The Freeman's Journal 01-30-25

OUNDED

M C

IA

JU

DG

E WIL

L

Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper

1808 BY

OOP

E

•F

IN

R

founded in 1808

winter carnival highlights, page 3 VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 217, No. 5

Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, January 30, 2025

Newsstand Price $1

Councilmembers Appoint Haney as Interim Supervisor

By DARLA M. YOUNGS

T

HARTWICK own of Hartwick officials have appointed an interim supervisor, and she has hit the ground running.

“My first day is today,” wrote Connie Haney in an e-mail on Wednesday, January 22. “I started working with Town Clerk Andrea Vasquez last night, after the board’s work session meeting. My first week will be familiarizing myself with key aspects of operation, such as payroll, bill paying and banking.

“Taking care of the town employees’ livelihood is extremely important,” she said.

Haney, co-owner of the Cooperstown Bat Company with husband Tim, was appointed interim supervisor on Tuesday, January 21, following a motion

by Bryan LoRusso. Councilmembers Chris Briggs, Bruce Markusen, LoRusso and Tom Murphy— often at loggerheads since the resignation of former Supervisor Robert O’Brien—voted unanimously in favor of moving forward with Haney taking the lead.

“To be honest, Ms. Haney was an obvious great candidate,” LoRusso said in an e-mail on Monday, January 27. “Mr. Murphy and I were just waiting for Mr. Markusen and Mr. Briggs to agree on the appointment.

“With regard to town business moving forward, I have no doubt we will move forward productively, constitutionally and factually with Ms. Haney. As a small business owner, common sense and logic applies each and every day. Running a town is not extremely different than running a small business.

Many key functions apply. I hope this will be the most productive 11 months this town has seen in a very long time,” LoRusso said.

“I am pleased that the board has been able to come together to unanimously vote for Connie Haney as interim town supervisor,” Markusen said on Continued on page 7 INSIDE ► STATE POLS TO SPEAK AT TEACHER CONFERENCE, page 2 ► CHEFS GRILL FOR A GOOD CAUSE, page 3 ► MALONE BUSTS ANOTHER MYTH, page 4 ► WINTER CARNIVAL AIMS TO FIGHT OFF BLUES, page 4 ► LEAF’S NEW DIRECTOR OFFERS STRATEGIES FOR THE SEASON, page 5 ► HELIOS CARE HEAD MOVING ON, page 7 ► CALENDAR, page 10 Follow Breaking News On

Photo provided

From left, SUNY Oneonta President Dr. Alberto Cardelle, SUNY Oneonta Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Innovation and Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Bernadette Tiapo, essay contest winners Julianna Everson (9th grade, Worcester Central School), Evangeline Trask (5th grade, Greater Plains Elementary School), Evie Chen (8th grade, Oneonta Middle School), Sallie Han, professor for the Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence, Van Havercome, associate director, Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence, and Erin Francisco, assistant director of DEI Projects and Initiatives.

Iconic Civil Rights Voice Keynotes MLK Breakfast; Essay Winners Announced

By TERESA WINCHESTER

T

ONEONTA he official 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Day was on January 20—that date falling during SUNY Oneonta’s winter break. However, the revered civil rights leader was not to be forgotten. On Monday, January 27, King’s legacy was commemorated by a community breakfast held at Hunt Union on the SUNY Oneonta campus. The keynote address was

given by singer and civil rights icon, Bettie Mae Fikes.

Fikes was born in Selma, Alabama in 1946 and is known as “the Voice of Selma” for her powerful singing as part of the Civil Rights Movement. On Monday, she spontaneously interspersed her unscripted talk with lyrics from gospel and protest songs and urged those present to “keep a song in your heart.”

Born into a family of gospel singers and preachers, Fikes sang

her first church solo at age 4. She traveled with her parents’ vocal groups, the SB Gospel Singers and the Pilgrim Four. She performed at both the 1964 and 2004 Democratic National Conventions. In 2020, she sang at the funeral services for John Lewis, an early civil rights activist who later became a congressman from Georgia’s 5th district.

Fikes was known for replacing traditional lyrics of gospel songs Continued on page 6

Otsego Lake Data to Serve National Research Project

T

OTSEGO COUNTY he work of SUNY Oneonta Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Kiyoko Yokota was recently selected for a National Science Foundation Research Opportunity Award, supplement to a Collaborative Research Project: “MRA: On thin ice-implications of shorter winters for the future of freshwater phytoplankton phenology and function.”

The $50,356.00 award, via the University of Missouri-Columbia, enables Dr. Yokota to purchase sampling gear and provide paid undergraduate research experiences in winter limnology—the exploration of the biological, geological, physical, and chemical characteristics of lakes during the winter season. Samples and data from Otsego Lake will be analyzed in conjunction with those from 17 other lakes across the continental U.S.

Photo provided

Samples and data from Otsego Lake will be analyzed in conjunction with those from 17 other lakes across the continental U.S.

According to 175 years of ice cover data captured for Otsego Lake, the scientists at the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station recorded zero days of ice cover for the winters of 2001-2002, 2011-2012, 20162017, and 2023-2024. In winter 2022-2023, complete ice cover formed on February 4, but the lake was completely free of ice by February 20, with total duration of 16 days.

“For this most recent research initiative, we have been sampling Otsego Lake since May 2024 and will continue until April 2026,” Dr. Yokota said.

“Last winter, Otsego Lake technically had a complete ice cover, but it was too thin to walk on for sampling or recreation, activities that traditionally took place every year with certainty,” continued Yokota.

“This winter, a lake-wide ice cover was first observed last Sunday from our Biological Continued on page 8

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S AWARD-WINNING WEEKLIES 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD

A-2 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

NEWS BRIEFS

Museum Announces Lecture

CAA To Host Watercolor Class

SARATOGA SPRINGS—The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, 61 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs, will host a series of free public lectures through April. Local historian Amy Godine will present the first talk at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, with a lecture on African Americans who settled in the Adirondacks and fought in the Civil War. Godine is the author of “The Black Woods: Pursuing Racial Justice on the Adirondack Frontier,” published by Cornell University Press. It describes the experiences of free Blacks who built a farming settlement known as Timbuctoo near Lake Placid in conjunction with abolitionist leader John Brown.

Godine’s exhaustive research of Civil War pension records at the National Archives reveals the life-changing individual, community and political impact of military service in a war of emancipation. She is a founding Fellow of the New York Academy of History and a recipient of the Larry Hackman State Archives Research Fellowship, the John Brown Spirit of Freedom Award, and the Weyerhaeuser Book Award.

COOPERSTOWN—Local artist Emily Falco will lead an introductory watercolor class at the Cooperstown Art Association’s upstairs classroom space in the Village Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 15. The class is designed for beginners and those with some watercolor experience, and will be most rewarding for those with experience drawing from life. Materials are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring preferred supplies. There is a $125.00 fee for CAA members ($130.00 for non-members). To register, contact gallery@cooperstownart.com or (607) 547-9777.

Educational Forum Slated

NY Gains Private-sector Jobs

MILFORD—The Catskill Regional Teacher Center will hold its 21st Annual Legislative Forum at Springbrook’s Family Engagement Center, 105 Campus Drive, Oneonta, from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, February 13. The center, which serves 35 districts and two BOCES in six counties, will invite state legislators including Assemblymembers Brian Miller and Joseph Angelino and Senator Peter Oberacker. Teachers, administrators, education students, parents, and other concerned groups are invited to attend and submit questions. For more information or to RSVP, contact CRTCNY.org@ gmail.com or (607) 436-3920.

ALBANY—Preliminary seasonally adjusted figures released by the New York State Department of Labor on January 23 indicate that the state gained 7,200 private-sector jobs, a monthly increase of 0.1 percent, in December. The new total of more than 8.4 million is an increase of 1.3 percent, or 108,800 jobs, over December 2023, matching the U.S. annual increase. New York’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate and labor force participation held constant at 4.4 percent and 61.2 percent, respectively. The state trails the nationwide job growth rate, and slight unemployment growth in New York City offset a decline in the rest of the state. Private education and health services led new hiring, increasing their workforce by 5.1 percent over the year. To view the full report, visit www.dol.ny.gov.

Quilt Show Starts Saturday COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Art Association’s 34th Annual Fenimore Quilt Club Show will be on display in the Village Hall Galleries from February 1-16. It features more than 50 quilts and quilted items in traditional and contemporary designs, as well as a special display and sale in memory of founding member Betty Giffin. The club’s special collector’s quilt will be raffled on Sunday, February 16, with tickets available throughout the exhibit run. The show is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 1-4 p.m. on Sundays.

Ponce To Speak at CANO ONEONTA—The Community Arts Network of Oneonta will kick off its new season of Writers Salon with award-winning fiction author Pedro Ponce at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 20. He will give a reading and Q&A based on his recent short story collection, “The Devil and the Dairy Princess.” Writers Salon, held at 11 Ford Avenue, is free and open to the public.

‘Soccertown USA’ To Open ONEONTA—The Greater Oneonta Historical Society’s spring exhibition, “Oneonta: Soccertown USA,” will open on February 1 for display through June. It will explore the city’s history of youth soccer, OHS programs, Hartwick and SUNY Oneonta soccer, and the National Soccer Hall of Fame. There will be an opening reception from 56:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 1. GOHS is open

$1,500* SIGN-ON

noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.oneontahistory.org.

Blood Drive Planned at Fox ONEONTA—A.O. Fox Hospital will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive in the Levine Conference Room from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5. Donors will receive a $15.00 e-gift card to the merchant of their choice.

Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments may be made by calling 1 (800) RED-CROSS, visiting www.redcrossblood.org, or using the American Red Cross Blood Donor App. Someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds, and one pint can save up to three lives.

Concert, Cakewalk Planned COOPERSTOWN—Fenimore Chamber Orchestra will present a free concert as part of the Cooperstown Winter Carnival in the ballroom of the Village Library at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 1. The orchestra will partner with Christ Church Episcopal to hold a Cakewalk Benefit for the Cooperstown Food Pantry at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 2. In addition to free hot chocolate and coffee, participants can win baked goods donated by the community. Tickets for this family-friendly event are limited and cost $10.00 for an individual and $30.00 for a family. They may be purchased at the door or from Melissa Manikas at Cooperstown State Farm, 29 Pioneer Street. For more information, visit cooperstownwintercarnival.com.

FoVL Observes Library Month COOPERSTOWN—Friends of the Village Library of Cooperstown will observe National Library Lovers’ Month in February, beginning with its annual Winter Carnival Book Sale in the Village Hall Board Room from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, January 31 through Sunday, February 2. Book donations may be delivered at the Fair Street entrance from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, January 30.

