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Crafts, pickleball, and art! Photos on page 7 VISIT www.
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Clark Foundation gives $750,000 in first-year scholarships
Brothers Isaac (l) and Clayton (r) Carpenter had dinosaurs on their minds as they jumped in to one of the family-friendly outdoor art activities in Cooperstown’s Pioneer Park on June 11 celebrating the park’s new mural that tips its hat to the Fenimore Art Museum’s Drawn from Life: Three Generations of Wyeth Figure Studies summer exhibition. More photos, page 7.. INSIDE ►POSTER CHAMP IN ONEONTA: An Oneonta Middle School student is the national standout in cybersecurity poster contest, page 6. ►MUSEUMS FOR ALL: Cooperstown’s museums join national program expanding access to cultural institutions, page 3. ►TIME FOR ‘SUMMER DREAMS’: This week, we go to MunsonWilliams-Proctor Institute in Utica for its outstanding Rockwell exhibit and meet an Oneonta resident whose love for music led to a worldwide reissue of ‘Sinatra’s Favorite Saloon Singer’ (insert). ►A FEW THOUGHTS ON IMPORTANT THINGS: Our columnists this week look at the ongoing war on poverty, offer pointers for over-curious Labrador Retrievers, give a shoutout to Dad and dads everywhere, preview ‘love for the land,’ and caution against overpromising. Plus letters to the editor, pages 4,5, and 6. Follow Breaking News On
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Clark Foundation President Jane Forbes Clark announced this week that the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved first-year college scholarship grants totaling more than $750,000 to 197 area students preparing for higher education in the fall. The Clark Foundation Scholarship Program includes the school districts of Cherry Valley-Springfield, Cooperstown, Edmeston, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, Laurens, Milford, Morris, Mount Markham, Owen D. Young, Richfield Springs, Schenevus, Worcester, and the Otsego Area Occupational Center-BOCES. “The Board and I are very pleased to recognize the accomplishments of this distinguished group of graduating seniors by assisting them in their undergraduate studies,” Miss Clark said. “Despite having to navigate and manage the impact of the COVID crisis, each of these exceptional young men and women have compiled excellent records at their schools. As we welcome them to The Clark Foundation Scholarship Program, we wish each of them a most successful college experience.” Students receive Clark Foundation Scholarships based on academic achievement, citizenship qualities and service to their communities and schools. Approximately 700 students presently attending institutions of higher learning will be eligible for renewal of Clark Foundation grants for the next academic year. The Foundation anticipates providing over $4.1 million in scholarships for the coming year. Close to 14,800 students have participated in the Program since its inception in 1961. The Freeman’s Journal/Hometown Oneonta will publish the full list of recipients of initial grants for the 2022-23 academic year in an upcoming edition.
Cooperstown and Oneonta mayors join forces to promote benefits of the ‘corridor’ The mayors of Cooperstown and Oneonta opted to take regional economic and cultural development into their own hands this month with the debut of a project they’re calling “The Cooperstown Corridor,” highlighting what they see as reasons businesses and people would want to relocate in Otsego County. “Clearly Cooperstown has name and brand recognition all over the world,” Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek said in a discussion with The Freeman’s Journal/Hometown Oneonta. “When we’re talking to people about bringing their businesses here or moving here, they like to know about Cooperstown and our connection to the village.” “Think of all the people who come to Cooperstown All-Star Village,” he said. “We want to get them while they’re here. Find out about our main streets. See what that short drive between Oneonta and Cooperstown has to offer.” Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh agrees, as evidenced by her longstanding observation that businesses and localities throughout the county benefit from the ‘Cooperstown’ brand. “I’ve said it so many times,” she said.
“Cooperstown seems like the only place around here that doesn’t have a baseball village with the word ‘Cooperstown’ in its business name. The Cooperstown name extends all over Otsego County.” The two mayors — securing the support from their respective local legislative bodies — collaborated on a fullcolor brochure calling out to ‘retirees, young families, and businesses,’ bosting, “Now visualize yourself as a member of a welcoming community, Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh and Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek surrounded by some of the the marketing piece reads. “We love it here. We most scenic landscapes in all the country, where a small city and quaint local know that you will, too. This is your invitation villages provide entertainment, dining, shop- to join us.” The two localities sponsor the brochure and ping, and recreational and educational opportuits corresponding website — cooperstownnities galore.” “This is our shared quality of life in the corridor.org — with the support of the Otsego ‘Cooperstown Corridor’ — the 25-mile long County Chamber of Commerce, OtsegoNow, sceneic stretch from the city of Oneonta to and Destination Marketing. Continued on page 9 the villages of Milford and Cooperstown,”
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
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Cooperstown hallmarks join ‘museums for all’ access movement and inclusive cultural experience with everyone,” said Dr. Paul S. D’Ambrosio, president and CEO of Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers’ Museum. “Participating with Museums for All is an important step in breaking down the economic barriers to access our museums,” he added. Museums for All is part of the museums’ broad commitment to seek, include, and welcome all audiences. Museums for All helps expand access to museums and raise public awareness
The
about how museums in the U.S. are reaching their entire communities. “Our adoption of the Museums for All program will ensure that cost is not a barrier to visiting the Hall of Fame” said Josh Rawitch, president at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Every family should have the opportunity to visit our Museum and connect with baseball history, and this program is an important step toward making that a reality.”
More than 850 institutions participate in the initiative, including art museums, children’s museums, science centers, botanical gardens, zoos, history museums, and more. Participating museums are located nationwide, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Contact each institution for more information and details on participation in the Museums for All outreach program.
