked Whole sprinkler, pumpkins, and Rissberger representing turkey 15 to 18 lb Average served blank T-shirts were also the Third Ward.

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Light it up!

Common Council Represents Local Government in Action

By MONICA CALZOLARI

ONEONTA f you want to see the City of Oneonta’s government in action, attend a Common Council meeting. They are open to the public and are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m.

Mayor Mark Drnek presides over Oneonta’s Common Council. This legislative body enacts laws and manages and controls the finances and property of the City of Oneonta. The Common Council meets in its chambers, located on the second floor of City Hall at 258 Main Street.

The City of Oneonta is divided into eight wards. There are eight council members, each representing the ward in which they reside for a four-year term.

Currently, council members are paid $7,000.00 per year. If you think this is a cushy job, think again.

On October 17 alone, the Common Council met for four hours and 30 minutes. The City’s Strategic Plan was reviewed for the first hour of the meeting and parking was discussed. For the next three hours, the eight

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council members reported on progress for the eight boards or commissions they chair and the four committees they lead.

An overview of the draft budget was presented and the meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.

est. 1974

Cooper Country ~ CRAFTS ~

Holiday Open House Nov. 24, 25 & 26

Support your local businesses!

Pick a poinsettia for 10% - 25% off your total purchase. A percentage of all sales will go to the local food pantry • Free Parking Fine Traditional and Contemporary Handcrafts by Local Artisans

Open 10 am to 5 pm daily • 607-547-9247 2 Doubleday Court, Cooperstown

Join us as we light up the brewery for the first time!

Save the Date

Bring in this ad and the first round is on us!

Nov. 18 6 PM

HOMETOWN Views

A-4 HOMETOWN ONEONTA

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

THE PARTIAL OBSERVER

EDITORIAL

The Great White-tail Count

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utumn is over. The leaves have turned and fallen; the frost has done away with what was left of our gardens; every now and again there’s a flurry of snow; fleeces and puffers have emerged from the closet; and we have fallen headfirst into the great season of The Hunt. In Otsego County, the seasons for coyote (until March 31), ruffed grouse (until February 29), pheasant (until February 29), bear (until December 19) and deer (until January 1) opened in October. All but the deer may be shot with guns all season; the deer have different rules. For these creatures, this Saturday marks the end of the early bowhunting and crossbow seasons and the beginning of the regular—firearms—season. Crossbows may be used for a time, as well. This will continue until December 10, when a late bowhunting and muzzleloading season, which includes the week between Christmas and the New Year, kicks in. Kids hunt, too, over the Youth Firearms Weekend in early October.

Last year, hunters in New York State harvested an estimated 231,961 white-tails, a 10 percent increase from 2021. This take included 116,425 antlered bucks, a 5 percent increase, and 115,536 antlerless deer, legally harvested, a smashing increase of 15 percent. In Otsego County, 3,135 bucks, 2,430 does and 558 fawns were taken. Over 100 of these were shot by youths during their youth hunt weekend. Also, close to 4,000 deer were harvested state-wide during the Holiday Hunt, an additional hunting opportunity that provides for students who are home on school break. This was an 11 percent increase over 2021. The overall total for the 2022 season, although higher than the 211,269 take in 2021, was not as high as those of 2020 (253,990) or 2002 (308,216).

It was a good season, and no doubt a harbinger of seasons to come. The really good news is that our hunters are increasingly passing up young bucks, leaving them to grow and perfect their antlers and increase their weight along the way. In 2022, around 64 percent of the antlered bucks that were harvested were 2.5 years old or older, up from 45 percent 10 years ago and 30 percent in the 1990s.

There was a marked decline of the New York deer population through most of the 19th century, to a low between 1880 and 1890. By 1885, deer were in danger of extermination throughout the state, except for in the wild, nonagricultural region of the central Adirondacks. Throughout the 20th century the deer population returned sporadically, only to decrease again, due both to starvation, during the severe winters of 1925-26, 1930-31, and 1947-48, and to the then-illegal killing of antlerless deer. Since the 1950s, the population has increased substantially.

Today we have an abundance, even over-abundance, of white-tailed deer. Without their principal predators, wolves and mountain lions, they are coming close to over-browsing their territories, devastating the forest understory, and further threatening the gardens and bird feeders of Otsego County. Bears, bobcats, coyotes and automobiles take their share, but hunting is the primary population control.

Good luck, hunters. Good luck, deer. Be safe. Be careful. Be smart.

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.

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Asbestos a Hidden Danger to Navy Vets

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sbestos exposure is an ongoing concern for Navy veterans who served on ships built from the 1930s to the early 1980s. A once highly valued building material, asbestos played a critical role in shipbuilding during the 20th century because of its exceptional heat resistance and insulating properties.

The mineral was a lurking danger on the Navy ships, and no one considered the threat arising when its microscopic fibers became airborne and were inhaled.

Degrading Health Following Exposure Every branch of the U.S. military used products containing asbestos for decades, but Navy vets were at an exceptionally high risk of asbestos exposure. They fulfilled their duty surrounded by items made with asbestos during their years in the military, often unaware of the hidden danger. All personnel onboard risked exposure to its microscopic fibers with the toxic mineral in every part of the naval vessels.

The consequences of asbestos exposure are grave. Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers cause incapacitating diseases in the long haul after lodging in the body’s tissues, primarily

in the lungs. The fact that asbestos-related illnesses usually take decades to develop means that Navy vets exposed to asbestos during their service may only now be suffering from the harmful effects.

Handling Challenges Discovering the connection between their health condition and military service can be overwhelming for veterans. Besides the physical challenge, there’s an emotional effect often overlooked and underestimated.

Many veterans may feel isolated and unsupported, and the emotional toll can worsen their health issues. Circumstances like these demand reflexes deeply ingrained during their years in the Navy, and veterans need to take proactive steps to keep their health safe.

Periodic health exams: Undergoing regular medical exams and being vocal about military service and possible asbestos exposure on ships is important. Early detection enhances positive treatment outcomes and prolongs life expectancy. Therefore, veterans should solicit periodic chest X-rays, as they show damages caused by the inhaled asbestos fibers and are an accessible diagnostic tool for malignant and Continued on page 11

Letters to the editor … In their opinion

WSC Working on Otsego Lake Plan This is in response to your editorial last month, titled “Resurrect WQCC, Please.”

The Water Quality Coordinating Committee did, indeed, address important issues—that have only gained in urgency. Invasive plant and animal species, harmful algal bloom occurrences and, most importantly, the very safety of water for drinking and recreation, are concerns that have all grown since 2016.

The editorial concludes with, “Surely reformation of the WQCC deserves consideration as we look to the future.”

We agree with this and are currently reviewing information from this previous group.

It is also clear, however, that many things have changed since the WQCC was put together. The facts are that in Otsego County there are different challenges with the county’s different bodies of water. The concerns of Otsego Lake are not the same as those for Canadarago Lake or the Susquehanna River. Clearly, one size does not fit all when it comes to addressing water concerns.

The most pressing issues of Otsego Lake now are being addressed by the Otsego Lake Watershed Supervisory Committee. That committee, established under New York State law, is a collaborative effort of the Village of Cooperstown and the towns of Middlefield, Otsego, and Springfield. Representatives of each of these serve on the committee. Meetings are at least once per month and are open to the public.

The WSC oversees the health almost 400 septic systems. Their installation and improvement over the past 30 years has protected lake water quality.

With the occurrence of HABs last year, the WSC took the lead in working toward a Comprehensive Lake Management Plan and has been supported by the village and towns. We have enlisted the knowledge of many organizations, including the Otsego County Conservation Association, the Otsego Lake Association, the SUNY

Photo provided

Joey Katz (left) and Xander Moffat (right) selected the films at Glimmerglass Film Days along with Peggy Parsons. They are pictured with Peter Coccoma, whose film, “Giro Prepares for Death,” was featured at Film Days as part of the Shorts+Cake program. All three men have Cooperstown roots.

Oneonta Biological Field Station and other community leaders to learn as much as we can. The work of the WQCC that was done previously will be used in this work. This plan will provide a structure for the study of HABs in the hope of better understanding them.

The WSC is currently working with New York State and is networking with other lakes who have successfully developed lake plans.

Bringing together governments, environmental groups, local businesses, and concerned citizens will ensure that the lake plan will both address the concerns of the community and provide a guide to protect our most valuable local resource.

The Otsego Lake Watershed Supervisory Committee

Film Days Team Reports Success That’s a wrap! Glimmerglass Film Days, a program of Otsego 2000, presented 28 film screenings, filmmaker talks, the art exhibit “Future Memory” at The Smithy, trivia, themed dinners and parties, and guided walks November 9-13. We filled 2,725 seats over five days.

Some people attended more than a dozen films and events.

The sense of community and great discussions inspired by the films are why Otsego 2000 started Film Days, and why we will continue to do so. Many

thanks to our sponsors and partners who make Film Days possible. The program team of Peggy Parsons, Xander Moffat and Joey Katz did a great job selecting films that otherwise would not be available to our community. Along with the program team, Film Days Steering Committee members are: JoAnn Gardner, Erik Stengler, Sydney Waller, Peter Rutkoff, Jim LaCava, Van Broughton Ramsey, Ellen Pope, and Peg Odell. Also thanks to Jennifer Armstrong, the Film Days volunteers, and our interns, India Futterman, Evan Moats, and Micaela Wallace. Thank you to artists Megan Adams Irving, Ava Fedorov, and Ashley Norwood Cooper, whose work was featured in the Film Days companion art exhibit, and to festival caterer Mel’s at 22.

Plan to join us for the 12th season of Glimmerglass Film Days in November 2024.

Ellen Pope Executive Director, Otsego 2000

Administration Should Be Fired The Schenevus Central School District administrators and the school board, both current and previous members and administrators, are a joke in terms of dealing with bullying and harassment.

