The Freeman's Journal 12-01-22

City Receives Grant For Theatre Restoration

ONEONTA

The City of Oneonta has been awarded a $500,000.00 grant to assist in the stabilization of the historic Oneonta Theatre by Governor Kathy Hochul and the Housing Trust Fund Corporation.

The Oneonta Theatre opened in 1897 as a vaudeville house, and later as a cinema. Recently, the New York State Preservation League listed

► First night oneonta chang es name, promises same great events, page a2

►badger park rolling out the rink,

the Downtown Oneonta Historic District, including the Oneonta Theatre, on its 2022/23 list of “Seven to Save” historic resources.

Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek said the community owes a huge debt of gratitude to the civic-minded citizens of Friends of the Oneonta Theatre and 47 Chestnut Street LLC for their tireless efforts in bringing back the Oneonta Theatre. The building was recently purchased by

County Admin Reflects on First Months

By TED MEBUST COOPERSTOWN

Steve Wilson, having assumed the appointed role of county admin istrator in August of this year, has had a rather quiet transition into Otsego County government. Having previously done the same job in Schoharie County, he’s applied learned lessons to the situation here.

“Initially, my role is to define the role, because it didn’t previ ously exist in Otsego County,” he explained. “This involves, among

Continued on page 3

47 Chestnut Street LLC. FOTOT and the theatre’s owners continue to seek additional funding and donations to assist with needed renovations.

“With the success of the city’s Planning and Development Department in securing the generous support of the New York Main Street Program, Oneonta will once again enjoy musical and stage perfor

CGP, Golden Artist Planning Art Exhibit Exploring Voting Rights

By SOPHIA HALL COOPERTOWN

As this election cycle ends, it has become clearer that the fight for the right to vote did not end with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Claims of fraud, polling place closures and gerryman dering are rampant. Access to voting continues to depend on who we are, how we look and where we live.

In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in Shelby County v Holder that it was no longer necessary for states and local governments with a history of voter suppression to submit changes in their election laws for review; other outstanding Supreme Court cases threaten to erode voting rights even further. While New York itself has recently passed laws to protect the right to vote, de facto barriers, growing political animosity, and a feeling that one’s vote will not count continue to threaten voting in the state, clearly evidenced by the drop in voter turnout in this recent election cycle.

When confronted by the truth that is the vulner ability of the vote, particu larly for people who have not had the ability to vote in the past, Mark Golden and Dr. Gretchen Sorin came together with an idea—to curate an art exhibition exploring voting rights within the United States, with a particular focus on the experience of voting while Black. The exhibi tion, titled “Our Votes, Our Stories,” is a collaboration between SUNY Oneonta’s Cooperstown Graduate Program and Golden Artist Colors. CGP is one of the oldest museum studies grad uate programs in the United States, and its students are responsible for the curation, fundraising, and marketing of the exhibition.

“Our Votes, Our Stories” will feature work from at least eight Black artists working in a variety of mediums with one common theme—the importance of voter equality to the strength and health of democracy. Confirmed artists include Brianna Harlan, Lorie

Continued on page 3 Continued on page 10

Camera Policy on Hold for Now

COOPERSTOWN

At the November meeting of the Cooperstown Village Board of Trustees, a public hearing was held on a proposed policy for the installation and operation of cameras to monitor activity occurring in public places within the village. The policy was discussed at length and, following public comments, the board took a vote which failed to pass. A committee comprised of Trustees Cindy Falk, Richard Sternberg and Joe Membrino has been tasked to rework the policy, which will then be presented again at public hearing in two months, on January 23.

Photo provided

The City of Oneonta has secured a $500,000.00 grant from New York State toward improvements to the historic Oneonta Theatre. The theatre’s pre-urban renewal marquee is pictured above.

Photo by Ted Mebust Otsego County Administrator Steve Wilson is embracing his new role.

irst Night Oneonta has announced a name change to Hill city celebrations and a new collabora tion with the Otsego county chamber of commerce. This expansion and rebranding better reflects the year-round events and activities First Night organizes for the community.

The mission of First Night has always been to provide healthy, alcohol-free activities and events for families, the announcement reads. community partners include LeAF council on Alcoholism and Addictions, Five Star Subaru and dozens of generous local foundations, individuals, and businesses. Hill city celebrations also works closely with the city of Oneonta, SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick college and bassett Healthcare Network to produce events such as the Oneonta Festival of Lights, First Night at the Foothills, and the Hometown 4th of July.

Hill city celebrations is currently gearing up for the Oneonta Festival of Lights, scheduled to begin in Neawha Park on Sunday, December 18. The theme for 2022 is “Fabulous Fox Physicians” and the event will honor Dr. Yoshiro matsuo and Physician Assistant Lynne bolstad for their many decades of providing compassionate, medical care to the community. The orga nization is partnering with Fox Hospital and there will be a display at the festival in honor of matsuo and bolstad, as well as a small ceremony on opening night.

The festival will begin on December 18 and continue each evening from 5-10 p.m. through January 1. This year’s December 18 start coincides with the first night of Hanukah and, as such, opening night of the festival will feature a lighting of the ceremonial menorah to celebrate the eight days in remembrance of the lighting of the

Temple eternal Light.

everyone in the community is invited to create a display for the festival, and schools, clubs, and businesses are encouraged to highlight their organization in their display design. Those interested in signing up can email firstnightoneonta@gmail.com for more information. The 2022 Festival of Lights will feature approximately 45 displays. Five Star Subaru and cleinman charitable Trust are sponsoring $2,000.00 in prizes for three winning displays, with matching donations to charities of the winner’s choice.

In addition to the Festival of Lights, Hill city celebrations is bringing back the tradi tional First Night New Year’s eve at The Foothills Performing Arts & civic center. This is an indoor event geared toward chil dren and families, and is an alcohol free, family friendly celebration of arts and culture. First Night was originally conceived to help entire families welcome the New Year and have healthy fun together on a traditional drinking holiday. The event will be held on New Year’s eve from 5-8 p.m. and will feature DrumQuest, cosmic Karma Fire, the Hill city Ice Queen and friends, mike the Juggler, music, face painting, puppets, free pizza, ice cream, and more.

As part of the First Night event there will be a community talent show to spotlight the creativity of the area’s talented local performing artists. Performers are invited from all age groups, especially younger community members. Five Star Subaru and Hill city celebrations will provide judges and prizes.

All of Hill city celebrations events are offered at no cost and there is no fee to set up a display. Hill city celebrations are able to be admission free thanks to the gener osity of community sponsors whose names can be found at www.firstnightoneonta. com and in advertising for the events.

Planting for the Future

cOOPeRSTOWN—The Village of cooperstown recently received a Tree city USA Grant from the New York State Urban Forestry council. The money was used to plant three new trees on Susquehanna Avenue between beaver Street and the Susquehanna River—a red oak, a single oak, and a katsura tree. mayor ellen Tillapaugh was joined on November 14 by second-grade students from the cooperstown elementary School, members of the Village board of Trustees and Tree committee, and students from SUNY Oneonta’s cooperstown Graduate Program, who led a program about trees for the second graders. Trees play a critical role in creating healthier, safer and more connected communities. The village is pleased to be able to expand its street tree canopy through this generous award.

Volunteers Needed this Weekend for Ice Rink Prep

cOOPeRSTOWN—On Saturday, December 4, badger Park in the Village of cooperstown will come alive with volunteers laying down a new liner for the ice-skating rink. “We are so excited that we were able to buy a new liner for the rink,” said Tom Hohensee, president of the cooperstown Friends of the Parks. “We are a non-profit orga nization that supports all of cooperstown’s unique public parks; we depend on volunteers and donations.” Volunteers are needed all of the time, but particularly this weekend when the group lays down the rink lining. “It’s a big job, many hands are needed,” Hohensee said. “Plus it’s a lot of fun to get out and volunteer with your neighbors.”

“First we set up the sides, then the liner and add water,” Jaye Shelby, cooperstown Friends of the Parks vice president said. “We put out the skates to borrow, but the rest is up to mother Nature and her freezing weather program as to when the actual skating can begin.” The skating rink at badger Park will also be a featured location in the upcoming cooperstown Winter carnival 2023 next February.

“We’re so grateful to the Winter carnival committee. On February 4 from 4:30-6:30, the rink will be used as an event venue,” Hohensee said. “We are planning a fire pit, refreshments, cocoa, music and more.”

For more information on volunteering, or to help out this weekend, go to cooperstown Friends of the Parks on Facebook.

Photo by cindy Falk

mances to rival those in venues 60 miles away—in a unique and vintage trea sure that we’ve missed so badly. Thank you to them, and congratulations to us. The future just got a little brighter,” Mayor Drnek said.

The funding is through the New York Main Street Program included in the 2022 Regional Economic Development Council Consolidated Funding Application round. The NYMS program is admin istered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal to support projects that improve and revitalize Main Streets and strengthen local economies.

“The City of Oneonta’s downtown district is in the midst of a full-scale trans formation and the historic Oneonta Theatre will play a leading role,” said Senator Peter Oberacker. “This state grant adds to the city’s recent run of success and is proof positive that our local elected officials and community leaders are on the right path. Oneonta has a well-earned reputation as an arts community and rejuvenating the Oneonta Theatre, with the Friends of the Oneonta Theatre at the helm, will further solidify opportunities for economic growth and quality of life.

“I was proud to support Oneonta’s grant applica tion and look forward to the work ahead in restoring a key piece of the city’s history,” Oberacker added.

Robert Brzozowski, president of the Friends of the Oneonta Theatre, had

nothing but praise for the collaboration that led to the grant funding.

“Thanks for City Hall’s support for the Oneonta Theatre. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but we are confident that working together with the support of so many in Oneonta and the region, the Oneonta Theatre will once again be a venue for the performing arts and a driver of economic devel opment in the area.”

A feasibility study and building conditions report completed in 2019 with funding from HCR under the City’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative Program showed that roof leaks and roof drains posed a threat to the building, and interim roof repairs have since been under taken. The Oneonta Theatre Stabilization Project will completely replace the flat roof on all three parts of the building and rebuild the roof drainage system.

