Festival Campaign Will Help Shape Future, Expand Audiences
arking half a century of opera and musical theater in Otsego County, the Glimmerglass Festival has launched a
campaign to support its future as an international destination and training ground for the next generation of performers and production professionals.
“Destined to Glimmerglass: The 50th Anniversary Campaign” has already raised $4.1 million toward the $5 million goal, officials announced in a press release issued Thursday, February 27.
“We are both moved and awestruck by the generosity that donors from across the country have committed to help usher in our visionary future,” said Robert Ainsley, artistic and general director. “There is nothing and nowhere quite like Glimmerglass. It is a destination in every sense of the word.”
“The festival is an invaluable asset to our region, the United States and the
world of opera. This campaign ensures that our company can continue to lead, teach and innovate for years to come,” he added.
The fundraising effort will empower the Glimmerglass Festival—a place where lesser-known and new productions are staged alongside canonical works of opera—to expand the range of those works. Through the Youth Opera and Project Pipeline, for instance, Glimmerglass provides a stage for performances that might otherwise go unseen.
This year, the festival will produce the world premiere of “The House on Mango Street,” a musical adaptation of Sandra Cisneros’s novel of the same name.
“Glimmerglass is synonymous with collaboration and innovation,” said Ainsley. “Every year, we’re creating new opportunities and models for this industry. By incubating new works, mentoring young artists and technicians, and creating pathways for youth performers, we’re making the stage
Continued on page 10
Rally Protests Pres. Trump’s Policies, Draws 200 Demonstrators
By TERESA WINCHESTER
ONEONTA
Arally the purpose of which was, organizers said, to uphold the U.S. Constitution and protest executive overreach took place on Tuesday, March 4 at noon in Oneonta’s Muller Plaza. Approximately 200 people from across Otsego County attended, carrying protest signs, waving flags, and chanting pro-democracy slogans, such as “We want our country back,” and “This is what democracy looks like.” Cars driving by frequently honked their horns in support. The event was organized by the Cooperstown Oneonta chapter of Indivisible, in conjunction with the newly-formed organization 50501. Temperatures hovering in the low 40s possibly contributed to the final headcount.
From signs, statements, and chants, it was clear that major issues being protested were Trump’s sweeping, draconian actions since taking office, drastically weakened support for Ukraine, tax cuts for the rich, seizure of personal data by Elon Musk, high tariffs on goods from longstanding allies, and disregard for the environment.
After Virginia Kennedy of Cooperstown Oneonta Indivisible charged up participants with opening remarks, Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek addressed the gathering.
“Our flag is the flag that generations have fought to defend. And it stands for the best in us. It stands for our best aspirations. For liberty and equality. It stands for the light of democracy,” he declared.
Literacy Visionaries: Milford’s Book Vending Machine
By BILL BELLEN MILFORD
Last summer, the Village of Milford had a pair of unique visitors; bookmobiles. With one parked beside the public library and the other adjacent to the school, a season of literary exposure began.
Students at the summer school CROP program were able to retrieve free books from each truck as Milford added a new element to its efforts in literary education and awareness. This experience was considered a resounding success, with students excitedly bringing home new books and library cards to share with their families. To capitalize on this momentum, Milford Central School officials looked to continue the initiative with an expanded focus on literacy education.
“Literacy is a huge part of initiatives
not only throughout the state, but here in Milford,” Kristen Shearer, superintendent of the Milford school district, said. “Reading is the passage to success.”
With these sentiments in mind, Shearer brought an idea to the table that she had seen in her previous experience at a school district in Schenectady; a book vending machine.
Teaming up with fifth grade teacher Christopher Cottrell and his class, Shearer set out to make this idea a reality. Cottrell’s class composed short writing assignments detailing why each student believed a book vending machine would benefit the school. These letters were then sent to members of the Oneonta Charitable Foundation, where they were received with great enthusiasm. The words of the children won them over, and a grant of $5,000.00 was quickly given
Continued on page 11
Photo provided
The Glimmerglass Festival has already raised $4.1 million toward its $5 million goal to usher in what Artistic and General Director Robert Ainsley refers to as its visionary future.
Photo by Teresa Winchester
Approximately 200 people gathered at Oneonta’s Muller Plaza on March 4 to protest the Trump administration.
Continued on page 9
Photo by Bill Bellen
Milford Central School student Emmie Strong shows off the book she chose from the school’s new vending machine.
FCO March 15 Concert To Feature Concerto Competition Winner
By TARA BARNWELL COOPERSTOWN
The management at Fenimore Chamber Orchestra decided there was a need to have a young person’s concerto competition last year, and they went about making it happen with gusto.
“We really wanted to highlight the accomplishments of our young people in the entire country. There are so many talented people that we feel needed recognition,” said Thomas Wolf, chair of FCO’s Governing Board of Directors.
Maciej Żółtowski, FCO artistic director, agreed.
“It’s so important to highlight our upand-coming musicians, most of which are within our country. We had 22 entries from nine states, with competitors ranging from 14 to 21 years old,” Żółtowski.
FCO officials sent out information about the competition in early autumn of 2024 and closed registration on February 15. Information went to major music schools in the United States—including the Eastman School of Music, The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory of Music, and Berklee College of Music—and music teachers responded positively.
“The teachers were so happy that we were doing this to shine light on their students,” Żółtowski said.
The winner of the 2025 Young
Person’s Concerto Competition is Isabel Chen, who has earned the opportunity to perform with the chamber orchestra here on Saturday, March 15.
Chen plays violin. She is currently attending the Eastman School of Music and thinking about graduate school.
“I’ve been in competitions for years,” said Chen. “It means so much to me to win this contest and perform with the professionals of the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra.
“I grew up in Chicago and played violin and piano, and have been involved in chamber music,” Chen continued. “It’s been a huge part of my
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life, and I decided to focus on violin. I was originally focusing on opera, but the chamber orchestra seems to bring it to life for me.”
Żółtowski joked that competitions are for horses, not for musicians.
“We feel this competition really focused on the talent the musicians have, and we want to expose these talents to our public. We are very fortunate to have the audience we have in our area, that appreciates this talent,” Żółtowski said.
Chen is completing her final year toward receiving a bachelor’s degree in violin performance, and would like to be connected to a string quartet.
“I love baroque as well, but it’s hard to make money being in a small orchestra,” she explained. “I am also entertaining teaching music—that’s always an option.”
“Competitions are the way to go for musicians to build careers,” Wolf said. “It’s a vastly different world out there than it used to be. This is how they can make a name for themselves.”
Chen is very grateful to FCO for its recognition.
“I am so thankful to my teachers that have transformed me, and so grateful to be the first [student] to perform with the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra,” she said. “I’m treating this as a mini-vacation. I want to enjoy the Cooperstown area that I hear is so beautiful.”
The runner up in the competition is 14-year-old Gloria So One Kwon. She attends The Julliard School and also plays the violin.
FCO’s March 15 concert will take place at 3 p.m. at Cooperstown’s Christ Church, 46 River Street, after which audience members will have the opportunity to meet Chen. The concert will feature works by Joseph Bologne and Mozart.
General admission is $45.00 per person. Thanks to an anonymous donor, children and up to two accompanying adults—as well as high-school and college students with an ID—will be admitted free of charge. For more information, visit www.fenimoreorchestra.org.
Trump Announces Plans To Posthumously Pardon Pete Rose
WASHINGTON, DC
President Donald Trump announced on Friday, February 28 that he would issue a posthumous pardon of Pete Rose, and called for the all-time leader in career hits to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Rose, who passed away in September at the age of 83, was served a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball in 1989 for gambling on games, and was barred from the Hall of
Fame. Trump did not specify what the pardon would cover, although Rose served five months in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion in 1990. As has been the case since 1991, when a rule was put into place making anyone on baseball’s ineligible list also ineligible for Hall of Fame election, Rose would become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration only if he is reinstated by MLB.
Pantry Voucher Program Will Provide $16K in Local Food
COOPERSTOWN
The Cooperstown Food Pantry has received a $16,000.00 grant from
the Chobani Community Impact Fund at the Community Foundation for South Central New York. The funds will
be used for the farmers’ market voucher program, providing pantry clients with vouchers to purchase fresh fruit and vegeta-
bles at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, which is open year-round on Saturdays. CFP clients can receive $20.00 in vouchers each month to use at the market.
CFP began the farmers’ market voucher program in 2017. According to a media release, this grant doubles the amount of vouchers available to food pantry clients.
“Historically, fresh produce can be one of the largest expenses at the grocery store, and we are truly grateful to our partners at Chobani and the Community Foundation for South Central New York for helping us further our mission while providing our neighbors in need with greater access to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables that, in turn, support our hardworking local farmers,” said CFP Executive Director Will Kleffner.
The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, founded and managed by Otsego 2000, features local farmers as well as makers and artisans. The farmers’ market accepts EBT and, through two matching programs—the Cooperstown Lions Club SNAP Match and Double Up Food Bucks—a $20.00 EBT spend results in $60.00 worth of fresh local food. If a person also has a $20.00 voucher from the CFP, they will receive $80.00 worth of local food for a $20.00 EBT spend.
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Cooperstown Food Pantry and to work together to ensure more people have access to fresh local food,” said
Photo provided
Isabel Chen is the winner of the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra’s 2025 Young Person’s Concerto Competition and will play with the FCO on Saturday, March 15.
NEWS BRIEFS
Bobblehead Exhibit To Open
COOPERSTOWN—The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will unveil the new exhibit “Getting the Nod” on Saturday, May 24. It will feature highlights from the collection of 750 bobblehead dolls donated by former Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey H. Loria. The bobblehead has been a key piece of baseball culture and kitsch since the 1960s, cementing its place as one of the game’s iconic souvenirs. In addition to the new exhibit, Memorial Day Weekend will include the inaugural Hall of Fame Film Series, with a lineup of baseball themed movies to be announced later. For more information or a full list of events, visit baseballhall.org/memorialday.
ADK Club Offers Scholarships
ONEONTA—The Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club will provide full scholarships for two teenagers to participate in an Adirondack teen program of their choice this summer. All costs except transportation will be covered. Participants must reside in Otsego, Delaware or Chenango counties and must meet any additional requirements for the workshops. Visit https://adk.org/youth-teen-programs/ for a list of offerings and https://susqadk.org/adk-teenworkshop-scholarships/ to apply. Awards will be announced by the end of April.
Bassett Seeks Nurse Interns
COOPERSTOWN—Bassett Healthcare Network is now accepting applications for its summer 2025 nursing internship program. These paid internships offer students hands-on experience in direct and indirect nursing care at locations throughout the network, including Cooperstown, Oneonta, Delhi, Sidney, and Cobleskill. Participants are paid $17.32 per hour and can earn up to three transferable college credits at Bassett’s expense. Twoyear or four-year nursing students who will enter their senior year in 2025 are eligible. For more information or to apply, visit https://www.bassett. org/careers/clinical-education-programs/bassett-
summer-nurse-intern-program. Interviews will be offered on a rolling basis.
Spring Art Classes Announced
COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association will host local artist Emily Falco for an introductory watercolor class from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 22. Materials will be provided, but artists are welcome to bring their own. There will also be a two-day throw quilt class for children ages 6-12 from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30. Students should have a basic understanding of hand sewing, pinning, measuring, ironing, and sewing machine use, although guidance and support will be available. For more information or to register, contact gallery@cooperstownart.com or (607) 547-9777.
Forest Owners Group To Meet
BINGHAMTON—The New York Forest Owners Association will hold an open meeting at 840 Front Street in Binghamton at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. There will be a panel discussion on controlling unwanted vegetation with and without chemical methods, featuring Consulting Forester and Certified Pesticide Applicator Mike Blasko and four Southern Tier Chapter members with significant experience. The meeting is free and open to the public. Visit NYFOA.org for more information.
Flu, Farming Events Slated
COOPERSTOWN—Cornell Cooperative Extension will host a webinar on the costs and benefits of raising egg-laying hens at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11. Visit tinyurl.com/GettingStartedLayingHens to register. Registration for a virtual talk on avian disease and the ongoing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, held from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, may be found at tinyurl.com/HPAI2025.
The 2025 Parasite Fecal Analysis Roadshow will visit CCE Schoharie County, 173 South Grand Street, Suite 1 in Cobleskill, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, March 31. The traveling lab will offer analysis of small ruminant fecal samples
Market 32/PC To Support Special Olympics
SCHENECTADY—Price Chopper and Market 32 customers will have the opportunity to round up their change to support the Special Olympics through Saturday, March 15. The company will match up to $10,000.00 in donations, and all funds will help provide coaching, equipment, and opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities. More than 30 athletes, partners and coaches from the six states in which Market 32/Price Chopper operates will compete in the 2025 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, later this month.
DiNapoli: State Budget Faces Growing Risks
ALBANY—New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli struck a cautious note in his annual report assessing Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget on Friday, February 14. The Division of the Budget found that cumulative outyear budget gaps have increased to a total of $27.3 billion through fiscal year 2028-29 and that state spending is projected to rise faster than revenues.
“Uncertainty over federal funding and the ending of federal pandemic aid creates an urgent need to strengthen the state’s fiscal position,” DiNapoli said. “Federal funding provides the backbone of the safety net and funds for a wide array of essential services including health care, education, transportation and clean water programs. Potential cuts or significant policy changes in Washington may have a large impact on the state’s finances and on New Yorkers’ quality of life. Preserving state services and maintaining long-term budget balance will require a careful examination of the state’s spending trajectory on major programs in ways that do not harm services, but ensures their long-term fiscal viability.”
To view the full report, visit osc.ny.gov.
Conservation Award Nominees Sought
ALBANY—New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced that applications are open for the 2025 Agricultural Environmental Management Leopold Conservation Award through Thursday, May 15. Presented in partnership with the Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, and Cornell Cooperative Extension, the $10,000.00 award honors a farm and its nominating Soil and Water Conservation District for extraordinary conservation of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land. Interested candidates should contact their county SWCD for nomination. For more information, visit www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.
State Officials Announce Bird Flu Measures
ALBANY—The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced new testing requirements for all poultry entering the state’s live bird markets on Wednesday, February 19. This additional measure is part of an aggressive, proactive response to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu. All live bird markets closed on February 7 have been sanitized, inspected and reopened. The state reminds farmers to follow best biosecurity practices and emphasizes that direct risk to humans remains low. For more information, visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpai.
to check flocks and herds for parasite loads before pasturing. Contact ram72@cornell.edu or (518) 649-0267. Visit cceschoharie-otsego.org/ for a full list of events.
High-school Interns Wanted
COOPERSTOWN—SUNYOneonta’s Biological Field Station has open positions in its summer high school internship program, with applications due on Wednesday, March 26. These nine-week roles are available to New York residents who are at least 16 years old as of June 20. Interns will receive mentorship from faculty and scientists, as well as hands-on experience with scientific research and conservation efforts. At least one position is reserved for an Otsego County resident; students from outside the county must be prepared to arrange their own housing. For more information or to apply, visit suny. oneonta.edu/biological-field-station/internships.
New
Congregation To Meet
OTEGO—Christ Presbyterian Church, a newly organized community of Christians, will gather for its inaugural worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 16. Parishioners should enter Otsego Christian Academy, 353 Main Street in Otego, through the back doors.
Mini-Grant Applications Open
ONEONTA—The New York Council of Nonprofits and The Scriven Foundation launched the application period for the 2025 Otsego County Mini-Grant Program, open through Friday, March 14. Awards range from $500.00 to $2,500.00 and are intended to improve the governance and management of qualifying Otsego County nonprofits. A total of $50,000.00 is available. To view full criteria or submit an application, visit https://nycon. tfaforms.net/389798.
Cooperstown Sports Wrapped
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can catch up on the results of recent CCS Hawkeyes sporting events on AllOtsego.com.
.dining&entertainment
HOMETOWN Views
EDITORIaL
Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper
Our motto here at “The Freeman’s Journal” and “Hometown Oneonta” is “putting the community back into the newspaper.” Whether you read our hard-copy newspapers or subscribe to our website, AllOtsego.com, we believe it is important to not only cover the news of Otsego County, but also to provide a forum by which its residents can contribute their own views and expertise. We don’t just want you to read—we encourage you to participate.
To that end—back in the fall of 2022, as the company continued to rebuild and revamp following the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic—we sought to attract new reporters, columnists, and contributing writers. In December 2022, Jamie Zvirzdin—whose in-laws live in Richfield Springs—wrote an article titled “Morning Coffee Miracle: A Return to the Power of Local Community.” A month later, she submitted her first “Citizen Science” column, which went on to earn third place at the 2023 Better Newspaper Contest for Best Column, Division 3. Zvirzdin joined longtime favorites Terry Berkson, author of “Life Sketches,” who took second place for Best Column last year, and Richard deRosa, whose reflections up on Hawthorn Hill have been running in our papers for many years.
Monica Calzolari, Caspar Ewig, Dan Sullivan, and Teresa Winchester joined our “stable” of reporters, covering news in Oneonta, northern Otsego County, Richfield Springs, and the Butternut Valley, respectively. Staff writers have included two Cooperstown Central School graduates, Ted Mebust and Wriley Nelson, as well as Emily Hilbert and Sarah Roberts, both Cooperstown Graduate Program students. Elizabeth Cooper has written articles
Over time, we were excited as a number of contributing writers began to seek us out: Rachel Frick Cardelle, who covers performing arts at SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College; Larry Malone, our own myth-busting economist; Cassandra Miller, writing about the ongoing Oneonta Downtown Renaissance; and the return of Sam Goodyear, who quietly observes goings-on in Cooperstown, where our offices are based.
In January, Dr. Chris Kjolhede, an emeritus pediatrician at Bassett Healthcare Network, was the impetus behind our new “Invasive Species: Pesky Plants” column, intended to help readers identify and combat terrestrial invasive species. Kjolhede wrote the first two installments—representatives from such Otsego County environmental groups as Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Otsego County Conservation Association and Otsego Land Trust will contribute as well, moving forward.
And, just last week, we welcomed Francesca Zambello to the fold with her first “Travels with ‘Cesca” column. Regular installments of Zambello’s travelogue will be featured on AllOtsego.com. Her debut piece, titled “Greetings from Mississippi and Yucatán,” takes readers on a whirlwind tour of
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
Mississippi—the Natchez Trace, the Emerald Mound and Longwood, one of the state’s most famous antebellum estates, among other stops—and from there it’s on to the ancient Mayan ruins at Uxmal. Plus, there’s a recipe for Mississippi mud pie!
We’re also pleased to feature the work of two Otsego County high-school interns. Cooperstown Central School junior Arya Patel has been writing occasionally for us since December 2023, when she submitted an opinion piece on a “Distracted Driving” presentation at CCS, writing “the words of Karen Torres will stay with me forever, as she touched my heart and my classmates in the span of only 50 minutes, in which she might just have saved numerous lives.”
Bill Bellen, a senior at Milford Central School, has submitted his second byline article. His first piece talked about the MCS Capital Project; the school’s new book vending machine and rewards program is his focus this week.
Thanks to a collaboration between the SUNY system’s Institute for Local News and our parent company, Iron String Press, and under the tutelage of Dr. Gayane Torosyan and Cassandra Miller, three SUNY Oneonta students—Eva Pickert, Tony Savio, and Haley Saunders—have also contributed articles this past year. Our weekly “News from the Noteworthy” columns give the leaders of area nonprofits a chance to highlight their organizations’ events, activities and accomplishments.
So, what’s the point? Simple. Our newspapers, and our website, are also yours, and we welcome the diversity of opinions and talents.
We encourage public participation in the form of letters to the editor and “Partial Observer” opinion pieces. We have invited municipal officials to contribute to our “Town Talk” forum, by which they have the means to highlight—in their own words— what’s going on in their town. (Not our fault if no one takes advantage of this and, so far, few officials have.) Coaches of Otsego County’s high school sports teams can submit game results quickly and easily online at https://www.allotsego.com/sportsscores/. The calendar of events featured on the back page of every newspaper edition is just a sampling of local activities—the full calendar can be found on AllOtsego.com.
Bill Waller, Maureen Dill, Florence McDermott, Dog Charmer Tom Shelby, Huda Podolsky, Patty MacLeish, the “ever-afraid” but determined Erna Morgan McReynolds, Elizabeth Cooper, Joel J. Plue…the list of contributors goes on, and we apologize to those we may have missed.
These are your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues, and these are your papers, and your website. We’re sticking to our mandate and putting the community back into the news, in all its forms. We challenge you to start participating today!
“Hometown Oneonta” welcomes letters to the editor that reflect the writer’s thoughts on an article or other item appearing in the paper. They must include the writer’s name, address, email and telephone/ mobile number; the opinions expressed must be the writer’s own. Hostile, offensive, factually incorrect or excessively inflammatory content will not be published. Preferred length is no more than 250 words. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit letters for clarity and space. Please send letters to: info@allotsego.com.
Some Truths about Federal Spending
Since the dawn of the New Year, our federal government has been under siege. Master Elon Musk is leading his DOGE Wiz Kids to supposedly root out corruption and fraud, save American taxpayers $2 trillion, and slash the federal payroll. That’s a big lift, since he’s also “protecting” our personal information and past tax returns from other potential predators. If all goes according to plan, Musk is expected to shrink what we send to Uncle Sam in payroll taxes by April 15th each year. And that nudge of a few extra dollars will return America to greatness.
Were things really so bad that we needed Musk to rescue us, diverting his attention from taking a handful of space travelers to Mars?
To answer, let’s start by laying out the basics of the federal government budget. Like any budget, it consists of receipts and expenses.
In 2023, the federal government took in total receipts of $5,036 billion (a shade over $5 trillion). About 40 percent of receipts came from income taxes, 13 percent from corporate taxes, and 31 percent from Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes. The remaining 7 percent of receipts came from a variety of sources, including such things as excise taxes, estate taxes, customs duties (tariffs), and national park entry fees.
Total expenditures for 2023 were $6,883 billion, or about $6.9 trillion, and were divided into two types: mandatory and discretionary. Mandatory expenses must be paid each year under long established federal law. Discretionary expenses are authorized by Congress and the president annually. Mandatory expenses accounted for 61 percent of all expenses in 2023. The top three mandatory expenses, and their percentage of total government expenses, were Social Security (21 percent), Medicare (12 percent), and Medicaid (8 percent). Those three alone made up 41 percent of all federal government expenses. Smaller categories of mandatory expenses made up another 19 percent of total federal government expenses.
Discretionary, or non-mandatory expenses, were about 29 percent of the federal budget in 2023. Discretionary expenses are divided into two main categories: spending for national defense, which was $885 billion (about 13 percent of total federal spending), and non-defense (about 15 percent of total federal spending).
Continued on page 11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR … In THEIR OPInIOn Trust Problems Close to Home?
HOMETOWN ONEONTA
H o metown oneon t a 2008 - 2025 17th anniversary & The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
a publication of Iron String Press, Inc.
Publisher / Advertising Manager Tara Barnwell
General Manager / Senior Editor Darla M. Youngs
Sales Consultant: Randy Christian Office Manager: Larissa Ryan
Interns: Bill Bellen, Arya Patel and Sarah Roberts
Columnists and Contributing Writers Terry Berkson, Monica Calzolari, Rachel Frick Cardelle, Richard deRosa, Caspar Ewig, Karolina Hopper, Chris Kjolhede, Larry Malone, Cassandra Miller, Wriley Nelson, Joel J. Plue, Tom Shelby, Dan Sullivan, Teresa Winchester, Jamie Zvirzdin
Web Architect
Xander Moffat Historian Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart Legal Counsel Jill Ann Poulson
Editorial Board
Tara Barnwell, Faith Gay, Michael Moffat, Elinor Vincent, Darla M. Youngs
MEMBER OF:
National Newspaper Association, New York Press Association The Otsego County Chamber
Published Thursdays by Iron String Press, Inc. 21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown NY 13326
Telephone: 607-547-6103. Fax: 607-547-6080. Email: info@allotsego.com • www.allotsego.com Contents © Iron String Press, Inc.
Our federal administration has made sweeping changes since Inauguration Day. A variety of lawful means were available for making these changes, including reviews of federal employees’ work records, congressional actions to limit funding and diplomatic overtures to renegotiate treaties. However, they did not bother with honest measures: In our names, Mr. Trump and his team broke promises of employment to our workers and breached contracts with partners (including farmers) locally and around the globe. They violated treaties with Ukraine (the Budapest Memorandum) and our neighboring nations (the USMCA). The weight of evidence is clear: This American government is faithless.
I expect that some folks are thinking, “We should never have offered employment to all those workers, signed those aid contracts and trade agreements, or made commitments to our allies in Europe.” I will not argue with you and, as a patriot, I fully support your right to hold and express those views. At the same time, I must
ask: Do you think it is okay for the people who represent us to break promises? To breach contracts? To violate trade agreements and treaties? If you do—and many have cheered on these actions—if you stand with treachery anywhere, how can your neighbors trust you here? It’s no longer an unthinkable question: Does a Trump banner displayed by a home, business or farm constitute fair warning that we should steer clear of the liars and cheats there?
I don’t want to believe that, but the decisions of some of us to stand by the faithless actions of our president in Washington, D.C. are forcing a reset of all our relationships at home. We have a trust problem and, as we know from experience, trust is a lot easier to break than to build. Can we ever regain what we have tossed away?
Ronald E. Bishop Cooperstown
Executive Orders Will Do Harm
We are writing on behalf of the Cooperstown Area Interfaith Coalition for Social Justice, a group of individuals
from many faith-based organizations who meet regularly to address community needs and ways in which we might help. We have deep concerns regarding recent actions taken by our federal government which will have profound negative consequences on people in our communities, as well as communities around the country and throughout the world.
The Trump administration, with its unelected appointee billionaire Elon Musk, has initiated executive orders which will do harm to many in our region, in our country, and around the world, especially those who are least able to advocate for themselves. We believe the list of harms is extensive. Here are some of the most egregious:
• Housing for our homeless population in Otsego County is facilitated by Catholic Charities. That funding will be threatened by the Trump administration’s actions.
• The Refugee Resettlement Coalition, which has sought to legally resettle refugees from foreign countries to our community will no longer be able to function—in fact, this
Continued on page 8
Compiled by Tom
HeiTz/SHARoN STUART
with resources courtesy of The Fenimore Art museum Research Library
110 Years
90 Years ago
Prospects for a good season at Camp Deerslayer and gains in membership were reported at the meeting of the executive Board of the otschodela Boy scout Council. estimates received from eight of the 36 units in the council showed that the camp on otsego Lake will have its largest year in attendance. The Council went on record as being opposed to the Neustein Bill which seeks to regulate camping. The Council believes that the regulations would make the cost of camps such as those operated by scout Councils and other similar organizations prohibitive. sixty-three new scouts and 23 new scouters have been added during the last two months. The membership now stands at 766 scouts and 344 scouters. The latter are men past scout age who act as leaders for the scouts.
March, 1935
70 Years ago
a survey of homes in the West oneonta Fire District is being conducted by Fire Department officers to provide a file of information on how best to fight fires in the district. The survey is being compiled by Vivan L. Tilyou, First assistant Chief, Lawrence N. graves, second assistant chief and Chief allan r. Beach. “as fast as possible, we are visiting homes in our district,” Chief Beach said. The survey includes a check on water supplies, number of feet of hose needed to reach water and how many trucks will be needed in the event that water is some distance from a home or farm. Mr. Beach also said that the department would appreciate being informed in advance if residents are planning to burn off brush or an old building. March, 1955
30 Years ago
Both houses of the New York state legislature return to albany this week intent on passing a bill to restore the death penalty in New York. and this time, there is a governor who is prepared to sign the bill into law. Former governor Mario Cuomo, who lost last November to governor george Pataki admits that a death penalty law is popular. “so are a lot of things that are wrong,” he adds. Cuomo predicts that capital punishment won’t deter crime, will be costly to enforce and could lead to even more lives lost. Cuomo’s loss to Pataki came in part because of his opposition. For 12 years as governor, Cuomo vetoed death penalty bills. For six years before that, governor Hugh Carey vetoed death penalty bills and once threatened to commute any death sentence should a death penalty law be enacted over his veto.
March, 1995
Helios Celebrates Its Hospice social Workers
March is National social Work Month, a time to recognize and honor the invaluable contributions of social workers across the country. The theme for National social Work Month this year is “Compassion and action,” which 100 percent sums up our team of social workers at Helios Care, the hospice for otsego, Delaware and schoharie counties. all social workers are indeed special, but hospice social work is very unique. our Family support services team is composed of 12 social workers who are specifically trained to provide care in the home for those who are dying, and many have special certifications for bereavement and children’s grief services. In the course of a year, our team sees more than 700 patients and their families in their homes or wherever they ask for service, as well as supporting others in the community who ask for grief assistance. They facilitate caregiver and bereavement support groups, children’s special grief needs at Camp Forget-Me-Not, and put together Coping Kits for families, as well as other programming free of charge to the residents.
duties of a hospice social worker. They provide guidance and resources to patients, helping them cope with the emotional and logistical challenges of a serious, life-limiting illness. They ensure that patients’ wishes are respected, advocate for their needs, and assist families in making difficult decisions with dignity and compassion.
20 Years ago
even as officials crack down on the clandestine labs cooking up potent batches of methamphetamine across the country, there’s no consensus on how to handle the drug’s toxic by-products, experts told federal lawmakers. a House bill co-sponsored and introduced by rep. sherwood Boehlert (r-New Hartford) would direct the environmental Protection agency to draw up voluntary standards for cleaning such sites and fund research on the health impacts of such environments, particularly on children and first-responders. “We want to put this on a fast track,” said Boehlert. March 2005
Solution: “A Dream of Adventure” (February 20)
Hospice social workers at Helios Care are trained to provide a holistic approach to endof-life care, helping patients and their families navigate emotional, psychological, and practical challenges. Community education, bereavement counseling, bearing witness to those at end of life, practical assistance in the home and advanced care planning are just some of the
By MerL reagLe
The impact of hospice social workers extends well beyond a patient’s passing. Helios Care provides ongoing bereavement support, ensuring that grieving loved ones have access to counseling and community resources as they adjust to life after loss. Their ability to offer a listening ear, a comforting presence and a reassuring hand to those in need is immeasurable. Helios Care’s free grief support groups are open to everyone in the community, not just those who were affiliated with hospice. groups meet in different locations on different days of every month. Find support near you at https://www.helioscare. org/support-for-families/grief-support/ as we celebrate National social Work Month, we extend our deepest gratitude to the social workers on our hospice team. Their dedication to patients and their families brings compassion and dignity to the homes of our community. Their kindness, strength and unwavering support make an immeasurable difference in the lives of those Helios Care serves. Thank a social worker this month—their work is truly remarkable.
Dan Ayres is the president and chief executive officer of Helios Care.
Q & A, Sort Of… Asking and answering at the same time
1Alain’s ally
4 What Barney often calls Andy’s kid
7 Julie’s co-star in a Pasternak saga
11 Nuit preceder
15 One of Paul’s products, Newmans
Donna in From Here to Eternity
Coin fella
“Who do you think you are, ___?”
“What are you doing in there, ___?”
“Where’d you get that, ___?”
Cooperstown CFEE Provides Financial Support to Students
By ARYA PATEL COOPERSTOWN
The Cooperstown Foundation for Excellence in Education is considered to be a very valued and trusted organization affiliated with Cooperstown Central School. CFEE provides financial grants to support opportunities for students to learn and grow. This organization is a 501c3 notfor-profit corporation chartered by the State of New York.
Founded nearly 20 years ago by a group of residents in the Cooperstown School District, CFEE has provided more than $490,000.00 in funding. For example, students benefit from the Kid Garden and Cotillion. Thanks to CFEE support, high-school students have access to innovative technology in the new STEAM and Design room. CFEE also hosts the Cooperstown Antiquarian Book Fair in June for an annual fundraiser. Book sellers purchase space at the book fair to sell their antique books.
