The Freeman's Journal 09-22-22

One of the two young ladies from Taylor Road was lassoed, loaded and sent back home on Sunday. Her sister must have missed her and found her way back home on Monday, without the benefit of the trailer ride.

U.S. Embarks on Latest COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign as New Bivalent Boosters Roll Out

“With a jumble of confusion, eagerness and vaccine fatigue, America embarked in earnest last week on a sprawling new campaign to get Omicron-specific boosters into the arms of a pandemic-weary country.”

Millions of doses of bivalent boosters “arrived with little ceremony at pharmacies, nursing homes and clinics across the country, ready to be administered in what health officials now expect to become a yearly inoculation ritual akin to a flu shot.” Early data “from states and several cities showed what health officials described as a robust early response in a moment when vaccine rates have stagnated.”

The New York Times 9/18

COVID-19 Linked to Increased Alzheimer’s Risk

COVID-19 has been linked to a significantly increased risk for new-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) a new study suggests.

The study of more than 6 million people aged 65 years or older found a 50% - 80% risk for AD in the year after COVID-19. The risk was espe cially high for women older than 85 years.

However, the investigators were quick to point out that the observa

Kathleen Peters

Upstate New Yorkers are used to seeing livestock every day and almost everywhere. Even amid the economic crisis in local agriculture, the Leatherstocking region is rich in farms and farm animals. Take a 10-minute drive in any direction from Cooperstown or Oneonta and you will encounter horses, dairy cattle, beefers, sheep, goats, hogs, llamas, alpacas, and more, usually idling peace fully within the fences, barns, and pastures of their hard working

Sometimesowners.we forget that the livestock are actually “live” and have minds of their own. Such was the case when seven cows went missing about a month ago from a family farm on County Highway 22 in Exeter. Three of them were soon recovered; two adults have been sighted in the vacant fields on Truman Road, and two of the other freedom-loving heifers continued to roam the badlands off Taylor Road, leaving their distinctive tracks and fertil izer patties in their wake.

When the owners received a call over the weekend that the Taylor Road cows had been seen at 1 a.m. crossing State Highway 28, the owners were concerned about the welfare of the cows and that of any humans they might encounter. It was time to call the cowboys again to corral the heifers before they got into any further trouble.

Enter WalkerEarl Cattle Company and S&S Horses ‘N Cattle of Argyle, New York, who specialize in just this kind of problem. Wranglers Jacob Rounds, Steve Batchelder, and Joseph Milton (pictured) arrived this past weekend with horses and lassos, and with their dogs Scooby, Tinsley, and Nova (also pictured). Being New York cowboys, they wore baseball hats.

Using the Schuyler Lake Fireman’s Field as their base, the three professional cowboys tracked the two heifers to a swampy area nearby, and captured one of the runaways, who was then escorted back to a waiting livestock trailer for the short ride home. They were unable to catch the second, despite several hours of searching.

Just as we were going to press, we were informed that number two found her way back home.

tional retrospective study offers no evidence that COVID-19 causes AD. There could be a viral etiology at play, or the connection could be related to inflammation in neural tissue from the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Or it could simply be that exposure to the healthcare system for COVID increased the odds of detection of existing undiagnosed AD.

Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 9/13

Health Experts Warn About Potential Severe Flu Season

“Health experts are warning the nation to brace for what could be an exceptionally severe flu season this fall and winter, as more people who have not built up immunity over the last few years mix and mingle.” The Hill adds “fewer people are likely to be immune from the flu virus this year because fewer people have been getting the flu over the last two years,” and loosened COVID-19 restrictions may also contribute to a more severe flu season.

The Hill 9/15

Boston Bribes Parents

To encourage pediatric coronavirus vaccinations, Boston residents were eligible to receive a $75 gift card if they get updated booster shots Saturday. The back-to-school vaccination event, hosted by the Boston Public Health Commission, is open to everyone 6 months and older. on

Cherry

Photos: Kathleen Peters

A real life rodeo took place in the Schuyler Lake Firemen’s Field on Sunday morning, September 18. Left to right on horseback: Joseph Milton, Jacob Rounds, and Steve Batchelder assembled with their dogs left to right: Scooby, Tinsley and Nova, try to cap ture a few roaming heifers who escaped from down the road.

Grow with CCE Garden Project

That led to the group approaching Bob Sutherland, a former Professor of Horticulture at SUNY Cobleskill and subsequently his colleague, Tim Marten, Professor of Horticulture at SUNY Cobleskill, who suggested processes exploring potential design and feasibility of the project.

“In April 2014, teams from SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry worked with the MG volunteers to assess needs, order priorities, and dream big dreams without constraints,” she said.

Over time, $10,000 was obtained both from CCE and MG volunteers as seed money to get the project started. Then State Senator Jim Seward secured $150,000 of grants from New York State to cover costs. Unfortunately, the final state funding never came through.

“The money was then raised from local donors and sources so that the project could begin. It is felt this will cover about 80% of the final cost of the project,”

Jim Kaat Hosts Golf Tourney

On Friday, September 16, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties (CCE) along with the Master Gardeners of Otsego County (MG) held a groundbreaking celebration for their joint effort, Grow with Cornell Cooperative Extension Garden Project, at the extension’s Cooperstown office at 123 Lake Street.“When completed, we will take the dirt and gravel parking lot of the CCE building and convert it to into sustain able gardens and landscapes which immerse participants and visitors in an accessible education environment with multiple learning opportunities. At the same time we hope to create an aesthetically pleasing, learning environment,” said Liz Callahan, Executive Director of CCE and this project.“The garden site will incorporate raised beds, low-maintenance and native plants, pollinator gardens, annual and perennial flowerbeds, vegetable and kitchen gardens, small fruit planting demonstrations, and more,” she said.