As someone who was bullied and harassed by being falsely Continued on page 11

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-5 news from the noteworthy

Dan Maskin

Non-profits Subsidizing the Government Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART with resources courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library

70 Years Ago

Oneonta’s State Armory for the next two weeks between the hours of 3:30 and 5 p.m. will be rife with the sounds of rebounding basketballs, running feet, and the voice of Hurley McLean, Oneonta High School’s basketball coach— the Yellow Jackets shape up for the first game of the season on December 4 against Draper Central of Schenevus. Trying out for the varsity are Ken Chase, Dick Jester, Peter Axhoy, Dick Jacobs, Nick Lambros, Jim Anderson, Dick Vroman, Bill Slawson, Jerry Dirvin, Bob Grygiel, Bill Donnelly, John Skinner, Ken Turner, Pete Jacobs and Gene Clough. Trying out for the junior varsity squad are Frank Sturiale, Joe Corarro, Nat Rhodes, Gene Tompkins, Bob Lewis, Joe Pidgeon, Jim Thomas, Dave VanWoert and Joe Cooper. Don Miller and Morris Cleverley are the only returning varsity players.

November 1953

50 Years Ago

One of the first grade classes at Center Street School, under the direction of Mrs. Jane Sloan, has been working recently with students from the SUCO Home Economics Department. Mrs. Sloan’s first grade students have been studying basic nutrition and etiquette. Along with time spent in class on table settings and manners, the students planned their own breakfast menu and participated in a shopping trip to Loblaws. All of the class work has led up to a breakfast which they planned and put together themselves on Friday morning, November 2. The students enjoyed their breakfast with Richard Picolla, principal, Mrs. Margaret Decker, nurse and Miss Carolyn Edwards, student teacher. Among the students participating were Kelly Fleischer, Darlene Sasina, Cindy Marino, Jennifer Lindell, and Paul Monroe.

November 1973

40 Years Ago

November 1983

30 Years Ago

The United States has an opportunity to right some historic wrongs—and reduce illegal immigration to its shores—by continuing to support democracy in Haiti, a Haitian exile told an Oneonta audience on Sunday. “A cultural oppression has existed for a long time,” said Pierre Leroy, who fled his native country 32 years ago and hopes to return when it becomes a democracy. “A small elite control the country culturally and also economically.” Leroy told about 25 people at the Universalist Unitarian Church that much of Haiti’s hope lies in exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The U.S. and the United Nations are pressuring Haiti’s military government to restore Aristide.

November 1993

20 Years Ago

While his drawings are nearly 500 years old, the ideas of Leonardo da Vinci can still impress children and adults. This was evident when the staff of the Yager Museum at Hartwick College welcomed 40 first-graders from Greater Plains Elementary School to an exhibit titled “The Inventions of Leonardo da Vinci.” “The classes make an annual trip to the museum,” said teacher Corinne Hahn. “They always have an exhibit we can fit into our curriculum.”

November 2003

Solution: “Mark Twain’s Cat” (November 9)

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recently read an article on a non-profit blog titled “Non-profit Math.” It was a humorous inside look at how math actually works in the non-profit world. One example is how a non-profit will spend $10,000.00 in funds and staff time to raise $5,000.00 at a fundraising event. Another is spending $20,000.00 to do a search to replace an employee who asked for a $5,000.00 raise and quit when refused. The writer gave examples that aren’t meant to be taken seriously but, at the same time, makes some good points.

Here’s one of my own that I have been pondering for a while. Instead of implementing a cost of living adjustment based on a percentage of each employee’s pay, take the total cost of the COLA and divide it equally by the number of employees in the organization. Then give each employee that same amount of pay increase. This way, organizations can begin to close inequities in their wage scales. Of course, practically speaking, it opens up a whole plethora of other problems, but you get my drift.

Here’s another one. “When a funder requires $2,000.00 of staff time to write and report on a $1,000.00 grant.” One more. “Expecting nonprofits to act more like businesses when forprofits fail at a rate of 50 percent within five years and 70 percent within 10 years.”

From my own experience, organizations think in terms of striving to be frugal, managing

contracts to demonstrate good fiscal responsibility. But if a grant is underspent, instead of being permitted to carry over the funds to the next year, we are admonished by funding sources to “go out and spend that money and don’t ever underspend your grant again.”

Then there is the one example in the blog that really caught my attention. It had to do with government reimbursements that, let’s say, average .75 cents on the dollar. It got my attention because so many services in our community depend on government reimbursements which are often not calculated until after the services have been provided. So, as the article points out, organizations are subsidizing the government while doing the work that the government should be doing.

Again, this blog I refer to is not to be taken literally, but humorously, although the examples lend themselves to much larger problems in that non-profits and local communities must bear the burden of solving complex human issues without strong national initiatives to provide aid and assistance. Especially in rural communities. If our country gives away 10 trillion dollars in corporate tax credits, under the guise of economic development, surely it has the resources to help local communities with addiction, mental health, and safe, adequate, affordable housing.

Dan Maskin is chief executive officer for Opportunities for Otsego, Inc.

CGP Voting Rights Exhibit Continues Through November 18 NEW BERLIN—The voting rights-inspired art exhibition “Our Votes, Our Stories,” a collaboration between the Cooperstown Graduate Program and Golden Artist Colors, is open through Saturday, November 18. The show, featuring work by eight young artists, is intended to spark discussion about ongoing voter suppression in the U.S. It also explores the long history of race- and class-based disenfranchisement in this country. Featured artists are Harper Bella, Greta Chapin-McGill, Sandra Charles, Brianna Harlan, Carla Rae Johnson, Lorie Novak, Taylor Sanders and Vitus Shell. Visit https://sites.google.com/view/ourvotesourstories/home?authuser=0 to learn more.

By MERL REAGLE

Words, Words, Everywhere…

A grab bag of goodies ACROSS 1 Nerd 6 Bhutto’s predecessor 9 Scotland Yard org.

12 Painted with light, quick strokes 18 School belles 20 ___ polloi 21 Succeed big-time 22 Wimpy hangout 24 “Right away, chief!”

25 Queued up 26 Unisex adornments 28 Protuberance 29 Cad’s forte 31 Widen 32 High points 33 Russian empress 35 Immobilize on the mat 36 Start of a futility comment 38 Dramatist Fugard 40 Make soda water, e.g.

42 Little breather 43 Dogfight participant 44 Macbeth et al.

46 Wild and crazy 47 Gator-infested waters, maybe 48 Showed the way 49 Is indignant about 51 Time-saving computer features 53 The summertime brews 55 Adjustable resistor 59 A network 62 Egy. and Syr., once 63 Rio Grande port 65 Suffering from chills 66 Situation for Tiger 67 Lady of the house 68 Singer with a five-octave range 70 Type of embryonic cell 72 Gets used (to) 74 Ousted 75 Dijon dance 78 See 79 Down 81 Cross 83 “Help!”

84 Helen Keller’s birthplace: abbr.

85 Bar ___ 86 The butler did it 88 Fathered 89 City across the bay from Brooklyn

91 Y, pluralized 12 Speaker’s platform 92 Refined, as metal 13 Activate 94 Moonstruck topic 14 Rodeo mount 95 He played The Thing in 1951 15 Like an “a + b” expression 98 Harpoon wielder 16 Courtroom props 100 “___ Only Just Begun” 17 Abhorred 101 Publicist’s handout 18 Greek letter 103 Lonely and alone 19 Female advisor 105 Nutritionist Davis 23 Three-part altarpiece 107 This answer runs in one 27 Columbus’s hometown 30 R ange near Santa Barbara, 109 City on the Vistula the Santa ___ Mtns.

110 Brewery output 32 Fossey’s “friends” 111 Five ___ 34 Composer Khachaturian 112 Evaluate 37 Leftover 113 Resting place 38 Entrance court 114 RR stop 39 TV oldie, My Mother, ___ 115 Prophet ending 41 “O air and soil ... ___ DOWN sweet!” (Walt Whitman) 1 Had a V-8 42 Pogo, for one 2 Lotharios 45 Fulton’s power 3 Brightly adorned 47 Synthesizer inventor 4 In the same way 50 J efferson Starship hit of 5 Stovetop feature 1986 6 Zuider ___ 52 Pile 7 It’s backward in “concerning” 54 “Open ___” 8 Big name in Syria 56 Level 9 Citizen Kane 57 Donkeys 10 Ancient Greek 58 R alph Vaughan Williams 11 Failed to piece that’s a favorite of classical music stations,

Fantasia on a Theme by ___ 59 Prop for 007, typically 60 Double-banked galley 61 Ranked, in tennis 64 Lemons 69 Lodge socializing 71 Thelma and Louise, e.g.

73 Old Brit. coins 75 Gilda Radner character 76 Shaded walks 77 D owntime for flight attendants 78 Mrs. Shakespeare 79 With 78 Across, Smart guy 80 Lend ___ 82 Barack and Hillary, for ex.

86 Goes ballistic 87 Fife, for one 90 Threatening words 91 Shoe insert 93 Delaware tribe 96 Treatment, for short 97 Dress data 99 Coty and others 101 Parish perches 102 Perfectly 104 ___ Plaines 106 ___ Cruces 108 Hush-hush org.

THURSday, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA The dog charmer

TOM SHELBY

Barking, Biting and Anxiety

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ear Tom: When we have visitors over, Bessie, our Aussie barks incessantly, and follows them barking if they move about. She’s not aggressive, but none the less her constant barking makes it virtually impossible to have company over. We’ve tried a bunch of stuff, to no avail. Dogcharmer, any suggestions will be appreciated.

Bill and Jean Dear Bill and Jean: Your Bessie is the second Aussie with this issue that I’ve encountered in the last few months. Sounds to me like her strong herding instincts are a bit confused and mingling with her territorial instincts, with a dash of fear or insecurity added to the recipe. You haven’t told me what the “bunch of stuff” you tried was, but my guess is it was all negative. Try going positive. Meet your guests with Bessie outside of the house, off the property. It can be as simple as across the street with Bessie on leash as you greet the friends.

Make it an enthusiastic greeting as you hand the visitors special treats for them to give to Bessie when she sits for them, when asked.

After a minute of that, all walk home together, letting the guests walk in the house in front of Bessie. Even better if the guest is holding the leash bringing Bessie into the house, and then having her sit for that special treat.

Once settled in the house, this is the time, and only time, when guests are over that she gets the hollow marrow bones to play with. One has a piece of meat wedged in the middle, one a piece of cheese, and the third has some nonxylitol peanut butter smeared in the middle of the bone. She should work unsuccessfully at extracting the meat and cheese. When the guests leave, so do the special toys. Let me know how it goes.

Dog Charmer Tom ***** Dear Tom: Mona is our 3 yr old Boston Terrier and jumps on people to try to kiss them, which often results in them getting slightly nipped. (She uses her teeth when she kisses).She’s also ripped gloves off people’s hands by jumping up and grabbing. She’s drawn blood a few times and we’re afraid this can become problematic.

Any suggestions?

Anxious in Town Dear Anxious, I remember working with a Maltese owned by a high-powered psychiatrist in NYC. The dog was not close to being housebroken and was totally manner-

Photo provided

Cosmo has become anxious on car rides. Dog Charmer Tom has some suggestions as to how to make the ride more enjoyable and lessen Cosmo’s anxiety.

less, and she was 9 years old, and her name was “Puppy.” I both enjoyed, and was somewhat surprised at the shrink’s surprise, when I pointed out the correlation between the name Puppy and the fact that Puppy never grew up. I’ve found similar patterns with dogs named Baby, not to mention the patterns of aggression with dogs named Jaws, Satan, Killer, Trouble, etc.

Kisses don’t cause bleeding. Ripping gloves off people’s hands is the same “talent” as a large dog tearing off someone’s shirt. And this being America, land of litigation, you’re right about this possibly becoming “problematic”.

Mona needs to be taught to stop jumping on people, to come when called, to stay and lie down on command and, most importantly, teeth and flesh are a “no-no.” She should also be taught a “door turmoil routine,” the polite way to welcome guests. Most of these things are going to need to be taught to Mona by a pro.

However, until that time, I suggest the following when you have guests. When the bell rings and Mona is going crazy at the door, let her smell some special treats in your hand and toss them away from the door as you let the guests in. Then call her to you and have her sit for a treat when she arrives. If this attempt at redirection away from the guests doesn’t’ work, tell the guests to turn to stone and ignore her until she’s more interested in the tossed treats.

I’d also suggest that she’s dragging a leash attached to a harness when you know guests are coming, so you can control her physically without having to grab her.

If Mona persists on annoying visitors once they’re in and settled, redirect her to an interesting toy like a Kong with some peanut butter or and interactive toy with treats. She’ll still be the same happy Mona, but a little more well mannered.

Good luck.

Dog Charmer Tom *****

Dear Tom: I have a question for you regarding my dog, Cosmo. He is a 1-1/2 year-old German shepherd. I have been working on getting him socialized and taking him into town for walks.

He used to love going on car rides. Recently he’s been getting anxious in the car before we even get to town. During the car ride, when I drive into town with my brother, he tends to become very anxious and starts pacing and whining. He’s fine when we get out of the car for a walk.

He’s also calm on the drive home. Is there anything I can do to help him not be so anxious when going for a car ride into town? I would like him to feel comfortable every time we go for rides.

Kat Dear Kat, From your description, it sounds like the anxiety may possibly be connected to the addition of your brother on the car rides. So, if feasable, have your brother offer Cosmo “special” treats on the ride into town.

If the only time Cosmo gets pieces of chicken or hot dog is on the drive to town, he may start to love those rides! Or, you could try a “special toy,” a toy that he only gets in the car on the ride to town.

A hollow marrow bone with a small piece of meat wedged in the middle is likely to keep Cosmo working at getting the meat out with little else to worry about. Be happy and upbeat throughout the whole process and it should become infectious for Cosmo.

Good luck!

Dog Charmer Tom ***** Dear Tom, Our female 4month-old puppy toy poodle, Cutie, is soon to meet our daughter’s 4-year-old male Doberman, named Spoiler. My daughter says he’s friendly with other dogs. How would you suggest we introduce them?

Judy Dear Judy, Put the maligned reputation aside. I’ve Continued on page 11

HAWTHORN HILL JOURNAL

richard derosa

Waste Not, Want Not...

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ver the past several weeks, as we have been busy attending to pre-winter chores in our gardens, one word has repeatedly come to mind: waste.

We try to minimize our waste stream up here on the hill. But I was thinking of how wasteful we have become in our relations with one another. I write these words as Israel is preparing its ground invasion of Gaza. Ukraine is embroiled in its war with Russia, one the latter started for no defensible reason whatsoever. Around the world, flareups that also result in the senseless and wanton destruction of homes and cities and villages and lives seem to be the preferred menu options of the day. A day rarely goes by without a horrific act having been committed either by a lone, crazed individual or some group motivated by ideological or religious zeal. It is often pointed out that man’s inhumanity to man is as old as civilization itself. Certainly, within an historical context, that is true. With so much progress having been made in so many areas that offer such promising prospects for humankind’s well-being, our hopes for a more peaceful, gracious world should be brighter. Not the case.

Yesterday I pulled out the last of our fall bean crop. I usually save a small batch for next year’s seed. Normally, I will only hang up to dry those plants that have at least several viable seed pods.

Not in a normal state of mind now. I just could not bring myself to reject the skimpiest of plants.

That would be wasteful. What preoccupies me now more than ever is the terrible wastefulness that seems to have infected not just us, but the world community. Perhaps, community does not fit the bill anymore. A shared commitment to the sanctity of human life has, at the very least, eroded. We kill, slaughter, vilify and bomb the hell out of one another with an appalling indifference. Heretofore, assumptions of the value of civility in everyday life seem to have evaporated.

My dabbling with beans

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

yesterday, now extrapolated to the state of humanity, reminds me of Thoreau’s bean planting experiment on the banks of Walden Pond.

He looked upon it as a subsistence experiment as well as an extension of his commitment to the principles of self-reliance he so treasured. He made use of all that he could and wasted little. Life was tougher in those days; no tolerance for the sort of waste stream that piles up in our landfills. I suspect one day we might be hiking landfills as well as mountains. Gardens were planted to provide sustenance. No Wegman’s or Costco nearby to satisfy one’s needs.

We have manufactured deplorable methods of treating one another as if expendable matter. We report on hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths as if referring to inanimate objects.

But just one life lost leaves in its wake sadness and emptiness along a family tree that might extend for generations. And which could affect those left behind so deeply that their lives will never be the same. We afflict one another all too willfully.

This morning I spread our compost over several of our raised beds. Everything that is biodegradable goes into one of three piles, each separated by reclaimed pallets.

As I was tossing each shovel-full into the first bed I thought of the hostages in Gaza, the slaughtered Israeli settlers, and the countless lives lost every day in Ukraine. I asked myself this question: What can I do? I am not sure anymore.

There is so much greed, hatred and unalloyed brutality out there that it is hard to know how to react. “Waste not, want not,” someone once said. One answer to my question is to do what I can, whatever that means. I know I need to do more.

A noted historian alluded to a need to reclaim the soul of these United States. Time also to work together to reclaim the soul of the world.

Dick deRosa’s Hawthorn Hill essays have appeared in “The Freeman’s Journal” since 1998. A collection, “Hawthorn Hill Journal: Selected Essays,” was published in 2012. He is a retired English teacher.

Karolina Hopper

Winds Shine in ‘Aeolian Dance’

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n opening remarks made by Thomas Wolf at the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra concert of October 14, mention was made that a $25,000.00 matching gift from an anonymous donor had been completely fulfilled.

This was greeted by extended applause from the attentive audience and represents a most auspicious time indeed for FCO and for the people of Cooperstown and Otsego County. This means an already beloved orchestra (is it too early to call it an institution?) has fully arrived on the scene. This is a sure sign that FCO is to be financed and encouraged, especially by everyone who loves the performing arts.

Continuing to the task at hand, FCO offered yet another exceedingly beautiful and virtuosic concert by way of the sobriquet “Aeolian Dance.” Aeolian it certainly was! If the ovations at the end of the George Enescu “Decet for Winds in D Major” is any indication, the audience certainly was transported on an Aeolian wind. This is an almost impossibly difficult work to pull off, either in recording or in live performance; Enescu has so many things going on at once that the whole can seem merely dense in sound. On this occasion, each section was thoroughly studied, which brought about the various colors of the individual sections, thus making the whole something to be awed. This is the kind of performance that Enescu must have heard as he composed the work.

Calming things down a little from the Enescu, with the Mozart “Serenade No. 12” we found ourselves on more secure and well-known turf. The work is scored in C minor, definitely a rarity for the composer.

The serenade is wrought with a full dramatic contrast, displaying the ease with which the winds made those contrasts between what are aggressive unisons and lyrical passages. Frankly, a triumph of true ensemble playing.

When it comes to Saint-Saëns, one wonders at the appropriateness of programming the Bacchanale from “Samson et Dalila,” i.e. adoration of the Pagan god Dagon, in a house of God. Not to worry, even our deities, and perhaps Samson himself, could only be astonished by the virtuosity laid before them. Enough said.

It is useless at this juncture to speak of the stupefying virtuosity of the wind section of Fenimore Chamber Orchestra; from the melting clarinet legato in the Mozart to the sensational and extreme demands of a transcription of the Bacchanale from Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila,” this orchestra continues to display every demand put forth—from gleaming, legato tone to dazzling, florid display.

Again, this is the result of the person at the conductors’ podium, Maestro Maciej Żołtowski, who continues to reveal his abilities in conjuring and building the very best from his orchestra. Aeolian winds had completely enveloped this appreciative audience!

THURSDAY, November 16, 2023 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-7

Stalter Collection To Be Auctioned Nov. 18

Drivers wanteD to deliver newspapers to high-traffic spots in the greater Oneonta area every Wednesday afternoon.

Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, registration and insurance.

Approximately 4 hours per week.

Email Publisher Tara Barnwell at Tarab@allotsego.com.

Home

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HOMETOWN anniversary ONEONTA 20

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Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper

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& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch IN

State Warns of Lead in Applesauce Products

To place effective employment ads, call 607-547-6103

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OTSEGO COUNTY he Film Plastic Recycling Challenge, sponsored by the Otsego County Solid Waste Department, Otsego County Conservation Association and Casella, will begin on Wednesday, November 15 and run through Wednesday, April 24.

It educates youth and the community about proper recycling of plastic bags and other plastic films that cannot be recycled in regular programs. The challenge focuses on collecting clean, dry plastic film to keep it out of landfills. It is open to all public and private K-12 schools and districts in the county.

“Despite more and more places banning singleuse plastic bags, an estimated five trillion bags will be used in 2023,” said Otsego County Waste Management and Recycling Coordinator Kyle King.

“Less than one percent are recycled. We’re hoping to change that.”

Film plastic includes bags, package wrap, bubble wrap, wood pellet bags, sandwich bags and others, King said. Traditional recycling programs cannot collect these materials, as the film can become caught in the machines uses to sort and process recycled items.

“New York State has had a film plastic recycling law for years, but many people are still unaware of it,” King said. “Many grocery stores and other large retailers are required to provide a place for consumers to drop off film plastics.”

In the challenge, schools will collect eligible film plastics from their community. The collected plastic will be weighed by students or volunteers and returned to a participating retailer. At the close of the contest, the school that has collected the most weight per capita will win.

Last year, eight school districts collected a total of 4,255.6 pounds. Richfield Springs won the elementary division with 2,408.7 pounds (10.5 per student) and Gilbertsville-Mount Upton won the secondary division with 289.9 pounds (2.1 per capita). Since the contest started in 2019, more than five tons have been collected.

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OCCA Plastic Recycling Challenge Announced

Many were rediscovered in Delaware and Otsego Counties. They include axes, projectile points, gorgets, pendants, celts, mauls and more.

Dr. Stalter was a respected surgeon at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital and an avid outdoorsman who visited Mount Everest three times and reached the summit in 2008.

decorated and bead-embellished pieces including headdresses, leggings, moccasins, breastplates, smoking pipes, bags, quivers, bows, arrows and more. Many items in the collection are from the Sioux and Crow peoples.

Prehistoric artifacts in the collection include stone tools from the early Paleolithic (beginning about 12,000 years ago).

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aware County, where he developed a lifelong interest in Native American tools and cultural materials.

He had a great appreciation for the artistry and design of the objects made for daily use by New York’s indigenous peoples. Over the years, his collection grew to focus primarily on historical and cultural items from the American Plains Indians.

According to a release, his primary emphasis was on rare 19th-century quill-

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SIDNEY he remarkable collection of Dr. Kenneth Stalter (1954-2012) will be sold at unreserved public auction at the American Legion Hall, 22 Union Street in Sidney, on Saturday, November 18. The auction may be previewed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, November 17 and beginning at 8 a.m. on the day of the sale. Inquiries may be directed to (607) 287-5320.

Stalter grew up in Del-

founded in 1808

Join Our Team of Dedicated and Caring Professionals Classroom (Toddler) Teacher Head Start Recruiting & Outreach Coordinator Home Visitor FT Head Start Positions with school breaks and summers off: Assistant Teacher Family Partner OFO is a family-oriented organization offering competitive wages, excellent benefits and opportunities for professional growth. For details on our current openings, our benefit package summary, and TO APPLY, visit www.ofoinc.org/jobs EOE

NEW YORK STATE he New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets urged consumers to note an ongoing investigation by the FDA into The leader in developing innovative solutions to promote healthy lives, applesauce pouches containing high levels of lead. thriving families, and caring communities since 1966.

Recalls of several products were initiated after four children were found to have elevated blood lead levels, indicating potential acute toxicity.

As of Friday, November 10, seven cases of adverse effects have been found in five states, including New York. The investigation covers all codes and expiration dates of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée Pouches, Schnucks Applesauce Pouches (cinnamon flavor and variety pack), and Weis Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches. These products were sold and distributed by multiple retailers, including Sam’s Club, Amazon and Dollar Tree.

Consumers who have purchased any of these products should discard them immediately and contact a health care provider if their children have consumed them or display any symptoms of lead toxicity. Shortterm exposure may cause headache, abdominal pain or colic, vomiting *DETAILS UPON HIRE* and anemia.

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$17/hour starting wage $1500* sign-on bonus

PAYROLL SPECIALIST Sportsfield Specialties is seeking a Payroll Specialist, for our Delhi, NY location, to ensure timely and accurate recording and processing of weekly and bi-weekly payrolls and perform daily payroll related administrative tasks.

Responsibilities/Duties incluDe but not limiteD to: • Collect timesheet data, check for accuracy, and collaborate with supervisors on discrepancies/missing information.

• Enter, maintain, and/or processes employee information into payroll system, including but not limited to; hourly rates, salaries, commissions, bonuses, time worked, paid leave, deductions/withholdings, address changes, etc.

• Ensure proper processing of payroll deductions for taxes, benefits, garnishments, etc.

• Verify payroll before final processing/ transfer.

• Ensure accurate & timely processing of payroll updates including new hires, separations, and pay rate changes.

• Prepare and maintain accurate record and reports of payroll transactions.

• Respond to payroll-related inquiries and resolve concerns.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour laws and best practices.

• Support HR/Finance audits by providing records, report and other documentation as needed.

• Maintain employee personnel and medical records.

• Respond to employment verifications and employment inquiries.

• Maintain the highest standards of accuracy, discretion, and confidentiality.

• Complete mid-year and annual compliance testing.

• Perform other duties as assigned REquIREd quALIfICATIOnS/ SkILLS: • Excellent organization skills and attention to detail.

• Strong analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to multi-task in a busy environment.

• Ability to complete tasks in an efficient manner in a deadline-driven environment.

• Must be able to communicate effectively at all levels within the organization.

• Must have thick skin and be able to communicate and/or process constructive criticism.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and related software.

• Familiar with payroll software, preferably ADP. EduCATIOn/ExPERIEnCE: • Associate degree in accounting or related field coupled with two years’ payroll experience.

• Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Salary starting at $47,000/year, DOE, great benefit package includes but not limited to: health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, life i nsurance, flexible spending, and paid time off. To apply, submit application online www.sportsfield.com, fax resume to (607) 746-3107 or send resume to: Human Resources, P.O. Box 231, Delhi, NY 13753. Sportsfield Specialties, Inc. is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer.

Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. We do not sponsor employment visas.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

EDD Adaptive Sports Wins Grant from Community Foundation ONEONTA DD Adaptive Sports was selected as a grant recipient in the Community Foundation of Otsego County’s 2023 Award Cycle.

The grant supports EDD Adaptive Sports’ free programs in Central New York for athletes with disabilities.

EDDAS programs encourage children and adults with disabilities to get active, build skills and make social connections. Seventy-five local athletes will benefit from participating in various programs including rowing, hiking, pickleball and yoga.

“The grant award from the Community Foundation of Otsego

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Legal

Legal nOtice NOTICE OF SPECIAL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM City School District of the City of Oneonta, Otsego County, New York PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Special City School District Referendum of the City School District of the City of Oneonta, Otsego County, New York, will be held on December 18, 2023, at which the polls will be kept open between the hours of 11:00 o’clock A.M. and 8:00 o’clock P.M., Prevailing Time, for the purpose of voting upon the following proposition: PROPOSITION Shall the bond resolution adopted by the Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Oneonta, Otsego County, New York, on October 25, 2023, authorizing the reconstruction of and construction of improvements to School District buildings, including site improvement, original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus and other improvements and costs incidental thereto, at a maximum estimated cost of $30,450,000; authorizing the issuance of not exceeding $30,450,000 bonds of said School District to pay the cost thereof to mature over a period not exceeding thirty years; providing that such bonds shall be payable from amounts to be levied in annual installments on taxable real property of said School District; pledging the faith and credit of said School District for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds;

Legal

delegating powers to the chief fiscal officer with respect to the issuance and sale of bond anticipation notes and such bonds; containing an estoppel clause and providing for the publication of an estoppel notice, be approved?

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the aforesaid proposition will appear on the ballot used at such Special City School District Referendum in the following abbreviated form: PROPOSITION Shall the October 25, 2023 bond resolution authorizing the reconstruction of and construction of improvements to School District buildings at a maximum cost of $30,450,000; authorizing the issuance of $30,450,000 bonds (30 year maximum maturity); providing for a tax levy therefor in annual installments; pledging the District’s faith and credit for debt service; delegating powers with respect to bonds and notes; and providing for an estoppel procedure, be approved?

A copy of the bond resolution referred to in said proposition is on file in the office of the School District Clerk, located at the District Office, 31 Center Street, in Oneonta, New York, where the same is available for inspection by any interested person during regular business hours.