Completion of this first phase of the renovation project will ensure that the roof is structurally sound with no further water damage and deterioration, setting the stage for a full renovation. The 2019 feasibility study estimated full renovation costs for the theatre to be between $3-10 million.

my last role in Schoharie County, I established a community-based facili tative role with the elec torate, a plan I will continue here.”

One of the major compo nents to the county admin istrator job, he explained, is raising issue-specific infor mation to the county board, based on interactions with county department heads.

“I am a finance and budget guy,” Wilson shared. “When the opportunity to work for Otsego County came around, it piqued my interest as I thought it would be interesting to solve prob lems here.”

The self-proclaimed “nerd” for solving issues and increasing productivity said it’s “too early to tell” what the biggest challenges for Otsego County will be going forward. Before working at the county level, Wilson spent three decades as an employee of the federal government, and some time as a journalist before then.

While the role has yet to yield major challenges, Wilson has reviewed the budget process and observed proceedings for the recent $136.7 million county budget passage for 2023. At an upcoming county board meeting on December 7, he plans to introduce a “noncontroversial,” alternative budget approach that “will be an improvement” for the process next year.

“It’s a very pleasant place to work,” said Wilson of his experience so far in Otsego County. “Everyone is very kind.”

U.S. Men’s National Team Watch Party

COOPERSTOWN—Local

Candle Lighting is December 11

ONEONTA—The

county government. In

Oneonta Region Chapter of The Compassionate Friends will observe the 26th Annual Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 11. This year, due to lessened COVID19 concerns, the ceremony will be held in person at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 12 Ford Avenue. Participants are encour aged to arrive at the church between 6:30-6:45 p.m., and to bring a small picture of their child, if possible. A Zoom option will be avail able. Call (607) 746-7396 for more information.

Photo by Sean Mebust

soccer fans gathered at Upstate Bar & Grill to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team’s long-awaited Group Stage showdown against England at the 2022 World Cup in Al Khor, Qatar on Friday, November 25. Though the fixture proved scoreless in the end, watchers were treated to a fast-paced, physical matchup between one of the tournament favorites in England and a scrappy, youthful U.S. squad. With their 1-0 win against Iran on Tuesday, November 29, the U.S. team finished second in Group B, advancing to the Final 16 knockout round for the first time since 2014. They play next on Saturday, December 3 against the Netherlands.

Buy Thoughtfully and Buy Locally

Until recently, the main streets of Otsego county’s towns, villages, and hamlets were densely populated with various commercial concerns that provided local residents with the majority of the goods and services they required to live full and productive lives. The money exchanged circulated within the communities, and local economies were vibrant and self-sustaining. Food was locally grown; that you could only get certain food at certain times of the year—like sweet corn—only made that food sweeter. Today, those vital shops have largely disappeared, replaced in some towns by businesses catering to visitors, and in others by empty, decaying, and boarded-up storefronts. Where commerce still exists, mainly in outlying commercial strips, it is comprised largely of enterprises based in faraway places. While our shopping dollars do cover low-paying local jobs, most of it returns to the “head office” in God-knows-where. buying locally is not a new concept, but today it is an impor tant, even critical, component of revitalizing our crippled local economies. We are not just doing our local merchants a “favor,” we are favoring our communities and ourselves by giving our localities a chance to survive and thrive. It is not just about buying local food from local farms; it’s about buying local goods and services from the few local shops and merchants that still exist, and creating the opportunity for our citizens—particularly the young—to have a viable reason to live here and prosper. Our dollars remain with us, supporting our towns, villages, schools and churches, our old and infirm, and our remarkable quality of life.

To buy locally means just that: it keeps the money in the community; it stimulates the economy; it creates and retains jobs; it supports local craftspeople, artists, and farmers; it enables local families, businesses, household services, not-for-profits, and cultural institutions to grow and thrive; it brings the towns back to the people, and the people back to the towns. It also offers businesses an opportunity to support fellow businesses, to make new connections, collaborate and succeed.

Today, with climate change threatening our environment, our population diminishing and our sense of community vulnerable, the buy Local movement has gained an even more pressing importance. community resilience and envi ronmental integrity are at its heart. In respect to our farming community, buying locally gives the consumer a chance to buy food from people who actually care about producing it. Local food is better, fresher, often safer, often organic, and its production is transparent; it keeps our farmers farming, which keeps our agricultural region beautiful, preserves open space, and supports and protects wildlife. It also reduces packaging and the carbon footprints, fuel consumption and air pollution created by overseas and cross-country transportation.

There are no excuses for ignoring the importance of keeping your money at home. The main protestation, of course, is, “I can’t get what I want locally” which is, of course, the result of years of not buying locally. buying locally is an investment in your community and yourself, your children, your friends and your neighbors. The treasures of local products—food, goods and services—are here for our nourishment, use, and enjoyment, and to remind us that buying Locally helps us confront and perhaps even solve the mounting environmental, economic, and social challenges of our world and our cher ished local communities.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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.

RICHaRD STERnbERg, m.D

Treatments of Long COVID Explored

As we continue into the third year of the cOVID pandemic, increasing interest and concern is becoming evident by the set of symptoms called Long cOVID. The centers for Disease control and Prevention definition, on their website, says that Long cOVID (also known by other names) is the experiencing of symptoms following infection with the virus that causes cOVID, SARS-coV-2. Their definition does not list a specific point in time of the symptoms but many people define the time frame as beyond four weeks following infection.

There are more than 200 symp toms associated with the diagnosis of Long cOVID. Some of the most common are tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life, symp toms that get worse after physical or mental effort, fever, and brain fog (difficulty thinking or concen trating). If I wrote out the whole list, it would take up this entire page of the paper, but if you are interested go to the cDc and NIH websites.

Interest has developed on how to treat Long c OVID and based on some anecdotal findings and presumptions of the cause, some treatment studies are being carried out.

There is the phenomenon called Paxlovid rebound, whereby a patient having been treated successfully with Paxlovid for an acute infection soon thereafter develops a second case of cOVID. This has led some to suggest that the virus is not fully neutralized and has developed a reservoir somewhere in the host that can then activate and lead to new onset of symptoms. Some patients with ongoing Long cOVID symp toms have been shown to improve when treated with another course of Paxlovid. The optimal dosage and length of treatment for this is now the subject of several studies. It also suggests to me that studies should be designed to determine if the current thought about the use of Paxlovid either for five days or only the length of initial symptoms is inad equate, and that longer courses of Paxlovid use should be considered for initial treatment. I am reminded of the warning given to physicians, pharmacists, and other providers that it is necessary to reinforce to patients to take the full course of an antibi otic medication and not discontinue it when symptoms clear because the infection is not yet 100 percent eliminated and can either reoccur and/or evolve into a more virulent form. We can’t be sure that we have

really determined what the first course of treatment should be.

Another potential treatment is the use of the anti-addiction medication, naltrexone. This started as empirical off-label use by a practitioner with a patient with severe long term brain fog. The drug had been used with some success to treat a similar complex, post-infectious syndrome marked by cognitive deficits and overwhelming fatigue called myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. The drug as given for Long cOVID is 10 percent of that given for addiction manage ment. It needs to be noted that this is not a cure but has seen to be very helpful in some patients. Studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health are looking into the use of the medicine and attempting to find out the mechanism of activity.

Long cOVID has now been reor ganized as a disability by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Over time it could rival acute cases of cOVID for its effect on the gross national product.

Efforts to determine Long cOVID’s causes, which could lead to treatment—or to empirically find treatments—become as important as efforts to treat cOVID were initially.

FIRST ImPRESSIOnS CaSSanDRa HaRRIngTOn

Visitor Economy Summit a Step Forward

Many businesses and resi dents in both Otsego and Schoharie counties are unaware of the services provided by Destination Marketing corporation, the nonprofit organization contracted by both county govern ments to promote tourism, using occupancy tax revenue generated the year prior. They’re responsible for stewarding the brands “This is cooperstown” and “Visit Schoharie county.” Public awareness has been

one of the organization’s largest barriers to success. It was growing increasingly evident that something had to be done to unite the commu nity around these efforts. The phrase “help us help you” was uttered all too often among team DM c . Staff dreamt of getting “everyone” in a room to not only introduce DM c , but to generate awareness among residents about the effects of the visitor economy. Early in

2022—with the help of my team of two and b oard Member Marcy b irch of b arnyard Swing—the outline for November 17’s Visitor Economy Summit and c ommunity Roundtable at The Otesaga Resort Hotel began to take shape.

Keynote speaker Josiah brown— otherwise known as The New York Sherpa, of Famous Destination Marketing—spoke about the impacts of the visitor economy.

OEC Scoping Plan

Comments on Point

The final version of the New York State climate Action Scoping Plan will be made available January 1, 2023. In its statement on this topic in this paper last week, Otsego Electric cooperative (OEc) made very clear the shortcomings of present versions of this plan, particularly as regards the needs of the popula tion served by OEc. I am grateful for OEc’s thoughtful analysis, which illuminates the true costs of keeping the lights on in New York city, not to mention of keeping on our own lights. Let’s hope the final Scoping Plan addresses some of these issues.

Antoinette Kuzminski Fly creek

Support Needed for Tournament

ment will feature quality basketball from well supported high-school programs throughout our region.

Our organization relies on the support of generous donors to ensure the success of our event and, in turn, the success of the cooperstown Sports booster club’s mission to provide a quality experience for all cooperstown athletes. All dona tions will be acknowledged in our annual program book available at the tournament.

To receive the Patron Donation Form or for more information, email ccssportsboosterclub@gmail. com. The deadline to be included in the program is December 1. We greatly appreciate your consider ation of donating to this great annual event and hope to see you there!

Alicia Chase Vice President, cooperstown Sports booster club

Coop Food Pantry

this stressful time of increased cost of food, gas, and utilities amid a 30 percent growth of food cost and in the use of our pantry.

