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Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, January 28, 2021
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Thank Heaven For Derek Jeter No 2021 Inductees, No Schilling, No Bond, No Clemens By CHRYSTAL SAVAGE COOPERSTOWN
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f not for Derek Jeter and his Classmates of 2020, this would have been another sparse summer
for baseball in Cooperstown. For the first time since 2013, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America elected none of the 25 Hall of Fame candidates above 75 percent, leaving the class of 2021 at zero. Hall of Fame President Tim Mead announced results pf BBWAA
balloting Tuesday, Jan. 26 – for the first time, broadcast from the Hall of Plaques at 22 Main St. He said he’s confident that the ceremony will take place on July 25, saying that there is a lot of “diligent” work happening “behind the scenes.” of Fame President Tim Please See INDUCTEES, A6 Hall Mead breaks the news.
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ANDEMIC TAKES DOWN FLY CREEK CIDER MILL Cleaning up the sparser offerings at Fly Creek Cider Mill Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 26, are, from left, Caralee Elson, Mount Vision, cofounder Barbara Michaels, Lin Molloy, Springfield, and President Bill Michaels. Elson and Molloy are long-tenured employees at the attraction, which will close at least temporarily on Sunday, Jan. 31. Business dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Retiring as GOHS executive director after more than a decade, Bob Brzozowski examines artifacts in the third-floor ballroom at 183 Main, including a former sidewalk clock from Oneonta Ford/ DETAILS, A3
Visit Red Jug? Better Beware Of COVID-19 ONEONTA
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f you were at the Red Jug Pub, 196 South Main St., between 6 p.m. and closing last Thursday, Jan. 21, you may have been exposed to COVID-19, the county Health Department announced. Monitor yourself for symptoms; if you develop any, get tested and isolate yourself, the health department recommends. If you have any questions or concerns, call (607) 547-4231 Follow Breaking News On
AllOTSEGO.com
►CHECK DAILY at “COVID Vaccination Central” ►SUSQUEHANNA SPCA announces hotline for people who can’t care for animals ►DEEP FREEZE Opens municipal skating rinks to public. ►MALATRAS: SUNY-O ready for students to return. ►COVID SURFACES at Red Jug Pub, as SUNY students prepare to return to school. ►HOSPITALIZATIONS DIP to 5 per day, Cuomo says. ►OBERACKER TELLS Governor: restart school sports, performing arts. ►PBS ELEVATES Oneontan’s Dad, famous sculptor, in fall show. ►DRIVER FACES multiple charges in Westford highspeed chase.
Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
By JIM KEVLIN FLY CREEK
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he numbers told Bill Michaels it was time. “I learned a lot going through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program,” said the Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard president. “One of them was knowing your numbers. I spent a
lot of time looking at them throughout the pandemic.” In 2020, “our customer visitation was down all year. Then, after the holidays, it just stopped, to the
point it was not sustainable.” said Michaels, whose family announced Wednesday, Jan. 20, they would close the regional tourist attraction, perhaps forever. Sunday, Jan. 31, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. That’s it. The decision set off a near panic, with loyal customers lined up, 6-feet apart, per social-distancing guidelines, waiting up to an hour Saturday and Sunday for perhaps a final taste of their favorite Cider Mill goodie.
Some 300 Internet orders came pouring in, Bill said. “We’re grateful for the online support and had a wonderful online season,” he added. “However, there are costs associated with operating online stores, as with brick-and-mortar stores.” By early this week, many favorites had disappeared, but not all. “We have plenty of cider left, plenty of doughnuts, plenty of extra sharp cheddar,” Michaels said. Please See CIDER, A7
Winter Carnival Will Go On, Working The System, Getting The Shot With COVID-19 Precautions LIFE IN TIME OF COVID-19
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had my first COVID-19 vaccination Sunday, Jan. 26. To get an appointment, I went through all the protocols and algorithms that I discussed previously in this column. I was able to find an appointment Sunday in Plattsburgh. A day later I found an appointment for Utica on Feb. 3 and canceled the Plattsburgh appointment and then I kept looking RICHARD for something closer and sooner. STERNBERG
Lucky for me, some close friends were also going through the various procedures and last Friday, Jan. 24, they found Kinney Drugs in Richfield Springs was scheduling appointments for the next two days; this past weekend. They had just scheduled theirs and immediately called me and told me about it. I went online, followed the proPlease See STERNBERG, A6
By CHRYSTAL SAVAGE COOPERSTOWN
T
his year, the Cooperstown Winter Carnival’s theme is “Around the World, but Safe at Home.” Scheduled Feb. 16-21, a couple of weeks later than usual, the carnival’s
“Around the World” theme was intentionally broad to allow for more participation, according to Committee Chair Molly Myers. And, because of COVID19, it sought to reflect the need to stay safe. In past years, all events were held in-person; precautions are being taken this year. Please See CARNIVAL, A6
HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER
2010 WINNER OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD