HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Board Honors Assistant EMS Coordinator, Discusses Tentative 2026 Budget Overview
By BILL BELLEN
COUNTY
OTSEGO
Apresentation by County Administrator Steve Wilson on the 2026 budget and recognition of EMS Coordinator Damon West were the highlights of discussion when the Otsego County Board of Representatives met on Wednesday, November 5. Before the regular session,
Food Pantries See Increase in Use During Federal Shutdown
By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL
OTSEGO COUNTY
The Cooperstown Food Pantry has reported its visitors have doubled over the last month. The Oneonta Salvation Army saw increases of use as much as a third. Already burdened by a cost of living crisis, the stoppage of SNAP benefits on November 1 as a result of the government shutdown has driven even further need for affordable groceries.
“SNAP is a concern, but heat is also a major concern right now,” Cooperstown Food Pantry Executive Director Will Kleffner told AllOtsego. “Heat bills are rolling in and HEAP applications are not available right now in the government shutdown.”
Millions across the country have been impacted by the shutdown and its corresponding stop in SNAP benefits as of November 1. Kleffner said some have driven to the Cooperstown pantry
from as far as the Albany area to get help.
Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that New York State would be acting to fill the gaps.
“New York State has issued full SNAP benefits to all eligible households,” read a November 10 statement on the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website. “Those who expected to receive benefits yesterday and today have received them and were able to spend. Others will continue to receive their benefits throughout the week.”
Otsego County Administrator Steve Wilson shared that the SNAP stoppage has had a “minimal impact so far and the Governor issued full SNAP benefits to recurring recipients beginning [Sunday] and expected to reach all recipients by Thursday.” He wrote that, “We have also been handing out pamphlets to clients listing all of the
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the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee convened for a brief special meeting to vote on Board of Elections Commissioner Michael Henrici’s request to approve overtime and compensatory pay for deputy election commissioners in accordance with state law. This request was approved and added as a late resolution to the consent agenda of the primary board meeting.
Rep. Jennifer Mickle was absent
for the meeting. All other board members were present throughout the duration of the session.
Edward Dawyot was the sole speaker to address the board during the privilege of the floor. He asked the county to find out information regarding the efficiency of windfarms, including a ratio of costs per kilowatt hour of energy they produce. Dawyot cited other energy
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Land of the Free and Home of the Brave
COOPERSTOWN—Around 100 people braved the season’s first sticking snow on Tuesday, November 11 to celebrate Veterans Day in Cooperstown. Starting at the Veterans Club on Main Street, a parade of veterans, emergency vehicles and service people, and supporters marched to the World War I monument on Pine Boulevard. There, the crowd witnessed a musical performance, speeches, a gun salute and the retiring of an American flag. Veterans were then offered free lunch at the Vets Club. David Sanford is pictured in the foreground.
Keck Retires After Decades with Cooperstown Village
By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL COOPERSTOWN
Albert “Al” Keck has retired from the Village of Cooperstown after having served in several roles, most recently as village assessor. Village officials celebrated his service at a gathering before the regularly scheduled board meeting on October 27.
“The people in the Village of Cooperstown are basically the most good-tempered, intelligent, hardworking people I’ve ever worked with in my life,” Keck, 82, told AllOtsego.
“And that’s the truth in every administration. I would say that there were no slackers in any respect.”
Keck got his start with the village in the early 2000s upon the recommendation of a friend who informed him there was an opening for a zoning enforcement officer. With his contracting background, Keck thought it was a good fit. He went on to serve as assessor and watershed inspector.
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Photo provided
The Village of Cooperstown celebrated Al Keck’s service at a gathering before the regularly scheduled board meeting on October 27. Pictured from left are: Trustee Joe Membrino, Village Clerk Jenna Utter, Public Works Superintendent Mitch Hotaling, Al Keck, Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh, Trustee Audrey Porsche, Trustee Cindy Falk and Trustee George Fasanelli.
Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel
Gilbertsville Ceremony Honors Veterans at Butternut Valley Grange
By TERESA WINCHESTER
GILBERTSVILLE
American Legion Post 1339 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1339 hosted a Veterans Day ceremony on Sunday, November 9 at the Butternut Valley Grange in Gilbertsville. Approximately 50 people attended. The tightly organized program with numerous components was presided over by Auxiliary President Anne Sebeck. It included, in part, advancement of colors by Boy Scout Troop 44, prayers by Legion Chaplain Norm Eastwood and presentations by Boys State representative Latham Retz and Girls State representatives Andrea Favinger and Mackenzie Marron. Girl Scouts presented those veterans present with cards of thanks and Reverend Randy Palada played patriotic and military songs on the harmonica.
veterans to “take the lead in getting us back to loving one another,” further exhorting, “Our future depends on it.”
Thursday at 10 a.m.
“All are welcome,” Flaherty said. Flaherty is also certified by New York State to file compensation cases for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs. He stated that through the outreach center, there are currently 113 cases pending and that compensations received are averaging about 70 percent of full compensation. He has managed to obtain full compensation for two parties, which amounts to approximately $4,000.00 per month, he said.
The keynote speaker, retired Army Command Sgt. Major Gary Flaherty, who served in Vietnam and Korea and had a key role in creating an all-volunteer Army, echoed Woishnis’ call for ongoing support for veterans.
Currently serving as Oneonta Veterans Outreach Center chief administrator, Flaherty stated, “I can attest to you that, on a daily basis,
Gilbertsville Mayor Aidan Woishnis read a seven-point proclamation, saying, among other things, that “the Village of Gilbertsville is home to veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and military families, and we also honor our Gold Star families, caregivers, and all who support those who serve.” The proclamation stated that “we remember with respect and sorrow those who never came home, including those who are still missing in action or unaccounted for.” He concluded by calling upon residents of Gilbertsville to thank a veteran, observe a moment of silence for the fallen and the missing, and to support veterans and their families “not only today, but throughout the year.”
I see veterans, widows and families in great need.”
Flaherty also made a plea for unity amid the current strife-ridden political climate in our nation, stating, “…the American instinct has never been to find isolation in opposite corners. It is to find strength in our common creed, to forge unity from our great diversity, to sustain that strength and unity even when it is hard. And when the election is over, as we search for ways to come together to reconnect with one another and with principles that are more enduring than transitory politics, some of the best examples are the men and women we salute on Veterans Day.”
Flaherty called upon
Interviewed after the ceremony, Flaherty said that the outreach center, located in the Oneonta Armory at 4 Academy Street, was getting a lot of help from the community. Regular contributors to the center’s food bank, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., come from Heller Farms, Chobani and Panera Bread. A commercial-size refrigerator and freezer, donated by the Oneonta Elks Club, has enhanced the center’s ability to provide food to those in need, Flaherty also said. Anyone in need of food, regardless of veteran status, may receive food from the OVOC. Donations of clothing are also accepted and distributed on an asneeded basis.
Working with homeless vets is another focus of the center. Flaherty indicated that mental issues associated with posttraumatic stress disorder were a root cause of homelessness. To begin to address mental issues, the center has initiated an Alcoholics Anonymous program which meets at the Armory every
In September, the center hosted a “stand-down” event, which included medical screenings, Veterans Administration registration and enrollment, employment assistance, legal aid referrals, housing assistance, health insurance information, a mobile vet center (a specialized vehicle designed to provide services related to veterans’ affairs), personal care items, clothing, food, free haircuts, and free breakfast and lunch.
During the course of the program, Tom McMillen of Morris, who served two tours of duty in Vietnam while in the Army, made an impromptu address to those present, recalling that those serving in Vietnam often received abusive treatment upon their return.
Barbara Lilley, of the Tianderah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution stated after the program that she was pleased with number of people that attended, “both official and community.”
“We had a three- or four-year-old all the way up to 80-year-old people. It’s so important that young kids, like the Girl Scouts, participate in these events,” she said.
Post Commander Vikki Cates also expressed approval of the program.
“As usual, it was a wonderful and wellorganized program. Anne does a wonderful presentation every year,” she said.
The center is a division of the Utica Center for Development and serves veterans in both Otsego and Delaware counties. Kerri Lincoln serves as case manager of the outreach center. Information about and the veterans outreach center and upcoming activities is available on Facebook at “Oneonta Veteran’s Outreach Center.”
Dems Oust Incumbents from Three County Board Seats
By DARLA M. YOUNGS
OTSEGO COUNTY
According to the Otsego County Board of Elections unofficial election results as of Monday, November 10, Republicans lost some ground across the county, mirroring national trends.
In the half dozen contested races for seats on the Otsego County Board of Representatives, all six of which are currently held by Republicans, incumbents won only three. The board will be split seven Republicans to seven Democrats. However, because of the county’s weighted voting system, where each representative’s vote share is dependent on their district’s population, Republicans will retain a slim majority.
Second District (Butternuts, Morris, Pitts-
field) incumbent James P. Powers appears to have defeated challenger Jason M. Cianciotto (DEM, IBE) by just nine votes. Third District (Laurens, Otego) incumbent Richard Brockway (REP, CON) defeated challenger Pamela WikGrimm (DEM) and incumbent Jennifer Mickle (REP, CON) retained her Sixth District (Decatur, Maryland, Westford, Worcester) seat over challenger Joanne Tobey (DEM).
Meanwhile, Fourth District (Oneonta town) challenger Eamonn Hinchey (DEM) bested incumbent Michelle Catan (REP, CON) and Leslie Berliant (DEM, WOR) easily defeated James McCartney (REP) for the Seventh District (Cherry Valley, Middlefield, Roseboom) seat being vacated by David Bliss (CON), who is retiring. In the Thirteenth District
(Oneonta City Wards Five and Six), Michele Clapperton handily defeated incumbent Donald Scanlon Jr. (REP).
Edwin Frazier Jr. (REP, First District, Unadilla), Margaret M. Kennedy (REP, Fifth District, Hartwick, Milford, New Lisbon), Andrew Marietta (DEM, IBE, Eighth District, Otsego), Keith O. McCarty (REP, CON, Ninth District, Richfield, Springfield), Daniel G. Wilber (REP, Tenth District, Burlington, Edmeston, Exeter, Plainfield), Nora Mendez (DEM, Eleventh District, Oneonta City Wards One and Two), Adrienne Martini (DEM, Twelfth District, Oneonta City Wards Three and Four) and Jill Basile (DEM, Fourteenth District) all ran unopposed, as did Treasurer Allen Ruffles.
