Hometown Oneonta 07-22-21

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Volume 13, No. 42

City of The Hills Milford fundraiser rescheduled for Saturday at park A community fundraiser for Milford Central School graduate Caleb Radulewicz, who was in a serious car accident in Ohio last month, was rescheduled for 11 a.m.

Saturday, July 24, in Milford’s Wilbur Park.

There will a raffle, free activities and food available from Big Al’s. Raffle winners will be announced at 2 p.m.

Dreams

VISIT www.

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08 - 2021

ONEONTA

Lights, camera, Otsego County Film business grows locally

AllOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S DAILY NEWSPAPER/ONLINE

Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, July 22, 2021

COMPLIMENTARY

‘Like a waterfall coming down the hill’

Major flooding hits Butternut Valley Gilbertsville, Morris, Pittsfield affected, local politicians request state, federal aid

By KEVIN LIMITI

The flooding that occurred in Gilbertsville, Morris and Pittsfield on Saturday, July 17, is expected to cost millions and elected officials are calling for federal and state funding to pay for some of the damages.

State Sen. Peter Oberacker, RMaryland, estimated the amount of money needed for the flood damage Railroad announces in Butternuts and Morris would far reopening event exceed their total respective town budgets.

The Leatherstocking “After what I’ve seen, it would be Historical Railway Society conservative (that damages) would has announced a resumption cost at least their budgets and then of service beginning at some,” Oberacker said.

2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7.

Oberacker toured the area Monday, There will be a special July 19, and called it “absolutely train robbery reenactment devastating.” on that date, as well as again “Thank God there haven’t been any during several weekends in fatalities,” Oberacker said. “It’s mind August and September. boggling that there (weren’t).”

Go to Cooperstowntrain.

During his tour, Oberacker said he com for event dates and saw tons of property damage, including other information. water and sediment up to the fourth step of a house. He also spoke INSIDE with some of the landowners and ►NEW BUILDING: After a homeowners in the area. successful fundraising Oberacker said he and Assemblyman campaign, the Susquehanna Joe Angelino, R-Norwich, plan on SPCA opens a state-of-thedrafting a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo art animal shelter near inviting him to “come and see the Cooperstown. Page A3. devastation” and begin the process of ►Concert SERIES: declaring the area a disaster zone.

Cooperstown Music Festival returns with classical music.

Page A8. ►GRIPPING GRAPPLER: Despite losing senior season to the pandemic, Milford’s Avery Leonard left his mark on Cooperstown’s wrestling program. Page A7. ►HALL HONORS: The baseball induction was moved to September, but the Awards Presentation will still take place Saturday, July 24.

Page A7. ►ANIME SPIRIT: Reporter Kevin Limiti discusses his favorite cartoon character and explains why he identifies with ‘Deku.’

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He said because of the “renewed focus” on infrastructure he hoped the state would take a look at fixing more of the infrastructure in the Butternut Valley, including significant damage to some of the bridges on State Route 51.

Shelby Wing, Pittsfield town supervisor, said there was “extensive damage” to Cobb Road and Hawks Road and they could be closed for a while.

Wing said while cleanup crews were making “good progress,” they were somewhat limited because of how small the town is. She said federal and state aid would be a “huge thing for a town like us.”

“Crews have done a very good job getting everything up and running,” Wing said. “It’s (going to) be a busy summer for them.”

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were on the scene in southwestern Otsego County on Sunday to assess the damage, according to county officials.

Rep. Michelle Farwell, D-Butternuts, Morris, Pittsfield, said the cost of the damage is expected to be in the millions, particularly with the damage to one of the bridges on State Route 51.

Heavy rains Saturday night caused the Butternut Creek and several of its tributaries to flood, first around Gilbertsville, and later in Morris south of Janice Costello the Otsego County Fairgrounds.

Flood damage in Gilbertsville on Sunday, July 18, shows the See FLOOD, Page A10 extent of the problems left behind by Saturday’s storm.

AllOtsego people: In Cooperstown, a female majority forms

By PHOEBE SMITH

COOPERSTOWN — When Hanna Bergene decided to run for a village trustee position and Jim Dean announced he would step down to make way for her, it inadvertently led to a local first: a female majority board of trustees.

Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh, who was first elected in 2018, and is the second female mayor of the village, Deputy Mayor Cindy Falk and trustees Bergene and Jeanne Dewey hold four of the seven votes on the local board, although with all seven Follow Breaking News On members being part of the Democratic Party, there are not many political or OTSEGO.com ideological differences being debated in the village. ►NEW LEADER: Dr. Alberto Jose Instead, the four women are a majorCardelle named as new SUNY ity part of Cooperstown’s expansive Oneonta president Tuesday. investments and infrastructure proj►Broadband grant: Library in ects, working to shape the village for Springfield Center to address the 21st century and helping it get past rural internet issues. the economic damage brought by the ►BEst PRactices: Oneonta Greg Klein/The Freeman’s Journal coronavirus pandemic. committees to review recent Cooperstown’s Village Board of Trustees has a majority of Although the four members are alike work on police reinvention. female members for the first time as seen in this picture in gender, they range in age, experi►Common COUNCIL: City officials met Tuesday, July 20; from Monday, July 12. From left, are trustees Jeanne Dewey, ence and expertise. Bergene is in her Cindy Falk, Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh and Hanna Bergene. details are online. late 20s; the other women all have

All

adult children. Such diversity, in their eyes, symbolizes the board as a whole, what makes them successful and what they collectively hope to achieve in the future, they said in separate interviews in July.

Tillapaugh’s election to the board in 2011 makes her the veteran of the quartet, while Bergene’s election this year has cast her temporarily as the neophyte. “At the same time, I also think the diversity of ages on the board right now is really critical,” Tillapaugh said.

When Tillapaugh succeeded Jeff Katz as mayor, she appointed Dewey to her vacant trustee seat. Dewey chairs the Parks Committee and serves on the Safety Committee.

“Ellen and Cindy are such strong leaders, and they have been great mentors,” Dewey said. “Now that Hanna is also on the board, it is just really exciting to have four women.”

Falk, who chairs both the Streets and Buildings and the Economic Development committees, has been on the board for nine years, succeeding Tillapaugh as deputy mayor.

“You don’t have to go back too far See TRUSTEES, Page A2

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It has been two years since 2017 Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School graduate Kaylie Yerdon graduated from Tompkins Cortland Community College, but her school is still advertising her success, as seen in this billboard Sunday, July 18, on state Route 13 near Dryden. Yerdon graduated from SUNY Cortland this spring and will start working on a master’s degree in speech and language pathology at the College of Saint Rose in Albany in August.

Cooperstown Trustees focus on economic growth, infrastructure projects in village

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Police Officer The City of Oneonta Municipal Civil Service

Commission announces an opencompetetive exam for Police Officer on September 18. Application deadline is August 13. The full exam announcement may be downloaded from www.oneonta.ny.us/personnel or picked up at City Hall. Candidates are encouraged to review the announcement carefully for application instructions and special requirements.

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TRUSTEES/from Page A1 and look at the pictures and see an entirely male board,” she said.

Falk said she initially worried maybe the women would not get respect from everyone in the village, but her concerns were quickly alleviated.

“The village has such a fantastic staff and group of volunteers, there was something in the back of my mind that, maybe as women, despite the fact that we’re in the majority of positions, (maybe we might not) have enough weight, but everyone in our offices and all of our employees have been really receptive”.

Tillapaugh said the village has had unprecedented economic growth since she joined the board. Now with four women on the board, they all said they hope their legacy will be not just the diversity they have brought to Cooperstown. To a person, they said they hope they can make the village a better place and they can help it continue its recent economic growth and continue to rebuild and replace its aging infrastructure.

And that, thankfully, is a task that everyone in the village agrees on, Tillapaugh said, regardless of gender.

“I had never thought about it (being a majority women board),” because, “We do outnumber them, but I will say that I think everybody is a contributing member to the board.”

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THURSDAY, July 22, 2021

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-3

Susquehanna SPCA celebrates opening of new facility Saturday

By KEVIN LIMITI OTSEGO — Hundreds gathered outside the Susquehanna SPCA’s new facility in Cooperstown for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, July 17, which they say would help better service the needs of animals who are homeless and in need of caring adoptees.

In spite of the humidity — one young woman apparently fainted during remarks from State Sen. Peter Oberacker, R-Maryland — the crowd was lively and enthusiastic, some bringing their own dogs to the ceremony.

Stacie Haynes, who as executive director has been at the forefront of this whole project, told the crowd this has been her “dream job” and joked she “hasn’t been home since.”

“I’m a dreamer and optimistic by nature,” Haynes said, but never imagined she’d be “standing on a multi-million dollar campus.”

Kevin Limiti/The Freeman’s Journal Haynes thanked the “Shelter Susquehanna SPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes and Board President Henry Gaylord Us” capital campaign, which was Dillingham cut the ribbon in front of the new shelter facility near Cooperstown on largely responsible for raising Saturday, July 17. the money necessary to build and Through fundraising, the SPCA “It’s not like building a regular “It’s just a very specialized open the facility, calling them an was able to raise $5 million, with building,” said Henry Gaylord problem.” “all-star group.” the new facility costing between Dillingham, board president.

Some of the upgrades for the The Shelter Us Capital $5.2 and $5.3 million.

“You have to keep animals from building included two separate Campaign was able to secure a The reason for the high cost smelling each other because it entrances, one for visiting animals grant from the New York State was the special needs of the creates stress.” and one for animals leaving for Animal Capital Fund from the building itself, which required “We didn’t do anything goldnew homes, a new sterile surgery Department of Agriculture and things like HVAC, sound proofing, plated,” Dillingham said, but room and updated air ventilation.

Markets in order to move the water proofing and other accomstressed the need for them to Prior to the ribbon-cutting, facility to State Route 28 near modations necessary for housing complete the project in the right Oberacker made some remarks as Cooperstown. different sorts of animals. way that best served the animals. did Assemblyman Chris Tague,

R-Schoharie, who said that he oversaw the spaying and neutering of a colony of feral cats and has “always had animals.”

“You folks have a wonderful young lady right here,” Tague said of Haynes. “This is a state-ofthe-art facility. This is the model of what we need to do not only in New York State but also in the country.”

Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield, also praised the SPCA and called the building “the most incredible project I’ve seen in a long time.”

“This is a great way to spend public and private money,” Salka said.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Markets Richard Ball expressed how important such projects were.

“This is an example of how things work better when we work together,” he said.

Haynes was surprised to tears when Dr. Julie Huntsman revealed a painting she made featuring Haynes and her deceased dog, Ellie, in the hallway of the new building. Ellie was a border collie mixed with golden retriever.

“To describe it in one way would be grateful,” Haynes told AllOtsego.com after the event.

“The people who care, who donate, made this possible.”

The new facility had an open house between the times of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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Local students were among the Hartwick College graduates Saturday, May 29, including: Kelsey Elizabeth Collins of Morris; Ushuaia Rae Diaz of Schenevus; Zachary Thomas French of Norwich; Katlin Ann Hager of Otego; Christopher D. Janitz of Mount Vision; Shanria Denetra Jolly of Oneonta; Brianna Lynn Schworm of Edmeston; Stacey L. Sickler of Franklin; Tarrah Skye Smith of Oneonta; Hanna N. Spencer of Oneonta.

If you or a loved one are experiencing interpersonal violence there is help. The Violence Intervention Program is fully operational and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 607.432.4855.

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A-4 HOMETOWN ONEONTA

HOMETOWN Views

THURSDAY, July 22, 2021

OPINIONS

I identify as an anime character, and that’s OK with me Some things never change, which includes my spending weekends watching anime in my apartment alone.

Two and a half months since I’ve moved to Oneonta, I find myself curiously identifying with anime protagonists with a target audience of pre-pubescent boys.

People may raise their eyebrows at me, perhaps think I’m crazy, but I consider anime to be one of the greatest things in life. Nothing has the ability to bend reality like good animation.

Although in America, most people seem to feel like animation is kid’s stuff, that opinion is starting to change thanks to the weird rise of geek culture, making something that used to get you stuffed into a locker into something that could land you a date.

Not that I’ve been able to land a date since moving here, but I will say that when I do, I’m sure my extreme knowledge of anime, indie comics and obsessive attention to the price of Dogecoin and foreign news will likely impress them.

For this reason, I’m neither ashamed nor embarrassed by my penchant for consuming unholy amounts of anime, but I do think that maybe I ought to take more cues from anime as opposed to being a passive observer.

One example is Deku from “My Hero

Academia,” an anime where practically every human has a special “quirk” that can make them a super hero.

Deku, along with one of the best and largest cast of side characters that I’ve ever seen in any medium, trains KEVIN LIMITI to become a hero. It’s kind of Japan’s answer to Western superheroes.

I’m not entirely convinced I have any superpowers, at the moment, but really it’s all about the state of mind.

Like, for instance, the determination not to give up.

Which is probably why I see myself identifying with Shonen (a term for an anime genre aimed towards young boys) battle series because if there is anything I can say is objectively true about my life, it is I don’t quit.

People have always been telling me things I want to do are impossible. I’ve never listened to them, and I’ve reaped the benefits. Because of this, I justifiably always feel like my lofty goals are achievable as long as I put in the right amount of effort required.

Life sketches

Howling at the moon to help ‘the chickens’

Studio Bones/Jump Comics

Izuku Midoriya, also known by his hero name, Deku, is the anime figure I most identify with.

My goals as far back as the age of 12 haven’t changed a bit. I always wanted to be a writer. And while being a writer is not necessarily the same as being a reporter,

I’ve always been very much concerned about what truth is and how best it can be represented in the written form.

So yeah, it took me awhile but I made it happen.

Deku wasn’t born with a quirk, one of the few in the world of My Hero Academia who didn’t. Yet, he wanted to be a hero. But how can he become one if he’s just an ordinary human?

The answer is he found a mentor, his personal role model All Might, and he was gifted a quirk that was passed down by various heroes throughout the years.

Everybody can learn something from uncompromisingly following their goals to logical conclusion.

It may not be exactly what you’ve envisioned, but if the end result is that you have fun, you do the right thing and you succeed in helping fellow human beings, I can’t think of any harm in that.

It’s certainly better than watching characters on your TV screen have the determination that you don’t have.

So feel free to admire the accomplishments of flesh and blood individuals, but don’t look down on the ability of made-up fictional ones from Japan to inspire you either. We can all learn from the heroic optimism of our favorite animated heroes.

What’s the cost of zero-carbon energy?

I received several thoughtful comments from our readers concerning the last column and would like to address them.

During a cold snap several my chickens into a molt, The investment bank Lazard years ago, night temperawhich was bound to kill published the most recent Lazard’s tures up on our hill on them in this cold weather.

“Levelized Cost of Energy and Storage” the west side of At the same time, in late 2020. The comprehensive report Canadarago Lake to keep the water includes all the costs of creating and were hovering in the coop from storing a megawatt of power including around 22 below freezing, I inland, construction, operating and zero. Worried stalled a heater in maintenance. about my chickens the water bucket.

According to the Lazard report, freezing their gizBetween the light new, unsubsidized utility scale power zards off, I hung a and the heater, I sources have the following midpoint 100-watt bulb on was worried about levelized costs per megawatt hour: a wire in our small causing a fire. solar $34, offshore wind $86, on-shore coop inside the Again, McNulty wind $40, nuclear $164 and combined TERRY barn and let it burn advised me to do cycle gas $59.

BERKSON 24 hours a day. away with the waIt is pretty easy to see that money I’m sure it raised ter heater and put drives political decision-making the temperature a bit, but it snow in the bucket, which especially when deciding between also increased egg producwould quench the chickens’ new nuclear, wind and solar power. tion. In fact, after a few days thirst and wouldn’t freeze Offshore wind is relatively expensive, of continuous light, my like water. I was impressed. but unlike solar, it can occasionally chickens started laying eggs He also informed me generate base load power. The public like crazy. Concerned that chickens in a draft-free coop is less likely to resist offshore wind, they might burn themselves didn’t need the 100-watt and one of the windiest places in the out, I consulted neighbor bulb. Removing it was no U.S. is off Long Island.

Jim McNulty, who had atsmall step because beloved Upstate’s power supply is mostly tended Cornell University Pee Wee, a chick I had and now lived at the foot of saved by performing a virnearby Panther Mountain. tual Caesarian on an egg in He agreed the hens could water, was among the flock Nature or nurture is a question I keep become exhausted, but I was about to pull asking myself. Why have I always warned that if I suddenly cut the plug on. off the light, I could drive See SKETCHES, Page A5 been afraid? Did I learn fear?

Why did my parents keep to LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY themselves? Kept us close to them?

No overnights with other kids. Or The Freeman’s Journal welcomes letters to the editor that reflect the writer’s thoughts on an article or other item other kids sleeping at our house. appearing in the paper. They must include the writer’s name, Maybe not just because our house address, email and telephone/mobile number; the opinions wasn’t as nice as the other kids? expressed must be the writer’s own. Hostile, offensive, My family lived secrets. Were Mom factually incorrect or excessively inflammatory content will not be published. The length must be no more than 250 words. The and Dad just shy? Or were they really editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit letters for clarity afraid? That they would be shunned by and space. Please send letters to: info@allotsego.com. neighbors? That they couldn’t measure up? That they might jeopardize the life they wanted to build for their girls’ futures?

Dad had told us why he emigrated & The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch from Northern Ireland. But was this the real story?

I had believed his story. It shaped my Tara Barnwell life. With four daughters on a farm my Publisher Dad needed sons. In the 50s and 60s, probably, a man needed at least one Greg Klein son.

Editor I thought that was me. My father’s only son. The one who would follow

Larissa Ryan Kathleen Peters in his footsteps. Immigrate to a country

Business Manager Graphics & Production halfway around the world. Make my lot in life and my children’s and grand Kevin Limiti Ian Austin children’s better than his had been.

Staff Writer Photographer Keep his name. Pass the name on.

Ivan Potocnik Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart As kids, we had thought Dad was

Web Architect Consultant truthful because when we pleaded with him for his tales, he retold his stories Editorial Board word for word — the same as he had Elinor Vincent, Michael Moffat, Tara Barnwell, Greg Klein told them before. And over and over the same.

We did beg him too. Our family were MEMBER OF outsiders. My sisters and I wanted to National Newspaper Association, New York Press Association The Otsego County Chamber own some history like the other kids had. Growing up outside our little Published weekly by Iron String Press, Inc. village founded in the 1700s, families

from carbon-free nuclear and hydro.

Downstate, where natural gas is used to generate most of the power, is the logical place to have a huge renewable wind energy facility.

WAYNE MELLOR It also makes some sense that we continue to build out utility scale solar facilities on cheap land near existing transmission lines that extend to New York City like the Marcy South line that bisects Otsego County. As more renewables are added, New York appears to be planning to use existing natural gas plants to provide reliable power on the grid when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.

The economic reason to keep our three aged, nuclear plants at this point is that once a nuclear plant is fully depreciated, the levelized cost drops to a very competitive $29 per megawatt hour. These nuclear plants are vital to reaching the zero emission goal set out

by New York by 2040 if we are not willing to quickly commit a great deal

of land to renewables, build more natural gas plants which seems counterintuitive to our zero carbon goal, and want to keep our electric rates down.

The New York Independent Service Operator is responsible for maintaining the market for power in New York.

They are predicting that our peak usage will not change much from 2020 to 2040 even with the switchover to heat pumps and electric vehicles.

This is good news as it tells us that if our generating capacity presently works it will also work in the future. Keeping our existing power sources while switching over to renewables will maintain reliability. However, we ratepayers will be paying more at some point for new transmission lines, utility scale battery storage and more expensive intermittent natural gas generation.

The big question is will battery and smart grid technologies evolve to a point where we won’t need any more natural gas backup and a truly zero carbon future.

We are not there yet, but we have some time.

Wayne Mellor is the chair of Sustainable Otsego.

and our classmates had history. Lots of relations. The cemetery was filled with their ancestors.

They had grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who lived nearby.

In contrast Dad’s ERNA MORGAN stories came from McREYNOLDS Northern Ireland.

We knew the stories about his illegal spear fishing for eels, cutting peat in the Cloghog Lane where he grew up. His living on a farm in northern Ontario when he first arrived from Belfast. But he didn’t tell how he got to the U.S.? To his job on the Long Island Railroad where he met Mom’s Dad? Those were among his secrets.

Did he keep any of those secrets because he had been wounded by being called a “mick?” Did he want to stay out of the limelight? Was he trying to dodge the spotlight? For some reason? Why did it take him almost 50 years to get a U.S. passport?

What about something vague we had heard about a first wife in Canada?

Did that really happen? Just kids’ fertile imaginations? We didn’t even dare ask for the truth. What if he had committed some crime? Escaped from the Mounties to the U.S. My cousin Tommy had told me about my 18-year old Dad leaving for Canada in 1926. Let me believe that Dad went seeking fame and fortune.

You know in my mind I believed I was his only son. When I immigrated to

New Zealand I was simply following in his footsteps. On my way to a better life.

Decades after Dad died, my cousin Tommy told me a different story.

And now more than 90 years after my Dad boarded that cattle ship from Belfast, I am not sure I know the whole saga.

Remember that Tommy was the same cousin who had me believing in the little people living in the hedges.

He knew how to spin a yarn and completely suck me in.

Dad was a policeman, in addition to working the family farm, Tommy said. He patrolled the country lanes.