The project calls for improving the site: adding neces sary infrastructure and improved parking and lightning; creating a rain garden to demonstrate surface water reme diation before it leaves the site; building a garden house for instruction, preparation, and storage; building garden fences, benches, and gateway arbors; installing hard scape pavers connected to public walkways and the CCE Education and Outreach Center.

“We will also be erecting educational signage. This will develop places for education, quiet reflection, and active gardening,” Ms. Callahan said.

“The genesis for this project was nine years ago when a group of master gardeners sat around a dining room table and asked each other why cars instead of plants merited the best sunlight in our modest parking lot gardens.” Said Pati Grady, a member of Master Gardeners and a spokes person for the group for this project.

“That conversation led to some soul-searching discussion of how to approach the challenge of transforming a pothole-riddled parking lot used by the state highway department snowplows and school buses to turn around, and for sheriff’s vehicles to set up speed traps, into a place of learning through gardening,” Ms. Grady said.

Ms. Grady

Demolitionsaid.and initial construction will be carried out this fall by Kevin Green, Frank Novak, and Scott Ubner. In the spring, the garden house is to be built by Bert Holmes and Dan Evans, followed by the planting of flowerbeds and the rain garden by MG. Students from the Cooperstown Graduate Program will help to design the signage and work on the educational program.

With luck, Grow with Cornell Cooperative Extension Garden Project will complete principal construction in the middle of 2023 with initial growth and educational programs completed by 2024. It will be a welcome addi tion to Cooperstown.

Less than two months after earning baseball’s greatest honor, Jim Kaat returned to Cooperstown in support of some new Central New York friends.

Kaat, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame July 24 as part of the Class of 2022, served as the celebrity host for the Pathfinder Village/Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Invitational September 19 at the Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown.

As the master of ceremonies, Kaat — who won 283 games and 16 Gold Glove Awards during his recordsetting 25-year big league career — was featured as the guest speaker at that evening’s fundraiser dinner.

The Pathfinder Village/Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Invitational began with a 12 p.m. shotgun start and featured a chance to win team prizes worth more than $6,500.Proceeds from this event benefitted Pathfinder Village in Edmeston, a residential community dedicated to children and adults with Down syndrome and other devel opmentalProceedsdisabilities.alsobenefitted the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum educational programs, which enable the world-famous nonprofit institution to fulfill its educa tional mission and care for its priceless collections.

The tradition of a Hall of Famer as the master of cere monies began in 2004.

“I think I have more memories reflecting on the Induction Ceremony,” Kaat said upon his return to Cooperstown. “Now when I think back, the thing that was the most enjoyable is that I got to share it with my grandkids, family, and a lot of close friends who were so happy for me. If I had been here alone, it woudn’t have been the same. So reflecting on it is still pretty cool.”

Clark Companies, located in Delhi, NY has an immediate opening for a Seasonal Administrative Assistant to work mid-October through January/ February.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Welcome, greet and direct all visitors to appropriate personnel in a professional manner.

• Answer multi-phone lines and direct inquiries to appropriate personnel/department.

• Daily pick-up and drop-off of company mail and office incoming/outgoing office courier shipments.

• Order office supplies.

• Support and prepare documents for other department •personnel.Keepingreception area tidy and observing professional etiquette.

• Miscellaneous errands/tasks.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications and skills:

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.

• Organizational, attention to detail and ability to •multi-task.Demonstrate initiative, creativity, and flexibility.

• Proficient in MS Office programs (Word, Excel, and •PowerPoint).Performaccurate data entry.

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.

Experience/Education:

• High School Diploma

• Previous customer service experience a plus

Clark Companies is Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. scene scene

Salary DOE. To apply, send resumes to: Human Resources, P.O. Box 427, Delhi, NY 13753, fax to 607-746-3107 and/or apply at 41155 State Highway 10, Delhi, NY.

Larissa Ryan

Liz Callahan and Kristen Pulleyblank break the ground on the project people involved in the Grow project are, from left to right: Sue Jones - MG, Liz Callahan executive Director of CCE, Ellen LaSalle - MG, Ellen Alex - MG, Francine Stayter - MG, Mary Ellen Calta - MG, Darleen Fournier-MG, Pati Grady-MG, Kim

L’Heureux - MG, Carol Phelps - MG, and Kristen Pulleyblank, President of the board of directors of Cornell Cooperative extension, Scoharie and Otsego Counties.

Jim Kaat with Pathfinder Village resident Grant Stubbs.

Cooperstown Community Harvest Supper

“The rumors are true — after a too-long hiatus due to COviD, we have decided to bring back our much beloved Community Harvest Supper on Main Street, next Sunday, September 25, from 4 to 7 p.m., in front of the village Library,” Ellen Pope, member of Growing Community, said.

“We will have a few minor changes — tables will be spread out more to allow for more circulation, and we will have a separate table for potluck dishes to avoid folks reaching over,” Ms. Pope said.

The Stoddard Hollow String Band will be back with their lively tunes, and at the moment, the weather is looking promising.

“We are reaching out to the community. We can’t do it alone in this short timeframe. We are calling on you, our wonderful community, to lend a hand to make it happen,” Ms. Pope said. For volunteer info, call Kristen at “We607-427-2787.alsowould love for the community to spread the word about the Harvest Supper with any folks who are new to the community. What better way to welcome new faces than to raise a glass, and share a plate on an autumn afternoon!” she said.

“We can’t wait to bring back our annual gathering, and look forward to seeing everyone again!”

The Glimmerglass Festival Guild held its Annual Meeting on September 19 at the Farm Credit East, where members of the volunteer organization voted to donate $25,000 to The Glimmerglass Festival, the summer opera and musical theater company known for its innovative productions.

Through volunteer services, community engage

ment and educational programs, the Guild provides both acts of service and financial support for the worldrenowned company. The Guild raises money through the annual gala in August at The Otesaga.

“This past season we had 108 guests at the gala,” Robert Nelson, President of the board of trustees and guild member said. “We had two auctions, and with donations, we were able to raise the $25,000.”

“We are on an upward trend with our guild member ship. Through thick and thin, the Guild has been helping in any way they can. it was tough during COviD,” Mr. Nelson said.

During the meeting, Glimmerglass Festival Guild Board Chair Laura Tansey Wetzel introduced Robert Ainsley, the new Artistic and General Director of The Glimmerglass Festival. Ainsley succeeds Francesca Zambello, who served in the position since late 2010.

“We are so grateful for this extremely generous donation. We rely on the passion, generosity of spirit, and hard work of the local supporters and volunteers,” Mr. Ainsley said.

“The Glimmerglass Guild has stalwartly led those efforts over the years through fire, flood and pandemic — in many ways, it is the beating heart of the Festival” he said.

More than 350 members serve on the Glimmerglass Festival Guild, and the group makes a significant annual financial contribution to help meet both general and specific needs.“Through our many programs and initia tives, the Guild works to inspire conversations about opera and musical theater among the membership, support the festival through hospitality services and fund raising, and promote an appreciation and love of the art form within the Cooperstown community,” Ms. Wetzel said.

withLeadingScience. share the American Heart Association’s dedication to longer, healthier lives for everyone. That’s why we embrace the latest science by participating in Get With The Guidelines® This award recognizes our commitment to high standards of stroke care prevention for all scene call 607-547-6103

Robert Ainsley, Laura Tansey Wetzel

EDITORIaL

Re-Charge!

A little over a year ago The Freeman’s Journal put forth an editorial on the subject of electric vehicle chargers, which were at the time pretty scarce within the Village and, in fact, even outside the Village. The reason we explored the local availability of these char gers was, of course, that our tiny historic Village has been, and is, the destination of myriad urban baseball, sports, scenic and music explorers whose mode of trans portation to Cooperstown is increasingly an electric or hybrid vehicle. We know this because there are signs of them throughout the Village, many of them silently sitting with silently draining batteries in the parking lots of the hotels, museums and baseball parks.

EV chargers come in three types. Level 1 is simply a plug-in 120-volt AC charger that works just like a household plug. It takes around 20 hours to fully charge an exhausted battery back up to a range of 249 miles. Level 2, also AC-operated, will charge your vehicle to a 249-mile range in around 11 hours — merely over night. This one runs on a 240-volt outlet and is recom mended for your home garage should you invest in an EV. Level 3, the Supercharger, is still for Teslas only, but the company maintains the charger will be avail able to all EVs by late 2022. (In fact, Tesla has already figured out how to make this work as it provided super charging, at no cost, to EVs and their owners fleeing Ukraine last March. Now it must bring this to all of us in North SuperchargersAmerica.)are available across the country at a variety of service stations, shopping malls and parking lots, charging a vehicle up to a 200-mile range in 15 minutes — enough to get from Cooperstown to New York City. This charger is recommended for pit stops on long road trips, not for daily charging. And these pit stops should be, so say the electrification experts and consumer surveys, no further than 30 miles apart, thereby preventing the infamous “range anxiety” that is preventing people from feeling comfortable switching to electric vehicles.

In Cooperstown, last summer, there were four Level 2 charging stations: two in the Village-owned Doubleday Field parking lot; one at the Inn at Cooperstown; one at Glen Avenue Suites (for their guests only). The Inn at Cooperstown also had a Level 3 Tesla Supercharger.

This year Cooperstown has no Supercharger for its visiting Teslas, but there are a few new Level 2 chargers lurking about. Royal Ford has a plug, along with a 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning to use it. Ommegang has eight plugs; the barnyard Swing has one; Glimmerglass State Park has four. bassett Medical Center, indeed looking ahead, has put two chargers in one of its employee parking lots. Most of these chargers work most of the time, but occasion ally they are deemed not up to snuff, inviting sharp remarks on social media.

Is this enough for a village that welcomes and survives on tourism? Probably not. There are a lot of new EVs on the market; the government is issuing new incentives; climate concerns are increasing; the price of gas is fluctuating, mostly at a high rate; and the batteries that supply these EVs are becoming more reasonable. The EV era is upon us, and it behooves us to be, perhaps, more prepared than we think we are.

More Medical Briefs

Continued from page 1

“We understand that parents may still have reservations about getting their children vaccinated, so this event offers them the opportunity to ask questions and get information from trusted health care professionals,” bisola Ojikutu, executive director of the boston Public Health Commission, said in a statement.

About 6.6 percent of boston children ages 6 months to 4 years old are fully vaccinated, compared with 48.1 percent of 5- to 11-year-olds and 76.4 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds.

Cancer Screening

Most cancers can’t be reliably screened for before symp toms begin—tools like mammograms and pap smears are exceptions, not the rule. To improve detection, dozens of companies have designed single tests to spot signs of multiple kinds of cancer in blood drawn from a patient’s arm. Now, a national trial is preparing to launch in the US to see how good these tests actually are.