In the City of Oneonta mayoral race, Daniel Buttermann (DEM, IBE) won out over Luisa Montanti (REP) and Carolyn Marks (DEM, IBF) defeated Mike Forster Rothbart (BON) to fill an unexpired term in the Seventh Ward, despite having announced her withdrawal prior to the election. Marks has since announced she will accept the seat.
In other contested races, Paul Irwin (DEM, IBE) and Teresa Winchester (DEM, IBE) appear to have squeaked by Republicans Donald Hunt and Bruce Beckert for seats on the Butternuts Town Council, and Kate Bolton (IBE) defeated Fred Kersman (DEM) for Decatur town clerk. Teri Musser (DEM) and Jeremy Denmeade (W)
Photo by Teresa Winchester
Retired Army Command Sgt. Major Gary Flaherty, now
serving as chief administrator of the Oneonta Veterans Outreach Center, gave the keynote address at the Veterans Day ceremony hosted in Gilbertsville by American Legion Post 1339 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1339.
Five Day Festival Features Film Premieres, Filmmaker Talks
COOPERSTOWN
Glimmerglass
Film Days, now in its 13th season, will present 31 film screenings and 12 related events over five days, November 1317, including several premieres. The films reflect the theme “revolutions” and were selected by Film Days Artistic Director Peggy Parsons, founder of the film program at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and Xander moffat, an independent film producer who serves as technical director and programming coordinator.
“We are really looking forward to this year’s Film Days,” said Ellen Pope, executive director of Otsego 2000. “Peggy and Xander have put together a wonderful slate of films, and with the filmmakers coming, parties and food tie-ins, the art exhibit, guided walks, trivia, free films and more, we are glad to offer Cooperstown and the region a dynamic and full five-day festival.”
Film Days is a program of Otsego 2000.
Film Premieres
“Grains of Sand” will make its North American festival premiere at Glimmerglass Film Days. Filmed over eight years, “Grains of Sand” accompanies the filmmaker’s mother and mother-in-law, artists and close friends, as they enter their ninth decade. Through conversation, memories, and artwork, along with reflections by the filmmaker herself, they create together a positive, different kind of “coming-of-age” story that turns common perceptions of aging upside down.
Director/Producer
Sarah Gross, who will participate in a Q&A after the film, said “Grains of Sand is a
testament to the power of art and friendship and a personal exploration of what it means to age and continue becoming oneself. In the true sense of the phrase, it is a story of two women’s comingof-age at 80.”
The film “Rule of Stone” will have its New York State premiere at Film Days. This documentary exposes and examines the power of architecture and the role it has played in the creation of modern Jerusalem.
“Ride the Line” will have its Upstate New York premiere. The film was created as the filmmaker, Ihor Volochii, and a friend cycled 1,500 km along the entire front line in Ukraine to raise funds for Ukrainian soldiers.
“I’m really addicted to cycling, but even more I love my country, and this film was born out of this love,” said Volochii.
“being able to feature more premieres is a sign that Glimmerglass Film Days is putting itself more firmly on the festival calendar,” said moffat. “Some of that has to do with the outsized recognition Cooperstown itself enjoys, but it’s also a testa-
ment to the quality of our community of filmgoers, creating a generous and receptive environment for these films.”
Special Guests
Glimmerglass Film Days begins on Thursday, November 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the National baseball Hall of Fame with the opening film, “Apple Cider Vinegar” (Sofie benoot, 2024, USA, 80 minutes). The hall’s Grandstand Theater will also be the venue for “Teenage Wasteland,” (Jesse moss and Amanda mcbaine, 2025, USA, 100 minutes) with film subject and retired middletown, NY teacher Fred Issek in attendance on November 14; “Observer” (Ian Cheney, 2025, USA, 94 minutes) on November 15; “The Golden Spurtle” (Constantine Costi, 2025, UK, 75 minutes) on November 16; and the closing film, “Cover-Up” (mark Obenhaus, Laura Poitras, 2025, USA, 117 minutes) on November 17.
In addition to Fred Issek and Sarah Gross, filmmakers and guests attending Glimmerglass Film Days include: Paul Wagner and
Ellen Casey Wagner (“Georgia O’Keeffe: The brightness of Light”), Robert borgatti and Paul Lamont (“America’s Stairway”), Sam Fleischner (“Jetty”), Victoria Kupchinetsky and Peter Hutchison (“Calico Rebellion”), Ilana Trachtman (“Ain’t No back to a merryGo-Round”), and Sasha Wortzel (“River of Grass”).
“The filmmakers and guest speakers really enrich the Film Days experience,” said Pope. Art Exhibit and Events
The 2025 Film Days companion art exhibition, “Revolutions, Considered,” features works by Tom Nussbaum, James Herman and Jim Sullivan. The exhibition, curated by Sydney L. Waller, a founding member of the Film Days Steering Committee, will be on view at The Smithy, 55 Pioneer Street in Cooperstown, November 13-17 from noon to 5 p.m., and other times by appointment.
Free guided walks will be held during the festival, including a bird walk led by the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, a tree walk with the Otsego County Conservation Association, a beaver walk at Lordsland Preserve with the Otsego Land Trust, and an historic preservation walk, “Evolution or Revolution,” in Cooperstown with Otsego 2000 and led by Dr. Cindy Falk.
Film Days Trivia will be held at The Local bird, 139 main Street in Cooperstown, on Saturday, November 15 at 7 p.m. Food events include the Opening Party, Closing Party, a mid-Festival Fall Supper, and a Sunday brunch.
Venues Films will be shown at multiple Cooperstown locations: the National baseball Hall of Fame and museum (25 main Street), Fenimore Art museum (5798 State Highway 80), Fenimore Farm and Country Village (5775 State Highway 80), Templeton Hall (63 Pioneer Street), and Cooperstown Coworks (6 Doubleday Court). The full schedule, including film trailers, is available at glimmerglassfilmdays.org
Tickets and Free Films Film Days offers two free films, “Jetty,” with director Sam Fleischner in attendance, on Friday, November 14 at
12:30 p.m., and “Into the Wonderwoods” on Saturday, November 15 at 1 p.m. at the Village Hall. The latter is an animated film about a 10-year-old boy who gets lost in a mysterious world while trying to reunite with his family. most film tickets are $8.00 in advance, $10.00 at the door. Tickets to events with food, including “Local Hero” and “Shelf Life,” range from $12.00$50.00 when purchased in advance, higher when purchased at the door. See full schedule and purchase tickets or reserve tickets for the two free films at
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Photo provided
Peggy Parsons and Xander Moffat at a 2024 Film Days party at the Smithy. Parsons and Moffat selected the films showing this year at the Glimmerglass Film Festival, which begins on Thursday, November 13.
HOMETOWN Views
EDITORIaL
Journalistic Integrity Counts
It’s no wonder people don’t trust the media. Just this week, BBC Director General Tim Davie and Deborah Turness, BBC’s head of news, resigned following a memo leaked by ex-BBC adviser Michael Prescott. Among other allegations, Prescott claimed that BBC’s news show, Panorama, misrepresented President Donald Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech. BBC officials have since admitted that splicing parts of that speech together “did give the impression of a direct call for violent action.”
According to an article in “The Guardian” by Rachel Leingang, published on Monday, November 10, “In a broadcast of the news show Panorama before the 2024 election, Trump’s speech was edited to put together two sentences that were actually 54 minutes apart, making it appear as though he was telling people they would walk to the US Capitol and “fight like hell.”
In her article, Leingang wrote, “A dossier from a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee flagged the edit, among other instances of purported bias in the outlet’s coverage, which was leaked to the Telegraph. As a public sector organization, the BBC is required to be impartial, though it often faces claims of bias, particularly from the right.”
Yes, the hits to the media—both national and now international—just keep coming. But we would argue that, despite some news outlets playing fast and loose with the facts to the benefit of their preferred side of the aisle, a few bad apples don’t spoil the whole orchard. The Fourth Estate, and its role as a watchdog on government and society—its responsibility, that is, to hold others accountable for the public’s benefit—remains important.
Two films in this weekend’s Glimmerglass Film Days lineup hammer home the importance of good investigative journalism. The documentary “Teenage Wasteland” recounts the story of how, 30 years ago, teacher Fred Isseks led his high-school English class to uncover the story of illegal dumping in Middletown, New York. The film features interviews with Isseks and some of the students now, as they tell how the experience affected their lives. The film will air at the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday, November 14 at 5:30 p.m., with Isseks in attendance. “Teenage Wasteland” will be shown for students at Cooperstown High School that day as well.
Then, on Sunday, November 16, another film further reinforcing the importance of journalism will close out the festival. According to Tudum by Netflix, “Cover Up” is a documentary about “New York Times” Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Seymour Hersh and his fight to uncover institutional violence. It is being shown here in Cooperstown before its December 26 Netflix launch.
“Los Angeles Times” reporter Josh Rottenberg writes: “As one of America’s most relentless investigative reporters, [Hersh] exposed the 1968 massacre of hundreds of Vietnamese civilians—including children and babies—by U.S. troops at My Lai; revealed the Nixon administration’s secret bombing of Cambodia and illegal wiretaps during Watergate; uncovered the CIA’s domestic spying and mind-control programs; and brought to light the torture of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Presidents and generals have dreaded seeing his byline. Editors have braced for the fallout.”
Yes, some media outlets have been letting us down a bit these days. But these films reinforce the fact that good journalism can and does reap countless rewards, uncover gross injustices, and expose those who break the law. Is journalism dead? We don’t think so. We suspect the public scrutiny of reporting by the BBC—and, in the news earlier this year, the selective editing of an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to “make Harris look and sound better,” according to Trump’s team—will force news rooms to get back to basics. Accuracy, fairness, impartiality, accountability, humanity.
But there’s no getting around the fact that, as Hersh himself has said, “This is a time when journalism needs all the support it can get.” Thanks, Glimmerglass Film Days and Otsego 2000, for shining a light on what good journalism can accomplish.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
“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.
Love, Chaos, Masks and Rascals
Scapino,” a show adapted by Jim Dale and Frank Dunlop in 1974 from “Les Fourberies de Scapin,” which was first written and produced by Molière in 1671, comes to SUNY Oneonta’s Goodrich Theatre from November 13-16. Directed by Kiara Pipino, the show features a cast of SUNY O students and visiting guest artist Mace Perlman. The plot to this comedy is pretty simple: two young men in love, two disapproving fathers, and one wily servant who spins outrageous schedules. Not to mention the almost half-dozen mischiefmaking rascals who run around the stage and audience, causing mayhem.