During the ‘’troubles’’ in 1926, those lanes near Belfast had become a hotbed. One day cutting peat Dad found a warning note, “24 hours or you are dead.” A note from the IRA, Tommy said. And his story goes on. Dad had escorted the local Roman Catholic priest on his nighttime walks. That priest negotiated a week for Dad to leave. The community raised money to buy him passage on a cattle ship to Canada.

Now that was a big, long-kept secret.

But what had he done? He always said “the troubles” were nothing big.

Then why did he get a death threat?

95 years later I still don’t really know.

A mystery. A secret.

Did I learn being afraid from him?

What about my Mom? She kept even more secrets. But that is another story altogether.

Did I lock those fears inside but charge forward anyway?

Fear? Or desire?

Our family secrets still feel haunting

HOMETOWN

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THURSDAY, July 22, 2021

HOMETOWN

History

HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-5

Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART, with resources courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library

135 Years Ago

Mr. N.C. Hart of Oneonta, who is presently on his annual pilgrimage in the North Woods, writes poetically of his time there: “I have built me a cot close by a great rock at the base of a high mountain crest where the hawks sail around and game doth abound, and the eagle has chosen her nest.

At the foot of the hill are both springlet and rill, and the shores of a bright sylvan lake in whose waters the trout leap spryly about and the deer comes his thirst to slake. Amid scenes like this our outing is bliss – no cares have we on our mind. We enjoy perfect rest in a haven that’s blest mid nature’s own bright summer clime.”

July 1886

110 Years Ago

F.W. Ayer, well known the country over as proprietor of a leading Philadelphia advertising agency, was in Oneonta Saturday with his Coach and Pullman railroad cars.

Mr. Ayer, who owns the extensive Meridale Stock Farms, where he also has an attractive summer residence, gives each of his employees a two-week vacation at his home in Meridale, paying all expenses to and from Philadelphia, the trips going and coming being made by different routes. Mr. Ayer’s trip to this city was for the purpose of bringing to the railroad a party of twenty, who had finished their two weeks outing, and to take a similar party back with him.

Fifteen members of the Boy Scouts left Oneonta yesterday morning by trolley for Index, from which place they will march to Cooperstown, where they will spend a week in camp, with two or three thousand other Boy Scouts from all over the country. The encampment is the first of its kind ever held in the United States. The Oneonta boys held a meeting Monday evening at the association rooms and, after taking the necessary examinations, took the Scouts’ oath and

were pronounced full-fledged tenderfoot Scouts of the first class. Appropriate uniforms were received this week and were distributed to the Scouts at the meeting.

July 1911

90 Years Ago

It was announced last week at Albany that final plans for the new training school building for the Oneonta State Normal School have been approved and contractors are being notified that bids will be received by the commissioner of education for the construction, for heating and sanitary work, and for electric work. It will be remembered that $80,000 was appropriated for the foundation of the building a year ago. The contract was awarded to C.M. McLean and Sons of Binghamton for approximately $25,000. That work has been rushed and it is now expected the contractor will complete it early this week. The whole structure will cost about $375,000, $295,000 having been appropriated to complete the building.

July 1931

70 Years Ago

An early-morning SOS for anti-snakebite serum was answered yesterday in Oneonta as part of a five-city emergency effort to save a war veteran in Ilion who attempted suicide, police said, by the bite of a diamond-back rattlesnake on his tongue after putting the reptile’s head in his mouth during a carnival show. Vernon M. Bellew, a pharmacist for City Drug Store, was awakened at 5 a.m. in his residence at 30 Otsego Street by a phone call from Ilion Chief of Police Clifton Sitts.

Sitts apparently obtained Bellew’s name and phone number from a pharmaceutical salesman. The pharmacist was urged to rush the serum to state police in the East End of Oneonta. Bellew called a taxi, got an ampule vial from the store refrigerator and delivered it to Trooper Blake Muthig

50 Years Ago

prosecuting young men who have failed to sign up. A Justice Department spokesman said it will probably be several months before papers are filed and prosecution is begun against an initial list of 132 men suspected of not registering. The action shows the government is serious about signing up all 18-year-old males for possible military duty. If convicted, those who ignore Uncle Sam’s call could face up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. “It would be very foolish to do a waiting game with the government,” said Tom Stewart, a Justice Department spokesman. Brayton Harris, assistant director of the Selective Service, estimates that 400,000 draft-eligible men have failed to register.

July 1971 July 1981 in the East End at 5:40 a.m. Alerted and waiting, Trooper Muthig was under instruction to speed northward on Route New York State’s Board of Regents is 28 until he met an Ilion police car. Twenty studying a curriculum committee report minutes later, at 6 a.m. Trooper Muthig that urges changes in history texts that shot past the approaching Ilion car on the demonstrate an unfair bias toward white southern outskirts of Cooperstown. Brakes Europeans. The committee’s recommendascreeched, both cars halted, the Ilion car tions have touched off a nationwide debate spun around and stopped. A window in over political correctness in the classroom. each car went down and Muthig handed The regents are also considering a pilot the package to the Ilion officer. The snakeproject that would provide vouchers to bite victim is George Morgan, age 30, of some parents to switch their children from Camden, New Jersey, employed in the W. public to private schools.

B. Sutton Snake Show, currently playing July 1991 in Ilion. Carnival workers said Morgan had been despondent since receiving word that his brother’s remains had been returned for burial from Korea where he was killed Calling computer security one of the in war action. Morgan is now stable and nation’s top problems, Attorney General expected to recover.

John Ashcroft said Friday that the July 1951 government is forming nine special units to prosecute hacking and copyright violations. Ashcroft said that the additions will increase to 48 the number of prosecutors For the first time since draft registration working on cyber-crime in U.S. Attorneys’ was resumed last year, the Selective Service offices across the country. has asked the Justice Department to start July 2001

30 Years Ago

20 Years Ago

40 Years Ago

VIEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

Cairo’s problems reflect Delgado’s district overall From HudsonValley360.com: If a word can be singled out to express the opinions of people attending U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado’s 61st town hall meeting in Cairo on Wednesday, it is “quality” — as in water quality and quality broadband.

Broadband is an issue in all corners of Delgado’s 19th Congressional District.

Like electricity a century ago, it is a basic necessity, especially in the age of COVID, remote learning and working from home.

But the problem is how broadband access is mapped to determine who has it and who doesn’t.

People who were told they’re covered by broadband are often not covered because of the use of census block mapping, which is effective in zones of population density but not in rural communities dotted by farms, rivers, ponds and lakes not found in more highly populated settings. Census block mapping is flawed, yet it is the mapping process used at the state level to decide who has broadband.

Contaminants such as PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, found in Cairo’s municipal water supply are disturbing because they can turn up in any community’s water supply.

Contaminants are a widespread problem in the 19th District and have proved as frustrating as broadband access.

PFOA is a dangerous toxin that can cause autoimmune disorders, kidney disease and liver failure, among other potentially deadly conditions. Federal officials continually told Delgado they needed more data and more evidence, but the congressman said the fact of the matter is clear.

“What do you have to figure out? We know it hurts people, we know it harms people’s lives, why can’t we address it?” Delgado said.

When it comes to wider broadband access and safe drinking water, Cairo and the rest of the 19th District should be among the

state leaders in both, not limping along. Water and broadband are essential to this area’s health and economy. Delgado knows this and he has spoken sternly to Congress and federal officials. It’s time they started listening.

Cuomo’s problems aren’t going to go away

From The Albany Times-Union: Gov. Andrew Cuomo may have thought that by rejecting calls to step down, or at least step aside, the scandals swirling around him would just fade away. They haven’t.

The news this past week of yet more discrepancies in the state’s COVID-19 death statistics — representing thousands of fatalities left off the state’s own website — only serves as a reminder of why he is in such hot water.

The governor, we realize, isn’t alone in wanting the controversies to go away.

There he was at a news conference on gun violence Wednesday with, among others, state Assembly Member Diana Richardson and Sen. Zellnor Myrie. Just four months ago, the two lawmakers, both Democrats of Brooklyn, had issued a scathing press release saying Mr. Cuomo had “irreparably damaged his trustworthiness and ability to lead,” and calling on him to resign. When a reporter asked Ms. Richardson about that statement in light of her appearance with the governor, she blew up, saying that “politics is politics, business is business.”

Ms. Richardson’s call for the governor to resign may have been just politics in her mind, but it’s very much about the public business of New York. Let’s not forget the entirely official reasons the governor is under such fire.

His administration grossly and purposely understated the number of nursing home residents who died from COVID-19. It kept the real numbers from the Legislature and the public for months until its hand was finally forced by a report from the attorney general’s office. It did so while the administration was

being questioned about whether a directive that nursing homes accept COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals may have caused more infections, and while the governor was producing a self-laudatory book on his handling of the pandemic. In short, it had all the appearance of a cover-up.

The governor has been accused by multiple women who are or were state employees of inappropriate behavior ranging from sexual overtures to unwelcome touching and kissing to outright groping.

And there are questions as to whether he unethically used state employees to help with his pandemic memoir, for which he received a more than $5 million advance.

Those aren’t petty political nits. These are all about the business Mr. Cuomo conducts on public property and taxpayer time, using — or abusing — the power of his position.

So is the latest revelation this past week that the state underreported on its website the numbers of pandemic deaths in prisons and certain other institutions by 11,000 people.

The administration’s insistence that it reported the correct numbers to the federal government only makes this lapse more puzzling.

It’s no wonder that most New Yorkers say he shouldn’t run again, and why we continue to call on him to resign. He squandered the public’s trust, and time will not restore it.

State budget story looks to have unhappy ending

From The (Saratoga) Daily Gazette: State lawmakers who’ve already exhausted their summer reading lists of Patterson novels and John Meacham bios might want to sit down in a comfy chair and browse through a report issued by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli last week about the future of state finances.

And judging from their free spending ways this spring that resulted in $18 billion in additional state spending to create the largest state budget in history, $212 billion, they

might be surprised by the ending.

The report starts off like it’s going to have a happy ending. But as often happens in novels and in real life, things take a turn for the worse as it goes on.

Burgeoning debt and years of excessive spending, combined with the depth and uncertainty of the covid economic crisis, threatened to drive up state debt to impossible levels and force lawmakers to make significant cuts to critical state budget items like education and social programs.

But then the cavalry arrived in the form of billions of dollars in federal aid, billions more in higher-than-anticipated tax revenue and revenue from higher taxes imposed on high earners. That helped reduce a projected four-year budget deficit of nearly $39 billion down to a much more manageable $3.4 billion, the report states.

That’s including all that giddy spending lawmakers did when they got that big check from Uncle Sam. The comptroller calls the change of fortune “encouraging.”But don’t put down this page-turner yet. The comptroller devotes an entire chapter to “Risks to the Financial Plan.” Uh-oh.

Those risks include having to continue to support spending initiated to help individuals, families and businesses recover from the pandemic; projected significant growth in spending on education and Medicaid; the need to repay debt with operating funds; and the loss of revenue from temporary sources like the corporate franchise tax and the PIT surcharge on high-income taxpayers.

State lawmakers have an opportunity to write their own ending to this story by reining in spending and being more fiscally responsible, reducing the state’s reliance on debt, creating long-term sustainable revenue sources, and enacting policies that don’t drive away individuals and businesses — along with their tax money — to other states.

Every good story has a hero and a villain.

Which one do state lawmakers want to be?

Chickens’ egg production increased when they got more light, but can you give fowl burnout?

SKETCHES/from Page A4 So, I anxiously disconnected the dangerous water heater and shut the switch on the bulb. Time and temperature proved McNulty to once again be right.

Roger Vaughn, of Vaughn’s Poultry Farm, suggested I put the smaller light back to where I originally had it at 14 hours a day.

This would give the chickens their rest and at the same time allow enough light for egg production. I followed Roger’s prescription.

My chickens thrived, but egg output, as expected, was definitely down. Meanwhile, I had come to rely on the increased volume because a dozen eggs from me, a kid from Brooklyn, makes a great gift to friends.

I was really impressed by the effect of sunlight on living things. I had often heard that deprivation of daylight during winter

could put you in a down mood. Seeing what a profound effect light had on my chickens reinforced my belief that the sun’s absence had a depressing effect on me and on people in general. I shared this knowledge with my wife, Alice, who waved a wet paintbrush at me and said, “I think you’re spending too much time with those birds!”

Now, I was wondering what other things might influence my chickens’ output, so, I again telephoned McNulty.

“Did you ever hear of the Hawthorne Effect?” he asked.

“No,” I told him.

“It boils down to any change in a hen’s environment could make her feel threatened and put her into a survival mode, causing her to temporarily lay more eggs.”

“I thought we’re not supposed to frighten

them,” I said. “I always approach the coop quietly.”

“That’s on a regular basis,” McNulty said.

“You do that so they don’t become nervous chickens and lay less eggs. But, tonight, go out to the coop, scratch on the door and howl like a coyote.”

“What if someone sees me?”

“Hey, do you want more eggs?”

When the moon came up, I waded through snowdrifts to the coop to execute McNulty’s instructions. Coincidentally, I heard a real coyote wailing back up in the hills behind the barn. I returned his call a couple of times. With both of us howling, I expected an abundance of eggs to soon follow.

When I walked back to the house Alice was putting a 100-watt bulb in our normally dim T.V. lamp.

“What’s that for?” I asked.

She rubbed the side of my neck and patted me on the back. “I heard you out by the barn,” she said sympathetically. “Maybe more light will raise your spirits and make you feel better.”

“That was for the chickens!” I tried to explain.

“Yeah, yeah, for the chickens,” Alice agreed.

According to McNulty’s Hawthorne Effect, I can’t use the same disturbance on a regular basis and still get more eggs, so, I asked my wife about other ways of worrying the chickens. She went to the cupboard, took out a roasting pan and handed it to me.

“What am I supposed to do, bang on this?” I asked.

“No,” Alice said. “Just show it to them.”

THURSDAY, July 22, 2021

A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

OBITUARIES

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

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

Joseph E. Pidgeon, 82 August 19, 1938 – July 14, 2021

ONEONTA – Joseph E. Oneonta Fire Department Pidgeon, 82, passed away for 34 years, retiring as a at home with family by his captain. He also was an side on July 14, 2021. electrician with Leo He was born Grande Electric August 19, 1938 in in Oneonta.

Oneonta, the son Joseph was of Charles V. and a member of Gladys I (Salisbury) IAFF Local Pidgeon. He married 2408 Oneonta Donna M. Craver on Professional February 4, 1961.

Firefighters and Joseph graduated BPO Elks 1312. from Oneonta High He is survived School, Class of by children, Joseph E. 1956. He was Jeffrey Pidgeon, employed as a beer Milynda Pidgeon Pidgeon hauler for WR and Timothy Elwood & Son, Oneonta.

(Janice) Pidgeon; grandHe was a professional children, Jessica Pidgeon, firefighter for the City of Melissa (Bart) Knapp,

Lindsay Pidgeon (Joseph Quadrio) and Hannah Pidgeon (Matthew Tiffany), Anthony Dilello, Tyler Dilello and Jennifer Dilello (DJ Quackenbush), Brendan (Chiharu) Pidgeon and Zachary Pidgeon (Sidney Overby); 10 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, John Craver; sister-in-law, Marlene Pidgeon; many nieces, nephews and cousins.He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Donna Pidgeon; brother, Charles Pidgeon; and his in-laws, Charles and Grace Craver.

A graveside service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, July 24, 2021 Mt. Calvary

Cemetery, Emmons.

Donations may be made to Helios Care, 279 River Street S. Service Rd., Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820 or the City Oneonta Fire Department Rescue Fund, 79 Main St., Oneonta, NY 13820.

A special thank you to Bassett Oncology at Fox Care, Dr. Day Hills, and Helios Care for the excellent care and treatments given to Joseph.

Online condolences may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Oneonta’s only family-owned funeral home, Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono at 51 Dietz Street.

More Obituaries pg. A8

MeMories to Cherish every life has a story. everyone deserves a final appreciation.

For more information send email to info@Allotsego.com, or call Larissa at 607-547-6103.

Legal

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of The BeauBuilt Company, LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 7/14/2021.

Office Location: Otsego County SSNY Designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 115 Skaneateles Tpke., West Winfield, NY 13491 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalAug.26 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Brookside Groundskeeping, LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 4/16/21.

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 8024 ST HWY 80 SPRINGFIELD Center NY, 13468.

Purpose: any lawful purpose.

6LegalAug.26 Legal nOtice NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received as set forth in instructions to bidders until 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at the NYSDOT, Office of Contract Management, 50 Wolf Rd, 1st Floor, Suite 1CM, Albany, NY 12232 and will be publicly opened and read. Bids may also be submitted via the internet using www.bidx.com.

A certified cashier’s check payable to the

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NYSDOT for the sum specified in the proposal or a bid bond, form CONR 391, representing 5% of the bid total, must accompany each bid. NYSDOT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Electronic documents and Amendments are posted to www.dot.ny.gov/ doing-business/opportunities/const-notices. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all Amendments are incorporated into its bid. To receive notification of Amendments via e-mail you must submit a request to be placed on the Planholders List at www.dot. ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/ const-planholder.

Amendments may have been issued prior to your placement on the Planholders list.

NYS Finance Law restricts communication with NYSDOT on procurements and contact can only be made with designated persons. Contact with non-designated persons or other involved Agencies will be considered a serious matter and may result in disqualification. Contact Robert Kitchen (518)457-2124.

Contracts with 0% Goals are generally single operation contracts, where subcontracting is not expected, and may present direct bidding opportunities for Small Business Firms, including, but not limited to D/W/MBEs. The New York State Department of Transportation, in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat.

252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimina-

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tion in Federallyassisted programs of the Department of Transportation and Title 23 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, Title IV Program and Related Statutes, as amended, issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all who respond to a written Department solicitation, request for proposal or invitation for bid that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability/handicap and income status in consideration for an award.

Please call (518)457-2124 if a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the letting.

Region 09: New York State Department of Transportation 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901 D264552, PIN 9TSR22, FA Proj Z0E19TSR-223, Broome, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, Tioga Cos., Install or replace missing or non-compliant, ground-mounted and bridge mounted signs., Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $20,000.00), Goals: DBE: 2.00% 2LegalJul.29 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of 607Painting LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/28/2021.

Office location, County of Otsego.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom

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LEGALS

process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 210 Wheaton Creek Rd, Otego, NY 13825.

Purpose: any lawful act.

6LegalAug.26 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of MARISA CHISM LMT L.L.C., Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/11/2021.

Office loc: Otsego County.

SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 2 Riverside Avenue, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Reg Agent: U.S. Corp. Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave., Ste 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

6LegalAug.26

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public hearing in the Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard, to discuss the following

will hold the following public hearings in the Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard, to discuss the following

filed with the Secretary of the State of New York (SSNY) on April 16, 2021.

SSNY is the agent designated to receive service of process on behalf of the LLC. SSNY shall mail a copy of such service of process to Michael Burns, 372 Christian Hill Road, Cooperstown, New York 13326.

6LegalAug.12

SSNY shall mail copy of process to 846 Co Hwy 25, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

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

6LegalJul.29 Legal nOtice

Special Use Permit Application – 20 Glen Avenue – for a single-family residence within the C Commercial District

Any resident of the Village of Cooperstown is entitled to be heard upon said local law at such public hearing. Disabled citizens who require assistance in attending said public hearing, or in furnishing comments or suggestions, should contact the Village Clerk to request assistance.

The proposed local law may be seen at the Village Office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 3 June 2021.

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 272 Rathbun Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

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

6LegalJul.29 Legal nOtice

Name:

Any resident of the Village of Cooperstown is entitled to be heard upon said local law at such public hearing. Disabled citizens, who require assistance in attending said public hearing, or in furnishing comments or suggestions, should contact the Village Clerk to request assistance. Copies of the proposed laws are available for inspection at the Village Clerk’s office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

BROADREACH FARMSTEAD LLC.

Dated: July 7, 2021

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 8 July 2021.

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 155 Beaver St, Cherry Valley, NY 13320.

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

6LegalAug.26

By order of the Village Board Village of Cooperstown

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company

Legal nOtice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Jenna L. Utter Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) 1LegalJul.22 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown

Proposed Local Law No. 3 of 2021 – Amendments to the Vending Law.

Dated: July 7, 2021 By order of the Village Board Village of Cooperstown Jenna L. Utter Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) 1LegalJul.22 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION of Breezy Acres Farm, LLC, a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) with offices located in Otsego County, for the purpose of any lawful act or activity under the Limited Liability Company Law. The Articles of Organization were

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Alhambra Farms LLC, Filed 4/26/21.

Cty: Otsego.

SSNY desig. for process & shall mail 444 Goddards Rd, Mt Vision, NY 13810.

Purp: any lawful.

6LegalAug.5 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name: DREAM WEAVER FARM LLC. Certificate of Conversion filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 11 June 2021.

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 650 County Highway 27, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

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

6LegalJul.29 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name: RATHBUN RENOVATIONS LLC.

Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name:

Notice of Formation of Resource.Me, LLC Filed 4/21/21 Office: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 19 Eagle Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: all lawful Legal nOtice Notice of formation of

JSGC LLC.

Frank & Glory LLC

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 28 May 2021.

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 Lancaster St, Cherry Valley, NY 13320.

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

6LegalJul.29

Filed 4/29/21 Office: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 22 Leatherstocking Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: all lawful 6LegalJul.29 Legal nOtice

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name: CLEAR WATER ENVIRONMENTAL LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 28 May 2021.

Office location: Otsego County.

SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and

Notice of Formation of Mkswat LLC Filed 4/29/21 Office: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: PO Box 1208, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: all lawful 6LegalJul.29 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of Gilbertsville Trucking LLC, Art. of Org. filed with SSNY on 1/7/21.

Cty: Otsego.

SSNY desig. as agent upon whom proc. may be served & shall mail 438 Oregon Rd, Gilbertsville, NY 13776.

Purp: any lawful.

6LegalJul.22

All

OTSEGO.sports

THURSDAY, July 22, 2021

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-7

Leonard became Milford’s pioneer wrestler, Coop legend Despite losing senior season to pandemic, grappling career will continue with college recruitment

By GREG KLEIN MARYLAND — As he could see his senior season of wrestling being washed away by the coronavirus pandemic, 2021 Milford Central School graduate Avery Leonard said he relied on his philosophy of life, “worry about what you can control, let go of everything you can’t control.”

“I have always run with that saying,” he said, Monday, July 19.

Leonard and his father/wrestling coach, Nate Leonard, spoke with AllOtsego.com at their “summer home” on Goodyear Lake, about his career and losing his senior season after spending three years working Contributed toward a state title.

Avery Leonard, a Milford/Cooperstown wrestler, goes for a pin during the “I saw it coming,” Avery said. “I think I knew as soon 2020-2021 state tournament in Albany in February 2020. as everything changed. With wrestler to win a section Although he did not get month later. everything going on, they title in wrestling and then to a senior season, Avery “We do have a pretty tight weren’t going to let us have place at the state tournament, received his share of honors, community in Milford,” high school wrestling. I winning the 2019 Section III from both of his local Avery said. “The kids I grew understand, but that doesn’t Division II title — Division schools. Cooperstown put his up with, I have known most mean it didn’t still suck.”

II includes all small school final school record, 128-13, of them since preschool.

As a freshman, Leonard classes — and taking third in on a banner of its 100-win They knew about my goals became the first Milford DII in the state, both at 106 wrestlers. Although he only the entire time they were student to wrestle for pounds. had three seasons, Avery happening, so they were Cooperstown Central His junior year, Avery had more wins than all but very supportive, and they School. Although Nate became the first Milford one Cooperstown wrestler, always cheered me on when had wrestled and coached wrestler to win 100 matches Packey Burke. His winning I had success.” wrestling as a volunteer Avery has continued to assistant at SUNY Oneonta, and placed second in the state percentage, .907%, topped everyone but Burke, too. wrestle, too. As with many Avery had previously played in Division II at 120 pounds.

The state finals were Feb. Milford went even of the “Olympic sports,” the basketball, thinking he 28, 2020, not long before the further than Cooperstown, top wrestling competition would not have the opporpandemic shutdown. honoring Avery at its 2021 for teens is not at the high tunity to wrestle at his little Avery’s loss to three-time athletic banquet, despite school level. As soon as the community school. state champion Anthony his season being canceled. pandemic measures allowed His freshman year, Avery Contributed Noto, from Honeoye FallsMCS Athletic Director it, elite wrestlers were won 34 matches and became Avery Leonard, a 2021 Milford Central School Lima, in the finals was his Chris Saggese, who was congregating for tournathe first Milford wrestler to graduate, became the first Wildcat to wrestle for last high school match. also Avery’s history teacher, ments around the county and win a class title, taking the neighbor Cooperstown. He left with his name on “I definitely had complete made a speech and award the Leonards were among 2018 Section III Class D the banner that makes the program’s greatest confidence in myself to get presentation to Avery that the competitors. Often, other wrestlers. Leonard went 128-13 in three seasons, title at 99 pounds. still has father and son wrestlers from Nate’s gym His sophomore year, Avery a state championship (as a missing his senior year because of the coronasenior),” he said. overcome with emotion a See AVERY, Page A9 became the first Milford virus pandemic.

With induction delayed, HOF awards get Saturday spotlight

By CHARLIE VASCELLARO While the Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony has been pushed back to Sept. 8, in order to accommodate the inclusion of fans in attendance on the lawn at the Clark Sports Center, the Hall’s annual Awards Presentation honoring baseball writers and broadcasters is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, as a television only event.

This year’s Ford C. Frick Award and Baseball Writer’s Association of America Career Excellence Award ceremony will include respective 2021 recipients, broadcaster Al Michaels and writer Dick Kaegel as well as 2020 honorees, Ken Harrelson and Nick Cafardo.

‘Do you Believe in Miracles?’

Perhaps best known for his indelible call of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team’s stunning defeat of Russia in the 1980 winter Olympics, Al Michaels was already a seasoned and accomplished sports broadcaster at the time breaking into baseball with the Pacific Coast (minor) League’s Hawaii Islanders in 1968. The 45th winner of the Frick Award, Michaels assumed the lead broadcaster responsibilities for the Cincinnati Reds in 1971 and the San Francisco Giants in 1974.

A graduate of Arizona State University, where he minored in radio and television journalism, Michaels began a 30-year run with ABC sports in 1976, beginning as a back-up announcer for Monday Night Baseball.

During his lengthy career, Michales occupied the broadcast booth for seven World Series, including the infamous 1989 Bay Bridge/Earthquake Series between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s.

Prior to Game Three at Candlestick Park, Michaels pregame show was interrupted by an earthquake registering 6.9 on the

Richter Scale.

“I’ll tell you … we’re having an earthquake. … I don’t know if we’re on the air or in a commercial. … That’s the greatest open in the history of television bar none,” Michaels said.

A new award name Veteran sportswriter Dick Kaegel spent more than 50 years as a writer and editor covering the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals for the St. Louis Post Dispatch and Kansas City Star and also served as the managing editor and editor for the Sporting News magazine from 1979 to 1985.

Kaegel closed out his lengthy career by covering every one of the Kansas City Royals 162 games at home and on the road in the 2011 season, just four years after undergoing liver transplant surgery.. Kaegel would have been the 72nd recipient of the J.G. Spink award “for meritorious contributions to baseball writing,” but finds himself as the first to receive the Baseball Writer’s Association of America’s Career Excellence Award.

In Major League Baseball’s continued season of reckoning with its past, Spink’s name was removed from the award after research by the association into what has been deemed Spink’s racist behavior and expressions in the past. By a vote of 325 to 11 (97%) of the associations members elected to remove Spink’s name from the award.

Spink was the publisher of the Sporting News from 1914-1962.

The award has carried his name since his death.

It’s an ironic twist of fate that Kaegel, who followed Spink as editor of the Sporting News, some 20 years after his death, would be the first recipient of the award after Spink’s name was removed.

“Spink was the publisher of the largest, most powerful baseball publication in the country for

nearly half a century, and he used that position to strongly advocate against the integration of the sport,” Sporting News senior writer Ryan Fagan wrote.

‘You can put it on the Board’ Colorful commentator Ken “Hawk” Harrelson already staked his claim to fame as a Major League first baseman/outfielder, before becoming one of baseball’s best-known broadcasters after a broken leg brought an abrupt end to his nine-year career in the spring of 1970.

After breaking in with the Kansas City Athletics in 1963, Harrelson spent brief stints with the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians, enjoying his best season in 1968, reaching career-highs with 35 home runs and 109 RBI in Boston.

Harrelson began his broadcast career with the Red Sox from 1975 to 1981, but he was elevated to iconic status in the booth for the Chicago White Sox, where he spent 34 of his 43 years behind the microphone beginning in 1982.

A five-time Emmy Award winner, Harrelson’s catch-phrase calls of “You can put it on the board,” “Yes!” and “Mercy!” are engrained in the South Side of Chicago lexicon. He also helped to create and perpetuate nicknames like the “Big Hurt” for Hall of Famer Frank Thomas and “L. Dog” for All-Star outfielder Lance Johnson.

Harrelson became the 44th

recipient of the Frick Award in the pandemic postponed Hall of Fame season of 2020.

“They called me last year and asked me what I thought about it, and I told them I’m not bringing my family because of the COVID. So that’s going to determine everything, because with Derek Jeter going in, there’s going to be 100,000 people. They will break the all-time record, and justifiably so,” Harrelson told MLB.com in January when it was announced that the 2020 and 2021 recipients would receive their awards together this year.

Posthumous award winner Working as one of Major League Baseball’s busiest reporters up until the last day of his life, Nick Cafardo was still on the job covering spring training for the Boston Red Sox on Feb. 21, 2019, when he collapsed and died hours later of an embolism.

Last year, Cafardo was announced as the 71st recipient of the BBWAA’s former “J.G. Spink Award” now the “Career Excellence Award” at Major League Baseball’s winter meetings in San Diego, CA in December of 2019, 10 months after his death.

The author of four baseball books and the winner of the Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year Award in 2014, Cafardo covered the Red Sox’s World Series wins in 2004, 2007, 2013 and 2018.

Joining the Boston Globe as a baseball columnist in 1989, Cafardo had previously covered the Red Sox for the rival PatriotLedger in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Cafardo followed in the fingerprints of legendary baseball writer and fellow Career Excellence Award winner Peter Gammons, stepping in to write the Globe’s “Sunday notes” section after Gammons suffered a brain aneurysm in 2006.

Cafardo continued to write the

Sunday notes every week for the next 15 years.

Cafardo’s colleagues were overjoyed at the announcement of his receiving baseball scribes highest honor and the news was met with rousing standing ovation at the gathering in San Diego.

“Crying tears of joy. Nick Cafardo, wonderful husband and father & an extraordinary journalist, is @officialBBWAA 2020 (JG Taylor Spink Award) winner.

Though we honor our friend posthumously, Nick remains alive in our hearts forever. Love to @ BenESPN (his son) & family,” tweeted fellow Spink Award/Career Excellence recipient Claire Smith.

Cafardo, 62 at the time of his passing, is the first posthumous winner of the award since his Boston Globe colleague, Larry Whiteside, won it in 2008.

Montgomery is fifth O’Neil winner Known as much for his philanthropical efforts as his baseball acumen, longtime Philadelphia Phillies executive Dave Montgomery was elected the fifth recipient of the Hall of Fame’s Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award on March 5, 2020, just about a week before the Covid-19 pandemic brought a temporary halt to MLB and Hall of Fame activities.

Montgomery began his fivedecade-long career with the Phillies. He served as the team’s president and chief executive officer during the franchise’s most successful run, winning five consecutive East division titles from 2007 to 2011, and capturing back-to-back NL pennants in 2008 and 2009, as well as winning the 2008 World Series.

Montgomery is perhaps best remembered for his work raising more than $19 million for the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia, the Phillie’s official charity.

Montgomery passed away in May 2019, at 72.

THURSDAY, July 22, 2021

A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Summer Music Festival to reopen with free concert Aug. 10, at Fenimore

By PATRICK DEWEY After the cancellation of the 2020 season because of the coronavirus, the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival will be back for its 23rd season this summer.

The season kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 10, with a free concert.

“We wanted to make a gift to the community and say let’s come back and enjoy live music together after difficult times,” CSMF Artistic Director Linda Chesis said.

This opening performance will be by the 14-piece group, Caroga Arts Ensemble, which will play a range of music from bluegrass to jazz, according to Chesis.

“They work in all configurations and all genres of music,” she said.

There is unlimited seating for the outdoor concert on Aug. 10,

which will be held on the back lawn at the Fenimore Art Museum, near Cooperstown, on State Route 80. Attendees need to bring their own chairs or blankets. If it’s raining, the event will move indoors to the Louis C Jones Center at The Farmers’ Museum, where capacity will be limited and ticket reservations required.

The festival will continue at 7 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 15, with a performance by Imani Winds at the Otesaga Resort Hotel.

Chesis said the group is comprised of top wind players.

“They have an imaginative program that will be engaging for audiences of all ages” Chesis said.

The performance will feature works composed by ensemble members.

According to the festival website, Imani Winds commissions, “new music reflecting

historical events and the times in which we currently live.”

The next concert will be by the Verona String Quartet at 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 22, at The Farmer’s Museum’s Louis C. Jones Center.

The quartet will perform works by Shostakovich and Dvořák.

Brazilian jazz group Trio da Paz

will make its third CSMF appearance at 7 p.m., Aug. 30, at the Otesaga. Chesis said the group is comprised of world-famous musicians each with their own careers.

“They love to come together and when they do it’s a party” Chesis said.

The final performance of the season will take place at the Otesaga. The show will be by Jiji (guitar) and Danbi Um (violin) at 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 19. The duo will feature works by Paganini, Ella Fitzgerald and Amy Beach, among others.

Chesis said since the community is just opening up after the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, she is limiting capacity of performances despite loosening of restrictions.

“I want everyone to feel safe and comfortable” Chesis said.

Chesis said the Cooperstown

OBITUARIES

Douglas Stratton Fielder July 22, 1940 – April 28, 2021

Oneonta – A celebration at the church columbarium. of life service with For the Zoom link military honors for please contact Douglas Stratton the church at Fielder will be held 607-432-4102.

3 p.m. Saturday, In lieu of July 24, 2021 at flowers, gifts the First United should be given Methodist Church, to the Parkinson’s 66 Chestnut St., Disease Oneonta, with the Foundation, PO Douglas S. Rev. Marti SwordsBox 6003, Albert Fielder Lea, MN 56007 or Horrell officiating.

The interment will follow to the Douglas and Dorothy

Scott Fielder Scholarship, c/o Ellen M. Blaisdell, 308 Netzer Administration Building, State University College, Oneonta NY 13820.

Online condolences may be made at, www.lhpfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with Oneonta’s only family-owned funeral home, Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono at 51 Dietz Street.

Music Festival helps audiences discover genres new to them. She said each group of performers represents a high standard in whichever genre they play.

Past CSMF performances have appeared on National Public Radio’s performance today, hosted

by Fred Child. Chesis said having the events featured on the show is a great honor.

She said after the Covid pandemic stopped performances, the impact of performance is even more clear. Performance gives audiences a sense of connection and musicians the support they need.

Go to www.cooperstownmusicfest.org for ticket details.

Tickets are limited for the indoor shows.

For more information, go to cooperstownmusicfest.org or call 877-666-7421.

Robert W. Bibik, 78

Born in Richfield Springs, served in U.S. Navy

Robert W. Bibik, 78, of Vero Beach six years ago.

Fernandina Beach passed He was active member of away Friday, July 16, 2021, the Civitan Club for many at the Warner Center for years.

Caring.

He was of Catholic faith Born in Richfield but due to illness Springs, NY, he he had not been was a son of the able to practice in late Edward and the last few years.

Agnes Zilega Bibik.

He enjoyed fishing He served in and woodworking the U. S. Navy and was considand soon after his ered a master of discharge he and jigsaw puzzles. his wife, Cheryl, His children have Robert W. moved to Florida. several completed Bibik For 27 years he puzzles that have worked as an engineer for been mounted for display.

April 8, 1927 – July 15, 2021 Florida Power and Light. He Above all else he loved and and a school administrator ONEONTA – John Roger A. Smith and great Lampman Smith, Jr. 94, at Charlotte Valley Central granddaughter, Mea Grace also worked for Duke Power cared for his wife Cheryl and Progressive Energy who passed away in 2019. passed away, July 15, 2021 School in Davenport from Stoecklin. before complete retirement.

He leaves behind his three 1950, retiring in 1983. John at St. James Manor in Calling hours will be He and his wife moved to children, Scott Bibik and his Oneonta. enjoyed playing golf, fishing 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, July 26, wife, Pamela, of Cumming, 2021 at the Lewis, Hurley & Fernandina Beach from He was born April 8, 1927 and the NY Yankees. in Hudson, the son of John He is survived by two Pietrobono Funeral Home, Lampman Smith Sr. and daughters, Linda (Jack) 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.

Arvesta (Pectal) Smith. John McLean of Cohoes and Jill Private service and married Polly Ann Blass in (Jim) Stoecklin of Hartwick; interment will be at the 1950 and they moved to four grandchildren, Brett convenience of the family.

(Megan) McLean of Davenport. Polly passed In lieu of flowers, those away on September 8, 2015. Latham, Heath (Sarah) wishing to donate in his McLean of Orlando, FL, John graduated from memory please consider Roeliff Jensen School in Brooke Stoecklin of Port the Davenport Cemetery, Hillsdale, NY. He attended St. Joe, FL, and Morgan c/o Troy Rider, PO Box Cortland State University Stoecklin of Hartwick, 152, Davenport Center, NY before entering in the three great-granddaughters; 13751.

United States Marines Corp his sister, Shirley Fingar, Expressions of sympathy in 1945. John received a may be sent to, www.

Craryville. master’s degree in education.

In addition to his wife, he lhpfuneralhome.com He was a science teacher was predeceased by his son,

John Lampman Smith Jr.

Louis J. Bobnick, 95 March 8, 1926 – July 14, 2021

COOPERSTOWN – Louis John Bobnick, a retired truck driver for Otsego Ready Mix and long-time area resident, passed away peacefully late Wednesday night, July 14, 2021, at Valley Health Services in Herkimer. He was 95.

Born March 8, 1926, in Chesterland, Ohio, he was one of six children of Louis W. and Mary (Geizer) Bobnick. In 1932, the family moved from Ohio to New York State and settled in Worcester. They then moved to Milford in 1941 and Lou graduated from Milford Central School.

In 1964, Lou came to reside in Cooperstown and met long-time resident Diane J. Slover, and on November 26, 1965, they were married in a ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Cooperstown. They first lived on Elm Street in the village, and then for 40 years made their home and raised their family just outside of Toddsville.

Lou worked as a truck driver for many years, first for Lester Hanson and his brother, Christian, who owned and operated Gahanunda Farms in Pierstown. He then went to work for Otsego Ready Mix in Oneonta, driving trucks for them for 30 years until his retirement.

Lou always cherished his

time with family, extended family and friends. He and Diane especially loved to travel the countryside, either by motorcycle or car. After his retirement in 2002, he and Diane, along with his sister, Rose Mary, took a cross country trip to the West Coast to visit his three other sisters. At the time, Irene lived in Washington State, while Helen and Mary Jane lived in the Los Angeles area. After Diane’s passing, he and John, and when Michael was visiting, would continue the car rides around the area during the late spring, summer and early fall, as Lou did not like the cold weather and hibernated during the winter months. As Lou loved blueberries, Dan would take him to Ingall’s Blueberry Hill to pick some once they were in season.

Regrettably, the COVID19 restrictions on face-toface visitations put in place by the State of New York and area nursing homes contributed greatly to Lou’s recent decline in health, both mentally and physically. At least in his final days he was able to have visits with his family and most especially, his beloved dog, Molly.

Lou is survived by three sons, Michael Bobnick of Amsterdam, Daniel Bobnick of Laurens and John Bobnick of Toddsville; two sisters, Irene Barr of

Keystone, Heights, Florida and Helen Polanis of Buena Park, California; and many nieces and nephews. He is further survived by his faithful canine companion, Molly, who could often be seen clutched in Lou’s arm as they took their daily drive into town for the newspaper and some grocery shopping.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 50 years, Diane S. Bobnick, who died December 2, 2015, as well as two sisters, Rose Mary Stringer who died October 15, 2015, and Mary Jane Chapman who died December 29, 2016, and a brother who died in infancy.

Friends may call to pay their respects to Lou’s family from 4 - 6 p.m.

Monday, August 2, 2021, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown. The visitation will be followed by a service at 6 p.m.

The Service of Committal and Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at the Hartwick Seminary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Fly Creek Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 218, Fly Creek, NY 13337.

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

GA, Christine McCowan of Kingsland, GA and Suzanne Draluick and her husband, Matthew, of Woodbine, GA; a brother, David Bibik of Harrisonburg, VA; seven grandchildren, Mary Bibik, Emily Bibik, Joseph Bibik, Sarah Harlow, Jessica Duncklee, Ashley McBride and Joshua Draluck and 7 great grandchildren, Korbin, Sadie, Abbey, Emmy, Everly, Jace and Cole.

A Mass for Mr. Bibik will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at St. Michael Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Wednesday evening at Oxley-Heard.

He will be with his wife for Eternity.

THURSDAY, July 22, 2021

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-9

Leonard placed second in state in Division II 120-pound class in 2020, lost 2021 high school season to pandemic AVERY/from Page A7 in Unadilla, Gorilla Grapplers, were along for the competitions as well. The journey has taken them to Wisconsin, Illinois, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and most recently, Virginia Beach for a Memorial Day weekend tournament.

“I think I have wrestled eight times since my last high school match,” Avery said. “Wisconsin in June (2020) was the first after the shutdown. They were strict.”

“Everybody in the building had to have masks on at all times, except the kids for the minutes they were on the mat,” Nate said.

Along with the tournaments, Avery has continued to work out, in and out of the wrestling room, always aware that his long-term goals included wrestling after high school. “That’s the thing that made it, not okay, but made me feel better about not getting a senior season,” he said. “I knew there would be many more wrestling matches in college.”

Avery decided to take a flex

year following his June graduation from MCS. Newly 18, what he and his dad wanted most about the recruiting experience was for him to be able to go into a college’s wrestling room, to meet the team’s other wrestlers and to experience the vibe a college program gave off. Impossible during the pandemic, they decided to delay for a year until better recruiting opportunities could be offered.

“What is exciting to me as a dad is that Avery has barely even scratched the surface of his full potential,” Nate said. “I am looking forward to seeing what an elite college coach can make of him.”

Avery said his targets are two of the top Division III wrestling programs in the region, Ithaca College and Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Until fall 2022, he will work toward his college goals.

“I might get a part-time job, but to be honest, my focus is on working out and preparing for college wrestling,” he said.

“Avery has also decided to

Contributed

Despite 128 wins in high school, Leonard hasn’t reached his full potential as a wrestler, his dad/coach said.

dedicate himself to coaching and focusing on helping the other wrestlers in the area,” Nate said.

“I have a good group of about six or seven younger kids who have already placed at the state tournament, and they are learning from him. It is great to see him take the time to give back and help other athletes see what it takes to be an elite wrestler.”

Housed in a converted barn along state Route 7 in Unadilla, the Gorilla Grappers wrestling room has had a big reach.

Nate coaches wrestlers from at least three counties, Delaware, Chenango and Otsego, usually at least three times a week. He had been building a big following among the Cooperstown/Milford athletes until the pandemic caused

everyone to pull back.

“For me that is the continuing aspect that hurt Cooperstown and Milford with COVID,” Nate said. “(CCS wrestling coach) Mike Croft and I were building something. We had some of the Cooperstown kids driving all the way down to Unadilla. That all stopped last year with the pandemic. That hurt really bad.”

For Avery, he said he wants to make sure he leaves something behind at Milford, too. He said he wants to be the start of the wrestling tradition, not a one-off success story. He had a younger protege, T.J. O’Connor, who had great success as a seventh and eighth grader wrestling for Cooperstown while attending MCS. O’Connor moved to Oneonta last year, and his status is uncertain for next year, Nate said.

“I do feel like I started something to some extent,” Avery said. “I don’t want it to end there.

I definitely want other kids to keep doing well at wrestling with Milford and Cooperstown.”

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THURSDAY, July 22, 2021

A-10 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

State of emergency declared Sunday in towns of Butternuts, Morris, Pittsfield FLOOD/from Page A1 An eyewitness account said the floodwaters in Gilbertsville at about 8:30 p.m., Saturday, were “like a waterfall coming down the hill.”

The floods struck Morris a few minutes later, after a wash of flood debris clogged the culverts around the fairground, which were put in after the massive 2006 floods. The debris rendered the improvements useless and many of the same areas that flooded in 2006, and/or during 2011 floods, got reflooded.

Roads and bridges were damaged along routes that crossed or ran parallel to the Butternut Creek and the Dunderburg Creek, which runs through Gilberstville, and meets the Butternut at the east end of the village.

Many of the roads that were closed Saturday and Sunday are now open, but parts of county Route 4 and state Route 51 were still not opened late Monday.

Otsego County Board Chair Dave Bliss, RCherry Valley, Middlefield, Roseboom, declared a state of emergency in the towns of Butternuts, Pittsfield and Morris on Sunday. He said FEMA was on the ground to assess the damage and he met with state representatives at Monday in order to talk specifics about the damage.

“All along the 51 corridor, there’s a lot of infrastructure that we’re going to have to build back,” Farwell said.

She said state and federal funds “are going to be absolutely necessary.”

Farwell thanked the town officials, municipal officials, county officials, firefighters and emergency coordinators.

“It’s times like this when you recognize the importance of the work they do,” Farwell said.

Main Street in Morris looked like a disaster zone, Sunday, with construction crews and the Morris Fire Department working to clean up the damage from the previous night’s storm.

Morris FD officials said nearly every business was damaged by flooding, with water reaching as a high as a foot at a certain point and rain fall accumulating to three and half inches in less than an hour.

“We’ve got a lot of businesses that are hurt,” said Morris Mayor Mike Newell.

“We’re just cleaning up because that’s all we can do.”

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Nearly every business on Main Street in Morris looked similar to this business at 123 Main St., on Sunday, July 18, with mud and water damage seemingly everywhere.

business from the outside looked dire, with water soaking up everything and items scattered about completely ruined.

Firefighters said that bridges connecting to Gilbertsville were “completely wiped out” and that Gilbertsville was impossible to reach Sunday.

Those firefighters said they had been working between 6 p.m. Saturday until 2 a.m.

Sunday before beginning again at 11 a.m.

One fire captain, who only wished to be identified by his title, said he hadn’t seen flooding like this since 2006.

“It’s an act of God. What are you gonna do?” he said.

He said a nearby stream had been “a point of contention for years” and he wasn’t surprised it led to flood damage.

Editor Greg Klein contributed to this report.

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Debris in Gilbertsville clogged waterways and led to damage to bridges and roads, as seen Sunday.

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20 Chestnut Street • Suite 1 • Cooperstown 607-547-5007 www.leatherstockingmortgage.com

Daylily Dreams! This idyllic 4-BR, 5½-bath home sits on a gorgeous landscaped yard w/expansive deck, pond, gazebo, hostas, daylillies and more. Previously it was a 5-star B&B. This stunning 1900s home was completely restored w/a substantial addition in 1985. Just minutes to Cooperstown. 4 BRs each have attached bath, A/C units, generous closets.

Master suite on first floor has French doors open to deck. LR has wood floors, fireplace. Formal DR w/wet bar. Large eat-in kitchen w/French doors to deck. Charming detail throughout. Extras include den, family room, cedar closets, and antique shop for commercial pursuits.

MLS#131033 $695,000

Move-In Ready!

This village charmer sits on a ½ acre level lot w/carriage barn. Recently updated kitchen and baths, gleaming hardwood floors, beautiful Craftsman woodwork and doors, gas fireplace. Great flow is perfect for family gatherings.

MLS#130762 $184,900

Locally owned and operated Single and multi-family homes Commercial property and land

99 Main Street, Oneonta office 607.441.7312 fax 607.432.7580

166 Main Street, Suite 1 Oneonta | 607.433.2873 oneontarealty.com

So Much to Love! This 4-BR, 3-bath center-hall Colonial sits on ¼ acre just a short walk to Wilber Park and downtown.

Nice size rooms, great floorplan, formal DR and LR, family room on first floor, eat-in kitchen w/sliding glass doors leading to private deck. Must see!

MLS#130967 $219,500

www.oneontarealty.com Lizabeth Rose, Broker/Owner Cricket Keto, Licensed Assoc. Broker Peter D. Clark, Consultant

r e m Sum

Things to do in Greater Cooperstown

Dreams ►

Thursday, July 22, 2021

► Lights, Camera, OtseGO County Region prepares for its film closeup InsiDE: ReSTAURANT REVIEWS for the PERFECT VACATION, Page B6 Home

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AllOTSEGO.com

21 Railroad Avenue, Cooperstown, NY 13326 • 607-547-6103 • info@allotsego.com

B-2 Summer Dreams

Thursday, July 22, 2021

what’s fun

in Otsego County

BEST BETS

Serving you for over 70 years!

Online Restaurant Curbside Delivery Catering Gift Shop Sauce Production

Thank you for your patronage! www.brooksbbq.com 607-432-1782 5560 NY Rte 7 Oneonta

Baseball Hall of Fame awards, Oneonta outdoor concert, more.

Calling all baseball fans! cost is $20 per adult. At 7:30 p.m., Tune in for the 2021 awards cerSaturday, July 23, at Hyde Hall in emony live on the MLB Network. The Springfield Center. Call 607-547-5098 ceremony will include the or visit hydehall.org. things Ford C. Frick Award winner • for broadcasting excellence, Come one, come all to learn to do!

Al Michaels; the 2020 Frick about the “Good Old Days” Award winner, Ken Harrelof the patent medicine indusson; the 2021 Baseball Writtry and snake oil salesmen in ers’ Association of America Oneonta. Find out about the Career Excellence Award “Dimmick Kidney Cure” and winner, Dick Kaegel; the 2020 Dr. James Munyon, who sucBBWAA Career Excellence cessfully sold more than 72 Award winner, Nick Cafardo; dif-ferent products in the USA, and the 2020 Buck O’Neil Canada and Europe.

Lifetime Achievement Award Larissa Ryan Presented by Amy Schulz winner, David Montgomery. and Jack Ewen. Free, open to Presented by The National Baseball the public, from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooper- July 25, at the Swart-Wilcox House stown on Saturday, July 24. Call 607- Museum in Oneonta. Go to swartwil547-7200 or visit baseballhall.org. cox-house.wordpress.com/2021-sum• mer-sunday-series/.

The Oneonta Community Concert • Band invites the public for an evening Spend a relaxing evening at the golf concert ‘Going Out’ exploring the course listening to classic rock music activities we’ve all missed for the past performed by the Brian Murphy Duo. year. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, Listen from your car, in a chair or and enjoy the show. Free, open to the while wandering the trails. At 7 p.m., public. At 7 p.m.,Thursday, July 22, Monday, July 26, at Meadowlinks in Neahwa Park in Oneonta. Go to Golf Course, 476 County Route 27 in Oneonta Community Concert Band on Richfield Springs. Call 607-432-4026 Facebook for more information. or go to Oneonta-Musicians• Association on Facebook.

Violinist Jorg-Michael Schwarz and the Musicians of Ma’alwyck will recre►ON THE COVER ate the music the Clarke family would Director Mark Savage prepares have listened to at the Hyde Hall. The to film a scene in Middlefield on performance is based on the diaries of George Templeton Strong, a friend of Wednesday, July 14. the Clarkes, who kept detailed notes on Photo by Greg Klein/AllOtsego.com. the music of the era. The evening will include readings from his diary. The

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Summer Dreams B-3

Kevin Limiti/AllOtsego.com

Executive Producer Jeff Miller stands in front of a film set in Middlefield, where he was filming ‘Bring Him Back Dead’ on Wednesday, July 14.

Lights, camera, Otsego County

Summer film shoot for ‘Bring Him Back Dead’ highlights industry’s growth in Cooperstown, Oneonta

By KEVIN LIMITI MIDDLEFIELD — The push to bring the film industry to Otsego County produced big results in July, in large part thanks to efforts of Film COOP and scenery in the region that the filmmakers couldn’t get anywhere else.

Tucked away at a “hideout” location, the small-budget action film “Bring Him Back Dead” was shot at a Middlefield cabin last week, with the type of energy one would find from a Hollywood production previously not seen in Otsego County; actors, actresses, film producers and directors all passing by with artistic determination in their heads.

Korey Rowe, the owner of Otsego Media, which is co-producing the movie along with Millman Productions, said in spite of bad weather, they were on schedule to complete the film this week. He said the authenticity from shooting in Middlefield and around Otsego County is greatly helping the crew.

“We’re able to get a huge response from the local community, thanks to Film COOP,” Rowe said on-set Wednesday, July 14.

The cabin belongs to Patricia

Slater and to her late husband, Eric Hunter Slater.

“You can’t pay for that kind of beauty,” Rowe said. “We’re able to get some amazing frames.”

Rowe said by using the cabin, they were able to save millions that would otherwise have gone towards paying to build a set. He also said Slater was able to show them different spots to shoot, which they ended up using in the production.

The Slater cabin was rented for two weeks; the location fees are one aspect of the economic impact that filming brings to a region. Catering, general merchandise, dry cleaning, local hires and out-of-town hires with per diems to spend are other ways a film production brings money to a local economy.