FoVL and the Welcome Home Cooperstown Committee will hold a family-friendly community gathering to celebrate libraries on Tuesday, February 4. There will be a bookmark craft and remarks by Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh. Local artist Peg Donahue has created custom Library Month posters that will be available to the public by donation. Local businesses interested in getting involved should contact Continued on page 9

Coop Sports Wrapped

Join Our Team of Dedicated and Caring Professionals

HIGHER RATES. BIGGER INCENTIVES. BRIGHTER FUTURES.

Emergency Housing Shelter Associate Weatherization Crew laborer Early Head Start Home Visitor Toddler Classroom Teacher

Inspir� Po�sibility

FT Head Start Positions - with school breaks and summers off: Preschool Classroom Teacher Preschool Assistant Teacher Preschool Classroom Aide OFO is a family-oriented organization offering competitive wages, excellent benefits and opportunities for professional growth. For details on our current openings, our benefit package summary, and TO APPLY, visit www.ofoinc.org/jobs EOE

SPRINGBROOKNY.ORG/APPLY OR TEXT APPLY TO 607-602-1927

The leader in developing innovative solutions to promote healthy lives, thriving families, and caring communities since 1966.

SUBSCRIBE: 607-547-6103

COOPERSTOWN— Cooperstown girls basketball overcame a 20-15 halftime deficit to beat Dolgeville 54-42 at home on Tuesday, January 21.

Seniors Polly Kennedy and Brenna Seamon each scored 11 points; Seamon also had nine rebounds, seven assists and six steals.

Seventh-grader Emma Johnson added 10 points and five rebounds, and eighth-grader Lanie Nelen had nine points.

Johnson put away another 19 points and six rebounds in the Hawkeyes’ 69-16 trouncing of MorrisvilleEaton on Friday, January 24. Senior Mia Kaltenbach added 14 points and four steals, and Seamon had five points, nine rebounds, 10 steals, and eight assists.

Cooperstown stands at Continued on page 8

Attention

Interviewing for: Advertising Sales Agent Applicants are currently being sought for the position of advertising sales agent to represent “The Freeman’s Journal,” “Hometown Oneonta” and “AllOtsego” media outlets. Required skills include: Excellent communication skills essential. • Driver’s license necessary Must be able to work both independently and as part of a team.

Experience preferred but not necessary; will train the right candidate.

Please send cover letter and resume to info@allotsego.com, with “Sales Position” in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

16--$18/hr + plus commission

$

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-3

Farmers’ Market Benefit Features Local Chefs and Local Cheese COOPERSTOWN tsego 2000 will host Grilled Cheese for a Good Cause on Sunday, February 2 from 5:307:30 pm. The event, which raises funds for the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, will feature gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, soup, and desserts made by local chefs, and local beer, wine, and cider. Held during the Cooperstown Winter Carnival, Grilled Cheese for a Good Cause will take place in the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, 101 Main Street in Pioneer Alley.

Chefs participating include: Tim Searles of Doubleday Café, Brian Wrubleski of Mel’s at 22, Jesse Pascale of Rock

O

Hill Farm, Michelle Iannelli-Rubin of Social Eats Café, Dasang Gurung of Norbu, Peter Calhoun of The Otesaga Resort Hotel, Anthony Leberto of Brimstone Bakery, Julio Rubio of the Lakehouse 1843, Dan Wisnosky of the Elm Inn, Josh Rumberger of the Tryon Inn, Edwin Vazquez from the Freight Wheel Café, Chloe Ford of Chloe’s Bakeshop, and Alex Webster, the CFM manager, who also owns Alex’s World Picnic.

Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches will be made with local cheeses, including Painted Goat Farm chèvre, Mountain View Dairy Swiss and Camembert, Byebrook Farm Gouda, Harpersfield Farmstead tilsit, Spur-

beck’s cheddar, and Trollbok Farm hushållsost (Swedish farmer cheese).

The Stoddard Hollow String Band will perform traditional American music and feature Marvin Zachow (fiddle and vocals), Ed McGee (banjo), Frank Frazzitta (guitar and vocals), and Tom Ives (bass).

“Grilled Cheese for a Good Cause has become a much beloved midwinter tradition since we started it in 2012, now an annual finale to the Cooperstown Winter Carnival. We are grateful to our talented local chefs and cheesemakers for making fundraising for the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market so delicious and fun,” said Ellen Pope, executive director

of Otsego 2000.

Pope noted that last year’s event sold out in advance.

“We also are very grateful to Heidelberg for donating bread,” she added.

Tickets to the event are $35.00 for adults and $15.00 for children 6-12 years. Children under six are admitted free of charge. Admission includes tastes of chef’s grilled cheese creations, soup, dessert, and one free beer, wine, or cider.

Space is limited. Tickets can be purchased online at www.otsego2000.org, by calling (607) 5478881, or by stopping in between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Otsego 2000 Photo provided offices in Pioneer Alley. Karen Katz chats up Anthony Leberto at last year’s Grilled Cheese for a Good Cause event.

Carnival Kicks Off with Fireworks, Wraps Up with Blizzard Bash COOPERSTOWN ow in its 57th year, the Cooperstown Winter Carnival returns Thursday, January 30 through Sunday, February 2 with a vibrant lineup of events. The festivities kick off Thursday evening at The Otesaga Resort Hotel with hot chocolate, fireworks and a special address by Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh.

Winter Carnival highlights include annual events such as the Fenimore Quilt Club Show, Family Movie Night, a Village Scavenger Hunt and Trivia Night.

“This year we have snow, so don’t miss out on the outdoor fun, like sledding and a Snowpal Making Contest at Lakefront Park, free ice skating at Badger Park, and an ice sculpture at Pioneer Park,” organizers said.

Live music can be heard throughout the weekend at The Otesaga and Brewery Ommegang, and Fenimore

N

Chamber Orchestra will present a free concert on Saturday in the Village Library ballroom.

Throughout the weekend, there are new events not to be missed, including a spooky tour of ghost stories at the Baseball Hall of Fame, a balloon artist at the Beverage Exchange, a reading of “Bridget Finds a Home” at the Landmark Inn, flower arranging instructions from Hanna at Mohican Flowers, a fun ice slide at Pioneer Park, a mitten silent auction at Rigby Handcrafts, and the debut of the Snowglobe Disco Party at Templeton Hall.

The carnival concludes Sunday with the Blizzard Bash at Doubleday Field Parking Lot, featuring family-friendly activities, live ice sculpting by Aaron Pencar, special character appearances, and a dazzling Tesla Car Light Show to end the weekend on a high note. Check out the full event schedule online at cooperstownwintercarnival.com.

The 2025 Cooperstown Winter Carnival is supported by these fine establishments:

105 Campus Drive 607-286-7171 www.Springbrookny.org

On-Line Store Open All Year!

Mill Store re-opens May 9th 288 Goose Street, Fly Creek www.flycreekcidermill.com

Year-round Family Fun! Day Passes, group reservations and affordable membership rates available.

Swimming & Diving Pools • Indoor Rock Climbing • Multi-use Gym Floor Running Track • Trackman Golf Simulator • Outdoor Ropes Course 8-lane Bowling Alley • Fitness Game Room • Pickleball, Racquetball, Squash & Doubles Squash Courts • Group Fitness Classes • Tennis Center 6500 sq. ft. Fitness Center with Cardio Machines, Weights & Sports Performance Area • Softball & Soccer Fields • Room Rentals & Much More!

www.clarksportscenter.com

WeAreCooperstown.com

Peter A. Deysenroth 82 Chestnut Street Cooperstown 607-547-8231 All Local Events. All in One Place cooperstownfuneralhome.com

207 Main Street | Cooperstown www.mohicanflowers.com 607-547-8222

Saturday, February 1 | 6pm - 9 pm THE DEAD OF WINTER RHYTHM AND BREWS FEATURING “GRATEFUL UPSTATE TOODELOO”

CONSIGNMENT AND GOODS FOR THE HOME

CLUTTER

Sunday, February 2 | 10:15 - 1 pm SUNDAY BRUNCH BINGO AT THE TAP HOUSE At the Tap House:

Sam Smith’s Boatyard

RECYCLE • REPURPOSE • RELOVE&& &( *! !&$ &%)" %$ %* % 6098 State Route 80, Cooperstown Cooperstownclutter@gmail.com 607-547-2543

Cafe Mondays Noon - 7pm | Trivia Thursdays 6pm - 8pm

656 County Highway 33 | Cooperstown Visit our website to see ALL of the events and specials:

www.ommegang.com

Perspectives

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

A-4 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL editorial

The myth-busting economist

Talking Back to the Winter Doldrums

T

hey are upon us again. Those dark, gloomy, cold, cloudy, lonely, empty days, wherein pretty much nothing happens. Indeed, we have suffered through the lightless winter solstice, managed to put away the glitzy holiday season, and figured out what we need from the January white sales. And now we have—the winter doldrums. It’s a curiously long way to spring.

The word doldrums emerged from the very difficult sailing area around the equator known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone, where winds are light or nonexistent and a sailboat, no matter how big or small, can be stuck there for a long time, its crew running out of food and water, and forced to endure inactivity, boredom, and the resulting depression. This quite large area of the Atlantic, which is centered around the Sargasso Sea (a weed-infested sea with no land borders), has been much glorified by the later term Bermuda Triangle, which has through the years endured many hurricanes, weather extremes including lengthy, depressing doldrums, and magnetic anomalies, which threaten successful navigation. Here, many a ship and airplane has disappeared, providing a feast for all manner of creative, mostly literary, explanations.

So, we are left with the doldrums. They can describe almost anything that’s in a slump, from economic doldrums to sports, to cultural and real estate doldrums, but the really offensive doldrums are simply those of winter, and this is where we are right now. We are in a slump, just waiting for the sun to shine, the daffodils to bloom and the birds to sing. It’s a perfect time for the Cooperstown Winter Carnival, instigated in 1967 to, in the beginning, provide a recreational and social diversion for the people of the village and to, as the carnival volunteers say, celebrate the whimsical, uplifting spirit of winter. It is also, brilliantly, a concrete harbinger of spring.

Our feisty little carnival is not the first of its kind (nor is it in its 57th year, as is stated; it is rather in its 58th, as it was founded in 1967 by the Cooperstown Ski Club and the Chamber of Commerce, and it’s on track for its 60th anniversary, which the powers that be say will be in 2027, a tad confusing). Carnivals—also known as winter festivals, snow festivals, and frost fairs—have been around since 695, when the Thames River froze for six weeks, and everyone took to the ice for food, games, and goods. The great Frost Fair of 1683-84 was claimed a Bacchanalian triumph, with two months of horse- and coach-racing, ice skating, puppet shows, bullbaiting, football, bowling, sledding and foxhunting, all out on the frozen river. By the early 19th century the climate had become milder, and the Thames stopped freezing over.

There are carnivals across the world, many, some small, for their own residents, and others larger and longer-lived. They are pretty much all run by volunteers, focused on the health benefits of the great outdoors, brimming with local camaraderie and organized to put an end to the deep winter doldrums.

The local, enthusiastic organizers of the Cooperstown Winter Carnival, under the auspices of the Cooperstown Lions Club, have scheduled all manner of outside activities to amuse and encourage us, and inside entertainment to keep us warm and happy. While it looks as if we are going to have a frozen Lake Otsego for this year’s carnival for the first time in several years, sled-dog and automobile races on the lake disappeared from the line-up some time ago, but we can go sledding at Lakefront Park, skating at Badger Park, make some really big snowmen, and finish off with a Blizzard Bash in Doubleday Field parking lot, complete with an insane Tesla light show. So come and eat, drink, shop, and play. The doldrums will disappear and spring will come.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

•F

OUNDED

M C

IA

JU

DG

E WIL

L

Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper

1808 BY

OOP

R

IN

E

“The Freeman’s Journal” 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, e-mail 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.

founded in 1808

a publication of Iron String Press, Inc. Publisher / Advertising Director

Tara Barnwell

General Manager / Senior Editor

Darla M. Youngs

Sales Consultant: Randy Christian Office Manager: Larissa Ryan Interns: Arya Patel and Sarah Roberts Columnists and Contributing Writers

Terry Berkson, Monica Calzolari, Rachel Frick Cardelle, Elizabeth Cooper, Richard deRosa, Caspar Ewig, Karolina Hopper, Wriley Nelson, Joel J. Plue, Tom Shelby, Dan Sullivan, Teresa Winchester, Jamie Zvirzdin

Web Architect Xander Moffat

Historian

Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart

Legal Counsel

Jill Ann Poulson

Editorial Board

Tara Barnwell, Faith Gay, Michael Moffat, Elinor Vincent, Darla M. Youngs

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR Otsego County • Village of Cooperstown • Village of Milford Cooperstown Central School District MEMBER: National Newspaper Association, NY Press Association Subscription Rates: Otsego County, $69 a year. All other areas, $89 a year.

First Class Subscription, $155 a year.

Published Thursdays by Iron String Press, Inc. 21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown NY 13326 Telephone: 607-547-6103. Fax: 607-547-6080.

Email: info@allotsego.com • www.allotsego.com Contents © Iron String Press, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at USPS Cooperstown 40 Main Street, Cooperstown NY 13326-9598 USPS Permit Number 018-449

Postmaster Send Address Changes to: Box 890, Cooperstown NY 13326

Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of William Cooper is in the Fenimore Art Museum

T

Larry malone

Are Americans Still the Wealthiest People on Earth?

his time out, we remember an Oneonta legend and debunk a big myth concerning what it means to be wealthy. We also consider whether Americans are still the wealthiest people on Earth.

Most folks think you are wealthy if you have a lot of money. But having a ton of cash does not necessarily mean you are wealthy. That’s Photo provided one of the bigger myths about Photo of George Hamway from the Facebook Group “If how the economy works. To You Grew Up In Oneonta, NY, You May Remember…” debunk it, we only need to planning a $500 million wedding on revisit stories of individuals his $500 million yacht this summer? who die and leave behind loads of cash after appearing to be poor during their In recent years, those of us who are lifetimes. not members of the new oligarchy class had a painful reminder that inflation Years ago, there was one such makes us less wealthy if our wages and individual in our region by the name salaries don’t keep up with the prices of of George Hamway. George would sit the things we consume. We had to stop in his rusted pickup, parked opposite purchasing some of the necessities and Southside Mall in Oneonta, and wave “toys” that we normally bought with at passing vehicles. He was elfin in our hard-earned income. At the end of look and appeared destitute by every the day, the money we have at hand is visual yardstick. But George and his merely the means to achieve a comfortfamily had owned the land WalMart able standard of living and the occanow sits on, and large sums of cash sional enjoyment of some pleasures of were rumored to have been found in our choosing. his modest home after he died.

Since 1776, when Adam Smith Let’s assume George left a substanpublished his “Wealth of Nations,” tial cash hoard behind. From the economists have tried to compare the recollections of many, George wore wealth of different nations. Today, infrequently laundered clothing, rarely Gross Domestic Product (GDP), per showered, and spent most of his waking capita—the dollar share for each citizen time in the truck. Was he wealthy? The in the total produce of a nation—is used answer is a resounding NO. to compare the wealth of citizens in The true meaning of what it means different countries. It’s basically calcuto be wealthy is best captured in a lated by taking the GDP, which is the popular T-shirt from the 1980s. It total dollar value of everything a nation was white, with a quote attributed to produces in a year, and dividing that Malcolm Forbes in black letters: “He number by the total population.

Who Dies With the Most Toys Wins.”

According to the World Bank, the If you have lots of money, but spend U.S. GDP per capita (per person) in none of it, you are essentially poor.

2023 was $81,695.00. That means And if you are poor, due to a lack the average share of our national money, unwillingness to spend, or wealth for a household of four would misfortune, you aren’t as wealthy as be $326,780.00!

Gimme some of others because you don’t own what that, right? they own. That’s why the uber rich trot The reason the average U.S. houseout their wealth by launching themhold doesn’t have that much money selves into orbit and buying influence income is because a few households with the president. Did you hear that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are Continued on page 8

Letters to the editor … In their opinION

4Cs: Thanks for All Your Help!

The Cooperstown Community Christmas Committee (4Cs) extends sincere thanks to the following who went above and beyond for Santa this year: Cooperstown Central School Coaches Lambert and Talbot and the boys varsity basketball team, and Coach Lippitt and the varsity wrestling team, as well as the CCS football team, for their assistance in setting up, taking down, and painting the stanchions and barricades; the CCS kiosk volunteers; Tin Bin Alley; the Fly Creek Cider Mill; Mitch Hotaling and the Village of Cooperstown crew; Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh; the village Fire Department, Police Department, and Fire Police; the Lake and Valley Garden Club; KC Ryland; Decorating Day volunteers; Claire and Bob Satriano; and Gavin Grady and Emerson Toulson.

We have always known it takes a village to bring the Christmas magic to our beautiful village, and each and every year our volunteers step

up and make it happen.

The 4Cs appreciates all who gave their time this year!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Barb Cannon Head Elf, Cooperstown Community Christmas Committee

Please Support Crayon Carnival As we all recover from the excitement of the holidays and settle into the long, cold winter, community events can provide a bright social highlight for everyone. For decades, the Cooperstown PTA has hosted the Crayon Carnival at the school as a family-friendly and entertaining fundraiser. Last year, the generous financial support of the Cooperstown Central School community allowed us to host this event with no admission charge, and we were thrilled to see so many families enjoying themselves on a chilly spring morning, as it was rescheduled due to a March snowstorm.

The Cooperstown PTA is incredibly grateful for the generous donations we

received through our direct giving campaigns in 2023 and 2024. The funds raised have supported educational programs such as summer music lessons, high school field trips, and student-ofthe-month awards. We have even added new programs, including community Bingo and pizza night, hosted in 2023 and 2024, and scheduled again for February 13, 2025.

Successful community events require both financial support and volunteers, and we urgently need your help.

The Crayon Carnival was popular last year, drawing more than 250 children and family members. However, we faced a shortage of volunteers, making it challenging to run the event smoothly.

To ensure that the Crayon Carnival is safe and enjoyable for everyone in 2025, we need at least 20 adult volunteers committed to working twohour shifts to help with setup, supervision, and clean-up. No experience is necessary, and you can even volunteer while your kids play. We understand that schedules are busy, so we welcome volunteers who are Continued on page 7

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL A-5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025 news from the noteworthy

LEAF

Strategies for Battling Those Winter Blues

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

210 YEARS AGO

Fire—On Thursday morning last, at about 3 o’clock, the Distillery near Shankland’s Mills, owned by Mr. William Cook, which was just got into operation, was consumed by fire. His loss is estimated at about 1,000 dollars. Our villagers were again alarmed by the cry of fire, about 11 o’clock last evening, which proved to be in the shop of Jonah Foster, cooper, which was wholly consumed, but by the usual exertions of the citizens, the adjoining building was saved.

January 26, 1815

160 YEARS AGO

Will the South arm their slaves? This is a question which has been very fully discussed North and South, during the past two months. At the South the proposition has met with more opposition than favor, so far as we can judge from the tone of their papers and the speeches in the rebel Congress. The expediency of the movement has been seriously questioned; and we are inclined to think that the idea of a general arming of slaves has been abandoned. If the arming of the slaves is ever to be resorted to, it ought to be done now; and the fact that it is not being done seems to prove pretty clearly that the idea is not seriously entertained by Confederate leaders.

January 27, 1865

135 YEARS AGO

It is a sad task to record the death of one of the oldest and best known merchants of this village, Mr. William E. Cory, though that event had been apprehended for some time past. It occurred on Wednesday morning of this week in the 63rd year of his age after an illness, more or less severe or threatening, of several years. It has been a constant battle, which Mr. Cory fought out bravely, cheerfully, hopefully to the end. As long and often as it was possible for him to do so he came down to his store. We believe the last time he was out was on Election Day in November. Mr. Cory was clerk to his father and uncle, as he had been from his boyhood, and afterwards succeeded them in business. Mr. Cory leaves a widow and four children.

January 31, 1890

60 YEARS AGO

Dr. Charles A. Ashley, associate pathologist at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, was the speaker at the regular weekly luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club at the Hotel Otesaga on Tuesday. Dr. Ashley and Dr. Theodore Peters, Jr., research biochemist at Bassett, showed slides which illustrated the microscope’s capabilities with micrographs of specimens photographed through the instrument. The electron microscope employs a stream of electrons in place of a beam of light as used in conventional microscopes.

January 27, 1965

35 YEARS AGO

The Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, a group of veteran jazz musicians, will perform Friday, February 2, at 8 p.m. in Cooperstown’s Sterling Auditorium.

The band, which previously appeared in Cooperstown in 1979 and 1983, is the third offering in the 20th Anniversary Encore Season of the Cooperstown Concert Series.

January31, 1990

20 YEARS AGO

Dedicated students in area schools have already raised $4662 to help aid survivors of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Southeast Asia and eastern Africa in late December. At Milford Central School, a week-long series of efforts garnered $2,600 to help the people of Sri Lanka, shattering their $1,000 goal. The funds will be donated to Citihope, an international humanitarian relief organization based in Andes. School officials expressed their pride in the students’ efforts.