Mace Perlman, who began his theatrical training with two years under Marcel Marceau, is an actor, director, and movement coach whose 40-year career is deeply rooted in physical theatre and commedia dell’arte. Mace shared an evening of commedia dell’arte recently at Hartwick’s Slade Theatre, thanks to a partnership between the two colleges in which the two theater departments coordinate funding and guest artists to the enrichment of their students and our community. Not a bad deal if you’re us! I took the opportunity to interview Kiara, Mace, and most of the cast of “Scapino,” exploring with them both the art of commedia dell’arte and how they had adapted the adaptation for their own production of “Scapino.”
So what in tarnation is commedia dell’arte? Fortunately, I had Mace (“Argante”) to explain that to us.
“I’ve been kind of fascinated by this material [commedia dell’arte] for four decades. ‘Commedia dell’arte’… art in the sense of skill, like the Artful Dodger, these were actors who were professionals. I think that’s a really important thing that in the 1500s in Italy, you had actors going out and earning their living by making theater. So as Kiara points out, they traveled all over Europe… Shakespeare was hugely influenced by these characters. And their roots go back to Plautus in the Roman comedy, back to Greece. It’s a very universal form of theater, and it’s a very deep and ancient form of theater that involves masks. But to define commedia, it’s kind of like a sort of vaudeville. These were the forerunners of everything from the Marx Brothers to Chaplin to Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes to Seinfeld. You know, you can see these characters as archetypes all over the place in opera,” Mace said.
As we talked, the group began to explore some of the ways the comedy in this production was being enhanced. Masks are a huge part of commedia dell’arte. While Dale & Dunlop’s production did not include the traditional masks (in a strict sense, their production wasn’t commedia dell’arte, rather a vaudeville interpretation), the “Zannis” in this production do. [Zannis, according to my online research and from watching a rehearsal of this play, are stock servant characters, who are part clown, part buffoon, and jacks-of-all-trades who spend a lot of time playing practical jokes and adding to the general chaos on stage.] The cast shared with me the advantages of the Zannis using the masks.
Evi Sevastakis (“Zanni”) began, “So all of us Zannis have these beautiful masks with long noses. Kiara and Mace have been drilling into us from the very first time we put them on, that wherever we’re looking, the audience will also look. So that advances the plot of the show, and it helps people stay in focus on the correct characters. … The masks show off very tiny movements, so wherever the nose is pointing is where the focus will be. That’s been really fun to play around with, because the Zannis don’t ever speak; we rely solely on our body movements and these unintelligible noises to portray and emphasize what’s happening in the show.”
“The costume designer, Beth, she deliberately looked at traditional commedia, what actors were wearing for our character archetypes and deliberately infused that into the costumes. Scapino, he’s got like a harlequin outfit. The older gentlemen, they’ve got their opposing outfits. And then she adapted them to modern wear. It’s very clever,” Jess Mulholland (“Head Zanni”) continued.
“The set and the costumes and the lighting kind of enhance the comedy. When the audience sits down, the first thing they see is the set,” Kara Durkin (stage manager) went on. “The first thing they see is the colors. That’s the first thing you see before you even see any actors. Before you can really understand
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR … In THEIR OPInIOn
Alex Webster Will Be Missed
HOMETOWN ONEONTA
H o metown oneon t a 2008 - 2025 18th anniversary & The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
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Alex Webster was one of the most talented, most irascible, and most interesting characters that I have ever known. He grew up in wealth on Spaniards Road off Hampstead Heath in London. He was bounced from one private English boys’ school to another, the victim of undiagnosed dyslexia and the type of bullying that would break a lesser sprit.
He became an accomplished artist and channeled his artistry into his cooking. Always adventurous and full of mirth, he hid his vulnerability behind a brusque carapace.
I once told him that, based on his children’s academic success, he was a most successful father. “What is your secret, Alex ?” He gave me that devilish grin: “I just stay out of their mother’s way.”
He made possibly the best gourmet corny dogs ever known—delicacies that only Southern aficionados could fully comprehend, much less appreciate.
I will miss him paddling on
the lake. I will miss him ladling out curry at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market. I will miss arguing with him over nothing and over everything. Chip
Kudos to Our Candidates
As someone who is willing to
On STagE RaCHEL fRICk CaRDELLE
Northrup Cooperstown
help the City of Oneonta thrive, I personally thank all
Continued on page 11
Photo provided
Lang keith, alex Webster (center) and Chip northrup enjoy a moment of frivolity and friendship at Cantina de Salsa in Cherry Valley.
Tom HeiTz/SHARoN STUART
70 YEARs AGo
A defective coal-heating system was found to be the cause of the deaths of Dr. and Mrs. Walter s Packer, 29 West End Avenue, who were found dead in their home on Monday. Dr. Fisk Brooks’ Coroner’s report shows that the Packers died from the effects of coal gas poisoning. Their daughter, Janet, age 2, and a pet dog Cappy, escaped the deadly monoxide fumes and were unharmed. Dr. Packer was Director of the Regional oneonta Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory of the state Veterinary College. The furnace and its fixtures were 20-25 years old.
November 1955
50 YEARs AGo
The attitude towards care for the mentally retarded is changing, according to Dr. Mary Goodwin, one of the pioneers of the Association for Retarded Children. Dr. Goodwin was a speaker at saturday night’s ARC fund raising dinner, held at st. Mary’s school. “For too long, tax money for this county has gone “over there,” she said, “and finally some of it has come back to help our children.” Dr. Goodwin urged the more than 90 people at the dinner to educate themselves and those around them on the new legislative programs for the retarded.
November 1975
40 YEARs AGo
November 1985
30 YEARs AGo
If the calves of your legs begin to ache when you walk, keep on walking. The pain is caused by a condition called claudication—poor circulation caused by blockage of the leg arteries. It occurs primarily in older people and can be associated with coronary artery disease. one person in 50 over the age of 65 suffers from claudication. It is sometimes treated with medications, and in severe cases, by surgery. But, now a study has found that the best treatment for claudication is exercise rehabilitation – or, in plain language – walking sessions that last 30 minutes at least three times a week.
20 YEARs AGo
November 1995
John Nader has 52 days before he is sworn in as oneonta’s mayor. With 61 percent of the vote, Nader, a former city representative on the otsego County Board of Representatives, defeated seventh Ward Alderman sean Farrell on Tuesday. Nader will take the city’s reins from Mayor Kim Muller, a Democrat. November 2005
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At Family Planning of south Central New York, accessibility is more than a value: It is a promise. We believe that every person deserves care that meets their needs, no matter where they live, how much they earn or what challenges they face. Every day, our staff work to make sure that someone seeking help can find it easily, affordably and with dignity.
Throughout Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, and otsego counties, our teams bring care and education into the heart of the community. We collaborate with schools, libraries, local nonprofits, and other public agencies to share accurate information, essential supplies, and compassionate guidance. These partnerships create trusted connections that help people learn about their health and access the services they need. By meeting people where they already are, we make it easier to take the first step toward care.
our Care Kit initiative extends this outreach even further. Each reusable kit contains menstrual hygiene products, safer sex supplies, and clear information about our services and medical center locations. Kits are distributed through community partners and at every outreach event, often serving as a first introduction to FamPlan. A single kit can spark a conversation or help someone realize that confidential, affordable healthcare is available close to home. For a person who might otherwise delay or avoid seeking care, that small connection can grow into lasting trust and ongoing support.
Affordability and flexibility remain central
By MERL REAGLE
to our approach. Patients rely on our slidingfee scale, transportation assistance, Medicaid coverage, and telehealth options to make care possible and convenient. Whether someone visits a medical center in person, connects through a partner organization, or calls after receiving a Care Kit, they are always met with respect, privacy and compassion. our staff take time to listen, explain and ensure that every patient understands their options.
This is the foundation of our “no wrong door” philosophy. Every person, every age, every circumstance—everyone is welcome at FamPlan. We know that there is no single path to good health, which is why we make sure that every path leads to the care someone needs. By removing
Gone Fishin’… Tackle in your
spare time
Photo provided
family planning of south Central new york is committed to educating patients about all of their reproductive options.
Morris Fire District Residents To Vote on New Firehouse Proposal
By TERESA WINCHESTER MORRIS
he Board of Fire Commissioners
Tof the Morris Fire District will hold a public meeting on Thursday, November 13 at 6 p.m. at the Morris Fire Department, 117 Main Street. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information and receive public comment regarding a proposal to construct a new fire station.
A public vote on the proposal to authorize the expenditure of $5,983,000.00 for the construction of a new firehouse will be held on Tuesday, November 18 from noon to 9 p.m. Voting will take place at the Morris Fire Department. All residents of the Morris Fire District who are registered to vote and who have resided in the Morris Fire District for 30 days prior to voting are eligible to participate in the referendum, which is conducted by the district itself rather than the Village or Town of Morris. The district encompasses properties in both municipalities.
The exact wording of the referendum asks voters whether to approve “a resolution authorizing the issuance of serial bonds of the Morris Fire District in the Town of Morris, Otsego County, New York in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,938,000 pursuant to the local finance law to finance the construction of a new fire station and delegating the power to issue bond anticipation notes of the sale of such bonds to the fire district treasurer.”
A September 8 post on the Morris Fire Department Facebook page delineated the reasons for the proposal, stating that apparatus size has become problematic because modern fire trucks are larger than in the past, making it increasingly difficult to find vehicles that fit in the current space. Also, tight quarters make parking the trucks extremely difficult and create safety risks for members when backing in or pulling out. The gear storage area does not provide adequate space to suit up safely or efficiently. There is currently no room to properly wash and dry gear— an essential component for health and safety, the post stated.
The current firehouse has suffered damage from three floods in the last 15 years, according to Fire Commissioner Chairman Stan Leonard, who also said that the Main Street location does not meet federal, state or National Fire Protection Association standards. A new firehouse could serve as a temporary shelter during
Elections
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will fill the two Exeter town council seats.
The Town of Hartwick’s new town supervisor will be Cody E. Moore (REP, IBE), running under the Hartwick United platform, who defeated Andrea Vazquez (CON). Moore will be joined by Hartwick United running mates JoAnn Gardner (REP, IBE) and Caren G. Kelsey (IBE), who were elected to fill the two town council seats being vacated by Chris Briggs and Bruce Markusen.