We are especially grateful to The Scriven Foundation for its challenge grant of $7,500.00 for the months of November and December, which matches your support. We can leverage every $1.00 you give to purchase up to $10.00 of food. What better budget tool could we have?

Again, thank you to a truly amazing community of supporters who continue to help with a mission begun 45 years ago by our very special founder, Ellen St. John.

Sharon Oberriter President, cooperstown Food Pantry

Innovations Can Save Time, Energy

OFFIcIAL NEWSPAPER FOR Otsego County • Village of Cooperstown • Village of Milford Cooperstown Central School District

MEMbER: National Newspaper Association, NY Press Association

Subscription Rates: Otsego county, $69 a year. All other areas, $89 a year. First class Subscription, $155 a year.

Published Thursdays by Iron String Press, Inc. 21 Railroad Ave., cooperstown NY 13326 Telephone: 607-547-6103. Fax: 607-547-6080.

Email: info@allotsego.com • www.allotsego.com contents © Iron String Press, Inc.

Periodicals postage paid at USPS cooperstown 40 Main Street, cooperstown NY 13326-9598

USPS Permit Number 018-449

Postmaster Send Address changes to: box 890, cooperstown NY 13326

Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of William cooper is in The Fenimore Art Museum

The cooperstown central School Sports booster club is asking that community members and businesses consider supporting our annual Dick White Holiday basketball Tournament, which we will host again this year on December 27 and 28, featuring our boys and girls varsity and junior varsity basketball teams competing against Hamilton, Unatego, Whitesboro, Notre Dame (Utica), Oxford, and Richfield Springs. As in years past, we are confident that this year’s tourna

Grateful for Support

This is a good time of year for cooperstown Food Pantry to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the fantastic support you give us in our mission to deal with hunger and poverty here in the northern Otsego county community. We thank the businesses, churches, community organizations, indi viduals, and our 100+ volunteers without whom we could not help our families, children, and seniors in

The common “shop vacuum” cleaner or vacuum cleaner can be made to be more efficient. Simply have the on and off button on the end of the hose handle instead of on the vacuum itself or have the remote control on and off switch attached to one’s wrist using Velcro. Reducing time in reaching for the on/off switch and reducing energy lost while in the process of accessing the off switch is just using common sense. These innovations can be applied to many other mechanical devices.

Gerry Welch cooperstown

Tara barnwell Editor and Publisher

Darla M. Youngs General Manager

Larissa Ryan Business Manager

Ted Mebust Staff Writer

Ivan Potocnik

Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart Web Architect Historian

Editorial Board

Elinor Vincent, Michael Moffat, Tara barnwell

LETTERS … In THEIR OPInIOn

210 YEARS AGO

Excerpts from an address to soldiers by Brigadier Alexander Smyth, Commanding at Buffalo: “The time is at hand when you will cross the stream of the Niagara, to conquer Canada, and to secure the peace of the American frontier. You will enter a country that is to be one of the United States. You will arrive among a people who are to become your fellow citizens. It is not against them that we come to make war – it is against the government which holds them as vassals. You will make this war as little as possible distressful to the Canadian people. If they are peaceable, they are to be secure in their persons; and in their property, as far as our imperious necessities will allow. Private plundering is absolutely forbidden. Any soldier who quits his rank, to plunder on the field of battle, will be punished in the most exemplary manner. But your just rights as soldiers will be maintained. Whatever is booty by the usages of war, you shall have. All horses belonging to artillery and cavalry; all wagons and teams in public service will be sold for the benefit of the captors – 200 dollars for each horse drawing light artillery and $40 for the arms and spoils of each savage warrior killed. Public stores will be secured for the service of the United States. The government will, with justice, pay you the value.”

185 YEARS AGO

December 5, 1812

Editor’s Note: John Holmes Prentiss, editor and owner of The Freeman’s Journal, was elected to service in the U.S. House of Representatives in November, 1837. Thus, William Lusk Crandal became Editor Pro Tem. Crandal’s first edition of The Freeman’s Journal includes this passage: “Democrats are not conservatives or loco focos. The feder alists would in all kindness, give republicans new names; but they will decline the proffered service. The name of Democrat is good enough for them. It has worn well – has never been tarnished, and will be cherished by all who are not recreant to the true faith.”

December 4, 1837

Freshwater Aquaculture: Raising Fish on a Hilltop

What grass is to dairy, water is to aqua culture. At Skytop Springs Fish Farm, on a sylvan hillside in Sidney Center, the Sellitti family works with nature’s offering—pristine water from multiple springs and wells.

Twenty-five gallons a minute run through a series of artificial ponds, then huge tanks, and finally to holding ponds, where solids settle out and the water is returned to the land.

This is a zero waste farm. The inputs are fish eggs, water and fish feed. The outputs are compost, water, and fish—approximately 5,000 pounds of rainbow trout are sold annually as whole cleaned fish, filets, or smoked filets to restaurants, at farmers’ markets, or directly from the farm. The trout variety is Kamloops, hatched from certified disease-free eggs from a Pacific Northwest provider. They are hatched once a year— then staged through larger bodies of water as they grow. The eggs are sterile, posing no genetic threat to the local fish population should an egg or fish escape.

The farm uses no antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals or artificial ingredients in any aspect of the raising or preparation of their trout. The fish have been lab tested to show they contain no heavy metals such as mercury, nor any microplastics found in some wild caught seafood.

It takes 18 months to grow fish to the preferred 1 to 1.5 pound market size, and it is revealing how effi ciently fish build protein. Of various sources of animal protein consumed in our culture, fish has the lowest conversion ratio: a measure of the smallest amount of feed required to produce a unit of edible product. Why? Because fish are cold blooded and don’t have

to deal with gravity—energy sapping issues the rest of us face.

As with any farm there are risks to minimize. Tanks and ponds need to be protected from sunlight, debris, and predators. Freezing is not an issue, indoors or out, as the water is always kept moving. But a loss of power cutting off circulation and aeration pumps would be disastrous. Thus, the farm has two backup generator systems.

Skytop Springs is one of only two land-based fresh water aquaculture operations in New York to be in the New York State Grown & Certified program—recog nized for farm-safe food handling and environmentally responsible practices. What is unique about Skytop is they not only raise the trout, but they also process, smoke, and go direct to market with it—as a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation licensed trout producer and United States Department of Agriculture/Food and Drug Administration Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point certified processor. The addition of a processing facility adds complexity, but also enhances the value of their product.

Of all types of farming done in upstate New York, aquaculture is one of the most demanding of a farmer’s ingenuity and attention to detail. At Skytop Springs Farm, the Sellitti family is creating a new model of economically and environmentally sustain able food production.

Authored by Sustainable Otsego. Since 2007 we have promoted ecologically sound practices—locally, regionally and nationally. Our platform calls for sustainable living, economic independence and home rule. Please visit us at sustainableotsego.net or face book.com/SustainableOtsego.

By MERL REAGLE Cookbooks I’d Like To See…Prepare yourself

160 YEARS AGO

The President (Abraham Lincoln) informs us that our relations with Europe are no worse than might be expected; still, they are not as satisfactory as is desirable. He does not allude to the French mediation scheme. The free Negroes are not willing to go to the countries willing to receive them; while other countries, rather to the President’s surprise, refuse to welcome them. So he does not exactly know what to do about it. A postponement of the subject until after the war would meet the approval of the people. The President urges at great length and with much earnest ness, the general emancipation of the slaves in States where cooperation can be secured, and the colonization of such free colored persons as may desire to leave the country.

December 5, 1862

135 YEARS AGO

The George Clarke Estate – At the sale which took place by the Sheriff at this place on Friday last, the Hyde Hall property, embracing about 600 acres of land was bid off by James Bunyan and E.F. Beadle at $16,750. Mrs. Alfred Corning Clark bought the large house and lot south-east corner of Main and River streets for $4,150, and the Cooper Grounds, on which stood “The Hall,” with a small lot on Church Street, for $7,350. The “Skeleton Hotel” property was struck off to George Van Horn at the low figure of $2,750. The “Reservoir Lot” on River Street, comprising about three acres of land, was bought by E.F. Beadle for $825. During the lifetime of the late Edward Clark and J.H. Story, the village property of George Clarke, including the old fairgrounds, could have been sold for about $100,000. December 9, 1887

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

Farmland Runoff, Intense Storms Raise Phosphorus Loads That Drive HABs in Seneca-Keuka Watershed, 9E Study Finds

by PeTeR mANTIUS

Originally published in October in “Water Front,” an online blog by Peter Mantius, this article is being reprinted with permission from Mantius because of its relevance to issues currently threatening water bodies statewide, including chal lenges to keeping our fresh water resources clean and climate-caused threats.

GeNeVA, NY

Acomprehensive plan to cut phos phorus pollu tion in the Seneca-Keuka Watershed won final state approval this week, providing a roadmap for protecting the two lakes from toxic algal blooms and flooding driven by climate change.

The 9e report recom mends that mitigation efforts focus on SenecaKeuka Watershed subba sins that produce the most phosphorus.

The Nine element Plan, or 9e, was a “grass roots effort led by Finger Lakes

watershed communities to actively restore these prized waters,” said basil Seggos, commissioner of the State Department of environmental conservation. The Dec and the Department of State jointly approved the project.

Phosphorus is identified as a “primary driver” of outbreaks of cyanobacteria, or harmful algal blooms (HAbs), that have plagued the lakes for at least the past seven years.

Polluted runoff from increasingly intense storms and waters warmed by climate change exacer bate phosphorus’ negative effects, according to the 326-page document.

Like similar studies carried out for cayuga, Owasco and Honeoye lakes, the Seneca-Keuka 9e plan found that most phosphorus reaches the lakes through runoff from farmland.

more than 70 percent of the watershed’s phos phorus load is traceable to land dedicated to cultivated crops or hay/pasture. Those farmlands make up about

46 percent of the water shed’s acreage.

by contrast, forest lands, wetlands and scrub vegeta tion, which together cover 45 percent of the water shed’s acreage, produce only about 10 percent of its phosphorus.

