The Freeman's Journal & Hometown Oneonta 2022 Yearbook

From bouncing baby girls to champion color guard to goat yoga, this pictorial account of 2022 is as diverse as our readership. We hope you enjoy these highlights of Otsego County happenings from this past year, and we look forward to bringing you the area’s news in 2023. Happy New Year to you and yours!

WEEK 23

Photo provided EDITION OF JANUARY 6: Bassett Healthcare Network’s Birthing Center in Cooperstown welcomed the first baby of 2022 at 4:14 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Lilliana Rose was born a week early to parents Eliana wand Israel Matos of Utica.

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EDITION OF AUGUST 11: The Otsego County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of a sick eagle at Brookwood Point. The bird has since recovered and was released at the same location in October.

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EDITION OF JUNE 9: Otsego County Rep. Rick Brockway, CNY Purple Heart Commander Joe Fraccola, Rep. Margaret Kennedy, Adj. Reising, and Board Chair David Bliss stand with Otsego County Purple Heart recipients Joe Borawa, Ed Seals, Doug Rifenberg, Warren Ryther, Grant Coates, and Robert Coulman, brother of Staff Sgt. Kevin Coulman, who was killed in action in Lebanon.

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EDITION OF JANUARY 13: The Lofts on Dietz Street, downtown Oneonta’s $19 million project aimed at attracting artists and middle-income families, takes shape as officials look toward opening later this year.

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EDITION OF JANUARY 20: Motel 88 in Oneonta does not have a happy history. Formerly known as the Oasis Motor Inn, the lodging saw drug busts and suicides, and carried a local reputation for a generally seedy atmosphere. To add to its unhappiness, a fire broke out last week, and it remains under investigation. But according to the Oneonta Police Department, the criminal element at Motel 88, and other motels like it, is related to the temporary housing they provide.

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EDITION OF JANUARY 27: MLB Network analysts Brian Kenny, left, and Jon Morosi, right, deliver their program from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum gallery on Monday, one day before the Hall announced its Class of 2022 inductee, David “Big Papi” Ortiz.

Photo by Kathleen Peters

EDITION OF FEBRUARY 3: That’s mama goat—named Susan Sontag— wondering who put the sweaters on her newborns as the barely one-day-old babies probably wonder why it suddenly got so cold. We’re told the kids remain nameless at press time, so send us your suggestions for the photogenic little ones!

Photo by Tara Barnwell

EDITION OF FEBRUARY 10: Telly couldn’t have been happier than to get on the ice and snow that fell on Cooperstown last week. The two-year-old Bernedoodle enjoyed playing and relaxing on the snowbank in front of her mom Jen Howard’s shop, Cooperstown Classics, on Main Street.

Lake The Blue Mingo Grill

Sam Smith’s Boat Rentals

The Mingo Market

Photo by Larissa Ryan

EDITION OF FEBRUARY 17: The SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Volunteer Diving Team held an ice-dive training on Saturday, February 12 for the first time this winter with the ice a foot thick and the air temperatures in the 40s. The dive team works with the field station and the Village of Cooperstown to maintain buoys, science instruments and study the ecosystem of Otsego Lake. From left: Ed Lentz (safety officer), Lucas LeTarte holding the safety line, Kari Minissale noting the divers’ direction, Wayne Bunn, Tiffany Valenti and PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer Paul Lord. Diving are Noel Odell and David Turner.

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EDITION OF FEBRUARY 24: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-21) gets a pulverizer demonstration from Andela Products Production Manager Dave Spencer in Richfield Springs.

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EDITION OF MARCH 10: Longtime Oneonta Mayor David Brenner died in March after a long illness. Along with his public service as mayor and as a member of the Otsego County Board, he worked at SUNY Oneonta for 33 years, rising to the post of associate vice president for academic affairs at the university.

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EDITION OF MARCH 17: The Village of Cooperstown’s Board of Trustees voted to raise the Ukrainian flag alongside the United States flag at the entrance to Village Hall on Main Street, welcoming Ukrainian emigre Aliona Yezhova, her son, Joshua Echavarria, and fellow village residents to a brief March 11 commemoration. Joshua, a sixth-grader at Cooperstown Central School, carried with him a handpainted Ukrainian flag emblazoned with a peace sign.

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EDITION OF MARCH 24: Dutchess County Executive and Republican candidate in the race for Otsego County’s 19th Congressional District, Marc Molinaro, teamed up with New York State Senator Peter Oberacker and Assemblyman Chris Tague to visit the Singh Family’s Apple Food & Grocery on Route 28 in Milford to discuss small business challenges. From left: Malkit Singh, Tony Singh, Inderjit Singh, Paul Singh, Monty Singh, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, Gurdev Singh, Assemblyman Chris Tague, Senator Peter Oberacker, Harry Singh and his daughter, Javin Singh, and Billy Singh.

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EDITION OF MARCH 3: New York lawmakers meet this month to finalize a state spending plan for 2022-23 due April 1, and included in the debate is a proposal that would allow restaurants to again offer the “cocktails-to-go” permitted under an Andrew Cuomo pandemic executive order that has expired.

EDITION OF APRIL 21: Monday night’s surprise

one’s

WEEK 19

Since 1925, the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc. Funeral Home has been serving families in the Cooperstown area with dignity and caring compassion. We are independently owned and operated and provide a full range of services, including cremation and ground burial.

Our mission is a commitment to helping you and your family throughout a most difficult time of your life by helping to lighten the burden caused by the death of a loved one. Through understanding and attention to every detail, we will assist in planning all aspects of a funeral or memorial service.

— Peter Deysenroth

Peter A. Deysenroth 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown 607-547-8231 www.cooperstownfuneralhome.com

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EDITION OF MARCH 31: Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek whipped up a big posse of students from across the city’s three elementary schools, finding an enthusiastic bunch at every stop eager to tell him their favorite things about living and playing in Oneonta. As part of his “Week of the Young Child” initiative, the mayor asked the kids to draw a picture, take a photo or write a story showing why they love the city. The students’ artwork was displayed in City Hall, throughout downtown Oneonta and on the city’s social media pages. The kids at Greater Plains Elementary—the mayor’s first stop of the morning on March 24—were quick to sign up and are looking forward to the certificate Mayor Drnek will send to them to say “thanks” for their creativity. He stopped later at Valleyview and Riverside, taking questions from the students who all wanted to know what it’s like to be mayor, what he does every day, and, of course, “how old are you?”

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EDITION OF APRIL 7: The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market and the Cooperstown Lions Club marked their third year of providing food-insecure individuals and families with easy access to healthy local food. People shopping with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) at the farmers’ market can buy vegetables, fruit, cheese, meats and other items, such as vegetable plants. The Cooperstown Lions Club funds SNAP Match, which provides up to $15 in matching funds to shoppers using SNAP.

Photo by Tara Barnwell

nor’easter was on no

wish list and it caused a lot of damage throughout Otsego County, leaving more than 18,000 without electricity. With outages lasting up to 72 hours, the county’s Office of Emergency Services opened two emergency shelters and prepared dry ice and water distribution centers. Pictured above on Cooperstown’s Chestnut Street are Lloyd Stillson, left, and Tylar Thayer.

Photo courtesy of Carol Louden

EDITION OF APRIL 14: Meet the Laurens Central School Jaguars SA-1 Winter Guard, fresh off their championship turn at the Mid York Color Guard Circuit’s competition on April 2 in Clifton Park. Top row, left to right, Athena Saggese, Sophie Gilmore, and Mackenzie Budine; center row, left to right, Sierra Rondeau, Natalie Davis, Mallory Kovacs, and Alexis Cole; lower row, left to right, Alicia Stevens, Isabella Failla, Emma Hughes, and Mackenzie Louden.

Photo by Tara Barnwell

EDITION OF APRIL 28: An application filed on behalf of the Leatherstocking Corporation to demolish the historic Fly Creek Hotel and the barn behind it at the corner of Route 28 and Schoolhouse Road in Fly Creek triggered a 2017 local law allowing the public to comment on the plans. Town of Otsego officials anticipated an “interesting” session on May 3.

Photo by Tara Barnwell

EDITION OF MAY 12: Jim Kaat made a pre-induction visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, saying, “This is humbling. Very humbling; there are so many great players in the Hall of Fame.” From left: Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the Board of Directors for the Baseball Hall of Fame; Margie Kaat; Inductee Jim Kaat; and Josh Rawitch, president of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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EDITION OF MAY 19: The grand reopening of the Greater Oneonta Historical Society was deemed a great success. “We are so pleased at the turnout,” said Marcela Micucci, GOHS executive director. “Over 200 people came out to celebrate with us.”

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EDITION OF MAY 26: With rumors abounding that the former Friendly’s would house a cannabis dispensary, a bar, or a restaurant, new owner Paul Singh told “The Freeman’s Journal”/”Hometown Oneonta” the building will be a food court. “We are still in the planning phases,” he said. “It won’t be a dine-in restaurant; there’s just not enough space for that.’

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EDITION OF JUNE 16: The mayors of Cooperstown and Oneonta—Ellen Tillapaugh and Mark Drnek—opted to take regional economic and cultural development into their own hands this month with the debut of a project they’re calling “The Cooperstown Corridor,” highlighting what they see as reasons businesses and people would want to relocate in Otsego County.

EDITION OF JUNE 2: Intrepid rowers of all skill levels tested their racing, endurance and navigational skills in this year’s General Clinton Canoe Regatta, which kicked off from Otsego Lake’s Brookwood Point early in the morning of May 29 on its way 70 miles south along the Susquehanna River to Bainbridge. “It’s the only marathon I know where you start with a two-mile dead heat,” one solo kayaker quipped as he passed from the lake to the river’s mouth at the site of Clinton’s Dam and Council Rock. It was the race’s first real-time run since before the 2020 COVID epidemic, and racers from throughout the northeast were delighted to put the oars in the water. Photo provided

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EDITION OF JUNE 23: Oneonta marked Juneteenth with a day-long Neawha Park festival on Sunday, June 19 celebrating Black culture, food, music, performance, and art. Event organizer Diandra Sangetti-Daniels, left, and her twin sister, Sierra, welcomed the chance to raise public awareness of the holiday.

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EDITION OF JUNE 30: Cooperstown High School graduated 58 in its June 26 ceremony. Above, CCS Class of 2022 students Madison Hayes, Ashlyn Wolfe, Henry LeCates, Quinn Lytel, Ireland Gable, and Gabrielle Woeppel celebrate their achievements before receiving their diplomas.

Photo by Tara Barnwell

EDITION OF JULY 7: Representing our finest in Oneonta’s 4th of July parade were: retired Senator James Seward; James Kelman, Cooperstown Police Department; Jess Lanza, Cooperstown Police Department; Katelynn Kiuber, Otsego County Sheriff’s Office; David Schulte, New York State Police, Oneonta; and Beth Jerome, New York State University Police, SUNY Oneonta.

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WEEK 33

WEEK 34

Photo by Tara Barnwell

Cherry Valley Playground,

volunteers made

happen: Front row, from left: Paige Thayer,

Zola Palmer, Angelica Palmer, Baily Thayer and Tucker Cornelia. Back row, from left: Lyman Johnson, Michelle Johnson, Nancy Beale,

Snyder,

Emery, Marc-Anthony Polizzi, Ruth Doell, Jim Johnson, Ginger Thayer, Alzina Johnson, Dennis Doell, DJ Cornelia, and Ashlee Cornelia.

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EDITION OF AUGUST 4: This past month, Otsego Area Rowing—based out of Otsego Lake’s Brookwood Point— hosted two rowing camps for novice junior rowers, ages 8 to 15, and successfully taught 18 brave young souls the art of rowing. The young rowers came from schools around the region. The coaches were all experienced rowers, including one former U.S. Olympic rower, Andrea Theis, and Whitney Macdonald, as well as Laura Kilty, Joe Novitski, Ed Ryan, and Lang Keith. During the second week, coaching was augmented with graduates of OAR’s previous camps, Iz Dudek, Creighton Williams and Charlotte Feury. Pictured above are James Foutch and Lily Van Essendelft.

Photo by Tara Barnwell

EDITION OF AUGUST 18: According to New York Governor

Kathy Hochul, New York State will no longer refer to prisoners as “inmates” and will instead call them “incarcerated individuals.” When asking Sheriff Devlin about renaming “inmates,” he said he wasn’t concerned. “It seems like we have a lot of other issues we should be dealing with right now rather than renaming ‘inmates.’ What we call them doesn’t seem relevant; we have crime issues now that need to be addressed,” Sheriff Devlin said.

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EDITION OF JULY 28: This joyful bunch brought their patriotic pride all the way to Cooperstown from the Dominican Republic to cheer on their fellow countryman, David “Big Papi” Ortiz, on the weekend he and six others were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

WEEK

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EDITION OF AUGUST 25: Legislators and representatives of animal care organizations throughout the region gathered at the Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Wednesday, August 17 to collectively urge New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill. The bill was passed in December.

Over the last 15 years, through the Share the Love Event, Subaru of America and its participating retailers have donated more than $250 million to charity, with customers choosing between national and hometown charities. In our 15th year, we are on track to bring that total to over $250 million. Five Star Subaru is matching Subaru’s $250 donation for each new vehicle sold at Five Star Subaru, making it a total of $500 donated for each new car sold. This proves there’s no limit to the amount of love we can all share.

when you share the love, you change lives.

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EDITION OF SEPTEMBER 1: Master Falconer Charley Koop and his wife, Doris, a retired nurse specializing with the handicapped, did what many dream of doing in their retirement years—merging their two passions and continuing a life of great service. In 2005, together they established a wildlife rehabilitation center, Little Eagle Farm, in Pittsfield.

Photo by Tara Barnwell

EDITION OF SEPTEMBER 15: Maureen Kuhn, family nurse practitioner, retired from Bassett Medical Center after 40 years.

Photo by Larissa Ryan

EDITION OF SEPTEMBER 22: On Friday, September 16, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties, along with the Master Gardeners of Otsego County, held a groundbreaking celebration for their joint effort, “Grow with Cornell Cooperative Extension Garden Project,” at the extension’s Cooperstown office at 123 Lake Street. Above, CCE Executive Director Liz Callahan and Kristen Pulleyblank, CCE board president, break ground on the project.

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EDITION OF OCTOBER 6: Helios Care Board Director Connie Jastremski, Board of Directors Chair Jeffrey Woeppel, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Regional President Eve Van de Wal and Helios Care President/CEO Dan Ayres gather for a Community Health Award presentation. Excellus BCBS awarded Helios Care a Community Health Award of $2,000.00 to support free bereavement counseling for the public.

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EDITION OF SEPTEMBER 29: Springbrook closed on its purchase of the historic Ford Block on Oneonta’s Main Street and will begin renovations on the buildings in July of 2023.

EDITION OF OCTOBER 27: Cooperstown resident James Northrup filed a patent seven years ago for an invention that is getting a lot of interest from the military. The device is designed to enhance a soldier’s ability to zero in on a moving target. In the photo at left, Northrup (right) is shown with Luis Velazquez, CTO Marines, and Vince Pope, Master Gunnery Sergeant. Photo provided

WEEK 45

Photo by Dave Rees

EDITION OF OCTOBER 13: Retired local Navy pilot Dave Rees of Milford recounted his trip to this year’s Tailhook Sympoisum in Reno, Nevada as well as his experiences in the U.S. Navy beginning in 1964. Pictured above, the North American Aviation T-6 Texan two-place advanced trainer was the classroom for most of the Allied pilots who flew in World War II.

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EDITION OF DECEMBER 1: The City of Oneonta 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.

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EDITION OF NOVEMBER 24: Eight Oneonta Yellowjackets qualified for States this year. From left are Coach Dan Forbes, Colin Fletcher-Foster, Brandon Gardner, Keyon Ziaie, Jack Forbes, Gabe Rissberger, Nick Kahl, Donovan Lema and Coach Dave Forbes. Seated at center is Simone Schuman.

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EDITION OF OCTOBER 20: On Sunday, October 9, more than 70 GOAT-oberfest attendees practiced their yoga and enjoyed the company of 19 baby Nigerian dwarf goats. The session ended with “goat bridges.”

Photo by May-Britt Joyce

EDITION OF NOVEMBER 17: The Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce celebrated the completion of a mural project on the back of its cottage with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Friday, November 18. The mural, created by artist Kelcy Kimmerer, was an initiative of the chamber’s 501(c)3 arm, The Cooperstown Foundation, to help build the presence of public art in Cooperstown.

Photo by Ted Mebust

EDITION OF NOVEMBER 10: Val Paige (left) was recognized for her tenure of service and leadership in athletics, receiving the 2022 Patrick C. Fetterman Award from Jane Forbes Clark, president of The Clark Foundation.

Photo by Mindy Baker EDITION OF NOVEMBER 3: With the guidance of head librarian Mindy Baker, Richfield Springs Public Library has created a Positivity Rock Garden. Thanks to a generous donation of colorful aggregate from Ruby Lake Glass and assistance from students at Richfield Springs Central School, the library’s eye-catching installation will inspire and lift the spirits of residents and visitors to the community.

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EDITION OF DECEMBER 22: Eight staff members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum were honored on Monday, December 12 for reaching service milestones in an event hosted by Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark and President Josh Rawitch. The eight staff members and their years of service are: Becky Ashe, administrative and events associate, 35 years; Helen Stiles, senior acquisition and cataloging specialist, 35 years; Rick Kelly, security manager, 30 years; Milo Stewart Jr., staff photographer, 30 years; Evan Chase, director of security and facilities, 20 years; Chris Burditt, facilities manager, 20 years; Claudette Scrafford, manuscript archivist, 20 years; and Diane Adams, museum store manager, 15 years. From left above are Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark, Rick Kelly, Chris Burditt, Milo Stewart Jr., Diane Adams, Claudette Scrafford, Evan Chase, Becky Ashe, Helen Stiles and Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch.

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EDITION OF DECEMBER 15: The cast of the successful Cooperstown Central School production of “She Kills Monsters” is shown above: August Lott, Simon Hurysz, Elena Meckel, Lilly Grady, Lucy Hayes, Braeden Victory (top row); Max Jones, Avery Croft, Anne Walker (middle row); and Maya Pandit, Onyx Loewenguth, Leah McCrea, Crystal Walker, Ben Agostino, Talie Hanson, and Nina Vasquez, (bottom row).

Photo provided

EDITION OF DECEMBER 8: Five-time all-star Fred McGriff was unanimously elected to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame next year on July 23, 2023.

Photo by David Hayes

EDITION OF DECEMBER 29: This light installation, created by Jeff Powell on behalf of the Oneonta Lions Club, is just one of the fabulous displays featured at this year’s Festival of Lights in Oneonta’s Neahwa Park. Powell’s meticulous work represents the Lions’ Club Trout Fishing Derby.