Kristen Velasco (DEM) and Jessie Thorsland (DEM) defeated Peter K. Paffenroth (REP), Russell Langford (IBF) and Kevin J. Yerdon (IBG) for spots on the Milford town council.
In New Lisbon, Amy L. Dill (DEM, IBF) and Robert Schenfeld (REP, IBI) will fill the two open seats for New Lisbon town council, beating out Peter J. Martin (IBG) and Gioya Fennelly (IBH), and Nancy MartinMathewson (DEM, IBE) defeated George Knarich (REP) to fill an unexpired council term. Glen A. Noto (DEM, IBJ) bested Bruce Page Jr. in New Lisbon for town justice.
Town of Oneonta Interim Supervisor Brett Holleran (REP)
emergencies, such as floods or power outages, the Facebook post said.
In May 2024, the fire district engaged the Syracuse firm of Hueber Breuer to conduct a feasibility study regarding the current fire station and potential options for improvement. Interviewed on Thursday, November 6, Fire Commissioner Hank Rehrmann, who has been a commissioner for 17 years and a fireman since 1966, related that the five commissioners of the district had earlier this year empowered a committee of 11 district residents, including Fire Chief Rich Lindberg, to examine the options regarding a station for the district.
The options included building a new station at the existing site using structural steel; erecting a pre-engineered metal building on the existing site; building a new engine house only at a new site; building an engine house on a new site and renovating the existing firehouse meeting space; and building a new engine house at a new site.
According to a communication from Hueber Breuer, the committee graded each of the options, concluding that “this quantitative process demonstrated that the construction of a new single story fire station on land not in a flood plain was the most cost-effective long-term solution.” This option called for an 8,630-square-foot facility. It assumes a 2026 construction start and does not include land acquisition.
Even with a station at a new site, the
was defeated by challenger William Rivera Jr. (DEM) for town supervisor. Rivera is the first Latino person to hold the office. Teresa Desantis (DEM) and Joe Camarata (REP) took the two town council seats over Kim Fierke (IBE). Karen M. Liddle (REP) appears to have edged out Sean J. Farrell (REP) for Oneonta town justice.
Terri L. Horan (REP, IBE) beat Gina Pywar (IBF) easily for Otego clerk/collector, Paul L. Rowe (REP) and Liam Keyes (W) garnered the most votes in the Town of Pittsfield for the two open town council seats, and Chad Hazekamp (REP) held on over Eric Fletcher (IBE) for Plainfield superintendent of highways. In Richfield Springs, Rex Seamon (REP, IBF) and Charles Furner (REP, CON) beat Dennis Strk (IBF) and Jeremy Senko (W) for the two Town of Richfield town council positions. In Springfield, Regina Oakes (REP) and Adam J. Halay (REP) defeated Andrea House (DEM) for two town council seats.
Daniel Koerner, Otsego GOP chair, did not respond to requests for comment on the election results.
Caitlin Ogden, Otsego Democrats chair, told AllOtsego on election night she was “incred-
ibly proud of the candidates who ran across the county. From common sense candidates winning in the Town of Hartwick to a strong showing on the county board. We are disappointed by the close margin of Jason Cianciotto’s race, but that will be going to a hand count and we remain hopeful that we will have a positive outcome. We are teetering on the brink of a weighted majority.”
She said Will Rivera “had the drive and tenacity like no other in this cycle and clearly painted a vision of an Oneonta that works for its citizens and not the vested interests of a particular party. Dan Buttermann’s victory was emotional to see. Dan has been putting himself out there for so long, wanting little more than to represent his community and he finally has the chance.” Ogden attributed Democrats’ success to “a true and complete team effort” of the county committee, “and I am deeply honored that this group of friends and neighbors are willing to put their trust in me as chair.”
In the 12 races with no candidates—up from seven “no candidates” races in 2024—the results are as follow: Russell McCall (W) was the top vote getter for
siren will remain at its current location in the center of the Village of Morris, Rehrmann said.
Public informational forums were held in June and September on the options for the Morris fire station. According to Rehrmann, exit polls from these two events indicated that the majority opinion on the subject was “go big or go home,” meaning that the general consensus was to build a new fire station at a new location. Following the advice of Hueber Breuer, the district engaged civil engineer Matthew Napierala of Napierala Consulting in Manlius, New York to mentor it through the steps of the State Environment Quality Review Act.
According to Napierala, the goal of the project for the SEQRA review was “to seek public funds via a referendum.” The Morris Fire District was lead agent and the SEQRA full assessment form, sometimes referred to as the “long form,” was filled out. In a publicly announced meeting held in the summer, the fire commissioners made a “negative declaration” regarding the project, meaning that it posed no substantial environmental impact.
According to Rehrmann, “The SEQRA review has come back and we are good to go. All the i’s have been dotted and all the t’s have been crossed.”
Because the SEQRA process as described by Rehrmann and Napierala deals strictly with public funding, the
Burlington town supervisor; Edmeston Town Council write-in candidates Scott Porter (W) and Jeremy Hoag (W) won decidedly; Tiffany Button (W) and Scott Porter (W) appear to be deadlocked for Edmeston Trustee of School Funds, an unexpired term; Adam Sovocool (W) will serve on the Exeter town council, filling an unexpired term there; John A. Gleason (W) easily won election as Maryland town justice over Carla Hungtingon (W), Jennifer Whitcomb (W) and Michael Koller (W); Shane Young (W) was elected Middlefield superintendent of highways by a wide margin; Cody Schmitt (W) will be the Town of Oneonta superintendent of highways; and Marjorie Miller (W) amassed more than 90 percent of the write-in votes for Town of Richfield clerk/collector.
In the Town of Westford, there were three seats with no candidates: clerk/ collector, council member (vote for up to two) and superintendent of highways. Jocelyn Harris (W) defeated Joanne Tobey (W) for the position of Westford clerk/collector, Robert Burton (W) and Janette Peeters (W) will fill two Westford town council seats, their closest competition being Chad McEvoy (W), and Jesse
building project, upon passage of the referendum, must undergo yet another SEQRA process with review by local planning and zoning boards, New York State Departments of Transportation and Health, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and any other appropriate agency.
Rehrmann, who strongly favors building a new firehouse in a new location, said that steel construction such as was used for the current firehouse is no longer suitable, whereas PEMB is “indestructible.” During a visit to the firehouse, Rehrmann pointed out the narrow space in which the turnout gear lockers are located. He also said that a new facility would have flexible diesel exhaust tubes lacking in the current building. Rehrmann then pointed out the cramped space for communications—a 2-by-6-foot table located at the firehouse entrance.
“A new firehouse will have a separate room for a communications center. It will be a better use of space over all,” he said.
“We are looking at the future. The existing building is roughly 100 years old and was built as a meat locker. It was not built for our purposes,” said Leonard, who has been with the Morris Fire Department for 50 years in various capacities.
Besides Rehrmann and Leonard, Morris Fire District commissioners include Nancy Purdy, Ted Johnston, and Cliff Hoag.
Brown (W) earned 78.21 percent of the write-in vote.
There were no candidates for Pittsfield town justice, and no write-ins.
Proposition One, an amendment to allow an already-built Olympic sports complex in Essex County on state forest preserve land, passed in Otsego County with 60.89 percent of voters in favor and just 39.11 percent against.
City of Oneonta Proposition Two, an amendment to adopted staggered four-year terms for mayor and City Council members, passed overwhelmingly. Propositions Three and Four, to update the boundaries of all eight wards to reflect 2020 census data and to establish a nine-member Board of Ethics to provide ethical oversight for city government, respectively, both passed with high margins as well.
Of the 129 total races on Election Day, 94— or 73 percent—were uncontested. There were 11,418 ballots cast in Otsego County.
For full results, visit https://www. otsegocountyny.gov/ departments/board_of_ elections/index.php and click on “Unofficial Results.”
Staff Writer Eric Santomauro-Stenzel contributed reporting to this article.
Film Fest
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merglassfilmdays.org Tickets will be sold at the door as well.
Glimmerglass Film Days is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Film Days also is funded by The Scriven Foundation. Benefactor Level sponsors include Doreen DeNicola/DeNicola Design LLC; Five Star Subaru; S. Tier French; and Tim and Alison Lord. Director Level sponsors include Carol Beechy and Katie Boardman; blackstanleystudios; the Blue Mingo Grill; Jay Bosley and Hudi Podolsky; Eva Davy; Faith Gay and Francesca Zambello; the Raymond Han and Paul Kellogg Foundation; Patricia and Robert Hanft; the Emery C. Jr./Nancy F. Herman Fund; Allison and Keyes Hill-Edgar; Robert Nelson and Van Broughton Ramsey; Peter Regan and Aviva Schneider; and the White House Inn. Additional sponsors can be found at glimmerglassfilmdays.org.
Photo by Teresa Winchester
Morris Fire Commissioner Hank Rehrmann (photo at left) stands in the gear storage area of the current Morris firehouse, demonstrating the cramped quarters for suiting up by firemen when called out to a fire. At right, Rehrmann stands in the gear storage area of the current Morris firehouse, demonstrating the cramped quarters for suiting up by firemen when called out to a fire.
the characters by watching the show and listening to the dialog, you’re looking at their costumes. Even if you, the audience member, don’t understand what you’re looking at, your brain knows what kind of character they are because of what they’re wearing … before you can even mentally comprehend and process and gather the story in bits and pieces, their costume is a direct representation of who they are as a person.”
Aaron Pondolfino (Zanni) got really excited about the set.
“It’s built to enhance the antics,” Pondolfino said. “The whole having the stage extended into the audience as we did, having part of it lowered to create a beach, having the multiple different balconies and their access ways—as a character that moves around a lot, constantly running around, looking around, doing crazy stuff—it really helps to have lots of layers and motions and places to hide and stand and watch.”
“It’s a playground, right?” Mace interjected. “I mean, we’ve got a fire escape pole, for gosh sakes, I knew that this was going to be an amazing production when I saw that was in the set!”
