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Volume 11, No. 44

City of The Hills

Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, August 8, 2019

Jeff Idelson’s New Mission: Bring Kids Back To Pastime

O

nce upon a time, retired Baseball Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson was a center fielder for the Newton

Idelson

PRIDE IDEA REVISITED

Don’t Increase Pipeline’s Size, Gas Foes Say COOPERSTOWN

S

ustainable Otsego has passed a resolution opposing the proposed expansion of NYSEG’s DeRuyter-Oneonta line and sent it to the state Public Utilities Commission.

The DeRuyter line is seen

by Otsego Now as a way to end “interruptible power” requirements, where the colleges and Fox Hospital must burn more expensive fuel oil when temperatures drop below zero, and to increase supply for prospective new employers.

For resolution, visit

AllOTSEGO.com

www.

ON

AllOTSEGO.com

► AN ONEONTA WOMAN missing since July 20 was found safe in Binghamton, state police report. ►ONEONTA DENTIST Robert B. Pondolfino Sr. has passed away in Rincon, Puerto Rico, where he had retired. ►A COOPERSTOWN TEEN was charged with breaking into several offices at 21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown. ►Congressman delgado and wife Lacey Schwartz are visiting Israel and Palestine with a 41-member delegation. ►NOTED PHOTOGRAPHER Andy Baugnet’s photos of Upstate Grange Halls is open at Cooperstown’s Smithy Gallery.

Visit www.

PARTNERS LAUNCH ‘GRASSROOTS BASEBALL’

COOPERSTOWN

Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA

ONEONTA

& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch

By LIBBY CUDMORE

Josh Pierro, Oneonta, dances with his daughter Leila to the sounds of Blues Maneuver at the third annual Celebration of Local Musicians on Sunday, Aug. 4 in the Maple Street Park.

INSIDE!

Mayor: Let Committee Study What Flags To Fly

Fruth

AllOTSEGO.com

10th Mountain Division Band Will Perform At Free Concert ONEONTA

G

ene Schmidt, the father Central Little League. of Neahwa And though he retired Park’s Vietnam from baseball at age 12, he Veterans Memonever forgot the importance rial, believes you of the field. shouldn’t just honor Since stepping down as our nation’s defenders Hall of Fame president, Idel- on Memorial Day and son co-founded Grassroots Veterans Day. Baseball, a program aimed “We can’t honor our Please See PASTIME, A9

veterans enough,” he said. “We owe so much of what we have to what they did for us.”

So now, Schmidt has arranged for the Army’s 10th Mountain Division Jazz Band to play a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at SUNY Oneonta’s Please See FREE, A9

Razing Makes Way For Animal Shelter SQSPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes and Rick Bliss, Lane Construction’s Cooperstown manager, confer Tuesday, Aug. 6, as the site of the future animal shelter on Route 28 was cleared.

If LGBTQ’s Rainbow, Why Not POW-MIA?

By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN

A

s suggestions expand to hanging banners beyond the Pride Flag on the village’s flagpole, Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch is asking Trustee MacGuire Benton to form a committee with two other trustees to develop a policy for all such requests.

“We need a policy, that’s Mayor exactly right,” Tillapaugh said the mayor, after Benton, in response to last week’s article, said his intent – and, he believes, the Village Board’s vote at its July 22 meeting – specified the Pride Flag would hang next June on the Main and Pioneer flagpole, not on Village Hall.

Speaking before the mayor had advised him of her decision, Benton said, as an alternative, he would consider hanging the Pride Flag on Village Hall year-’round as an alternative to a single month on the downtown flagpole.

As an LGBTQ man, he said, “this is a fresh fight and I’m committed to it. Only four years ago did LGBTQ get the right to marry the same gender.

Please See FLAGS, A8

Jim Kevlin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA

►DONATE at SQSPCA.org

By LIBBY CUDMORE INDEX

T

he Susquehanna SPCA is just over the halfway point.

“We’ve received $1.9

million in our Shelter Us campaign,” said Stacie Haynes, executive director.

The campaign will help build the SQSPCA’s new shelter, which will have a groundbreaking ceremony

at the new site at noon on Saturday, Aug. 24. (The acronym was changed from SSPCA to avoid confusion with four other SPCAs.) Tweedie Construction, Walton, began the demolition on the first of the two houses on the site on TuesPlease See SHELTER US, A9

With Tranquilizer Gun, Rancher Retrieves Herd Roaming Buffalo Stunned, Then Carried Home

By JENNIFER HILL SHARON

B

rian Grubb is hunting his buffalo – with a tranquilizer gun.

Monday, Aug. 5, “I used a tranquilizer on a cow-calf pair and another cow from

the 65-member group,” he said. “Then we – three other guys and I – used machinery to lift the cows and manpower to lift the calf onto my trailer.

“Four others – two cowcalf pairs – followed them onto the trailer.”

Back at his Town of Please See HERD, A3

Jennifer Hill/HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Brian Grubb finds his buffalo in wilds of Roseboom. Now what?

HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER 2010 WINNER OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD

Carpet • Vinyl • Ceramic • Wood • Laminate • LVT, VCT • Area Rugs • Carpet Tile Floor Cleaning Supplies and MORE! Family Owned and Operated

61 South Main Street, Oneonta · 607-353-7433

A-2 HOMETOWN ONEONTA

THURSDAY, August 8, 2019

HOMETOWN People

CITY OF THE HILLS DRAWS CROWDS FOR ART, MUSIC, MORE

will host

NYS MaNdated anti-Harassment Policies and Sexual Harassment training for Supervisors and Managers

Everyone was an artist at the CANO painting booth at the City of the Hills Arts & Music Festival, held Saturday, Aug. 3, in downtown Oneonta.

From left, Tammy Trahan, Chicago, Ill., Lilah and Stella Masterjohn and Maria Agliano, all of Oneonta. The warm weather drew hundreds downtown for vendors, demonstrations, shopping, music, readings, food and more.

Wed., aug. 14 • 1:00 - 3:00 pm Northern eagle Beverages 41 Browne St., Oneonta $35 includes materials and certificate of completion Register with Barbara Ann Heegan baheegan@otsegocc.com

Libby Cudmore/HOMETOWN ONEONTA

13 New Faculty Join Hartwick College ONEONTA

Buying Antiques, estAtes, ArtifActs

Buzz Hesse Antiques & Appraisals Over 60 years experience

Call today for a courteous and confidential talk 370 MAin street, otego 607-287-5320 buzzh123@gmail.com

Buying Antiques, estAtes, ArtifActs

A

aron Stephens, South Korea. is among the 13 new faculty members to join Hartwick College this fall.

Also on faculty • Kathleen Ash, Visiting Assistant Professor of Nursing - Duanesburg • Matthew Chick, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science - Potsdam • Christopher Collins, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology - Rochester • Melissa Davis, Clinical Associate Professor of Nursing - Ballston Spa • Pamela Hunt, Assistant Professor of Nursing - Schenectady

• Amber Kerwin, Visiting Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice - Hamden • Laura Landertinger, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology - Canada (city unspecified) • Patricia Manocchi, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing - Scotia • Heidi Rivera, Assistant Professor of Psychology - Oswego • Weian Wang, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems - Greensboro, NC • Melonie Walcott, Assistant Professor of Public Health - Albany • Tessa Yang, Assistant Professor of English - Indiana (city unspecified)

JOIN US IN HONORING

CLARK SPORTS CENTER Honoree of the NBT Insurance Agency Quality of Life Award

& INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIVISION

Honoree of the Bank of Cooperstown Environmental Stewardship Award

Reception will be held at Clark Sports Center Thursday, August 22, 2019 • 5:45pm 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Cocktail reception and tours of Clark Sports Center from 5:45pm–6:45pm Invocation, 6:45pm • Dinner, 7:00pm • $100 per person or $1000 per table of 10 To RSVP & make payment, email Kathryn Dailey at Kathryn@otsegocc.com or by calling (607) 432-4500.

Sponsors:

Saint James Episcopal Church

The entire staff of Caruso Orthodontics welcomes Dr. Cynthia Micaroni into our orthodontics practice!

Back row L-R: Jill Dixon, administrative assistant; Elaine Ward, Lab technician; JoAnn Paoni, clinical assistant; Teresa O’Brien, clinical assistant. Front row L-R. Jennifer Bixler, clinical assistant; Jaden Gray, clinical assistant; Cindy Woertendyke, dental hygienist; Amanda Bronson, clinical assistant.

Dr. Cynthia Micaroni and Dr. Paul Caruso

“I’m so happy to join Dr. Caruso and this incredible staff. I’m from the Mohawk Valley so it’s nice to be back home. Dr. Caruso cares deeply about his staff and all of his patients and it shows each and everyday; it’s refreshing to be able to work with such a talented group.”

--Dr. Cynthia Micaroni

Oneonta • Cooperstown • Herkimer

(607)-431-1021 (607)-547-2121

(315)-866-2344

www.carusoortho.com

Some Places of Worship in Otsego County For info, call Thom at 607-547-6103.

Milford United Methodist Church

First Presbyterian Church

113 N. Main Street Milford Sundays 10:45 am www.milford.church

Church and Pioneer Streets, Cooperstown Sundays 10 am 607-547-8401

Baseball Fan? Opera or Theatre Buff?

Summer Vacationer?

Join us for worship in our newly renovated, bright, family-friendly church.

Sunday Mass: 10:30 am Saturday Vigil: 5 pm Our QR code will get you to our website.

Saint Mary’s Catholic Church Corner of Walnut and Elm Streets, Oneonta www.StMarysOneonta.org | 607.432.3920

305 Main Street Oneonta Sundays 8 and 10 am 607-432-1458

St. Mary’s Catholic Church 31 Elm Street Cooperstown Saturdays 4:30 pm Sundays 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 am

Schuyler Lake United Methodist Church 128 Church Street, Schuyler Lake Sundays 8:45 am Everyone is welcome.

Christian Science Society of Oneonta Upper Room in First United Presbyterian Church (Use elevated walkway) 381 Main Street, Oneonta

Sundays 10:30 am cssoneonta@gmail.com

Fly Creek United Methodist Church 852 County Hwy 26, Fly Creek Sundays 10 am 607-547-9946

THURSDAY, August 8, 2019

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-3

Rancher Tranquilizing, Bringing Buffalo Home HERD/From A1 Sharon ranch, Grubb and his helpers put the animals in a temporary corral and gave the three tranquilized buffalo the antidote to bring them around.

But that’s just seven of the 75 bulls, cows and calves that have been roaming in the towns of Roseboom and Cherry Valley since Saturday, July 20.

After capturing the seven Monday, Grubb ordered more tranquilizer kits and expected to continue the hunt as early as Tuesday evening.

Since a 2-ton bull jumped on a fence, trampled a gate, and led 75, give or take a few, along the Schoharie-Otsego County line, Grubb has been trying to get them back to his Engelville Road farm, about two miles south of Sharon Springs.

In the first week, the rogue buffalo wandered up to nine miles from West Creek, across the Schoharie-Otsego

line into Pleasant Creek, Roseboom and Cherry Valley.

But starting Wednesday, July 31, the buffalo began heading back home after splintering into two groups, one of about 65, the other smaller. By Friday, they were within a half mile of West Creek at two separate locations.

Monday, Grubb fed the remaining escapees, and drew them closer to home.

“They only needed to go over a ridge,” he said, “and if they had, they would have been home. But they circled back to where they had been hanging out.”

Grubb described the area past the ridge that the buffalo would need to walk through as “dense with shrubbery.

They’re like humans or any other animal,” he said.

“They’re going to take the path of least resistance – and that isn’t one.”

The afternoon this edition went to press, he said, the

Drivers wanteD

•F

Jennifer Hill/The Freeman’s Journal & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

animals had been “very stable since they came back to where they’ve been and haven’t fragmented for the past four to five days.”

That would make the tranquilizing strategy easier, he said.

Regardless, the animals seem interested in getting home. “Buffalo tend to stay together, and I think both groups were searching for more buffalo,” Grubb

explained. “They covered four miles in one night last week, which was a lot of traveling.”

Grubb got into the buffalo business in 2011, a year after he met his future wife, Susie, and took her to his father’s farm in Illinois where he kept some buffalo.

“She fell in love with the animal and wanted to raise them,” he said. “Most people get married and then become

For 211 Years

DG

E WIL

L

Hartwick College seeks a full-time, 10-month Student Payroll Coordinator responsible for the coordination of clerical and accounting activities related to all student payroll functions. For complete details, please visit www.hartwick.edu/employment. EOE

Victim Resource Coordinator Residential Associates (works at OFO shelters)

Building Healthy Families Support Specialist HEAD START POSITIONS (All F/T with school breaks & Summers off)

Center Director Classroom Teacher Assistant Teacher Center Associate Center-Based Family Partner OFO is a family-oriented organization offering competetive wages, excellent benefits and opportunities for professional growth. For an application, submission instructions, benefit package summary and descriptions of all employment openings, visit www.ofoinc.org/jobs EOE The leader in developing innovative solutions to promote healthy lives, thriving families, and caring communities since 1966.

Kitchen Staff General Laborers Electricians Plumber • Carpenter Starting immediately.

Call Matt at 607-267-9823

laurens central school Are you looking for an employment opportunity in a local public school district?

Would you enjoy working in a positive environment; in a culture that encourages both personal and professional growth?

Do you enjoy working with children?

We are presently seeking the following Full and Part-time positions: K-12 Instrumental musIc teacher: Successful candidate must hold a valid NYS K-12 Music certification and have NYSED fingerprint clearance. Please apply online at www.olasjobs.org/southern or send cover letter, completed LCS application (available on school website), career placement portfolio including resume, sealed transcript, and a minimum of three letters of recommendation. substItute bus DrIvers (anD DrIvers for fIelD trIps): Successful candidate must hold a valid NYS Driver’s license, and preferably a CDL class B with passenger and school bus endorsement and NYSED/DOT fingerprint clearance.

Please apply online at www.olasjobs.org/southern or send cover letter, completed LCS application (available on school website), resume, and a minimum of three letters of recommendation.

Custodian/Maintenance Worker

Full-Time, Year-Round position with benefits The Farmers’ Museum and Fenimore Art Museum seek a reliable, responsible custodian to help maintain and care for our facilities. The ideal candidate would be careful and thorough in their work, cleaning and tidying the premises with great care and an eye for detail. Some responsibilities would include ensuring public and work spaces are ready for the day and/or event, including taking out trash, rearranging furniture, and wiping surfaces; sweeping and mopping of floors and vacuuming carpets; and daily cleaning and sanitizing of all bathroom facilities. If you are an experienced custodian who is reliable, has a valid drivers’ license and has great physical stamina, we want to hear from you! To apply, or for more information, contact Human Resources at 607547-1462 or email j.zinger@fenimoreart.org. EOE.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame is currently hiring a night custodian.

This is a 40 hour a week, night-shift position. Will include holidays, weekends, and other shift coverage as required. Benefit package includes paid vacation and holiday, health insurance and retirement option. If interested please visit the employment section of our website, www.baseballhall.org/employment to complete an application. For questions, please call Human Resources at 607-547-0207.

Return all application information to: Mrs. Romona N. Wenck, Superintendent, Laurens Central School, PO Box 301, Laurens, NY 13796 (Submit all required information by August 14, 2019)

You saw it first on

AllOTSEGO.com!

OTSEGO COUNTY’S DAILY NEWSPAPER/online ►SubScribe at

buyers pay $4.50 per pound of buffalo meat and only $2 a pound of beef.

And until a two weeks ago, Grubb had not had any major problems with his buffalo.

When asked about the fate of the 2,000 pound bull who started all the trouble, Grubb had a ready answer.

“It’s my hope that he’ll be attending a barbecue in the near future,” he said.

AllOTSEGO.opportunities

Large facility in Stamford is seeking

Join Our Team of Dedicated and Caring Professionals

business partners. We did it in reverse.”

They bought the Sharon property and 14 buffalo, one bull and the rest cows, and now have about 200 of them.

The Grubbs raise the buffalo and sell them to companies that harvest their meat.

The other benefits, Grubb said, are people’s increasing awareness of buffalo meat’s health benefits –it is low in fat and cholesterol – and that

Available Jobs

OUNDED

IA

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JU

& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch

Cooperstown’s Newspaper

1808 BY

ONEONTA

IN

HOMETOWN

O M C O PE

to deliver newspapers to high-traffic spots in the greater Oneonta/ Cooperstown area every Wednesday afternoon. Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, registration and insurance.

Approximately 4 hours per week. email editor/Publisher Jim Kevlin at ads@allotsego.com

Rancher Brian Grubb is painstakingly bringing his buffalo herd back to his Engelville Pond Road farm, Town of Sharon, but the behemoths have been on the lam for almost three weeks.

AllOTSEGO.com • complete acceSS only 99¢/per week!

A-4 HOMETOWN ONEONTA

HOMETOWN Views

THURSDAY, August 8, 2019

EDITORIAL

ANNUAL MEETING AT 9 A.M. THIS SATURDAY

Take Control! Join Otsego Lake Association

W

ith so many areas of American life seemingly spinning out of control, there’s a contrary example in the Otsego Lake Association (OLA).

Its “100-percent volunteers,” according to Jim Howarth, copresident with David Sanford, are focused on a common mission: “Protecting the health, beauty and wellbeing” of the lake.

Listening to them, it’s clear: Local volunteers, working together, can get a lot done.

There are larger non-profit, governmental and educational entities focused on the wellbeing of James Fenimore Cooper’s Glimmerglass, a national environmental icon

►IF YOU GO: Otsego Lake

Association annual meeting, Saturday, Aug. 10, Village of Cooperstown’s Fairy Spring Park.

8:30 a.m. coffee and donuts; 9-11 a.m. meeting.

OLA stalwart Paul Lord shows a sample of the European Frog Bit, Otsego Lake’s latest invasive.

– the OCCA, Otsego 2000, SUNY Oneonta’s Biological Field Station (BFS), the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, to name only a few – but the nimble OLA is a

PT boat amid, if not aircraft carriers, the mid-size cruisers.

In advance of its annual meeting – this Saturday, Aug. 10, at Cooperstown’s Fairy Spring Park on East Lake Road; coffee and donuts at 8:30 a.m., with the meeting at 9-11 a.m., including conferring the annual Lake Citizen Award – Howarth and Sanford stopped by the other day to help raise the visibility of a Please See EDITORIAL, A5

The Freeman’s Journal

Otsego Lake Association Co-Presidents David Sanford, left, and Jim Howarth, right, chat with boat stewards Sierra Stickney, Oneonta, and Luis Suatoni, Springfield Center, at the boat-cleaning station at Cooperstown’s Lakefront Park.

LETTERS

Lack Of Energy Trumps ‘Economic Independence’ To the Editor: Adrian Kuzminski’s article on “Economic Independence” was very interesting.

I’m happy to see that reality is setting in and there is an awareness that “until we begin to make products replacing at least some of those we import we will remain far from economic independence, and true prosperity will continue to elude us.”

An economy based on “Beds, Meds and Eds,” is not sustainable. The “Beds”

To the Editor: Re: Brooks Robinson photo on recent front page: I watched a lot of baseball on TV around 1970. The single best play I ever saw was in the 1969 All-Star Game.

Johnny Bench hit a rocket down the thirdbase line. Brooks dove flat out to glove it and threw the ball to first while airborne. It was high and a bit on the second-base side.

Carl Yastrzemski leapt off the bag to catch the throw and swipe-tagged Bench out.