January 28, 2005

Solution: “Animals Are People Too” (January 23)

N

ew York winters can take a toll on the most resolute of bodies, minds and spirits. It is typical to be affected by the cold, gray, short days characteristic of this time of year. Seasonal affective disorder, appropriately abbreviated to SAD, is the technical term for the winter blues we are prone to in these early months.

Coping with isolation from social groups, reduced physical activity, lack of sunlight, and, worst of all, boredom, can be very challenging. I present a few easy-to-implement strategies for curbing winter blues, if only for a moment in your day.

Start with Centering Use this exercise to calm an overactive or cloudy mind.

Close your eyes and get in tune with your nonsight senses.

Take deep breaths as you ask yourself: • What is one thing I can hear? The tick of the clock.

• What is one thing I can feel? The fuzzy fibers of your blanket.

• What is one thing I can smell? The candle burning.

• What is one thing I can taste? The warm tea that’s cradled in your hands.

Notice the simple joys in life.

Connect by Disconnecting It’s easy to spend hours scrolling on cold days.

How do you feel after a day of indulging in social media content? Excessive use is not beneficial to

our happiness. Set a timer on your social media apps. When your limit expires, you will be automatically kicked off until the next day. This is an easy way to give yourself time for meaningful interactions with your loved ones. Invite a friend over, call your family, talk to the person standing next to you in line, and smile at the people you pass on the sidewalk. It’s amazing how receptive the world is to our involvement when we are present enough to engage.

Lean into Healthy Hobbies What are your favorite indoor activities? Do you like to read, draw, paint, knit, play music, play games, solve puzzles, organize, clean, paint your nails, cook, bake, decorate, plan, envision, dream? Individual, solo hobbies can be leveled up by inviting others to join in. All of the above activities can be done with others. Be creative in your ability to beat isolation. Be brave in inviting others to join you. The worst they can say is “no.”

Avoid Pitfalls There isn’t an easy button comprehensive enough to erase all adverse feelings from the world or even within the confines of our minds.

Advertisements offer self-proclaimed quick fixes to immediately solve the winter blues. Proceed with caution as Instagram and Facebook serve you targeted ads to buy non-FDA-approved vitamins and “natural” sunlight lamps, as convenience stores pedal nicotine and alcohol, as dispensaContinued on page 8

By MERL REAGLE

Farming It Out…

What’s a business meeting without a few corny jokes?

ACROSS 1 Beginning to love you?

4 T he Tao of Pooh author Benjamin 8 Spell-off 11 No relation?

14 “And now, to discuss ___ for a new project ...”

16 Wildly 18 “... here’s ___, our CEO, Old MacDonald!”

20 Bible bk.

21 “Bali ___” 22 The Phanerozoic, e.g.

23 Gary’s home: abbr.

24 Sheep loser 27 “Friends, I know there’s a ___ out there ...”

34 Personal items 35 Curtain material 37 Least sanguine 38 A Knute successor 39 Mower maker 40 Girl in the family 41 “This kind of thing ___ every so often ...”

45 “But I’ve never been one to ___ ...”

52 They resemble sunflowers 53 Met song 54 Steady guy 55 Guys and Dolls guy Frank 57 Colors-of-thespectrum mnemonic, ROY G. ___ 58 Bat stat 59 “So we lost ten million last year. That’s ___!”

63 Hard-to-beat quartet 65 I.M. the architect 66 “___ have to?”

67 Fleur-de-___ 68 Wave type 69 “Next year we’ll make ten billion, and ___!”

72 Carry the day 73 Cuz of “blah blah blah” 74 In ___ (worked up) 75 Earth extremes 77 Fashion icon 78 Up 81 “Once we have ___ ...”

85 “... this project will be a ___!”

87 Lodge member 88 Novelist Ambler 89 ___ standstill 90 Raiment 94 They get a lot of return business 95 Coll. degree 98 “So get ready to ___!”

103 Prince Philip’s fill-up?

105 Cell essential 106 Actor Wallach 107 Get something down?

109 Fury 110 “I’ll see you at next year’s ___ ...”

117 Makes an aural error 118 “But first, I’m going out to ___” 119 Avail oneself of 120 In need of drops 121 Plays out 122 Yard sward DOWN 1 Pet grouse?

2 Ready for the snap 3 Uniting words 4 Tribute 5 Walking ___ 6 Marsh 7 Memo abbr.

8 Earthlings and ETs 9 Golfer Ernie 10 Fey 11 “___ elaborate?”

12 Nothing but 13 Investment return: abbr.

14 Boutiques 15 Driving concern: abbr.

16 Call 17 Saucy one 18 Walked 19 Diamond on a CD

20 Kegler’s org.

25 Wellsian race 26 Second installment 28 Kid seen on TV Land 29 Arroyo 30 Plane watcher: abbr.

31 “___, big fella” 32 Like some colors 33 Shrill barks 36 Intelligible 39 Its TV jingles included “Up, Up and Away” 40 Feng ___ 42 Derby flowers 43 Yaks 44 Film holes, for short 45 Morocco’s capital 46 Vega$ star 47 Big name in body creme 48 Young TV witch 49 Made for grades 1-12, for short 50 King, in Savoie 51 Just say no 56 Superficial 59 Evasive 60 Refrain from solving this puzzle?

61 Sci. of bugs 62 Denounce 64 Put away 65 Thelonious’s thing 66 Bar missile 70 Evelyn’s brother 71 1980 hit, “___ So Shy”

72 TV bandleader 76 Piece 77 Certain party org.

78 Rent-___ 79 Tat-tat start 80 Other name of Karen (Blixen) 82 Intro to space 83 Cheese color?

84 Seine feeder 86 Angkor ___ 91 Conjecture 92 Tattles 93 “Look what ___!”

94 Titleholders 95 Kleenex or Xerox, for example 96 Verne traveler 97 Tankard refill 99 Uneven, as leaf edges 100 Worm’s length?

101 Sans 90 Across 102 Tale of derring-do 104 Tasted 108 ___ Aviv 110 School of Mustangs, briefly 111 The season opener?

112 Bit of wry laughter 113 Fabergé prize 114 Old car 115 Dawn goddess 116 Sequel word

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

MLK

Continued from page 1 with contemporary references. For instance, rather than singing, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine,” she would sing, “Tell Jim Clark, I’m going to let it shine.” Jim Clark was the Selma sheriff from 1955 to 1966, ignominiously remembered for his brutal response to protesters seeking to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama’s capital, to advocate for voting rights.

Fikes’ deep roots in the Civil Rights Movement date from the 1960s. As a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Fikes sat in at lunch counters, boycotted buses, registered voters, and led walkouts of her own R.B. Hudson High School—all to advocate for desegregation, voting rights, and social justice.

As a teenager, she was jailed in 1963 for her participation in a Selma protest. In 1965, she participated in a protest known iconically as “Bloody Sunday”— during which approximately 600 marchers were confronted by Sheriff Clark, Commanding Officer John Cloud and many others who had responded to Clark’s order for “all white men in Dallas County over the age of twenty-one to report to the courthouse to be deputized.” As the demonstrators were crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge, troopers shoved them, knocking many to the ground, beat them with nightsticks and fired tear gas, while mounted troopers charged the crowd on horseback. A total of 17 people were hospitalized, with 50 receiving treatment for “lesser” injuries. It was in the course of this march that John Lewis suffered a skull fracture. Head scars from this encounter were visible for the rest of his life. Televised images of “Bloody Sunday” provided both Americans and international audiences with an eye-opening account of the brutal treatment of Blacks in the South and prompted wide support for both voting and civil rights. This year marks the 60th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the Selma-to-Montgomery marches.

In her talk, Fikes described Clark as “the meanest sheriff in the world,” yet today, she counts his daughter Peggy as “one of my best friends.”

In regard to the current political climate, Fikes expressed both disappointment and hope.

“Everything we fought for has been taken away,” she said.

She then alluded to the Trump administration’s executive order to remove Air Force training courses featuring videos of the Tuskegee Airmen as well as of the Women Airforce Service Pilots in an effort to diminish the influence of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“Everything has been done by design, and we so easily fall into it,” she said.

Nevertheless, Fikes

remains positive.

“You don’t have MLK or Malcom X [today], but you still have a voice…I still believe that the best is still to come.”

Although often referred to as an “icon” of the Civil Rights Movement, Fikes does not actively seek the limelight, she confided in a private interview.

When it comes to Selma and the movement in general, she is quick to point out that there were many “foot soldiers” contributing to progress in civil rights. In particular, she gives great credit to Selma’s “Courageous Eight.” It was these unsung heroes, Fikes said, who began the groundwork for the Selma-to-Montgomery March and who invited Martin Luther King Jr. to Selma. The eight individuals were the Rev. R. D. Reese, Ulysses Blackmon, Amelia BoyntonRobinson, Ernest Doyle, Marie Foster, James Gildersleeve, the Rev. J.D. Hunter, and the Rev. Henry Shannon.

“What we did, we didn’t do it for recognition,” she said.

Fikes also eschewed the limelight when she declined an invitation to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show with the Freedom Riders, civil rights activists who brought attention to racial segregation in American interstate transportation in the early 1960s.

Fikes humorously recounted that, while Winfrey introduced the Freedom Riders by saying, “These people are the reason I’m here today,” the celebrity had no gifts to give them, despite often lavishing her audience with expensive gifts.

Fikes is likewise unimpressed by the 2014 film “Selma,” which depicts events of the Selma-toMontgomery marches.

“It’s entertainment.

It’s not accurate,” she said, referring again to the “Courageous Eight” who, in her opinion, did not receive adequate attention in the movie.

Wary of the invasion of technology into our daily lives, Fikes, who says she has never “googled” herself, feels that spirituality is the missing ingredient in modern life.

“Education by itself serves no purpose. We have mind and body, but the spirit has been left out. Spirit brings unity,” Fikes affirmed.

Also present at the breakfast were the three division winners of the MLK Jr. Essay Contest fostered by SUNY Oneonta’s Office of Equity and Inclusion.

The entrants were asked to interpret the Martin Luther King Jr. quote: “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” They were then asked how people their age can bring unity and understanding to their communities.

According to Erin Francisco, assistant director of DEI Projects and Initiatives, there were 32 entries in all. Greater Plains Elementary School fifth-grader Evangeline Trask was the winner for the Elementary School Division. Evie Chen, an

Photo by Teresa Winchester

Worcester Central School ninth-grader and MLK Jr. essay contest winner Julianna Everson speaks with Bettie Mae Fikes, keynote speaker at a community breakfast commemorating King. The event was held at SUNY Oneonta’s Hunt Union Ballroom on Monday, January 27.

eighth-grader at Oneonta Middle School, took the prize for the Middle School Division, while Julianna Everson, ninthgrader at Worcester Central School, won the High School Division.

Each student received a plaque and $100.00 in prize money.

In her essay, Trask wrote, “We can see that there are people who have no homes all over the town. To help, we could make fundraisers to buy shampoo, toothpaste, and other things so they can take care of themselves.

We could bring community to our schools by having more group activities, like read-alouds, movies, board games, and more!”

With regard to King’s quote, Chen wrote, “If we don’t accept and work together, we are fools for letting color blind us from seeing we’re all one species.” She gave credit to King’s philosophy of non-violence, observing, “MLK demonstrated the impacts of nonviolent resistance and protests, proving that you don’t change people through asserting dominance but by changing the preconception embedded into their brains that whites are superior to Blacks just because they didn’t have to fight for their rights.”

In her essay, Everson wrote, “Individuals can build unity, empathy, and understanding within our schools and communities with King’s teachings by the inspiration of listening to his quotes or speeches…Most of King’s speeches and quotes were followed by a stand or protests. When King got his word across, he never once gave up or backed down; he kept going.”

Everson concluded by paying tribute to both King and her own mother as role models.

The winning essays are published in their entirety on this page.

The community breakfast was sponsored by the Office of Equity & Inclusion, Activities Council, the Capek Family Fund for Inclusive Excellence, UniversityAdvancement, and the Office of Alumni Engagement, all at SUNY Oneonta.

Hartwick College’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging was also a sponsor.

Elementary School Division Essay Winner: Evangeline Trask Some people think community means a neighborhood or a town.

Others think it is the feeling when people come together and work as a group. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ”We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. meant that if we don’t work together as a community, we will die knowing we should have worked together.

People my age can help to build a community by finding problems, and their solutions. For example, we can see that there are people who have no homes all over the town. To help, we could make fundraisers to buy shampoo, toothpaste and other things so they can take care of themselves.

We could bring community to our schools by having more group activities, like readalouds, movies, board games, and more! This could bring community to our school by letting multiple grades do activities together and bond.

Whether community means a town or togethership, everyone should feel it. We need to come together and solve problems, have fun, and always have each other’s backs. Dr. King once said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or die as fools.”

Middle School Division Essay Winner: Evie Chen On March 22nd of 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

MLK’s dream was for all people—regardless of color, race, or background—to be treated with equality in society.

Note how in this quote MLK said, “live together” instead of “survive together,” indicating there is, indeed, a difference between the two.

While anyone can survive without treating others with equality, it is their ignorance and closedmindedness that prevents them from reaching greater heights and experiencing a better quality of life.

MLK also states, “Perish together as fools.” If we don’t accept

and work together, we are fools for letting color blind us from seeing we’re all one species.

MLK had to combat the white supremacy surging through America in the mid- to late-1900s as a result of segregation.

The separation of races caused individuals to look down on people of color because of the rooted history Blacks have played for centuries in American history—from being traded as slaves in the 1600s to the 13th Amendment, that promised freedom to African Americans.

But they never really were free, were they?

Not free from prejudice.

Not free from segregation and most definitely not free from the lack of fundamental rights every human deserves. MLK‘s ultimate goal was to guarantee basic, humane rights to all people of color, regardless of their ethnic heritages.

Moreover, MLK demonstrated the impacts of nonviolent resistance and protests, proving that you don’t change people through asserting dominance but by changing the preconception embedded into their brains that whites are superior to Blacks just because they didn’t have to fight for their rights; they were already worthy of them to begin with and people of color weren’t.

We can start to build empathy in schools and society by practicing color blindness; seeing everyone as human instead of a color. We can encourage self-expression and turn the topic of race into a normalized discussion. Children and adults alike can get rid of their unconscious bias and spread diversity throughout the world.

High School Division Essay Winner: Julianna Everson Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an African American minister and an activist. He was born on January 15, 1929, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.

He passed away on April 4, 1968 due to an assassination. He was known for many things in the past and still is to this day.

King is recognized for his speeches that have changed many individuals’ perspectives on equality for African Americans. A speech many individuals may recognize to this day is “I Have a Dream.” King not only fought for himself but hundreds of other African Americans. King performed his speeches in front of numerous Caucasians, which was a huge concept knowing that many white people were already against the idea of African Americans being treated equally.

King gave up what he had left to attempt to get his word across peacefully the whole time, and he often organized groups and marched through the streets with signs as well as speeches.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

As an activist, this was an extremely strong quote.

It can mean numerous things to many individuals but, in my perspective, this quote is simply

saying that we as people have a choice and can make a decision. For instance, King decided not to follow the regulations. He knew what he wanted and what would benefit not just him but all African Amercians.

He hoped Caucasians could put our differences aside and grasp how to be respectful, including treating African Americans equally, or we can suffer in despair and imprudently.

In King’s mind, we have two options: be cooperative, or not accept each other and have that leading to bigger issues.

King never wanted to fight or argue, or even make individuals look foolish.

King simply wanted Caucasians to understand African Americans’ mindsets and perspectives on these simple topics of inequality that Caucasians would consider normal.

In addition, at the end of the day we are all people capable of completing the same actions.

Furthermore, King would never surrender; he was arrested 29 times. While many arrests resulted in his quick release, King’s longest sentence was four months for sitting and waiting for his food at a restaurant right where he grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite the fact these protests seem little, he spread the idea all over, such as in his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” which was presented in Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial.

According to researchers roughly 250,000 people attended the speech, and millions more heard it over the radio and on television.

Individuals my age can build unity, empathy, and understanding within our schools and communities with King’s teachings by the inspiration of listening to his famous quotes or speeches. Once we dig into a quote or speech and break certain points down, as I did with the quote I was presented with, the words become clearer. Then, as you understand, you get to know the individual while also understanding our history and how we as people have evolved.

We can then realize the little things that were done were, in reality, big accomplishments. Most accomplishments, if not all, did not benefit one person but benefited many individuals in a positive, life-changing way, meaning permanently fixed, and helped us today figure out how to deal with situations and equality.

Most of King’s famous speeches and quotes were followed by a stand or protests. When King got his word across, he never once gave up or backed down; he kept going and going. I think he taught great life lessons and set great examples. When I think about growing up, I look at individuals that would be great examples.

I know King is, and was, a great role model to many, many children and even adults.

If anyone were to ask me why are you so respectful and a great problemsolver, I would simply say my mother raised me right, but King taught us very important lessons: If you know it is right, fight for it, and if there is a choice, choose peace.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-7

Helios Care CEO Announces Departure Effective April 21 ONEONTA hief Executive Officer and President Dan Ayres has announced his resignation from Helios Care to join a larger hospice organization on the East Coast, effective April 21. Ayres informed Photo provided the Board of Directors of DAN AYRES his upcoming move on January 21. This difficult decision to leave Helios Care was decided upon by Ayres and his family as the next step in his long career in healthcare systems

management, officials said.

According to a media release, Ayres came to Helios Care in 2016 and helped guide the organization through tremendous growth and change. He was instrumental in instituting new initiatives, including the name change from Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care Inc. to Helios Care.

“This thoughtful decision opened up dialogues with area residents about what the organization can do for them or their loved ones, fostering earlier engagement and improving patient outcomes—the goal for everyone,” the release reads.

Ayres said this has been the hardest decision he has ever had to make.

C

“Working in this community to improve the lives of our residents during the last journey of their lives has been a privilege, and I know the team will continue to advance the mission of compassionate care with choices and, above all, dignity, for each patient served,” Ayres said.

“It is with deep regret and sincere appreciation that the Board of Helios Care accepts the resignation of Dan Ayres, president and CEO. For eight years, Dan has led the organization with vision, quality enrichment, community and individual relationship development, and—simply stated—the ability to get things done. All with a steady hand in a volatile industry,” praised Helios Care Board Chair Jeff Woeppel.

“Perhaps his most notable achievement is the manner in which the organization successfully continued to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Woeppel continued. “His presence, positivism and resourcefulness will be missed.”

A transition plan is underway for Helios Care, to ensure a seamless handover of responsibilities, with patient care always at front of mind.

“Helios Care remains steadfast in its mission of making life easier for patients and families who are facing a serious illness, and is committed to upholding these values for their patients and the community,” officials said.

Letters

Continued from page 4 only available for this one big event—there’s no need to attend PTA meetings or volunteer for other programs. We are currently scheduling vendors and organizing activities, but we need to finalize our commitments and organize volunteers by Monday, February 10. Visit https://www. signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44A8AB2FA5FEC2554589929-crayon to sign up for a volunteer shift, or contact the Cooperstown PTA at cooppta@gmail.com.

We must have 20 volunteers signed up by February 10th in order to run the Crayon Carnival. Sign up today to help make this Cooperstown tradition a fun, familyfriendly success in 2025!

Shelby MacLeish President, Cooperstown PTA

Photo by Tina Macaluso

Lights, Camera, Action!

COOPERSTOWN—Filmmaker Aidan Macaluso spent three days last week shooting at several locations throughout the village, including the Iron String Press newspaper offices on Railroad Avenue.

Macaluso’s project, titled “The Cure for the Clinically Unobservant,” is a dark comedy short film that follows a man on his surreal quest to cure his chronic inability to produce interesting anecdotes at parties. Aidan is the son of George and Tina Macaluso, of Cooperstown. Pictured above, from left, are Patrick Koehle, Aidan Macaluso and George Macaluso.

Haney

and federal regulations,” the board,” Haney said. “I Former Supervisor now move on to other Councilmembers Haney explained. will be following the deci- O’Brien, who is the matters concerning town Briggs and Murphy had Haney’s first order sion made by the board director of Otsego County business and the citi- not responded to inquiContinued from page 1 of business as interim last evening, requesting 911 and EMS, said of zens of Hartwick,” she ries as of press time.

Wednesday, January supervisor will be to all parties to respect and Haney’s appointment, emphasized.

28. “Given her experi- review all of the town’s support the town policy “Connie is a wonderful ence as the owner of the internal policies and and enforcing that policy choice for the interim Up to bat company, and her municipal laws to bring when necessary.”

50% off 20% off supervisor position.

Upholstered TV Stands prior work with Bassett herself up to speed.

Furniture Haney’s appointment Experienced, talented and Hospital, I think Connie When asked how she has also helped the town committed to the Town of will be well suited for hopes to navigate the retain the services of Hartwick. She will do an the decision-making obvious divide between Ray Holohan, OCTOBERaccountant 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2020excellent job!” that comes with leading the four councilmem- who had recently Hartwick Town Clerk Sale ends the Town of Hartwick bers, Haney replied, “My tendered his resignation. Andrea Vazquez said of Feb. 1

throughout 2025.” goal is to work with each “I have reached out to Haney’s appointment, “I The Town of Hartwick councilmember equally Mr. Holohan to confirm am looking forward to Sale ends 5382 State Highway 7 • Oneonta (607)432-1124 Feb. 15 has been without a super- and in the same manner, his status as the accountant working with Ms. Haney Mon. - Fri. 9-5:30 | Sat. 9-5 visor since O’Brien relo- respectful that we all may for the Town of Hartwick and am confident that she www.thepineshoponeonta.com

not

cated in late November. agree on all topics. and he has confirmed that will continue to move At that time, Town “I think we OCTOBER can be we be able to 1 –will DECEMBER 31,work 2020 town business forward.”

Attorney William C. creative with making together through 2025,” Haney is looking to PRE-ORDER Green also resigned. decisions that satisfy all Haney said. “I also work rise above the recent

The board has since Town Board members. with Ray through our busi- turmoil between town FRESH voted to contract with We all have the same nesses, so I am thrilled that officials and residents.

BLACK Syracuse-based Hancock goal—we each want what he will be staying on. We “What is important Estabrook LLP for the is best for the citizens of will be meeting soon.” is that the town can ANGUS BEEF SALE

town’s legal services. the Town of Hartwick.”

“I was approached and As to how she will asked if this was some- handle the often contenthing I might be inter- tious public comment ested in doing,” Haney period at recent town ? Assurance All-Season ? Kelly Edge All-Season ? Assurance WeatherReady ? WinterCommand Ultra ? Kelly Edge HT Income Strategies said, when ? asked meetings, Haney and the ? EagleLifetime Assurance CThow Touring Sport All-Season Family (inc. ROF & SCT) ? Kelly Edge All-Season Perf. ? Kelly Edge MT ? Wrangler DuraTrac ? Wrangler members AT Adventure w/Kevlar 2 & Planning Services ? Kelly Winter Access ? Assuranceher MaxLifehat ? Kelly Edge AT she came to throw board are on ? Winter Maxx Tax ? Eagle Exhilarate ? Kelly Edge HP ? Kelly Safari TSR ? Wrangler Fortitude HT , excludes C-Type ? Winter Maxx SJ8 in the ring for the interim the same page. ? WinterCommand ? Wrangler TrailRunner AT Butter Within Your Budget. Stock Up Now & SAVE MONEY! supervisor position. “I “The Town 28 Oneida Street, Oneonta ® ® had been attending meet- Board reviewed *By online or mail-in rebate.the Rebates paid by Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard or Visa Prepaid Card.

Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member FINRA/ ings and was concerned Organizational Meeting SIPC. Tax services offered through Donald Benson, CPA, PC. Securities America THE and DonaldGOODYEAR Benson, CPA, PC are separate entities. Advisory ASK AN on ASSOCIATE 30-DAY PLEDGE † about being without a Minutes January 21,ABOUT Services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Don Benson, CPA/CFP® town supervisor.

This and and the Public Comment ? Assurance All-Season ? Kelly Edge All-Season ? Assurance WeatherReady ? WinterCommand Ultra ? Kelly Edge HT OFFERS ATTHE THE FOLLOWING the support of friends and Period format wasAVAILABLE ? Assurance CT Touring Sport All-Season Family (inc. ROFLOCATIONS: & SCT) ? Kelly Edge All-Season Perf. ? Kelly Edge MT ? Wrangler DuraTrac ? EagleAT OFFERS AVAILABLE FOLLOWING LOCATION: ? Wrangler AT Adventure w/Kevlaragreed ? Winter Maxx 2 ? Kelly Winter Access ? Assurance ? Kelly Edge AT family brought meMaxLife to the discussed and ? Eagle Exhilarate ? Kelly Edge HP ? Kelly Safari TSR ? Wrangler Fortitude HT , excludes C-Type ? Winter Maxx SJ8 decision to ?offer myself upon by the ATmembers of WinterCommand ? Wrangler TrailRunner as a candidate.”

Haney has been a *By online or mail-in rebate. Rebates paid by Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard® or Visa® Prepaid Card.

155 ERIE BLVD manager, and has worked GOODYEAR 30-DAY PLEDGE † with the public on many ASK AN ASSOCIATE ABOUT THE CANAJOHARIE , NY 13317 different levels, for more OFFERS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING518-673-5399 LOCATIONS: than 30 years.

"0'4# -32 2&# 5',2#0 *3#1 THETIRESHOP.BIZ “I spent 17 years in several management and • Large Blueberries, 16 oz..............................$1.99 ea.

Sun., Feb. 2nd program*Get upcapacities at to $75 back by online or mail-in rebate on a qualifying purchase of a set of 4 select Goodyear tires with any form of payment method; plus get an added rebate of up to $75 more when the purchase is made on the Goodyear Credit Card. Subject to credit approval. Get a $75 Prepaid Card with purchase or $150 Prepaid 9 am 3 pm , Assurance ComforTred Touring, Assurance MaxLife , Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar , Wrangler DuraTrac , Wrangler Fortitude HT (excluding C-Type), Wrangler TrailRunner AT , Eagle Exhilarate , WinterCommand , WinterCommand with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance WeatherReady Bassett LTCard Healthcare.

SPECIALS $50 Prepaid Card with purchase or $100 Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance All-Season, Eagle Sport All-Season Family (including ROF & SCT), Winter Maxx 2 and Winter Maxx SJ8. Get a $25 Prepaid Card with purchase or $50%#2 2 12# -$ 1.0',% Prepaid Card with and WinterCommand Ultra. Get a My 1-21 to2-1 and Kelly Winter Access . purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Kelly Edge HT, Kelly Edge AT , Kelly Edge MT , Kelly Safari TSR, Kelly Edge HP , Kelly Edge All-Season , Kelly Edge All-Season Performance 155 ERIE BLVD c 'MDLA &AF= (=O .AJ= =9D=J c &G? -CA<<=J .AJ=K husbandIf and I have three you receive a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard , then the following applies: Rebates paid in the form of a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard . This Prepaid Card is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles c .AJ= ,=H9AJ c ?JA;MDLMJ9D design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. This card may be used everywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted. Registration, activation, acceptance, or use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Prepaid.AJ=K Card Agreement. Prepaid Cards will not have cash access and will • Large Asparagus.......................................................................................$1.99 lb. businesses the CANAJOHARIE , NY 13317 expire afterin 6 months from dateTown of issuance - other terms, conditions, and fees may apply. c &9OF 9F< !9J<=F .AJ=K c .AJ= @9AFK If you receive a Goodyear Visa Prepaid Card, then the following applies: Visa Prepaid Card is issued by MetaBank , N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit of Hartwick and raised c .0

/.0 .AJ=K c ,M::=J .J9;CK after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply. MetaBank does not endorse or sponsor the Goodyear Credit Card offer.

518-673-5399 these 9?K Offers available only at participating U.S. Goodyear retailers and websites. Offers valid only for U.S. residents who are individual consumers with mailing addresses in the U.S. and.J9AD=J U.S. territories. Commercial fleets are not eligiblecfor ? rebates. Not 9D= valid on previous c -=EA .J9;LGJ purchases. Cannot be combined with other Goodyear our children here. %0# 2 0% ', tire rebate offers. Rebate forms must be postmarked no later than 1/31/21. Base portion of rebate offered by Goodyear, and bonus portion of rebate offered by Citibank, N.A. Goodyear is not affiliated with Mastercard. Additional terms, conditions, and fees apply. See participating retailer for complete details13.#0 $--" and rebate forms. c GEHML=J 1@==D 9D9F;AF? (=L 1J9H THETIRESHOP.BIZ Goodyear Credit Card is issued by Citibank, N.A. “As part of our busi“Digging For Facts Is Better Mental Exercise Than Jumping To Conclusions.”

Company and affiliates.

DuPont and Kevlar are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company used under license by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber c .AJ= -=JNA;= ,=;9HHAF? c )AD @9F?=K •“Locals Brussel Sprouts............$1.99 l b .

• 10 lb. bag&ofadjoining Counties” conditions apply.

See store the associate for details, or for more information, visit https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tire-warranty/30-day-pledge. ness life,†TermsI andhave been c !GG<Q=9J (9LAGF9D ;;GMFLK c MKLGE 1@==DK to Weaver’s Farm Market is Otsego ©2020 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. All rights reserved.

-L9L= GFLJ9;L *JA;AF? c MLG ;;=KKGJA=K treasurer*Get for all busiup to $75 backthree by online or mail-in rebate on a qualifying purchase of a set of 4 select Goodyear tires with any form of payment method; plus get an added rebate of up to $75 more when the purchase is made on the Goodyear Credit Card. Subject to credit approval. Get a $75 Prepaid Card with purchase or $150 Prepaid Tues, Wed., & Sat • 25% OFF NY Grown Chemical Free Carrots White Potatoes..........$2.99/bag Adventure with,G9< Kevlar , Wrangler DuraTrac , Wrangler Fortitude HT (excludingcC-Type), Wrangler *A;CMH TrailRunner AT 9HK , Eagle Exhilarate , WinterCommand , WinterCommand Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance WeatherReady , Assurance ComforTred Touring, Assurance MaxLife , Wrangler All-Terrain c )>> .@= 9;C@G= =FLMJQ Payment cash 9 am 5 pm nesses, working our Ultra. Get a $50 Prepaid Card with purchase or $100 Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance All-Season, Eagle Sport All-Season Family (including ROF & SCT), Winter Maxx 2 and Winter Maxx SJ8. Get a $25 Prepaid Card with purchase or $50 Prepaid Card with LT and WinterCommand with 2& .AJ=K c #FL=JKL9L= 9LL=JA=K Edge All-Season Performance and Kelly Winter Access . purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Kelly Edge HT, Kelly Edge AT , Kelly Edge MT , Kelly Safari TSR, Kelly Edge HP , Kelly Edge All-Season , Kelly&G9<=J or check...

Thurs, & Fri. accountant and bank, then the following applies: Rebates paid in$5.00 If you receive a Goodyearthe Prepaid Mastercard the form of a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard . This Prepaid Card is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles no credit 9 am - 6 pm design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. This card may be used everywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted. Registration, activation, acceptance, or use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Prepaid Card Agreement. Prepaid Cards will not have cash access and will to ensure quality control expire after 6 months from date of issuance - other terms, conditions, and fees may apply. cards !

Closed Sun. & Mon. If you receive a Goodyear Visa Prepaid Card, then the following applies: Visa Prepaid Card is issued by MetaBank , N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit • lb. and maintain after the valid thru date.financial Card terms and conditions apply. MetaBank does not endorse or sponsor the Goodyear Credit Card offer.

OPEN available only at participating U.S. Goodyear retailers and websites. Offers valid only for U.S. residents who are individual consumers with mailing addresses in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Commercial fleets are not eligible for these rebates. Not valid on previous purchases. Cannot be combined with other Goodyear - 3/2/241272 East Side Rd • MORRIS, NY 2/20/24 records.tireOffersWe have annual YEARON THE 4(%4)2%3(/0 "): rebate offers. Rebate forms must be postmarked no later than 1/31/21. Base portion of rebate offered by Goodyear, and bonus portion of rebate offered

by Citibank, N.A. Goodyear is not affiliated with Mastercard. Additional terms, conditions, and fees apply. See participating retailer for complete details and rebate forms.

Financing 607-263-2030 Goodyear Credit Card is issued by Citibank, N.A. FARM TIRE ROUND insurance audits and I Available • Company and affiliates. OPEN MON. - SAT. 8-6 DuPont and Kevlar are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company used under license by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber FARM lb.

SERVICES and conditions apply. See store associate 155 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie, NY am also†Termsresponsible forfor details, or for more information, visit https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tire-warranty/30-day-pledge.

MARKET ©2020 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. All rights reserved. proper filings for state •

SALE

UPGRADE & SAVE FOR THE SEASON

UPGRADE & SAVE FOR THE SEASON

BENSON FINANCIAL

SERVICES

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

607-432-3775

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

™

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

™

®

®

™

®

®

Leg Quarters. . 89/l¢ b. or $35.SALE 60 per case GROCERY Drum Sticks.. . 89¢/lb or $35.60 per case PRODUCE Thighs (bone in).SALE . .$1.29/lb or $51.60 per case SUPER STRAWBERRY SALE ThiSUPER ghs (bonelSTRAWBERRY ess, skinless.. . $SALE 2.09/lb or $83.60 per case ORGANICChiBLUEBERRIES, OZ...$1.99 cken breasts 16(bonel ess, skiea.nless).. . $2.09/lb Organic Sunkist California Mandarin 2 lb. or $83.60 per case ®

®

bag.. . $3.49/bag + 0) 7-30 ! *#," 01 Organic CosmiMARK c Crisp ApplYOUR es.. .$1.CALENDARS! 99/lb ORDERS CAN BE pICKED Up AFTER ApRIL 12 & 13, 2024 SpRING SpECIAL Asparagus...99¢/lb.

Weaver’s Farm Market

®

®

™

We will order it fresh Sold as unopened cases only Sunsoutfor you.

Puzzles–Many New Designs

™

®

®

®

40 lbSALE Case-Fresh Chicken PRODUCE Sale prices good NEW SHIthrough PMENT JUSTApril ARRI6,VED!2024

®

®

THE TIRE SHOP ®

®

®

®

®

THE TIRE SHOP

®

®

™

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

GROUND BEEF $3.40 SALE! lb. x 36 = $122.40/case

®

®

®

®

®

®

®

CHICKEN SALE

JFM BUTTER QUARTERS $3.79 lb., Two for $7 or buy by the case & save even more!

®

PRE-ORDER ZZ 1 *#ZZ

The Pine Shop

518.673.5399

®

®

th

,,'4#01 07 1 *# 5 ANNIVERSARY SALE! SPECIALS SPECIALS ®

JFMJFMApplCooked ewoodHam................... . $3.$2.99 49/lb AprilSmoked 26thham.& 27th.

3-5 toFriday 3-16-24& Saturday, JFMJFMCooked Corned . .$5.99/lb$3.99 German BoloBeef gna.............

WEAVER’S OfProvol f the BoneoCheese. . . .. $. .2.. 9. 9/l. . .b. . .$2.99 . . . . $3.l9b9. lb. $>M SPECIALS />:=R #HK JFM•JFMJFMMuenster neHam.Cheese............

JFM Lacy Baby Swiss Cheese.. $3.99/lb

HUGE SAVINGS!

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Sports

Continued from page 2 13-3 for the season.

The Cooperstown boys beat Sherburne-Earlville 69-43 on the road on Tuesday, January 21.

Junior Miles Nelen had 14 points, five assists and five steals, followed by junior Cooper Coleman with 12 points. Senior Cooper Bradley had 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Hawkeyes rallied from a first-quarter deficit to beat MorrisvilleEaton 99-71 at home on Thursday, January 23. Nelen and junior Christian Lawson each scored 22 points.

Cooperstown defeated Sauquoit Valley 88-31 on Monday, January 27.

Nelen scored 19 points, followed by Coleman with 13 and sophomore Brody Murdock with 10. The undefeated Hawkeyes (15-0, 8-

0) will visit Poland on Thursday, January 30.

Cooperstown volleyball lost its second match of the season on Thursday, January 23, falling in straight sets to Mount Markham. Senior Sophia Badgley had seven kills and seven digs, senior Alexis Wolfe made 14 assists and three digs, and junior Mia Pelcer added 15 digs, four kills, and two assists. The team stands at 13-2 for the season.

LEAF

Continued from page 5 ries promote cannabis and CBD, as TV commercials sell diet pills and the newest phone.

The truth is, nothing of worth comes without work. We can choose to be responsible for our own happiness and wellbeing through proven methods. In times of weakness, avoid easy

access to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Know someone to call.

Have a healthy alternative to substitute. Hang in there and practice gratitude. There are only a few months until spring.

Tessa Davidson, MPH, is the executive director of LEAF Council on Alcoholism and Addictions.

Malone

Continued from page 4 are eating MUCH bigger slices of the national pie.

A recent Princeton University study estimates that 2,400 U.S. citizens have an average monetary worth of $1 billion and control five percent of total income in the nation. I hope everyone is taking comfort in knowing that 13 of those billionaires are taking seats in the president’s Cabinet.

Elon Musk has 12

children from three different women and an estimated net worth of $435 billion. That means each of the 16 members of his household would have GDP per capita shares of over $27 billion. Elon’s household alone gobbles up the equivalent of about 1.5 percent of our total national wealth!

By comparison, last year the median household income for Otsego County was just over $67,000.00, with 14 percent of our friends and neighbors living below the household (two adults, two children) poverty line of $31,200.00. Neither of those two incomes, or any income number in between, buys a lot of necessities and “toys.”

All this means that GDP per capita isn’t particularly helpful in determining whether or not MOST of us are

wealthy or even “income healthy.”

GDP per capita is also not useful in determining if Americans are the wealthiest citizens of the planet. A comparison of GDP per capita among nations ranks the U.S. at #14, behind such countries as Brunei, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, and Qatar. Does that mean the average citizen of 13 other countries is wealthier than the average American?

Not necessarily. The cost of living in those nations has to be taken into account, but that’s also difficult calculate. In 1986, “The Economist” magazine rolled out its Big Mac Index to compare the price of a Big Mac across countries.

The average price of a Big Mac in the U.S. in the most recent index was $5.69. Meanwhile, the most expensive Big Mac

in the world is found in Norway, where one costs $8.07.

Should the cost of a Big Mac—one consumable among millions— lead us to conclude that it costs more to live in Norway than in the U.S.?

If so, why does it cost more to live in Norway?

We’ll take up those questions next time when we explore the 21st Century Distribution Economy.

Larry Malone is professor emeritus of economics at Hartwick College.

Lake

Continued from page 1 Field Station Boathouse.

With the predicted temperatures, we expect the ice to thicken this week. Over the next two weeks, we are planning to do underice sampling and conduct ice driving training for our BFS Volunteer SCUBA Dive Team.”

OBITUARIES

Photo provided

CONRAD B. STERGAS

Conrad Blasco Stergas 1942-2023

GLOVERSVILLE— Conrad Blasco Stergas was born on October 7, 1942 in Gloversville, New York, the son of Blasco and Eoo Stergas, and was raised in New York. He died after a long illness on December 2, 2023 at Mountain Valley Hospice House, Gloversville.

He is survived by a brother, Ronald Stergas, of Johnstown, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Blasco and Eoo (Altomare) Stergas.

While at Johnstown High School, Conrad started flying airplanes and went on to become an excellent pilot.

After graduation, Conrad attended the Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, Missouri, and graduated after four years with the degree of Bachelor of Science in civil engineering. While in college, he was in the ROTC and a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity.

Conrad entered the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant following college and, after Engineering Officers Basic Training, started rotary wing flight school. In Ft. Rucker, AL, where he attended Advance Rotary wing flight school, he was in instrument flight training when his helicopter had engine failure shortly after take-off and crashed.

He survived the crash and was only set back one graduating class.

After earning his rotary wing pilot license, Conrad was reassigned

to Vietnam.

One Vietnam mission Conrad flew had a general on his Huey, going to an engineer unit south of Cam Ranh Bay. While en route, he received an emergency radio call of a unit under attack. This was during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Conrad advised the general of the situation and requested permission to go assist the unit that was under attack. The general gave permission, but requested that another aircraft be available to pick him up if something happened to Conrad’s aircraft.

Below is a copy of the Award of the Air Medal for Heroism Conrad received for that mission: “Air medal with V for valor Device for Heroism while participating in aerial flight in the Republic of Vietnam.

Lieutenant Stergas distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 February 1968 in the vicinity of Dalat in the Republic of Vietnam. Lt. Stergas was instrumental in rescuing personnel pinned down by heavy enemy ground fire. Although his aircraft was not equipped to be employed in an assault role, Lt. Stergas made repeated sorties into an extremely hostile area and was successful in evacuating many critical personnel. His expert flying and keen sense of military urgency has been in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself.”

Conrad also had hydraulic failure once

while on a mission and was able to successfully land the aircraft without any injuries.

Conrad was a Life Member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.

And after being honorably discharged from the military on May 20, 1969, with the rank of captain, Conrad went on to become certified as a flight engineer, an FAA airline transport pilot and an FAA flight instructor, and piloted private and commercial aircraft, flying for Northern Electric, Air North, Air Indies, Eastern Provincial Airways, Air Malta, Yemen Airways, Royal Air Maroc, and Eastern Airlines.

Following his Eastern Airlines employment, Conrad was contracted with the United Nations to oversee the air fleet for the newly formed United Nations Office of Aviation Safety and Flight Standards for the UN operation in Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya.

In 1997, Conrad formed the Airline Safety Association International, a nonprofit organization advocating effective safety standards to protect airline travelers.

And in 2020, Conrad received the coveted FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of exemplary aviation flight experience, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment to flight safety.

Remember Conrad Stergas for his love of flying, for service to his country, and for his commitment to Flight Safety.

leWiS, HurleY & pietrobono

Arrangements were entrusted to Betz, Rossi, Bellinger & Stewart Family Funeral Homes, Gloversville.