“I think the fun part about it is that there’s chaos,” Madison Green (Zanni) agreed. “We do a lot of practice, and we go through all these rehearsals, like practicing and training, because the chaos does need to be controlled, but it is still just so much fun. There’s
The cast and crew of “Scapino” are, top row from left: Oskar Isaksson-Stahler (Geronte), Aaron Pandolfino (Zanni), Gavin Rice (assistant stage manager), Jess Mulholland (head Zanni), Tanner Griffin (Scapino), Mace Perlman (guest artist, Argante), Sean McGrane (Silvestro), Brandon Rafferty (assistant stage manager), Stephanie Lynne (assistant director), Lucas De Salvo (sound designer), Nick Mena (crew), and Sam Keefe (crew); middle row from left: Madison Green (Zanni), Evi Sevastakis (Zanni), Brianna Bonnell (Carlo), Matthew Manna (prop coordinator), Alex Dinardi (Ottavio), Leah Fridman (nurse, policewoman), Lazaro Mahar (Leandro), and Rachel Wolf (light designer); and, bottom row from left: Leah Spence (Zanni), Emma Robidau (Zerbinetta), Schuyler Quartiers (Giacinta), and Kara Durkin (stage manager).
parts where people are running through the aisles and through the audience members. There’s running all over the stage; it’s really upbeat and chaotic. And I’m hoping that the audience themselves have so much fun watching us have fun, because this show is just so chaotic!”
As the discussion moved toward favorite moments of comedy and chaos in the show, Alex Dinardi (Ottavio) jumped in, “One of my favorite bits is a bit that me and Bri added into the show, where two of the characters, Scapino and Leandro, are running through the audience, and we, WWE-style, go, ‘LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!’ And then we describe what they’re doing. But it is just one of my favorite bits, because it’s a creativity moment that me and Bri had together.”
Sean McGrane (Sylvestro), inspired by the discussion of how the cast had adapted the play to make it their own, shared, “I’m playing Sylvester. And Sylvester has to scare Argante into keeping his son married. So we came up with a bit to have me play the Terminator. In the script, there’s a lot of British sayings and other stuff I had to try to change around. And Kiara gave me the freedom to do that. And Mace is always encouraging us to play; it’s one of my favorite bits in the show.”
Leah Spence (Nurse/ Dramaturg) reflected on how different this ability to add and change things in the show is from the last SUNY O production she was in.
“Literally, we closed “Fire Bugs,” struck that set, and walked over to [“Scapino”] rehearsal,” Spence recalled. “It
was coming from a place where you have to be so precise, it was a Greek chorus, to somewhere we were encouraged to play and experiment, and the shape of the show was changing. That was just a completely different world. … I love that theater can be so many things at the same time, because it’s completely different worlds.”
“I hope that people get to see how much creativity Kiara has given us for the show. She laid it out in front of us and said, ‘Go at it!’ … At least I’ve never had this type of freedom before. So, I hope people get to see our creative minds all melding together into one beautiful mush,” Briana Bonnell (Carlo) added. Which brought us back to a discussion of the show itself and the art of commedia
OBITUARIES
dell’arte.
“That’s the one thing about commedia, it’s a company effort. There was no playwright in commedia dell’arte. You rely on the cast you have, and then you rely on what they’re willing to share and how much they’re willing to have fun. This is not the show where I can tell my actors, that’s your line, make it work! They have to find their way into it. And if something needs to be changed, you can,” Kiara explained.
“It’s a team sport, for sure!” agreed Mace.
“So, if I could say, the best thing I’ve done for this show was casting it!” Kiara bragged.
I’ll leave it there. I think there is an underlying wisdom in Kiara’s brag: The smartest thing I can do is make sure I surround myself in work and life with the right people. In writing a column where I get to spend time with really fun and interesting Hartwick College and SUNY Oneonta students, faculty, and visiting artists, all of whom seem to love what they are doing, I think I am doing at least as well as Kiara in the casting department!
If you decide you want an evening of high-energy slapstick, blending vaudeville and commedia dell’arte, you can watch “Scapino,” directed by Kiara Pipino, at SUNY Oneonta’s Goodrich Theatre, November 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. or November 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are free with a SUNY Oneonta student ID, and $5.00 for general admission.
Rachel Frick Cardelle covers performing arts at SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College.
FamPlan
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barriers and expanding opportunities, we strengthen families, empower individuals and build healthier communities across our region. When we extend care beyond our walls, we do more than provide medical services. We build trust with people who may have felt unseen or unheard. We create opportunities for learning, prevention and connection. We affirm that every individual deserves the chance to be healthy and thrive, and that compassionate, high-quality care should never depend on income, insurance or immigration status.
At Family Planning of South Central New York, we believe that healthy communities start with access, understanding and respect. When we meet people where they are, we open doors and create opportunities for lasting health and wellbeing
To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit fpscny.org.
Debra Marcus is the chief executive officer of Family Planning of South Central New York.
WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU!
Promotions, births, events, new hires, milestones, grand openings, awards, meetings, opinions, results of sporting events, personal bests, weddings and more. Photos welcome, too. info@allotsego.com
Mary Langben Cooper 1935-2025
COOPERSTOWN—
Mary Langben Cooper, beloved mother and grandmother, died peacefully in her sleep on November 6 after a years-long decline due to Alzheimer’s. She spent her final days surrounded by her daughters, grandchildren and wonderful team of caregivers. She had recently celebrated her 90th birthday.
Mary was born in New York City in 1935 to Mary Anderson Luke and Harry
Alfred Langben. She attended The Brearley School and graduated summa cum laude from Vassar College, where
Dignity, Respect, Tradition
Dignified and Caring Service since 1925 Peaceful grounds. Home-like atmosphere. Suitable for large or small gatherings. Peter A. Deysenroth 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown | 607-547-8231 www.cooperstownfuneralhome.com
she majored in English, before becoming a copy editor for several major book publishers in New York. It was during that time that she met Henry S.F. Cooper Jr., a young “New Yorker” magazine writer, and the two were married in 1966.
Over the next 10 years, they had three daughters, Elizabeth, Hannah and Molly, all of whom followed in Mary’s footsteps by attending Brearley. The family spent summers in Cooperstown, where Mary loved playing with her children on the shores of Otsego Lake and getting to know the other mothers. The playgrounds of Central
Park held a special place in her heart for the same reason.
In her youth, Mary was an excellent athlete. She headed Brearley’s Athletic Association and played on many sports teams. During the summers, she was a champion tennis player at East Hampton’s Maidstone Club and served as a “ball girl” at the club’s prestigious women’s invitational tournament, which attracted some of the top female players of its day.
As her children grew up, Mary devoted more time to her interest in fabric arts, and loved quilting and weaving particularly. In the 1980s,
Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar.
Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home will take the time to find out what made your loved one special. Whether it’s finding just the right flowers, or finding a musician to play her favorite tunes on her old guitar, we’ll do what’s necessary to make her service as unique as she was.
Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home 14 Grand Street, Oneonta • 607-432-6821 www.grummonsfuneralhome.com
as the crisis of homelessness in New York City grew, she returned to her Episcopal faith and found deep fulfillment in volunteering with food and shelter initiatives run by local churches. She ultimately joined Christ & St. Stephen’s Church on the Upper West Side, where she helped to create a program that provided bag lunches to as many as 200 people five days a week. For more than 30 years, she managed the program, ensuring there was enough food, working with others to fill each bag with a balanced meal, and greeting the men and women who lined up to receive them.
Mary is survived by her daughters and her four grandchildren, Henry and Annie Cooper of Cooperstown, Nikko Bolyard-Cooper of Atlanta, and Thomas Cooper of Great Barrington. She was predeceased by her former husband, whom she divorced in 2001 and subsequently remained close to, and her sister, Ann Langben Willlard.
Donations may be made in Mary’s name to the Christ & St. Stephen’s Church Brown Bag program at https://www. csschurch.org/give.
Celebration of Life Erna Morgan McReynolds 1952-2025
ONEONTA—Erna Morgan McReynolds, of Franklin, New York, passed away in her sleep on September 29, 2025. There will be a celebration of life honoring Erna on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The gathering will be at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta, beginning at 10 a.m. For those unable to attend, the memorial will be streamed online via //Facebook.com/ OtsegoMedia. It will also be available at youtube. com/@KoreyRowe. The feed will go live 15 minutes before the start of the event.
Photo provided MARY LANGBEN COOPER
Photo provided ERNA MORGAN McREYNOLDS
Photo by Kiara Pipino
New Café Is Coming To Town
CHERRY VALLEY
coffee and Crumb Café will soon be opening in the Village of Cherry Valley. It has been a long road, but owners Erich and Noelle Adamoschek, and Noelle’s brother, Brandon Brown, are eager to provide quality food and community at 25 Main Street. They plan to be
LegaL nOtice
Notice of formatioN of Charming Familiar Studio LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/02/2025. 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:
Charming Familiar Studio LLC, P.O. Box 213, Gilbertsville, NY 13776. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalNov.13
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Notice of formatioN of W&M Unlimited, LLC.
Filed 7/23/25. Cty: Otsego. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to 499 St. Rt. 51, Gilbertsville, NY 13776. Purp: any lawful. 6LegalNov.13
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Notice of formatioN of SLUGGERS LLC
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/26/25. 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 NORTHWEST REGISTERED AGENT LLC, 418 Broadway, Ste. N, Albany, NY 12207 Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalNov.13
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Notice of formatioN of Fireflies Teaching Roundtable
Articles of Organization filed with the New York Secretary of State on May 26, 2025.
open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday through Monday to start, potentially adding days and hours in the 2026 summer season as staffing allows. As of this printing, the opening date is still unknown, but they plan to be open for pop-up events before the end of the year. Regular hours will start in January 2026. The café is located
Office location: Otsego County. The New York Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and is directed to forward service of process to 19 Woodside Avenue, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.
6LegalNov.20
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Notice of orgaNizatioN of Boldest Move LLC under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law.
1. The name of the limited liability company is Boldest Move LLC.
2. Articles of Organization of Boldest Move LLC were filed with the New York Secretary of State on September 12, 2025.
3. The county within this state in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is Otsego County.
4. The street address of the principal business location of the limited liability company is: 87 Jomar Lane, Olivebridge, NY 12461.
5. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: Boldest Move LLC, 87 Jomar Lane, Olivebridge, NY 12461.
6. The limited liability company is organized to carry on all lawful activities.
6LegalNov.20
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Notice of formatioN of American Destiny, LLC,
at the former site of 25 Main Collective (Noelle’s shop/gallery and studio), which moved next door to 21 Main Street in January 2024. Erich and Noelle said they wanted to fill a need in the village, which has been without a breakfast and lunch eatery since The Coyote Café closed several
years ago. According to a press release, they brought Brandon on as a partner and received a Microenterprise Grant from Otsego County in 2024.