This foundation contains endowment funds, designated funds, and organizational funds, all of which go toward efforts to improve and enhance education. The money given to specific clubs or organizations benefits the students currently enrolled within the club and for generations to come.
The CFEE board consists of 14 members: Chair Kallie Moore, Treasurer Lizz Murdock, Secretary Ellen Tillapaugh, Henry Ayers, Michelle Hitchcock, Willis Monie, Carolyn O’Brien, Arya Patel, Bijal Patel, Sally Sharkey, ex officio Sarah Spross, CCS Board Member Dr. William Streck, Sylvia Summers, and Kanica Yashi. The members make valuable contributions to the organization, meeting monthly to review grant applications and conduct business.
Former CFEE board member and officer, community member, district parent, and current school board member Lynne Mebust said, “Supporting CFEE is a great way to support additional academic programs for kids. My boys benefited from support for Quiz Team,
being one of the best parts of their high-school experience.” Through this foundation, Mebust said she has seen the numerous opportunities opened up for CCS students.
Student Andrew Miller shared, “CFEE’s support for our quiz team has meant the world to me. Our trip to Chicago has not only allowed us to compete at the highest level but also gave our team lasting memories and provided us with an impactful cultural and social experience. I don’t think there is another experience like Chicago. Not only are we in one of the greatest cities in the world, but the environment of being around so many individuals of shared interest has impacted my passion for the game, and we would not be nearly as successful without it.
“As for my favorite class, STEAM and Design, CFEE’s support has allowed me to explore all of the things I have always wanted academically,” Miller continued. “As a future computer science major, exploring and experiencing the vast technological tools we have here in class has given me infinitely more opportunities to explore my future in tech, whether that be programming websites, exploring the possibilities of virtual reality, or creating 3D models in Blender. The educational and extracurricular experiences CFEE has allowed me to explore have been irreplaceable, and I am forever grateful for all they have done for myself and our school.”
The Cooperstown Foundation for Excellence in Education has been able to support programs to enhance student experiences in all grades of the Cooperstown Central School district. This organization meets the third Monday of every month at 3:15 p.m. in the high school library. To contact CFEE, e-mail cooperstownfoundation@gmail.com. Those wishing to donate can send checks to Cooperstown Foundation for Excellence in Education Inc., c/o Cooperstown Central School, 39 Linden Avenue, Cooperstown, NY, 13326.
Intern Arya Patel is a junior at Cooperstown Central School.
Poking Fun at the Arts Industry
ONEONTA—“SNAP,” a play written by Sarah Burry and directed by Barbara Kahl, will be showing at Hartwick College’s Lab Theatre Wednesday, March 5 through Saturday, March 8. Columnist Rachel Frick Cardelle talked at length about the production with Jas Stuchel, for which this show serves as their senior thesis, a requirement for Hartwick College theater majors. You can read Cardelle’s interview with Stuchel on AllOtsego.com. Pictured above are the cast and crew: front row, from left, Jas Stuchel (Tristan, sound designer), Rheana Cameron (Elle), Jaylene Rodriguez (Riley), Samuel M. Scott (stage manager), Professor Barbara Kahl (director); back row, from left, Zack Corbett (Manuel), Sylvia Yates (Professor Val), Jordan Earl (Professor Pecora), Hannah Gilliand (Rose), Mario Rosario (scenic design), and Liliana Buettner (costume designer). A little camera shy, hiding behind Samuel and Prof. Kahl is Blue, the guidedog (future actor?) in training. Not shown: Vaughn Wagnecz (TA).
Voucher
Continued from page 2
Ellen Pope, executive director of Otsego 2000. “And, the voucher program also gives more business to our local farmers and helps the local economy.”
The farmers’ market, open Saturdays from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is located at 101 Main Street in Pioneer Alley, Cooperstown. Individuals in need of food can call the Cooperstown Food Pantry, (607) 547-4419, to arrange for a pickup. The monthly distribution includes a five-day supply of food, three meals a day, per person
COOPERSTOWN—Weekly Sugaring Off Sundays events at Fenimore Farm and Country Village continue each Sunday through March 30, offering contemporary and historic maple sugaring demonstrations, activities for the kids, and much more. A pancake breakfast including sausage and home fries is served from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and features local syrup provided by the Otsego County Maple Producers. All other activities run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For further details and pricing, visit https://www.fenimorefarm. org/event/sos/2025-03-02/.
Catskill Symphony Orchestra, Voices of Cooperstown Unite
The Catskill Symphony Orchestra will present “Poetry in Motion,” an evening of classical masterworks, on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m., featuring a historic first-time collaboration with Voices of Cooperstown. The concert, to be held at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in Oneonta, promises a diverse program spanning three centuries of classical music, under the direction of Artistic Director Glen Cortese.
“We are excited to team with Voices of Cooperstown in this first-time collaboration, welcoming an entirely new ensemble of talent to the CSO stage and building on a new alliance,” noted CSO Chair Sarah Patterson.
“This partnership with the recently-revived Cooperstown choral ensemble, under the direction of Brian Reynolds, represents a significant expansion of the orchestra’s collaborative reach within the region.”
as “sublime, yet accessible... perhaps the most perfect piece of music ever written.” Its ethereal qualities and precise craftsmanship will make it an ideal showcase for the combined forces of orchestra and choir.
The collaborative portion will continue with Florence Price’s “Four Songs from the Weary Blues,” featuring texts by Langston Hughes. Price’s work has experienced a remarkable renaissance in recent years, with “The New York Times” noting her “unique voice in American music, combining classical European traditions with the rhythms and sounds of her African-American heritage.”
The marriage of Price’s compositional expertise with Hughes’ powerful poetry will create what “American Record Guide” has called “a masterful fusion of musical and literary artistry.”
The program will conclude with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, the “Pastoral.”
performed by a major symphony orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in 1933. This concert is made particularly accessible to young music enthusiasts through the Wendy Brown Student Ticket Program. Under the initiative, students may attend the performance free of charge, and up to two accompanying parents or guardians may purchase tickets at the significantly reduced price of $10.00 each. Regular admission is $45.00 at the door.
“The Student Ticket Program reflects our dedication to both musical excellence and community engagement,” said Ian Kenyon, CSO vice chair. “By combining these remarkable ensembles and making the concert accessible to students and families, we’re investing in the future of orchestral music in our region.”
in a household. Personal care items and diapers are also available.
The CFP, located at 25 Church Street, Cooperstown, serves the entirety of Otsego County. No referral is needed, and no one is ever turned away, officials said. See www.cooperstownfoodpantry.org for more information.
The program will open with Fauré’s “Suite from Pelléas et Mélisande,” a work “The Guardian” has praised for its “delicate orchestration and haunting melodic lines.” Originally composed as incidental music for Maurice Maeterlinck’s play, the suite has become one of Fauré’s most performed orchestral works, celebrated for its impressionistic quality and emotional depth, officials said in a media release.
Voices of Cooperstown will join the orchestra for two selections, beginning with Mozart’s “Ave verum corpus.” The short sacred work, composed in the final year of Mozart’s life, was described by musicologist Alfred Einstein
The beloved work, described by Leonard Bernstein as “music that paints pictures and tells stories... without losing its pure musical integrity,” will take listeners on a journey through the countryside. Each movement will evoke different aspects of rural life, from peaceful scenes by a brook to a village festival interrupted by a thunderstorm.
“Poetry in Motion” marks a significant milestone for both ensembles and the regional arts community, CSO officials said. The inclusion of Florence Price’s work, in particular, underscores the CSO’s ongoing commitment to programming works by diverse composers. Price broke barriers as the first African-American woman to have her music
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a cash bar, allowing patrons to enjoy refreshments before the 7:30 p.m. performance. The Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, located on Market Street in downtown Oneonta, offers parking nearby and accessibility for all concert-goers. For more information about the program and purchasing tickets, interested parties can visit www.catskillsymphony.org, e-mail contact@catskillsymphony.org or call the CSO at (607) 269-7501. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Green Toad Bookstore in Oneonta.
Photo courtesy of Fenimore Farm and Country Village Tall Stacks and Jack Wax
Photo by Rachel Frick Cardelle
ONEONTA
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF
Name of LLC: JUSTGRAZIN’ LLC
Date of filing of Articles of Organization with the New York Department of State: August 7, 2023. Office of the LLC: Otsego County. The New York Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served. The Secretary of State may mail a copy of any process to the LLC at: JUSTGRAZIN’ LLC at P.O. Box 207, Fly Creek, NY 13337. Purpose of the LLC: Any Lawful Purpose
6LegalMar.6
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF
AZ International Trading LLC, dba Viet Tot.
Articles of organization filed with SSNY on 12/15/2024. Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: PO Box 1469, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. Any lawful purpose.
6LegalMar.6
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY
Name: CANADARAGO LAKESIDE ESTATES LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 27 January, 2025. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 132 Lakeside Estates, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalMar.6
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF
78 FORD AVENUE LLC.
Articles of organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 1/24/25. The office of the LLC is to be located in Otsego County. The Secretary of State has
been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him to: The LLC, 12 S. Bay Ave., Amityville, NY 11701. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.
6LegalMar.13
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF CNY Trimlight LLC
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 1/31/2025. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 12 Ravine Park N., Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalMar.13
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY
Name:
216 MAIN STREET LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 3 February, 2025. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 130 Chestnut St., Apt 1R, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalMar.13
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY
Name: RIEGEL RESTORATION AND CONSULTING LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 3 February, 2025. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 383 State Highway 7, Sidney, NY 13838. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalMar.13
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY
Name: ANDREW MANN INN LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 3 February, 2025. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 383 State Highway 7, Sidney, NY 13838. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalMar.13
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Carson Maple Works and Greenhouse LLC
Article of organization filed with SSNY on 12/5/24. Office Location: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copies of process to Lawrence Carson, 374 Co. Hwy. 32, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Purpose: any lawful.
6LegalMar.20
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ddIAZ CONSERVATION CONSULTING, LLC.
NOTICE is given of the formation of DDIAZ CONSERVATION CONSULTING, LLC, a limited liability company, by the filing of Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State of the State of New York on February 2, 2025. The office of the LLC is located in Otsego County, New York. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon her / him to David Diaz, PO Box 701, Cooperstown, NY 13326. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.
6LegalMar.20
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY
Name:
LEGALS
TAMMANY HALL OF HARTWICK LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 4 February, 2025.
Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to PO Box 179, Hartwick, NY 13348.
Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalMar.20
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY
Mitchell’s Lumber Sales LLC
Articles of organization filing date with the NY Secretary of State (SSNY) was January 27, 2025.
Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as the agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 422 Bentley Road, New Berlin, NY 13411.