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Three of the region’s most celebrated institutions — the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, The Farmers’ Museum, and the Fenimore Art Museum — this week announced they have joined to provide those receiving food assistance benefits (SNAP) with free admission for up to four people when they visit any of the three Cooperstown-based sites. The outreach is part of Museums for All, a signature access program from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Association of Children’s Museums that encourages people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly. “It is our mission to share a broad
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A-4 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL
Ted potrikus
editorial
Guns, gasoline, and overpromising We’re encouraged by the big news from the weekend that 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans in the United States Senate agreed to the ‘framework’ of a deal on gun safety measures — enhanced background checks for prospective gun buyers under the age of 21 and funding for state red-flag laws, along with money for programs to improve safety and mental health services in schools. Even though it seemingly has less to do with gun control than it does the less direct permutations of the issue, it’s a start. Mr. Devil lurks in the details. Now the nation waits while staffers for those 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans face off in a stuffy room in the U.S. Capitol and argue across the table about exactly what their principles meant in their weekend announcement. Not that we blame the lawmakers for putting out a statement — it’s an impatient America that wants to know, right now, what Washington is going to do about guns, or, depending on one’s side in the debate, mental health. Legislation, as we know, doesn’t come easily out of the halls of Congress. In this instance, they have to make it look like they’re getting somewhere — so out comes the press announcement. Public-policy-by-press-release carries with it the risk of overpromising; that the end product won’t come anywhere near the ‘framework’ such an announcement promised. Staffers are under pressure now not just to deliver a product that fits the press release, but also one that responds to the untold numbers of telephone calls and e-mails marked URGENT they’ll be sifting through as the negotiations plod forward. • Speaking of overpromising press gambits, how’s that gasoline tax break working out for you? Remember back in April when New York state lawmakers trotted out the brass section to announce their cure for pain at the pump by removing the state’s sales tax on a gallon of gasoline? We acknowledge our cynicism here and don’t discount the value of saving a couple of dollars with a fill-up, but it would appear that not too many people are trumpeting the temporary tax cut that took effect on June 1. It’s hard to get excited about saving a random number of pennies when, in the last week — according to Gasbuddy.com — the average price of a gallon of gasoline in New York rose by 15.1 cents, and is nearly 40 cents per gallon higher than one month ago. No, lawmakers couldn’t have foreseen such a ridiculous manipulation of the marketplace that would come about, perhaps, in part, as a result of their promise to drive prices down. We’re seeing a marketplace run amok, and, as we alluded in an earlier editorial on the topic, that’s no place for even the best intended legislative initiatives. We’re paying $5/gallon and more for a gallon of gas. That all but erases the political benefit we’re certain some had hoped for with this sales tax ploy — one that coincides with the coming of primary elections in June and August, and running all the way through and past the general election in November. The lesson here for the spin doctors: Be careful what you promise. Be it guns, gasoline, or anything else — a fired-up electorate is going to hold your bosses to the pledges they make in the carefully worded statements you advance.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
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The Freeman’s Journal 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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Editorial Board Elinor Vincent, Michael Moffat, Tara Barnwell, Ted Potrikus OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR Otsego County • Village of Cooperstown • Village of Milford Cooperstown Central School District MEMBER: National Newspaper Association, NY Press Association Subscription Rates: Otsego County, $69 a year. All other areas, $89 a year. First Class Subscription, $155 a year. Published Thursdays by Iron String Press, Inc. 21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown NY 13326 Telephone: 607-547-6103. Fax: 607-547-6080. Email: info@allotsego.com • www.allotsego.com Contents © Iron String Press, Inc.
Dad jokes
Hello to all my fellow dads, and a Happy Father’s Day to you. Advertising tropes these days tend to portray dads as bumbling oafs who make questionable fashion choices, fumble with modern technology, snore, and barbeque a lot. My wife and I were watching television over the weekend, and a commercial came on advertising a big Father’s Day sale at a department store. “Find all of your dad’s favorite brands!” they promised as various pictures of things like pants and watches flew by on the screen. Angie chuckled and asked, “How many dads out there have a ‘favorite brand’?” I’m not so sure that the general population of dads carries a torch for a particular brand. I don’t think we care, provided it fits or is a t-shirt with a band or slogan we can comfortably endorse. And while I’m not big on brands or barbequing, I plead guilty to torturing my family with that daddest of dad things, the Dad Joke. Dad Jokes are an important chapter in the Unwritten Book of Dad Rules. Your wife goes through all the hard work of pregnancy and labor and nurturing and we instead turn into pun-wielding groan generators who can make the entire car erupt in unison and stretch the word ‘dad’ into several syllables while we think we’re the funniest dudes on the planet. I learned a few things from my own Dad’s bag of tricks. Like this one: he and Mom would pack into the Country Squire however many Potrikus children were in the house at the time and we’d take a Sunday drive. Cheap entertainment and a chance to get out of the house. But I can still remember the little gleam in Dad’s eye as he’d occasionally steer the car out of Cooperstown toward Bowerstown: that meant a nostalgic pass across Cornish Hill where he would point out the location of the
It’s the only picture I’ve got of me with my dad, John Potrikus — circa May 1975 in front of the Cooperstown Dry Cleaners before that year’s Little League Parade. I obviously took my drum seriously — after all, I was wearing the uniform of the Dry Cleaners’ Little League team — but Dad had just challenged me to play the funeral drum march all the way down Main Street. He thought that was funny. Good man!
house where he and his siblings grew up. When he was feeling particularly mischievous, he’d turn right onto what I think GoogleMaps now defines as Sibley Gulf Road. “John, not this road!” my mother would say, every time. He would laugh and say, “Jane, don’t worry about it.” Naturally, I would love to have had more time with my Dad, but that cigarette habit he picked up overseas in World War II and his life bent over barrels of dry cleaning chemicals got the better of him not long after I turned 14 years old. I’m gratified by the number of people in and around Cooperstown who still remember him. A couple of months ago, I had the pleasure of talking with Hank Phillips, who said, “Your father was
one of the funniest guys I ever knew.” They bowled together on Thursday nights back when our Price Chopper was the Bowl-a-Rama. “He’d leave us all roaring,” Hank told me. Now, I saw Dad as a hardworking man who enjoyed a highball after a hard day’s work, taught me the proper follow-through for bowling, and let me stay up to watch that Red Sox vs. Reds World Series game when Carlton Fisk hit his famous home run.. But the more I’ve learned, the more I’ve found out about his sense of humor. Mom once spied a stack of Ernie Kovacs DVDs on my table. “Oh my gosh,” she said, “your father loved Ernie Kovacs. We watched him all the time. He’d walk around imitating Percy Dovetonsils.” This was happy news, and something I would love to have seen. I’m proud to know Dad was on board at the inception with daredevil television comedy pioneer Ernie Kovacs. It makes sense — this was a guy who let me watch Rowan & Martin’s “Laugh-In” with him even though I was barely six years old and laughed heartily at the twisted humor of “The Muppet Show.” I hope all of us have happynews Dad stories that we either can remember or celebrate in person this weekend. My girls are too far away for my liking, but there’s a pretty good chance that I’ll bore them from afar this weekend, reminding them of the time we told our daughter, Maggie — who was learning her alphabet at the time, poor thing — that her name started with “P” but it was silent. Or that our daughter Lianna, when asked in Kindergarten for a word that began with the letter “B,” responded with “book, biography, and Bob Dylan.” Stand proudly, fellow dads — you know all the untold secrets of that Unwritten Book of Dad Rules. Pass ‘em on.