Renovating the historic building has been a very involved project, the Adamoscheks said. They have installed a new plumbing system, upgraded and added new electric, completely renovated Noelle’s former art
LEGALS
filed with the Secretary of State on September 2, 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 264, Cooperstown, New York 13326. Purpose: any lawful activity.
6LegalNov.27
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Notice of formatioN of LimiteD LiaBiLitY comPaNY:
The name of the limited liability company is: DMAJ Holdings, LLC (the “Company”). The date of filing of the Articles of Organization of the Company with the Secretary of State was September 5, 2025. The county in which the principal place of business of the Company shall be located is Otsego County.
The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the Company upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the Company to DMAJ Holdings, LLC, PO Box 614, Morris, NY 13808. The purpose of the business of the Company is any lawful business purpose.
6LegalDec.4
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Notice of formatioN of John Henle Architecture, LLC, a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)
filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on July 23, 2025. NY office Location: OTSEGO County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the PLLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served
upon him/her to The PLLC: C/O John Henle Architecture, LLC, 1736 Sweet Hill Road, Milford, NY 13807. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalDec.4
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Notice of formatioN of a NY LimiteD LiaBiLitY comPaNY
Name:
HATCH OF NEW YORK LLC.
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 25 September 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 969 Alexandra Drive, Corona, CA 92881. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS Laws.
6LegalDec.4
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Notice of formatioN of Renee Wellenstein, DO, PLLC.
Filed 10/6/25. Cty: Otsego. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to 109 Pioneer St., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purp: any lawful. 6LegalDec.11
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Notice of formatioN of Redpoint Design/Build LLC.
Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 10/27/25. Office location: Otsego County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 5934 State Hwy. 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: all lawful purposes.
6LegalDec.11
Notice of formatioN of a NY LimiteD LiaBiLitY comPaNY
H&K 449 Main Street Properties LLC
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 09/16/2025. 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 P.O. Box 1238, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: to engage in any lawful purpose.
6LegalDec.11
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Notice of formatioN of HANSEN VISION GROUP LLC.
Filed with SSNY on 09/22/2025. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 2 HANDSOME AVE., ONEONTA, NY 13820. Purpose: Any Lawful.
6LegalDec.11
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Notice to BiDDerS
Sealed bids will be received as set forth in instructions to bidders until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 04, 2025 at the NYSDOT, Office of Contract Management, 50 Wolf Rd, 1st Floor, Suite 1CM, Albany, NY 12232 and will be publicly opened and read. Bids may also be submitted via the internet using https://www.bidx. com. A certified cashier’s check payable to the NYSDOT for the sum specified in the proposal or a bid bond, form CONR 391, representing 5% of the bid total, must accompany each bid. NYSDOT reserves the right
studio into a commercial kitchen, built a new ADA-compliant bathroom, entrance and ramp, and installed a brand-new septic system, as well as having resurfaced the walls, ceilings, and floors.
“Erich will be in charge of the cooking and baking, and if you have ever visited 25 Main Collective at one of our opening receptions during a Cherry Valley First Friday, you have
been able to sample his offerings,” Noelle said. The café plans to offer focaccia, fresh bread, bagels, and breakfast treats, as well as a small breakfast and lunch menu for dine-in and take-out. There will be a limited espresso menu, drip coffee, tea and other drinks available as well. Follow Coffee & Crumb on Facebook for updates, or look for the “open” sign.
to reject any or all bids.
Electronic documents and Amendments are posted to www.dot. ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/const-notices. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all Amendments are incorporated into its bid. To receive notification of Amendments via e-mail you must submit a request to be placed on the Planholders List at www.dot. ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/ const-planholder. Amendments may have been issued prior to your placement on the Planholders list.
NYS Finance Law restricts communication with NYSDOT on procurements and contact can only be made with designated persons. Contact with non-designated persons or other involved Agencies will be considered a serious matter and may result in disqualification. Contact Robert Kitchen (518)4572124.
Contracts with 0% Goals are generally single operation contracts, where subcontracting is not expected, and may present direct bidding opportunities for Small Business Firms, including, but not limited to D/M/WBE’s and SDVOBs.
The New York State Department of Transportation, in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation and Title 23 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, Title IV Program and Related Statutes, as amended, issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all who respond to a written Department solicitation, request for proposal or invita-
tion for bid that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability/handicap and income status in consideration for an award.
Please call (518) 457-2124 if a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the letting.
Region 02: New York State Department of Transportation 207 Genesee Street, Utica, NY, 13501
D265628, PIN SRRC25, Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming, Yates Cos., STATEWIDE RAILROAD STANDBY WHERE AND WHEN., Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $200,000.00), Goals: MBE: 5.00%, WBE: 10.00%, SDVOB: 0.00% 2LegalNov.13
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Notice of formatioN of LimiteD LiaBiLitY comPaNY: Nordholm Brewing Company LLC,
Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of the State of New York (SSNY) on 10/31/2025. Office Location: Otsego County. United States Corporation Agents, INC has designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY, 11228, USA. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalDec.18
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Notice of PUBLic HeariNg for 2026 otSego coUNtY teNtatiVe BUDget
NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Representatives of the County of Otsego will meet at the Otsego County Courthouse, second floor Courtroom, located in the Village of Cooperstown, New York, on Tuesday, November 25th at 6 p.m. for the purpose of holding a public hearing on the Tentative Budget of the County of Otsego for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026. The location is accessible to persons with mobility impairment. The public hearing will be streamed via YouTube. https://www. youtube.com/@ otsegocountynewyork/live
FURTHER NOTICE is hereby given that the 2026 Otsego County Tentative Budget and the County’s Exemption Report will be available after November 15th at the offices of the Clerk of the Board of Representatives and the County Administrator located in the County Office Building in the Village of Cooperstown, New York, where it may be inspected by any interested persons
during regular business hours. The tentative budget may also be viewed on the County website. Pursuant to Section 359 of the County Law the maximum salary that may be fixed and payable during the fiscal year to members of the Board of Representatives and to the Board Chair thereof respectively are hereby specified as follows:
Members of the Board of Representatives $13,415
Chair of the Board of Representatives $23,891
Dated: November 13, 2025
Carol D. McGovern Clerk of the Board of Representatives Otsego County, New York
1LegalNov.13
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Notice of formatioN of C&C’S REST NEST LLC. Filed 9/4/25. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: c/o Zenbusiness Inc., 41 State St, Ste 112, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: General. 6LegalDec.18
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Notice of formatioN of GATHERING GRATITUDE FARM, LLC
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/09/2025. 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 Gathering Gratitude Farm, LLC, 1609 County Highway 13, New Berlin, NY 13411
Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.18
►Need to publish a Notice of formatioN, public Notice, supplemeNtal summoNs, or Notice to bidders? Contact Larissa at 607-547-6103 or ads@allotsego.com and she can get you started.
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concerns relating to a hypothetical reactivation of the Indian Point nuclear power plant and his continued advocacy for underground modes of energy transit rather than aboveground lines, mirroring similar comments he has made at previous board meetings.
The board made a notice of receipt of summons and complaint in the case of Janel Whitbeck vs. Otsego County, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy E. Lincoln, and Deputy J. Smith. It was noted that this suit is being pursued due to claims of “unlawful arrest, denial of medical care, and discrimination based on disability.”
There was no further discussion on the matter beyond this acknowledgement.
A special presentation was given by Emergency Services Coordinator Victor Jones and Rep. Daniel Wilber, where Wilber put forth a resolution to honor Damon West, assistant EMS coordinator, “for his use of the Heimlich maneuver during an emergency medical incident involving a fellow Otsego County employee.” Wilber recited some of the history of the maneuver and how it is estimated to have saved more than 100,000 lives in the United States alone since being introduced in 1974. The employee West saved presented him with a plaque of appreciation on behalf of EMS.
Wilber went on to say how impressed he has been by the work of Jones and West.
“These two gentlemen, what they have brought to this department, is very impressive. I don’t think it’s a secret among a lot of people, because there’s not secrets in Otsego County. When these two were up for the job, I was not really in favor of them being in the positions. I had questions on whether they could handle it. These two have proved me not only wrong, but so wrong that I am almost embarrassed by it.”
Moving to standing committee reports, Rep. Keith McCarty reported for the Public Works Committee and said that the Village Improvement Society of
Gilbertsville spoke with them about the Meadowbrook Bridge closure they brought to the whole board’s attention at October’s meeting. McCarty recounted lengthy discussion of the impacts the closure was having on local businesses and livelihoods. The possibility of doing repairs to temporarily open the bridge again was proposed, but in the end, the cost of $100,000.00 was deemed too much to be funded by taxpayer dollars. The committee decided that given the five-minute detour around the bridge that they had to regretfully “let things take their course.” McCarty closed by noting the approval of the placement of a free Narcan vending machine in the county office building.
Rep. Adrienne Martini spoke for Human Services Committee and said that Office of Employment and Training Director Penny Seeger gave the committee an update on the center, noting that the numbers have been consistent, with about 500 walk-ins each month. She then expressed her concerns about funding for next year, noting possible federal cuts and cuts of roughly 50 percent to Job Corps. Martini reminded the board that there is one more county-sponsored rabies clinic this year, from 6-8 p.m. on December
4 at the Hartwick Seminary Fire Department.
Rep. Margaret Kennedy presented the report for the Administration Committee. She mentioned that the committee approved a criminal court payment of $101,829.96 for August 2025, as well as set the date for the 2026 tentative budget hearing for November 25 at 6 p.m. Kennedy shared that the Treasurer’s Office has contracted with the towns of Unadilla and Pittsfield to collect taxes for them, meaning the county will charge each town a $2.00 fee per parcel.
Rep. Andrew Marietta represented the Technology and Strategic Planning Committee, saying they are actively working toward quantifying department service levels by next year and correlating those efforts to budgeting processes.
County Administrator Steve Wilson commented, “I think we can do much better at matching what we get with what we pay. And that’s gonna be essential, because it’s hard to more accurately estimate a year in advance what your budget will be. And that will help us, I think, with the coming challenges we have in financing over the next couple of years.”
Marietta continued his report and said that Clear Plan was now live, mentioning that AllOtsego’s coverage
of the software was helping bring public awareness to the service’s launch and “informing them in a way [the board] never ha[s] before.”