Waste water treatment plants and other entities with state water discharge

and degraded water quality is well established,” the docu ment says. “This has often made the farming commu nity an easy target when promoting environmental remediation. However, the diffuse and omnipresent nature of phosphorus, sedi ment and precipitation means all lands are poten tial contributors to reduced

Phosphorus is identified as a “primary driver” of outbreaks of cyanobacteria, or harmful algal blooms (HABs), that have plagued the lakes for at least the past seven years.

permits generate another 11 percent. Viticulture (the wine industry) produces less than 2 percent, while septic systems produce less than 1 percent.

While the detailed report clearly pinpoints farming as the region’s primary phos phorus contributor, it treats the politically powerful industry delicately.

“The link between poorly managed agricultural lands

C elebrate the Spirit of C hristmas

The Freeman’s Journal and Hometown Oneonta are joining with The Salvation Army to make a joyful Christmas for area families through the Angel Tree Program.

This tradition dates back to 1921 with the creation of The Freeman’s Journal Christmas Fund by Editor & Publisher, Rowan D. Spraker Sr., as a way for neighbors to help others enjoy a happy holiday. This is the 101st year of this communi ty tradition. The Salvation Army has gathered the Christmas wish lists, grouped by family.

Help Santa, be an angel!

FAMILY #11 Girl, age 12, size medium, adult shoe size 9: arts and crafts, makeup. Girl, age 10, size 12/14, shoe size 7: makeup, jewelry, girly stuff.

Girl, age 7, shirt size 14/16, pant size 12, shoe size 3: dolls, girly stuff, slime.

Boy age 6, size 6/7, shoe size 12: trucks, paw patrol, sonic.

FAMILY#12 Girl, age 11, size 12/14, shoe size 12: violin stuff, arts and crafts, dress clothes.

Boy, age 9, size 10, shoe size 5: soccer, RC cars, arts and crafts, Poké mon.

Boy, age 6, size 6, shoe size 13: soccer, winter clothes, superheroes, Legos.

Boy, age 7, size 7, shoe size 1: books, legos, superheroes.

Boy, age 4, size 4, shoe size 13: legos, stuffed animals, soccer, learning toys.

FAMILY #13 Girl, age 4, size 4, shoe size 13: baby dolls, Barbie’s, coloring books.

Boy, age 2, size 2T, shoe size 10: learning toys, noisy toys.

Girl, age 6, size 5: learning toys, diapers.

Boy, age 2, size 2: appropriate toys, diapers.

FAMILY #14 Girl, age 8, size 14, shoe size 1: Barbie’s, arts and crafts, girly stuff.

Boy, age 2 mo., size 3mo: learning toys, noisy toys.

FAMILY #15 Girl, age 8, size 12/14, shoe size 4: Barbie’s, crafts, journals, pens.

Boy, age 10, size 10/12, shoe size 5: cars, nerf guns, PS4 games.

Gifts should be both new and unwrapped (price tags removed please), and received no later than December 9 (to allow the elves time for wrapping and loading). Gifts may be dropped off at the offices of The Freeman’s Journal, 21 Railroad Avenue, Cooperstown, or at the Salvation Army Chapel, 25 River Street, Oneonta. Questions? Call Santa’s elf Larissa at 607-547-6103, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or e-mail ads@allotsego.com.

water quality. Furthermore, preservation and support of a sustainable agricultural economy is of critical impor tance to the Seneca-Keuka watershed community.”

One of the plan’s stated goals is a commitment to reducing phosphorus trans port to the waterways that is “shared and not overly burdensome to any sector of the community.”

The 9e project was a collaborative effort overseen by mark Venuti, Town of Geneva Supervisor and chair of the Seneca Watershed Intermunicipal Organization. The project manager was elizabeth moran, president of ecologic LLc in cazenovia, who has also collaborated on phosphorus-reduction plans for other lakes. Other key players included Seneca Lake Water Steward Ian Smith, and Anthony Prestigiacomo and Lewis mccaffrey of the Dec

Given limits to funding corrective measures, the team recommended prioritizing subbasins that produce the highest concen trations of phosphorus, as measured by estimated

pounds of phosphorus per acre per year.

That led to particular focus on the areas around Reeder creek, a tributary flowing into the northeast section of Seneca Lake, and Kashong creek, a tributary flowing into northwest portion of the lake.

Seneca Lake has a surface area of 66.3 square miles. Its major inflows include catharine creek on its southern end and Keuka Outlet on its western side— a 6.8-mile waterway that connects the two lakes.

Keuka Lake has a surface area of 18.1 square miles. It is fed by cold brook (Keuka Inlet) and Sugar creek, among others.

both lakes are classified as mesotrophic due to their “fair” water quality and a moderate level of biolog ical activity.

The report notes signifi cant waterfront devel opment on both lakes, especially around Penn Yan on Keuka and Hector on Seneca, as well as wine industry development, particularly around Hector.

Farmsteads are prolifer ating between the two lakes, with “over 180 new farm steads in the watershed, demonstrating the increase in Amish and mennonite farms.”

The team concluded that phosphorus loads from farms could be reduced by planting cover crops in winter and by improving tillage and fertilization practices.

by planting winter wheat on land classified as row crops (corn or soybeans) and harvesting it in midApril, farms could reduce the total phosphorus load of the entire watershed by an estimated 20 percent. Individual watersheds

could see phosphorus cuts that exceed 40 percent.

Regardless of progress made by farmers, increased precipitation and runoff caused by climate change is likely to increase phos phorus loads by an esti mated average of 18 percent over the watershed.

but land use can serve to mitigate that impact.

“Wetlands provide a buffer against flooding, wood lands buffer waterbodies from runoff, and vegetation can stabilize slopes prone to erosion,” the study found.

Rising phosphorus loads have made HAbs a regular late summer occur rence on all of the Finger Lakes. blooms on Seneca and Keuka pose a threat to drinking water, and they undermine lake recreation.

(See Dec’s interactive map for HAbs reported in the Finger Lakes in 2022.)

“Although a scientific consensus on the cause(s) of HAbs has not yet been determined, it is clear that warming waters, periods of low winds, and phosphorus availability affect the risk of cyanobacterial blooms,” the report said.

Zebra and quagga mussels are implicated as well. They thrive in high-phosphorus waters. They also “alter the phosphorus exchange at the sediment water interface and effectively increase the biological availability of phosphorus to support the growth of algae and cyanobacteria.”

Peter Mantius is a threetime Pulitzer nominated reporter with more than 30 years of experience and perspective from a jour nalism career focused on financial, legal, and polit ical issues. To learn more, visit https://waterfronton line.blog/

Rising phosphorus loads have made HABs a regular late summer occurrence on all of the Finger Lakes. Blooms on Seneca and Keuka pose a threat to drinking water, and they undermine lake recreation.

Visitor Summit

contined from Page 4

The overarching message from his address was of the winds of change.

Destination marketing organizations across the nation are uniquely positioned to provide resources and aid in economic development by way of the visitor economy. In doing so, DMOs are shifting to DMMOs, adding the word “manage ment” to the moniker.

Jim McKenna, president and chief executive officer of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism in the Adirondacks, offered real-world examples of how this

Mary J. Hoose 1931-2022

PORTLANDVILLE—

Mary J. Hoose, of Portlandville, passed away Monday morning, November 21, 2022, at Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. She was 91. Born at home in Hartwick on October 27, 1931, Mary was one of five children of J. Paul and Elenor (Bradley) Jones. Raised on her family farm in Hartwick, she gradu ated from Hartwick High School with the Class of 1949.

At a local dance, Mary met Cecil E. Hoose, a native of Mount Vision, and on August 5, 1951, they were married in a ceremony at the Hartwick Methodist Episcopal Church. Mary then devoted her life to raising and caring for her family and home, as well as helping her husband own and operate Ce-Ran Farm in Mount Vision, which the Hoose family owned for four generations, starting in 1850. She worked with her husband in a typical dairy farmer’s wife —helping in the barn and feeding the animals, the family, and the hired man. They had a milking herd of 80-85 cows, plus an equal number of young stock. For several years they also had chickens, which they purchased as chicks and raised to “broiler” stage. A few years ago, she noted that, “It was a lot of work, but it was a good life and a good place to raise children.”

They retired from farming in 1981, and moved to a home on the Susquehanna

has been done. By establishing a dedi cated funding stream through the collec tion of occupancy tax, ROOST was able to address issues like housing shortages. Following the speakers, attendees participated in a facilitated round table exercise in which smaller groups worked together to identify challenges the community is facing and ways in which they could perhaps be addressed. Concerns about such things as transporta tion, wayfinding, workforce challenges, environmental protection, connectivity and more were explored.

It was great to see so many folks attend, especially those who perhaps never thought they were affected by

River in Portlandville in 1992. In retirement, Mary and Cecil travelled to Las Vegas, Missouri and other places visiting relatives. They took two cruises and spent several winters in Florida. They also enjoyed owning several vintage automobiles, including a 1927 REO pickup truck, and were active with the REO Club of America. Following Cecil’s death in 2003, Mary continued living in Portlandville until moving to The Heritage at The Plains at Parish Homestead in Oneonta in 2018. Since August of this year she has resided at Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.

Mary was a 73-year dedicated and well-loved member of the Order of the Eastern Star. At the age of 18 she joined Hartwick Chapter No. 617, OES, which met in the former Odd Fellows Hall on South Street in Hartwick. When that Chapter consoli dated in 1983 with Otsego Chapter No. 201, OES, in Cooperstown, she joined Laurens-Freedom Chapter No. 518, OES but was always special in the hearts of the members of OtsegoHartwick-Arbutus Chapter No. 201, OES. She was also a member of the former Mount Vision United Methodist Church, the Susquehanna Valley Senior Citizens and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Mount Vision Fire Department.

Most especially, Mary loved doing things with her family. She is survived by two children, son Randall “Randy” S. Hoose and

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

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

the visitor economy, and there was a nice cross-section of business owners, managers, elected officials, and commu nity members, resulting in a wide variety of feedback.

DMC aims to build more active rela tionships with other local organizations such as the colleges, Otsego Now, our chambers of commerce, the Community Foundation of Otsego County, and others to address issues brought to light during both the summit and in the roundtable that followed.

Destination Marketing Corporation’s mission is to steward local economic vitality through tourism generation and destination management which results

OBITUARIES

wife, Judy, of Pierstown, and daughter Priscilla Kaye Osterhoudt and husband, Darrell, of Kimberling City, Missouri; five grandchildren, Randall S. Hoose, Jr. and wife, Katherine, Samantha Roman and husband, Ryan, Dana Ledbetter and husband, Joshua, Will Dennis and wife, Ashley Rowley, and Megan Dennis and partner Brandon Shaffner; six greatgrandchildren, Margaret and Cecilia Hoose, Erin Roman, Shiloh and Skyler Ledbetter, and Riley Dennis; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Cecil E. Hoose, who died November 11, 2003; two brothers, Robert D. and Donald A. Jones; and two sisters, Anna Cassada and Catherine L. Garvin.

Friends may call and pay their respects from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, December 3, 2022, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown. At 1 p.m., members of LaurensFreedom Chapter No. 518 and Otsego-HartwickArbutus Chapter No. 201 will conduct the Eastern Star Funeral Service at the funeral home. Immediately following, a funeral service will be offered at the funeral home with the Rev. James Crouthamel officiating.

Interment will be in Mount Vision Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, dona tions may be made to Laurens-Freedom Chapter No. 518, OES in care of Deborah Trask, Worthy Matron, 3369 State Highway 23, West Oneonta, NY 13861, or Otsego-HartwickArbutus Chapter No. 201, OES, in care of Cooperstown Masonic Temple, 77 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Susan R. Hughson

1935-2022

PRINCETON, NJ— Susan Rosenheim Hughson, 87, died peacefully on November 22, 2022. A life long resident of Oneonta, New York, Susan had moved to Princeton earlier in the year to be near family.

Susan was born in Oneonta on May 16, 1935.

The daughter of Frederic Rosenheim and Pauline (Polly) Borden Rosenheim, she attended Bugbee School and Oneonta High School. In 1957, Susan graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a BA in chemistry. She married her high-school sweetheart, Thomas M. Hughson, and they had two sons, Fred and Bill. After her divorce in 1988, Susan joined in a joyful partnership with Paul E. Scheele that lasted the rest of their lives.

Susan’s great passions in life were to forge meaningful connections with others and

to contribute to the wellbeing of her community. She pursued these passions in all aspects of her life.

On a professional level, Susan taught chemistry lab courses to genera tions of students at the State University College at Oneonta.

On a civic level, the list of Susan’s volunteer contri butions is long and distin guished: trustee of Hartwick College; president of the League of Women Voters of Oneonta and vice president of the League of Women Voters of New York State; president of the Oneonta Concert Association; presi dent of the Future for Oneonta Foundation; president of the Oneonta Clothing Guild; member of the board of the Family Service Association; member of the board of A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital. Susan also held leadership roles at Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, the Jaycees, Oneonta’s 1976 Bicentennial Commission and the Oneonta Intergovernmental Taskforce.

In recognition of her commitment to the commu nity, Hartwick College Citizens Board named Susan as its Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 2010.

On a personal level, Susan loved to meet new people, to bring people together, and to inspire people to be the best they could possibly be. She was an avid tennis player, an intrepid traveler, a loyal friend and a favorite grandparent.

Susan was loved by many and will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know her. She is survived by her sons, Fred and Bill Hughson; their wives, Liz Gavis and Monica Lee Hughson; four grandchil dren, Sam, Sky, Sophia, and Tessa; and extended family members Carla, Christie, and Karin Scheele.

Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Oneonta at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 4.

Donations in Susan’s name may be made to the Future for Oneonta Foundation (https://fofoneonta.com/).

Dwaine R. Sharratt 1955-2022

HARTWICK—Dwaine R. Sharratt, who owned and operated Beaver Valley Campground with his wife, Juli, and their chil

in business development, pride of place, historical preservation, enhanced quality of life for our residents, as well as a memorable visitor experience.

Cassandra Harrington is the president and chief executive officer of Destination Marketing Corporation, the designated tourism promotion agency for both Otsego and Schoharie counties.

dren, passed away Saturday morning, November 19, 2022, at his home in the Town of Hartwick from the neurodegenerative disorder multiple system atrophy. At the age of 67, he has now completed the final pages of the book of his life.

Born October 6, 1955, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dwaine was the son of Lloyd Donald Sharratt and Veronica “Ronnie” Louise (Justin) Sharratt.

He was raised in Richfield, Minnesota, and graduated from Richfield High School in 1974. He captained his high-school gymnastics team, played football from peewee through high school, and played baseball from tee-ball well into adulthood.

He attended Stout University in Wisconsin and then lived in Mississippi, helping with his sister’s young family and farm while his brother-in-law was ill. He then moved to Washington State where he learned the skills of home construction and hobby farming while volunteering with children who had physical and learning disabilities. In Washington, he met his future wife, Juli, who asked him for a ride to Massachusetts. They arrived there in the summer of 1980 and Dwaine and Juli married in August 1983.

In 1988, they purchased Beaver Valley Campground and developed it into a highlyrated family memory-maker. He took great pleasure in maintaining and developing the campground. In 1991, they started Cooperstown Baseball Camp, an overnight training camp for kids.

Dwaine especially loved taking care of his baseball fields and would often be found prepping the fields with detail and love between games. His fondness for the game, and his encourage ment of younger players, was evident when he donated the use of the Little League field at the campground to Cooperstown Youth Baseball when they found themselves with no place to play after their home field was closed.

Each spring for 20 years, Dwaine was the cleanshaven Mr. Sharratt who helped teach gymnastics at the Clark Sports Center. Each winter he was the fullbearded, wild-haired Dad at Badger Park playing hockey with the kids.

Dwaine was definitely a “road less traveled” kind of person. He was full of antics and imagination and would do just about anything to make someone laugh.

Dwaine was a relentless doer and a heartfelt giver. Whether it was bringing his generator around to local farms and homes when they lost power during the tornado in the 1990s or clearing a friend’s sewer line from the septic tank end, he was not afraid to get dirty or to work long hours.

Above all, Dwaine was in love with his family.

Dwaine is survived by his wife of 39 years, Juli

(Kaczynski) of Hartwick, and their four children: Nathan Sharratt and wife, Mona Collentine, of Marietta, Georgia; Caley Sharratt and husband, Tristan (Davis-Fralick) Sharratt; Jamie (Sharratt) Dobrovolc and wife, Allison Dobrovolc; and Nicholas Sharratt, all of Hartwick. He leaves three grandchildren, Elsie, Westley, and Wren, and his siblings, Michael Sharratt and Kat Kitt, Chip Sharratt and wife, Julie Kelley, Kenneth Sharratt and wife, Christine, Yvonne Stelberg, and brother-in-law, Duane Christopher, all of Minnesota; his best friend since the age of 7, Mitchell Hayle of Vermont; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, Lloyd, who died in 2001, his mother, Ronnie, who died in 2004, and his sister, Sharon Christopher, who died in 2021.

Family and friends may call and pay their respects from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 1, 2022, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, with Fr. Michael Cambi, pastor, officiating.

Immediately following the Mass, there will be a luncheon at The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown. All friends and family are invited.

Interment will be at a later date in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.

In lieu of flowers, expres sions of sympathy in the form of memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Kenneth William Domion 1961-2022

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—

Kenneth William Domion of Richfield Springs, New York, passed away peacefully at home on November 4, 2022. He was 61. In keeping with his wishes, there will be no services held. In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to newyork.usrun forthefallen.org.

To send condolences please visit www.ottmanfu neralhome.com

Arrangements were entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley, New York.

Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar.

Photo provided SUSAN R. HUGHSON

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTIce is hereby given that there has been duly intro duced before the board of Repre sentatives of the county of Otsego, New York, a Local Law entitled: A Lo cal Law amending Local Law No. 1 of 2013 by changing each Representa tive’s number of votes as determined by the 2020 census and as required by Local Law No. 2 of 2003.

NOTIce is further given that the board of Representatives will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Local Law in the Repre sentatives cham bers at the county Office building in the Village of cooperstown, New York on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 9:50 a.m. at which time all persons interested will be heard. The location of the public hearing is accessible to per sons with mobility impairment.

The public hearing will be streamed via Facebook Live on the official Otsego county Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/ Otsego-county-NY102347451408765/ A copy of this Local Law is available on the Otsego county website.

Dated: December 1, 2022

carol D. mcGovern clerk of the board of Representatives Otsego county, New York

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Public Notice is hereby given Under Sec. 182 NYS Lien Law, that property described as con tents of storage unit, will be sold at public auction at 1:00 Pm on December 3rd, 2022 at Rt. 23 Self Storage of Oneonta, 8745 St Hwy 23, Oneonta NY. The sale of such property is to satisfy the lien of Rt23 Self Stor age of Oneonta on property stored for the accounts of:

Unit # 722

Tanya Ryan LegaL nOtice

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

NOTIce IS HeRebY GIVeN that sealed bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. on December 15, 2022, at the Village Office at 22 main Street,

cooperstown, New York by the Village clerk of the Village of cooperstown for the purchase of 35,000 gallons of No. 2 Heating Oil and 11,050 gallons of LP gas for heat ing. The success ful bidder will be obligated to deliver the purchased oil and/or LP gas dur ing the time period beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023. Specifications may be obtained from the Village Office at 22 main St., cooperstown, New York, monday-Fri day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by calling (607) 5472411. bids must be submitted on or before 2:00 p.m. on December 15, 2022 in a sealed envelope addressed to the Vil lage clerk, Village of cooperstown and marked “bID-FUeL OIL/LP Gas” and may not be with drawn within thirty (30) days after the bid opening. Faxed bid proposals will not be accepted.

bidders are advised not to rely on the Postal Service or any other mail de livery service for the timely and proper delivery of their bid proposals. The Vil lage of cooperstown reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Dated: November 30th, 2022

Jenna L. Utter Village clerk Village of cooperstown 22 main Street cooperstown, NY 13326 607-547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooper stownny.org (email)

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF SAS 237 LLc

Articles of Organi zation filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 10/30/2022

Office: Otsego county SSNY has been des ignated as the LLc’s agent upon whom process against it may be served A copy of process should be mailed to the LLc at: 16 Lakeview Drive S cooperstown, NY 13326

Purpose: all lawful.

6LegalJan.5

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.

Name: 19 GLeN LLc

Articles of Orga

nization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 17 November 2022.

Office location: Otsego county. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLc upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 130 chestnut St, Apt 1R, cooperstown, NY 13326.

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

6LegalJan.5

LegaL

LEGALS

against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Karen Kropp, 153 county Highway 58, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: any lawful activity.

6LegalDec.29

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF exotic Smoke & Snacks, LLc

SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 54 State Highway 357, Unadilla, NY 13849 Purpose: all lawful 6LegalDec.22

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF JHAK SPAce Tc, LLc

2022.

The county in which the principal place of business of the company shall be located is Otsego county.

nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Name: mANOR HOUSe FARmS ReNTALS LLc

Articles of Orga nization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 21 November 2022.

Office location: Otsego county. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLc upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 115 central Park West, Apt 16D, New York, NY 10023.

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

6LegalJan.5

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Name: AKUmeL, LLc

Articles of Orga nization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 21 November 2022.

Office location: Otsego county. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLc upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 15 South St, cooperstown, NY 13326.

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

6LegalJan.5

LegaL

Filed 10/20/22. cty: Otsego. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail 389 chestnut St, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purp: any lawful.

6LegalDec.29

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

NAme: LTb GcP consulting LLc

Articles of Orga nization were filed with the Secretary of the State of New York (SSNY) on 11/09/2022.

Office location: Otsego county. SSNY has desig nated as agent of the LLc upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLc, 516 Light Hill Rd., morris, NY 13808.

Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

6LegalDec.22

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF metals-n-Petals, LLc

Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/9/22.

Office in Otsego co. SSNY desig. agent of LLc whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 263 county Highway 21, West Winfield, NY 13491.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalDec.22

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 49 Susquehanna LLc

Filed 8/10/22

Articles of Or ganization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 10/11/22.

The office of the LLc is to be located in Otsego county.

The Secretary of State has been des ignated as agent of the LLc upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLc served upon him to: The LLc, 1700 York Ave., 1P, NY, NY 10128.

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

6LegalDec.22

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY:

The name of the limited liability company is: Sayer Trucking, LLc (the company”).

The date of filing of the Articles of Organization of the company with the Secretary of State was November 1, 2022.

The county in which the principal place of business of the company shall be located is Otsego county.

The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the company upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the company, to Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP, Attn: christopher L. Roma, 80 exchange Street, Ste. 700, binghamton, NY 13901.

The purpose of the business of the company is any lawful business purpose.

6LegalDec.15

LegaL nOtice

The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the company upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the company, to Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP, Attn: christopher L. Roma, 80 exchange Street, Ste. 700, binghamton, NY 13901.

The purpose of the business of the company is any lawful business purpose.

6LegalDec.15

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY UNDER NEW YORK LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW

1. The name of the limited liability company (“LLc”) is cJP Homes LLc

2. The date of filing of the Articles of Or ganization with the Secretary of State is November 3, 2022.

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

4. The Secretary of State of the State of New York is hereby designated as agent of the LLc upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLc served upon him or her is: 17 Pine Street, Oneonta, NY 13820.

5. The character or purpose of the busi ness of the LLc is any purpose allowed by law.

6LegalDec.15

LegaL nOtice

NOTIce OF ORGANIZATION OF LImITeD LIAbILITY cOmPANY

Secretary of State has been designated as agent upon whom process against the company may be served. The post office address to which the Secre tary of State shall mail process is c/o LLc, P.O. box 328, cooperstown, New York 13326

FIFTH: The pur pose of the business of the company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Limited Liability company Law.

6LegalDec.15

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Name: Golden Ridge Growers, LLc

Articles of Orga nization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) 08/24/2022.

county: Otsego. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLc upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 405 Jumps Rd, Oneonta, NY 13820.

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

6LegalDec.15

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

Name of LLC: mOTORSPORTS mADNeSS SUP PLY cOmPANY LLc Date of filing of Articles of Orga nization with the NY Department of State: October 24, 2022

Office of the LLC: Otsego county The New York Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom the process may be served. The Secretary of State may mail a copy of any process to the LLc at: michael Anzelone or Lowell Wilsey 3641 State Highway 205 Hartwick, New York 13348.

Purpose of the LLC: Any Lawful Purpose 6LegalDec.8

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 61 eLm

ONeONTA, LLc

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/18/22.

Office: Otsego county.

SSNY designated as agent of the LLc upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLc, 1055 Franklin Avenue, Suite 206, Garden city, NY 11530.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalDec.8

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

Stop & Drop Dog Toilet LLc

Auth. filed w/ SSNY 10/24/22.

Off. in Otsego co. cert of Form filed w/ SSDe 10/18/22.

SSNY desig. as agt. of LLc whom pro cess may be served & shall mail process to the LLc, PO box 71, Oneonta, NY 13820.

of LLc whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 8053 State Route 51, West Winfield, NY 13491.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.1

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Name: D. J. beRNARD AND ASSOcI ATeS, LLc

Articles of Orga nization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 18 October 2022.

Office location: Otsego county. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLc upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 21 Delaware St, cooperstown, NY 13326.

Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws 6LegalDec.1

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Name: bLUebIRD HAUS LLc

nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF by The books consulting, LLc

Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/2/22.

Office location: Otsego county.

SSNY designated as agent of LLc upon whom process

Office: Otsego co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 46 elm Street, cooperstown, NY 13326

Purpose: all lawful

6LegalDec.22

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Vintage Giraffe LLc

Filed 8/1/22 Office: Otsego co.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY:

The name of the limited liability company is: Twelve black cats, LLc (the “company”). The date of filing of the Articles of Organization of the company with the Secretary of State was November 1,

FIRST: The name of the Limited Li ability company is colmena Acres LLc (hereinafter referred to as the “com pany”).

SECOND: The Ar ticles of Organiza tion of the company were filed with the New York State Secretary of State on October 26, 2022.

THIRD: The county within New York in which the office of the com pany is to be located is Otsego.

FOURTH: The

Office of the LLC: Otsego county The New York Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served. The Secretary of State may mail a copy of any process to the LLc at: michael Anzelone or Lowell Wilsey 3641 State Highway 205 Hartwick, New York 13348.

Purpose of the LLC: Any Lawful Purpose 6LegalDec.8 LegaL nOtice

NOTICE

OF FORMATION OF

Name of LLC: UPSTATe bAGGeD Ice LLc

Date of filing of Articles of Orga nization with the NY Department of State: October 25, 2022

Add. maintained in De: c/o Accumera LLc, 3500 S. Dupont Hwy, Dover, De 19901. Name & add. of auth. officer in De where cert of Form filed: SSDe, Div. of corp, 401 Federal St, Ste. 4, Dover, De 19901.

Any lawful purpose.

6LegalDec.8

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Stop-In Smoke, LLc

Filed 10/6/22.

cty: Otsego. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail 5831 St Hwy 7, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Purp: any lawful.

6LegalDec.8

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

UFirst movers & Logistics, LLc

Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 10/19/22. Office in Otsego co. SSNY desig. agent

Articles of Orga nization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 18 October 2022. Office location: Otsego county. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLc upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 85 chestnut St, Apt 2, cooperstown, NY 13326.

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

6LegalDec.1

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

Tickled Pink bbQ LLc

Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/10/2022.

Office loc: Otsego county. Registered Agent Inc. designated as agent of the LLc upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 4128 co Hwy 11, cooperstown, NY 13326.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalDec.1

by IAN KeNYON ONeONTA

At the early age of 5, a young Arjun Verma embarked on the tutelage that would ultimately shape his life. Verma, son of world-renown sitarist Roop Verma, fondly recalled the initial experiences that impressed upon him not only a curiosity but an affection for the sitar—that quickly advanced him from young enthusiast to joining his father on stage before the Yoga Society of New York in 1992 at a mere 7 years old.

Arjun recalled. “The sitar has always been part of the fabric of my life and really took off when a student of my father’s had conveniently gifted a child-size sitar to him at just the opportune moment.”

While Roop—an Oneonta resident since 1987—passed away in march of 2017 after giving his final concert for the Oneonta concert Association, the mastery and spirit of his talent continued on in Arjun. In a return to Oneonta last week, Arjun deliv ered two performances to the community: first on Wednesday, November 2 at SUNY Oneonta, followed by a full performance last Friday evening at the First United methodist church, as part of the OcA’s 2022-23 season. In both performances, Arjun was accompa nied by noted tabla player Naren budhakar.

“my father would always encourage me to find and express the ‘soul quality’ in the music, as he put it. The music was not just to entertain, but to feed the hearts and souls of the listeners—that quite possibly being

one of the most valuable teachings he gave me,” Arjun noted.

Arjun’s appearance at SUNY Oneonta was part of a lecture presentation, “Northern Indian classical music: The Spontaneity of creation,” supported by the university’s music department, OcA and the catskill conservatory. A musical advo cate for North Indian classical music and Hindustani classical music, Arjun stressed the significance and impact of engaging with students on campus.

“I always love presenting for universityage students, as it is the perfect moment in their lives to be able to introduce this music with some complexity, and before students are set in their musical tastes and ideas,” he explained. “In general, it is personally important to introduce this music to new listeners across all age groups, as it is still a nice genre and cultivating a strong listener ship will ensure its flourishing in the next century and beyond.”

Arjun’s performances are snapshots of the musician’s lifelong dedication to the sitar. Talking about his journey as a musi cian, Arjun emphasized that the sitar—a “really unforgiving and demanding instru ment”—proved equal parts easy and diffi cult over the years. He credited his father’s careful and diligent training for the natural adoption of techniques and approaches to mastering the instrument.

Further following in his father, Roop’s, footsteps, Arjun honed his talent and ulti mately found himself under the instruction of his father’s teacher, maestro Ali Akbar

Khan, at the Ali Akbar college of music. Arjun emphasized the extreme challenge in working to meet the musical demands under the direction of a world-ranking maestro.

“The greatest fortune of my life was to study with maestro Khan for eight years until his death in 2009. He solidified and radically deepened my approach to music and I continue to study his teachings,” Arjun said.

Arjun credits not only the maestro Khan for his development as a sitarist, but also

the maestro’s son, Alam Khan, who he considers a lifelong “older brother” that has not only served as a mentor but a personal influence in further acquainting with the tradition. Arjun himself continues to share his talents and teachings around the world, having previously performed in places including the United Nations in Geneva, at the Rainbow Festival of Light at Prague castle in the czech Republic, the Fillmore in San Francisco, the Global Healing Foundation, and numerous live and online events across North America and europe.

Asked about the year ahead, Arjun’s mission to continue sharing music with as many people as he can will take him throughout North and South America, europe, and India. When not on the road, 2023 will be a year of producing new work including multiple albums, music videos and several singles. When asked about his time back in Oneonta, the hometown senti ment is undeniable.

“Oneonta is my home and it’s always great to see longtime friends when I return, and share this most important part of my life with the community. I look forward to my next return home to perform again,” he said.

Now a resident of San Francisco, Arjun added one last truth known to all locals: “And of course, we don’t see these beau tiful fall colors in San Francisco.”

Arjun’s work can be found on major social media platforms and music sites including Spotify and Amazon at “@ sitarify.”

Photo courtesy of arjun-verma.com

SITARIST ARJUN VERMA

‘Promise for Parkie’ Matching Challenge Is Now Underway

by DARLA m. YOUNGS cOOPeRSTOWN

Thirty-one days. That’s how long the Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of cruelty to Animals (SQSPcA) has to raise $100,000.00 in order to earn an additional $25,000.00.

“Promise for Parkie,” the SQSPcA’s special yearend annual fund campaign, kicked off on Giving Tuesday, November 29. Traditionally the Tuesday after Thanksgiving since its inception in 2012, Giving Tuesday is a national day of giving back to good causes.

Now through December 31, shelter supporters beth and Gary Glynn will donate an additional $5,000.00 to the SQSPcA for every $20,000.00 raised, up to $100,000.00.

“because of this very generous matching chal lenge from the Glynns, we have the potential to earn an additional $25,000.00 if we can meet our $100,000.00 goal,” said SQSPcA executive Director Stacie Haynes.

“This challenge comes at a crucial time, as it takes the place of the Save A Life campaign the shelter has participated in for the last several years, just in case folks have been holding their donations for the start of that fund drive,” Haynes added.

The Glynn’s matching challenge, “Promise for Parkie,” is a memoriam to their dog, Parker, one of several beloved Glynn family dachshunds who has crossed the rainbow bridge.

“beth and Gary’s love for animals in general, and for their dachshunds in particular, is something really special,” Haynes continued. “We cannot thank them enough for this generous challenge or for their ongoing support of the SQSPcA and our mission.”

Thanks to their significant donation to the SHeLTeR US capital campaign, the SQSPcA’s state-of-the-art building—which opened in July of 2021—is called “Fenton and Nanette’s House,” also named for cherished dachshunds the Glynns have loved and lost.

Since the grand opening of its state-of-the-art, multimillion dollar facility last

July, the SQSPcA has proven to be a good invest ment for those who donated to the capital campaign.

“As of November 27 of this year, shelter staff has cared for 1,345 animals. That’s a 9 percent increase over 2021 year-end figures, which broke all previous shelter records,” said Haynes. “And we still have another month to go.”

According to Haynes, adoptions at the SQSPcA are up 17 percent from last year during the same time period, and the shelter’s average length of stay for cats and dogs is signifi cantly lower than both the state and national averages.

contributions to the “Promise for Parkie” campaign can be made through Saturday, December 31 online at www. sqspca.org/donate/, by mail at 5082-5088 State Highway 28, cooperstown, NY 13326, or in person.

The SQSPcA, located at 5082-5088 State Highway 28, cooperstown, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with new evening hours on Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. Appointments to meet animals are advised to avoid wait times by calling 607-547-8111, but walk-ins are also welcome.

Exhibit

contined from Page 1 Novak, Sandra charles, Greta chapin-mcGill, Harper bella, Vitus Shell, Taylor Sanders and carla Rae Johnson. many of these artists know the generational importance of the right to vote, carrying with them personal stories of parents, grandparents, and other family members fighting for that right.

“When facing a clear and present danger to our democracy, to do nothing would suggest indifference, or worse. Our right to vote is the most precious tool we have, the second is our voice. If we can’t count on our vote, we need to raise our collective voices,” said mark Golden, chief execu tive officer and co-founder of Golden Artist colors.

“Artists have always provided the most articulate voice to help us see what we often don’t want to see. This exhibition, especially at this time, will be, in some measure, a clarion call to help us protect the ballot.”

Project Director Jimmy Nunn Jr., a cGP alum, commented, “The past decade has been a turbulent and often terrifying time for Americans, specifically African Americans, as it relates to the stability of our democracy and the security of our right to vote. As a young black man growing up in Selma, Alabama, I heard many first-hand stories about the sacrifices made for the hard-won liber ties you and I have today from people who were front and center during the civil rights movement.

“The artists who have created work for this exhi bition were chosen because they know that we still need to fight to protect those liberties and have decided to use their talents, their voice, to advocate for equality and justice,” Nunn said.

The exhibition will open next year on October 13 at

Golden Artist colors’ Sam and Adele Golden Gallery in New berlin, with the hope that it will travel to other institutions throughout 2023 and 2024. This exhibi tion comes at an important time, as we reach a critical tipping point in our democ racy; the protection of the vote for every American is essential to the strength and fundamental integrity of our democracy.

“It simply isn’t enough to make statements on our websites declaring ‘equity, diversity and inclusion.’ This show, which Golden Artist colors is helping to sponsor, is about using our resources to amplify the voices of artists and their passion to make clear the barriers that continue to exist at this crucial time in our Democracy,” Golden said. “It is absolutely ambi tious, yet to do nothing is to simply accept the injustices as they currently exist.”

Art has the power to spur dialogue and inspire action; the goal of this exhibition is to remind Americans of the relentless struggle for voting rights and the need, in a democracy, to be vigi lant watchdogs of civil rights.

“With this exhibition, we just want to join the conver sation, keep people talking, and encourage Americans to use their voices—to vote,” Nunn added.

County Tourism Launches Website

OTSeGO cOUNTY—earlier this year, Destination marketing corporation—Otsego county’s tourism promo tion agency—launched a new website, “We Go Otsego,” with the primary goal of connecting residents with local tourism businesses offering activities, especially during the shoulder season, when the businesses rely more heavily on resident traffic, rather than visitors. The site is intended as a way for Otsego county residents to learn about the countless opportunities to explore their own backyard. The event calendar is just one element of the site, which also features information on attractions, outdoor recreation and activities. In short, “We Go Otsego” is a one-stop-shop for residents, local businesses and college students who want to maximize their experience in Otsego county. To view local events and learn more about the area, visit www.WeGoOtsego.com. To promote an event on We Go Otsego, reach out to the tourism office at (607) 322-4046.

ONeONTA—Following a twoyear, pandemic-forced hiatus, the Fokine ballet company’s production of “The Nutcracker” is back on the stage at SUNY Oneonta’s Goodrich Theatre this December 16 and 17.

The return of the Fokine ballet company’s Nutcracker also brings the return of Oneonta native, Kouadio Davis, who will be star ring in the role of cavalier. Growing up in Oneonta, Davis was a student of the Fokine ballet company and the Holbrook-Wade School of Dance. He is a graduate of ellison ballet and is in his third professional season with Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Donna Decker, artistic director of the Fokine ballet company, says, “We are thrilled to have Kouadio back with us! We look forward to his performance and the opportunity for our young dancers to meet him and learn about his journey to becoming a professional dancer.”

Showtimes are Friday, December 16 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 17 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are available online at https://fokineballetcom pany.square.site/ and will also be available at the box office before each performance.

what’s fun in and around OtsegO

BEST BETS

OTeGO—chris cleveland, lead singer of christian contemporary music group Stars Go Dim, will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 at Otsego christian Academy’s audito rium. Stars Go Dim has been a mainstay in the christian music scene, with numerous songs hitting the charts and two number one singles. Admission is free with an offering. The concert is being sponsored by Otsego christian Academy, 353 main Street, Otego, and calvary Hill ministries. call (607) 432 4926 or go to calvaryhillretreat.org for more information.

ONeONTA—bigger Dreams Productions invites community members to “start creating that ugly sweater right now” for the Ugly Sweater Dance and Holiday Toy Drive on Saturday, December 3 in the Foothills Performing Arts and civic center. The dance runs from 7-10 p.m. in the Foothills atrium at 24 market Street. According to the organizers, there will be snacks, a cash bar, karaoke by dona tion, and “great music, great fun, and great people.” Admission is $10.00 and those attending are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the toy drive. Tickets are available by visiting www. biggerdreamsproductions.org.

cOOPeRSTOWN—Fenimore Art museum is currently hosting an exhibi tion of abstract sculptures by Jonathan

All

OTSeGO.

Kirk, titled “Fables, Foibles and Other Machinations.” The exhibit, on view through December 31, was introduced by Kirk as a portrayal of his use of, and—in his words “torturing”—small wooden tiles to create images that only represent themselves, yet suggest a metaphor ical context to shapes encountered in daily life. Kirk holds a bFA from St. martins School of Art in London and an mFA from Syracuse University. He continues to work and reside in Utica. Fenimore Art museum is located at 798 State Route 80, cooperstown. For more information, call (607) 5471400 or visit www.fenimoreartmu seum.org

* * *

HARTWIcK—creek Side Station, 3193 State Route 205, will host a Holiday Artisan Pop Up Shop on Saturday, December 3 from 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m. The day will feature local vendors, a food truck and holiday festivities: something for everyone!

Organizers expect just under 30 vendors this year, after a successful first event in 2021, including: All the Perks coffee truck, An-Draw Studio Art, b. Hall-Quilts, bear Nakid, chalk couture, changing Seasons, cooperstown High Dressage club, crystal Snow Gifts, elm creek Farm, Fly creek Flowers, Ginger Girl Gifts, Hello Gorgeous, Hulse Hill Farm, Lewelyn Photography, Loftus (amazing dog treats), maple Hill Sugar Farm, momma-dukes main Street Treats, Our country Home, Parmalee, Rc Oster, Scentsy, 31 bags, The Silver Dragonfly, Turner & moulton (vintage bags), Upstate Spice company, Welsh evergreens, and Wood Dragons Garden LLc

dining&entertainment

Photo by caspar ewig

Jonathan Kirk sculptures with intriguing titles such as “Puffing Billy,” “Turbinia” and “Sousaphone” are on display at Fenimore Art Museum through the end of December.

brought to you by jeanne graham, owner of the former lemon tree

Photo provided KOUADIO DAVIS

►Friday, dec. 2

HOLIDAY WEEKEND 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit the shops of Cherry Valley throughout the day with a tree lighting from 5-8 attended by Santa, The Happy Haggs, a fire jug gler, as well as live music and entertainment at various loca tions throughout the village of Cherry Valley. Visit cherryval ley.com/events/cherry-valleyholiday-weekend Continues 12/3 and 12/4.

WALKING CLUB 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. All are invited to walk on the gym floor and track with friends old and new while listening to music from the 60s & 70s. Free to those aged 62+. Clark Sports Cen ter, Cooperstown. (607) 5472800 or visit clarksportscen ter.com Also held 12/5.

VISIT WITH SANTA 35 p.m. Visit with Santa in Cooperstown to tell him all about your Christmas wish list. Santa’s Cottage, Pioneer Park, Cooperstown. Visit facebook.com/cooperstown chamber.

LANTERN TOUR 3-8 p.m. Explore the historic village in its winter finery in an hourlong tour. Guides will take guests around the sparkling grounds by lantern light and share stories of Decembers past, Christmas stories, and how the holidays were celebrated in Upstate New York. Limited to 14/tour. Registration required. Tickets, $20/adult. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. (607) 547-1450. Also held 12/3.

FESTIVAL OF TREES 5-7 p.m. Decorate your own 6-ft. artificial Christmas tree (must include, but not limited to, a garland, lights, tree topper, skirt and ornaments), spon sor a tree to be decorated on your behalf ($150), and enter to win your favorite tree in the raffle on 12/3. Come see the holiday creativity on display. Held at the Foothills Perform ing Arts and Civic Center, Oneonta. (607) 376-7599 or visit destinationoneonta. com/holiday-fun

HOLIDAY MARKET 58 p.m. The holiday season has arrived and the gallery at 25 Main is celebrating the opening of the Holiday Marketplace (open through 12/24). Open house includes refreshments, tree and busi ness light-up, and a kick-off for the Cherry Valley Holiday Weekend. 25 Main Collective, 25 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-5340 or visit face book.com/25maincollective

HOLIDAY OPEN MIC 6 p.m. Stop in for the first Friday open mic featuring local art ists sharing original poems, song, dance, short story and much more. Children present first, followed by adults. The theme this month is “Family Traditions.” Admission is by donation. Enjoy this vibrant evening and stop at the other art, shops, and more this first Friday. The Telegraph School, 83 Alden Street, Cherry Val ley. Visit thetelegraphschool. org

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 7 p.m. Catskill Choral Soci ety holds their Christmas

Concert for the first time in three years. “Christmas with Brass” concert features the choir with 11 piece brass ensemble, piccolo and per cussion performing “12 Days of Christmas,” “Christmas Cantata,” and “The Angel Choir and The Trumpeter.’ Tickets, $25/adult & $20/se nior. First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 435-7008 or visit catskillchoralsociety. com. Also on 12/3.

PLANETARIUM NIGHT 7 p.m. The public is invited to explore the cosmos with the powerful Digistar 6 digital planetarium system in a show hosted by SUNY Oneonta faculty, staff and students. Free, open to the public. Registration REQUIRED. A. J. Read Science Discovery Center, SUNY Oneonta. Visit facebook.com/AJReadSDC/ ►Saturday, dec. 3

HOLIDAY WREATH 9 a.m. to noon. Join Oneonta Garden Club members Wendy Willis and Sharon Herrmann for a fun Holiday Grapevine Wreath workshop. Admission, $15-$20. Supplies included. Registration required. Lord & Lady Farm, 2443 State Highway 28, Oneonta. Visit facebook.com/profile. php?id=100067969369937

HOLIDAY PARADE 10 a.m. Come out for some holiday cheer and celebrate Santa’s arrival in the “Home for the Holidays” Parade. Followed by the Mice on Main Scavenger hunt. Main Street Oneonta. (607) 376-7599 or visit destinationoneonta. com/holiday-fun

ARTISAN FAIR 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Sharon Springs Chamber of Commerce presents a fair featuring local vendors, food, beverages, holiday music, Candy Cane Hunt, Santa and a tree light ing at Chalybeate Park. Main Street, Sharon Springs. (518) 339-4792 or visit sharon springschamber.org/holiday artisanfaire

HOLIDAY RUN 10 a.m. Break out your ugli est holiday sweater for this fun “Rockin’ Around Cooperstown” Run/Walk. Shake off the holiday meals, visit the shops in the village, bring the kids for a Santa visit and get in Santa’s good graces because the proceeds of this run support Helios Care. Registration required, $25/individual. Presented by Clark Sports Center. Begins on Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-2800 or visit clarksportscenter.com/ events/2022-rockin-aroundcooperstown-ugly-sweaterrunwalk/ GINGERBREAD JUBI LEE 11 a.m. Community members, organizations, businesses and others create their most creative ginger bread houses on the theme of their favorite board game. Foothills Performing Arts Cen ter, Oneonta. (607) 376-7599 or visit destinationoneonta. com/holiday-fun FESTIVAL OF TREES 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Decorate your own 6-ft. artificial Christmas tree (must include, but not limited to, a garland, lights, tree topper, skirt and orna ments), sponsor a tree to be decorated on your behalf ($150), and enter to win your favorite tree in the raffle. Come see the holiday creativ ity on display. Held at the Foothills Performing Arts Cen ter, Oneonta. (607) 376-7599 or visit destinationoneonta. com/holiday-fun ART WORKSHOP 1-3 p.m. Drop in to make a book with artist Jenn LeJeune. All materials/instruction provided during the Cherry Valley Holiday Weekend. 25 Main Collective, 25 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-5340 or visit facebook. com/25maincollective/ VISIT WITH SANTA 24 p.m. Visit with Santa in Cooperstown to tell him all about your Christmas wish list. Santa’s Cottage, Pioneer Park, Cooperstown. Visit facebook.com/cooperstown chamber. Also held 12/4, FESTIVE STRINGS 3 p.m. Join the Fenimore Cham ber Orchestra for a holiday concert featuring the strings section performing works by Mozart, Dvořák and more, conducted by Maestro Maciej Żółtowski. Tickets, $40/per

son. Christ Episcopal Church, 46 River Street, Cooperstown. Visit facebook.com/feni moreco

LIFESKILLS 4-6 p.m. Teens are invited to learn to cook with Lynn. Menu posted to FB. Seating limited, reser vations required. Presented by The Oneonta Teen Center. 50 Dietz St., Oneonta. 607 441 3999 or visit facebook. com/oneonta.teencenter

►Sunday, dec. 4

ART WORKSHOP 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Drop in to make pinch pots with artist Suzanna VS Hunter. All mate rials/instruction provided dur ing the Cherry Valley Holiday Weekend. 25 Main Collective, 25 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-5340 or visit face book.com/25maincollective/ HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 3:30 p.m. Bring the kids out for the “Christmas For The Children” open house by the Richfield Springs Garden Club at the library to explore, enjoy the decoration, cookies and punch. Richfield Springs Pub lic Library, 102 Main Street, Richfield Springs. (315) 9770090 or visit facebook.com/ Richfield-Springs-Public-Li brary-1068210423236404/

TREE LIGHTING 5:30 p.m. Light the village Christmas Tree in Spring Park, Richfield Springs. Visit facebook.com/RichfieldSprings-Public-Library1068210423236404/

►Monday, dec. 5

BOOK DISCUSSION 1:30 p.m. Author Joanne Tubbs

Kelly, an Oneonta Native, will sign her book, “Walking Him Home: Helping My Husband Die with Dignity,” about her and her husband’s experi ence with receiving medical aid in dying in Colorado. All are invited for the potentially lively discussion. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chest nut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980 or visit https:// www.facebook.com/hmlo neonta/

FUNDRAISER 4-8 p.m. Order dinner from Panera Bread and mention the code FUND4U during your order to have 20% of your bill be donated to the Superheroes Humane Society. Panera Bread, Southside Mall park ing lot, 5006 State Route 23, Suite 24, Oneonta.

INTEREST MEETING 6 p.m. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are invited to discuss beginning a support group for the local LGBTQ+ community. Meeting is hybrid and cohosted by the Otsego Pride Alliance. Held at The Telegraph School, 83 Alden Street, Cherry Valley. Visit thetelegraphschool.org

►WedneSday, dec. 7

OPENING RECEPTION 46 p.m. Celebrate opening of exhibit, “Reduce, Re-use, Refuse,” featuring works created by Cynthia Falk’s visual anthropology class on the waste created by our disposables-focused culture and how to act sustainably.

Open Space Gallery, SUNY Oneonta. (607) 436-2445 or visit https://suny.oneonta. edu/art-galleries

Photo by Ted mebust

Santa arrived at his Cooperstown cottage on Friday, November 25.