The new trial, run by the National Cancer Institute, will begin enrolling participants in 2024 and test how effective various blood tests are at spotting cancer in 24,000 healthy patients over four years.

The Hill 9/15/22

Mr. President, COVID Is NOT Over

I like Joe biden. by that I mean I like him personally. I lived in the state of Delaware, in Sussex County, the southernmost of Delaware’s three counties, between 2000 and 2008. While there are beach communities hugging its eastern Atlantic shore and a small city, Seaford, anomalously hugging its western, most land locked area, the majority of the county is rural. The area is jokingly called Lower Slower Delaware. Many of the people come from families that have been there for 350 years. Most of the land is planted in feed corn for the millions of chickens that are raised there. Perdue is headquartered just across the border in Salisbury, MD and Mountaire Farms is head quartered in Millsboro, DE. Tysons has a very large presence. What I’m trying to say is that this is an area where things are very less formal and life moves a little slower. It’s a small state so the people involved in politics tend to know each other. It’s a state that, at least when I lived there, Democrats and Republicans after the elections got on very well with each other.

I must’ve met Joe biden at least six times in the eight years that I was there. Twice were for chicken and dumpling dinners above the local fire hall. I spoke to him at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner twice. It wasn’t hard to speak to our sena tors and our one representative. The Apple-Scrapple Festival (I kid you not), in bridgeville, was a great place to run into all of them, and I did.

My best Joe biden story was after the election in 2006, when I ran for the State House of Representatives and lost spectacularly. There is a tradition in Sussex County called Returns Day, two days after Election Day when all the people who ran against each other in the county, including those who are running for state wide offices, ride in convert ibles with their opponents in a parade and congregate on a large platform. Then there is a ceremony literally

LETTERS … In THEIR OPInIOn Thanks to All Involved with CAA Flowerbeds

While I wish to thank the Clark Foundation for their generous comments regarding the flower bed in front of the Cooperstown Art Association sign, I would be remiss if I failed to thank the many people who have aided me in this endeavor over the past years.

One should note a large maple tree adjacent to this garden bed. Every spring, using forks and a mechanical tiller, the maple roots are removed from the garden bed, and peat moss and fertilizer worked into the soil under direction of Ms. Deborah Ackerman.Overthe years Ms. Ackerman and I have tried various combinations of flowers that included petunias, coleus, marigolds, and alyssum, to name a few. These have been

burying a hatchet. That year, besides the local races, there were races for governor, attorney general, state treasurer, U.S. senator (but Joe wasn’t running that year), and U.S. representative. Anyway, Joe’s son beau had won the race for attorney general. I had worked with beau and I like him very much. He was a gentleman, very low-key for a politician, and would serve a year-long tour of duty, including seven months in a combat zone in Iraq.

cited the crowd as an example of how things are changing to a postpandemic world.

So, beau biden and all the other winners were crammed toward the front of the platform. I was so far in the back that I was almost falling off but directly in front of me was a tall man with thinning grey hair and clearly seen hair plug donor sites in the back of his head. Everyone in Delaware knew who that was. I went up to him and said, “Excuse me sir. I understand that you are beau’s father. You must be very proud.” Well, he laughed very loudly and long and had a giant smile on his face. I’d like to think he was tickled by the concept that someone would recognize him for something other than being senator, especially for being a proud father.

I like Joe biden, very much, but IMO he’s dead wrong about declaring the COVID epidemic over. wAuto Show last week, the president was asked by interviewer Scott Pelley if the return of the annual event meant that the pandemic, which had shuttered it for the last three years, had come to a close. The president replied: “The pandemic is over”. He acknowledged that Covid is still “a problem” and said his administra tion is still “doing a lot of work on it,” but he said everyone at the show “seems to be in good shape” and

COVID is still out there. Over 400 people a day are dying of it in the U.S. It is still mutating to stay ahead of our efforts to vaccinate it out of existence. We do have better ways of fighting it including drugs, especially Paxlovid, to deal with the illness itself. but people are still catching it. Two close friends of mine who came back from a cruise this weekend brought home COVID. Thankfully, they’re doing fine with only minor symptoms but have to isolate for 10 days. While in the United States the fatality rate of the disease has dropped, it is still signif icant. 40 percent of all hospitaliza tions for COVID are now in people who have had a least one vaccina tion. Yes, we can go back to more activities, but we still have to take precautions we didn’t take before. Yes, the risk to children, especially those vaccinated is low, but there are hundreds of thousands of people who survived the initial disease only to have long-term symptoms. Declaring the pandemic over makes things even harder to get people to use methods to prevent the spread of disease. I would still mask in a crowded theater; I would even mask in a sports stadium where every body is sitting about 1 1/2 feet from each other. I personally would avoid cruise ships, at least until everybody is vaccinated and is tested before

sailing.I’velearned I can’t tell you what to do, but I can tell you what I’m doing. based on the fact that many of the instructions we were given initially turned out wrong, I have to disagree with President biden. The pandemic is not over.

Dr. Richard Sternberg, retired Bassett Hospital orthopedic surgeon, is providing his professional perspective during the COVID-19 threat. Also a village trustee, he lives in Cooperstown.

especially ordered in the early spring from Mrs. Laurie Schmidt of Sunnycrest, Sharon Springs. These plants have consistently arrived very fresh and ready to plant. This year we tried a variety of zinnias obtained from Mr. Harry C. Teich of Hartwick. Everyone has praised this planting such that we plant to repeat it next year with a few additions.

So while I thank the Clark Foundation for their praise, I have included the other people who have made this display such an attractive one each year! They also should share in the credit for the above accolade.

Dr. Roger MacMillan Cooperstown Carefree Gardens + Origins = Paradise

As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, we begin to

think of heading back to Texas. but we never leave before the closing event of the season: the plant auction at Carefree Gardens on October 10, Columbus Day.

One of our great pleasures at Cooperstown is our time spent at Carefree and at Origins Café, where, if I’m lucky, I get to shoot the breeze with my pal brent Leonard. There are various versions of what Paradise may be like, but I prefer the Muslim one: a fragrant garden filled with bubbling fountains, with food and drinks served by beautiful women. I think I’ll convert to Islam so that when I die, if I’ve lived a good life, I’ll get to go to Origins Café and Carefree Gardens.

Chip Northrup Cooperstown

RICHaRD STERnbERg, M.D.

The Freeman’s Journal welcomes letters to the editor that reflect the writer’s thoughts on an article or other item appearing in the paper. They must include the writer’s name, address, email and telephone/ mobile number; the opinions expressed must be the writer’s own.

Hostile, offensive, factually incorrect or excessively inflammatory content will not be published. The length must be no more than 250 words. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit letters for clarity and space. Please send letters to: info@allotsego.com.

Over 400 people a day are dying of COVID

Compiled by Tom HeiTz/SHARoN STUART with resources courtesy of The Fenimore Art museum Research Library

210 YEARS AGO

Casualty – Another accident has happened from care lessness about firearms. A Mr. Webster, belonging, as we understand, to a new Artillery Company, lately raised in Cincinnatus and its vicinity, being ordered by the commanding officer to drive home the cartridge, which had just been attempted to be fired without effect, had one hand blown off, the other so dreadfully injured as to render amputation necessary, and the flesh on his side burnt and torn to the very ribs. The unfortunate man was in the very act of ramming the piece when it went off. It is not expected that the unfortunate man will live.

110 YEARS AGO

September 26, 1812

Living next door in Utica to James S. Sherman, vicepresident of the United States, resides Dr. Ira S. Sweet, the practical bone-setter, and a man who would rather shift a knee joint back into place than to carry a bag of gold into a bank. Sweet is a born bone-setter. Licensed physicians may sniff their noses at this, but Sweet’s father, grandfa ther and great grandfather set bones before him. Sweet is counted a great man in Central New York. Every man, woman and child in fifteen counties knows him or has heard of him. He has been setting bones for nearly 50 years. He has treated more than 30,000 cases of fractured or deformed bones and has never lost a case. For more than 30 years, licensed physicians have been trying to put an end to Sweet’s practicing. They have caused his arrest, but no jury has been found, nor is it probable one can be found that will convict him in any court.

85 YEARS AGO

September 25, 1912

Ziyara Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a Masonic body, has its headquarters at Utica, but draws its member ship from a wide territory in Central New York. Last fall the Temple elected Moses E. Lippitt of Cooperstown to the office of Illustrious Potentate. As a testimony to the head of the order, and to his home town, Shriners to the number of nearly 500 came to Cooperstown Wednesday afternoon of last week and staged an observance that included initiation ceremonies at the Masonic Temple in the afternoon, a colorful parade followed by a barbeque at the Lakefront in the evening with an entertainment program for the members at the Village Hall.

September 29, 1937 YEARS AGO

Building Homes, Community and Hope

Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County is one of the local chapters, called affiliates, of Habitat for Humanity International. Our official mission is “seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope” with a vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

In the early 1970s, on a community farm outside of Americus, Georgia, Linda and Millard Fuller devel oped their idea of “partnership housing,” in which those in need of adequate shelter worked side by side with volunteers to build decent, affordable houses. Thanks in no small part to the personal involvement of former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn and the awareness they have raised, Habitat now works in all 50 states and in more than 70 countries. The key to Habitat is partnering with potential homeowners. Partner fami lies actively participate, actually wielding hammers and drills to build their own homes.

Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County offers services to residents of Otsego County, building houses and helping people partner to purchase them. Habitat Otsego was established in 1989 and have built more than 30 houses in neighborhoods all across the county.

Habitat Otsego has been building one home a year for a long time, but the pandemic limited the number of volunteers allowed together inside the houses and discouraged people from volunteering. That is turning around now with a renewed interest in volunteering. Not everyone has to be a house-builder. There are other opportunities for volunteers such as helping to manage finances, fundraising, or providing support to the partner homeowners.

BY Merl reagle

Another way to help is to join the governing Board of Directors who are also all volunteers with widely varying talents and expertise. Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County is one of just a few all-volunteer chapters. Most Habitat affiliates have paid staff for administration. The only paid position at Habitat Otsego is the part-time building supervisor, a retired contractor who shows volunteers how to do it all so the houses are superbly well built.

During the pandemic, not only did the pool of volunteers shrink, but construc tion materials, like everything else these days, suddenly became very expensive and hard to find. As a nonprofit organization, funds for house construction come strictly from donations and grants. Most of these are small, personal donations by individuals but a collection of church groups and charitable foundations also support the effort. Another source of support is construction firms and other local businesses who contribute their services at a favorable price for a good cause. Thank you, Otsego Ready Mix, Alpine Roofing, Unique Builders, and Parker Excavating, for example.

Habitat Otsego will finish its 37th house this summer and is already well underway with house number 38 next door. If you wish to join in this effort, the houses currently being built are on McFarland Road, off NY Route 205, about a mile north of the turnoff to West Oneonta. If you’re interested in volunteering, or just want to learn more, please call 607-432-7478.  Leave a message because there is no secretary, but the phone messages are checked by the affiliate President! Alternately, contact them by sending email to HabitatOtsego@gmail.com. Visit Habitat Otsego’s website for more information at HabitatOtsego.org.

Initial Impressions…Sometimes you have to stand for something—else

ACROSS Secret rival Party boss? Personnel Dog-caller’s word of paper Grimace cause Entertainer Fields Summarily let go Last thing you might expect to see on a UFO? Made a federal case out of it To-do lists Hardly cordial Football propeller Tea holder or bag holder Commit a gaffe What many MGM employees do? Bark shrilly Actress Swenson Guy on

35 YEARS AGO

September 26, 1962

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Department has received three K-9 security dogs to provide better law enforcement procedures in the county. The dogs, originally trained in West Germany, will be specialized in drug search, bomb search, general security and tracking of suspects. The K9 program is funded through $11,000 in donations from private and business organizations with the largest grant coming from the New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Edmeston.

September 30, 1987

Solution: ‘‘Home Improvement” (September 15)

The 6th Ward Booster Club Playground was recognized over the weekend with a proclamation presented by Assemblyman JohnOrganizedSalka. by Bill Shue (former Alderman), founding members, families and neighbors, there was a gathering at the 6th Ward Booster Club Playground Pavilion on Scramling Avenue in Oneonta.

“We are recognizing the 75 years of commitment to the community of Oneonta,” Mr. Salka said. “We present this proclama tion to Frank Russo, President of the 6th Ward Booster Club Playground.

Mr. Russo thanked the founding members and those who have and currently support the club. “If it weren’t for them, none of this would be here today,” Mr. Russo said.

“Congratulations to the 6th Ward Booster Club,” Mark Drnek, Mayor of Oneonta said. “While enhancing the quality of life in the ward, you’ve become a model of community engagement and support and an example to the rest of the city. Thank you for your commitment to the neighbor hood, and to the improvement of life in Oneonta.”In1947 residents of the 6th Ward had a dream to turn the John Todd Gardens &

Berry Farm into the playground.

“6th Warders held paper and bottle drives to raise the funds to purchase the property,” Mr. Russo said. “We have been so fortu nate to have this piece of property where the community can come together.”

This site has been the host of carnivals, circuses, car and truck shows, school and college events, youth sports, adult sports (many remember former 6th Ward lighted fast pitch field), OBGC events, YMCA Junior Firefighter, celebrity concerts and much“It’smore.been a great gathering spot for all kinds of activities,” Mr. Russo said. “It’s currently the home of Oneonta Little League.”“I’mproud to carry on this long-standing tradition of having a place where the kids can play, where kids begin learning sports and keeping this large open space for community events to be held,” Mr. Russo said. “There is no other neighborhood like it and the 6th Ward has a lot of pride!”

“A big thanks to those who had the dream, those who continue to support the mission and to those who were able to attend!” he said. Receives Proclamation

Waller Grandson Wins International ChampionshipSoccer

Charlie Waller, grandson of Bill and Carol Waller of Cooperstown and son of CCS graduate Scott Waller has won the IFA Futsal World Championship in Blanes, Spain. He played as a member of the U.S. team made up of members from across the country. His Under 14 team won every match, including the championship game againstCharlieScotland.isamember of the Alexandria (Va) Soccer Association Club and has previously won regional championships. He was selected to go to Spain to repre sent the U.S. by the U.S. Futsal coaches.

Futsal is an indoor soccer game played with five on each side, one goalie and four field members. It is played on a field the size of a basketball court and is a fastpaced, high scoring game using much the same tactics as basketball. It was devel oped in the 1930s in South America and has spread worldwide.

Charlie is the son of Scott Waller, 1994 graduate of CCS and a soccer star during his career at Cooperstown and Castleton

College. Scott is a teacher and the head soccer coach at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. Gonzaga fields a powerhouse soccer program and is routinely voted as one of the top ten teams in the nation by the U.S. soccer coaches.

L R: Assemblyman John Salka, Frank Russo

A firetruck is part of the playground

Bill and Carol Waller with grandson Charlie

Philip J. LaFratta, 72

June 15, 1950 – September 12,

UNADILLA - Philip J. LaFratta, 72, of Unadilla passed away on September 12, 2022, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

Philip was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Savino and Lillian LaFratta on June 15, 1950. He worked as a truck driver for many years. He enjoyed spending

time visiting with family and friends. He enjoyed joking and making people laugh. Most of all he loved the companionship of his beloved pets.

Philip is survived by his wife, Elaine; daughters: Lillian Gavin, Susanne LaFratta (Timothy Carpenter) and Jodi LaFratta; grandsons:

Barbara Steckler, 88

July 2, 1934 – September 8, 2022

Maryofyoungeston2022.September,passedRichfield88,BarbaraSPRINGSRICHFIELD-Steckler,nativeofSprings,awayon8,ShewasbornJuly2,1934,thedaughterReginaldandLouiseJoslyn.

Barbara Steckler

Barbara spent the majority of her life in the Village of Richfield Springs. In her youth she was active in school, both academically and in athletics, as well as performing in band and chorus. Barbara gradu ated from RSCS in 1952. Upon graduation she attended Cortland State Teachers College and Eastern School of Physician Assistants.

Barbara was united in marriage to William Bill Steckler in Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Richfield Springs, on November 24, 1954. They were a loving married couple for 51 years until his passing in 2007.

She was an avid reader and was employed at RSCS as a

Title 1 Reading Instructor for 13 years. Barb and Bill loved going to auctions, antiquing and taking long country drives. She became an avid collector of antique glass marbles. In retirement they took many chartered bus trips throughout the USA.

Surviving her are a daughter, Patricia Soule and her husband Gregory of Clinton; a son Richard Steckler of Newbury, Vt.; her cherished granddaughter, Joslyn Soule of Rochester; and many nieces and nephews who touched her heart, as she didPertheirs.her wishes, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. A private burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery where she will rest in peace next to her beloved husband,ExpressionsBill. of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the Richfield Springs Public Library.

6LegalOct.27anyLLCTheOneonta,7upontheanyshallSecretarymayprocesstheignatedStateTheinLLCThe05/06/2022.SecretaryfiledganizationArticlesLLC.Traders,ofOrwerewiththeNYofStateonofficeoftheistobelocatedOtsegoCounty.SecretaryofhasbeendesasagentofLLCuponwhomagainstitbeserved.TheofStatemailacopyofprocessagainstLLCserveditto:TheLLC,HudsonStreet,NY13820.purposeoftheistoengageinlawfulact.

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6LegalOct.20anyPurpose13820;Street,LLCanymailThemaywhomashasofTheOtsegoOffice08/02/22DateMaintenanceUpstateLLC:PropertyandExcavationLLCofFiling:oftheLLC,Co.,NYSecretaryState(NYSS)beendesignatedtheagentuponprocessbeserved.NYSSmayacopyofprocesstotheat16TelfordOneonta,NYofLLC;lawfulpurpose. of of of the state March 21st, Office2022. NYStiesallnessinPurpose:1378341roodsprocessshallserveragainstuponagentdesignatedSSNYNY.Delawarelocation:CountyhasbeenastheoftheLLCwhomprocessitmaybeandSSNYmailcopyofto:2732creekrdbldgHancockNY,toengageanyandallbusiactivitiesandbusinessactivipermittedunderlaw.

Brandon Gavin, Christopher Gavin, Jonathan Gavin, (Allison Hoover), Austin Scofield, Ryan Scofield, Tyler Morgan; great grandson Waylon Morgan; brother, Robert and Julie LaFratta and family; and nephew, Michael and Lisa Aulet and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Savino and Lillian LaFratta, and sister Patricia Scirica.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the ICU staff at Bassett Medical Center.Funeral Mass was held September 16 at Sacred Heart Church, Sidney, N.Y. Burial will take place in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y.Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.

OBITUARIESRICHFIELDSPRINGS-KarenLouise(VanAllen)Ingham,65,ofOkatie(CallawassieIsland)S.C.,passedawaypeacefullyonMonday,September5.GrowingupinRichfieldSprings,Karenenjoyedmanylong-timefriendshipsinthearea.KarenreceivedherundergraduatedegreesfromBayPathUniversityandAmer-icanInternationalCollegeinEducation.Karencontinuedhereducationbyreceivinghermaster’sdegreefromSt.BonaventureUniversityinEducation,withaconcentrationinReading.Karen’sloveofteachingledhertogivebacktohercommunitybyteachingfor23yearsintheRichfieldSpringsCentralSchoolDistrictasakindergartenteacherandthenfinishingup

2022ONEONTA

- Leon K.

Beach, 73 of Oneonta passed away Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at the NYS Veterans Home, Oxford.

He was born December 8, 1948 in Oneonta, the son of Kenneth and Margaret Beach.Inthe summer of 1962 he worked on his grandparents farm while his grandfather was sick with lung cancer.

Leon attended Milford and Otego schools and grad uated from Unatego Central School in 1967. He was an accomplished runner on the track team and ran under a 5-minute mile.

Boy Scouts were a big

Karen Louise Ingham, 65

Taught Reading at Richfield Springs CS

Karen L. Ingham

her career as activitiesallactivewasdistrict.forspecialistreadingthetheKareninschool

and was a member of the St. Joseph’s Church Parish Counsel and garden club.

Karen always had a passion for animals which was shown by the care and love she provided to her many pets over the years.

Following their retire ment, Karen and Colin moved to Callawassie Island to relax and enjoy new friends while playing golf, tennis and pickle ball.

Karen is predeceased by her parents, John and

Leon K. Beach, 73

December 8, 1948 – September 13, 2022

part of his life and he was proud to have attended the National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pa., in 1964.

Leon was very proud of the fact that he planted trees throughout his childhood. As a kid he would help plant 1,000 trees a year. This was such a big part of his life that in 2012 he went to Brazil and planted trees in the Amazon withOnViridian.March21, 1969, Leon married Janet in Keene, N.H., before leaving for Vietnam.

In 1968, Leon was drafted into the U.S. Army, choosing artillery because his father was in artillery during WWII. He was proud to have served in the 101st “ScreamingAirborne Eagles” (whose motto was “First in, last out”) in the A Shau Valley, Hamburger Hill. When he returned home in 1970, Leon and Janet began their family having two chil dren, Jeff and Kristen.

He worked in various fields including construction and as an entrepreneur until beginning his career in the nursing field. He graduated from nursing school and then went to work at Bassett Hospital and then Upstate Home for Children. He also worked at several private duty

Catherine Van Allen; brothers John and Gary.