He expressed his appreciation for department heads and the work they have done with the committee, agreeing that getting on track with quarterly updates is a priority.
Wilson reported that 70 percent of the 2025 budget for the county had been used so far. He then launched into a presentation on the tentative budget for 2026. Wilson showed off a pie chart detailing how two-thirds of county revenue came from local sources, countering the misconception that state and federal governments fund the bulk of the county’s services. He said that 2024 was the first year where county expenses exceeded expected revenues, citing inflationary issues and the expectation that the trend will only be exacerbated further in the years to come.
“I just want to lay out the specific challenges we have in this kind of post-pandemic inflationary world. One is simply getting employees to do the work that we have here. Our case workers for instance, in social services, or some of our law enforcement positions. These are tough jobs for special people to be able to do this stuff and we need to pay folks enough…That’s driven the increase in expenses.”
Wilson continuously made it apparent that Otsego County is not alone in these struggles. He displayed the tentative budget, which currently sits at $167,672,196.00. Some highlights of the budget noted on his slideshow presentation are no layoffs, a property tax increase consistent with that of 2025, a 6.6 percent reduction in expenses proposed by departments, and a slow-down of 24/7 police coverage. All of these changes and more have managed to keep the funds of the proposed budget balanced.
Wilson pointed out how so much of the county’s revenue was generated from sales tax, as opposed to many other upstate rural counties having to rely much more heavily on property tax, stating that “we are blessed with having a dynamic economy.”
Wilson said the next few
years will be a process of trying to get expenses and revenue back in line with one another. He finally stated his team is looking to have all of the tentative budget information on display on ClearGov by the week of this publication. Board Chair Edwin Frazier Jr. then clarified the goal is to approve the budget during the December board meeting. With Wilson’s presentation concluded, the board moved to and unanimously approved the consent agenda. Wilber pulled Res. 364 for individual consideration. After some brief confusion among members of the board over what exactly the resolution entailed, the motion passed, officially requesting Governor Kathy Hochul to sign legislation passed by both houses of the state legislature that “removes expenditures for EMS services from the real property tax cap allowing local municipalities to maintain, expand, and better support their local EMS services.”
Late resolutions—Res. 375 through Res. 378—were adopted, approving the purchase of property for bridge repairs, compensatory pay for election workers, support for the Operation Green Light military service recognition initiative, and official honoring of West, respectively. Rep. Kennedy then requested the meeting enter executive session to discuss Res. 379, a resolution to approve the purchase of 386.86 acres of land adjacent to County Highway 33W for the construction of a new county facility. After returning to public session, the board unanimously approved the resolution before adjourning for the day.
More detailed information regarding the tentative county budget for 2026 can be found on the county’s official website at https://www.otsegocountyny.gov/index.php. The public hearing regarding the 2026 tentative budget will be held at the Otsego County Courthouse on Tuesday, November 25 at 6 p.m. The next regular session of the Otsego County Board of Representatives will be on Wednesday, December 3 at 10 a.m. This meeting can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=qpXhhqDF2k8.
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Photo courtesy of the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office Assistant EMS Coordinator Damon West (right) stands with Jaycee Trojanovich, the employee whose life he saved recently using the Heimlich maneuver. The Otsego County Board of Representatives honored West for his quick action at the recent board meeting.
candidates for taking a stand and running for office regardless of party or beliefs. I admit that it certainly is not an easy feat to do, but you all did it whether you are the victors or not. It is people like yourselves who are an inspiration to others who wish to help make progress and make a significant difference plus contribution to helping people regardless of whom they are.
Andrew (AJ) Hamill Oneonta
Eco-Yotta Still
Concerning
I write to you today to discuss my concerns about the Eco-Yotta’s proposed project involving data center servers and hydroponically-grown agriculture.
My primary concern is the fact that this project has been proposed to be built on land that is not zoned for this use. The overwhelming majority of local residents do not want this zone change. Eco-Yotta has been disingenuous in its presentation of this project. The couple purchased this land with the plan for development of this project knowing full well that this land is zoned for residential/agricultural use. They have been stating at board meetings that there is much disinformation circulating about the initial proposal for a data center. These statements are contrary to documents filed by Tirusha Dave on May 1, 2025. The application for a zoning amendment filed by her states: “The parcel is proposed to be zoned to Industrial to accommodate a data center.” “The total area for which the zone change is requested is 153.43 acres.” “Proposed use: Operation of a data center.” “Proposed change: Amend the ordinance to include data centers and associated utility infrastructure as a permitted or special use in Industrial zone.”
Data center emissions release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. New infrastructure will be required to support any expansion of this usage, with communities typically paying this cost in the form of higher utility bills. Our community members are already struggling with historically high utility bills.
Data centers’ continuous operation generates significant heat, requiring energy intensive cooling systems to maintain optimal temperatures. Water based cooling systems can consume anywhere from 18,000
gallons to more than 5 million gallons of water per day, depending upon size and technology.
Data centers generate constant noise pollution from cooling systems and on-site generators. These run 24/7, making the noise unacceptable for neighbors. Noise is especially noticeable in rural areas. All of these factors make placement of data servers in a residential area totally unacceptable for those who continue to live there, not to mention the adverse effects on their property values. The EcoYotta project has morphed several times, with the latest iteration now a research project which will use servers to generate heat to grow lettuce. The total price tag for this project is estimated to be between $3.5-5 million, a hefty cost if the end result is hydroponic efficiency.
I have seen literature that discusses reusing the heat that data centers produce, which may be ideal for the root zone heating in hydroponic systems. Eco-Yotta argues that their project “is an attempt to mitigate those negative impacts by offsetting them for agricultural purposes…and in the long term expanding similar projects to other farms across the region for edge computing, distributed AI computer infrastructure” [“Tour with Eco-Yotta Unpacks AI Research Center Proposal,” https:// www.allotsego.com/ tour-with-eco-yotta-officials-unpacks-ai-researchcenter-proposal/]. The bottom line is that they are still promoting AI computer infrastructure. While this may be an interesting project to contemplate, it would still require a zone change for this beautiful, pristine land.
Once developed, the character of this land is forever changed. The Oneonta Planning Board advised against the zone change, twice, and the community does not want the zone change or this project.
There are far more sustainable ways to promote energy efficiency in hydroponic farming than introducing environmentally-destructive AI technology to this area. There are also multiple industrially-zoned acres of land available for this use and it is baffling to many why this company is insisting upon changing the zoning for this farm land when they knowingly purchased a substantial parcel of land zoned specifically for residential/agricultural use. It has been noted that land for data centers is often sought in low-income or rural areas due to the availability of cheaper land. The taxpaying residents of this town, who live, work, and raise their families here deserve to have their voices heard and respected.
Patricia Jacob Climate Smart Task Force Coordinator, Town of Oneonta Former Oneonta Town Board member
Pantries
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food pantries and other resources available for food. In addition, for seniors 60+, we are seeing minimal impact. Some seniors still have benefits on their card from previous months, or are utilizing local food pantries until their November benefits are resumed. We are working with the handful of cases that have expressed an immediate need and
either connecting them to a food pantry or providing meals from our Central Kitchen.”
Still, those benefits may take time to fully kick in. Already seeing more than 900 visitors in October, the most since November 2017, the Cooperstown Food Pantry expects to serve over a thousand people this November.
Kleffner said there’s also a supply side issue. Between the federal government’s new tariffs and cuts to the United States Department of Agriculture and its Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, Kleffner said he has seen the cost of cans of food rise from about 10 cents to 65-70 cents per can.
When SNAP benefits stop, there is also a broader impact than those who lose their benefits. Suppliers lose customers, including local farmers.
At the same time, donations have gone up.
“When things are tight, you would think the donations would drop, and some of them will,”
Margie Aiken of the Oneonta Salvation Army told AllOtsego. “But you’ll also hear people as they give, who say they’re still surviving, and sometimes they might even be on the cusp of needing our assistance, but they’ll come by with a couple of dollars and they’ll say, ‘You know what, I was there once, and you helped me.’ And that just touches your heart every time.”
Kleffner said the same has been true at the Cooperstown Food
Pantry. The local NAACP, Girl Scout Troop 61019, Indivisible, and more have been running food drives. If possible, he said, they would also appreciate monetary donations so the pantry can buy in bulk to meet their specific needs.
Keck
Continued from page 1
Lucky to have a jurisdiction as small as Cooperstown, Keck said, he would often ride his bike to different properties.
In his September 25 notice to the Village Board of Trustees that he would not like another term as assessor, Keck wrote that he came to the decision in consultation with his wife and would still be available to support the transition, for free.
“The decision only made complete sense to me recently, as I am going to be 83 in May 2026, and would like to pursue my other interests before I die,” he wrote.
Those interests include sculpture art, painting his house, and making Induction Day covers with his son to raise money for the fire department.
“I’ll still be active,” he told AllOtsego.
Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh said Keck’s well-attended retirement party was a reflection of the value of his service.
“The Village of Cooperstown is extremely grateful to Al for his 25 years of dedicated service as a zoning enforcement officer, watershed inspector, and
village assessor. The number of individuals who attended his retirement gathering attest to the high regard in which he is held by us all,” she wrote in an e-mail.
One of Keck’s accomplishments was protecting the local watershed.
“The Village Of Cooperstown’s Otsego Lake Watershed Law established regulations for the inspection of On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems (i.e., holding tanks, septic systems, advanced treatment units) which lie within 500 feet of the shoreline of Otsego Lake or 100 feet from one of its tributaries, an area known as the ‘zone of protection,’” Tillapaugh explained.
Fifteen years ago, Tillapaugh shared, Keck and an engineer “identified, tested and inspected the approximately 375 systems in the zone of protection. An ongoing system of inspections was established which resulted in significant and measurable water quality improvements, including the reduction of phosphorus.”
Keck has been recognized by the Otsego Lake Association and Otsego County Conservation Association for his water protection work.
Keck said a worthy assessor successor will be someone who has the diligence to “make sure they get out every single year and record the changes [to properties] absolutely reliably.” He also stressed the importance of closely following village planning decisions.
Email General Manager Darla at
►Friday, Nov. 14
POSITIVITY
8:30-9:30 a.m. “Fill Your
Cup Friday.” Start the day with positive connections and comradery, share something positive, discuss action items to create positive change in our communities, enjoy a cup of coffee and more. Presented via Zoom by the Otsego County Conservation Association. Call (607) 547-4488 for details.