Letters
Candidate Castelli comments on D.C.’s January 6 hearings While at Siena I interned with the New York State Police Counterterrorism unit after 9/11. Thinking I’d help investigate alQai’da, instead, I was assigned to track activities of domestic terrorists: right-wing and white supremacist extremists. From the Oklahoma City bombing, to the January 6 attacks, to the mass shooting in Buffalo, and centuries of white supremacist violence - domestic terrorism is not a new problem. What is new is that domestic terrorists now have strong allies who serve in Congress and host nightly television shows. Hateful rhetoric is a fixture in our social media feeds, on our television screens, and at the bully pulpit. As Colin P. Clarke at the global security think-tank The Soufan Center writes, extremism has “gone mainstream.” Ratings-obsessed right-wing pundits and power-obsessed politicians feed followers a steady diet of manufactured racial and cultural anxiety, putting targets on the backs of vulnerable populations. And their promotion of the “big lie” that the 2020 election was stolen led directly to violent crimes on January 6. Elise Stefanik, the third-ranking GOP House member and messaging chief, uses extremist language to fundraise, demonize immigrants, and defend the January 6 criminals, all to advance her political career. We all pay the price of that extremism. Extremist talk has the power to incite extremist violence - whether it’s ISIS or white supremacists or insurrectionists. The major difference between the terrorism I combatted overseas and we now see here at home
is that political leaders have legitimized the rhetoric that allows violent extremism to thrive and promoted conspiracies when they believe it advances their political agenda and personal power. The definition of terrorism is “violence in pursuit of political aims”. Far too many House members have tried to obstruct the January 6 Committee’s investigation to hold accountable those who inspired, planned, and executed terrorism against the American people. But Americans understand that we must get to the truth to protect our country from future attacks. In the world of counterterrorism, we hold those who inspire extremist violence accountable for the actions of their followers. Rejecting violence and extremism isn’t a political position, it’s essential to our security. I hope that our elected leaders and powerful pundits will understand that before it is too late. Matt Castelli is a Democratic candidate for the 21st Congressional District and a former CIA officer and Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council who served in both the Obama and Trump White Houses.
Fox News’ failure to cover hearings is a disservice to viewers Americans who only watch Fox News were rendered a great disservice by the network last week. While all the other cable and TV networks broadcast the opening hearing of the bipartisan House committee looking into the events leading up to and culminating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Fox News did not.
Had those Fox News viewers been allowed to join the 20 million of their fellow citizens who did watch, they would have seen and heard the committee’s vice-chair, Rep. Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, deliver a scathing indictment of exPresident Donald J. Trump and his Republican minions for planning, over several months, to orchestrate and execute an attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, in order to keep Trump in office notwithstanding his loss of the 2020 presidential election. Rep. Cheney, no slouch when it comes to holding and strenuously advocating conservative positions and values, used the actual words of Trump, his family members, and White House staff, along with video footage of the Trump-supporting rioters breaking into the Capitol, to make her case. It was so powerful and convincing that I, as a progressive who does not subscribe to her conservative views, was moved by her integrity and sincerity. Those Fox News viewers who were deprived of watching the hearing last week — as well as other citizens who did not do so — would do well to tune-in to the other sessions in the coming weeks. Rep. Cheney and the committee have promised that the story to unfold is one of the calculated attempt by the ex-president and his supporters in the media and elsewhere--in-and-out of government--to thwart the peaceful transfer of power under the U.S. Constitution. It is the civic duty each of us has as a citizen of this country to be informed and understand what transpired. John A. Rudy Cooperstown [More letters to the editor on appear on page 6.]
THURSDAY, jUNE 16, 2022
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL A-5 News from the noteworthy Sustainable Otsego
The life of the land Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART with resources courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library
210 YEARS AGO
June 13, 1812
175 YEARS AGO
In 1837, there are in the State of New York 798 towns and 9 cities. There are at present 124 incorporated villages. There are 1,746 post offices. The amount of tolls collected on all the New York canals in 1836 was $1,614,336.43. The number of boats registered in the Comptroller’s Office as navigating the canals in 1836, 3,167. There are 11 railroads now in operation in the state running over rails a distance of 223 miles. There are 11 banks for savings in the state of New York. The capital of the Marine Insurance Companies in the city of New York is $5,650,000; of Fire Insurance Companies, $6,600,000. The number of arrivals in the Port of New York from foreign countries in 1836 was 2,293. June 19, 1837
160 YEARS AGO
Cooperstown has not been so thoroughly alive all over in twenty years, as it is at this time, and we shall soon have one of the handsomest villages in the Union. Nearly one hundred thousand dollars will be spent in putting up new buildings on the burnt district, this year and next. June 13, 1862
110 YEARS AGO
Hazel Champlin, a young lady employed in the business office of the telephone company, got her feet wet way up to her neck Sunday afternoon. She was in a boat with another young lady rowing on the river, and in attempting to step from the boat to the stone wall at Fernleigh, she alighted on the water instead of the wall. The river is deep at that point, but she hung onto the wall until rescued by Verne Hollis, who was taking his afternoon stroll, and emerged from a vine embowered retreat nearby. The young lady came out of the ordeal unruffled. June 19, 1912
25 YEARS AGO
The Freeman’s Journal will move from its office in Doubleday Court next week to a new location off Pioneer Street. The Journal’s new address will be One Otsego Court. The move will take place next Wednesday according to Richard Johnson, editor of the paper. The move was announced after Johnson and a representative of Richmond Hulse, former owner of One Otsego Court, concluded purchase negotiations and transfer of the building. Hulse resides in New York City. June 16, 1982
20 YEARS AGO
Noise from public address announcers and music emanating from Doubleday Field during baseball games has drawn criticism from local residents whose homes are located close to the field. New rules for the field promulgated by the village trustees prohibit use of the public address system or playing of music other than the National Anthem prior to 12 noon on Sundays. June 14, 2002
Solution: ‘‘Uneasy Listening” (June 9)
The unspoiled hills, valleys and waterways of Otsego County are our major resource. In this new column, The Life of the Land, we explore some of the innovative initiatives in our area which tap into this resource. These add value, reach diverse markets, and aim to fight food insecurity while improving the quality and availability of healthy foods in our communities. While much of the nation is suffering from adverse effects of climate change and experiencing severe water shortages, upstate New York is poised for an agricultural renaissance. Contributing to this potential are plentiful water, the proximity of major metropolitan centers, a lengthening growing season, and the residual infrastructure from the shrinking dairy industry. But rainfall is increasingly unpredictable. Produce transportation is increasingly costly. Economies of scale available to industrial farmers, as in the Midwest or California’s Central Valley, do not apply to the small farms defined by our geography. Governmental support for agricultural projects is almost exclusively directed at established, large scale farming. How are our farmers meeting
these challenges? Here are some our topics: What is a “CSA” (community supported agriculture)? Does aggregation of CSA’s (as in the 607CSA in
Delaware County which combines numerous farms) help solve the “economy of scale” problem? What is a high tunnel, and can it augment productivity without adding cost? What is “permaculture”? Does rotational grazing reduce methane production in grass fed animals? Can cow’s milk compete with “milks” made with nuts and seeds? How are our farmers getting their products to market? Why are there so few meat processing plants here? What is the state of the hops industry? How much hydroponic agriculture is in the area? What’s the future of marijuana and hemp production? In the 1700s upstate NY transitioned from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. In the 1800s the industrial revolution invigorated
upstate with factories and mechanized farming. The 1900s saw extensive growth in industry and farming. But the 2000s have seen both decline, especially agriculture. Much of our rich land has become unproductive and its value has been dishonored. To focus on that we adopted our column title from the Hawaiian State motto, “The Life of the Land... Is Perpetuated in Righteousness,” attributed to King Kamehameha as he celebrated the return to sovereignty over his land after an attempted British coup. To him and to us, halfway around the world, righteousness means acting in “the right way.” Although the choice of agriculture as a life’s work is not for the faint of heart, for these mostly young farming idealists, it provides an opportunity to do things “the right way,” by putting their land to its best possible use. Authored by Sustainable Otsego. Since 2007, we have promoted ecologically sound practices – locally, regionally, and nationally. Our platform calls for sustainable living, economic independence, and home rule. Please visit us at sustainableotsego.net or facebook.com/SustainableOtsego.
BY Merl Reagle
Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z…Wake up and go to sleep ACROSS 1 Basic 7 Typographer’s unit 11 Bliss spoiler 15 TV monitor? 18 Crescent-shaped 19 Can’t sing ___ 21 Like Godzilla 22 Man of photography 23 Z 26 Plus 27 Folksinger DiFranco 28 Z 29 “Rents” alternative 31 Verne character 33 Fixed 34 Warm the bench 35 Truck stoppers 37 V.I.D. of the Cretaceous Period? 38 Honda hospital 41 Evian, par exemple 43 Ness, for one 44 Had some zucchini 46 Z 50 Hogan’s rank 54 Raison d’___ 55 Singer Horne 56 Z (By the way, I made this puzzle in mid-May 1997 when the country was still called this, and by the time the puzzle came out in newspapers just two weeks later, the country’s name had been changed. I guess timing is everything.) 59 Birthplace of the Apostle Paul 63 Come up 64 Wrath 65 Power 67 Race distance for a 2 Down 68 See 98 Across 69 Old Ford 72 Succession 74 The witching hour 75 Mr. Cassini 77 Edison’s park 78 Part: abbr. 79 Penn or Pitt, e.g. 81 Minnesota iron-ore range 83 Z 87 VHS predecessor 89 “Sweet Caroline” singer 90 Multiplex features 91 Z 96 Dull finish? 97 Calcutta outfit 98 TV’s Tarzan 99 Become a recruit
102 Safety org. 106 Reach 108 Diagnostic option: abbr. 111 Spanish queen 112 Your cheatin’ art 113 Scrabble piece 114 Z 119 “Eureka!” 120 “___ a pity ...” 121 Z 124 Fitting 125 Malevolent Hindu goddess 126 Brook fish 127 Cochise was one 128 Utilize 129 Hot tubs 130 Fashion magazine 131 Vergil’s man DOWN 1 Easily bent 2 Jogger 3 Eventually 4 Deface 5 Physics tidbit 6 Swan lover of myth 7 Wisconsin player 8 All together 9 Hairstyle 10 All-inclusive 11 Abridged 12 The Last Don author 13 The Nuclear, for one
14 Domingo, for one 15 M uppeteer-turned-director (In & Out, etc.) 16 Slugger José 17 Dancer Charisse 20 Slaughter of baseball 24 Sky bear 25 Angle opener 30 Sam’s store 32 Wood sorrel genus (anagram of SAX OIL) 35 G lass tube with a stopcock, used by chemists 36 That girl 38 Actress Rowlands 39 Mild oath 40 Songstress James 42 Labor letters 45 Carved symbol 47 Cuts back 48 Most macabre 49 Hop ___ bus 50 King of pop 51 Thinks out loud 52 Leave out, as a vowel 53 Hart of Rodgers and Hart 56 Hit and rebound 57 La Strada director 58 Okeechobee avians 60 Live or Die poet Anne 61 Marriages 62 Sidestep 66 Sopranos can hit it
70 Left out 71 H ard ___ (not easily categorized) 73 More secure 76 Noted horn blower 80 Statements of principles 82 Aqueduct action 84 Mini or jumbo, e.g. 85 Milne Turing or Arkin 86 Part of Q.E.D. 88 Pioneer in email 91 Compass pt. 92 April 15 pointers 93 Thespian, for one 94 Fermentation 95 Merry 100 Natural 101 Enjoy the bay 103 Few and far between 104 A few laughs 105 Bowls over 107 Kisses Dracula? 109 Monarch, to Monique 110 “___ this great?” 114 French author 115 He’s worse than a grump 116 Game with a break 117 College sports org. 118 Look in awe 120 Greek letter 122 Race car circuit? 123 Author Amy
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Oneonta Middle School’s Madelyn Ellis wins national award for poster’s message Oneonta Middle School student Madelyn Ellis, center, displays the poster that earned her first-place honors in the 2022 ‘Kids Safe Online’ Poster Contest, sponsored by the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). K-12 students across the country submitted posters for the contest; 13 will be included in the next “Kids Safe Online Activity Book.’ MS-ISAC members nationwide will use Madelyn’s poster to spread cybersecurity awareness, calling it ‘a stunning design that reminds us to watch our digital footprint. Every text we send, every message we keep, and every file we download can carry dangers with it if we’re not careful.’ Students at the June 14 ceremony applauded Madelyn’s work as they recognized the important safety tips her work depicts. From left to right are OMS Principal Tom Molle, Oneonta schools Director of IT Services Bonnie Nobiling, Madelyn Ellis, Library/ Media Specialist Kathy Steins, and OMS art teacher Sue Morell.
Tom Shelby The Dog charmer
Dan Maskin
Prickly porcupines pose peril for pups
Still fighting poverty
Hi Tom, My two mostly-Lab rescue dogs, Gus and Gracie, have a great affinity for porcupines. They have been quilled a number of times — most recently a severe quilling. Yet they never seem to get the point to stay away. This is no laughing matter since it represents a very real health and safety threat to them. Any suggestions as to how to both maximize and balance their freedom to explore and protection against this danger? Thanks, Gus and Gracie’s Mom
Each May, Opportunities for Otsego celebrates Community Action Month because after all, OFO is a Community Action Agency. There are 47 Community Action Agencies in New York and over 1,000 nationwide. Although programs and services vary from organization to organization, all have the core mission of reducing poverty and improving communities. The purpose of Community Action Month is to honor its collective mission of eliminating poverty and to reflect on the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 which created a multitude of programs and services that still operate today. From early childhood development to homeless shelters, from violence prevention to nutrition and from home energy assistance to community advocacy, the history is rich and has impacted the lives of millions of individuals. The Economic Opportunity Act is better known as the “War on Poverty.” Unique legislation designed to improve a condition of society. Or as President Johnson said in his address to Congress in March of 1964: “Because it is right, because it is wise, and because, for the first time in our history, it is possible to conquer poverty, I submit, for the consideration of the Congress and the country, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.” Almost 60 years later, the question sometimes gets asked: “Did we lose the war?” A well-known newscaster responded by saying that, “we didn’t lose the war, we just gave up.” He’s right. As long as housing remains unaffordable, debt is increasing, children and adults are being murdered in their schools and communities, and people don’t have enough to eat, the war is still being fought. Regrettably, it can still be lost. At the end of his book Just Mercy, Brian Stevenson closed with a quote: “The opposite of poverty isn’t wealth, the opposite of poverty is justice.” It’s a profound statement of what our communities are all about and hopefully what our communities can strive for in these challenging times. Dan Maskin CEO, Opportunities for Otsego, Inc.
— to discern whether the dog has an adequate response to the collar’s tone, vibration, or electric stim. Since we’re talking about an off-leash dog’s serious predation, and the danger involved, I’d suggest electric stim, starting at a very low level. Put a piece of meat in a Tupperware container with lots of holes in it. When Gus goes to smell it, tell him “leave it!” and hit the remote so he feels the stim and jumps back. You don’t want the stim so strong that he screams or overreacts. You just want it strong enough to get the job done, and it’s crucial Dear Gus and that Gus has no Gracie’s Mom, idea that the collar This is not an easy has anything to do one, because in my with the startle, nor experience predathe remote, so the tory aggression is remote is in a pocket mostly genetic. My or behind your back, search-and-rescue and subtly buzzed. Doberman, Michelle, Gus just needs to from day one was not relate to the words interested in chasing “leave it” and what animals. She would he’s sniffing. lie under the paraWhen it’s clear that keet cage and whine he knows to ignore for us to let the birds that container when out. She loved it he hears “leave it” when they climbed it’s time to graduate all over her. My SAR to a piece of meat on Doberman, Mike, a plate on the floor would have killed which he has to pass them in an instant. ignoring the meat. Very often moveNext comes what ment elicits the prey I call the “Dog God” drive. That’s why principle. You want the nine-week-old him to leave the puppy chases the meat on the coffee blowing leaf — the table alone even if movement of the It’s all fun and games for Gus and Gracie until prickly porcupine quills you’re not around leaf elicits the prey lead to painful health and safety threats. to tell him to leave drive. And interestit. Set up a mirror ingly, from my own experience, the dog that gets severely that shows you the perforated container with meat on the quilled by a porcupine doesn’t “learn the lesson.” coffee table from another room. Or just cookies on a plate Years ago, on a Sunday afternoon 100 miles from on the low table if you think he’s ready. The moment he the nearest veterinarian in Nova Scotia, my friend’s shows interest or goes to grab the goodies hit the stim German Shorthair and Afghan attacked a porcupine. And without saying anything. From Gus’s point of view the after two hours of pulling out the quills with pliers, both Dog God sees all, all the time, and doesn’t like it when he dogs immediately went after the porcupine again. They takes your cookies. He needs to relate the negativity of to were both reasonably intelligent and well-trained dogs, his behavior, trying to take the cookies. and to me, this was a case of genetic prey drive overriding Once that’s established, you can use the remote from in the training. the house while looking out the window. If he’s chewing G and G’s Mom, you need to get this training job done on the fence because he wants to get out you can buzz him properly and expeditiously. In my long career I know of from in the house and he’ll stop the destruction because two dogs that lost an eye to a porcupine quill. from his perception, the fence bites back. Again, it’s very So here’s where I’m going to go politically incorrect, and important that he relates the stim to his behavior, it has not for the first time: I suggest that you get an electronic nothing to do with you, unless you tell him “leave it!” collar that’s set up to handle two dogs. Teach them to love If he’s outside off-leash with you, you may want to raise the collars. Day one, let them smell the collar and get a the stim a notch to override the predatory response. Once treat as you put it on and then take them outside, keeping they’re truly responsive to the stim you can lower and them under control with a leash or fenced yard. The collar lower it till you’re just using the vibration or tone. is not even turned on at this point, and a treat accompanies As complex as this may sound, from experience I can the collar every time it’s put on for a month. tell you that with good timing G and G will “get it” much After a few days, when it’s clear they’re happy to quicker than you think, thereby improving both the twohave the collars on, it’s “showtime.” Working one dog at and four-legged’s quality of life. a time, you need — depending on the dog’s sensitivity
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Letters
How about simple respect?