Surviving is her husband of 37 years, Colin; brother Tom (Dede) Van Allen of Camillus; niece Allie (Austin) Huizenga of Grand Rapids, Mich.; nephew Matt and niece Chrissy Van Allen of Camillus, stepchildren Tiffany and Sean Ingham and brother-in-law John

Ingham.Afuneral Mass was cele brated Friday, September 16 at St. Joseph’s Church, Richfield Springs. Karen will be laid to rest in St. Joseph’sContributionsCemetery.in Karen’s memory may be made to Friends of Caroline Hospice, 329 Friends Lane, Ridgeland, SC 29936, www.fochospice. org or St. Joseph’s Church, 35 Canadarago St., Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

was associated with many churches but at the time of his death he was associated with the Main Street Baptist Church, Oneonta.

Leon is survived by his two children, Jeffrey and Kristen Beach, Oneonta; three sisters, Eleanor Conklin, N.J.; Marie Gladstone, Goodyear Lake; and Nancy Gladstone, Otego; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Kenneth; mother, Margaret; stepfather, Herb Gladstone; sister, Virginia Beach; and wife, Janet Beach.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 30, 2022 in the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand Street, Oneonta from 5 to 7 p.m. A memo rial service will immediately follow at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Phil Livermore officiating.

Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home 14 Grand Street, Oneonta • Grandmawww.grummonsfuneralhome.com607-432-6821lovedherfarm,herfamily,andplayingheroldguitar.

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.

Hejobs.was a prolific, avid reader, chess player (played in the US Open Chess Tournament), tai chi teacher, teaching classes at various venues. He was a strong supporter of farming and sustainable living. He was proud of his endeavors to raise bees and chickens.

Leon was a friend, advisor and a great listener to many. His faith was an important part of who he was. He

In lieu of flowers please consider making a dona tion to either Main Street Baptist Church, 333 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820 or to Heifer International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202 in memory of Leon K. Beach.

To send the family an online condolence please visit

6LegalOct.20

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Notice of formatioN of Harvest House, LLC Filed Office:6/14/22Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 1558 State Highway 51, Gilbertsville, NY Purpose:13776 all lawful 6LegalOct.6

of LLC whom pro cess may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 5995 St Hwy 28, Fly Creek, NY 13337, which is also the principal business location.

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Name of LLC: Leahy & Sons LLC; Date of 6LegalSept.22AnyPurpose13820;Oneonta,4109tocopyNYSSbewhomashasofTheOtsegoOffice08/10/2022;Filing:oftheLLC:Co.;NYSecretaryState(NYSS)beendesignatedtheagentuponprocessmayserved.ThemaymailaofanyprocesstheLLCatStateHwy7,NewYorkofLLC:lawfulpurpose. Notice, supplemeNtal summoNs, Notice to bidders? Larissa at 607-547-6103 or ads@allotsego.com and she can get you started.

Leon K. Beach

Oneonta’s Barbara Doyle is now a fulltime writer. “As of January 1, I committed to writing full time,” she said. “It’s great; I can travel and write anywhere I want.”

Ms. Doyle has published 15 books under the name B. Celeste. “It feels great, this is the one thing since I was a kid that I said I wanted to do,” Ms. Doyle said. “I’ve always loved writing and reading. I’m not cut out to be a teacher or a nurse. I feel I am meant to do something more.”

Ms. Doyle’s style of writing is the romance genre. “I write contemporary romance in fiction. That’s my niche,” she said. “I’ve always gravitated toward that. But this is more real-life romance. I keep it real.”

Raw. Real. Romance. That is Ms. Doyle’s tagline. “My writing isn’t about insta-love, like you see in Disney movies. Nothing bad happens in those books,” she said. “That annoys me, that’s not real life. I just started writing about more real situations. I get my inspiration from life, I like to watch people and listen to music,” she said. “My current book I am working on deals with anxiety and relationship problems,“ she said. “There are things I am processing this year and this helps me build these prob lems into a character and work things out.”

Dissent: A Charity Romance Anthology

Benefiting Reproductive Rights

Over an eight-week period, three female romance writers posted online if there would be any women inter ested in putting together a charity anthology.

“These women wanted to do something for women and all proceeds would go toward their reproductive rights,” Ms. Doyle said. “They got a tremendous response. Over 500 women from 34 different states signed up to donate their time and talent to the cause to Dissent.”

“It’s important for women to be able to get the services they need. For instance, one of our designees is Planned Parenthood. Abortion is usually the main topic, but people forget that they offer health care to women, cancer screen ings and many more services that women may not be able to access easily,” she said.

The other designees that will benefit from the proceeds are National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice and Center for Reproductive Rights.

Dissent is a collection of never before seen stories from over 150 authors, all in the romance genre. The stories

could be about anything the author wanted to submit.

“The subject didn’t have to be about Roe v Wade or anything associated with that; in general, this is a romance collection,” Ms. Doyle said.

“There are three paperback volumes because there are so many stories. It’s being sold on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Apple iBooks.”

This collection published on September 6.

“It just debuted on the New York Times bestsellers list at number 88 and it’s only been out a few days,” Ms. Doyle said.

The group also hosted an online auction from September 8 to 11. “We had an online auction with over 140 items up for bid, “she said. “We exceeded our goal. Those proceeds will also go to the organizations.”“Beinginvolved with this project makes me feel like I am making a difference,” she said. “It’s hard to feel that one voice alone can help. It’s nice to see that all of these women can come together and make a real difference.”Findout more about this collection at Romancedissents.com.

Barbara Doyle

The Dissent Anthology on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Apple iBooks