Purpose: to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalMar.27
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY
Name:
SPRINGFIELD ART CENTER LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 12 February, 2025. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to PO Box 422, Springfield Center, NY 13468. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalMar.27
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY
Name:
BLISSFUL BEGINNINGS DAYCARE LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 12 February, 2025. Office location:
Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 45 Genesee St., Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalMar.27
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF
Howell’s Sunny Days LLC, Filed with the Secretary of State on January 28, 2025. Office Location is in Otsego County. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to P.O. Box 12, Springfield Center, New York 13468. Purpose: any lawful activity.
6LegalMar.27
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY
T & J Duncan LLC
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/18/24. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: The LLC, 7 Hill Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalApr.3
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF D&R LIQUOR HOLDINGS LLC.
Filed 2/10/25. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 4850 State Rte 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: General. 6LegalApr.3
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY (LLC).
Name:
Oneonta Resident Rentals, LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) was 18 February, 2025. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as
agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 393 Main Street, Suite 104, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: any lawful activity. 6LegalApr.3
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Sleeping Lion Lodge LLC, filed with the Secretary of State on February 19, 2025. Office Location is in Otsego County. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to P.O Box 12, Springfield Center, New York 13468. Purpose: any lawful activity.
6LegalApr.3
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF
Popmuz, LLC, Art. of org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 2/2/25. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 802 S. Fairway Road, Glenside, PA 19038. Principal place of business is 6680 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalApr.3
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITEd LIAbILITY COMpANY: Casa Nostra Creations LLC.
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/02/2024. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 26 Suncrest Ter, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 6LegalApr.10
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Tafel Farm, LLC. Articles of organization filed with the New York Secretary of State (SSNY) on 02/27/2025.
Official Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 1342 County Highway 10, Laurens,
NY 13796. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 6LegalApr.10
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VILLAGE ELECTION
NOTICE 2025 March 18, 2025
1. The Village of Cooperstown constitutes one election district and the polling place for such district shall be at the Village Fire Hall, 24 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, New York.
2. The hours during which the polls shall be open for voting are 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
3. The names of all those who have been duly nominated in accordance with the provisions of the New York State Election Law for the Village Office whose certificates of nomination have been duly filed with the Village Clerk, and that the office for which they have been nominated are as follows:
Trustee: Two positions – Three (3) year term: Democratic Party: Richard Sternberg, 2 Westridge Road, Cooperstown Audrey Porsche, 18 Delaware Street, Cooperstown
Many Voices, One Village Party: Richard Sternberg, 2 Westridge Road, Cooperstown Audrey Porsche, 18 Delaware Street, Cooperstown
Dated: February 25, 2025
JENNA L. UTTER, RMC VILLAGE CLERK VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 Phone: (607) 547-2411 Email: jutter@ cooperstownny. org 1LegalMar.6
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NOTICE OF pUbLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Historical Preservations and Review Board (HPARB) for the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public hearing on Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard:
• Meeting to be held in the Board Room of the Village Hall, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York.
22 Glen Avenue
– Application to demolish residence.
36 Grove Street
– Application to demolish garage.
36 Grove Street – Application
to demolish sun room addition.
The plans for this project are on file with the Village Clerk’s Office at the Village Office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York, and may be seen during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Public comments must be provided by email to the Zoning Officer at zoning@cooperstownny.org or by regular mail to the address below no later than Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.
Jenna Utter Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 Tele: (607) 5472411 Email: jutter@ cooperstownny. org
1LegalMar.6
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NOTICE OF pUbLIC INFORMATIONAL SESSION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public informational session in the Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard, to discuss the following project: pROJECT FAIRY SpRING
Any resident of the Village of Cooperstown is entitled to be heard upon said proposed project at such public informational session. Disabled citizens, who require assistance in attending said public hearings, or in furnishing comments or suggestions, should contact the Village Clerk to request assistance.
Dated: March 6th, 2025
By order of the Village Board Village of Cooperstown
Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) 1LegalMar.6
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NOTICE OF pUbLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public hearing in the Village Office Building,
22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York on Monday, March 24th, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard, to discuss the following:
proposed Local Law No. 2 of 2025 - Amend Section 270-12 - parking prohibited in designated locations - add the East Side of brooklyn Avenue proposed Local Law No. 3 of 2025 - Amend Section 27012 - parking prohibited in designated locations - add Upper Main Street north of Grove Street to State Highway 28 proposed Local Law No. 4 of 2025 - Amend Section 270-11 - by adding that the parking of vehicles is hereby prohibited on Fish Road in Lakefront park between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. from November 1 to April 1, except in the spaces on the east side of the roadway proposed Local Law No. 5 of 2025 - Amend Section 300-43 of the Zoning Law - by adding that an application shall not be deemed to be received within the meaning of New York Village Law 7725-a (8) for the purposes of final site plan review, until the planning board determines that it is complete and a Certificate of Appropriateness has been issued by the Historic preservation and Architectural Review board
Any resident of the Village of Cooperstown is entitled to be heard upon said local law at such public hearing. Disabled citizens, who require assistance in attending said public hearings, or in furnishing comments or suggestions, should contact the Village Clerk to request assistance. Copies of the proposed local law is available for inspection at the Village Clerk’s office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Dated: March 7th, 2025
By order of the Village Board Village of Cooperstown Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org 1LegalMar.6
has already happened. In some cases, those refugees may have to return to their home countries and face violence.
• Musk has called for drastic reductions in Medicaid spending and now the Republican House has included these reductions in their Trump-endorsed budget proposal. This will result in higher maternal and infant mortality—already an embarrassment for the wealthiest country on the planet. It will result in adverse health outcomes for our friends and neighbors.
• Children in Sudan who depend on USAID-funded soup kitchens will die (likely already have).
• Mothers and children throughout Africa will die of HIV without life-saving medications provided through USAID.
• American farmers will lose an enormous market for their products currently brokered through USAID to feed starving populations worldwide in its Food for Peace program.
• Ukrainian energy infrastructure will be hobbled without USAID funding. The disgraceful abandonment by Trump of the heroic Ukrainians in favor of war criminal Putin is unconscionable.
• Federal law enforcement officers who have been fired and, if Trump has his way, will have their names published simply for doing their jobs will be at risk for violence—as will their families.
• People in our LGBTQ+ communities will be deprived of their civil rights, will be denied medical care and will be excluded from scientific research protocols designed to improve health and wellbeing.
And more…
We believe that these, and other actions taken by this administration, are immoral and antithetical to the concepts of mercy, compassion, integrity
Dorothea Sittler 1924-2025
FLY CREEK—With great sorrow, we share the news that our family matriarch, Dorothea “Dorle” Sittler, has passed away at the age of 100 years. Her death, on February 23, 2025, at the Cooperstown Center was peaceful, and we thank the center and Helios Care for their kind attendance to Dorothea in her last days.
Dorothea was born in the city of Munich, Germany on August 15, 1924, the beloved daughter of Joseph and Meta (Laue) Balling. To obtain the best education for his daughter, her father secured her attendance at the Grotschule, a progressive girl’s school of national reputation in Pasing, outside Munich.
and humanity which should be at the core of any civilized society. We ask all to join us in opposition to these actions and to demand, in the strongest terms, that our elected officials reverse these actions.
1 Corinthians 13.1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
For the Cooperstown Area Interfaith Coalition for Social Justice James Dalton MD, the Rev. Jessica Lambert, Carol Beechy MD, Kathy Allen, Anne Blabey, Richard Blabey, Maureen Broeking, Linda Craig, Peter Craig, Deb Dickinson, Karen Dunlap, Sarah Dunlap, Karen Mihan, Sarah Wilcox
Porsche To Make Run for Trustee
My name is Audrey Porsche, and I’m honored and excited to be running for a seat on the Cooperstown Village Board of Trustees, but I’d like to introduce myself to those of you who may not know me.
My family moved to Cooperstown in 2013 when my late husband, Brian Alexander, took a position with the Cooperstown Graduate Program in museum studies, where he taught the next generation of museum leaders about the many facets of administering museums and other cultural institutions. We brought with us our youngest, Christian, who was welcomed into the CCS student body and felt right at home, playing basketball and engaging in a number of wonderful opportunities our village has to offer young people.
My background is as an archaeologist and museum professional, managing historic sites on Lake Champlain for the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation. Following Brian’s career across the country, I worked for a number of nonprofits in fundraising and marketing positions, engaging with corporate
Dorothea matriculated at that school for five years, starting at age 10. Fortuitously, she received instruction in the English language. That would serve her well for the rest of her life.
At the age of 15, after the unexpected death of her father, she went to work at Martin Rid, an import company in Munich. After the war, she learned that the American military government was in need of interpreters. She went to work there and met Captain Irving Sittler, who would turn out to be her future husband and the love of her life.
On May 9, 1947, she and Irving married in New York City. They would start a family and, in 1956, they relocated from Long Island to a farm on Franklin Mountain, outside Oneonta. They loved their new found rural life and the freedom it gave, but it was difficult to make ends meet. While Irving worked at Bendix in Sidney, he and Dorothea ran the farm until 1973, when Irving retired from his job.
Afterward, the two of them explored the United States by camper and, in 1986, sold the farm. They moved to
and foundation leaders and community groups. I worked briefly at Bassett Medical Center, assisting with recruitment efforts before eventually landing a position at SUNY Oneonta, where I helped raise funds for student scholarships and other campus programs and initiatives.
I now work in Academic Affairs, managing funds for students and faculty conducting research and creative activities. In the course of my career, I’ve served on boards of several nonprofits and have enjoyed volunteering here in Cooperstown with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program.
Before my husband’s untimely passing, we had talked about our retirement in Cooperstown and how much we enjoyed living here. Our grown children love coming home to Cooperstown. We have a great village, great people and a beautiful location, all of which deserves the best stewardship that elected officials can provide.
Since August, I’ve been filling Sydney Bauer’s village seat after she moved out of state to continue her graduate studies. I also serve as chair of our village Parks Committee. It’s been a rewarding few months and has given me a new appreciation for all it takes to make Cooperstown the wonderful place to live that it is. I hope you’ll give me an opportunity to continue in that role as a village trustee, where I promise to do my best for the village and its residents.
Audrey Porsche Cooperstown
Job Cuts Will Weaken Services
The massive job cuts across the federal government are deeply concerning and raise serious questions about the wisdom of such a seemingly haphazard process. These cuts threaten to undermine essential services that millions of Americans rely on, including critical programs for our
nation’s veterans.
Federal employees play a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of services that keep our communities safe, healthy and functioning. From processing Social Security benefits to maintaining national parks, their work touches nearly every aspect of our lives. Slashing jobs will inevitably lead to delays, reduced access and diminished quality of these services, disproportionately affecting those who need them most.
Our veterans, in particular, stand to suffer greatly from these cuts. The Department of Veterans Affairs is already grappling with backlogs and staffing shortages, which have left many veterans waiting months—or even years—for the care and benefits they have earned through their service. Cutting federal jobs will only exacerbate these challenges, leaving veterans without the support they need and deserve. Moreover, our veterans currently represent approximately 30 percent of the federal workforce, so the large- scale layoffs currently being enacted disproportionately harm those who have already made sacrifices for our nation. Is this how we thank these patriots for their service?
At a time when our nation should be investing in its people and infrastructure, these job cuts represent a step in the wrong direction. They will not only harm federal workers and their families but also weaken the systems that millions of Americans depend on. Our veterans, who have sacrificed so much for our country, deserve better than to have their care compromised by shortsighted, misguided budget decisions.
I urge our leaders to reconsider these cuts and prioritize policies that strengthen, rather than weaken, the essential services that keep our nation running. Let’s honor our commitment to veterans and all Americans by ensuring that our
OBITUARIES
a house in the Town of Middlefield, where Irving died on July 7, 1993. Dorothea explored the world: Asia, Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and the Middle East. Until she was 95, she would drive to the Ocala National Forest and stay in a camper from December to April each year. Together with a circle of likeminded campers, she lived a carefree outdoor existence amongst Ocala’s forests during these trips. Each year, she would return to her home, and mow two acres of lawn, maintain her house, and tend to her vegetable and flower
gardens. She did this on her own, resisting assistance from family, proud of what she could do.
Finally, at 95, she moved to Keating Road, outside Fly Creek, to live closer to her surviving son, but still cooked her own meals, and did her own laundry, until a month before her death.
Dorle inspired everyone. She was extremely intelligent and her breadth of knowledge and extraordinary abilities were without peer. She possessed the ability to turn adversity to advantage. She was beloved by her family and all who knew her. She was predeceased
government has the resources and workforce it needs to serve the public effectively.
Michael Stein Cooperstown
I Had a Farm in Ukraine
After the fall of the Soviet Union, American investors rushed in to buy up the previously state-owned farms, factories, and oil fields in Russia and Ukraine. I bought a farm in Ukraine with a group of Texas investors. Amber waves of grain. It seemed like a good idea at the time. When Putin came to power, he made sure that his gang took control of the major properties and concessions, squeezing out the foreign investors. Including me. So no love lost there.
I remember when the Russian tanks rolled into Budapest in 1956. We listened to it on Radio Free Europe. My mother was crying. I was seven. The Cistercian monks that fled Hungary didn’t stop until they got to Texas and founded Cistercian Preparatory School, where both of our sons went to school. Corky Cunningham designed the chapel using limestone blocks my father donated. The monks conversed in every major European language but Russian. Seeing Ukraine torn apart sickens me. Seeing the president abandon Ukraine in its hour of need in favor of Russia infuriates me. We are better than that. For all of my 75 years, we were better than that.
Chip Northrup Cooperstown
Where Is All This Leading?
The American government has been a rudderless behemoth, growing faster than the economy and accumulating debt at an unsustainable level. I don’t know if the current policies will work.
I am sure the track leads to disaster.
Jim Howarth Cooperstown
in death by her husband and her parents, along with her son, Robert. She is survived by her son, Lester, and his wife, Karen; her grandchildren, Luke (Amanda), Adam (Caitlin), Meghan, and Zachary (Aleah); and her eight greatgrandchildren, Hayes, Harper, Millie, Hazel, Aylah, Jack, Laylah, and Maggie. She also leaves numerous cousins and other descendants in Germany.
Burial will occur this spring in the family plot at the Ouleout Valley Cemetery in Franklin.
In accordance with her wishes, there will be no funeral service but a celebration of her life will occur at that time. Dorle loved to swim at Fairy Spring Park until she no longer could. Accordingly, the family requests that any donations in her memory be made to Cooperstown Friends of the Parks, PO Box 1008, Cooperstown NY 13326. Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Photo provided Dorle on her 100th birthday.
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Drnek ended his address by leading the Pledge of Allegiance, enthusiastically recited with him by those gathered.
Individual participants stated reasons for their presence. While expressing themselves in different ways, the overriding message was deep concern, even fear, about Trump’s performance in office thus far.
“I’m a fierce democratic fighter. Fierce! And I love America—all of it, and our allies,” said Robin Gray of Cooperstown.
“I’ve been so enraged with what’s happening in this so-called government. It’s time to stand up and make our feelings known. We are the people. The government should be responsive to us,” said Cathy Maxam, who recently moved to Oneonta from the Town of Butternuts.
“This is the first time I’ve done anything really political. It’s so upsetting where I stand,” said Arlene Martin of New Lisbon.
Across from Muller Plaza stood Steve Broe of Oneonta and Robin Stauble of Cobleskill, counter-protesting the protest.
“I’m for peace. The best way is Trump’s way. He’s trying to get a real peace over there,” Broe said.
Stauble carried a sign quoting Franklin D. Roosevelt and reading, “We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would
clip the wings of the American Eagle in order to feather their own nest.”
The Indivisible website states, “Cooperstown Oneonta Indivisible is dedicated to promoting and perpetuating sustainable and equitable communities through political action and through contributing active volunteer energy to positive and productive community resources. We practice and promote fierce dedication to respect, to kindness, and to courageous support of democracy and equitable communities.”
Indivisible was founded in 2016 to protest the actions and policies of Donald Trump’s first term. According to its website, “Indivisible is a movement of thousands of group leaders and more than a million members taking regular, iterative, and increasingly complex actions to resist the GOPs agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies.”
By its name, 50501 calls for 50 protests in 50 states on a single day. According to organizer Kay Evert, the movement started on Reddit and spread through social media, with other activist organizations subsequently joining in.
50501’s first protest took place on February 5 of this year. According to information posted on 50501’s website, 72,000 people participated in 67 protests across 40 states. Participants were concerned with democracy, government transparency, and equal
rights. They were also protesting Project 2025, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) overreach, anti-immigration sentiment, and LGBTQ discrimination.
A second 50501 protest, dubbed “Not My President’s Day,” was held on February 17. According to a National Public Radio report, “Protesters flooded statehouses, federal
courts, and other public spaces across the U.S., denouncing the Trump administration, executive overreach and mass deportations.”
At right, Dennis and Katie Higgins of Otego at the March 4 rally in Oneonta’s Muller Plaza to protest actions and policies of President Donald Trump’s second administration. (Photo by Teresa Winchester)
Solving the Mystery of the Vanishing Love for Science
This year we are examining great mysteries in physics, but we must first address a much more serious mystery: What is causing so many American citizens to turn their backs on the scientific method? Why are they dismissing and deriding the hard-won, lifesaving, Earth-protecting, universe-expanding knowledge we have already earned—knowledge that has cost us dearly?
My hypothesis: Increased fear and distrust lead people to seek increased control in their lives, or at least the appearance of control. Fear and distrust make people crave certainty and unquestioning loyalty, and science—by its nature—embraces the opposite: uncertainty, revision, complexity, and scrutiny. No one is above being wrong, not even a venerated, quasi-worshipped physicist like Einstein. We just conveniently forget how often he was wrong, an example of confirmation bias (Citizen Science #7).
If someone is already feeling powerless, whether because of real threats or media-fueled outrage or panic, the human instinct to fight, flee or freeze kicks in. Constant exposure to heightened emotions fed to us through screens triggers the amygdala in our brains to act rashly over and over again, hijacking the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for logic, long-term planning, and self-control.
In this reactive state, which happens to all of us regardless of political persuasion, we don’t seek a nuanced understanding. We grasp at simple, blackor-white, all-or-nothing explanations. We blame groups of people, sometimes embracing literal black-or-white racism or stereotyped bigotry. We fixate on individual villains, one person we feel we can fight to regain control. We start to see everything through control-colored glasses, and we see through this glass darkly. Ironically, in this state, we ascribe to our adversaries more control than they actually have, which fuels the dark spiral of feeling powerless.
Science, unlike the control-seeking Sith in “Star Wars,” does not deal in absolutes. Science refines knowledge over time and distinguishes between not only shades of gray (in 16-bit-depth astrophysics imaging, 65,536 shades of gray!) but also all the colors in the rainbow—and even beyond, wavelengths of light human eyes can’t detect. While blindingly complex, the more accurate world we see through the lens of science is far richer and more luminous—one that does not comfort us with darkly false certainty but instead reveals the full spectrum of truth.
Yet when we’re in survival mode instead of thinking mode, the shifting, iridescent nature of scientific progress can feel threatening rather than beautiful. Conspiracy theories and pseudoscience
to a scientist who pursued scientific truth even when it was difficult. Galileo’s work exemplifies the ever-evolving nature of knowledge and the importance of observation and reason. The same skepticism he faced resurfaces in new forms even today, as fear and misinformation threaten public trust in science.
thrive on the promise of an easy, constant, onesize-fits-all “Truth,” capital T, that grants followers a sense of control and pride. These false certainties are more immediately comforting than the patient, self-correcting, replicable nature of real science done honestly and done well.
Corporate interests have further distorted public trust in science. Industries that stand to lose money from scientific findings—from fossil fuels to tobacco to healing crystals to cosmetics—have long used public relations campaigns to manufacture doubt about well-established studies. This intentional confusion leads many to falsely believe that scientific consensus is unreliable.
Compounding this problem are bad actors in science itself—those who prioritize profit, prestige, or personal opinion over honest research. When scientists cut corners, misrepresent findings, or allow bias to creep in, they erode public trust in the entire scientific process. These individuals must be held accountable. I call on all scientists to recommit to honest, ethical research and transparency. If you see a colleague compromising the process, speak up. Science without integrity is worthless.
I likewise urge science teachers and professors to stop shaming students for not knowing what
Cruising at 80 MPH with Aunt Ruta
Ionce took a trip from Brooklyn to Richfield Springs with my Aunt Ruta riding shotgun in my ’63 red roadster.
“Nice little car,” she said when I picked her up at Grand Central Station to drive her home. “But this seat is like sitting in a hole!”
“That’s the idea,” I said.
My previous ride had been a ’55 Ford, which had been giving me a lot of trouble. In fact, for several months I had been under it more than in it. While looking for a reliable and affordable replacement, like a Volkswagen, I tripped over the Corvette and fell in love. In need of some mechanical attention, it was selling for only $1,250.00 which, back in 1968, was a good buy. My dad lent me the money and dismissed the debt when I had paid half back. Over the years the car has proved to be quite reliable.
We left the city to take the Taconic Parkway to the “Rip Fan Vinkle Buddige” as Aunt Ruta called it. Later, we passed through Middleburg and Cobleskill and smaller towns like Preston Hollow and Lawyersville. I’d been making this trip so often that the Corvette almost knew its way by heart. Aunt Ruta had mapped out the course years before. There were no tolls except for the bridge crossing the Hudson.
She couldn’t get around that expense. “I’m not stingy,” she’d say, her small bright eyes twin-
kling in a squished up wrinkled face. “Just turifty.”
Her husband, Uncle William, had died several years before. In the fall she closed up her house for the winter, stayed with her son in California, and was now ready to live in Richfield Springs again. I had been elected to meet her at the train and chauffer her home. This was usually my dad’s job, but after 45 years of ferrying people around New York City, he and his taxi were now retired.
At this time I was attending Brooklyn College on the G.I. Bill and was supposed to be studying for a dreaded science exam. Aunt Ruta was a spry old lady then, a real motor mouth for the whole trip. When she wasn’t commenting on the countryside or gossiping or prying into my personal life, she was breaking wind and dripping gobs of her chicken salad sandwich onto my roadster’s black leather seats. It was hard to concentrate on the road. I thought driving faster might shut her up for awhile, so I nudged the accelerator toward the floor. At 80 miles an hour we were
they came to class to learn. Set your ego aside and make room in your pedagogy for curiosity and honest mistakes. Science should be a beacon, not a bludgeon. Your worth as a teacher or a scientist isn’t measured by how much smarter you are than others, but by how well you help them adjust to the new worldview you offer them.
We must all work to restore rational thinking and bring the prefrontal cortex back online. That means giving our overstimulated amygdalas a break—disconnecting frequently from the flood of heightened emotions, stepping outside, breathing deeply, stretching, feeling the sun. It means rejecting tunnel vision, peeling science away from politics and rebuilding trust with neighbors. It means accepting the certainty of uncertainty in a dynamic, complex world. We owe it to ourselves, our communities, and our kids to face reality with clear eyes and steady minds.
Rational thinking does not mean inaction. I invite you, right now, to solve the Mystery of the Vanishing Love for Science yourself by calling your senators (https://www.senate.gov/senators/ senators-contact.htm) and politely asking them to support scientific research for our soils, seas, skies, sanitation, sustenance and sanity. Call to protect scientists from unwise dismissal and undiscerning funding cuts. Call to support transparency and integrity in research that is as bias-free as humanly possible. Invite friends to call, too.
These 30-second, in-person calls to representatives are answered by staffers and tallied. One call won’t change policy, but hundreds or thousands will. Lawmakers care about reelection, and public opinion drives votes. If science matters to enough people, leaders will respond.
Here’s a template you can follow when calling: “Hello, my name is [your name], and I’m a concerned voter from [your city/state]. I’m calling to ask Senator [name] to support strong funding and protections for honest scientific research. Science is critical for our health, safety and a competitive economy. I urge Senator [name] to actively advocate for policies that stabilize funding and keep research free from political interference. Will Senator [name] commit to prioritizing scientific investment and integrity?”
Science belongs to all of us, beyond political divides. It heals, innovates, protects, inspires and anchors us to a shared reality, in this space and in this time. Trade in monochromatic fear and distrust for a richer vision: Embrace complexity and pull rigorous, replicable science back from the shadows into sharp and clear focus—where it belongs.
Jamie Zvirzdin researches cosmic rays with the Telescope Array Project, teaches science writing at Johns Hopkins University and is the author of “Subatomic Writing.”
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the genre more accessible for professionals and audiences alike.”
passing everything in sight.
The Vette was built to cruise at high speed and wind around the rising and falling parkway curves. Aunt Ruta stopped talking and slipped her hand around the grab bar. She was quiet for a long time, but out of the corner of my eye I saw that she was trying to read something on my dash gauges.
The speedometer, I figured. She didn’t want me to notice her concern.
We rushed past scores of cars, eating them up like a hungry PacMan. I was sure she was looking in disbelief at the tachometer, which read 35. She was a spirited old lady and proud of her nerve. Uncle William’s cars never had tachometers. My speedometer, which she couldn’t see, was holding at 80 miles per hour. I acted very relaxed and took one hand off the wheel.
Aunt Ruta craned her neck toward the instruments on the dashboard as I goosed the gas pedal.
“How fast are we going?” she asked finally.
“35,” I said.
“Oh,” she said. “Your Uncle William used to do 50!”
Terry Berkson’s articles have appeared in “New York” magazine, “Automobile” magazine and many others. His memoir, “Corvette Odyssey,” has received many good reviews: “highly recommended with broad appeal,” says “Library Journal.”
According to officials, the campaign will support the continued development of new work as well as the festival’s renowned training and apprenticeship programs, during which “artists and technicians enjoy the space, time, mentorship, and freedom to develop their craft at the highest level.”
No one knows better the impact these programs have on opera performers and lovers than Cooperstown resident Allison Hill-Edgar, Glimmerglass Festival Board of Trustees member and campaign co-chair, and her family. Her son began participating in the youth opera at 13 and now performs on the festival’s main stage.
“I’ve gotten to see firsthand how Glimmerglass creates a nurturing space for young performers,” said Hill-Edgar. “The commitment to youth and community is a huge part of why the festival has grown both in size and influence. Our young artists have gone on to do amazing things on and behind the stages of world opera.”
“The creatives that get their start at Glimmerglass go on to influence their community, both here in Cooperstown and around the country,” she added.
This fundraising campaign will also anchor the festival’s reputation as an international destination where everyone sees their story reflected on the stage, officials emphasized.
“We are so lucky to have Glimmerglass in Cooperstown,” said Michael Young, Board Chair and campaign co-chair. “I feel a responsibility to support and champion this festival that has given so much to the town, the economy, and to opera lovers everywhere.”
Young said that while Glimmerglass has grown significantly since he first attended the festival, its magic has never wavered.
“There is a feeling here that I haven’t seen replicated anywhere else,” said Young. “I’m behind this campaign because we want to share the Glimmerglass experience with as many people as possible, both today and for the next 50 years.”
Tickets to the 50th anniversary season, which begins in July and includes productions of “Sunday in the Park with George,” “The Rake’s Progress,” “Tosca,” and “Odyssey,” are now on sale. To learn more, visit www.glimmerglass.org/campaign.
Photo by Jamie Zvirzdin, 2024
The Tomb of Galileo Galilei in the Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence—a tribute
lIFE SkETChES
TErrY BErkSON
Photo provided
Terry Berkson’s infamous red roadster.
Non-defense discretionary spending, just 15 percent of all spending, includes most of the departments of the federal government. During the first weeks of his efforts, this was the spending that Musk and his DOGE minions targeted for scrutiny.
And this is the spending that many of us benefit from: school meal programs, GI Bill benefits and Veterans Affairs, FEMA, college work study, prisons, roads, highways, ports and airports. The list goes on and on—air traffic control, customs and immigration, the National Park Service, the CDC and National Institutes of Health, NASA, the Postal Service, TSA and Homeland Security, and the FBI. There’s also the Justice Department, which tries, convicts and sentences felons who violate our laws.
I realize that tossing in so many numbers makes it difficult to keep track of them all. But a few readers who enjoy numbers might have noticed that adding total mandatory spending (60 percent) to total discretionary spending (29 percent) results in the number 89. So where is the remaining 11 percent of spending by the federal government?
The answer is that in 2023, the federal government made $659 billion in interest
payments to those owning shares of our national debt, which ended up being 11 percent of all of federal government spending. The national debt holders owned (and possibly redeemed) savings bonds or treasury bills. Banks and corporations, domestic and foreign, are the biggest owners of debt instruments, along with retirement and pension funds. All of that debt is the result of past spending that did not have offsetting revenues (taxes, etc.) to pay for it.
The bottom line is this: Unless you radically change Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, all of which would require legislative action and the signature of a president, there are only two real choices to reduce spending. The first is to prune (fire people) or eliminate programs that make up just 15 percent of total government spending. But those programs are what give us a better quality of life.
The second is to slash spending for national defense, which makes up 13 percent of all spending. There is a third option, but no one has the spine to vote for it—raise taxes, on something (corporations), some groups (the rich?) or all of us.
Meanwhile, folks in wealthy countries all over the world are enjoying more greatness provided by their federal governments. The average German citizen,
for example, is afforded government subsidized health insurance, public higher education that costs $500.00 in fees per year, 14 weeks of maternity leave at 65 percent pay, and five weeks of paid vacation with another nine public holidays each year. Germans can also drive 150 mph on the Autobahn or take high-speed trains to hundreds of destinations on a 20,000 mile federal railway network. And if a German is feeling a bit ill, most prescription medications are available over-the-counter at the pharmacy. Best yet, the average German will live to the age of 82.2 years, while the average American will have already been dead for almost three years.
So don’t be fooled when you see a social media post or news item boasting of “dramatic savings” or fraud. It won’t go far in making your life better in any meaningful way.
Larry Malone is professor emeritus of economics at Hartwick College.
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to MCS to fund this plan. With a further $800.00 from the Milford Education Foundation to cover shipping, the book vending machine’s funding was secured.
Now that the machine itself was on its way, focus turned toward its contents. The frequent Scholastic Book Fairs hosted at
MCS had built a sizable credit with the company, meaning that much of the initial stock of books could be supplied for free. This, combined with a small fund formed from a portion of the annual library budget, provided ample supply for the grand opening. Josh Cornish, the school librarian, carefully curated the books selected based on student interest in various genres and topics.
“I asked the kids what they’d like to see in our book vending machine,” Cornish said of his process for choosing the book selection. “I questioned [my students] ‘what do you want to see?’ So, they wrote it down, and [we] made a little side order and put some of that in there.”
In early February of this year, the book vending machine arrived. After an extensive installation process, it was in place, stocked with the variety of books that had been gathered. In the succeeding week, the elementary wing of the program was officially launched. Shearer first attended the weekly morning program assembly for pre-K through second grade, where the kindergarten was given the first token to use collectively as a class. This was followed by Shearer’s attendance at a third- through-sixthgrade assembly, where the first individual token was awarded to Phoebe Coughlan, for her outstanding submission during the fifth grade’s efforts to earn the grant for the vending machine.
“I always read books to little kids on the bus, and that’s all I did, and I think that’s what got me to have it,” Coughlan said. “I didn’t even expect to be pulled onto the stage. That was the first time ever.”
Following these assemblies, the students went to give this new contraption a whirl.
Coughlan inserted the token she had been gifted into the specially-sized slot on the keypad panel. She then picked the number of her book selection, “Anything But Typical.” After the popping of some pistons and the shifting of some springs, the vending machine produced her prize as it announced a congratulatory message to the book’s recipient and her audience. The process of using the tokens having thus been demonstrated, and excitement for the program in the air, teachers were each given their first tokens to distribute.
Tokens will be given out to students “caught” doing good deeds, meeting a reading goal, or helping a friend—a criteria decided by a committee that reflects the values in the school’s preexisting Pawprint Program that for years has acknowledged the good deeds of students, awarding a lucky few with free ice cream.
Since the initial launch of the new book vending machine, this initiative has seen much success. Teachers keep a close eye on student behavior to reward a chance at a free book to the most deserving. This reporter was lucky
enough to witness Emmie Strong being awarded the first token from a library class.