Russia and China condemn the USA for gun violence. Yes, the USA has had numerous gun violence incidences. Well, ladies and gentlemen, look at the violence Russia has perpetuated against the Ukrainian people. As for China, look at the ever growing threats against Taiwan. If China honored its commitment to Hong Kong, the Taiwanese would be more inclined to open up their hearts to China. Just like the Ukrainians, the Taiwanese love and respect their freedom. There is a difference in that Ukraine was/is an independent country. In truth, Taiwan was/is Chinese. In both cases, just some simple respect for each other’s integrity would go a long way to solving both problems. Don’t anyone forget, Democracy takes sensible commitments. The way to win the hearts of people is showing them love. Gerry Welch Cooperstown
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-7
Crowds welcome craft fair return It was a welcomed return for the Church of Christ Uniting’s popular Friendship Craft Fair in Richfield Springs on June 11, with hundreds of visitors stopping by throughout the day. Clockwise from right, Geri Erwin, right, and her daughter Kristen Culkin offered up tables-full of tasty baked goods; Sharie Telgheder had her homemade candles on display as her husband, Craig, showed off his 1961 Corvair 95 ‘rampside’ gem; Pastor Casey Bradley and his wife, Heather, were delighted by the turnout.
Otsego Chamber, YMCA host pickleball The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce and Oneonta YMCA partnered to bring the popular pickleball tournament back to Oneonta’s Neawha Park on June 11, with teams enjoying the perfect weather for playing throughout the day. Brent Patry and Dave Weaver won the men’s division, Chelsea and Marilyn Leahy took the honors on the women’s ledger. Below, winner Brent Patry joins the YMCA’s Bob Escher with the ‘Be In It To Win It’ trophy. [Thanks to John Thompson for the pickleball photos.]
Mural dedication brings artists to Pioneer Park Acclaimed mural artist Josh Sarantitis poses with his Wyeth-inspired triptych now on display in Cooperstown’s Pioneer Park at the intersection of Main and Pioneer Streets; at right, artists Maggie Danan (foreground) and Laura Sullivan (back) demonstrate ‘plein-air’ painting during the June 11 mural dedication. Next week’s edition of our “Summer Dreams” insert will include a full story on the Fenimore Art Museum’s Wyeth and Venice exhibitions and the purpose behind the Pioneer Park mural.
A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
Future for Oneonta Foundation jumpstarts ‘green transformation’ “This is not a foundation project,” he said. “All the credit goes to the Susquehanna Greenway committee for their vision and hard work for so many years. We’ve worked with the City of Oneonta to help pull this off. We’re just the catalyst for change, and that’s what FOF wants to be for all of Oneonta.” The paving project — which Mr. Cleinman says could be completed within the next 30 days — will render the Mill Race Trail compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and far more attractive to area bicyclists. The trail runs along Mill Race — a narrow canal created in 1806 when sawmill owners James and John McDonald diverted the Susquehanna River to power their tools. Their success gave Oneonta its original name — McDonald’s Mills. The Foundation hopes the new project will help Oneonta grow, just like the original Mill Race. “This kind of transformative support is what drives FOF,” Mr. Cleinman said. “Hopefully the citizens of Oneonta will get behind this and all the other projects and activities taking place.” “Name a city in North America with an airport, and I’ve been
there,” said Mr. Cleinman, an Oneonta resident for some 40 years. “Oneonta is a very, very special place. The Future for Oneonta Foundation is here to support the projects and programs that keep us moving forward and growing. We need to attract people to come and live here, we need to stop younger people from moving away. That’s a big project.” Walking along the trail as its improvements begin, Mr. Cleinman said, “It’s projects like this that will add to a city that already has a great quality of life.” [Note: Since its inception in 1982, the Future for Oneonta Foundation has provided more than $500,000 in program support to area agencies and civic, cultural, and educational projects. FOF is authorized to receive tax-deductible gifts, trusts, property, or money for investment through its fiscal agent, Community Bank, Oneonta, and to authorize expenditures for designated purposes or to perpetuate the grants and gifts as the donor or grantor specifies.]
M At U t Si en C t L O iO v n er S!
Neahwa Park adds another attraction with a June 16 groundbreaking for updates to the Mill Race segment of the popular Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway — a transformational project that will see the section paved and accessible and, supporters hope, an attraction for residents and would-be residents alike. The new paved trail will connect Neawha Park, Catella Park, and the trails available on New Island — a “critical link,” said OSG’s Donna Vogler. “It’s gratifying to see this section paved and accessible to all.” A$50,000 grant from the Future for Oneonta Foundation kickstarted the project, an improvement in the City of Oneonta’s Comprehensive Plan since 2000. Alan Cleinman, Chairman The FOF donaof the Future for Oneonta tion proved crucial to the Foundation, stands on 2022 upgrade. the about-to-be-paved “This has trail along Mill Race in been one of my Neawha Park. dreams for a long time,” said Alan Cleinman, the newly installed chairman of the Future for Oneonta Foundation. “Making this accessible to everyone is so important.”
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.
Saturday, June 25 | 7 to 9 pm
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at the Schuyler Lake United Methodist Church Church Street, Schuyler Lake Open mic sign up to perform.
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Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Lion View LLC Filed 11/30/21 Office: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 111 Bert Crain Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: all lawful 6LegalJul.21 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of 656769 Main Street LLC, filed with the Secretary of State on 05/17/2022. Principal Business and Office Location: 103 Main Street, P.O. Box 431, Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326, Otsego County, N.Y. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to 103 Main Street, P.O. Box 431, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: any lawful activity. 6LegalJul.14 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of
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20 OTSEGO LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 03/31/2022. Office location: Otsego SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 2302 NATIONAL DRIVE, BROOKLYN, NY, 11234. Any lawful purpose. 6LegalJul.14 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of 5430 State Highway 28 LLC Filed 4/5/22 Office: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 5 Locust Lane, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: all lawful 6LegalJun.30 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of HG Investors LLC Filed 11/10/21 Office: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 328 County Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: all lawful 6LegalJun.30
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formation of
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Notice of Formation of
The Professional Casual Network LLC
Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company
Pop-In Smoke & Vape, LLC. Filed 4/29/22. Cty: Otsego. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail 5381 St Hwy 7, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purp: any lawful. 6LegalJun.30
Arts of Org. filed SSNY 5/10/22, Otsego Co. SSNY design agent for process & shall mail to Zenbusiness Inc. 41 State St #112 Albany, NY 12207 General Purpose 6LegalJun.30
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Application for Authority of
Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company.