The capital project described in the above proposition has been determined to be a Type II action pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY

County allows EDD Adaptive Sports to continue offering free, high-quality adaptive sports programs in our community and to promote inclusion through sports. When athletes, families, and volunteers come together to play, they develop bonds and look forward to seeing one another. That sense of belonging is significant for a community that is too often excluded,” said Executive Director Gretchen Owens.

EDDAS is a regional leader in adaptive sports and a chapter of Move United, the national leader in community adaptive sports. They have a 25year track record of success bringing

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GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots may be applied for at the office of the School District Clerk.

Any such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the date of the aforesaid Special City School District Referendum if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before such Referendum, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. A list of all persons to whom absentee voter’s ballots shall have been issued shall be available for public inspection in the office of the School District Clerk not less than five days prior to the date of the Special City School District Referendum (excluding Saturday and Sunday) during regular office hours until the date of the aforesaid Special City School District Referendum. In addition, such list shall also be posted conspicuously at the place of voting during the hours of such Special City School District Referendum.

NOTICE, is also given that any person, otherwise qualified to vote, who is currently registered for any general election, pursuant to Section 352 of the Election Law, shall be entitled to vote without further registration pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law. Military voters who are qualified voters of the School District may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk.

For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application no later than 5:00 pm on December 11, 2023. In a

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together athletes with disabilities and local volunteers to enjoy playing sports together. Partnering with local institutions like SUNY Delhi, SUNY Oneonta, and Hartwick College, and organizations like Otsego Area Rowing, EDDAS offers a wide variety of activity including team sports and lifetime sports like biking, rowing and yoga. Program activities are designed to be flexible so that they can be adapted to each unique participant.

Individuals with cognitive, physical and/or developmental disabilities participate with EDD Adaptive Sports. Their programs reach athletes with disabilities at every skill level,

LEGALS

request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

The School District will transmit military ballots to military voters on December 11, 2023. Completed military ballots must be received by the School District by 5:00 p.m. on December 18, 2023 in order to be counted.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Education of the Oneonta City School District has fixed December 12, 2023 as the date on which the Board of Registration of said school district will meet at 31 Center Street, in Oneonta, New York, in said school district, for the purpose of preparing a register for each school election district for the Special City School District Referendum to be held on December 18, 2023. Said Board of Registration will meet for said purposes on December 12, 2023 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

At such hours and place, any person who has not permanently registered by December 12, 2023 or who did not register for the general election held on November 3, 2023 or who is permanently registered, but at the time of such registration resided in a school election district other than the one in which he or she presently resides or has not voted in an intervening election, must in order to be entitled to vote at said election, present himself or herself personally for registration.

The register so prepared pursuant

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to Section 2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District at the Board of Education Offices at 31 Center Street, Oneonta, New York 13820 and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the district beginning December 13, 2023, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and each day, except Saturday or Sunday, prior to the day set for the election, December 18, 2023 and at the polling place on the day of the vote.

Dated: Oneonta, New York, October 30, 2023.

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MORRIS LEGACY CONTRACTING LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 10/27/23.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to 49 Main St., Schenevus, NY 12155, which is also the principal business location.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalNov.7 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Kelley LLC of Oneonta New York.

from novice to advanced. No experience is necessary to participate and no one ages out. It is a top priority for participants to feel a sense of belonging in adaptive sports programs as well as in the broader realm of sports. Individuals with disabilities do not have access to the same sports programs that are readily available to the general population.

“I can’t tell you how much my daughter and both her father and I have enjoyed the wonderful opportunities she has had to meet new people, participate in activities that she would not otherwise be able to and feel accepted and capable,” expressed one mother.

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filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 10/25/23.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to 100 Spruce St. Oneonta, NY 13820, which is also the principal business location.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalDec.7 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY UNDER NEW YORK LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW

By: Regina Ranieri McGuinness, School District Clerk 4LegalNov.23

Notice of Formation of

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Chaco and Butler LLC.

Notice of Formation of

Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/17/23.

Office location: Otsego County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: the Company, c/o GordonLaw LLP, Attn: Michael Gordon, Esq., 51 Bedford Road, Suite 10, Katonah, NY 10536.

Purpose: any lawful activities.

6LegalDec.7

1. The name of the limited liability company (“LLC”) is 4109 Route 7 LLC. 2. The date of filing of the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State is October 24, 2023.

3. The County within the State of New York in which the principal office of the LLC is located is Otsego.

4. The Secretary of State of the State of New York is hereby designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

The post office address to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him or her is: 4109 State Route 7, Oneonta, NY 13820.

5. The character or purpose of the business of the LLC is any purpose allowed by law.

6LegalDec.7

Legal nOtice

Legal nOtice

Notice of Formation of 100 SPRUCE ST LLC

Notice of Formation of Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Articles of Org.

Name:

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Renamiya LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/02/23.

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 218 Main Street, Ste. 4, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalDec.14 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of

Filed 9/6/23.

Cty: Otsego.

SSNY desig. for process & shall mail 12957 St Hwy 30, Downsville, NY 13755.

Purp: any lawful.

6LegalDec.7 Legal nOtice

Legal

Strata-East Records, LLC Articles of Organization filed by the Department of State of New York on: 08/30/2023 Office location: County of Otsego Purpose: Any and all lawful activities Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC P.O. Box 36 New York, NY 10163 6LegalNov.30 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company.

Name: BAW PROPERTIES LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 8 September 2023.

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 4978 US Hwy 20, Springfield Center, NY 13468.

Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalNov.30 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company.

Name: WEBSTER FAMILY RENTALS LLC. Articles of Organization

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filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 8 September 2023.

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 4978 US Hwy 20, Springfield Center, NY 13468.

Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalNov.30 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Ashley Hatzidakis, Family Health Nurse Practitioner PLLC. Filed 10/11/23.

Office: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 36 Kilkenny St, Unadilla, NY 13849.

Purpose: NP in Family Health.

6LegalNov.30 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of ISGAR ENTERPRISES, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 10/10/23.

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 him to: The LLC, 145 Cliffside Cir., Maryland, NY 12116.

The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.

6LegalNov.23

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THURSDAY, November 16, 2023

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-9

Former Cooperstown Resident Publishes First Children’s Book

ways to meet new people, he will be fine, he said.

One thing is for sure.

Wherever Weiller goes, Henry will accompany him. As will his feelings for Cooperstown.

“I hope it will always retain its founding character,” he said. “I hope I have contributed.”

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1808 BY

A Different Time Weiller speaks wistfully about the era when he first opened Muskrat Hill. He said the 1990s were a time when Main Street still felt like a community. Gallery 53 was going strong and he got involved there. He also served on boards for the Leatherstocking Theater Company and the Opera Guild. And

March or April and said, you know, it’s time.”

Weiller isn’t sure what’s next for him and Henry. They may move to South Carolina, where Weiller’s brother and sister-in-law live. He may open a pop-up store.

As long as he can play bridge and find other

IN

An Unlikely Location As luck would have it, in 1991 when he was looking for a space, the old Cook’s Garage building was going through a transition and space was available. Down the garage’s old interior drive was a small space Weiller could imagine making into a store. It didn’t have a street-facing door or window, but the price was right and he decided to take a gamble.

The building is a co-op, so he owns his space and pays minimal monthly maintenance, so it didn’t take much to become profitable.

He was able to use the driveway as an extension of the store, and decorated it with planters and chandeliers, then packed his store to the gills with a cornucopia of interesting goods.

“We were kind of a

loved them.

He still finds joy in doing business at Muskrat Hill, but after his mother passed away in 2018 at the age of 90 he began to feel it was time for something different.

“I love my store,” he said. “I love my life. I just woke up one day last

M C

So he left the city and headed to Cooperstown.

When he arrived here, his first thought was to become a landscaper.

“But I realized most landscape designers just end up mowing the lawn,” he said. “Then I thought, ‘Oh, for two years I will open a store.

I have no experience, but I can do it.”

“It was going to be two years, but it’s been 32,” he said. “And I have had a great life.”

local people still shopped in the village. Christmas was big business back then, unlike now, with most of the Main Street stores catering to summer baseball tourists.

“It wasn’t always about business,” he said.

“The business was there, but I look at the whole package. It was great.”

As times changed, Weiller shifted to catering more to baseball and the families it brought to town. Weiller started selling Crocs and also obtained exclusive rights for a Cooperstowncentered line of Life is Good merchandise. Life is Good is a popular national brand that many Cooperstown visitors gravitate toward, so his displays drew people down his little alley and into the store. As those goods sold well, he dedicated more and more of his floor space to them.

As the years went by, he got to know some of the visitors. Some came back year after year, whether for baseball or the opera or just to see the scenery.

They would often stop in at Muskrat Hill, hoping to pick up a new T-shirt and to say hello to Weiller’s friendly dogs.

His first golden retriever, Ginger, was a big hit with his customers, especially children. When she died he got Henry, who is now 7. Henry was so popular Weiller made T-shirts featuring him and people

IA

Continued from page 1

Cracker Barrel,” he said.

“We were the kind of place people came, and they became friends and they visited, and then somebody else came and they visited.”

Around this time, Weiller’s father passed away and his mother, Virginia, moved to Cooperstown.

Virginia Weiller fit into the community easily and soon she was as much a part of the business as he was.

“She worked here and she became a tremendous asset,” he said. She also made many friends through her involvement in numerous community organizations and by playing bridge at the gym.

The profitable business and the low cost of his space made it possible for Weiller and his mother to close the store during the cold winter months and travel.

“I have bungee jumped the Victoria Falls and ballooned over Burma,” he said with a chuckle.

“I have been around the world.”

L

Weiller

E WIL

B

group and came out with this manuscript. I put it on the back burner during COVID and only got back to it recently.”

The book features lovingly-rendered, lavish colored-pencil illustrations that offer up more details with each new search. In addition to his work as an illustrator, Roffler cofounded Stories Untold, a company that helps authors self publish.

“The company helped me a ton with the editing, design and layout,” Chamberas said. “I had an instant working connection with Ethan. I Photo by Anthony Chamberas knew he would be a good Bridget Chamberas, center, is joined by Meadow Spencer, Allison Nagelschmidt, Eleanor fit for the story when he Spencer and Madison Nagelschmidt at a recent literacy program author talk. described the illustration he was planning for the children. Chamberas, an few years after Indiana visited the Susquehanna cover and it just perfectly educator, said that this and finally wound up in SPCA for an author talk fit the actual car we drove effort to help children Cooperstown. She grad- and literacy program to Indiana in 1979.” sort through their feel- uated from Cooperstown recently; the program promotes literacy and The book includes a ings about home or about Central School in 1993.

“Bridget Finds a helps socialize animals by selection of conversa- moving was her favorite tion starters at the end to part of the finished book. Home” is available in asking children in grades Chamberas’ family hardcover from any 1-3 to read to cats or dogs help foster discussions between parents and moved to Missouri for a bookseller. Chamberas awaiting adoption.

DG

ACTON, MA ridget Chamberas, a special education professional and daughter of long-serving former Otesaga Hotel General Manager Frank Maloney, published a children’s book inspired by her childhood experiences on Tuesday, September 5.

“Bridget Finds a Home,” illustrated by Ethan Roffler, tells the story of a major upheaval in Chamberas’ childhood.

“When I was four, my family moved to southern Indiana because my father had taken a job as GM of a large resort hotel,” Chamberas said. “It was a 500-room hotel and a ton of responsibility, and we lived in the hotel itself.

We were there for about eight years.”

Young Bridget is worried about the move to an unfamiliar new environment and gradually

learns the true meaning of home from her family and new friends.

“When I think about my childhood, I think about the ways my parents brought together our family and the hotel family,” Chamberas remembered. “One of the bellmen was the last person I said goodbye to when I left for school and the first person I saw when I returned. The staff had every right to speak to us if we were out of line; we were raised to respect the other people in the hotel and knew that they were partly responsible for us. I know that this situation from my childhood was unique and I wanted to share it with my own children.”

“I was working in a school library and really fell in love with children’s books,” she continued. “I started to write little bits of my story at a time, I joined a local bookstore’s writing

JU

By WRILEY NELSON

For 208 Years

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THURSday, november 16, 2023

A-10 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA NEWS BRIEFS

Compiled by Wriley Nelson

Meeting Rescheduled MILFORD—The Village of Milford announced that the upcoming board meeting will be rescheduled to Tuesday, November 21 at 6 p.m. It will be held at 64 South Main Street.

Villaverde Exhibits at CANO ONEONTA—Victoria Villaverde of Oneonta was one of two SUNY Oneonta students who displayed their artwork at the Community Arts Network of Oneonta as part of the “Hartwick X SUNY Oneonta Student Show” from October 7 to 22. A reception was held on the afternoon of October 22. Villaverde and fellow student Clayton Davis had work featured in the exhibition alongside several Hartwick students. Both are Art and Design majors and will graduate in the spring of 2024.

Adorn-a-Door Is Nov. 25th COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association will hold the Adorn-a-Door Wreath Festival from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the upstairs ballroom gallery on Saturday, November 25. It will feature about 100 wreaths available for silent auction that have been decorated by local artists.

The event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $2. The popular raffle item “Dinner’s On Us,” featuring a week’s worth of gift certificates to local restaurants and worth about $400, will be raffled at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are currently available at CAA. All proceeds from Adorn-a-Door support CAA and its scholarship fund for area high school seniors.

Bassett Holding Blood Drive COOPERSTOWN—Bassett Medical Center will host a blood drive with the American Red Cross in the Bassett Hall Auditorium on Friday, November 17. It will run from 12:30-6:30 p.m.

Appointments are available by calling (607) 547-3701, visiting www.redcrossblood.org or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Interfaith Service Resumes ONEONTA—The Oneonta Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will resume after a threeyear hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the First Presbyterian Church, 296 Main Street, at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21. The message will be given by Father Chris Welch of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. Other speakers will include Mayor Mark Drnek, Rev. Casey Bradley of First United Methodist Church, President Troy Turley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and readers from the Oneonta Area Bahá’is and Temple Beth El. Musicians will include organist Kim Paterson, soprano Johana Arnold and clarinetist Robin Seletsky. As a precaution against COVID, there will not be refreshments or an interfaith choir. Donations of non-perishable food items or cash will be accepted and will be divided among Oneonta’s food pantries.

Buck Featured in Art Show ELMIRA—Maura Buck of Richfield Springs currently has artwork on display in the Term I Student Art Show at Elmira College. The exhibition, housed in the George Waters Art Gallery, will remain on display through Friday, December 1.

Oneonta Gets National Nod ONEONTA—SUNY Oneonta will offer new incentives, including scholarships, enrollment deferrals and application fee waivers, to AmeriCorps alumni applying for the spring 2024 term and beyond. As a “School of National Service,” it aims to actively recognize AmeriCorps alumni. Earlier this month, SUNY Chancellor John King celebrated the 30th anniversary of AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, and announced SUNY’s system-wide application fee waiver for AmeriCorps alumni.

“As an institution recognized for our commitment to community engagement and service, we will use this new designation to reach students who already exhibit leadership by giving their time to benefit others and who have demonstrated the altruistic nature that aligns with our culture,” said SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle. “It is also a strategy that will help us expand the diversity of our student body and the lived experiences of our students. We are proud to acknowledge the merits and accomplishments of AmeriCorps alumni.

SUNY Oneonta’s mission highlights our commitment to nurturing an environment where students can ‘live purposefully,’ and the AmeriCorps School of National Service designation is one more way we can work to fulfill that pursuit.”

No Arrests During Sting OTSEGO COUNTY—No arrests were made during an Underage Drinking Initiative by New York State Police Troop “C” in Otsego County on Friday, October 27. A plainclothes officer and one or more underage operatives who cannot lie Continued on page 11

Election

Fiber Workgroup Meets Friday

Continued from page 1 We brought people together behind a set of ideas from every party and no party. You win some, you lose some. You get back up and dust yourself off and push forward. That’s how I govern myself,” Benton wrote in an e-mail on Tuesday.

Benton said his commitment to public service and to the success of Otsego County and its communities doesn’t end with one election.

“I’m taking some time to consider how best to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors,” Benton wrote.

He said he is excited to continue his work in the private sector, and thanked his team.

“They made the campaign possible,” he wrote.

“It’s just the beginning for us.”

The one contested race for Otsego County Board of Representatives, in the 11th District, was won by Nora Mendez (DEM), who defeated Paul Ahearn (REP) for the position being vacated by Clark Oliver (DEM).

In the four contested races for Oneonta Common Council, incumbents Leonard Carson (REP-Fifth Ward) and Emily Falco (IBE-Eighth Ward) retained their seats. Shannon McHugh (DEM) defeated Daniel Rorick (REP) for the Third Ward seat and Bryce Wooden (DEM) beat Sean Dwight (REP) in the Seventh Ward.

Proposal Number One, an amendment regarding removal of small city school districts from special Constitutional debt limitation, passed (59.7%) as did Proposal Number Two, an amendment extending sewage project debt exclusion from debt limit (64.46%).

The results for the remainder of the contested races, as they stand now, are listed below.

State Supreme Court, Justice 6th Judicial District: Cheryl Insinga (REP-54.40%) defeated Deirdre Hay (DEM-45.37%) Otsego County Clerk: Jennifer Basile (REP, CON-58.36%) defeated MacGuire Benton (DEM, IBD-41.55%) Otsego County Representative 11th District: Nora Mendez (DEM-74.40%) defeated Paul Ahearn (REP-25.60%) Oneonta City Council Third Ward: Shannon McHugh (DEM-78.15%) defeated Daniel Rorick (REP-21.85%) Oneonta City Council Fifth Ward: Leonard E. Carson Jr. (REP, IBF-72.02%) defeated Donald Garrison Jr. (IBE-27.98%) Oneonta City Council Seventh Ward: Bryce Wooden (DEM-75.42%) defeated Sean Dwight (REP-24.58%) Oneonta City Council Eighth Ward: Emily Falco (IBE-85.71%) defeated James Peter DeAndrea (REP-14.29%) Decatur Superintendent of Highways: Richard Sawyer (IBE-75.47%) defeated Jason Hornbeck (IBF-24.53%) Edmeston Superintendent of Highways: Johnathn Button (REP-72.30%) defeated Joseph Chesebro (IBE-27.70%) Exeter Superintendent of Highways: Steven A. Baker (REP-59.5%) defeated Randy S. Brooker (CON, IBF-40.5%) Hartwick Supervisor: Robert J. O’Brien (REP-68.31%) defeated Dylan Arnot (IBE-31.69%) Hartwick Council Member (two seats): Thomas J. Murphy (REP-30.33%) and Bryan F. LoRusso (CON-27.59%) defeated Jason Blaske (REP-23.78%) and Pat Ryan (IBG-18.30%) Milford Council Member (two seats): Harold Couse (REP-77.97%) and Vera Sosnowski (W, 12.67%) defeated Austin L. Partridge (W, 6.24%) New Lisbon Town Supervisor: Edward T. Lentz (DEM, IBF-65.49%) defeated Bruce L. Page Jr. (IBE-34.51%) New Lisbon Council Member (two seats): Laura Curtis (DEM-45.86%) and Scott Fickbohm (DEM-45.30%) defeated George Knarich (W, 8.29%) Otsego Town Justice (two seats): Gary Kuch (DEM, IBE-42.89%) and Lauren Cady Glynn (DEM, IBE-33.66%) defeated Jesse Torruella (REP-23.44%) Pittsfield Council Member (two seats): Lisa Jackson (REP-31.38%) and Clifford Carl Tice (REP-29.54%) defeated Kaylee Weidman (IBE, 20.00%) and Justin Weidman (IBE-19.08%) Richfield Supervisor: Larry Frigault (REP, IBE-59.01%) defeated Paul Palumbo (CON-40.99%) Richfield Council Member (two seats): Edward T. Bello Jr. (REP, CON-30.26%) and Frederick Eckler (REP, CON-28.72%) defeated Dan Sullivan (IBE-24.27%) and Penny Simonds-Tibbits (IBE-16.75%) Butcher’s Deluxe Package – MAKES A –

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MARY ROMANO

Mary Romano 1929-2023

DAYTONA BEACH, FL—Mary Romano of Daytona Beach, Florida and formerly of Franklin, New York, went peacefully to her heavenly home on Friday, November 10, 2023. She was born on January 16, 1929.

Mary lived in Florida for the last year, enjoying the beach and making memories with her son, Stephen.

She is survived by her son; her grandchildren, Kimberlee Microni (Greg), Brook Romano (Ryan), Bret Romano, Frank Carbone (Stephanie), Michael Carbone (Taryn), and Julianne Carbone (Christopher) ; and five great-grandchildren, Anthony, Rocky, David, Hannah, and Delilah.

Mary was predeceased by her husband, Frank Romano, and her daughter, Christine Carbone.

She was the beloved matriarch of the family, and will be sorely missed!

Photo provided

Mary Ann Shovlowsky

Mary Ann Shovlowsky 1949-2023

ONEON TA — M a r y Ann Shovlowsky passed away on September 2, 2023 in Oneonta. She was born on January 5, 1949 in Auburn.

Mary Ann was a teacher at Schenevus Central School for many years.

She loved the students and touched many lives in her 20+ years of working there.

She loved to watch her godson, Finlay, play sports. She followed him and his teammates throughout the area as they played soccer and basketball games, and ran track. It was a highlight in her life.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 25 at St. James Church, 305 Main Street, Oneonta, New York. There will be a reception immediately after the service at the church. All are invited.

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

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

Letters

Continued from page 4 accused of something— and now having cousins of mine be bullied and harassed—it is totally and completely unacceptable. Both parties, as in the administration and the school board, need to be removed from the office they hold, effective immediately.

AJ Hamill Class of 2012, Oneonta

Asbestos

Continued from page 4 benign asbestos-related diseases.

Lungs are primarily damaged by inhaled toxic fibers, and a relevant test for their health is the pulmonary function test (also known as the breathing test).

It is a diagnostic procedure that measures lung expansion capacity and oxygen intake volume.

These values are the basis for establishing treatment of asthma, emphysema and other chronic lung issues caused by asbestos exposure.

Asbestos diseases are complex and thus often misdiagnosed because they manifest symptoms similar to everyday respiratory illnesses, so asking for a second doctor’s opinion is advisable.

Sometimes, a third medical point of view may be required to reach a precise diagnosis.

Veterans with Medicare or Medicaid should also go outside the VA and ask for a pulmonary specialist’s evaluation.

Private insurance may allow for extra options for veterans so they may have coverage for varied specialty consultations. There are cases of asbestos-related conditions in advanced stages where Navy vets received a precise diagnosis after an extra consultation with a pulmonologist.

Know your rights: Veterans who may have been exposed to asbestos during their service should be informed about their legal rights and options. Legal procedures and compensation programs are in place to assist those injured by asbestos exposure.

As a veteran, you have the legal right to seek monetary compensation from asbestos trust funds and apply for VA disability benefits.

Asbestos trust funds are a significant source of remuneration for those

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-11

As we honor the harmed by occupational loyalty and commitment exposure, including of our Navy veterans, let former Navy service us also acknowledge our members. These funds responsibility to safewere secured by liable guard their health and companies that entered well-being. Awareness bankruptcy protection and have approximately of asbestos exposure is a vital part of this respon$37 billion currently sibility. By spotlighting available for claimants. this hidden danger, we Navy vets injured by asbestos exposure during can ensure that those duty can file a claim for who fulfilled duty on the compensation with both Navy ships receive the care and support they asbestos trust funds and earned.

Veterans Affairs.

Cristina Johnson It’s necessary is a Navy veteran to know that the advocate for Asbestos sum received from Ships Organization, a asbestos trust funds nonprofit whose primary will not affect your mission is to increase VA disability claim, awareness and educate as financial-wise, the VA’s only concern is to veterans about the dangers of asbestos prevent veterans from exposure on Navy ships claiming compensation many times for the and assist them in navigating the VA claims same disease. For that reason, veterans can be process. For more information, visit www. sure that the payment received from asbestos asbestos-ships.com. trust funds will not affect the VA’s decision about their disability Continued from page 6 claim. Although trusts accord the most had Dobermans for 30 money for mesotheyears, both successful lioma ($300,000.00working search dogs $400,000.00), other as well as serving as asbestos conditions can playful siblings to my still be accepted for three children. substantial pay.

Socializing a dog In addition, Navy is really critical to the vets who file claims stable behavior of any with asbestos trust dog, so travelling with funds first and get her and introducing her approved will have to new dogs and new exhaustively evaluexperiences is excellent. ated documentation at their hands, which will I often recount the story speed up their VA claim of the overwhelmed hound that moved approval process. The with family from rural same trust funds repay Alabama to midtown those exposed secondManhattan. Hearing a hand, like veterans’ siren for the first time family members. They while exposed to the may seek compensation if they have health bustle of New York City streets and I was problems from their indirect exposure to the dealing with a seriously traumatized four-legged toxic asbestos fibers. significant other. “Been Share information: there, done that, seen Veterans can play a crucial role in educating that, no big deal!” That’s my mantra for all dogs. their communities and fellow service members Prior to the visit, take about the risks of a small cloth and rub asbestos exposure. By it all over Cutie, then talking about their expe- put it in a baggie and riences, they can share send it to your daughter, knowledge and give instructing her to let valuable information to Spoiler smell it while others who fought for receiving little pieces our country. of chicken. Have your

Charmer

daughter do the same with Spoiler for Cutie.

Dogs are all about scent, and this little trick may create a positive association for both dogs before they even meet!

As for the “meet,” do it in neutral territory, away from either home to eliminate most of a possible territorial response. Dogs are generally more aggressive on leash than off leash, and contrary to what most people believe, it’s not because they’re protecting you.

They actually feel supported by you with the leash attachment. It’s like the kid who feels a lot tougher with his big brother standing behind him.

In this case, both dogs are leashed and you are all approaching each other sounding very happy and joyous and positive. Both dogs will be totally aware of your vibes and the positive attitudes will go a long way toward the relaxed and friendly “meet.”

Lots of special treats should add to the positive associations.

When back at the house, have Cutie walk in first, and at this point I’d suggest no toys on the floor. Stay positive and upbeat while you enjoy the family reunion.

Dog Charmer Tom

Grants

Continued from page 1 systems and further promote interoperability with their partners.”

Otsego County received $715,946.00 through the SICG grant and a further $173,373.00 from the Public Safety Answering Point program.

Delaware County received $667,382.00 in SICG funding and $165,193.00 from the PSAP. Chenango County got $494,618.00 from SICG and $165,794.00 in PSAP grants.

Robert O’Brien, director of Otsego County’s 911 and EMS programs, said the two

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grants are specific to the 911 Center and the county submits for them annually.

“The PSAP grant is utilized primarily in support of personnel costs.

We do set a portion of it aside to support PSAPrelated expenses such as computers, monitors, UPSs, console furniture, radio software and such,” O’Brien explained. “One of the primary goals is to improve public safety communication operations and we use it for that.

This grant is very important to our operations and of course reduces the burden here locally for our community.”

O’Brien said the SICG grant is incredibly important to Otsego County.

“It is utilized to support our radio infrastructure typically outside of the PSAP. Tower site infrastructure, LMR (land mobile radio) replacement for law enforcement, with a primary mission of closing gaps in interoperability infrastructure,” O’Brien continued.

“Basically, the goal of this program is to improve any

deficiencies that may exist in the system, whether it be the construction of a new tower site, our ability to communicate with a neighboring county, or even a local police department who does not have the funding to upgrade their local infrastructure.”

“We rely on both of these grants to be able to constantly upgrade and improve our existing systems and to make sure that interoperability is possible here in Otsego County,” O’Brien said.

PSAP is a non-competitive grant program with allocations based on a formula that considers demographics, operational scope and emergency service metrics.

Briefs

Continued from page 10 about their age or give a fake date of birth visited 13 local retail establishments. When asked for ID, the operatives must use their real ID. All 13 businesses were in compliance and did not sell to the operatives.

Eklund Farm Machinery Sponsors USA Luge STAMFORD—USA Luge announced a new sponsorship with tractor manufacturer Massey Ferguson and Massey Ferguson dealership Eklund Farm Machinery, in Stamford, on Monday, October 23. It is the first tractor sponsorship of its kind in Olympic sport. The sponsorship, which will extend past the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, includes most of the Luge Challenge events.

“It is an honor to have Massey Ferguson and Eklund Farm Machinery join the USA Luge team,” said Gordy Sheer, 1998 Olympic silver medalist and director of marketing and sponsorship at USA Luge.

“We look forward to building value and the sense of family that comes with a USA Luge sponsorship.

As our athletes do not receive federal funding, their support means the world to us.”

“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to support our luge athletes as we head toward the 2026 Winter Games,” added Eklund Farm Machinery owner Billy Eklund. “We are very excited to sponsor the U.S. men’s and women’s luge teams and for what is to come.”

The 2023-2024 Luge World Cup will begin in Lake Placid on Friday, December 8.