Plans for expanding the program are already being considered, including a wider selection of books and an increase in the number of tokens to be handed out each month. But, for this to be possible, there must be community buy-in. “I want to put books in kids’ hands and help them to love to read,” Shearer stated. When asked about community support, she responded, “If [community members would] like to make a donation to purchase books for [the book vending machine], that’d be great. But, we’d also love for them to come and see it, so that we can show them the good things that are going on here in our school.”
As MCS continues its push for literacy and technology programs as a central educational focus, the role of the book vending machine will continue to grow. School officials are looking to enact a middle- and high-school equivalent of the initiative in the near future, with plans actively in the works. Only time will tell what the community will make of this unique innovation and opportunity. Those interested in contributing to the book vending machine’s supply—or who are interested in viewing it for themselves—can reach out to Joshua Cornish at jcornish@milfordcentral.org.
►Fri., March 7
BOOK
“The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Discuss with the
at 4 p.m. on 3/20. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5478344.
BOOK CLUB Read “All You Have To Do is Call” by Kerri Maher. Discuss with the group at 6 p.m. on 3/12. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
CONSERVATION
9-10:30 a.m. “State of Conservation: Coffee Talk Tour of the County.” Led by OCCA Executive Director Amy Wyant. Free; first cup of coffee provided. The Elm Inn, 104 East Main Street, Milford. (607) 547-4488.
WORKSHOP
10 a.m. to noon. “Weaving Basics.” Presented by the Winter 2025 Continuing Ed Class. Fees apply; registration required. Held Fridays through 3/29. Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, 597 County Highway 54, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-3265.
CRAFT 10 a.m.
“Crepe Paper Cosmos.” Registration required. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
BLOOD DRIVE
1-5 p.m. Sponsored by the Schenevus National Honor Society. Gym, Schenevus Central School District, 159 Main Street, Schenevus. RedCrossBlood.org
LIBRARY 1 p.m.
“Homeschool Hangout.”
Read a book about spring and redecorate the playhouse. Recommended for ages 5-18. Held each Friday. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.
POTTERY
1:30-4:30 p.m. Open
Studio. Experienced potters are invited to work on personal projects and hone their skills. No instruction provided. $30/session. Held Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and 6-9 p.m. on Thursday. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@ SmithyArts.org.
YARN CLUB
2-3:30 p.m. First Friday each month. Huntington
Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 4321980.
THEATRE 3:30-5 p.m. “Free Theatre & Public Speaking Classes.” Open to kids aged 7-12. Held each Friday in March. Presented by the Future for Oneonta Foundation at Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.
EXHIBIT OPENING
4-6 p.m. “Made in Middlefield III.” Textiles, lighting, fine and rustic wood objects, and more by local artists/artisans. Meet & greet/demonstration held 11 a.m. t 1 p.m. on 3/8. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown. (315) 941-9607.
TAX SEASON
4:30-6:30 p.m. “Free Tax Prep.” Provided by Hartwick College via the IRS VITA program. Charlotte Valley Central School, 15611 State Highway 23, Davenport. (607) 431-4338.
DINNER 5-7 p.m. Fried Fish Dinner. Fees apply. Open to the public. Take-out available. American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-0494.
OPENING RECEPTIONS 5-7 p.m. “Spring Cleaning Art Bazaar.” Area artists donate gently used fine arts, crafts, and various supplies and tools for sale at deeply discounted prices, through 3/22; “Magic, Mischief and Mystical Creatures by Milford Central School,” on view through 4/4; and Gallery Shop opening. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5479777.
OPENING RECEPTION 5-8 p.m. “The 4th Annual Youth Arts Show.” First Friday event featuring talented young local artists. Show runs through 3/30. 25 Main Collective, 21 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-5340.
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES 5:30-730 p.m. Support Cherry Valley Cadette Troop 20070. Old School Café, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley.
OPEN MIC 6 p.m. Poems, songs, dance, stories, comedy and more. Held first Friday of each
month. Presented by The Telegraph School at the Cherry Valley Old School Café, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 2643785.
MUSIC 6-9 p.m. Scattered Flurries. Part of the Cherry Valley First Friday events. Red Shed Ale House, 10 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 2645303.
FILM OTSEGO
6:30 p.m. “Made by New York Women Film Festival.” Catered meet and greet with artists, followed by a screening of “A Wonderful Way With Dragons” and a Q&A with writer/director Delfine Paolini. Tickets required. Festival continues 2:3010 p.m. on 3/8. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (315) 5273082.
PLANETARIUM 7 p.m.
“Solar and Lunar Eclipses.” Fees apply. SUNY Oneonta Planetarium, Perna Science Building, Room 018A, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta. (607) 436-2011.
DANCE 7:30 p.m.
“Contradance: A community dance featuring live music.” Presented by the Otsego Dance Society. Peter Blue and Friends perform with caller Pamela Goddard. First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, 25 Church Street, Cooperstown.
►Sat., March 8
FUNDRAISER
8 a.m. to noon. “OCA’s Spring Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser.” Otsego Christian Academy, 353 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-0141.
POLITICS 8:30 a.m.
Oneonta Democrats meet to discuss upcoming demonstrations and this year’s local elections. Open to the public. Green Earth Health Market, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. RSVP to garymaffei@ gmail.com
ASTRONOMY 10 a.m. to noon. “Sungazing at the Gatehouse.” See the sun through filtered telescopes. SUNY Oneonta astronomy professor Valerie Rapson will be on hand to answer questions. Rain date, 3/9. The Gatehouse, 129 West Main Street, Morris. (607) 285-4111.
TAX SEASON 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Free Tax Prep.” Provided by Hartwick College via the IRS VITA program. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.
MAKERS MARKET
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Feeling Lucky Shopping Event.” Makers markets held 2nd Saturday of each Month. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 4324401.
REPAIR CAFÉ
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Computers and Cellphones.” Volunteer expert coaches assist with items in need of repair. Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, 101 Main Street, Pioneer Alley, Cooperstown. (607) 5478881.
PLANETARIUM Fees apply. SUNY Oneonta Planetarium, Perna Science Building, Room 018A, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta. (607) 4362011.
• 10:30 a.m. “Betelgeuse’s Galactic Vacation: An Alien’s Search for Planets.”
• 11:30 a.m. “The Sky Tonight.”
CRAFT 11 a.m. Workshop with Gail of Glistening Water to create two pairs of decoupage earrings and a pendant on a lightweight wood base. Free; registration required. Unadilla Public Library, 193 Main Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3131.
GARDEN Noon to 3 p.m. “2nd Annual Seed Swap.” Proceeds benefit the Otego Community Food Pantry. 354 Main Gallery, 354 Main Street, Otego. (917) 488-5631.
OPEN STUDIO 1-4 p.m. Work on art projects in the company of other artists. Free-will donations to defray heating costs. Butternut Valley Arts & Crafts Center. 124 Main Street, Morris.
GATHERING 6 p.m. “Red Tent—Burning Marzanna & Releasing Winter.” Fees apply. Presented by The Telegraph School at the Cherry Valley Old School, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-3785.
CONCERT 6-9 p.m.; doors open at 5 p.m. “The Stoutmen: Irish Quartet.” Fees apply. American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 434-5484.
BENEFIT CONCERT 6:30 p.m. Support Cooperstown students for a special trip to the United Nations building in NYC. Free concert featuring the music of James Taylor, Neil Young, Paul Simon and others. Performed by Lions club member Dr. Paul Weber. Admission by donation. Get treats at the bake sale during the show.
Cooperstown High School Auditorium, 39 Linden Avenue, Cooperstown. (607) 287-7773.
COMEDY 7 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m.
“Stand-Up Comedy Show Album Recording.” Fees apply. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, The Loft, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080.
SKATE NIGHT
10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. “After Hours Adult Skate Night.” 18+. Fees apply. Interskate 88, 5185 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 432-0366.
►Sun., March 9
SPRING 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Sugaring Off Sundays.” Admission fees apply. Sundays through 3/30. Fenimore Farm & Country Village, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471450.
DINNER Noon until sold out. “Annual St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner.” Dinner by donation. Mount Vision Fire Department, 179 County Highway 11B, Mount Vision. (607) 4330997.
TOURNAMENT Noon.
“Pool Tournament.” Preregistration required; fees apply.” Sherman’s Tavern at the Hotel Pratt, 50 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown.
FIBER 1-3 p.m. “The Gatehouse Fiber Guild.” New knitters welcome. Held each Sunday. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111.
MUSIC 1-3 p.m.
“Yolanda Bush Trio.” The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111.
LIBRARY 1-4 p.m.
“Cooperstown Writers Group.” Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown.
CONCERT 3 p.m.
“Castalia String Quartet.” Fees apply. Oneonta Concert Association at the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut Street, Oneonta.
SOUND BATH
6:30 p.m. “Super Sonic Sundays.” Bathe in the sound and vibration of crystal and Himalayan singing bowls. Fees apply; registration requested. Held second Sunday of each month. Fit To Be Tied Yoga, 103 Main Street, Key Bank, 3rd Floor, Cooperstown.
►Mon., March 10
SENIOR MEALS Seniors enjoy a delicious meal Monday-Friday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $11 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, Brussels
sprouts and pineapple. (607) 547-6454.
• 11:30 a.m. Each Monday-Friday. Nader Towers Housing, 2 Mitchell Street, Oneonta. • Noon. Each Monday and Wednesday. Cherry Valley Facilities Corporation Café, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley.
CONNECTIONS Noon to 2:15 p.m. “Painting with Marjorie.” Paint a spring scene on canvas. Fees apply; registration required. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com.
GARDEN 1:15 p.m. “All about Herbs!” Presentation by Kat Chiba of Straw House Herbs in Cherry Valley. Organized by the Oneonta Federated Garden Club, St. James Church, 305 Main Street, Oneonta.
SKATING 3-7 p.m., mixed use. Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Badger Park, 87 Beaver Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-2411.
DISCUSSION 3-5 p.m. “Current Events Discussion Group.” Held each Monday. Village Library of Cooperstown. 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. CRAFT 5 p.m. “St. Patrick’s Day Gnome Planter.” Registration required. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
EDUCATION 6 p.m. “POUND: Rockout Workout.” Presented by the 2025 Continuing Ed Classes. Fees apply. Held each Monday. Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, 597 County Highway 54, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-3265 ext. 518.
TAX SEASON
6-8 p.m. “Free Tax Prep.” Provided by Hartwick College via the IRS VITA program. Hartwick College, Golisano Hall, 2nd floor, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta. (607) 431-4338.
►tueS., March 11
KNITTING CIRCLE
9 a.m. Bring a knit project and work with the group. Beginners welcome. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
STORYTIME 9:30 a.m. Staff share stories, activities and play. Held Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980. COFFEE AND CONVERSATION 9:30-11 a.m. Community Coffee Hour. Grace Church, 24 Montgomery Street, Cherry Valley.