SEOHUB, LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/18/2022. Formed in PA 7/11/2011. Office loc.: Otsego County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The principal business loc. and address SSNY shall mail copy of process is 168 Dam View Dr., Media, PA 19063. Cert. of Organization filed with the Secy. of the Commonwealth, 302 N. Office Bldg., 401 North St., Harrisburg, PA 17120. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 6LegalJun.30 Legal nOtice Notice of
Name: FIELD OF DREAMS FARMHOUSE LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 10 May 2022. 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 2350 County Highway 8, Otego New York 13825. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalJun.23
Name: RUNDAMENTALS, LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 9 May 2022. 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 467 Springfield Hill Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalJun.23 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name: JDK BUILDERS LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 9 May 2022. Office location:
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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 301 Griggs Road, Springfield Center, NY 13468. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalJun.23 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name: HEMLOCK HILL WATER SERVICES LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 26 April 2022. 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 1616 County Highway 14, Mount Vision, NY 13810. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalJun.23
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Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name: IMPORTANT FILMS MEDIA LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 26 April 2022. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to PO Box 289, Gilbertsville, NY 13776. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalJun.23 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name: WJGRP, LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 28 March 2022. Office location:
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Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to PO Box 370023, West Hartford, CT 06137. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalJun.23 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Rocky Brook Farm LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on August 13, 2021. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY Designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to Catherine Gilmore 406 County Highway 12, Laurens NY 13796 Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalJun.16 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of LAKESIDE MARINE & MOTORS LLC Articles of Org. filed
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NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 5/2/22. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 117 Taylor Rd., Richfield Springs, NY 13439, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalJun.16 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of Bocci Acres LLC. Filed with SSNY on 4/11/2022. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 146 East 37th Street NY NY 10016. Purpose: any lawful 6LegalJun.16 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Upstate Farm House LLC. Filed with SSNY on 4/11/2022. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 146 East 37th Street NY NY 11756. Purpose: any lawful 6LegalJun.16
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-9
News briefs
Foundation helps CANO fund director post A $12,000 grant to the Community Arts Network of Oneonta (CANO) from the Community Foundation of Otsego County will support the funding of CANO’s first executive director position in more than 15 years, allowing for expanded programming, more opportunities for local artists and musicians, and access to funding. Hope Von Stengel, a volunteer and CANO board member since 2013, will fill the role. For more than 50 years, CANO, located in the historic Wilber Mansion at 11 Ford Avenue, has served communities in Oneonta and the surrounding area by providing a space where the community has access to cultural and artistic programs and events. For more information about CANO, visit its Facebook and Instagram pages or canoneonta.org.
Cherry Valley ‘turnpike architecture’ topic of June 26 tour Learn more about how the environment, residents, and travelers shaped Cherry Valley’s architec-
tural expressions on Sunday, June 26, when Otsego 2000 and Dr. Cynthia Falk lead a guided walking tour of the village and its turnpike architecture, beginning at 4:30 p.m. “The villages of Otsego and Schoharie counties are rich in architectural history,” Dr. Falk said. “Each has its own story to tell, and the built environment helps us understand how each place developed over time.” The Cherry Valley walk is the first in a series that later this summer will include Sharon Springs and Richfield Springs. The three villages are especially rich in buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s, which embody the culture of each place — from transportation to recreation to religious expression. The cost for each walking tour is $10, and space is limited. The Cherry Valley walk is about two miles, with some uphill stretches. Registrants will be e-mailed the starting point of the walk no later than June 22. For more information or to register for the Cherry Valley tour, please call Otsego 2000 at 607-547-8881. Registration will open in July for upcoming tours that include Sharon Springs on July 31, focusing on Jewish Adaptations, and Richfield Springs on August 14, focusing on resort buildings.
Drop off books June 19 for Cooperstown Library sale Donate those books taking up too much space in your house! On Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to noon, Friends of the Village Library in Cooperstown will host a book collection in preparation for its annual Summer Book Sale. Drop off is at the side entrance to the Library building located at 22 Main Street. The library accepts used books in good condition, but, please — no textbooks
or outdated travel books! The library also accepts CDs, DVDs, and audio books. The group will sell donated books at its annual Summer Book Sale, on the sidewalk outside 22 Main Street, from June 25 through July 3, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. All proceeds benefit the Village Library of Cooperstown.
Fathers and grandfathers get into Fenimore, Farmers’ for free on June 19 Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown offer free admission to all fathers and grandfathers on Father’s Day — Sunday, June 19, 2022, from 10 a.m. until
5 p.m. At Fenimore, view the permanent collections and six current exhibitions including Unmasking Venice: American Artists and the City of Water, Al Hirschfeld: Caricaturist to the Stars, North by Nuuk: Greenland After Rockwell Kent — Photographs by Denis Defibaugh, and Drawn from Life: Three Generations of Wyeth Figure Studies. The Fenimore Café is open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m and features outdoor seating on the museum’s expansive garden terrace overlooking picturesque Otsego Lake. The Farmers’ Museum hosts Herbal Remedies Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Learn the various ways plants were used as medicine and how they were produced in the mid-19th century, watch
the blacksmith create lab equipment used in the distillation of medical extracts, and see medical broadsides and pamphlets handset and printed on our own vintage presses. Interpreters will show and discuss simple home remedies that every farm family was well-versed in producing. Entry to Herbal Remedies Weekend is included with regular museum admission. The museum also offers its Balms and Salves Workshop on June 18 at 1 p.m., teaching how to make tinctures, extracts, balms, salves, and rubs. Make your own to take home! ($80/$70 Members) Find a link to register on our calendar at FarmersMuseum.org. Both museums are open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, visit FenimoreArt.org and FarmersMuseum.org.
Mayors take lead on area promotion Continued from page 1 Mayor Tillapaugh calls the brochure outreach “a drop in the bucket” when it comes to marketing the region. “Otsego County needs to do more,” she said. “They do a fine job attracting ‘heads and beds’ for visitors who come and go, and they enjoy the revenue from the hotel tax. We need people to come and stay. We need people who will volunteer for the fire departments and school boards. Shop in our stores and eat in our restaurants all year long. We need people who come to visit and like it so much they decide to stay and live and grow here.” Mayor Drnek is optimistic the ‘corridor’ partnership will encourage local residents and businesses to participate even more in community-building activities and will serve as ‘ambassadors’ for Oneonta, Cooperstown, Milford, and
the whole of Otsego County. He’s particularly bullish on building a relationship with the new owners of Cooperstown All-Star Village, located in the Town of Oneonta. “They’re the third leg of Oneonta’s three-legged stool,” he said. “The colleges, the hospital, and All-Star Village. They’re all so important to us; they’re the economic drivers that bring the name recognition to town. I’m excited to have Cooperstown All-Star Village as a part of our planning, part of our city growth.” “It’s the Cooperstown name,” Mayor Tillapaugh said. “If this ‘corridor’ idea helps my village get a little more visibility, visitors, and new residents from the people who are traveling to go to things named after Cooperstown, then that’s great.”