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what’s haPPENIN’ in OtsegO COunty _________ Send calendar items to info@allotsego.com

THURSday, NOVEMBER 16, 2023

A-12 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

►Friday, Nov. 17 FOOD DRIVE—Through 11/20. Donate non-perishable food, personal hygiene products, laundry detergent and diapers to the Cooperstown Food Pantry. Collection bins are located inside the front doors at the Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown.

(607) 547-2800 or visit https://www.facebook. com/clarksportscenter REGISTRATION DEADLINE—“2023 Holiday Dinner and Dance.” Includes buffet dinner (5 p.m.), door prizes and music by Dirt Road Express (6-9). $15/person. Tri-County Senior Center, American Legion Hall, 22 Union Street, Sidney. (607) 5638065.

HANDCRAFT—9:30 a.m. to noon. “The Leaf and Loom: Knitting and Handcrafts Group.” Bring knit, crochet, macramé, or other handicraft to work with the group.

Beginners welcome to learn. Held every Friday.

Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego.

(607) 988-6661 or visit https://www.facebook. com/harrislibrary BLOOD DRIVE—10 a.m. to 3 p.m. YMCA at Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta.

RedCrossBlood.org BLOOD DRIVE— 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community Bible Chapel, 577 Greenough Road, Cooperstown. RedCrossBlood.org GARDEN—11 a.m. to noon. “Winter Soil Health Class.” Understand winter soil challenges, preparation techniques, protect against frost/erosion, composting, more.

Presented online by the Otsego Master Gardeners.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/CCEOtsegoMG LIBRARY WORKSHOP— Noon to 1 p.m. “Libby App 101.” Learn the basics of

using Libby to access the library’s collection of eBooks, digital audio books and magazines. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta.

(607) 432-1980 or visit https://www.facebook. com/hmloneonta/ BLOOD DRIVE—12:306:30 p.m. Bassett Hall, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown. RedCrossBlood.org NATURE WALK— 1-2:30 p.m. “Homeschool Nature Walk: Star Field.”

Registration required.

Meet on Chicken Farm Hill, Cooperstown. (607) 547-4488 or visit https:// www.occainfo.org/calendar/homeschool-naturewalk-star-field POTTERY—1:30-4:30 p.m. Open Studio. Experienced potters are invited to work on personal projects and hone their skills.

No instruction provided. $30/session. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@SmithyArts.org or visit https://www.smithyarts.org/ DINNER—5-7 p.m.

“Harvest Turkey Dinner.”

Includes roast turkey breast, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable, cornbread and dessert. $14/dinner; beverage with dine-in. Take-out available. Oneonta Vets Club. Open to public.

(607) 432-0494 CELEBRATE—6 p.m.

“An Evening of Words and Music.” Celebrate the release of the book “Opposite of Shadow” by Brian Bendin and Linda Smith.

Strawberry Hall (next to the Library), WorcesterSchenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester.

(607) 397-7309 or visit https://www.facebook. com/WorcesterSchenevus ART CLASS—6 p.m.

“Winter Solstice: Jewelry/ Elixir/Wreath.” Learn to make an immunity boosting elixir with Jessica

what’s haPPENIN’ in OtsegO COunty _________

Capeci from Windswept Visit https://oneontaconFarm, a pair of Herkimer certassociation.org/ what’s haPPENIN’ diamond earrings with in OtsegO COunty ►saturday, Nov. 18 Marissa from Creative Roots Studio, and a mini FARMERS’ MARKET— wreath to adorn the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fresh front door. Cost, $95. vegetables, local meats All materials included.

Reservations required. 25 and handmade crafts at the Cooperstown Main Collective, 25 Main Farmers’ Market, 101 Street, Cherry Valley.

Main Street, Pioneer (607) 264-5340 or visit Alley, Cooperstown. https://www.facebook.

(607) 547-8881 or visit com/25maincollective/ https://www.otsego2000.

DANCE FEST—7 p.m. org/cooperstown-farmers“The Sharon Springs market Dance Festival 2023.”

ONEONTA FARMERS’ Weekend of dance perforMARKET—9 a.m. to noon. mances, demonstrations and master classes for all Find produce, arts, crafts and more from area ages. Klinkhart Hall Arts producers. 53-55 Market Center, 191 Main Street, Street, Oneonta. Visit Sharon Springs. Visit https://oneontafarmershttps://klinkharthall.org/ market.org/ dance/. Also on 11/18.

BOOK COLLECTION— THEATRE—7-9 p.m.

10 a.m. to noon. First “Junior Musical Theatre of two book collection Rave.” Ultimate dance drives in preparation for party extravaganza celthe Winter Carnival book ebrating the enchanting sale. Donate good-condiworld of musicals, open tion books to support to teens aged 10 to 18. this local library. Fair Tickets, $10 to support Street entrance, Village the upcoming production Hall, 22 Main Street, of “Shrek Jr.” The Loft at Cooperstown. Visit Foothills Performing Arts https://www.facebook. and Civics Center, 24 com/VillageLibraryOfCooMarket Street, Oneonta. perstown/ (607) 431-2080 or visit FUNDRAISER—10 a.m. https://www.orpheustheto 4 p.m. “chILD It’s Fall atre.org/jr-musical-rave Y’all.” Holiday market with AUDUBON SOCIETY— vendors, raffles, bottle 7:30-8:30 p.m. “A Gloridrive and more to support ous Galapagos Adven5-year-old Caitlyn Hilton ture.” Member Kathryn Davino shares photos and in her battle against interstitial lung disease (ILD). stories about Galapagos wildlife with the Delaware- Otsego Christian Academy, 353 Main Street Otsego Audubon Society.

Otego. (315) 927-9761 Presented over Zoom. or visit https://www.faceVisit https://doas.us/ book.com/otsegoca/ CONCERT—7:30 p.m.

OPERA—12:55 p.m.

“The Vanaver Caravan: The Met presents “X: The EarthBeat!” Oneonta Concert Association pres- Life and Times of Malcolm X.” Tickets, $22/ ents a whirlwind of world adult. Lunch available dance and live music. for purchase. Foothills Tickets, $25. Goodrich Performing Arts and Civic Theater, Fine Arts CenCenter, 24 Market Street, ter, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta. Oneonta. (607) 431-2080

_______

AllOTSEGO.

or visit https://www.foothillspac.org/ WRITERS GROUP— 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Join online group to work on writing prompts, share current work, and get some feedback. Presented by the Huntington Memorial Library, Oneonta.

Register at hmlwriters@ gmail.com ARTIST RECEPTION— 2-4 p.m. “Meet the Artist.” Gathering to celebrate the Arts Factory Members Show. Free, open to the public. Exhibit showing through 12/30.

Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie.

Visit http://www.arkellmuseum.org/content/meetartist-reception-arts-factory-members-show FUNDRAISER—4-8 p.m.

Roast Beef Dinner featuring roast beef, roasted potatoes, corn, salad, homemade desserts, more. $20. Hartwick Fire Department Co. #2, 4877 State Highway 28, Cooperstown. (607) 5478091 or visit https://www. facebook.com/profile.

►SUNDAY, Nov. 19 HOLIDAY MARKET—10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Milford Holiday Market. Produce, pies, pastries, wreaths, crafts, books, jewelry and more, by vendors of the Milford Farmers Market.

Hot soup, coffee, tea and cider also served. Greater Milford Historical Association Cultural Center (enter through rear ramp), 77 North Main St., Milford.

STORYTELLING— 12:30-2 p.m. “Rethinking Thanksgiving: A Native American Perspective on an American Holiday” with Onondaga nation master storyteller Perry Ground. Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie. (518) 673-2314 or visit http://www.arkellmuseum.org/events-calendar PRIDE—1 p.m. “Transgender Day of Remem-

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brance.” Honor the lives of trans and gender-expansive people who have been lost this year due to violence and transphobia.

Otsego Pride Alliance at The Green Earth, 4 Market Street, Oneonta.

(607) 386-1508 or visit https://www.facebook. com/otsegopride/ HOLIDAY—2 p.m.

“Decorating Day.” Join the Cooperstown Community Christmas Committee to decorate Santa’s Cottage and village lampposts for the holidays. All decorations provided. Bring your own gloves and ladders.

Meet at Pioneer Park, Main Street, Cooperstown.

E-mail cooperstownchristmas@gmail.com to reserve a pole.

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION—2 p.m. “Tree of Lights.” An opportunity to celebrate the lives of people in our region through music, poetry and readings. Holiday trees will be lit and ornaments on display through the holidays. All are welcome to this free event at Helios Care, Oneonta. Purchase ornaments for $15 at: Helios Care offices, 297 River St. Service Road, Oneonta; United Methodist Church, 107 Chapel St., Cobleskill; and United Ministry Church, 1 Church St., Delhi.

CONCERT—3 p.m.

“Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble Fall Concert.”

Featuring “Desert Sage”

by Michael Markowsky, “Short Ride in a Fast Machine” by John Adams and more. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080 or visit https://www. facebook.com/CatskillValleyWindEnsemble CONCERT—3 p.m.

Friends of Music of Stamford presents a concert of works by Bach, Beethoven, Bloch and Rachmaninov performed by two internationallycelebrated musicians.

Admission by donation, suggested $12. First Presbyterian Church, 96 Main Street, Stamford.

SPEAKER SERIES— 3 p.m. “Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets.” Author Paula DiPerna presents about solutions to climate change. Free, open to the public. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. https://www.facebook. com/VillageLibraryOfCooperstown/ STORYTELLING— 3-4 p.m. “Stories from the People of the Longhouse” with Onondaga nation master storyteller Perry Ground. Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie. (518) 673-2314 or visit http://www.arkellmuseum.org/events-calendar

►Visit allotsego.com/ otsego-county-events-calendar/ for the full calendar

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