“Bring Them Back Dead” stars Gary Daniels and Daniel Baldwin.

Other locations that will be used in the film are in or around Cooperstown and Oneonta.

Rowe and his company produced “Asteroid” last summer in Oneonta and other parts of the region, including filming on Main Street in Oneonta.

See FILM, Page B4

B-4 Summer Dreams

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Entertainment business growing in Otsego, region FILM/from Page B3 He said after seeing what he and his colleagues were able to do with a low budget on that film, other people in the industry at large took note. After working on a freelance assignment out of state, he met several people who were working on preproduction on the upcoming heist film.

Rowe got connected with “Bring Him Back Dead” Executive Producer Jeff Miller and Director Mark Savage. He convinced them Otsego County had exactly the locations they needed for their movie. Part of the draw was he convinced the filmmakers he had a vacant jewelry store at Southside Mall in the town of Oneonta that they could rent and then “rob.” Once he proved he could also get the hideaway location they wanted, hidden from neighbors and roads, he booked the job, not only for the county but for his company.

Rowe called “Bring Him Back Dead” a fight movie and said the natural locations enhanced the lure for the filmmakers.

Rowe said he is happy the production is on schedule, which even included an injury where an actress got a screw impaled in her hand which had to be screwed out and she was then taken to the hospital. However, the actress was back on set that very same day.

Most of the crew is from the Otsego County area, he said.

“We’re trying to create jobs and bring in revenue,” Rowe said, while acknowledging that the production is “hard, physically and emotionally.”

Katie Keene, an actress who plays the role of Lisa in the movie and who is originally from Kentucky, said Otsego County reminds her of home.

“Maybe I can just look for some property,” Keene said.

“This is kind of like home to me.”

Keene, who plays a somewhat mischievous character in the movie, said she was happy to be working on the film.

“This is an act of love. It’s our passion,” Keene said.

Miller, who is from Los Angeles, is one of the big bosses on the project, overseeing Rowe and his crew as they work to get each day’s “dailies in the can.” He said working with the people in Otsego County has been great.

“People are very friendly,” Miller said. “They seem like they are open and hospitable people.”

He also said there are certain advantages to filming in Otsego County he could not get in other places. “It gives us a different look from the South California me.”

The Freeman’s Journal/ Hometown Oneonta Editor Greg Klein is also the board president of Film COOP, which is the first film commission office in the state’s Mohawk Valley Economic Development District.

Film COOP, rhymes with hoop, is short for Cooperstown and also is an acronym for Cooperstown, Oneonta, Otsego (County Film) Partnership. The nonprofit is not a co-op, but it is essentially the agent for the region to the film and entertainment business, attracting productions and the economic benefits they bring.

As board president, Klein is the de facto film commissioner and executive director of Film COOP. However, he said the group would not be where it is today without Rowe, whom Klein called the group’s biggest donor, in both time and money.

Therefore, he said it was See Film Page B5

COLOR ODYSSEY

Emma Amos (American, 1937–2020), Equals, detail, 1992, acrylic on linen canvas with African fabric borders, 76 x 82 in., private collection

310 Genesee Street, Utica, New York • 315-797-0000 • mwpai.org Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Many Thanks to our Exhibition Sponsors Lead sponsor: Gilroy, Kernan & Gilroy Insurance Associate sponsors: Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D., Alan and Linda Vincent, and M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund of The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties Emma Amos: Color Odyssey is organized by the Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia, and is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Willson Center for the Humanities and the Arts, University of Georgia.

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Dreams

6/29/21 10:06 AM

Advertise what you’ve got going on in Summer Dreams!

Call 607-547-6103 for details!

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Summer Dreams B-5

Dylan Avery

Unatego Central School graduate Paul Slawson works as a boom mic operator Wednesday, July 14, during the filming of ‘Bring Him Back Dead’ in the town of Middlefield.

Area’s natural beauty drew filmmakers to Otsego shoot FILM/from Page B4 “exciting to see Korey’s success.”

“His family and mine made the same decision about not wanting to stay in Los Angeles, and Korey and I share a passion for being able to make films and other entertainment here instead,” Klein said. “It is great to see him actually doing it.

“The great thing about this movie, is it was a win all the way around,” Klein said, “for Korey, for Otsego Media, for the filmmakers and for Film COOP. We put out a call for a hideaway location on our Facebook page and within a week they had scouted several locations in the county and determined this is where they wanted to film. And Korey did such a good job finding them locations, they hired him to film the movie for them.

“It was just win-win-win and that was great to see,” he continued.

Klein said there are other projects in preproduction that will film in Otsego County this year, including an upcoming movie about

local bar owner Eva Coo and her murder trial. He and Rowe will also be shooting a television pilot together in the winter, he said.

“Our goal is to build a new industry here and it is beginning to happen,” Klein said. “It is an amazing thing to watch happen and it is an amazing thing to be a part of as it happens.”

In the fall, the film commission plans to host about a dozen female filmmakers for a destination weekend location tour of the county, the 2021 Women in Film Peak Leaf Week Location Tour and Networking Event.

The tour, which is designed to bring industry decision makers to see everything Otsego County has to offer, in terms of filming locations, will run from Thursday, Sept. 30, to Sunday, Oct. 3. It will include trips throughout Otsego County, as well as to The Stanley Theater in Utica.

Go to Film COOP on Facebook or www.film-coop.com for more information.

Support LocaL JournaLiSm SubScribe to

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OtsegO COunty’s Daily newspaper/online ► join at

AllOTSEGO.com or call Larissa at 607-547-6103.

Thursday, July 22, 2021

B-6 Summer Dreams

Staff Picks

Larissa Ryan Business Manager Schneider’s Bakery One of my favorite food shops in Cooperstown, Schneider’s, is also one of the oldest.

It’s one of those shops where if I stop in I just have to buy something. For me, that’s usually one of their chocolate croissants, which are always delicious with chocolate in the middle and light and flaky bread on the outside. However, there are also many kinds of cookies.

They also serve oatmeal, soup and coffee. Also, if you like homemade bread but don’t necessarily have the time or the skill, Schneider’s has bread (white, wheat, rye, and even pumperknickel).

It’s no wonder this staple of Main Street has been around since 1887.

Schneider’s Bakery 157 Main Street Cooperstown 607-547-9631 Tara Barnwell Publisher Undercover Eggplant When you want a sandwich, a true sandwich, you’ve got to go to Undercover Eggplant in Oneonta.

On my last visit, I got a Cuban sandwich. It wasn’t traditional, but it was certainly delicious. Full of pork, ham and cheese, it was very tasty. My favorite there is the po’boy, a Cajun style sandwich with Andouille sausage, melted provolone tomato, red onion and creole sauce.

Did I mention their sandwiches are huge? There is always enough to take home for another meal.

Their sandwiches have great names; The Neahwa, City of the Hills, and West End; someone just told me how good the pizza is there too. They recommended the garlic eggplant pizza with

Our best bets for local dining

battered eggplant, creamy garlic, mozzarella and a touch of marinara. I can’t wait to try that next!

Undercover Eggplant 421 Chestnut St., Oneonta 607-432-9900 Greg Klein Editor Mel’s at 22 One of our go-to places these days is Mel’s at 22 in Cooperstown.

Chef-owner Brian Wrubleski is the father of one of my board members at the nonprofit Film COOP, but I think most people here would tell you his food is excellent, even without a connection to Mel’s.

The soul of the community is a good way of looking at Mel’s, from the taste of the food to the story behind the name. Mel, also known as Maryellen, is Brian’s late wife, who died in 2013.

There is a shrine to her near the door of the restaurant and I always think of the extended Wrubleski family when we get our food.

The teen and I are burger people and Mel’s burgers are among the best in town.

Sometimes I get the bun-less burger, which is almost like a hamburger salad.The Ms. of the house likes the blackened chicken sandwich.

Extra tots are always a good side to order, too.

For a change up, I like the bacon mac and cheese, which was about three servings for me.

The restaurant has a great decor, and seems picture perfect for a TV show or movie. Hmm, maybe we can film something there in the future?

I should also mention how popular the Friday fish fry is, especially during the Lenten season. Check the website for specials, and online ordering, too.

Mel’s at 22

22 Chestnut St., Cooperstown 607-322-4012 www.melsat22.com

Kevin Limiti Reporter Wise Guys Sammy’s There’s a buzz in Oneonta about Wise Guys Sammy’s.

I don’t often get excited about sandwich places, but the hype was so high I found myself ordering the “Easy Rider” sandwich from them.

Now I am convinced.

The name of the restaurant implies some kind of mob-esque aesthetic, but you can leave the knuckledusters at home, because your hands are going to be full with the gigantic sandwiches that they have.

The “Easy Rider” is chicken cutlet with bacon, pepper jack cheese, chipotle garlic mayo, and topped with lettuce and tomato.

It’s a very hearty sandwich and I was impressed.

I definitely will return to visit.

Wise Guys Sammy’s 261-267 Main St., Oneonta wiseguyssammys.com/ Kathleen Peters Graphic Designer Nicoletta’s Italian Café If you are in the mood for some traditional southern Italian food with a dash of old world charm, Nicoletta’s is your place to go.

The four of us who dined there all had different ideas of what makes a perfect Italian meal. Our choices were: Bisteca Bianco, a filet with fettuccine in a white gorgonzola cream sauce; pork medallions and pasta with vodka sauce; shrimp and scallops with angel hair pasta in a lemon caper butter sauce, and veal parmigiana with spaghetti.

The portions served are too large to finish unless you are really hungry, so plan on taking some home. We all

had a salad to start, and we all passed on dessert.

Nicoletta’s Italian Cafe 96 Main St., Cooperstown

607-547-7499 www.nicolettasitaliancafe. com/

NOW OPEN! You Pick Blueberry Farm

INGALLS BLUEBERRY HILL Cooperstown off of Route 28 • 607-547-2600

P R O F E S S I O N A L T H E AT E R O F T H E G R E AT W E S T E R N C AT S K I L L S

JULY 23-AUGUST 15

A Doll’sLucas House, Hnath Part 2 BY AN FSC PRODUC TION

A provocative and surprisingly funny debate about love, marriage, and the price we pay to be who we are.

OUTDOOR STAGE

•

ADMISSION FREE

For times and reservations: FranklinStageCompany.org

Summer Dreams B-7

Go to www.

AllOtseGO.com for What’s Happening this week.

in OtsegO COunty

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Central New York’s Best Gastropub!

5418 State Highway • 28 Cooperstown 607-282-4525

Authentic Italian Food!

5438 State Hwy 28 • Cooperstown 607-282-4031• boccaosteria.com

new york pizzeria

Brick Oven Pizza!

75 Chestnut Street Cooperstown 607-547-2930 126 Main Street Richfield Springs 315-858-0405

B-8 Summer Dreams

Thursday, July 22, 2021