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A-10 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
Upstate martial arts expert wants everyone over age 60 to ‘get up, get moving, and enjoy yourself!’
Otsego County and New York employers hit by ‘hidden tax’ from pandemic unemployment
Clifford Crandall, Jr. has a message for everyone over age 60, “Get up, get moving, and enjoy yourself!” Mr. Crandall, 75, founder and grandmaster of the American Martial Arts Institute, has produced a video series, “Still Alive and Kicking,” promoting life-enhancing activities for seniors. Crandall said he got the idea for the series about three months ago when he realized he would soon be 75 and saw what he describes as resignation from people as they age. “I see people in their 60s and older who aren’t doing anything because they don’t realize what they can be doing,” he said. “Still Alive and Kicking” demonstrates a varied scope of physical activities available to improve everyone’s quality of life. Activities featured in each 60-second video include pickleball, golf, kite flying, hiking, canoeing, golf, horseback riding, bowling, cross-country skiing, trimming Bonsai trees, and skeet shooting. “I’m not just telling others to do the activities, I do them myself,” Mr. Crandall said. Topics for future videos include aerobics, bicycling, darts, and billiards. An activity does not have to be physically strenuous, and can be as simple as joining a library book club. The purpose of the videos is to
As if post-pandemic hiring woes and the new economic pressures from rising inflation, energy costs, and supply chain disruptions, employers throughout Otsego County and all of New York state face a higher bill for unemployment insurance taxes thanks to an unpaid debt to the federal government. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said this week employers could face the higher tax rate — which business groups call a ‘hidden tax’ — for some time to come. Every employer in the state is required to pay unemployment insurance tax regardless of experience with retaining employees. Despite recent significant payments to the federal Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF), New York is one of only seven states or territories with unemployment insurance (UI) funds that are in debt to the federal government, and the $8.1 billion owed in the outstanding loan balance is second only to California, according to a June 10 analysis by Comptroller DiNapoli. As he detailed in a September 2021 report, the devastating job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to a record number of UI claims, necessitating continued borrowing from the federal government beginning in May 2020. If New York’s outstanding balance is not fully repaid by November 10, 2022, interest costs will mount, as will the federal portion of employers’ 2022 tax bills. “New York’s unemployment insurance debt has remained stubbornly high despite steady employment gains and state
stimulate body, mind, and emotions. “Anything that gets you up and stimulated is an activity, you shouldn’t stop doing them, regardless of your age,” he said. “It’s not about being good at something, it’s about having fun, and I feel lucky to be able to highlight some great activities for the community” He’s a lifelong practitioner and instructor of martial arts and also has made 947 skydiving jumps from airplanes, helicopters, and even a hot air balloon. In 1998, at age 51, he became the first person recognized by Guinness World Records to break a board with his hand in a freefall at 8,300 feet. Additionally, Mr. Crandall has flown power parachutes, jumped off high cliffs, taken part in dance competitions and even competed in body-building competitions, placing third at age 47. “How can you have quality of life if you don’t have any fun?” he said. “Still Alive and Kicking” is currently on view at the American Martial Arts Institute website, AMAI-EagleStyle.Com and on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmericanMar tialArtsInstitute/. Groups may also contact the AMAI for flashdrives containing the series at 315-278-7157 or contact@amaieaglestyle.com.
tax rates that have already increased to maximum permissible levels,” DiNapoli said. “Absent any significant federal or state action, repaying the loan and replenishing the unemployment fund will require federal tax increases that may be burdensome to small businesses and could hinder the state’s economic recovery.” Organizations representing businesses in New York state had hoped for relief during this year’s state budget negotiations, but the final spending plan approved by the state Legislature and Governor failed to include any injection of additional funds to repay the debt. “The findings of Comptroller DiNapoli’s updated report are extremely alarming. New York’s unemployment insurance crisis will continue to hurt employers and consumers at the worst possible time,” said Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United, a group representing business interests in upstate New York. Millions of families who are already being squeezed by historic inflation rates will ultimately pick up the tab for New York’s remaining $8.1 billion debt to Washington.”
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New Purchases and Refinances Debt Consolidation Free Pre-Qualification Fast Approvals • Low Rates
Also specializing in Property Management
Rob Lee Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Kevin Kurkowski
607-432-2022
22-26 Watkins Avenue, Oneonta
607-434-5177 roblee1943@gmail.com
Monday through Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm
Matt Schuermann
Registered Mortgage Broker NYS Banking Dept.
20 Chestnut Street • Suite 1 • Cooperstown 607-547-5007 www.leatherstockingmortgage.com
AllOTSEGO.homes
New York Trophy Properties Selling Quality Country Homes, Land, and Recreational Properties in Otsego County and the Cooperstown Area Visit our website to check out our reviews and see our inventory. Selling? We adVertiSe nationally and haVe BUyerS! Call NYTP for your free property valuation!
607-435-1530
Justin Rogers, Broker www.nytrophyproperties.com
Upstate Paradise! Situated on just under 30 acres, boasting majestic and breathtaking mountain views and 2 stocked ponds, this home is truly one of a kind. Atop a mountain and just minutes from I-88, sits this spacious 3-BR, 3 full bath gorgeous home. The ideal set up for remote working lifestyle, has a perfect layout, great for entertaining, private setting, amazing land for hunting and recreational use, plus some of the best views in the county. Don’t wait to see this beauty! MLS#135217 $474,900
Thinking of Selling Your House?
Locally owned and operated Single and multi-family homes Commercial property and land
99 Main Street, Oneonta office 607.441.7312 fax 607.432.7580 www.oneontarealty.com Lizabeth Rose, Broker/Owner Cricket Keto, Licensed Assoc. Broker Peter D. Clark, Consultant
Inventory is low and buyers’ interest is at an all-time high! Call today! Our professional team of Realtors is excited to help you start the new year right by listing with Oneonta Realty and the Scanlon Homes Team.
166 Main Street, Suite 1 Oneonta | 607.433.2873 oneontarealty.com