Long-time Manager Leyland Steals the Show at 2024 Induction
By CHARLIE VASCELLARO
COOPERSTOWN
In a separate category from the other three members of the 2024 Hall of Fame Induction class, 22-year major league manager of four different teams Jim Leyland was elected by the Contemporary Era Committee for Managers, Executives, and Umpires, while fellow inductees Adrian Beltré, Joe Mauer and Todd Helton, all players, were elected on the regular Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot.
Widely respected and acknowledged as one of the best of his era, and all-time, Leyland won three Manager of the Year awards (1990 and 1992 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and 2006 for the Detroit Tigers), six division titles (1990-1992, with Pittsburgh and 2010-2013, with Detroit), three league pennants (1997 Florida Marlins, 2006 and 2012 in Detroit) and one World Series title with the 1997 Marlins. His 1,769 wins rank 18th all-time, sandwiched between Lou Piniella, 1,835, and Buck Showalter, 1,727, neither of whom has yet gained election to the hall.
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HAPPENIN’?
FOR EVERYONE, page 14
“Ladies and gentlemen, that’s you and that’s baseball and this is the Hall of Fame.”
— 2024 HOF inductee manager Jim Leyland
He also came out of retirement to lead Team USA to a World Baseball Classic title in 2017. His Hall of Fame plaque does not contain the logo of any team in his cap.
Shortly after stepping to the podium to deliver his acceptance speech, Leyland dropped the best oneliner of the day in front of an estimated crowd of 28,000 at the Clark Sports Center on Sunday, July 21. After introducing the members of his family—wife Katie, son Patrick and daughter Kelly, seated in the front row—Leyland shared a recent anecdote with the crowd.
“I was having coffee with Katie a couple of weeks after I was elected to the Hall of Fame and I casually
said, ‘Katie, can you believe in your wildest dreams that I’ve been elected to the Hall of Fame?’ and Katie replied, ‘Jim you’re not in my wildest dreams.’”
The crowd responded with its loudest guffaws of the afternoon.
With a dry, acerbic and sarcastic wit, Leyland continued to deliver a heartfelt, emotional and oftentimes hilarious 13-minute speech.
“My contributions to our beautiful pastime pale in comparison to the joy it has brought to my life, from the heart of a little boy to the soul of an old man,” said Leyland, adding, “I’d like to thank every player that played for me in the minors and the majors because I’m here today because of you and the four organizations that gave me the opportunity to manage their major league team.”
In a chronological narrative, Leyland began by telling the story of his minor league playing days.
“Shortly after high school I signed a pro contract with the Detroit Tigers. The scout that signed me was
Laurens Grads Generating Buzz on Festival Circuit
By KRISTIAN CONNOLLY LAURENS
Academy Award-winning director and global movie star Mel Gibson spent three of his childhood years in the Town of Laurens before the Australian beaches and Pacific waters of Sydney became his home.
Now, two Laurens Central School graduates are beginning to create some waves of their own as up-and-coming filmmakers.
Spencer Sherry and Ryan Jenkins, LCS Class of 2012 and friends since the second grade, are behind the short-film “Anomaly,” which in May had
its world-premiere showing at the Coney Island Film Festival in Brooklyn. After New York City-area showings to end the spring and begin the summer, “Anomaly” was one of five nominees for “Best Short Film” at this month’s Long Island International Film Festival.
Written and directed by Jenkins and produced by Sherry—both now living near Albany—”Anomaly” clocks in at 15 minutes and tells the story of The Great Van Alden (played by Eric Mead), a magician whose final performances gain the attention of a federal government agent (played by John Romeo) whose specialty is the inexplicable.
“The agent confronts [Van Alden] after the show, demanding to know the method; what ensues is a cat-and-mouse conversation in which both men’s ulterior feelings slowly become revealed,” said Sherry via e-mail.
The film will continue on the festival circuit later this summer, at the Lonely Seal Film Festival in Arlington, Massachusetts, on August 25, and the North Country Short Film Showcase in Glens Falls on August 31. Sherry hopes to have an Otsego County showing on the calendar at some point.
“We’ve gotten into some film festivals and have been rejected from plenty as well, but every
Photo provided RYAN JENKINS AND SPENCER SHERRY
Photo by Maya Stevens
Class of 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Joe Mauer was joined in the Parade of Legends by son Chip, wife Maddie, and their own Minnesota Twins, Maren and Emily.
Photo by Maya Stevens Major league manager and 2024 inductee Jim Leyland waves to the crowd during the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Parade of Legends on Saturday, July 20.
Compost Service Finds Like-Minded Customer
By MONICA CALZOLARI
ONEONTA
Anew compost pick-up service, Worms Waste
Not, recently opened for business.
Founder Dr. Rachel Frick Cardelle explained, “Worms waste not and neither should we.”
The company’s website encourages visitors to “green your routine.”
Instead of sending organic waste to the landfill, where it rots and produces methane gas, which warms the planet, people can compost kitchen scraps.
Frick Cardelle explained some of the benefits of composting.
“Composting cuts back on the amount of garbage you produce,” Frick Cardelle said. “It prevents food waste. Compost addresses the health of the soil.”
Using compost instead of commercial fertilizer can also save money.
She said, “It comes back to you in a bountiful harvest.”
Frick Cardelle credits several people for inspiring her to start this business, which she launched in March 2024.
“Partnering with Worms Waste Not fulfills this objective and supports building a better future for the next generation.”
Frick Cardelle and Social Eats Café agree that composting is a socially responsible thing to do. They both want to preserve the beauty of this area for future generations to come.
“My goal is to reduce landfill while helping turn food waste into black soil gold that supports our local farming and gardening communities,” said Frick Cardelle.
She created her business for busy people like herself.
Eats Café, also needed a new provider to pick up their food waste.
Problem solved.
Frick Cardelle moved to Oneonta in 2021 when her husband, Dr. Alberto J. F. Cardelle, became president of SUNY Oneonta.
“We hired a young man to haul our food waste and unfortunately he had to close the business soon after he started it,” she recalled. It was hard to find an alternate provider to pick up their compost.
Frick Cardelle said, “One of my daughters said, ‘Why don’t you do it?’”
She discovered that Michelle Iannelli-Rubin, owner/manager, of Social
“My daughters educated me about the importance of sustainability,” she explained. “We separated out our food waste when we lived in Worcester, Massachusetts and had a service there that took it for composting.”
Social Eats Café became Worms Waste Not’s first customer.
Iannelli-Rubin was raised on a small farm in West Fulton, New York.
“Social Eats Café has a mission to be a zerowaste small business,”
Iannelli-Rubin said.
A cause-driven community cafe, Social Eats operates on Main Street in the East End of Oneonta, serving quality food and drinks.
One of the cafe’s objectives is to increase environmental and financial sustainability in the region.
Iannelli-Rubin said,
Free day camp for children and teens who have lost a loved
She said, “I am not a gardener. I like to go to the farmer’s market to buy my fresh fruits and vegetables. I would not use the compost in my own yard. Pick-up and transportation of food waste for composting are what my business is trying to address.”
For customer convenience, Worms Waste Not will be at the farmer’s market in Oneonta several times a month to make it easy for residents to drop off their food waste and pick up freshly-cleaned compost containers there.
For those who prefer door-to-door pick-up, with clean buckets provided, that’s available too. For a schedule, pricing and information on how to sign up, go to www.wormswastenot.com.
Food waste does start
Continued on page 10
Registration is required
Contact Rod Roberts, Camp Director
Call: (607) 267-8111
Email: Rod Roberts@HeliosCare org
Info: www helioscare org/events Wednesday, August 7th 9:30AM-5:30PM Lunch is provided
Photo provided
Owner Dr. Rachel Frick Cardelle with the family dog, Yeobo, and daughter Josephine Cardelle pick up and deliver clean compost buckets to Worms Waste Not customers.
Perspectives
EDITORIaL
‘Stay Vigilant; Adapt as Needed’
In the wee hours of Friday, July 19, hospitals, financial institutions, airlines, businesses and governments all over the world came to a screeching halt as the result of a global IT shutdown, which many are deeming worse than a cyber attack.
A global technology outage caused by a faulty software update grounded flights, knocked media outlets offline, and disrupted hospitals, small businesses and government offices on Friday, highlighting the fragility of a digitized world dependent on just a handful of providers,” the Associated Press reported. “At the heart of the massive disruption is CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm that provides software to thousands of companies worldwide.”
This sobering incident—which left thousands of airline passengers stranded, caused municipal shutdowns across the world, including here in Otsego County, and disrupted worldwide commerce—has us all wondering what we can do to prevent such a crisis in future or, at the very least, plan for and mitigate the damage.
In his article, “The Global IT Outage Provides Several Crisis Management Lessons,” “Forbes” senior contributing writer Edward Seigel wrote: “If there are silver linings that can be found in the crisis, they are the crisis management lessons that business leaders should take to heart as their companies recover from the outage—and start preparing for the next crisis.”
What can companies do?
Act swiftly and transparently to control the narrative. Update customers regarding what happened, steps taken to rectify the situation and how future incidents will be prevented.
Ensure redundancies in communication. Organizations must be able to communicate both internally and externally in the midst of a crisis.
Provide reassurance. Leadership should make sure customers are kept up to date and provide regular service status reports.
Acknowledge the seriousness of the situation. Companies should show that they have a clear path forward and are able to measure their progress.
Be available and be transparent. The system failure is not the company’s fault, but the company must now concentrate on doing right by its customers.
Have a plan. Create and periodically test the viability of your business recovery plan.
Back-up data. Companies must have a reliable means for backing up of data that is both quickly and easily employed and which includes geographically-distant backup storage.
Copilot, Micrsoft’s AI assistant—which appeared on our laptop seemingly out of nowhere during a Google search—recommends the following steps to safeguard against a global IT shutdown which can be adopted by entities both large and small and by the public:
Stay informed: Regularly monitor news and updates related to cybersecurity incidents, software vulnerabilities and system outages. Being aware of potential risks allows you to take timely action.
Back-up systems: Maintain regular backups of critical data and systems. Use both local and cloud-based backups to ensure redundancy. Regularly test your backup and recovery processes.
Diversify software providers: Rely on multiple software vendors and services. Avoid over-reliance on a single provider. Diversification reduces the impact of a specific vendor’s outage.
Implement network segmentation: Divide your network into segments with restricted access. This limits the spread of disruptions and helps isolate affected areas.
Security best practices: Follow cybersecurity best practices, such as using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and keeping software up to date.
Collaborate with cloud providers: If you use cloud services, collaborate with providers like Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services. They can share insights and solutions during incidents.
Circumvention strategies: Familiarize yourself with circumvention techniques to bypass Internet shutdowns. These include using virtual private networks, proxy servers, and alternative domain name system services.
All this being said, the recent global technology outage makes us think a little closer to home.
The ways in which we are tied to the Internet and wireless communication are scary.
Many of us no longer carry cash—we make our purchases and payments with our bank cards, or online. Maybe we should go back to carrying cash instead of tapping our cards… Many of us now only have cell phones, which are susceptible to hacking, malware and data breaches. In an age where cybersecurity concerns are ever increasing, landline phones are less vulnerable to such threats and can provide an extra layer of security and privacy.
And what about those Internet-connected devices which allow us the option of remote monitoring and management of appliances and systems in our homes, such as lighting and heating? Or connected car technology, which integrates the Internet and wireless communication into vehicles, to communicate with other vehicles, share data, and interact with various devices and services?
Whether or not this global shutdown affected us directly, we certainly should be thinking about the implications moving forward.
And, as Copilot advises, “Remember that while incidents like the recent CrowdStrike outage are infrequent, proactive measures can mitigate risks and minimize disruptions. Stay vigilant and adapt as needed!”
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They think they are following the light to a prophesied kingdom come, but really, they are being led by an orange Pied Piper, carrying a torch, on his way to a barbeque.
There, flag-draped flamethrowers will serve them vaguely familiar cubes of sautéed brain on Bamboo skewers—with a nice Chianti.
As patriotic music and hypnotic chants sound in the background, the dulcification of the day’s program is achieved, and the disciples happily consume their last sips of wine.
Each is then given a MAGA hat, a banner and some placards as souvenirs. Then they are led by acolytes to their pre-assigned places on the stand just behind the podium, where TV cameras can take close-ups.
Their excited spasms soon become manifest, and, at just the right moment, they all will be primed to jump up and down, wave their banners and cry tears of adoration the moment their Master appears on stage.
Years later, if they are still alive, they won’t remember any of these details to their grandchildren. But don’t try to convince them of that now!
Daniel Gomes Oneonta
Biden Made Right Decision
Unlike Donald Trump, President Biden is not too vain to realize that he’s no longer fit to serve. Good on Joe. He did the honorable thing and dropped out—leaving Trump as the dotard in the race.
The first convention I attended was for Goldwater in 1964. The national convention was contested—Goldwater had not won a majority of delegates before the convention. Same drill in 1968 in Chicago, candidate Humphrey was chosen at the convention, as Gerald Ford was in 1976 over Reagan. Not coincidentally, the winners of these messily contested conventions all went on to lose in the general election.
Since then, the goal of both parties has been to have a first ballot winner lined up before the convention—which the RNC turned into an infomercial for a retired pro wrestler, bad facelifts and Trump’s droning gibberish of demagoguery. The Democrats can turn the page on this conventional formula with something innovative and fresh: A convention where the delegates pledged to Biden have been released and can actually nominate the best candidate on the spot on live television. Such an unconventional convention would be worth paying attention to.
So that we can vote for someone that can make a speech without babbling nonsense about sharks, cannibalism and Clorox.
Chip Northrup Cooperstown
Continued on page 10
Of Garlic, Bluebirds, Bees and Yeats
This is a time of year that I always look forward to—garlic harvest and drying time. The act of harvesting the garlic, brushing each bulb and then tying bunches of five together with an extra loop for hanging in the barn, has always been a cathartic, even deeply contemplative time for me. I cannot remember why I’ve stuck with five. It just feels right. And the few times that I have altered the number of each bundle, something within quietly recoils against change, however seemingly insignificant.
Insignificance is a relative term. One thing that aging has reinforced is the discomfort that change can cause, however slight it might seem. I am addled enough by even the merest of alterations of my daily routines. So, one might ask, what do you do if you end up with too few bulbs to make a packet of five? I just take them up to the house, put them in a tray, and let them cure on their own without having to dangle from the barn rafters for several months. Besides, my wife Sandy uses a lot of garlic and has no qualms about breaking the rules by using uncured bulbs. Rule breaking is one of her stronger suits. Not mine. Coward that I am, I am happy to have someone I love deeply to be my rule-breaking surrogate.
This annual garlic adventure of mine turns out to be a time to wrestle, without having to pin them down, some of the more worrisome problems we now face “in these United States.” It is easy to ignore unpleasantness; even harder to know what to do about it. As I was hanging up the last of the garlic, I was
thinking of W.B. Yeats’ great poem, “The Second Coming.”
He writes that, “When things fall apart, the center cannot hold…The best lack all conviction, while the worst/Are full of passionate intensity.” The allusion here is obvious—at least to anyone, no matter their political persuasion, troubled by the nastiness that now cloaks our political discourse. Will the center hold? I hope so. These thoughts are accompanied by the soft warbles of the pair of bluebirds that have been here since early spring. They seem quite attached to the place. They are now raising their second family. A sort of thought concerto was going on, a musical soul balm. Their presence reassured me, at least for the moment, that hope is the only remedy. Otherwise, there is only darkness and doom.
No one has caught hope’s essence more profoundly than Emily Dickinson: “Hope is the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul. And/sings the tune without the/words, And never stops at all.” My hope is that the best, no matter their ideology, can come together to work to save this democracy we so cherish. And that the unruly, self-serving, hideous passions of the worst among us will dissipate, as is the case with excessively misspent energy.
I was in the garden a few days ago, puzzling over why my lettuce seeds had not germinated. While kneeling down and staring at soil that should have sprouted lettuce some time
Caspar Ewig, Karolina Hopper, Ian Kenyon, Wriley Nelson, Joel J. Plue, Tom Shelby, Dan Sullivan, Teresa Winchester, Jamie Zvirzdin
Haw THORn HILL jOuRnaL
RICHaRD DEROSa
by Tom HeiTz/SHARoN STUART
160 YEARS AGO
Lieutenant F.W. Foote of the 121st Regiment, reported killed, is alive and prisoner in Libby Prison, Richmond. He was wounded in an engagement on the 10th of May, captured, and was obliged to have a leg amputated above the knee. In a letter to his Mother he says: “I passed through everything safely until the 10th when about sunset, eight picked regiments selected from our corps were detached to charge a position of the enemy’s works consisting of strong rifle pits with a battery of 12-pound howitzers. We formed under cover of the woods without being observed. The 5th Maine and 121st N.Y. formed the first line of battle. Between us and the enemy was an open plain 300 yards across. We broke from the woods with one cheer and then advanced with a steady doublequick without firing or cheering until close to the works, when we fired a volley and went over them with a yell. It was nobly done and we did not stop here, but carried a second range of rifle pits and captured their battery. By this time our little force was considerably scattered and broken up; we were without supports; the enemy advanced on us with fresh troops and we were forced back. Just before we started I received a Minnie ball through my thigh, which brought me down. The next day I was carried to one of the enemy’s hospitals; the bone was found to be shattered and my leg was amputated. At the end of a week I was removed here where we have comfortable quarters with all that is necessary to keep us from suffering.”
July 29, 1864
85 YEARS AGO
Tomorrow, Cooperstown will receive an influx of boys from every part of the United States all hoping to be selected to play on the “All-American Amateur” baseball team representing the United States at the International Amateur Championships in Havana, Cuba from August 12 through 27. The boys coming to Cooperstown for tryouts have been selected as the outstanding amateur players from their respective communities. During ten days of trials at Doubleday Field judges will observe their play and rate each boy for consideration by the National Board of Selection which will name the “AllAmerican Amateur” team members on August 5th.
July 26, 1939
60 YEARS
AGO
The S.S. Lollipop, owned by Louis B. Hager of this village, made its first appearance recently on Otsego Lake. It is the first steam-powered boat launched on the lake since 1905 when the S.S. Mohican, an excursion boat, went down the ways. The Lollipop’s hull formerly was a Long Island lighthouse tender. It was reconditioned at W.T. Sampson Smith’s boatyard here, and a nine horsepower compound steam engine installed. It will drive the shaft at about 600 rpm. The boat has a top speed of 18 knots. It will be used as a pleasure boat by the Hager family.
July 22, 1964
35 YEARS AGO
More than 500 people visited the Alice Busch Opera Theater at the first annual Glimmerglass Opera Community Open House on Sunday, July 16. Visitors from as far away as Pennsylvania and Texas, as well as Cooperstown and the surrounding region, enjoyed tours of the theater, scene and costume shops, wig and wardrobe rooms where production staff members demonstrated their crafts and explained the workings of an opera company.
July 26, 1989
20 YEARS AGO
The Village of Cooperstown Board of Trustees voted Monday night to locate a planned Main Street public restroom near the entrance to Doubleday Field parking lot. The village has received a $56,000 grant and a promise of $50,000 more for the project. Members of the public were asked to express their opinions as to whether the restroom facility should be located in Pioneer Park or near Doubleday.
July 23, 2004
4-H Fair Projects Reflect Ag Mission
Although many people think of a trip to the county fair in terms of rides on the midway, games of chance, and fried dough, many traditional activities that reflect the Otsego County Fair’s “agricultural society” roots are thriving, including 4-H and “open” exhibits of projects and animal shows, stall decorating contests, and even the tractor pull. The Fireman’s Parade includes “agricultural” floats that promote agriculture and 4-H project themes.
Otsego County 4-H youth have been showing off their “projects”—animals, vegetables, baked goods, sewing, and many other areas—for generations. There are more than 200 youth registered in Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties’ Otsego County 4-H Youth Development program and the hard work of about 125 Otsego County 4-H members will be represented in over 1,100 4-H exhibit entries in Martin Hall and the barns nearby.
“Or plan your trip to the fair around the celebratory Parade of Champions and 4-H Livestock Action (Saturday, August 3) or the 4H Supreme Master Showman Competition (Sunday, August 4),” Adell continued. “And while you’re visiting Martin Hall and the barns, look for the 4-H exhibits with “Best in Show” and blue ribbons— they are heading to the New York State Fair!”
Adell stressed that, no matter what color ribbon a 4H member receives, as each project is evaluated youth are guided by judges who offer feedback, encouragement, tips and advice. This experience helps youth improve skills, learn the importance of following rules carefully, gain confidence in interacting with evaluators and speak with confidence about their projects.
Teresa Adell, Otsego County 4-H Program educator, suggests, “If you are visiting the Otsego County Fair, check out the 4-H projects in Martin Hall and consider attending some of the 4-H beef, dairy, goat, horse, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine shows that are featured in the show ring.
By MERL REAGLE
A week later, close to 100 members of CCESO’s Schoharie County 4-H Youth Development program have registered almost 800 projects to be shown at the Sunshine Fair in Cobleskill. Schoharie County’s fair is also deeply rooted in the agricultural traditions of the county. Check out hundreds of 4-H project exhibits in Progressland, visit the 4-H Fair Garden—a collaboration between Schoharie County 4-H and
Continued on page 7
Photo by Teresa Adell
otsego county youth have been showing off their projects for generations.
LOCALS: PEOPLE/BUSINESSES IN THE NEWS
SUNY AWARDS EXCELLENCE: In early May, SUNY Oneonta held its annual award ceremony on campus, where more than 50 students received an Academic Achievement Award. This award recognizes seniors who strive for excellence and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA within their major. Students are nominated by faculty members. The following area students were honored: Amber Genova of Cooperstown, Jacob Ghiorse and Graham Wooden of Oneonta, Raynella Clarke of Richfield Springs, and Jessica Dix of Mount Upton.
ONEONTA ADAPTIVE FIELD DAY: EDD
Adaptative Sports recently partnered with the Sport and Exercise Sciences department at SUNY Oneonta to host the first Adaptive Field Day on campus. EDD Adaptive Sports is a non-profit organization that offers adaptive sports programs to children and adults with any disability,” according to a press release for the event, which took place on May 4 at the Alumni Field House and Red Dragon Field. Two students from Oneonta participated in the event as volunteers: Olivia Litzinger and Graham Wooden.
PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS: Clarkson University has recently listed two local students on its spring 2024 Presidential Scholars list. This distinction is given to students who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.8, while also being enrolled in at least 14 credits. Matthew Huestis of Fly Creek and Joseph VanDeValk of Richmondville were among those named.
VILLAVERDE SHOWCASED: Local SUNY
Oneonta student and resident Victoria Villaverde was featured in “The Capstone: 2024,” an exhibit showcase for students in the upper-level Studio and Digital Art Capstone courses for the semester. Villaverde, who majored in art and design, recently graduated.
PHARMACY GRAD: Shane Miller of Oneonta recently graduated from Wilkes University with a DPH in pharmacy. The graduation took place on May 18 at the McHale Athletic Center in the Simms Center, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
MAHAR WINS CAA SCHOLARSHIP: Lana Mahar of Mount Markham Central School received the 2024 Cooperstown Art Association Scholarship Award, in the amount of $1,400.00. She will continue her art education at SUNY Oneonta in the fall, studying animation and illustration. Mahar’s work is on display in the hallway exhibit case near the stairway to the 89th Annual National Juried Exhibition at the CAA galleries.
JAQUAY ALL-OHIO: Jaelyn Jaquay is one of 80 students at Baldwin Wallace University named to the 2024 Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference Team. To qualify, Jaquay, who hails from Cherry Valley, and is a graduate of Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, was required to be at least a sophomore and maintain a GPA of at least 3.5.
NAZARETH DEAN’S LIST: Nazareth University has released the names of students on its spring 2024 Dean’s List. To qualify, studemnts must have completed at least 12 credit hours and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above. The following locals were included: Leah McCrea, Cooperstown; Morgan Stoecklin, Hartwick; Hannah Swayer, Morris; Leah Woertendyke, Oneonta; and Ariana Bosc, Springfield Center.
HERKIMER SPRING HONORS: Herkimer County Community College has released its honors list for spring 2024. Students on the President’s List are those who have maintained a GPA of over 3.8, while those on the Dean’s List have maintained a GPA of 3.25-3.79. The following students were on the President’s List: Christina L. Posh-Strain, Burlington Flats; Holly Marie Kabana, Laurens; Christiana M. McGee, Morris; Dylan James Jaklitsch, Oneonta; and Katrina Marie Knisely, Richfield Springs. The following students made the Dean’s List: Sydney Rose Kukulech, Cherry Valley; Ian Michel Steffe of Cooperstown; Hannah Bartlett-Hughes and Landon James Smith, Laurens; Rylee Elizabeth Chapin, Mount Vision; and Caroline Elizabeth Furner and Cristina Sue Peplinski, Richfield Springs.
BRISCOE-DWYER
ELECTED: Dr. Leigh Briscoe-Dwyer of Laurens has been elected president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the U.S. It represents more than 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in all patient care settings and is the accrediting body for resident and technician training programs. Dr. Briscoe-Dwyer graduated from Laurens Central School, earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the Albany College of Pharmacy and took her doctorate degree at St. John’s University in Queens. She has served as president of the New York State Council of Health-System Pharmacists and on the State Board of Pharmacy. Briscoe-Dwyer is system director of pharmacy at UHS Hospitals in Johnson City and was installed as ASHP president at its Pharmacy Futures Meeting in Portland, Oregon on June 11.
PSC AWARDS MITCHELL: Ariah Mitchell of West Edmeston, a dual-major in environmental studies and communications with a minor in craft beer studies and management, recently received the Ray Agnew Award from Paul Smith’s College. The announcement from the college reads: “Ariah Mitchell…has the secret sauce blend of openness, curiosity, love for learning, humility, compassion, great sense of humor, motivation, and dedication to make her successful in any field. She loves to explore, to learn, and to meet new people every chance that she can. As an example, after we had a guest speaker in class, she took the initiative to contact the guest speaker and made arrangements to meet her in Philadelphia for lunch to learn more about her career path, her life, and her challenges along the way. Curiosity and a sense of adventure made her first volunteer to try something new. And her patience in assisting her classmates created a positive learning experience for the whole class. When you see her name on your class list for an upcoming class, you can’t help but smile, knowing that everything goes a bit smoother with her in the room. Without a doubt, she is a dedicated and gifted student, but what really strikes us is how her presence enriches the environment for everyone around her in academic, social, and creative ways. At Paul Smith’s College, everyone knows Ariah. She is everywhere, doing everything. Whether she is zooming by on her skateboard, sharing her art and poetry, or offering a pleasant greeting on a dreary day, it is always a pleasure to be in her presence.” Above, Ariah Mitchell receives the Ray Agnew Award at Paul Smith’s College Commencement, May 11, 2024.
PUTNAM INDUCTED: SUNY Oneonta recently inducted five new students into the Delta Beta Chapter of the Triota (Iota Iota) Honor Society. The society is “dedicated to recognizing and encouraging academic excellence in women’s and gender studies,” according to a press release for the event. Emily Putnam of Maryland was among those students honored. Putnam graduated with the Class of 2024 and majored in women’s and gender studies. To be inducted, students must have completed at least six credit hours within women’s and gender studies courses and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0.
ZAENGLE EXCELS: Worcester’s Morgan Zaengle has been named to the spring 2024 President’s List of The College of Saint Rose. This honor is reserved for students who are enrolled full time at 12 credits and maintain a GPA of at least 3.9. Zaengle is a communication sciences and disorders major.
SAINT ROSE DEAN’S LIST: Julia McCrea of Cooperstown, a communication sciences and disorders major, and Claire Warner of Westford, a communications major, were among the students named on The College of Saint Rose Dean’s List for the spring 2024 semester. To make the list, students must be enrolled full-time, maintain at GPA of at least 3.5 and complete at least 12 credit hours.
HERKIMER POLICE GRADUATES: The sixth class of Phase I Pre-Employment Basic Training, in partnership with the Little Falls Police Department, graduated from Herkimer College in late May. “I congratulate and commend you for your sacrifices for this very honorable and noble profession,” said Police Academy Director Mike Masi via a press release. Graduates are Logan F. Cirillo, Bruce F. Clouthier, Bryanna N. Houckand, Collin Paul, Grant L. Rasha, Nicholas G. Scarafile, Theodore L. Schoff and Brayden M. Zahniser.
ERWAY MAKES LIST: Carly Erway of Fly Creek has made the Dean’s List for the spring 2024 semester at the University of Rhode Island. To be considered, students must have completed at least 12 or more credits, be enrolled full time at the school and maintain a GPA of 3.30 or more.
LEMOYNE DEAN’S DESIGNEES: Two local students have made Le Moyne College’s Dean’s List for the spring 2024 semester. To make the list, students must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above. Political science major Sara Brean, from West Edmeston, and history major, Josh Houck, from Mount Vision, made the list. Two graduating students from Oneonta were also named: Maria Farrell, with a bachelor of science in biology, and Meredith Smithling, with bachelor of science degrees in both marketing and in business analytics.
ACCOMPLISHED ATHLETES: Two local students at SUNY Delhi were recently celebrated as part of the school’s end-of-the-year athletics banquet in early May. Reanen Goodspeed of Mount Vision and Veronica Coe of Oneonta were chosen as team leaders by their respective coaches. Goodspeed was on the women’s soccer team and Coe was on the women’s swim and dive team.
LEONARD EXCELS: Avery Leonard of Maryland has been named to Alvernia University’s spring 2024 Dean’s List. To be eligible, students must be enrolled full time, complete at least 12 credits and carry a GPA of at least 3.5.
HAAKANSSON SUCCEEDS: Wilmer Haakansson has earned a spot on Harding University’s Dean’s List for the spring 2024 semester. Students must be enrolled full time at 12 credits in order to be considered and must maintain a GPA of at least 3.65. Haakansson is a senior at Harding, studying finance.
BLANCO INDUCTED: The Siena College chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Honor Society recently welcomed Alyssa Blanco of Otego into its ranks. Members are those at the school who have embraced the Franciscan tradition of achieving academic excellence, while also showing awareness for societal problems and compassion for others.
MEYERS MAKES GOOD: Nicole Meyers of Morris has been named to the Dean’s List of Tennessee Tech University for the spring 2024 semester. Ranked as a “Best National University” by “U.S. News & World Report,” students on this list must be enrolled full time and maintain a GPA of at least 3.1.
COOK LANDS LIST: The Dean’s List for the spring 2024 semester at the University of Maryland Global Campus was announced, with Dwight Cook of New Berlin among those named. The list is reserved for students who are enrolled in at least six credits while maintaining a GPA of 3.5 for the term, as well as a cumulative GPA of 3.5.
HIGGINS ALL-ACADEMIC: Patricia Higgins of Otego has been named to the 2024 New England Small College Athletic Conference spring AllAcademic Team in women’s rowing. A rising junior at Hamilton College, Higgins is majoring in creative writing, as well as French and francophone studies. This distinction is given to honor upperclassman students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
JUST A SENATOR AND HIS SHADOWS:
State Senator Peter Oberacker (R/C-Schenevus) recently welcomed students from the 51st Senate District to the Capitol as part of the 24th annual “Students Inside Albany” conference sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation.
“Offering students an inside glimpse of state government is a positive way to start them on the road to public service, and I thank the League of Women Voters for continuing this constructive event,” said Oberacker. “Along with helping the students learn more about the role of a state senator, this was a terrific learning experience for me. This group of future leaders offered keen insights and came prepared with perceptive questions—I look forward to witnessing what they accomplish moving forward.”
Ava Calhoun (Cherry Valley Central School), Nora Drexler (Windsor High School), Nick Gates (Susquehanna Valley Central School District), Polly Kennedy (Cooperstown Jr./Sr. High School), and Samuel Meador (Oneonta High School) “shadowed” the senator for an afternoon, learning the inner workings of the state senate and the legislative process.
“As a member of both the Senate Education and Senate Higher Education committees, I always take every opportunity to hear from our young people. Their perspective means a great deal and certainly helps me do my job as their representative,” Oberacker added.
Students Inside Albany is a program designed to increase high-school students’ awareness of New York’s governmental process. The interactive conference brings together high-school students from across the state to take part in various workshops.
Above, Senator Peter Oberacker welcomes student shadows to the Capitol in Albany during the recent Students Inside Albany conference. From
Ava
Polly Kennedy, Senator Oberacker, Nora Drexler, and Nick Gates.
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left,
Calhoun, Samuel Meador,
Photo provided DR. LEIGH BRISCO-DWYER
Photo provided
Photo provided
The Ties that Bind: Historical Association Unveils D&H Marker
ONEONTA
On Tuesday, July 9, Oneonta residents gathered to witness the unveiling of a new historical marker in the parking lot of the former Stella Luna restaurant, located at 58-60 Market Street. This marker commemorates the D&H Railroad Station, which operated in Oneonta from 1892 until its closure in 1963.
The Delaware and Hudson Railroad, established in the early 19th century, played a pivotal role in the development and growth of the City of Oneonta. As one of the major transportation networks in the northeastern United States, the D&H Railroad facilitated the movement of goods and people, significantly contributing to
the economic prosperity of the region. At one time, the D&H Railroad was the largest employer in Oneonta, attracting a diverse workforce and fostering a thriving community.
The presence of the railroad station and the renowned Oneonta Roundhouse, which was once the largest of its kind in the world, positioned Oneonta as a crucial hub in the rail industry. The D&H Railroad not only drove industrial growth but also shaped the cultural and social landscape of Oneonta, leaving an indelible mark on its history and development. It is, therefore, due to the railroad’s significance that the Greater Oneonta Historical Society has had this commemorative marker placed stra-
tegically in front of what was Oneonta’s passenger train station.
The unveiling ceremony was presented by GOHS Executive Director Marcela Micucci, PhD, and her colleague, Bhanu Gaur, who serves as the Oneonta History Center attendant. On hand in support of the unveiling were Senator Peter Oberacker, the Avanzato family—owners of the former Stella Luna restaurant—and many other enthusiastic citizens who shared memories and stories of the D&H Railroad.
“This really reaches so many people in the community. People in Oneonta still feel they have a great connection to the railroad,” Gaur commented.
The ceremony began promptly at 1 p.m., with Micucci unveiling the marker to an eager crowd. She explained that organizing the event required considerable time and effort.
“The historical markers that we have are mostly all funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation,” Micucci explained. “Last year, we really started to make progress on this project. We wanted to establish a marker at the Oneonta Roundhouse, which was the largest roundhouse in the world during its time.
“We knew it would be equally important to establish a marker at the Oneonta D&H passenger train station,” Micucci said. In contemporary Oneonta, it may be difficult to imagine that such a bustling railroad once existed within the community. The D&H
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Railroad was the largest employer the town has ever seen and was instrumental in bringing many early immigrants from various backgrounds to the area. The train station, located within the building now known as Stella Luna, was a major hub for passenger services.
“All passenger services went through that station on the D&H line,” Micucci said. “The D&H was the center of
deRosa
Continued from page 4
ago, a bumblebee circled around me, hovered in mid-air for a second or two several inches from my face, then alighted on a sage blossom a foot or so behind me, occupying itself there for several minutes before looking elsewhere for fodder. I recall thinking here we are, two very different species with very different outlooks and needs checking one another out and agreeing that there is room and space for both of us, that there is no reason to dislike or distrust one another just because we are different. We can be different and get along just fine so long as we keep our distance and not interfere with the other’s essential being.
The principles of liberty that J.S. Mill stipulated in “On Liberty” so long ago are not outdated, are not irrelevant, are not applicable to one time but to all times. The bumblebee, and the blue bird and, well, me, are free to live our lives as we wish so long as we do not trample upon the liberties of others. A simple enough formula. In our national discourse, we seem to have forgotten that. We also seem to have forgotten that there is a place for barriers and rules that respect the rights and liberties of individuals. And that there are legitimate functions of government directed at the welfare of the common weal without trampling on the individual freedoms we so revere. We have lost a sense of balance and equilibrium that is essential to the survival of any society. Instead, greed, sycophantism of the worst and most despicable kind, and a willing blindness to the integrity of others’ lives have put us in quite a pickle. Is there an existential threat to our democracy? I guess we will have to wait and see. I’m betting on the best among us to come through.
Dick deRosa’s Hawthorn Hill essays have appeared in “The Freeman’s Journal” since 1998. A collection,
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Oneonta—our industry, culture and economy.”
Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek emphasized the importance of the D&H Railroad in the community’s history and commended GOHS for its continuous efforts.
“We are so very lucky to have an organization that is dedicated to the capture, exploration, and presentation of our city’s history. Understanding our history will help us to identify the best path
“Hawthorn Hill Journal: Selected Essays,” was published in 2012. He is a retired English teacher.
4-H
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Schoharie County Master Gardener Volunteers—explore the animal showmanship on exhibit in the barns and the showring, and visit “open” agricultural exhibits in the Hall of Agriculture.
In addition to featuring 4-H projects at both county fairs, each day CCESO staff and volunteers will be on hand—in Martin Hall and Progressland— offering engaging handson activities and great resources from the CCE agriculture, horticulture, and nutrition programs.
According to New York State 4-H, fair projects and exhibits offer 4-H members the opportunity to grow in many ways: exhibiting helps youth learn to set goals, work toward those goals, develop standards, get a sense of achievement, and communicate
forward and a new trajectory to better days. As a community, we should be thankful we have the history center. I highly recommend stopping in,” Drnek said.
The new marker stands as a testament to the historical significance of the D&H Railroad in shaping the community of Oneonta, preserving the legacy of a bygone era for future generations to appreciate.
effectively about what they have done. Projects and exhibits give 4-H members opportunities to share their knowledge of civic engagement, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), healthy living, agriculture and other 4-H topic areas. New York State 4-H emphasizes that while many youth continue working with animals, growing things in their gardens, or refining their sewing and cooking skills, 4-H contests and exhibits have expanded to reflect the evolving interests of youth in the world today.
The Otsego County Fair runs from Tuesday, July 30 through Sunday, August 4 at the fairgrounds, 48 Lake Street, Morris. The Schoharie County Sunshine Fair takes place from Tuesday, August 6 through Sunday, August 11 at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds on Sunshine Drive.
Liz Callahan is the executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties.
Summer
Richard Goode To Perform Beethoven Sonatas
COOPERSTOWN—Acclaimed pianist Richard Goode will present a program featuring Beethoven’s last three piano sonatas in a Cooperstown Summer Music Festival concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30. It will be held in the Ballroom at The Otesaga Resort Hotel, 60 Lake Street. For more information or to buy tickets, visit cooperstownmusicfest.org.
‘Click Your Heels Three Times, Ulysses’ Slated
MOUNT VISION—The Visionary Theatre will present a production of “Click Your Heels Three Times, Ulysses,” a comedic new take on Homer’s “Odyssey” performed by the Fizgig troupe, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27. The show blends elements of film noir, action, romance and science fiction with original music. The theater is located at 2381 State Route 205. Tickets may be purchased at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. or via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/click-your-heels-three-times-ulysses-tickets-924888505417.
Art Garage ‘CrazyCool!!!’ Show Opens Friday MIDDLEFIELD—The
Art Garage will open its six-person summer art show, “CrazyCool!!!” with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, July 26. It features an eclectic range of work by Louis Sherry, George Hymas, Lucia Phillips, Zena Gurbo, Lavern Kelley and Sulton Rogers. The exhibit will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays through September 14, or daily by appointment. In conjunction with the show, The Art Garage will offer a series of free programs on Thursdays at 5 p.m. on August 8, 22 and 29. Images of the exhibit will be available on Facebook and Instagram. For more information, contact leartgarage@ gmail.com or (607) 547-5327.
Community Band Concert Set for Thursday
UNADILLA—Sidney Community Band will perform in Unadilla’s 36th annual Summer Concert Series from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 25. The concerts are held on the Community House lawn, 193 Main Street, with a rain location at the Sidney Community Cultural Center, 1 Bridge Street. Inclement weather notifications are available on WCDO.
Hyde Hall To Host Inaugural Open Mic Night
SPRINGFIELD—Hyde Hall will host its inaugural Open Mic Night from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, July 27. Participants of all ages and skill levels will receive a 5-minute slot to demonstrate their talents. Performers are requested to keep their material family-friendly, and guests are encouraged to bring a picnic meal. The event is free and open to the public.
Star Theater Presents ‘Stories from the Heart’ CHERRY VALLEY—Star Theater, 44 Main Street, will present “Stories from the Heart, HOT MESS” from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24. It features eight-minute unscripted true stories from five local storytellers. It will be followed by the Open Mic series.
FCAHS Hosts Ash Borer Lecture
FLY CREEK—Dan Zimmerman will present a talk on the emerald ash borer, an invasive species decimating U.S. ash trees, at the Fly Creek Area Historical Society meeting on Wednesday, July 24. The talk begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by refreshments and the meeting. It will be held at 206 Cemetery Road in Fly Creek.
Photos provided
The new Art Garage exhibit features works by artists Lucia Phillips (“Girl with Dog,” left) and Lavern Kelley (“Adam and Eve,” right).
Dreams Summer
Local, Regional Art Spotlighted at FAM ‘Art by the Lake’ Event
Fenimore Art Museum will present its seventeenth annual “Art by the Lake” event, celebrating artists who are inspired by the region and its beauty, on Saturday, August 10. A wide range of art will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the museum’s front lawn for visitors to see and purchase, including watercolors, acrylics, oils, photographs, prints, ink drawings, sculptures, and more.
In addition to the local and regional art on display, the event will feature artist demonstrations and great food from the Fenimore Café. The Cooperstown Distillery will be on-site
with tastings and bottles for sale.
Art by the Lake is a juried art competition featuring 26 artists from the region. Six cash prizes will be awarded, as well as two additional prizes sponsored by Golden Artist Colors. The awards ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. on August 10.
Artists this year include Meg Anderson Argo, Susana Caban, Barbara Conte-Gaugel, Karen J.F. Cooper, Maggie Danan, Grant Dolge, Roger Dowse, Keri A. Dudek, John Paul Gardner, Erin Gardner, Sonoka Fukama Gozelski, Carolyn Hunter, John Jackson, Matthias Kern, Jessica La Micela, Gary Lawrence, Andrea
Lawyer, RC Oster, Anne Pascale, Nancy Phillips, Alex Roediger, Marie Sanderson, Kate Sullivan, Linda Tracz, Charles Varney and Maureen Wallace. Visitors to Art by the Lake can also see Fenimore’s popular summer exhibitions, including “Bob Dylan Remastered: Drawings From the Road,” “Marc Hom: Re-Framed,” “Banksy: The Haight Street Rat,” “American Masterworks” and others, as well as the museum’s renowned collections. The museum and Fenimore Gift Shop are open throughout the day. Admission for adults (20-64) is $17.50, seniors (65+) $12.50, and ages 19 and under are free. Admission
is always free for members as well as active military and retired career military personnel. Museum admission is also free for those receiving SNAP benefits—up to four people (see website for details). Discounted two-way tickets are available for those who would like to visit The Farmers’ Museum across the street Art by the Lake is supported by Mr. and Mrs. Alexander J. Shields. Proceeds benefit Fenimore’s education programs. Fenimore Art Museum is located at 5798 State Route 80. For more information, visit FenimoreArt.org.
Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ Featured at Lakeside Amphitheater
COOPERSTOWN
William Shakespeare’s raucous comedy
“Twelfth Night,” set during the turbulent roaring 20s, is currently being performed at Fenimore Art Museum.
Showings take place on Wednesday and Thursday evenings through August 15 at 7 p.m., set against the backdrop of shimmering Otsego Lake at the museum’s Lucy B. Hamilton Amphitheater. Tickets are available in advance at FenimoreArt.
org or at the venue immediately preceding the show.
Merriment, madness, and the music of love abound in “Twelfth Night,” one of Shakespeare’s funniest and most poignant comedies. Welcome to Port Illyria, 1929. Jazz, revelry and electric light fill the streets, while booze flows only in secretive, illicit taprooms. Viola, a young girl crossing the ocean in search of a new life, finds herself washed ashore in
the harbor following a tragic accident aboard her steamship. She assumes a male disguise to ensure her safety in this strange new metropolis and quickly finds herself in the employ of the grand “Duke” himself, a nightclub owner named Orsino. As he sends her on a mission to deliver pleas of breathless love to a wealthy, grieving heiress named Olivia, Viola is forced to contend with Malvolio, the domineering overseer of her estate and rabidly dry
teetotaler. But the bigger problem? Olivia swiftly falls in love with Viola instead...
This production is directed by Manager of Performing Arts Programs Michael Tamburrino and includes original music by Tim Iverson, choreography by Riley Bowen, and scenic art by Michael Henrici. “Twelfth Night” features performances by Gillian Canavan, Allie Tabor-Church, John Melvin, Liam Herbert, Tom Russo, Mark
Murphy, Mary Fralick, Orion Palmer, Andrew Munro, Claire Nolan, Cait Liberati, Colleen Bunn, Emily Travisano and Tanner Griffin.
Visitors are welcome to bring blankets and chairs. Alcohol is not permitted on the premises. An alternate indoor location is available in the event of inclement weather. Those with specific questions about the performances can contact m.tamburrino@ fenimoreart.org.
“Twelfth Night” is
sponsored in part by The Clark Foundation, Allstadt Hardin Foundation, The Otsego County Board of Representatives, NYCM Insurance, Mr. Tom Morgan and Ms. Erna J. Morgan McReynolds, and Dr. Richard Sternberg. Fenimore Art Museum is located at 5798 State Route 80, less than one mile from the center of Cooperstown. For more information, visit FenimoreArt.org.
Compost
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to smell when it begins to decompose. If tossed outside in the yard, it can attract rodents and other pests, Frick Cardelle warned. Compost needs to be turned and tilled and kept moist. It can be a time-consuming process.
Iannelli-Rubin said, “You can let Worms Waste Not do all the back-end, hard work.”
Frick Cardelle is creating a win-win-win supply chain relationship with the local community. Currently, she picks-up food waste and delivers it to Two Fox Farms in Mount Vision. Jeremiah Salzman turns the organic waste into feed for his farm animals and fertilizer for his farm.
James Michael Leonardo 1955-2024 SOUDERTON, PA—
James Michael Leonardo, age 69, of Souderton, PA, died July 19, 2024 from lymphoma.
A medical oncologist for 31 years, Jim took particular pleasure in learning about his patients—not just their illnesses, but their fami-
Eventually, Frick Cardelle would like to work with Casella Waste and Seward’s Sand & Gravel on a much larger scale as her business grows. These two companies worked with the City of Oneonta to receive a matching grant for the purchase of compost equipment and trucks to handle a much higher volume of compost.
Her research into food waste has made Frick Cardelle more aware of how much food her own family discards and how much less garbage they produce by composting.
“The big take away is that we need to be aware of our individual choices,” she said.
“Alberto and I lived in Guatemala for several years,” Frick Cardelle continued.
Living there gave
her an appreciation for local farmers, farming and living more sustainably without expensive fertilizers and harmful pesticides.
Frick Cardelle said, “For me, this younger generation really inspires me. They are all about sustainability. I have tremendous respect for the local farmers and farming culture here, too. When I visited a farm two years ago, I saw all the ways they live in harmony with the land and nature. They were in the midst of doing canning. It really spoke to me.”
Frick Cardelle spent six months educating herself on the food waste industry and various regulations.
She said, “I took two classes on how to run a for-profit business: one with the Small Business
Development Center with Michelle Catan and one with SUNY Cobleskill.”
“It is exciting to be able to educate and serve customers,” Frick Cardelle added.
“Michelle IannelliRubin, Michelle Catan and Jeremiah Salzman have taught me so much.”
Letters
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trump Should Face charges
Many persons have expressed their intent to pray for Trump after the attempt to assassinate him. They might like to add the names of the nine persons who died as a consequence of the political violence he instigated and supported on
OBITUARIES
January 6th, and which he continues to defend as a legitimate protest against his lost election.
The names are: police officers Kyle DeFreytag, Gunther Hashida, Howard Liebengood, Brian Sicknick, and Jeffrey Smith; and participants Ashli Babbit, Rosanne Boyland, Kevin Greeson, and Benjamin Phillips.
Approximately 150 other police officers were physically injured. Trump has incited more political violence than any other American in this century. In addition to his other charges, he should be charged with manslaughter. mary anne Whelan Cooperstown
lies, jobs and hobbies. Patients and colleagues alike noted his gentle compassion and easy sense of humor. He worked at several medical centers throughout his career, but his time at Bassett Healthcare was particularly fulfilling as his relationships in the Cooperstown community became intertwined with his professional practice.
Jim began his career as a research scientist and college professor after completing his PhD in biology at Temple University in 1980. His interest in medicine and direct patient care developed while working at the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Neurologic and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, where Jim was on a team with doctors treating the diseases he was
Dignity, Respect, Tradition
Dignified and Caring Service since 1925
Peaceful grounds. Home-like atmosphere. Suitable for large or small gatherings.
Peter A. Deysenroth 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown | 607-547-8231 www.cooperstownfuneralhome.com
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researching. His frequent interactions with these patients inspired him to attend medical school, so in 1988 Jim became one of 12 students accepted to the University of Miami’s PhD to MD program.
Jim’s care for and genuine interest in the people he met also fueled his love of teaching. In addition to directing the Thoracic Oncology Program at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, he led the school’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. He treasured his interactions with residents and medical students, where he was known for his approachable teaching style and ability to simplify complex concepts.
Born on Staten Island to Marion (née Geyh) and Anthony Leonardo, Jim spoke fondly of Sunday dinners with his father’s Italian-American family and summer vacations
in the Adirondacks with his mother’s siblings and many cousins. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and participated in Boy Scouts, where he was elected into the Order of the Arrow, and the Civil Air Patrol’s Youth Cadet Program.
Jim took part in initiating the Pain and Palliative Care Service at Bassett, chaired the hospital’s Ethics Committee, and was on the steering committee of the New York State Cancer Consortium. While practicing in New York State, Jim was a board member of the Office of Professional Medical Conduct, working to ensure that healthcare providers maintain the highest level of ethical and professional conduct while delivering quality patient care.
Jim spoke in 2001 about his person-centered approach to treating cancer.
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
“In treating cancer, there are times when we cannot cure the disease… in helping people die with dignity, there is satisfaction in knowing you helped them make the most of the time they had left. You can help their family better deal with the disease and prognosis, which in turn also helps the patient.”
He also spoke of his joy in seeing patients return to health: “Treating cancer patients is also exciting because you can often cure cancers…and see our patients get well.”
Jim is survived by his wife of 43 years, Kathleen (née Dorrian), daughter Anne, sister Jayne and niece Danielle Spellacy. He is predeceased by his daughter, Maia.
Memorial arrangements are private.
A commemorative event will be held in Cooperstown in the fall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s memory to the Friends of Bassett’s Bob Simon/L. Anagnost Assist Program to support patients undergoing cancer treatment at https://give.bassett.org/ give/439352/#!/donation/checkout.
christine grieg Mcnaughton 1946-2024
COOPERSTOWN—
Christine Grieg McNaughton, 78, passed away on July 20, 2024 at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
A native of Niskayuna, New York, she graduated from Niskayuna High School and from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, and subsequently taught art in Albany public schools. Moving on to the New York State Legislature, she worked as the executive assistant to the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. Retiring to Cooperstown, she was a strong supporter of the Glimmerglass Opera from its beginning and served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Glimmerglass Opera Guild. Christine was also a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Cooperstown, where a funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 27 at 11 a.m.
Funeral arrangements are by Tillapaugh Funeral Services, Cooperstown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“Nothing can ever take away a love the heart holds dear.”
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Notice of formatioN of a NY professioNaL Limited LiabiLitY compaNY.
STRANGE WORKS STUDIO ARCHITECTURE, PLLC
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 31 May, 2024. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 1663 Appian Way, Charlottesville, VA 22911. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalAug.8
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Notice of formatioN of
D.M. Wedderspoon Unlimited LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY
(SSNY) on 4/29/24.
Off. loc: Otsego Co. SSNY des. as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Derek Wedderspoon, 592 Co. Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326
Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalAug.8
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Notice of formatioN of Erythron Mechanics, LLC.
Articles of Organization with the New York Department of State on 5/22/24. Office location: Otsego County. The New York Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and is directed to forward service of process to 19 Woodside Avenue, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.
6LegalAug.8
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Notice of formatioN of Clear Run Farm LLC.
Articles of incorporation filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on july 4, 2024. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 3250 State Highway 166, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Purpose of LLC: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalAug.15
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY RODRIGO MAPLE LLC.
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 3 july, 2024. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 15 South St., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalAug.15
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Notice of formatioN of Big Lion Little Bear LLC
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/04/2024. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 496 Eggleston Hill Rd. Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalAug.15
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sUppLemeNtaL sUmmoNs
OTSEGO - INDEX NO.: EF2023-717–
Plaintiff designates OTSEGO COUNTY as the place of trial based upon the location of the premises herein described having tax map Section 282.06, Block 1, Lot 90.00, GILBERTSVILLE, NY, County of OTSEGO
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE NRZ PASSTHROUGH TRUST XVIII, PLAINTIFF, -againstALLISON LOUISE PIANOFORTE, AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF LUCINDA D. WILSON A/K/A LUCINDA DUBBEN; ANDREA L. PENNELL, AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF LUCINDA D. WILSON A/K/A LUCINDA DUBBEN; Any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs-at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of LUCINDA D. WILSON A/K/A LUCINDA DUBBEN, deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to
LEGALS
said real property by, through or under them and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs-at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; LVNV FUNDING LLC; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE “jOHN DOE #1” through “jOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, DEFENDANTS.
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this Summons and Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered against you and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: june 28, 2024, Syosset, New York.
Roach & Lin, P.C., attorney for Plaintiff, 6851 jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, NY 11791. Tel: 516-9383100.
To the abovenamed defendants: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. BRIAN D. BURNS County Clerk together with the supporting papers thereon. This is an action to foreclose a mortgage held by Plaintiff on the premises known as Section 282.06, Block 1, Lot 90.00, GILBERTSVILLE, NY, County of OTSEGO as described in the complaint on file and commonly known as 2 ELM STREET A/K/A 6 ELM STREET, GILBERTSVILLE, NY 13776. 81542 4LegalAug.1
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Notice of formatioN of
Traveling with Natasha Rifenburgh, LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 29 june, 2024. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 955 Center Valley Road, Worcester, NY 12197. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalAug.15
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Notice of formatioN of A. Mercado 13820, LLC.
Articles of Organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 07/03/2024. The office of the LLC is to be located in Otsego County. The Secretary of State has
been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon it to: The LLC, 693 St. Hwy. 205, Oneonta, NY 13820. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act.
6LegalAug.22
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Notice of formatioN of Watson’s Acres LLC.
Filed 5/15/24. Cty: Otsego. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to 141 Allen Rd., Mt. Vision, NY 13810. Purp: any lawful. 6LegalAug.22
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Notice of formatioN of ALM Handyman LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 7/7/2024. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 276 Fred Ottaway Rd., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalAug.22
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Notice of formatioN of CONCIERGE MEDICAL LIAISON PLLC
Arts. of Org. filed SSNY on 7/3/2024. Otsego Co. SSNY design. agent for process & shall mail to 101 CEMETERY RD., FLY CREEK, NY 13337 General Purpose. 6LegalAug.22
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Notice of formatioN of professioNaL Limited LiabiLitY compaNY, (pLLc);
Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/15/2024.
Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated
as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 678 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Purpose: Registered Professional Nursing. 6LegalAug.22
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Notice of formatioN of Denim & Diamonds, LLC
Article of Organization filed 7/15/2024 with the Secretary of State of NY.
Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 244 Pomeroy Rd., Franklin, NY 13775. Purpose: all lawful 6LegalAug.29
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Notice of adoptioN of resoLUtioN sUbJect to permissiVe refereNdUm
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York at a meeting thereof held on the 22nd day of july, 2024, duly adopted pursuant to section 6C of the General Municipal Law, a resolution subject to permissive referendum, the purpose and effect of which is to authorize an appropriation of $54,407.41 from Village Equipment Reserves to A-5110-200, to be used to purchase a 2024 Ford F-550.
BY ORDER OF THE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN NEW YORK
jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) 1Legaljul25
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adVertisemeNt to bid ViLLaGe of cooperstoWN ELM STREET SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, PURSUANT TO Section 103 of the General Municipal Law of the State
of New York, that the Village of Cooperstown will receive separate sealed bids for the removal of existing sidewalk and curb and construction of poured in place concrete sidewalks and curbs on Elm Street in the Village of Cooperstown, New York. Bids must be submitted on the official bid form only in a sealed envelope addressed to the Village Clerk, Village of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 and marked “BIDELM STREET SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT”.
Copies of the contract documents may be obtained at the Village Clerk’s Office located at the Village Offices, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York or by calling 607-5472411 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Sealed bids will be received by the Village Clerk until 2:00 p.m. local time, Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Bids will be opened and read publicly at the Village Offices, 22 Main Street, downstairs meeting room, Cooperstown at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 6, 2024. The Village Board of Cooperstown reserves the right to reject or accept any and all bids.
By Order of the Village Board of Trustees, jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk, Village of Cooperstown, 22 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 13326
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public hearing on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard: • Meeting to be held in the Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown.
37 averill road – Applicant is seeking an Area Variance to build a garage 15’ into
the 20’ front yard setback.
The plans for this project are on file with the Village Clerk’s Office at the Village Office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York, and may be seen during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Public comments • must be provided by email to the Zoning Officer at zoning@ cooperstownny. org, or • by regular mail to the address below no later than Tuesday, August 6, 2024, or • may be offered in person at the 5:00 p.m. ZBA meeting on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
Respectfully,
jenna Utter Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326
Tele: (607)5472411
Email: jutter@ cooperstownny. org 1Legaljul.25
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Notice of formatioN of FLY CREEK EQUESTRIAN, LLC
Articles of Org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/22/24. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 311 Ainslie Rd., Richfield Spring, NY 13439, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalAug.29
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Notice of formatioN of STAGECOACH PRESERVE, LLC
Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/15/24. Office location: Otsego County. Princ. office of LLC: 4 International Dr., #224, Rye Brook, NY 10573. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 6LegalAug.29
USDA Providing Disaster Relief Programs
SYRACUSE—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency has disaster assistance programs available to help agricultural producers recover. Many FSA disaster programs have a 30-day window to report losses. They include the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, and the Tree Assistance Program. For more information, visit farmers.gov/recover.
NYCM Ranks with State’s Best Employers
EDMESTON—NYCM Insurance was named among the 2024 Best Companies to Work for in New York State, the company’s seventh consecutive year on the list. The award was announced by the New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, Best Companies Group, and Rochester Business Journal. NYCM has a team of nearly 900 employees and more than 1,400 independent agents.
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed in Finger Lakes
NEW YORK STATE—The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced that it has detected spotted lanternfly in the Finger Lakes grape-growing region. This invasive pest poses a serious danger to many of New York’s most important crops, including grapevine, apple trees and hops. Finger Lakes area residents should thoroughly inspect their vehicles before leaving the region. All grape growers and residents must report sightings by taking a photo, freezing a sample insect in rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, and submitting their tip at agriculture.ny.gov/reportslf. Other spotted lanternflies should be killed on sight. For more information, visit the Agriculture and Markets website.
DOT Physicals Available at BHN HealthWorks
FLY CREEK—Bassett Healthcare Network’s HealthWorks will expand its capacity to perform Federal Department of Transportation-required physical exams. They will be available at a bi-monthly clinic at the HealthWorks office in Fly Creek, 6160 State Route 28, and by appointment at clinics throughout Bassett’s service area. Businesses can arrange for on-site clinics. HealthWorks files completed exams directly with the DOT, streamlining the process. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (607) 547-7014, extension 1.
Heartworks Seeks Help with Donation Quilt
FLY CREEK—Heartworks Quilts and Fabrics announced that it will create a new donation quilt for Bassett Cancer Center, as its previous quilt is more than 15 years old. Kits and patterns are complete, but community volunteers are needed to contribute a block or two. To volunteer, call (607) 435-0951.
United Way Announces Tornado Fund
UTICA—United Way of the Mohawk Valley announced an unmet needs fund to assist the City of Rome and Village of Canastota in the aftermath of devastating tornado activity on July 16. The fund, operated in partnership with the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley, will provide direct support to impacted families. For more information or to make a contribution, visit unitedwaymv.org/tornado.
He’s 6’1”, but he still looks up to me.
Laurens
Continued from page 1
time we screen it the reception is overwhelmingly enthusiastic,” said Sherry, before adding that he hopes future screenings may one day lead to being able to explore a featurelength version.
In developing the story, Jenkins tailored his lead character to his perception of real-life magician Mead, whom Jenkins had recently seen perform for renowned illusionists Penn & Teller on national TV. Jenkins reached out to Mead in Colorado to thank him for being an inspiration, and to see if Mead wanted to read the script.
In a twist befitting a man practiced in surprising turns, Mead not only responded enthusiastically, but he also offered to take on the lead role, in spite of not ever having acted in a movie.
“The fact that the role was written for me, making it pretty easy to play without acting chops, is lucky, because I’d have played any part in the movie,” said Mead via e-mail.
Sherry and Jenkins were thrilled, and after more than a year of working out schedules and rehearsals over Zoom, the shoot itself lasted three days in March 2023.
Jenkins intentionally set “Anomaly” in an unnamed place and time, and Sherry came up with a unique idea to connect the project to their community. To have a crowd for the performance scenes in the film, Sherry thought that rather than hiring extras, the filmmakers could
fundraise for the production by selling tickets to a full evening of entertainment at the Cohoes Music Hall. Filming Mead— performing as The Great Van Alden and executing the magic act central to “Anomaly”—would be part of the evening’s show.
Sherry also serves as president of the Capital Region’s 518 Film Network, which has the mission “to connect local filmmakers so that they may learn, grow and create together.” So how did his attempt to connect his local community to his film project work out?
“That night [is] the most brilliant and insane event I’ve ever attempted,” said Sherry. “But everything ended up coming together: We ended right when we meant to, 140 people were thoroughly entertained, we got all the shots we needed, and we raised almost half the film’s budget in one night.
“And when we premiered it locally at the Music Hall, those people came back and got to see themselves in the film. That’s the kind of relationship I want to build with our audience—a symbiotic community where people want to support what we’re doing because they know we want them to be a part of it. We wouldn’t have been able to afford (literally) to do this any other way.”
After his experience working on “Anomaly,” Mead found it easy to conjure up a successful filmmaking future for Sherry and Jenkins.
“They are good creative problem solvers, with a strong sense of visual storytelling,” said Mead.
“I expect to see great things from them as they grow in experience and confidence, and maybe they’ll let me be a part of something else down the road.”
That road is the site of a journey for Sherry and Jenkins that began in Laurens. Both were active in the LCS drama club, performed in school plays, and took part in chorus and band at different times. How does Sherry see Laurens in his work today?
After first mentioning his parents, whom he said gave him and his three siblings the “freedom to explore” and “never once told us that anything we wanted to do with our lives was impractical or unreasonable,” Sherry cited the passion, seemingly limitless options, and support provided by the LCS community.
“[School leadership, and] the teachers and staff really gave the kids a sense of community that I don’t think would have been possible in a bigger school district,” said Sherry. “I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up anywhere else.”
Surely it has to be considered an anomaly for a rural town in the middle of New York to have once been the childhood home of an Oscar winner. So if both the writer/director and the producer of “Anomaly” allowed themselves to dream for just a moment, can they envision a day when Laurens is known as the former home of multiple Oscarwinning filmmakers?
Said Sherry, “We both just want to beat the ‘Mel Gibson went here in 2nd grade’-level of fame in the Laurens community.”
Adopt a teen. You can’t imagine the reward.
Induction
Continued from page 1
named Harmon Candor and I think he was fired 24 hours after he gave me the contract,” said Leyland, eliciting another round of laughter from the audience.
Leyland began an 11-year managerial run in the minor leagues for the Detroit Tigers Rookie League team in Bristol, Virginia.
“Managing in the minors can be tough, because you have to release players and shatter their dreams of ever becoming a big leaguer, and I knew that because I was one of them. On the other side of that spectrum, it is so rewarding, because you get the chance to tell a player he’s going to the big leagues. Such was the case with jack Morris when I got to deliver the great news. He went on to become one of baseball’s best big-game pitchers and is seated behind me here today at the Hall of Fame.”
Leyland continued to describe the arc of his career, including being hired in 1982 by owner jerry Reinsdorf, general manager Roland Hemond and Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa to coach third base for the Chicago White Sox, which Leyland referred to as the springboard to his managerial career.
In 1985, Leyland was hired by Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Syd Thrift to manage the Pittsburgh Pirates, a post he occupied for 11 years.
“It never felt like manager and fans in Pittsburgh,” said Leyland in a cracking tearful voice. “It felt more like manager and friends. I know we made you happy and I know we broke your heart, but I always felt like we were in it together.”
Leyland enjoyed his greatest success during his brief two-year stint as manager for the Florida Marlins (1997-1998), winning his only World Series in 1999, and moved on to the Colorado Rockies for one abysmal season in 1999, where he managed Hall of Famers Larry Walker and current inductee Todd Helton.
After a six-year managerial hiatus, Leyland assumed the skipper’s position in Detroit.
“Signing some 40 years before with the Tigers, I finally got to Detroit in 2006. It took a long time,” said Leyland.
Leyland compiled a 700-597 record in eight seasons with Detroit, capturing two American League pennants in 2006 and 2012, and retired after the 2013 season.
He was called out of retirement by Hall of Fame manager and Major League Baseball Chief Baseball Officer joe Torre to manage Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
“I never saw a group of guys grow so close in such a short period of time,” said Leyland, again breaking into tears, “and we went on to win that World Baseball Classic for the United States.”
In closing, Leyland mentioned people who work in baseball that “never get thanked enough,” including, “front office trainers, team doctors, strength coaches, traveling secretaries, clubhouse managers, PR directors and scouts, and in every place I was I felt I had the best. Also thanks to broadcasters, the media and the men in blue; the umpires, and of course the coaches, one of the most important elements of any organization, the coaches,” said Leyland, adding that he wished he could thank all of the coaches.
He did single out his friend and roommate, Gene Lamont, which also elicited an emotional response.
“It was unbelievable to have your closest friend standing next to you in the dugout through the good times and the tough times,” said Leyland, asking Lamont, who was in attendance, to stand up.
While still crying, Leyland said in closing that he would like to thank the fans.
“No matter which Hall of Famer you’re here to support today or what team you cheer for, your presence is always felt. On your feet in the ninth with the home team clinging to a one-run lead. Turning on your television for the first game of the World Series and seeing 50,000 fans waving towels hoping and praying that this may be their year. Or a little boy or a girl getting their first autograph and scurrying back to the stands to show mom and dad their latest treasure. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s you and that’s baseball and this is the Hall of Fame. Thank you so much.”
Humble Helton
Earning election in his sixth year on the ballot, with 79.7 percent and 307 votes, first baseman Todd Helton spent his entire 17-year career playing home games at Coors Field in Denver for the Colorado Rockies.
At the top of the Rockies career batting leader boards, in the words of teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Larry Walker, Helton is “The greatest Rockie of them all and the first player to enter the Hall of Fame with a Rockies cap on his plaque.”
The text on his Hall of Fame plaque reads as follows:
One of baseball’s most efficient hitters, who blended plate discipline with elite contact skills and brute strength during 17-year career as face of Rockies franchise. Across five consecutive all-star seasons from 2000-2004, led the majors in batting average (.349), extra-base hits (451) and total bases (1,832). His 2000 campaign topped leaderboards with 59 doubles, 147 RBIs, a .372 average and a 1.162 OPS and was his first of back-to-back seasons with more than 400 total bases. Left-hander earned four Silver Slugger awards and three Gold Gloves, leading NL first basemen in fielding percentage six times.
The only knock against Helton, and explanation for why he was not elected sooner, is that he played his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
In the opening remarks of his speech, Helton alluded to the Coors Field factor, thanking former Rockies teammate and Hall of Famer Larry Walker “for taking care of me early in my career and paving the way for me to be here.”
In a very subdued speech, Helton expressed his appreciation and perhaps surprise for receiving baseball’s highest honor.
“Those of you who know me, know I’d be more comfortable doing anything other than standing here talking about myself. I’m just a ballplayer, anyone in the media can attest to that fact. So, with that in mind, thank you to the media for making the most of what little I gave you…To say I’m humbled by this honor does not begin to cover how I feel standing here today.”
Helton acknowledged his fellow 2024 inductees and singled out Leyland who, in his only year managing the Rockies in 1999, told Helton, “If you keep playing like this, you’re going to make it to the Hall of Fame.”
Spending his entire career with one team, Helton thanked all 411 of his teammates (not by name) during his 17-year career and added that, “If you were invited here today, you played a role in me being here.”
Boisterous Beltré
Perhaps slightly overlooked during his playing career, upon his enshrinement to the Hall of Fame a case can be made that Adrian Beltré may be the greatest third baseman of them all. In his first year of eligibility, Beltré was named on 95.1 percent of the ballots, the same number reached by Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb in the years that they were elected.
The only third baseman to reach 450 home runs and 3,000 hits, Beltré’s 3,166 career hits ranks 18th all-time and are the most by a third baseman.
The text on his Hall of Fame plaque reads as follows:
Combined formidable bat with dynamic defense to establish himself as a premier third baseman. The first to record both 450 home runs and 3,000 hits. Dominican Republic native developed with Dodgers into baseball’s top home run hitter with 48 in 2004. Closed career with eight-year run as Rangers lineup centerpiece, reaching the 30 home run mark three more times and leading the majors in hits in 2013. Filled highlight reels across 21-year career with quick hands and a rifle arm, winning five Gold Glove Awards. Four-time All-Star retired with more hits than any other third baseman.
Beltré appeared to be having fun on the Hall of Fame stage even when he was taken by surprise when Hall of Famer David Ortiz got up from his chair to sneak up on Beltré and rub his head, a practice Beltré was famously known to abhor. In a post induction press conference, Beltré was asked if the Ortiz head rubbing helped to relax him before his speech.
“It didn’t relax me. It never relaxed me. But I’m open to people to be able to have some fun with me,” said Beltre.
Fun was a running theme during Beltré’s speech.
“I loved it. I love baseball. I had so much fun playing the game,” said Beltré.
Beltré is the fifth Dominican-born player to reach the Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez, Vladimir Guerrero and David Ortiz.
Toward the end of his speech, Beltré expressed appreciation for the opportunity he was afforded to play in the major leagues in the U.S.A.
“Thank you to this great nation for allowing me to fulfill my dreams.”
Minnesota’s Mauer
Like Helton with the Rockies, catcher joe Mauer was a one-team wonder, spending his entire 15-year career with the Minnesota Twins. But Mauer didn’t just spend his career in Minnesota, the St. Paul native has spent his entire life there and perhaps no Twins players has identified as strongly with the city and its fans.
In his opening remarks, Mauer addressed his roots, Minnesota bloodlines and baseball connections to his home state.
“I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota with my parents, two older brothers and my grandpa, jake Mauer. Much of my early childhood was spent watching Twins games and pretending to be a big leaguer in my back yard and at various neighborhood parks with my brothers. Many of those parks were the same fields that fellow Hall of Famers Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor and jack Morris played on as well. How lucky and unique it was to have three big leaguers and future role models hail from my same city. Watching them
as a kid was my first glimpse of hope that maybe I could make it in baseball as well. It will never be lost on me that the same guys I pretended to be in my yard are men I grew up to know personally, and I even had one of them become my manager,” said Mauer. Although Winfield and Molitor were not in attendance, other former Twins seated on the stage behind Mauer for the ceremony included Tony Oliva, jim Kaat, jim Thome and Morris. All of the former Twins introductions were met with a raucous response from the large contingent of Twins fans in attendance.
A six-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger Award winner and three-time Gold Glove Award recipient, Mauer is the only catcher to win three batting titles and the only American League catcher to capture a batting crown, doing so hitting .347 in 2006, .328 in 2008, and a career-high .365 in his MVP season of 2009. Mauer is the only catcher to reach 2,000 hits, with a career batting average higher than .300 (.306) and an onbase percentage above .380 (.388).
With his induction Mauer, 41, is the youngest member of the Hall of Fame, with fellow inductee Beltré the next youngest at 45.
Most of Mauer’s narrative was focused on his family, running from the beginning to the end of his speech.
“Long before my big-league days, my parents coached all of our little league teams throughout the years. Rides to and from games consisted of conversations on good sportsmanship and ways to improve. And our dinner table talks were more of the same. At our home, baseball was a family affair,” said Mauer, whose “Twin” daughters were also in tow.
“Maren and Emily, you two gals mean the world to me. You’ve always been my little cheerleaders, and no matter the outcome of the game, you always seem to put a smile on my face. You’ve helped me see things with a new perspective and are a constant reminder of what’s truly important in this world,” Mauer said.
In the post-ceremony press conference, Mauer acknowledged the presence of his home-state homies:
“It hit me at the parade, seeing all of the Twins fans. It’s not easy to get to Cooperstown.”
Photo by Charlie Vascellaro
The Hall of Friends Dominican baseball fan booster group came out in support of Adrian Beltré’s induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
►Friday, July 26
DEADLINE Last day to purchase tickets for Community Bus Trip to Yankee Stadium. Includes transportation, water/snacks on the bus, trivia/prizes and ticket to 8/10 Yankees vs. Ranger game, seating in section 308. Proceeds benefit the Women’s Guild of the Church of Christ Uniting, Richfield Springs. (315) 868-2657.
LIBRARY 10 a.m.
Yoga class followed by Reiki. All welcome. Held each Friday. Strawberry Hall, Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 397-7309.
LIBRARY 10 a.m.
“Coffee & Puzzles.” Each Friday. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
FOOD SERVICE
11-11:30 a.m. “Free Lunch Program for Kids.” Sandwiches, fruits, vegetables and milk from the National Summer Food Service Program. Held Monday through Friday through August 23 at two locations: Greater Plains Pool, 51 West End Avenue, Oneonta; Wilber Park Pool, Wilber Park Drive, Oneonta.
SENIOR MEALS
11:30 a.m. Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal Monday-Friday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $10.60 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of pot roast, oven roasted potatoes, carrots and watermelon. Nader
Staff read age-appropriate books for children 18 months through age 7. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Held Fridays through August. Richfield Springs Public Library, 102 West Main Street, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-0230.
BLOOD DRIVE 2-6 p.m. American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. Visit RedCrossBlood.org
AUTHOR 2 p.m. “Local Author Talk with Dana Cudmore.” Cudmore discusses his newest book, “The Cave Electrician’s Widow,” about a historic tragedy at Howe Caverns in 1930 and the courtroom battle that followed. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.
CONCERT 4-7 p.m.
“Summer Concert Series Under the Tent: Solid Ground.” Fees apply; open to the public. Includes local crafters and vendors. Light refreshments available. Oneonta Gathering Place, 5506 State Route 7, Oneonta. (607) 267-4732.
OPENING RECEP-
TION 5-7 p.m. “Young Artists Regional Exhibition.” Free and open to the public. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. Visit facebook.com/CANOneonta
EXHIBIT OPENING
5-7 p.m. “CrazyCool!!!”
Featuring suspended colorful sculpture, painting, works on coffee filters and paper, and much more. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5327.
BASEBALL 7 p.m. Oneonta Outlaws vs. Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs. Admission fee. Damaschke Field, 15 James Georgeson Avenue, Oneonta. Visit oneontaoutlaws.com
CONCERT 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. “The Jupiters: A Dynamic Classic Rock Party Band.” Fees apply. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080.
THEATRE 7:30 p.m.
“Calpulli Mexican Dance Company.” Narrativebased stories portrayed through movement, sound and costume. Free admission; donations appreciated. Also showing 7/27 and at 5 p.m. on 7/28. Franklin Stage Company, 25 Institute Street, Franklin. (607) 829-3700.
►Saturday, July 27
BASKETBALL All day. “Blend-A-Rama.” Outdoor 3 vs. 3 basketball tournament. All welcome. Spectators encouraged. Fees apply for team entry. Includes vendors, DJ and various contests. Continues 7/28. Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 287-8444.
COMMUNITY 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Laurens Community Day, featuring the Bubble circus, Utica Zoo live animal booth, Laurens Fire House open house, more. Laurens Central School, 55 Main Street, Laurens. (607) 441-5431.
PARK Noon to 4 p.m.
“Pirate Weekend: Life’s a Beach.” Boat building activity followed by a race, sand castle contest and much more. Gilbert Lake State Park, 18 CCC Road, Laurens. (607) 432-2114.
LECTURE Noon and 2 p.m. Mark Twain Lectures on “The American Vandal Abroad.” Also held 7/28. Leatherstocking Stage on the Bump Tavern Green, The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471450.
CAR SHOW Noon to 4 p.m. “7th Annual Antique Car Show Cruise-In.” Free admission. Windfall Dutch Barn, 2009 Clinton Road, Fort Plain. (518) 7740134.
ACTIVITY 12:30 p.m. “Christmas Crafts.” Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet in the main campground; weather permitting. Glimmerglass State Park, 1527 County Road 31, Cooperstown. (607) 5478662.
MUSIC ON MAIN
1:30-2 p.m. Eric Robinson. Pioneer Park, Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-9983.
OPEN MIC 7-9 p.m. “Poetry Open Mic Night.” Share poetry, sonnets, haiku and more while connecting with fellow poets. Free to audiences. Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5098.
OPEN MIC 7-9 p.m.
“Coffee House.” Singers, writers, musicians, and more are invited to share works. 10-20 minute slots. Light refreshments available. Free, open to public. Held each 4th Saturday. Schuyler Lake United Methodist Church, 128 Church Street, Schuyler Lake. (315) 8582523.
THEATER 7:30 p.m.
“Click Your Heels Three Times, Ulysses.” Fees apply. The Visionary Stage for New and Explorative Art, 2381 State Highway 205, Mount Vision. Visit upsi-ny.com
►Sunday, July 28
FESTIVAL 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “2nd Hullabaloo.”
Craft fair, baby goats, live music, kids’ games and more. Olde Stonehouse Emporium, 128 Marion Ave., Gilbertsville. (607) 783-2982.
GARDEN TOUR
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Support Rotary youth programs for Unatego students. Fees apply. Pick up a map from a Rotary member or select Unadilla businesses. Village of Unadilla.
POLLINATORS
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “The Buzz About Honeybees.” Free; open to the public. Presented by the Cullman Summer Series at American Legion Post 183, 22 Union Street, Sidney. (607) 563 7529.
SUMMER SUNDAY
1-3 p.m. “Native Plants: Gardening WITH Nature.” Presented by Connie Tedesco. Swart-Wilcox House Museum, Wilcox Avenue, Oneonta. (607) 287-7011.
NATURE WALK
2-4 p.m. “Late July Mushroom Walk.” Learn local mushrooms. Presented by the Otsego County Conservation Association. Registration required. Meet on Vibbard Road, Cooperstown. (607) 5474488.
DRUM CIRCLE
6 p.m. “Cherry Valley Drum Circle.” Held Sundays. Presented by The Telegraph School at the Cherry Valley Gazebo. (607) 264-3785.
►Monday, July 29
BIRDING 8:30-10:30
a.m. “Seniors Slow Birding Walk.” Free; registration required. DOAS Sanctuary and Franklin
Mountain Hawkwatch, 52 Grange Hall Road Spur, Oneonta. (607) 3973815.
PLAY & LEARN
10 a.m. Guided sensory learning for children aged 5 and under. Held each Monday. Cooperstown Village Library, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344.
POTTERY 1:304:30 p.m. Open Studio. Experienced potters are invited to work on personal projects and hone their skills. No instruction provided. $30/session. Held Monday, Wednesday, Friday and 6-9 p.m. on Thursdays. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@SmithyArts.org.
BIRTHDAY 5:30 p.m. “Pathfinder’s 44th Birthday.” Featuring the magic of Chris Wheel. Free admission; cupcakes. Dinner available for purchase. Pathfinder Village, 3 Chenango Road, Edmeston. (607) 965-8377.
CONCERT 7 p.m. “Music at Meadow Links: The Tom Hovey Summer Music Festival.” Featuring Duo Afinado performing Brazilian Choro music. Free; all welcome. Held rain or shine. Meadow Links Golf Pavilion, 476 County Route 27, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-1646.
►tueSday, July 30
OTSEGO COUNTY FAIR All day. Opening Day. Continues through August 4. Wrestling, harness racing, dairy show, music, petting zoo, more. Otsego County Fairgrounds, 48 Lake Street, Morris. (607) 263-5289. COMMUNITY HIKE 9:45 a.m. Hike with the Adirondack Mountain Club. Bring appropriate equipment/water and be aware of your level of fitness. This week’s hike will be at the Glenwood Creek Trail, Oneonta. Contact hike leader Tracy Verma at (607) 353-9620.
FARMERS’ MARKET Noon to 4 p.m. Fresh vegetables, local meats and handmade crafts. Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, 101 Main Street, Pioneer Alley, Cooperstown. (607) 5478881.
CONCERT 6:30 p.m.; food truck opens at 6. “Cooperstown Lakefront Concert Series.” Blues Maneuver. Lakefront Park, Cooperstown. (607)322-4068.
OPERA 7 p.m. “Talking Opera.” Presented by Director Joshua Horowitz and Costume Designer Erik Teague discussing “Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children.” First Baptist Church, 21 Elm Street, Cooperstown.