JIM FRANCIS Oneonta

portion is not only based on discretionary income but is also subject to trends, which can be fleeting. There is the seasonable aspect which produces temporary jobs which are generally lower paying and provide minimal benefits.

The “Meds and Eds” portion of our economy, while creating economic opportunities, has created other issues. The simple fact that these institutions do not pay taxes, many do not use local suppliers or services and often those who work for the “Meds and Eds” don’t even live in the area, puts an unstainable burden on the host community.

One need only to look at the City of Oneonta, where more than half the property is tax exempt, resulting in the other 47 percent paying 100 percent of the tax burden for the necessary services such as police and fire, etc.

The City of Oneonta has the 13th highest cost for rental housing of all cities in Upstate New York while having one of the lowest per capita incomes.

As was so accurately pointed out, the answer is to create opportunity by building on what we have. The farm community is a good place to start, as the “multiplier” (the number of times a dollar changes hands in the local community) of a farm dollar is one of the highest,

HOMETOWN

ONEONTA

Brooks’ Photo Recalls ‘Single Best Play Ever’

& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch

People Who Buy Stars, Bars Tell Us Something To the Editor: Five of my direct Northrup ancestors died in the Civil War, two at the Battle of Atlanta, two in a POW camp in Columbus, Ohio, and one riding with Morgan’s Cavalry on a raid into Indiana. One of the remaining brothers moved to Brazil, where slavery was still legal; the other moved to Texas.

The notion that anyone would fly a Confederate flag to symbolize anything other than the failed notion of enslaving someone based on their pigmentation is a modern fiction. Most of the Confederate monuments in the South were put up to affirm post-Reconstruction segregation, not to honor the war dead.

Lee himself opposed the monument to Stonewall Jackson in Lexington, Va. The right to buy and sell Confederate flags should by no means be curtailed, since it says something about the person who displays them: “I am oblivious The Freeman’s Journal to history.”

A Stars & Bars cap was one of many at the Otsego County Fair.

Thanks for making that clear to the rest of us who take history a bit more seriously.

CHIP NORTHRUP Cooperstown

Rebel Flag Ominous To Many; Do We Want It At Fairs? NO!

To the Editor: Jennifer Hill’s article, “... A Matter of Freedom,” raised the issue of whether Confederate flags should be marketed at county fairs such as ours, in Morris.

One side of the issue is well stated there. The vendor quoted was a reasonable individual who articulated the rights of all citizens to symbolically express themselves with displays of flags. There is “more and more buying both the rebel flag and the American flag together,” he remarked.

Historically, Confederate flags have symbolized support for slavery and secession from the USA. Most recently the flag in question has become a symbol that inspires defiance

by Alt-Right and White Nationalist groups that promote random violence against non-white people.

Recall the photos of Dylan Roof

James C. Kevlin Editor & Publisher

Tara Barnwell

Managing Editor

Larissa Ryan Business Manager

Thom Rhodes Advertising Consultant

Jennifer Hill Reporter

Ian Austin Photographer

Ivan Potocnik Web Architect

Kathleen Peters Graphics & Production

Tom Heitz Consultant

Amanda Wilsey Consultant

IN MEMORIAM: Mary Joan Kevlin, Co-Publisher, 2006-17 MEMBER OF New York Press Association • The Otsego County Chamber Published weekly by Iron String Press, Inc. 21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown NY 13326 Telephone: (607) 547-6103. Fax: (607) 547-6080.

E-mail: info@allotsego.com • www.allotsego.com

Confederate Flag Putrid Reminder Racism Festers To the Editor, I read Jennifer Hill’s Confederate flag story in its entirety and found the piece well written and sensitive to differing views. My objection is your newspaper’s implied endorsement of a hate symbol by front page placement.

This was the standard held high by treasonous men who shot and killed U.S. Army soldiers. It remains a putrid reminder of this country’s festering racism, and was more recently displayed by mass murderers with machine guns.

I have little patience with the heritage trope and see the Stars & Bars as glorifying white nationalism, anger and raw hatred.

DAVID HAYES Coventry, Conn.

MONEY TALKS

Advertising Director & General Manager

Libby Cudmore

in Charleston, S.C., and recent mass murders in other American cities. Just as the Nazi flag is seen as a dangerous perversion of contemporary German nationalism, the Confederate “rebel” flag is now ominous for many of us, a symbolic perversion of American nationalism.

No one should question the Constitutional right of individuals in this country to possess or display confederate flags: They still mean many things to different people.

Rather, given the context of increased polarization and mass murders by domestic terrorists, the question is simply: Do we want our county fair(s) to permit the display and sale of Confederate flags? For many of us here, as in Delaware County and throughout the state, the answer is NO! PAUL CONWAY Oneonta

I

Forever-And-A-Day Campaigns

f there’s one thing we’re good at in this country it is expanding things. From our waistlines and hamburgers to the NBA season, we know how to make things bigger and longer. Please note I do not imply necessarily better.

The Baseball Hall of Fame serves up a good example. In 1980 I went to its big induction ceremony in Cooperstown. When they welcomed the Detroit Tiger star Al Kaline into the Hall.

They held it on a side lawn of the Hall. There were maybe 300 of us.

You could shake hands with Al, or the Duke or Yaz or any other star you wanted to. There was one star for

every 10 fans.

This year, over 50,000 fans came to town for the induction.

• Another example of American inflation is our presidential TOM campaigns. Why, MORGAN one of this year’s Democrat candidates opened his campaign three years and three months before the election!

Now why is it the Japanese can do the job in 12 days? True. Their presidential campaign runs 12 days.

In France they take two days longer.

Actually, the French campaign is only 10 days. They allow two days for a labor strike. And two more for sick days.

Imagine! A 12-day campaign for the White House. That is hardly enough time to flip-flop on any issues.

We used to say the candidates were in a horse race for the White House.

Hell, horses can’t race that long. They can’t walk that long. How about tortoise race? That is more accurate.

If you want to blame somebody for all this, zero in on Jimmy Carter. He can handle it, he is that used to being blamed for things. He was the first Please See MORGAN, A6

AllOTSEGO.com

E-MAIL LETTERS TO EDITOR TO info@

THURSDAY, August 8, 2019

HOMETOWN

HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-5

History

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

150 Years Ago

Humorous – This world is full of music, even as an egg is full of meat, or as my neighbor Jones is full of beer. We see it everywhere – Where’er there’s harmony of sound. All harmony is music. Now, my next door neighbor Mr. Lovea-pet – he keeps only three dogs and just six cats. And they, sweet songsters of the night, do make the peaceful hours of sleep resound with melody harmonies to the deafened ear.

Oft from my quiet slumbers do they rouse me up, and stir my tranquil soul, even to its very depths. Sometimes these feline warblers ‘neath my window “git” and “set,” and sing at midnight’s quiet hour. And then the canine songsters raise their notes of bass, which mingling, sounds like dying wails of demons in despair, and makes my inmost soul, and wakes the babies up, and makes my better half to ask, in bitter terms inspired, “Oh, why do other folks keep dogs and cats?”

August 1869

20 Years Ago

60 Years Ago

125 Years Ago

News from Nearby Counties – The Baptist Church at Oneida will use individual communion cups at their next communion service. This is an innovation in church circles due to the liability of communicating disease by the use of the common chalice.

Miss Laura Gay, who died last Saturday left to Christ Church, Walton, the house that was her home and which had been that of her parents also, together with its furniture to “The Gay Memorial Parish House of Walton, N.Y.” She also left to the church a life insurance policy for $2,000 and $500 to be used for the erection in the church of a suitable memorial to her father, David Hyde Gay. James A. Parshall of Delhi enumerates a list of 36 persons in that town over 80 years of age. Nearly one-fourth of that number were born in Scotland.

August 1894

100 Years Ago

Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, has found a way to cool a house and make it comfortable on the hottest day of the year. Recently, while other Washington people were sweltering, he worked in a room which had been cooled to 65 degrees. His plan which can be used by anybody, is to store ice in the garret and conduct the cooler air to rooms below. Bell explained his discovery to the National Geographic Society. “You heat your house in winter. Why not cool it in summer? We get up to the Arctic regions and heat our houses and live. We go down to the tropics and die.”

August 1919

80 Years Ago

I

ndependence ingly somber personified, he oddities, filling was an artist of her estates with the highest rank in gimcracks, loading the 19th Century, a her sentences with period of creative eccentric curlicues.

Of the two, superlatives – what came to be known Verdi is far more with the changed worthy of tribute and now abused – though outside ROBERT word, “genius.” of Italy is outdisHe died in the first MOYNIHAN tanced in common English-speaking months of the 20th recognition. Each – within days of the departure of Victoria, Queen was marred by grief – of Great Britain and, thanks Victoria for her Prince Albert, Verdi for his wife and to the fawning Disraeli, Empress of India. two children, dead within Victoria and Verdi both three years after marriage. have fame. However, the For a time, he surrendered composer continued to grow to despair, writing nothing, and produce operatic masthen moved to the saving terpieces while the famous precincts of creativity, Queen driveled into increasPlease See MOYNIHAN, A6

A standard 30 miles per hour speed limit on all city streets with one exception was ratified last night by the Public Safety Board, subject to approval by the Common Council. The one exception would be Main Street from River to Pine Street where a 20 mph zone would remain.

In effect, the board favors abolishing all 20 mph zones except the one on Main Street.

The official ambassadress for the 1959 New York State Fair will arrive in Oneonta by helicopter Wednesday night.

The whirlybird will land in Wilber Park’s upper level at 7 p.m. with pretty Jane Snell, also known as the Princess of the Fair. The winner of last year’s Miss Syracuse title, Miss Snell will spend several hours in Oneonta as part of a nineday air tour.

She will be welcomed at the park by Lucien Bowen.

Oneonta’s acting mayor. All 23 candidates for the regional State Fair Queen title are invited to join Miss Snell to ask any questions they wish. As a surprise for children, Miss Snell will be carrying buttons designating them as junior State Fair ambassadors in their communities. The darkhaired Miss Snell, age 20, will give to the City of Oneonta a replica of the Vanguard I satellite. The gates of the big fair will be opened by radio signal from the Vanguard as it August 1999 passes from Texas to the African coast some 2,000 miles away in outer space.

August 11, 1959

Miss Betty L. Bresee and John A. Bookhout were wed in an outdoor ceremony at Goodyear Lake. The nuptial rites of these two popular Oneonta young people were solemnized Saturday afternoon by Dr. Boyd McClary, First Presbyterian pastor before an arbor in the garden of the Bresee summer residence at Goodyear Lake. Mrs. Jerry Wilson of Oneonta was at the piano.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert E. Bresee of 8 Taft Avenue. John Andrew Bookhout is the son of Mr. and Mrs. I.J. Bookhout of 357 Main Street. About 80 guests attended the wedding reception. Refreshments included a wedding cake made by the groom’s grandmother, Mrs. John

Oneonta native Don Sherwood, famed creator of the nationally syndicated cartoon strip, “Dan Flagg,” signed autographs during the opening of an exhibit of his work at the B. Sharp Gallery, Route 28, Franklin Mountain. The signing was a chance for Sherwood to get together such such Oneonta pals as David W. Brenner, the former mayor and county baord chairman, and Joe Campbell, the legendary voice of local radio.

August 7, 2019

I

Home Rule In Constitution, But Limited

’ve been commenting in with which people identify, recent columns on the and which preserves this first two Principles sense of community, is the of Sustainable Otsego: county, where people from Sustainable Living and different backgrounds and Economic Independence. neighborhoods are still In this column, I want to able to come together on an take up the third individual, face-toand last principle: face basis for the Home Rule. services, com“Home” is merce, education, where we live with recreation, spiritufamily, friends, and ality and governneighbors. Its scale ment which make is small enough to up everyday life. sustain in-depth This local relationships with ethos is captured people and places. ADRIAN by county fairs, Home has the which exhibit KUZMINSKI capacity to inspire the pride of local love, not least production and the because it embodies a comresilience of local networks, plexity of human experience as well as by local governnot otherwise available. ments, chambers of comThe largest political unit merce, health care institu-

EDITORIAL: Take Another Look At Lake Association

EDITORIAL/From A4 story of accomplishment.

Like many OLA members, the two motivations came out of many happy personal experiences. Sanford recalls when commercial fishing was still allowed on the lake, and a daily staple at the Cooperstown Diner was Otsego Bass caught that morning. A student at SUNY Oneonta in the 1970s, Howarth remembers renting a motorbike from Thayer’s at $5 a day to take his future bride Susan onto the lake. Or a canoe ride, $2 a day.

• As its second decade nears completion, the co-presidents reported, the OLA can point to some notable accomplishments.

Its lobbying helped achieve an 80 percent reduction the state DOT’s use of the powerful herbicide glyphosate – state crews (in HAZMAT suits) are now applying it along West Lake Road every five years, instead of annually. The county Highway Department has cut back significantly on deicing salt on East Lake Road.

The Town of Springfield continues to be a model, using just enough salt to keep its sand piles from freezing.

Two, the OLA provides scientific support that allows technical initiatives to move forward with virtually

10 Years Ago

VIEW FROM FLY CREEK

REFLECTIONS ON ‘LA TRAVIATA’

From Dispossession, Pain, Persistence Yields Renewal

Bell of Oneonta. Mr. and Mrs. Bookhout graduated from Oneonta High School in 1934.

Mrs. Bookhout graduated from Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts as a librarian in 1938. Mr. Bookhout received his degree from Amherst College and completed a course at the Renouard Training School for Embalmers, New York City. He is now associated with his father as a licensed embalmer and funeral director.

August 1939

no red tape, most recently the BFS’ research buoy, tracking temperatures and turbulence from the surface to the lake bottom to predict climate-change impacts early on.

Three – and there’s much beyond three – the OLA gives people who live by and love the lake (200 members, and more welcome) a chance to meet each other, share concerns, support solutions – and even have some fun; the annual Fourth of July Boat Parade is a case in point.

• The interview shifted to Fish Road, next to Lakefront Park, where BFS professor, dive-team leader and OLA stalwart Paul Lord was conferring with two boat stewards: This summer, SUNY Oneonta biology/ ecology undergrad Sierra Stickney and master’s candidate Luis Suatoni are cleaning boats as they enter and leave the lake, ensuring any invasive species stay put.

“You look at the boat,” Sanford explained, “but you talk to the person,” raising fishermen’s awareness to damage invasives can do.

OLA support started the boat-cleaning – it’s credited with keeping zebra mussels out of Otsego for a half-dozen of this century’s early years. It’s now administered by state-funded CRISP,

(a great acronym for Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership).

That morning, Lord led a team trying to determine if the European Frog Bit, an invasive SUNY Oneonta Professor Donna Vogler had discovered in Weaver Lake, had entered Otsego via Cripple Creek in the vicinity of The Glimmerglass Festival.

It’s there; but so far, under control.

He is also concerned about the Spiny Waterflea, evident in other Upstate lakes. So far, Otsego has been spared, but “it’s only a bait bucket away.”

• The point is, the OLA’s mission, begun 17 years ago, is ongoing for the foreseeable future.

Dan Rosen, Town of Springfield, was the vice president of the original board. In his view, OLA’s structure – it includes members at large, plus two board members from each lakeside town, Otsego, Middlefield and Springfield – created a coalition of interested people and relevant officials able to react quickly to lake-wide challenges.

If you care, go to Saturday’s annual meeting. If you can’t go, you can still join: send $25 (individual) or $35 (family) to OLA, Box 13, Spring Center, NY 13468.

Hope to see you there.

tions, religious groups, and philanthropic organizations, among others.

You might think that communities in New York State, like counties, already enjoy the local governance we call Home Rule, and you’d be partly right.

Home rule as we know it was put into the state Constitution (Article IX) in 1963, after decades of struggle for local autonomy, led by New York City.

Today municipalities (villages and towns, cities and counties) have the right

to make their own legislative decisions relating to their “property, affairs, or government,” as the Constitution puts it, independently of the state legislature.

But state law still overrides local law, and state concerns blocking local legislation have almost always been upheld in the courts.

Whether it’s a town in Otsego County or a neighborhood in New York City, Please See KUZMINSKI, A6

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A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

KUZMINSKI: To Affirm Home Rule, Elect One Senator Per County

KUZMINSKI/From A5 increasing his production of masterpieces with strenu local communities in New York State have little control over their own backyards. Decisions about issues as diverse and disputed as energy use and infrastructure, health care costs, gun laws, abortion, pesticide use, drinking age, insurance rates, minimum wages, public education, interest rates and economic development are generally made far from home in circumstances obscure to the average individual.

There is no meaningful role for local government in state politics.

Although rural towns and city wards in Otsego County send representatives to the county Board of Representatives, our county legislature, like all the others, is a political dead end. It sends no representatives anywhere.

Instead we are represented in Albany by a hodge-podge of state Assembly and Senate districts.

They either split up counties into different areas, or else lump them in together with other counties in large amorphous blobs of districts. Few people can identify the Assembly or Senate district in which they live.

Not one of our state legislators is dedicated to the particular interests of Otsego County.

There is no one who effectively speaks for the collection of communities which is our county. As a result, it is almost impossible for disenfranchised local governments to influence state and federal policies, or to resist disruptive corporate practices which state and federal governments enable.

Nonetheless, Home Rule isn’t entirely toothless. Hundreds of communities across our region of

the state adopted bans or moratoria on fracking for natural gas a few years ago. These were upheld by the courts, and helped lead to the current statewide ban on fracking.

This demonstrates how much effort it takes to invoke Home Rule, and how hard it is to resist outside powers unaccountable to us. But it also shows what local self-determination can achieve when it is empowered.

To be sure, total community self-determination, with no outside check, is a recipe for chaos and conflict, for a war of all against all.

No one wants that. But state and federal powers which can override local communities are recipes for tyranny. Without local checks on broader government powers, there’s nothing to prevent the special interests they serve from trumping the general interest of the people. That’s

exactly what’s been happening.

New York State still hasn’t figured this out. According to a Report from the New York State Bar Association on Home Rule, “the continuing dilemma has been to strike the right balance of furthering strong local governments but leaving the state strong enough to meet the problems that transcend local boundaries.”

One way to strengthen local communities and restrict state power to a minimum is to reintegrate them into state government by giving them a real vote and voice in Albany.

New York State, for instance, might do well to abolish its sprawling, dysfunctional state Senate districts and instead have counties directly elect their own state Senators to represent them. A system of weighted voting in the state Senate, for instance,

MOYNIHAN: Genius Verdi’s Life Echoed In Operas Like Glimmerglass’ ‘La Traviata’ MOYNIHAN/From A5 to despair, writing nothing, then moved to the saving precincts of creativity, increasing his production of masterpieces with strenuous, even feverish, activity in the most difficult of all musical forms, opera.

He was tenacious – a strong word but too weak a term opposing the obstacles of operatic art. He fought inadequate orchestras, singers ill-suited to their roles or dismal of voice, even a leading soprano too corpulent to play an expiring tubercular in “La Traviata.” Her assumed death brought laughter from the first audience. Verdi’s own judgment of this production was simple: “Fiasco.”

It had to be staged later for improved performances and due recognition.

Verdi’s place as a recognized superlative composer now approaches a century.

Until the 1920s, however, Wagner eclipsed him at the Metropolitan Opera and on most of the continent. Verdi was considered inadequate and too much of an easy theatrical mark – with melodies too accessible that countered the grotesque mythological inventions of Wagner’s Bayreuth. British critical writing sneered at the Italian’s “guitar-like accompaniments.” One critic reported that “liking Verdi is incompatible with good taste.”

Asked about that composer, Wagner’s son, Siegfried, remarked: “Such things are not discussed.”

The Germanic blanket was so heavy in the Met’s 19th century that the company’s first production of “Aida” was in German.

The change in criticism and public acceptance came from an unlikely source, Franz Werfel, author of several novels – his most famous, “The Song of Bernadette.” In 1924, he edited a German edition of Verdi’s letters, wrote a short biography introducing the text, and revised “La Forza

Karli Cadel/The Glimmerglass Festival

Toreros Tucker Reed Breder and Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson perform in “La Traviata” this summer at The Glimmerglass Festival.

del Destino” for popular production in Germany. In the next decade, presentations of Verdi in that country nearly equaled the number of Wagnerian productions.

“Traviata” itself touches Verdi’s own life and his view of the demimonde – a term coined by the elder Dumas – a “half-world” of the forbidden, of shadowed status. His son exploited the class divisions with “Dame of the Camellias,” and Verdi seized the novel’s plot, never fully admitting its biographical similarities to the losses

The pain in Verdi’s life is reflected in his face – and in operas like Glimmerglass’ “Traviata.”

and passions of his own life.

Verdi lived with his mistress, Giuseppina Strepponi, once a brilliant soprano and herself a member of the demimonde. He saved her from a failing voice, poverty, unwanted pregnancies, and further exploitation.

The theater and opera had been accurately described as a carnival and circus of opportunism, an illicit though tolerated avenue of oppression and sexual victimage.

She wrote: “I have always been cheated and deceived.

For every bad thing, I have always had to pay an enormous penitence.” In another note: “I have no health. I am earning nothing.” Her past vocal art? “Useless efforts of a dying voice.”

The composer had his own view of existence – and it was open, accepting, not bound by formula or convention. The relation was long, lasting from 1846 until Strepponi’s death in 1897. Despite Verdi’s earlier anti-clericalism and hatred of gossip, a curate performed the simple 1859 marriage ceremony. Two witnesses were the church bell ringer and a coachman who took them to the rite.

What is the crossing

between art and life?

Dispossession, pain, but the possibility of renewal rises through persistent effort.

This sensitive and intelligent singer had been “cheated and deceived.” Verdi also had been tormented and wrote about his audiences: “I accept whistles – I am not asked to give back anything for its applause. We poor nomads, charlatans – whatever – are forced to sell our efforts, our ideas. Then for 3 lire the audience buys the right to whistle or applaud us.”

Reflecting on his own youthful marriage and losses within months, Verdi wrote about the main character in “Traviata”: “Great god, to die so young.” He demanded in his productions of the final scene that there be “No cough.”

Royalty may survive through generations of the favored, then lapse into embarrassing inconsequence.

However, the struggle of human life and the assault on its obstacles achieve the highest rank of man and artist, a self-earned nobility.

That was Verdi.

Robert Moynihan, retired SUNY Oneonta English professor, lives in Cooperstown.

French, Japanese Presidential Elections Done In Days MORGAN/From A4 candidate who turned campaigning into an occupation.

Carter announced he was running nearly two years before the election. What with his accent, some folks figured their cable provider screwed up. Must have hooked them up to a channel from another country where they were having an election.

He announced, and then virtually moved to Iowa.

To sign up for its early, early primary caucus.

Iowa Democrats were still sweepin’ up from the last election. He arrived before they even knew they were going to have a caucus.

Carter set up his campaign so early, why by the time the caucus came a lot of Iowans figured he was a favorite son.

Poor Jimmy. Even with a head start on the head

starters he came in second to “uncommitted.” I bet some future candidate is out there now trying to change his name to James Uncommitted.

Or to Sally None-of-theabove. That sounds almost Native American. It’s too late, Elizabeth Warren.

Years ago we suffered through an endless concert that had Faust in its name.

(It should have had Dreadful in there as well.) Next day we arrived at a party. The host wore a huge button: I SURVIVED FAUST. You might have a big seller if you came out with a tee-shirt that said something similar about this campaign.

Here is something to consider. Imagine telling your boss you are taking up a hobby. You want to keep your job and all its perks.

While you spend a bit of time on your hobby. Which is

running for the presidency.

“I’ll only be tied up three years,” you assure her.

She wonders if you will be fully committed to your work during the campaign. “No problem,” you tell her.

This is what most of these candidates tell us. They are governors, congressguys and mayors. They tell us these jobs are absolutely and utterly essential. And nobody can handle them as well as they do. Which is why we are supposed to be grateful we elected them.

Then they take up this hobby of running for the White House. Two or three years out. They spend 90 hours a week running for the presidency. Begging for bucks.

Speechifying across the fruited plain. Prepping for debates.

Traveling, traveling, traveling.

And you are supposed to believe they are also working

full time at their elected offices. Is it any wonder we don’t trust or believe politicians?

Try shenanigans like that with your boss. Let me know how you get on.

I suspect the real reason our campaigns are so long is that so many people make so much money from them.

Gravy trains grow longer because people like gravy.

Media get to sell political ads for years. Thousands of people do nothing more in their lives than run campaigns. There is probably a degree program somewhere. What do you figure – A BS in BS? From Tom...as in Morgan.

Tom Morgan, the retired Oneonta investment counselor and nationally syndicated newspaper and radio columnist, resides in Franklin.

could moderate the population differences among New York’s 62 counties.

With 62 counties comprising the state Senate, state government would be a lot more responsive to community needs, and in a better position to sort out what is truly a state function and truly a community one. It’s hard to imagine how to make state government locally accountable without giving communities an actual voice in Albany.

In sum, Sustainable Otsego sees the future of Otsego County in terms of Sustainable Living, Economic Independence, and Home Rule. For more information go to the Sustainable Otsego FaceBook page, or to sustainableotsego.net Adrian Kuzminski, a retired Hartwick College philosophy professor and Sustainable Otsego moderator, lives in Fly Creek.

LETTER

HARLEM: No Energy?

Then, No Independence HARLEM/From A4 between 5-6 times.

In other words, when a farmer receives a milk check for $4,000, it will put between $20,000 and $24,000 in the local community. Farmers spend their money on feed (maybe from Lutz Feed) and vet bills, they buy local supplies and local insurance, use local banks, and the milk is trucked by local haulers who buy many of their services locally.

It should be noted that Lutz Feed not only supplies feed, it also buys the farmers’ corn and processes it for sale.

In all these instances, there is a need for reliable energy.

Energy is needed to milk the cows, harvest the hay and corn, transport the milk, deliver the feed, and process the feed and corn.

Opportunities also exist in the logging industry.

There’s Wightman Lumber, Leatherstocking Timber and F.S. Forestry LLC, which all do some form of logging and, in the case of Wightman’s and Leatherstocking, process, manufacture and export finished products out of this locality. Their process is energy dependent as they need kilns to dry the wood and trucks to move the products. Both these businesses use their by-products to supplement their energy needs but they still require a reliable power source.

It should also be noted that other industries export products and import dollars into our region. Oneonta Block manufactures concrete block, both regular and archictural, which are used throughout Upstate New York and beyond. They are used in schools, hospitals, housing projects, malls, wastewater facilities, etc. Simply put, 95 percent of what Oneonta Block manufactures goes 60 miles or further, while the raw materials used to produce are purchased within a three-county area. These products require a kiln and trucks to move the product, all of which require a reliable energy source.

So to have “Economic Independence” for a sustainable local economy, it is imperative that we stress the need to develop and expand the local production capabilities. For this to occur, there needs to be a reliable and affordable source of energy.

Renewable energy such as solar and wind are a part of the solution but unfortunately they are not a 24/7 source of energy.

There are also other issues that limit the use of each.

Solar takes up a lot of space and will result in many acres of land becoming virtually useless for things such as farming and forestry. Wind mills can only be used in areas when there is the proper wind currents and they require large setbacks.

Wind doesn’t eliminate the land from use as much as solar.

Two other sources are water and biomass.

Hydroelectric power has been in the area for decades at the Goodyear Lake Dam. This could be expanded or a series of smaller dams could be developed, but this would require the DEC to allow for temporarily disturbing the river and the aquatic life, not to mention the potential of “flooding” large areas to store the water to guarantee the flow. The other source of water energy is geothermal.

This can be done in situations when a steady source of lower temperature energy is needed.

The last source locally would be biomass. This opportunity was presented to us years ago, but the naysayers shouted it down.

Biomass may be one of the best sources, as it would incorporate our local area strengths by allowing our farm community to develop an additional crop, switch grass, which is grown and used to power biomass facilities.

Unfortunately, there are many in this county who are against anything and everything no matter the consequences of their negativity. The biomass plant, the pipeline, the compressor station, the re-development of the rail yards, the baseball parks, housing developments, and the list goes on.

The benefits of these projects would not only have been jobs but also increased school and local tax revenue, lower energy cost, create spin off businesses, better housing options and a brighter future for our children.

The failure to have the pipeline has resulted in the creation of the “virtual pipeline” which is the trucks that are carrying the CNG to the markets where it is needed without providing any additional energy or revenue to the local community.

The end result being during the severe winter days the hospitals and educational community are forced to burn a much dirtier and more expensive fuel in order to sustain their operations.

Once one starts to understand the local situation, one cannot help but realize why it is so difficult for those in the “Meds” and “Eds” field to recruit doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals. This is part of the reason why many commute into the area from Binghamton, Utica and the Capital District rather than call our county home. If these trends continue then “true prosperity will continue to elude us.”

The choice is yours, you can find a way to make things happen by being part of the solution and support the efforts such as the rail yards or be against everything and continue to offer no real solutions.

BOB HARLEM Oneonta

HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-7

THURSDAY, August 8, 2019

IN MEMORIAM Dr. Bob Pondolfino Sr., Of Prominent Family Of Oneonta Dentists ONEONTA – Dr. Robert “Bob” B. Pondolfino Sr., the retired dentist and member of the prominent family of Oneonta dentists, passed away Aug. 2, 2019, at his home in Rincon, Puerto Rico.

Bob was born to Eleanor and Dr. Joseph Pondolfino in Oneonta. He graduated in 1956 from Oneonta High School, attended Niagara University (1960), and Georgetown Dental School (1964).

He joined the Pondolfino Dental Practice with his father, Joe and uncle, Sam, and assumed the practice along with his sons, Robert

Jr. and Gerald, for 38 years, retiring in 2001.

In 1960, Bob married Kathleen Oliver, his wife of 35 years, who predeceased him in 1995. In 2007, Bob married Joanmarie Toohey, in Rincon, Puerto Rico, where they built a home and spent the majority of their time.

Bob was a proud member of BPOE Elks 1312 for more than 50 years and, in 1968, became the youngest Exalted Ruler in New York and served as chairman of the board for 10 consecutive years.

He pioneered oral surgery in Oneonta along with

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his father at Fox Hospital until the first oral surgeon arrived.

He was a Oneonta Country Club member for nearly 50 years. Bob loved to share memories of his 1955 OHS undefeated football team. He was cocaptain and “All State” as right tackle.

Affectionately known as “Rock,” he will be remembered for his handsome face and warm smile, gentle approach and willingness to help others, unique sense of humor and ability to tell a great story. He was an avid traveler, original “foodie” and seafood connoisseur, and talented piano player.

He was a rugged outdoorsman and enjoyed his years with family and friends on

Marilyn W. Gerowe, 67; Bassett Nurse ONEONTA – Marilyn W. Gerowe, 67, a former ICU nurse at Bassett Hospital, passed away at home Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019.

She was born Jan. 1, 1952 in Oneonta, the daughter of John H. Wells Sr. and Marilyn Adelaide Cora (Escher) Gerowe Wells.

Marilyn graduated from Oneonta High School, Class of 1970 and also SUNY Morrisville, earning an Associate’s degree in Nursing.

She married David H. Gerowe on August 25, 1973 at the First United Methodist Church in Oneonta.

She is survived by her husband of 46 years, David Gerowe of Oneonta; her daughters, Jennifer (Greg) Schaub of Cherry Valley and Michelle (David) Maestas of Lacey, WA; four grandchildren; her brothers, David S. (Barbara) Brandt of Oneonta, John H. Wells, Jr of Anaheim, CA, William D. Wells of Anaheim, CA, Robert J. Wells of Oneonta, James Richard Wells of New York City; sister-in-law, Jane Brandt of Caroga Lake; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, and a brother, Geoffery Escher Brandt.

A celebration of life was Monday, Aug. 5, at the Lewis Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, with the Rev. Judith Thistle officiating.

Dr. Robert Pondolfino

Otsego Lake boating and fishing followed by his delight for snorkeling with sea turtles in Rincon.

Bob was a gifted artist whose paintings were exhibited in Rincon boutiques and private homes.

Above all, Bob cherished his family, the good times and many special friends he made along the way.

In addition to his first wife, he was also predeceased by his brother, Roger, and grandson, Scottie.

He is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren: Robert Jr. (Ryan, Kaitlin and Logan), Gerald (Zachary and Jackie), Kristen and Jim Wasilewski (Michael and Eileen) of Vienna, Va., and Kelly and Kenny Burch (Corey, Trevor and Natalie) of Sterling, Virginia.

He is further survived by his brother, Joseph Jr. (Meri-K) of Oneonta; sister, Jane (Herron) of Port Charlotte, Fla.; half-

brothers John Pondolfino of Otego and James Pondolfino of Alexandria, Va.; stepdaughter Meaghan Marino of Oneonta; many loving cousins, nieces and nephews, namely Thomas Pondolfino of Morris.

A life beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. Bob’s children and their families will privately celebrate his life in Oneonta. A memorial service in Rincon will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be sent to Springbrook, 105 Campus Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, or Hospicio del Oeste Inc., HC 03 Box 10935, San German, PR 00683-9350.

Steven Doyle, 58; Hairdresser For 35 Years

ONEONTA – Steven Doyle, 58, a locally renowned hairdresser, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, July 30, 2019.

He was born February 24, 1961 in Brooklyn, the son of Edward John Doyle and Annette A. (Sudano) Rao. Steven grew up in Lindenhurst, moving to Oneonta when he was 15 years old and never left. He cut hair for over 35 years, most notably at Measure for Measure, which was originally his father, Ed Doyle’s business. He then changed the salon to Hot Hair by Steven, which he owned and operated from his home.

Steven was not only a great hairdresser; he was one of the greatest people you would have ever met.

He loved Goodyear Lake, especially being there with his dog, Stella. Steven was known as the unofficial “mayor” of Oneonta, and will be dearly missed by so many.

He is survived by his mother, Annette Rao; his sister, Tina Doyle and her husband, Chief; stepbrothers and step-sisters, Lisa, Matt, Brandan, Jennifer, Ralphy and Tony; nieces and nephews, Jessica, Jimmy and Dylan; and aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was predeceased by his father, Edward Doyle; stepmother, Elena Doyle; Steven Doyle stepfather, Tony Rao; and his step-brothers, Andrew and Michael.

A funeral service was held Monday, Aug. 5, at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home.

Arrangements are with Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home.

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THURSDAY, August 8, 2019

A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Mayor Asks Pride Flag Advocate To Develop Consistent Policy

FLAGS/From A1 Since the news broke, Cooperstown Central School’s Pride Alliance, a student organization, told Benton it will raise money for the flag and donate it, and he expects a student contingent will be at a ceremony raising the banner next June.

In another new development, Trustee Richard Sternberg said he has approached Vets’ Club

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS BID #OTGOV012-19 COUNTY OF OTSEGO – BID REF # OTGOV012-19 FOR FURNISHING HARVESTING OF SELECT TIMBER AT REFORESTATION AREA #6 FOR OTSEGO COUNTY IS DUE AUGUST 23, 2019 AT 2 PM IN THE DIVISION OF PURCHASE. REGISTER AT www.empirestatebidsystem.com TO DOWNLOAD SPECIFICATION DOCUMENTS. 1LegalAug.8 Legal nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF HOME NUISANCE SERVICES, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/2/2019.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 130 Perkins Rd., West Edmeston, NY 13485.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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SEALED BID ANNOUNCEMENT BILLBOARD TERM Three-year contract DETAILS The winner of this bid will be granted to build and display a two-sided billboard on Village property located at 3898 NYS Highway 28. The display area cannot be larger than 10’ tall x 30’ wide. The structure cannot be illuminated.

The ward winner is responsible for obtaining any (if needed) permits

Commander David Sanford about hanging the POW/MIA flag for a month on the downtown Benton flagpole, and the men agreed that November, which includes Veterans Day on the 11th, would be most appropriate.

Saying he supports flying

the Pride Flag downtown next June, Sternberg added, “I feel the veterans need to be honored.” He plans to raise the issue at the trustees’ August meeting on the 26th, calling it “a statement of respect and appreciation.”

He has drafted a a resolution to be discussed at the next meeting.

Benton said he agrees with Sternberg’s idea: “I’m supportive of the POW/MIA

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and permissions from the Town of Milford.

SUBMISSION Please submit an annual fee you are willing to pay for the three-year period.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE Bids need to be hand delivered before 2pm on August 21, 2019 or postmarked on or before August 21, 2019 BID OPENING Sealed bids will be opened at 5:00 PM on August 26, 2019 at The Village of Milford Offices at 64. South Main Street, Milford, NY 13807 by the Village Clerk.

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designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: Privitera Properties, LLC, 3949 West Oneonta, NY 13861.

Purpose: Any lawful acts or activities.

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1. The name of the limited liability company (“LLC”) is J/K Distributions, LLC. 2. The date of filing of the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State is July 22, 2019.

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

4. The Secretary of State of the State of New York is hereby designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him or her is: PO Box 599 Unadilla, NY 13849.

5. The character or purpose of the business of the LLC is any purpose allowed by law.

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NOTICE OF FORMATION of Base Camp Construction, 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 filed with the Secretary of the State of New York (SSNY) on July 3, 2019. 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 P. Burns, 372 Christian Hill Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

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Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company (LLC): Privitera Properties, LLC, Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on May, 23, 2019.

Office location: Otsego County.

SSNY has been

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Notice of Formation of SafetyHealth First LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/31/19.

Office: Otsego County.

SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, c/o Michael Gildea, 60 Brunlar Court, Apartment 47, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF DIPASQUA AIR LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/18/2019.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 500 Crumb Hill Rd., Winfield, NY 13491, which is also the principal business location.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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

flag. I stand with our vets, making sure the folks who serve this country and don’t come home are remembered. That’s a very important issue, too.”

He continued, “One issue we aren’t going to lead on is the issue of raising the Confederate flag,” which represents the oppressors, not the oppressed.

After last week’s article appeared saying the trustees had voted unanimously to hang the Pride Flag next June on Village Hall, Benton called to say that was incorrect. “I’m open to discussing it,” he said at the time. “But at this time, that’s the resolution, and I stand by it.”

The resolution did not appear on the board’s July agenda, and Benton proposed it, without public notice, during the “new business” portion at the end of the meeting. It was quickly passed unanimously.

Since there was no resolution, just notes Village Administrator Teri

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Sweetwater Farm & Orchards, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 06/11/19.

Office location: Otsego SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 286 County Highway 32a, Cherry Valley, New York, 13320.

Any lawful purpose.

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Notice of Formation of 604 East Main, LLC. Arts .Of Org. filed with SSNY on 06/13/19.

Office location: Ostego.

SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 286 County Highway 32a Cherry Valley,

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New York, 13320.

Any lawful purpose.

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SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF OTSEGO INDEX NO. EF2018-728 Plaintiff designates OTSEGO as the place of trial situs of the real property Mortgaged Premises: 699 COUNTY ROUTE 46 A/K/A 699 COUNTY HIGHWAY 46 ONEONTA, NY 13820 District: Section: 193.00 Block: 1 Lot: 3.02 NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER, Plaintiff, vs.

JEREMIAH TURITS AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GARY R. TURITS if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their

Tape Trustees’ Meetings, New Member Says COOPERSTOWN

V

illage Trustee MacGuire Benton has advised the mayor he plans to introduce a resolution Aug. 26 requiring meetings to be audiotaped and the results posted on the village’s website.

“When I ran for Village Board, I pledged to advance transparency and accountability. This resolution will do exactly that. I hope to pass it unanimously,” Benton wrote in a letter to Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch.

Barown takes to prepare the minutes, there was room for some misunderstanding.

In reviewing her notes this week, she said the resolution

was geographically specific to the downtown flagpole, with no mention of Village Hall.

The Pride Flag is an update of the six-color rainbow flag that dates back to 1979, which adds five sequential triangles on the flagpole side. “The white, pink, and light blue reflect the colors of the transgender flag, while the brown and black stripes represent people of color and those lost to AIDS,” according to “the Complete Guide to Queer Pride Flags” on the pride.com website.

“I’ve gotten a ton of positive feedback from people who live in the village,” the freshman trustee said, “and negative feedback from people who don’t live in the village, people on the wrong side of history, in my opinion,” adding, “I respect their right to disagree with me.”

But those who encouraged him, he said, were “all very vocal and supportive of dignity and equal rights.”

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respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; BENJAMIN TURITS AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GARY R. TURITS; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF GARY R. TURITS any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; JEANNE MARIE LEAR; MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC.; LEHMAN BROTHERS BANK, FSB, PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

premises known as 699 COUNTY ROUTE 46 A/K/A 699 COUNTY HWY 46 ONEONTA, NY 13820.

“JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.

To the abovenamed Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within 20 days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $328,000.00 and interest, recorded on July 9, 2007, at Liber 1527 Page 311, of the Public Records of OTSEGO County, New York, covering

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

OTSEGO County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. RAS BORISKIN, LLC Attorney for

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Plaintiff BY: CHETNA RAMCHANDANI, ESQ. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 4LegalAug.15 Legal nOtice

Notice of Formation of Limited Liability Company (LLC) Name: Badgerface Beauty Supply, LLC Articles of Organization filed by the Department of State of New York on: 06/11/2019 Office location: County of Otsego Purpose: Any and all lawful activities Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: Kristina Strain PO Box 171 Gilbertsville, NY 13776 6LegalAug.8 Legal nOtice

Notice of Formation of Limited Liability Company (LLC) Name: 120-122 Marion Avenue, LLC Articles of Organization filed by the Department of State of New York on: 06/11/2019 Office location: County of Otsego Purpose: Any and all lawful activities Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: Patrick Strain PO Box 171 Gilbertsville, NY 13776 6LegalAug.8

THURSDAY, August 8, 2019

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-9

For Jeff Idelson, Life After Hall Focus On Growing ‘Grassroots’ PASTIME/From A1 at getting 21st Century youngsters into the game with talks, equipment and a chance to play with Hall of Famers.

“The overeaching goal of Grassroots Baseball is to give back by providing inspiration, instruction and equipment to help ensure more children have the opportunity to learn, play and enjoy the game,” he said in a press release from San Francisco.

He partnered with Hall of Fame photographer Jean Fruth to create the

program, which launched in May. Fruth has been a photographer for nearly two decades and shooting baseball for the past 15 years. She covered the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s, before turning her attention to the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, where she helped to build the museum’s profile and photo archive.

Her photograph book, “Grassroots Baseball: Where Legends Begin,” is the first in the series, and this summer, she

will shoot for a second, titled “Grassroots Baseball: Route 66.”

“I’ve learned that the game is more than just a sport – it is dreams and aspirations for so many youngsters wherever I go,” said Fruth.

“The culture of baseball is so much bigger than just what happens on the field. I look forward to continuing the journey of documenting the amateur game, inspiring the next generation of young ball players and telling the stories of Grassroots Baseball with my images.”

Since May, Grassroots Baseball has been out on a “Route 66” touch, where Hall of Famers and retired Major League stars will meet with children to instruct and inspire them.

This week, Idelson and Fruth are joined by Hall of Famer Goose Gossage at Isotopes Park with the Boys & Girls Club of Albuquerque, N.M. The kids will get a new Rawlings glove and baseball and play catch with Gossage.

Other participating Hall of Fame and Route 66 legends

include Johnny Bench, George Brett and Jim Thome.

Previously, they had been in Peoria and Chicago, Ill, St. Louis and Springfield, Mo., Oklahoma City and Amarillo, Texas. Idelson has been chronicling the journey on the Grassroots website, grassrootsbaseball.com.

“Baseball is about celebrating kids around the globe who play and enjoy the game,” Idelson.

“Whether they’re playing in a park, on a sandlot, in the streets, or in a minor league ballpark.”

Otego Planners Give Shelter OK

►FREE TICKETS FOR ARMY JAZZ BAND

G

et your free tickets to the 10th Mountain Division Jazz Band concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at SUNY Oneonta’s Alumni Field House, at these establishments: ►In Cooperstown, Hometown Oneonta/The Freeman’s Journal, Kevin’s Ford ►In Milford, Milford Corner Store, Community Bank ►In Oneonta, Community Bank, Munson’s Building Supply, Scoville Meno Honda, Pizza Land, Valero, Napa Auto Parts, Speedway, Eastern Travel, Undercover Eggplant, Monser Bros. Tire, Catalogue Outlet, Smoker’s Choice, Five Star Subaru, Vets’ Club, NBT Bank on Chestnut Street, CDO Workforce, Crystal Palace Barbershop, Brooks House of BBQ ►In Otego, Jake’s Deli ►In Sidney, American Legion, Trackside Restaurant

Schmidt Plans New Tribute To Veterans At Neahwa Park And during FREE/From A1 the concert, Alumni Field Schmidt will House.“I ask the veterans wanted to have in the audience a real military to stand and band come to be recognized.

Oneonta,” he “And I want to said. “I can’t ask the people remember the last sitting next to time we had one them to shake play.” their hands, In the ’70s, give them a Gene’s brotherin-law, Tim HOMETOWN ONEONTA & hug, and thank DeCastro, played The Freeman’s Journal them for their service.” horns in the Air Gene Schmidt A Vietnam Force Band. “He promote his latest venture. veteran himself, was stationed Schmidt at McGuire Air Force Base (in New Jersey), spearheaded a fundraising campaign to raise $6,000 so he would schedule the for a Vietnam Veterans band to play up here so he Memorial in Neahwa Park could see his wife,” he said. to honor the nine Oneonta Schmidt reached out soldiers who were killed in to several military bands, action. The monument was including the Air Force and Navy ones, before getting in dedicated Memorial Day 2016. touch with the WatertownIn 2017, he brought based 10th Mountain the “Wall that Heals” Division band.

– a traveling replica of the The band will play Vietnam Veterans Memorial patriotic marches and anthems from all the military in Washington D.C. – to Neahwa Park over Memorial branches. “It’s going to be a Day weekend. lot of different music, from “As often as we can, we World War II to today,” need to honor them,” he he said. “So everyone will said. “Let’s fill up the field be able to appreciate the house for our veterans.” songs.”

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

What’s a fund drive without mascots? SQSPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes introduces two that will be cheering on donors (and delighting kids) at the Aug. 24 groundbreaking.

SHELTER/From A1 day, Aug. 6, and within three hours, the abandoned house was in rubble.

“That site will serve as parking for the groundbreaking,” said Haynes.

“We’ll take down the second house afterwards.”

Haynes debuted the plans in front of a packed house at the Town of Otsego Planning board the evening of the demolition.

“The SPCA isn’t just a volunteer organization, it’s a professional one,” said Randy Velez, Cooperstown.

“There’s a professional level that needs to be maintained and the county depends on it.”

“I love the SPCA and the animals here and it needs to have a new building,” said Phoebe Needle, 9, the granddaughter of SQSPCA board chair and board member respectively, Gaylord and Nicole Dillingham.

Pack Your Bags!

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The board approved the site plan and the special use permit.

“We want to build the best shelter we can build,” said Haynes. “This property has a safe location, better parking, and our volunteers won’t be walking dogs alongside Route 28.”

Consultant Barbara Carr has been assisting them in designing the shelter. “We’re so fortunate to have her at this critical time because she has helped build shelters,” said Haynes. “She can tell us what we have some wiggle room on and what we absolutely cannot cut.”

At the groundbreaking, visitors will finally have a chance to see full renderings of the proposed project, including a floor plan and artist rendering.

The ceremony will also include photographs with the shelter’s new mascots.

“Everybody likes animals, but some people are more cat people or dog people,” she said. “So we found costumes for both!”

Visitors are also encouraged to bring shelter “alumni” – or any pet – for the photo booth. No furry friend for the booth? The shelter will have animals available to adopt, this month at half-price.

The new project goal has been raised from $2 million

to $3 million, which will cover the costs of acquiring the new site, as well as demolition, work costs and constructing a building for the New Leash on Life Thrift Shop.

Anita Vitullo, New Hartford, Staffworks’ CEO, pledged to match donations up to $250,000 through October first, and the initial funding of $500,000 came through the state Companion Animal Capital Fund Grant through the Department of Agriculture & Markets.

The new shelter will allow them to expand their capacity for intake, care and adoptions. The shelter is currently struggling with an influx of kittens Earlier this week, Haynes said, three kittens and a mother were trapped behind the Mirabito on Oneida Street in Oneonta.

“A woman called us and said that she was from out of town and was leaving, but that she couldn’t sleep knowing that kittens were starving back there.”

Additionally, on Tuesday afternoon, two mother cats and two kittens were brought in suffering from severe flea infestations.

“We have over 50 cats,” she said. “And that’s why we’re doing our ‘Study Buddy’ adoption program.”

The “Study Buddy” adoptions will go through the end of August and cut adoption fees for cats and kittens in half.

And with the groundbreaking planned, Hayes anticipates that they will be in the new space by next summer.

“One way or another,” she said. “We will be in our new building within a year.”

Allhomes OTSEGO.

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Vince Foti

607-432-2022

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Near Commons, both fully furnished!

• 5 br/4ba, $850/mo. + utilities • 2 br/1 ba, $695/mo. + utilities Available 9-1-19 to 5-1-20 315-867-3931 156 Acres! Beautiful views, open fields, hardwoods, fruit trees, sap house, tree blind, ATV trails and 2 ponds! Also includes great rustic home with 3 BRs, 2 baths, bluestone fireplace, open beam ceiling, wide plank flooring, large covered deck, manicured lawn, garage, more!

MLS#122635 $299,900

Home of the Week Lizabeth Rose, Broker/Owner · Cricket Keto, Licensed Assoc. Broker · Peter D. Clark, Consultant

locally owned and operated single and multi-family homes commercial property and land oneontarealty.com office 607.441.7312 fax 607.432.7580 99 Main Street, Oneonta

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MLS#121983 $50,000 Residential Lot of 4.9 Acres Located in the Cooperstown School District! Entire 4.9 acres is flat usable land, includes building plan and survey.

Call Rabiatu Braimah @ 475-202-9551 (cell)

MLS#121459 $278,900 A-frame Cottage 108’ of gently sloping frontage.

3-season enclosed porch w/views of the lake. Large 2-car detached garage and boat dock.

Call George (Rod) Sluyter 315-520-6512 (cell)

MLS#119489 MLS#114624 $59,900 1982 double-wide w/3 BRs, 2 baths $115,000 and 1½ story, 2-car Great Location!

Just system, steps toupdated Fox Hospital.

Wellnew garage.

New heating electrical, maintained 4-BR in home history. walls and ceiling 1 BR.has Newa good ceilingrental in master bath.

COC until 2022.@Also a great residence.

Callvalid Sharon P. Teator 607-267-2681 (cell) Call David Mattice @ 607-434-1647 (cell)

MLS#122676 $275,000 2 barns w/over 60 stalls on 69 acres, electric and water included. Close to Oneonta. Must see to believe!

Call Sharon Teator @ 607-267-2681 (cell)

MLS#119159 $227,500 Home in Cooperstown Close to Bassett Hospital, schools and the Clarks Sport Center. 3 BRs, 2 baths, 2-car garage. Freshly painted, in-ground pool.

Call Carol Olsen @ 607-434-7436 (cell)

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MLS#121011 $379,900 Circa 1850 Modernized Farmhouse w/workshop, garage. Apartment w/private entrance. 7 BRs, 4 baths, 2 kitchens. Pond, landscaped lawns, fields.

Call George (Rod) Sluyter @ 315-520-6512 (cell)

4914 State Hwy 28 Cooperstown 607-547-5933 221 Main Street, Andes 845-676-3600

MLS#120779 $79,900 Country Living in Mohawk Valley 20 minutes to Cooperstown. Brook, covered screened porch. 5 BRs, garage, barn. New roof, furnace and windows.

Call George (Rod) Sluyter @ 315-520-6512 (cell)

MLS#120019 $539,000 Renovated Catskill Mountain Money Maker 19,000 sq ft of prime commercial real estate on 2.6 acres in Stamford on Route 10. Full-service restaurant, bar,2 bath and 10-lane bowling center.

Spacious 4 BR, house is close to I-88.

Large Call Gabrielle Vasta @ 607-267-1792 backyard, workshop/garage, small shed.(cell) Make your appointment today. Priced to go this week!

Virtual Tour: www.RealEstateShows.com/708598

MLS#122390 $285,000 Brick Victorian Wins Property of Merit Award for most improved property. Come see for yourself such a magnificent home with so many upgrades.

Call Carol Olsen @ 607-434-7436 (cell)

MLS#122392 $447,000 Impeccable Custom-Built Home! 4,512 sq ft home on 28 wooded acres. Full basement, 4 BRs, 4 baths, recent roof. Landscaped setting in the plush hills of Upstate NY. Oversized 2-car garage.

Call Katherine Fistrowicz @ 607-267-2683 (cell)

MLS#122673 $99,900 Commercial Listing Concrete block building is suitable for store, service station, etc. Includes 3-BR single-wide on 3.97 acres. 5 minutes to Oneonta.

Call Sharon Teator @ 607-267-2681 (cell)

MLS#119170 $162,500 Beautiful Newer Home 3-BR, 2½-bath Cape Cod on almost 3 acres. Stunning kitchen, 1st-floor master BR. Close to Oneonta.

Call Carol Olsen @ 607-434-7436 (cell)

MLS#122223 $49,900 Potential for 2 Building Lots 10± acres of beautiful land w/ample road frontage along 2 town roads. Several more parcels available.

Call Katherine Fistrowicz @ 607-267-2683 (cell)

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MLS#121150 $249,000 Cooperstown Area Commercial Opportunity!

Massive exposure, extensive parking. 3,000 sq ft was constructed in 2013.

Call Katherine Fistrowicz @ 607-267-2683 (cell)

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75 Market Street Oneonta 607-433-1020

MLS#122670 $179,000 Possible Farmette Views in all directions. 3 BRs, built in 1854 w/dairy barn on 7 acres. 3-bay garage, plus steel carport, concrete RV pad.

Call David Mattice @ 607-434-1647 (cell)

MLS#116968 $450,000 7-Acre Private Island Featured in National Geographic Magazine. Above the flood plain, historic 3-BR home is equipped w/every modern convenience. Located in Afton.

Call Erin Moussa @ 607-435-1285 (cell)

MLS#121223 $299,000 Goodyear Lake Home 3-BR, 2-bath remodeled home w/paddleboat, canoe, kayaks. Successful baseball rental. Large decks, great lawn.

Call Stephen Colwell@ 607-435-6542 (cell)

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 www.oneontarealty.com

West End Charmer! Cute vinyl-sided bungalow features 8’ x 28’ enclosed front porch and rear screened porch overlooking terraced, stone-retained, and private lower backyard. Side yard has a full garden planting and several second-year grape vines. Inside has been freshly painted throughout, offset nicely by natural woodwork on first floor. Versatile layout offers 3 BRs down and 1 BR up. Plenty of space for all! Come take a look!

MLS#122659 $134,900

Lizabeth Rose, Broker/Owner

Newly Constructed 3-4 BR Home!

This home is in great condition, offering lots of off-street parking and a central location near downtown. Currently rented w/COC in place, it would be a nice home for a family.

MLS#120978 $199,000

Cricket Keto, Licensed Assoc. Broker Peter D. Clark, Consultant

Perfect Country Colonial

157 Main Street,Cooperstown 607-547-5740

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Your Private Refuge

(8647) Well kept, 3-BR, 3-bath, contemporary home on 7.33 acres. Great room, vaulted ceilings, skylights, finished walk-out basement w/kitchen. Open floor plan, loft, bamboo flooring, main-level master BR, modern kitchen w/quartz countertop. 2-car garage, patio, deck overlooking pond. Cooperstown Schools.

Hubbell’s Exclusive—$289,000

Cooperstown Village

(8618) Impeccable 3-BR, 2-bath Colonial provides pellet stove, bay windows, natural woodwork, formal DR and eat-in kitchen w/oak cabinets.

Laminate flooring, laundry room, ceiling fans. Vinyl siding, large covered deck, large yard. Large 2-car garage. Move-in condition. Cooperstown Schools

Hubbell’s Exclusive—$259,000

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Cooperstown’s Newspaper

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& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch

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1808 BY

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HOMETOWN

O M C O PE

SELLING OR BUYING? DO IT ALL HERE! 607-547-6103 For 211 Years

John Mitchell Real Estate

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This Colonial style home has unbelievable curb appeal! The house is situated in a park-like setting on almost 4 acres.

This move-in ready home offers 5 BRs, beautiful finished basement, stone fireplace in family room open to kitchen, lovely formal LR w/French doors. Updated kitchen has double ovens, island. Spacious mudroom has radiant floor heat. Attached 3-car garage also w/radiant heat, overhead storage. Large master BR has walk-in closet that everyone will admire!

Covered front porch is 44' long w/maintenance-free, long-lasting Trex decking. Private rear deck for outdoor relaxation and enjoyment. This is a warm and welcoming home with so many outstanding features. Call for an appointment to visit. You will be glad you did!

Exclusively offered at $424,500

Don Olin

REALTY, INC

AllOTSEGO.com

37 Chestnut street · Cooperstown · 607-547-5622 · 607-547-5653 (fax) parking is never a problem!

For Appointment Only Call: M. Margaret Savoie, Real Estate Broker/Owner – 547-5334 Marion King, Real Estate Associate Broker – 547-5332 Eric Hill, Real Estate Associate Broker – 547-5557 Donald DuBois, Real Estate Associate Broker – 547-5105

Timothy Donahue, Real Estate Associate Broker – 293-8874 Madeline Sansevere, Real Estate Salesperson – 435-4311 Catherine Raddatz, Real Estate Salesperson – 547-8958 Michael Welch, Real Estate Salesperson – 547-8502

For reliable, honest answers to any of your real estate questions, call 607.547.5622 or visit our website www.donolinrealty.com

New Purchases and Refinances Debt Consolidation Free Pre-Qualification Fast Approvals • Low Rates

Matt Schuermann

Registered Mortgage Broker NYS Banking Dept.

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

INSURANCE MANY COMPANIES. MANY OPTIONS. Bieritz insurance agency

Real people who truly care... your hometown insurance agency!

209 Main Street, Cooperstown 607-547-2951 across from Bruce Hall 607-263-5170 in Morris Celebrating our

Ben Novellano

th 29 YEAR! 1990-2019