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Volume 13, No. 36
City of The Hills Vax and scratch to be extended at SUNY Oneonta
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Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, June 10, 2021
COMPLIMENTARY
Otsego communities struggle with housing needs By KEVIN LIMITI
Affordable and available housing remains an issue in Otsego Bassett Healthcare will County in general, but particular be extending its “Vax and issues have come up recently in both Scratch” lottery for people Cooperstown and Oneonta. who get COVID vaccinations However, both areas are doing at SUNY Oneonta and are their part to amend this issue. Al18 years old or older. though there has been some backThe grand prize is $5 lash, elected officials acknowledge million and will be available the necessity of creating affordable until Friday, June 11. Bassett will also be deploy- housing in the area. ing a Bluetooth alert system technology in an effort to curb workplace violence. Bassett is the first healthcare company in the country to do this, By PATRICK DEWEY according to a media release. The Cooperstown community found itself forced to consider life Auditions to without Santa Claus when Paul Kuhn be held for Wednesday, June 2, at the age Halloween show died of 83. Bigger Boat Productions and Kuhn was perhaps best known as Stuff of Dreams Productions Cooperstown’s Santa Claus, a post will hold auditions for actors that he held with joy and authenticity for the production of Shirley for 20 years. Jackson’s “The Haunting of According to Molly Myers, a Main Hill House” in October. Street Christmas helper from a young Open auditions will be held age, Kuhn’s listening skills and genufor women from age 25 to 55. ine care for people were a big part Auditions will take place at 2 of what made him the perfect Father p.m., Sunday June 13, and 7 Christmas. p.m., Monday June 14, in the A few years younger than Myers, production center of Foothills Bella Anania said she remembers Performing Arts and Civic eagerly waiting in line with her three Center. siblings to see Kuhn in character. She said that he could relate to any child. INSIDE “He embodied the spirit of Christ►Playoff GAMES: Cooperstown mas,” Anania said. wins its softball opener, but Cooperstown Mayor Ellen TilOneonta is eliminated in the lapaugh said as children aged and first round. Page A7. Christmas started to take on new ►OutlAW OPENER: Oneonta meaning, Kuhn allowed them to rewins at home in extra innings flect on the holiday season and Santa for first victory of the season. as symbols of giving. Page A7. Kuhn also served as an advocate ►Kuhn OBITUARY: Cooperstown for Cooperstown’s youngest generaresident’s full obituary is in
A planned development at 10 Chestnut St. in Cooperstown is being considered by the village’s boards. Francesca Zambello, who partnered with Josh Edmonds of Simple Integrity on the Chestnut Street project, described herself as a “concerned citizen” who was worried about the “really dire housing situation.” Zambello and Edmonds own three connecting lots and have formed their own company, not associated with Glimmerglass or Simple Integrity, to
build on the site. Zambello described the planned development as “elegant and stylish that will not only provide housing but also help the economy.” “Certainly there are negative voices,” Zambello said. “There always are about change.” Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh said one of the problems with housing in Cooperstown was that a lot of rentals were short term rentals which “put pressure on affordable
year round housing. “People can make much more money on short terms rentals then they can with long term affordable housing,” Tillapaugh said. Tillapaugh said the short-term rentals revolve around tourism and the baseball season, but the biggest employer in the area, Bassett Healthcare, had employees who, according to a survey she referenced, wanted to rent in the Cooperstown area but See HOUSING, Page A2
Cooperstown mourns community servant, Kuhn
this week’s papers. Page A6. ►SCOUT PROJECT: Milford junior works on his Eagle badge with a community project. Page A2. Follow Breaking News On
AllOTSEGO.com
Contributed
Greg Klein/The Freeman’s Journal
Paul Kuhn embodied the character of Santa Claus for a generation of families in Cooperstown. His death led to an impromptu shrine in Pioneer Park, where he set up Santa’s workshop for decades.
tions through work with the Rotary Youth Exchange and The Farmers’ Museum. At the museum, he was a leader for young interpreters playing roles of historical figures. Kuhn himself also played the part of historical figures. “He knew history and had a won-
derful way of presenting it,” Tillapaugh said. For the Rotary Youth Exchange, Kuhn helped to pair incoming foreign-exchange students with host families in the area. He also mentored every student throughout their time in the new country and
community. As part of the program, students typically lived with up to three different families throughout their experience. “There are always a lot of cultural dynamics and family dynamics for students to get used to, and as an See KUHN, Page A3
AllOtsego people: Father-son climbing duo to take on Denali By GREG KLEIN
Father and son climbing team of Tim and Henry Horvath are on the go again, trying to conquer Denali Mountain in Alaska during June. ►ONEONTA ARREST: A gasThe father-son team left for Alaska on station argument leads to a man discharging a gun illegally Monday, June 7. in the city. “It was kind of my idea,” said Henry, ►MERGER FORUM: The 16, who just completed his sophomore potential merger of Schenevus year at Middlesex School in Concord, and Worcester central schools Massachusetts. will be discussed Monday, “Kind of? I’ve done this before. I didn’t June 14. need to do it again,” Tim said, laughing. ►FAIR GAME: Otsego County “OK, it was my idea,” Henry said. Fair confirms it is on for 2021. They were scheduled to fly to Anchor►TITLE GAMES: Follow us online age, then travel to Talkeentna, about 80 for the latest scores from this miles away, where they can shuttle to the weekend’s high school section glacial trek of the highest mountain in the championship baseball and United States, at about 20,000 feet. softball games. With about 40 pounds of gear, includ►RICHFIELD PARK: Otsego ing two weeks of food, the Horvaths will County approved loan to ramp attempt to summit Denali. up industrial park in Richfield. The duo is fresh from another mountain Page A3.
hike, finishing the Adirondack winter trail in March, going from Northville to Lake Placid in seven days and nine hours. The time was a Fastest Known Time for a duo unsupported on the winter trail. “That is actually one of the reasons we did the Northpoint to Lake Placid trail,” Henry said. “We thought it would be a good trip to see if maybe I could do Denali as well.” A Cherry Valley native and the owner of Redpoint Design/Builders, Tim said he grew up loving the outdoors. A biking habit turned into a hiking habit, with an eye on reaching summits and seeing vistas that most people don’t get to see, he said. Horvath said he has done 14 expeditions on the world’s tallest peaks, including Denali in 1995 and 1999 and the Himalayas in Nepal. Greg Klein/The Freeman’s Journal See PEOPLE, Page A2 Tim Horvath and his son, Henry, left Monday, June 7, for Alaska, where they will spend the month climbing.
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD