No Easy Answers for complex challenges New Developments for FoxCare Fitness

Dear Friends, Neighbors and colleagues, Our patients and communities are at the center of everything we do, as you have been for more than 100 years. We believe that the best way to do this is as a local, independently governed health system. With this goal in mind, it is vital that we are always looking at where there may be inefficiencies in our operations or redundancies in services.

Like our colleagues in healthcare around the country, we are navigating a complex set of challenges without easy answers. This is especially true for rural hospitals and health systems that grapple with seemingly impossible decisions. Over the past few weeks, you may have seen some of the news out of Bassett Healthcare Network. As we continue this transformative work, you may be wondering how these changes improve healthcare for our patients and make our community healthier.

We’re making changes that I am confident better serve the needs of our patients by ensuring that we operate more efficiently as a system, with the bigger picture in mind. Some of this means consolidating clinics that are offering the same services within a mile or two of each other. In other cases, we’re building new and improved spaces to provide streamlined care. In still other areas, like fitness, we’re seeking partners who share our mission to step in and provide services and expertise. We are continually evaluating opportunities to ensure we invest our resources in the smartest ways possible, to ensure the next century of care for all of you. Everything we do starts and ends with that bigger picture and our mission in mind.

At Foxcare center in Oneonta, for example, we have begun construction to expand the Women’s Health clinic. The much larger space will offer more exam rooms and bring our talented group of Oneonta practitioners in obstetrics and gynecology under one roof to offer well visits, family planning care, pre-natal and post-natal care, and other specialized women’s healthcare. Also, this past fall, A.O. Fox Hospital partnered with the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs to open a new veteran’s clinic at Foxcare center. We are proud to provide this vital service to veterans in our community.

Additionally, I am pleased to share that Bassett Healthcare Network is in the early stages of discussions with the Oneonta Family YMcA to explore a potential collaboration. I am inspired and heartened by the overwhelming responses we’ve received in support of Foxcare Fitness. Many people who have taken the time to write and call have expressed their appreciation for Foxcare Fitness as a facility that helps them maintain a healthy lifestyle and build community. I am excited about this opportunity to explore a collaboration with the

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR … In THEIR OPInIOn

Coop Village Election is Next Tuesday

Elections for village trustee are coming up on March 21, 2023. There are two outstanding candidates running for two positions.

Joe Membrino is an incumbent who has diligently served residents as a trustee who approaches his work thoughtfully, with attention to detail, and a strong sense of fiscal responsibility. Joe’s leadership on the Water and Sewer Board has been especially impactful as the wastewater treatment plant upgrades were completed.

George Fasanelli is a newcomer to village government, but his steadfast attendance at board meetings in the past year has given him a thorough grounding in the issues facing our community today. George’s background in law enforcement, his volunteer work with community organizations such as Rotary, the food pantry and the library, and his passion and enthusiasm for cooperstown will make him an ideal representative for our residents. The cooperstown Democrats are proud to support these excellent candidates and encourage everyone to get out and vote at the Fire Hall from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Lynne Mebust chair, cooperstown Democratic committee

Trustee Candidate Looking To Serve

Richard deRosa, caspar Ewig, Daniel Francis, Ian Kenyon, Tom Shelby, Dr. Richard Sternberg, Dan Sullivan, T. Stephen Wager and Jamie Zvirzdin

Web Architect Ivan Potocnik Historian Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart Legal Counsel Jill Ann Poulson

Editorial Board

Tara Barnwell, Faith Gay, Michael Moffat, Elinor Vincent, Darla M. Youngs

I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. I graduated from Queens college of the city University in 1977 and received my MBA from St. Joseph’s college on Long Island.

I retired after 34 years of service with the Suffolk county Police Department at the rank of deputy inspector. In addition to my time on patrol, I was an investigator with the Internal Affairs Bureau, the commanding officer of the Data Services Section, the Police Academy, and the Special Services Bureau in the Detective Division. I retired in 2016 after serving as the executive officer of the Seventh Precinct, a command of approximately 80 officers.

My wife and I have been home-

YMcA, who shares Bassett’s mission to improve the health and wellness of our communities. Thank you for sharing with me how important this facility is to you and the community. Bassett aspires to be a model of rural health in the U.S. and globally. We have a strong network of hospitals, clinics, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, and schoolbased health centers, among other services. These resources are essential to our communities. Beyond these important traditional pieces of the care continuum, a whole new world is opening before us around digital health. I believe digital health holds the possibility for us to transform what healthcare looks like—whether our patients are meeting with world-class cardiac care specialists in Manhattan from a Bassett clinic, receiving homebased services and monitoring, or benefiting from other creative solutions that directly address the unique challenges patients in rural settings face, like transportation barriers and wide geographic distances.

Bassett has been here for more than 100 years, and I am proud to work with our caregivers every day to honor this rich history while focusing intently on the next century of care. Good things are happening. Thank you for your engagement, passion and devotion to community health. It is a privilege and honor to serve you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tommy Ibrahim President & cEO Bassett Healthcare Network

owners here in cooperstown since 2016. I am father to two girls: one who is a nurse in the Bassett Healthcare Network and a second who is a nurse practitioner in the Syracuse area. While on Long Island, I spent many years (20+) as a volunteer for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society following the death of a close friend.

Since moving to cooperstown, I have afforded my services as a volunteer at the Village Library, the Susquehanna SPcA, the cooperstown Food Pantry and, most recently, as a literacy volunteer at the First Presbyterian church.

My wife and I are members of the Rotary club of cooperstown and have been regular attendees at the meetings of the village trustees.

Although long out of school, I remain a history buff and believe in all the good things that America stands for: participative democracy, inclusion, open dialogue, hard work, and respect. And I would look to serve the citizens of the village with on open heart, a generous hand, and keen awareness of my role as a champion for the village, its residents, its history, its merchants, and its healthcare workers.

George Fasanelli cooperstown

To Bassett: Please Keep FCF Open

I have been a member of Foxcare Fitness for many years. I am asking Bassett to reconsider the decision to close the facility for the following reasons:

• It is an extremely valuable asset to our senior community, who rely upon it for essential exercise and fitness training.

• All of the staff are personable, professional, and extremely helpful and kind to all.

• The psychological element of the social connection at classes and fitness activities is much-needed, especially after our years of pandemic isolation.

• Private gyms in the area don’t offer the same benefits and environment.

• The YMcA is stretched thin logistically already (many classes are held off-site now due to lack of space); they don’t have the equipment or the pool space to accommodate all of our members.

• Oneonta has been hoping to add many more residents (the Dietz Street lofts as one example). A state-of-theart gym and fitness center is an asset in attracting folks to relocate here.

• The interface of fitness center and physical therapy facilities is an excellent marriage of services—PT patients benefit from exercising near the gym members in a spirit of camaraderie.

Thank you.

Emma Kirsch Oneonta

Fitness Center Needs Community Support

As many have seen, there has been quite a bit of pushback regarding the announcement of Foxcare Fitness closing. I am among those who are a little dubious about my local healthcare provider when they decide that preventative care is not worth investing in. Particularly when that investment pays off most to senior citizens and other more vulnerable people in our community. I am hopeful with the pushback and news of collaboration with the YMcA that Bassett will be able to keep the facility open as is (or revitalize is so it can fully recover from the pandemic restrictions). Anything less, in my opinion, would be a failure to our community.

Plenty of letters have been addressed to Bassett leadership. I would like to address the community. We always encourage everyone to shop local to keep our community businesses thriving. We’re lucky to have some fine, locally-owned shops and restaurants in our area. We are also lucky to have facilities such as Foxcare Fitness. If you’ve ever been on the fence about joining a gym or taking a new step on your health and fitness journey, now might be a good time to do so. I get that with so many subscription services, another monthly fee is the last thing anyone wants. I can say from experience, though, that investing in your health gives amazing returns. On top of that, not only are you investing in your own health and wellness, but that of our community as well.

Randy Lynk Otego

210 Years Ago

Herkimer, March 4: On Monday morning, about 4 o’clock, Major General Dearborn, commander in chief of all the armies of the United States, passed through this village for Sackett’s Harbor. Yesterday afternoon, a fine looking corps of United States Light Dragoons, well-mounted, of about 120, commanded by col. Burns, arrived in this village & encamped; and this morning proceeded on their march for Sackett’s Harbor. We understand a detachment of infantry and artillery may be expected here today, destined also for Sackett’s Harbor. They are from the camp at Greenbush.

March 13, 1813

135 Years Ago

“How deep is the snow in your town?” was the inquiry made of a Burlington man, and he replied: “About four feet by nine!” Roads were blocked in all directions on Tuesday. It did look cheery to see the sun come out about 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. The storm commenced here Sunday afternoon and continued steadily for about 44 hours. No mails have been received from the East or West since Monday last. The local mails are similarly delayed. This morning, the regular stage left for Richfield Springs expecting to get through. We delayed the publication of the Journal hoping for the arrival of the mails from the East today, but as the probabilities are against it, we go to press with the little news there is at hand. At roll call at Union School on Tuesday morning, only a small number of scholars responded and those were given a day’s vacation. The snow has not been so deep at any time since the noted storms of April 1857 on the 13th and 20th of that month. About four feet of heavy snow fell in this locality on those two days.

March 16, 1888

110 Years Ago

The automobile is getting to the point where to own one will cause no more sensation upon the part of one’s neighbors than the ownership of a bicycle or a wheelbarrow. Indeed, a serviceable benzene buggy can be purchased now for about what a horse and wagon cost, with less expense to keep and more convenience when one wishes to go somewhere. The possession of a modest motor car is, even, a necessity to a person whose business calls him to go about the country.

March 19, 1913

85 Years Ago

Last week was the fiftieth anniversary of the great blizzard of 1888, one of the historic storms in the annals of Otsego county and New York State. The snow commenced falling Sunday evening, March 11, 1888, and continued without interruption for 44 hours. When it ceased a total precipitation of 32 inches was measured.

The last two hotels in Hartwick Village have been sold to local residents. The commercial Hotel on Main Street was sold to William Peterson of North Street, an employee of the Thomas Baking co. Mr. Peterson and family will use it as a residence and Mrs. Peterson will start an ice cream parlor there April 1. It was in this hotel that Stephen Brown was shot and killed during prohibition days. The Otego Valley Hotel on the same street has been purchased by Monroe Burch of the O.S. Burch & Son store which adjoins the hotel. This building is probably one of the oldest taverns in the vicinity. Before automobile days the village had four large hotels with accommodations for scores of travelers.

March 16, 1938

60 Years Ago

The cooperstown Redskins basketball squad has advanced to the class B Southeast Area semi-finals of the Section III basketball tournament Saturday night at Morrisville by upending center State League rival Waterville, 59 to 36. It was the third straight victory of the season over Waterville for the cSL champion Redskins, and their 19th straight win this season without a loss.

March 13, 1963

35 Years Ago

The ccS girls’ basketball squad lost its first game in 24 starts to the Warriors of Westhill, 58-56, in the Section III, class c championship. ccS lost Dawn Berry, their center, with fouls with 4:02 remaining. Berry left the game with 13 points. Karen Finn led the Lady Redskins with 18 points, Laurie Fassett scored 13 points and Tammy Berry 12. ccS completes the season with 23 victories. Both Dawn Berry and Karen Finn reached the 1,000-point career scoring milestone and established a host of other school records.

March 16, 1988