FILM FESTIVAL
10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Exceptional films, conversations, filmmaker talks, delicious local food, guided walks and more around the theme “Revolutions.” Held 11/13 through 11/17. Tickets required. Various location in the Village of Cooperstown. glimmerglassfilmdays.org
CRAFT CLASS
11 a.m. “Self-Watering Wine Bottle Planters.” Suggested donation applies; registration required. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
FOOD 4-5:30 p.m.
Take-out only starting at 5:15 p.m. “Your Safe Haven.” Free food each Monday through Friday. Bring your own Tupperware. One-story building behind St. James Episcopal Church, corner of Elm and Main streets, Oneonta.
DINNER 4:30-6 p.m. Free Spaghetti Dinner. Laurens Presbyterian Church, 3 Main Street, Laurens. (607) 2653354.
OPENING RECEPTION 5-7 p.m. “Holiday Art Show and Sale.” Held through 12/23. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5479777.
FUNDRAISER
6 p.m.; doors open at 5 p.m. “19th Annual GOHS Live and Online Benefit Auction.” Includes raffle, refreshments and more. Admission is free. Held for the first time in the newly renovated 3rd-floor ballroom, Oneonta History Center, 183 Main Street,
Things To Do In and Around Otsego County
Oneonta. (607) 4320960.
THEATRE 6 p.m. “One Act Play Festival.” Free with suggested donation. The Loft Theatre, Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4312080.
THEATRE 7:30 p.m. “Birthday Candles.” Presented by the Catskill Community Players. Tickets required. Also showing at 7:30 p.m. on 11/15 and at 2 p.m. on 11/16. Worcester Wieting Theatre, 168 Main Street, Worcester. info@catskillplayers.org.
►Saturday, Nov. 15
SALE 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Estate Sale: Super Sale.” Household items, furniture, tools, books, bedding and more. Continues 11/16. Proceeds benefit the Daily Bread Food Pantry. 41 Genesee Street (large garage in the back), Cherry Valley.
FUNDRAISER 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Super Heroes Humane Society Fall Rummage Sale. Continues 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 11/16. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 441-3227.
HOLIDAY 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Helping Hands Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair.” Otego Fire Department, 3 River Street, Otego.
HOLIDAY 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “Willow Snowflake Ornament with Sandra Kehoe.” Fees apply; registration required. All materials included. Butternut Valley Arts and Crafts Center, 124 West Main Street, Morris. (607) 263-2150.
WINTER FARMERS’ MARKET 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pathfinder Village, 3 Chenango Road, Edmeston. (607) 965-8377.
PLANETARIUM Family-friendly shows open to the public. Fees apply. SUNY Oneonta Planetarium, Perna Science Building, Room 018A, Oneonta. (607) 4362011.
Time OuT OTsegO
Things To Do In and Around Otsego County
• 10:30 a.m. “Cultures in the Cosmos.” • 11:30 a.m. “The Sky Tonight.”
FOOD 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Saturday’s Bread.” Sit-down meal served hot. Take-out available. Held each Saturday. First United Methodist Church, 66 Church Street Oneonta.
FOOD DRIVE Noon to 3 p.m. “Fill The Gap.” Food drive to support the Cooperstown Food Pantry. Presented by CooperstownOneonta Indivisible and the Otsego County Democratic Committee. In the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, 25 Church Street, Cooperstown.
FUNDRAISER Noon to 2 p.m. “Empty Bowls Luncheon.” Soup and bread in a hand-thrown bowl of your choosing. Fees apply; proceeds benefit the Cooperstown Food Pantry. Held at the Christ Church Parish Hall, 69 Fair Street, Cooperstown.
THEATER 1 p.m. “The Laramie Project: Auditions.” Try out for a part in the powerful and moving documentary-style play about the aftermath of a real life 1998 hate crime in Laramie, Wyoming. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080.
QUILTING 1-4 p.m.
“Block of the Month Class.” Fees apply; registration required. Leatherstocking Quilts, 155 Main Street, Suite B, Oneonta. (607) 4413111.
HOLIDAY 1-3 p.m.
“Easy Appetizers: Holiday Tips and Tastings.” Fees apply. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 285-4111.
SEWING CLASS
1:30-3 p.m. All experience levels welcome. Held every Saturday. The Green Giraffe, 179 Main
Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3234.
LOCAL HISTORY
2 p.m. “History of Conservation Efforts on Otsego Lake.” Informal discussion with Dr. Willard Harman on decades of studying and caring for Otsego Lake. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Route 11, Hartwick. (607) 293-6600.
BENEFIT 3-5 p.m. “Basket Bingo.” Fundraiser for the Township of Laurens Banners for Heroes Project. Fees apply. Laurens American Legion, 11 Main Street, Laurens. yreckert@yahoo.com
OUTDOORS
3:30-5 p.m. “Tree Walk: Revolutions in the Village.” Presented by the Otsego County Conservation Association. Part of Glimmerglass Film Days. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5474488.
POTTERY
4:30-6:30 p.m. “Saturday Night Out: A Pottery Immersion Workshop.” Groups or individuals learn/expand wheelthrowing skills. Tickets required. Azure Arts, 1149 Allen Lake Road, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-8899.
MUSIC 5:30 p.m. “Hartwick Celebration Choir Concert.” Anderson Theater, Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta.
THEATRE 6 p.m. “One Act Play Festival.” Free with suggested donation. The Loft Theatre, Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4312080.
MOVIE NIGHT
6:30 p.m. “Nightmare Before Christmas: Movie and Crafts.” Edmeston Free Library, 26 East Street, Edmeston. (607) 965-8208.
CONCERT 7 p.m. “Sanctus Real Concert.” Tickets required. Otsego Christian Academy, 353 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-0141.
VETERANS CONCERT
7 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m. “UNCAGED: Zac Brown Tribute.” Free to U.S. veterans. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4312080.
►SuNday, Nov. 16
WORKSHOP 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “Willow Baskets with Sandra Kehoe.” Fees apply; registration required. All materials included. Butternut Valley Arts and Crafts Center, 124 West Main Street, Morris. (607) 263-2150.
MEDITATION
11 a.m. “Sundays at Samye: The Practical Bodhisattva—How to Be a Spiritual Hero in Everyday Life.” Meditation, study and discussion. Held Sundays through 12/21. Samye New York, 412 Glimmerglen Road, Cooperstown. (607) 5475051.
WORKSHOP Noon to 3 p.m. “Artist Talk: Rebirthing the Ancient Rituals and Songs.” Prepare for the Cherry Valley Koliada, to be held 2/6 and 2/7. The Telegraph School at the Cherry Valley Old School Café, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-3785.
QUEST 1-3 p.m.
“Family Quest at the Yager Museum.” Complete six fun tasks to collect clues and solve the mystery. Recommended for families with children ages 5-12. Yager Museum of Art and Culture, Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta. (607) 431-4480.
WORKSHOP 1-4 p.m.
“Sterling Silver Spinner Rings” Presented by Marissa Perkins. Fees apply; registration required. 25 Main Collective, 21 Main Street, Cherry Valley. 25maincollective@gmail. com.
CONCERT 3 p.m.
Friends of Music of Stamford present internationally acclaimed chamber musicians Nina Bernat, double bass, and Anthony Ratinov, piano. Suggested donation applies. First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, 96 Main Street, Stamford. friendsmusic.
org
SING-ALONG 3 p.m.
“Wicked: Sing-Along Screening.” Fees apply; all ages welcome. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080.
BEAVER WALK
3:30 p.m. Led by wetland and beaver specialists. Presented by the Otsego Land Trust. Part of Glimmerglass Fim Days Festival. Free; registration required. Lordsland Preserve, 512 Gage Road, Roseboom. (607) 547-2366.
FOOD 4 p.m. Free Sunday meal at the Salvation Army, 25 River Street, Oneonta.
►MoNday,
Nov. 17
FOOD 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Awareness to Action” Food Drive. Help those fighting food insecurity. Continues daily through 11/21. Opportunities for Otsego, 3 West Broadway, Oneonta. (607) 433-8005.
EXERCISE CLASS 9 a.m. Free; all welcome. Held each Monday and Thursday. Strawberry Hall, Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 3977309.
CRAFT CLASS 11 a.m. “Watercolor Holiday Cardmaking.” Suggested donation applies; registration required. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
SENIOR MEALS
Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal MondayFriday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $11 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of chicken and wild rice casserole, beets, cauliflower, and pears. (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 12:30 p.m. “Tech Support with Eric.” Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com. FILM Noon.
Screening of the film “Keeper.” Presented by Glimmerglass Film Days. Tickets required. Fenimore Farm and Country Village, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5478881.
CONNECTIONS
12:15 p.m. Beginner Tai Chi. Held Mondays and Thursdays. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com.
CONNECTIONS
12:30 p.m. “Painting with Marjorie Landers: The ‘Giving’ Santa Plate.” Fees apply; registration required. Continues 11/24 and 12/1. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com.
TECHNOLOGY HELP 2-3 p.m. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661. COOKBOOK CLUB 6 p.m. Make a favorite casserole or get inspired by the cookbooks in the library, and bring a dish to share. Edmeston Free Library, 26 East Street, Edmeston. (607) 9658208.
LIBRARY 6:30 p.m. Board Meeting. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
MUSIC 7:30 p.m. “Hartwick College Rock Ensemble Concert.” Anderson Theater, Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta.
►tueSday, Nov. 18
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS 8-9 a.m. Local community members gather to chat about what’s happening around Oneonta. Held each Tuesday. Green Earth Health Market, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-6600.
COMMUNITY HIKE 9:45 a.m. Hike with the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Bring appropriate equipment/water and be aware of your level of fitness. This week’s hike will be at the Lower Robert V. Riddell State Park, Davenport. Contact hike leader Linda Pearce, (607) 432-8969.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP 10-11:30 a.m. Free drop-in group open to all aged 18+. Facilitated by staff trained in grief and loss. This is a safe and confidential space to focus on understanding the grief process. Held third Tuesday of each month. St. James Church, 305 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-5525 to register.
SERVICES 2-4 p.m. Q&A with the Otsego County Office for the Aging on programs, services, Medicare and more. Held 3rd Tuesday of each month. Edmeston Free Library, 26 East Street, Edmeston. (607) 5474232.
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Visit allotsego.com/ otsego-county-events-calendar/ for the full calendar