Online condolences may be made at www. brbsfuneral.com.

Reprinted at the request of the family.

Photo provided

ELIZABETH E. TRUESDELL

Roberta Elizabeth Truesdell 1934-2025

EDMESTON— Roberta Elizabeth (Bobbie) Truesdell, Syracuse, age 90 on Saturday, January 25, 2025 passed on from this earthly existence after a long illness.

She was born October 13, 1934 in the Town of Middlefield, New York.

Roberta grew up on a working dairy farm on Mill Creek Road, just North of the Village of Edmeston, New York.

She graduated from Edmeston Central School in 1952 and from Crouse-Irving School of Nursing in 1955. As a representative of her class, she delivered the Senior Address at graduation, which was held at Henricks Chapel. Almost her entire professional

Heller & Skinner

Funeral Home

Funeral Home

51 Dietz Street oneonta, nY 607-432-1511 www.lhpfuneralhome.com

155 Main Street Worcester, nY 607-397-9711 www.hellerskinnerfh.com

Proud to be family-owned John & Kathleen (Heller) Pietrobono

career was as a labor and delivery nurse at what is currently Crouse Hospital, Syracuse.

She was predeceased by her parents, Thomas Hickling Jones and Addie Elizabeth Truesdell and, more recently, by C. Gee, her beloved feline.

Roberta was baptized and confirmed at Grace Episcopal Church, where she was an active member for many years.

It was her wish that her final service would also be held there.

She is survived by three very special friends, Jean E. Whitmore, Tracey White, and Jessica Rice, as well as her Grace Church “family” and other friends.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 4 at 10 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church at 819 Madison Street, on the corner of Madison

and University Avenue in Syracuse.

The church will be open on Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. for viewing prior to the 10 a.m. service.

Burial in the spring will be with her parents at Taylor Hill Cemetery, next to the site of the old Taylor Hill Meeting House, north of Edmeston.

If desired, one may make contributions in Roberta’s name to Food Center@324 at University United Methodist Church Food Pantry, 324 University Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Keegan-Osbelt-Knight Funeral Home, 900 N. Salina Street, Syracuse.

Burial arrangements are entrusted to Delker & Terry Funeral Home, 30 South Main Street, Edmeston, New York.

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

Funeral Home

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-9

News Briefs Continued from page 2

FoVL Board President Karen Katz at kkatz@stny. rr.com or (607) 434-3418. For more information or a full schedule of events, visit www.villagelibraryofcooperstown.org.

Jimkata Performs Next Month COOPERSTOWN—Electro-rock band Jimkata will perform in the Cooperstown Concert series at The Otesaga Resort Hotel at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 21. It is part of the band’s nationwide tour celebrating the release of their new album, “Running in Place.” Originally from Ithaca, Jimkata has built a national reputation for their powerful stage presence.

There will be a large dance floor with limited seating.

To purchase tickets, visit cooperstownconcerts.org.

State Announces Fair Funding ALBANY—New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced that the state will provide a total of $350,000.00 in transportation and related costs to bring participating youth groups to county and local fairs. Applications must be submitted at https://agriculture.ny.gov/rfp0345-2025-transportation-youth-county-and-localfairs-program by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18.

Legal

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company.

Name: WINDY HILL FARM & TRUCKING LLC Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 19 December 2024.

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 497 North Rd, Cherry Valley, NY 13320.

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

6LegalJan.30 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of Richfield Softball Complex, LLC Articles of Org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 12/12/2024.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC, 148-27 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11434.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalJan.30

Legal nOtice Notice of formation of AIELLO PAINT CO LLC

Legal

Legal

Articles of org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 12/11/24.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 1644 Southside Dr., Oneonta, NY 13820, which is also the principal business location.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalJan.30

Springs, NY 13439.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalJan.30

Legal nOtice

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 27 December 2024.

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 726 Fairway Drive, Acworth GA 30101.

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

2LegalFeb.6

Notice of formation of KEMP HEAVY TRUCK REPAIR, LLC Articles of org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 12/13/24.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 928 East St., Cassville, NY 13318.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Principal business loc: 2153 US Route 20, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

6LegalJan.30 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of HM Print & Design LLC Articles of organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/01/2024.

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 Wayne Hesler-Mondore, 22 Monticello Street, Richfield

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company.

Name: BODY IN BALANCE WELLNESS WITH JOANN LLC.

Legal nOtice Notice of formation of Kristi Lynn Photography LLC Articles of organization filed with NY Secretary of State (SSNY) 1/1/2025.

Office in Otsego County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 25 W. End Ave.,Oneonta, NY 13820.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalFeb.13 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of

Additionally, the second round of the Agricultural Fairgrounds Advertising, Promotion, and Education Program will provide a total of $500,000.00 to support marketing at 50 fairs. For more information, visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/new-york-statecounty-fairs-promotional-programs.

Vendor Space Still Available SOUTH OTSELIC—The Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage Association seeks arts and craft vendors for their 16th annual Fishing and Heritage Day on Saturday, May 17. The free community event attracts hundreds of people to South Otselic’s Town Park, and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this year. Vendors may reserve space in the park until May 15. There is additional space available for nonprofit conservation, sporting, scouting and environmental organizations at the State Fish Hatchery. For more information or to register, visit ovfish.org, call (315) 653-7490 or email sotfishingday@gmail.com.

State Monitoring for HPAI ALBANY—The New York State Departments of Agriculture and Markets, Health, and Environmental Conservation have continued proactive testing measures to monitor the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in light of outbreaks in other states.

Although the risk to humans remains low, the virus has been detected in a wild goose in Putnam County and a

Legal

LEGALS Legal

M Studios NY LLC.

Legal nOtice

Arts. of org. filed with the Secy. of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/27/2024.

Office Location: Otsego County.

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

SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 28 Chestnut Street Oneonta, NY 13820.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalFeb.20

Notice of formation of

Legal nOtice Notice of formation of ZIGGY’S WELDING, LLC Articles of Org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 01/08/2025.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY designated Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Ziggy’s Welding LLC, 238 Gately Rd, Schenevus, NY 12155.

Purpose: Any Lawful purpose.

6LegalFeb.20 Legal nOtice Notice of ORGANIZATION of Graci Farm LLC Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/02/25.

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 Gokhan Yazici, 200 Baker Rd., Gilbertsville, NY 13776.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalFeb.20

Jorgensen Construction LLC Articles of org. filed with the NY Sec.of State (SSNY) 01/13/2025.

Office in Otsego County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served, SSNY shall mail copy of process to Jorgensen Construction LLC, 118 Darling Rd., Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: Any Lawful purpose.

6LegalFeb.27 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of Brown Family Beef, LLC filed Arts. of org. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/20/2024.

Office: Otsego County.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 1917 U.S. Highway 20, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

Purpose: any lawful act.

6LegalFeb.27 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of Skinner Road, LLC filed arts. of org. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/20/2024.

Office: Otsego County.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom

Legal

process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 1917 U.S. Highway 20, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

Purpose: any lawful act.

6LegalFeb.27 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of 452 Stone Road, LLC filed arts. of org. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/20/2024.

Office: Otsego County.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 1917 U.S. Highway 20, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

Purpose: any lawful act.

6LegalFeb.27 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of Daniel J. Brown Excavating, LLC filed arts. of org. with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/20/2024.

Office: Otsego County.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 1917 U.S. Highway 20, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

Purpose: any lawful act.

6LegalFeb.27 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of

poultry farm in Suffolk County. All poultry producers should take extra biosecurity steps, use personal protective equipment, and report sick birds, mass deaths or unexplained drops in egg production to the Division of Animal Industry at (518) 457-3502. Dairy producers will also be impacted by new testing requirements. For more information, visit www.agriculture.ny.gov.

NY Maintains Rank in Study NEW YORK STATE—SimplifyLLC, an LLC consulting firm based in Sheridan, Wyoming, released its annual study on the best and worst states for entrepreneurship, using updated data from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Tax Foundation, and U.S. Senate. New York ranked 32nd in the nation, identical to its position last year. Rankings were determined with six categories measured across all 50 states and D.C.: corporate tax rate, inflation, consumer spending growth, job creation rate, and net migration of educated workers. The state’s new business growth dropped significantly over the year, from 11.4 percent to -11.1 percent, but its job creation rate surged from 10.2 percent to 17.1 percent. New York continues to suffer the nation’s second-worst exodus of educated workers, but nearly 50 percent fewer educated adults left in 2024 compared to 2023. The best states for entrepreneurs were Washington, Texas, Maine, Nevada and Oregon.

To view the full report, visit https://www.simplifyllc. com/best-and-worst-states-for-entrepreneurs-2025/.

Legal

PHILTHYS, LLC. Articles of organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 01/08/2025.

The office of the LLC is to be located in Otsego County.

The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon it to: The LLC, 3 Tilley Avenue, Oneonta, NY 13820.

The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act.

6LegalFeb.27 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Name of LLC: JUSTGRAZIN’ LLC Date of filing of Articles of Organization with the New York Department of State: August 7, 2023.

Office of the LLC: Otsego County.

The New York Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served. The Secretary of State may mail a copy of any process to the LLC at: JUSTGRAZIN’ LLC at P.O. Box 207, Fly Creek, NY 13337.

Purpose of the LLC: Any Lawful Purpose 6LegalMar.6 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF LIQUOR LICENSE Notice is hereby given that a license, number pending for beer, cider, liquor and wine has been applied for by the undersigned to

Legal

Legal

sell beer, cider, liquor and wine at retail in a hotel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 104 East Main St., Milford, NY 13807 for on premises consumption.

activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalMar.6

/s/ Catherine and Daniel Wisnosky The Elm Inn 2LegalFeb.6

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Historical Preservations and Review Board (HPARB) for the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public hearing on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard:

Legal nOtice Notice of formation of AZ International Trading LLC, dba Viet Tot. Articles of organization filed with SSNY on 12/15/2024.

Location: Otsego County.

SSNY designated agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: PO Box 1469, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

Any lawful purpose.

6LegalMar.6 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company.

Name: CANADARAGO LAKESIDE ESTATES LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 27 January 2025.

Office location: Otsego County.

SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 132 Lakeside Estates, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

Purpose is to engage in any and all business

Legal nOtice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

• Meeting to be held in the Board Room of the Village Hall, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York.

11 Walnut Street – Application to install roofmounted solar panel array.

The plans for this project are on file with the Village Clerk’s Office at the Village Office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York, and may be seen during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Public comments must be provided by email to the Zoning Officer at zoning@cooperstownny.org or by regular mail to the address below no later than Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.

Jenna Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 Tele: (607)5472411 Email: jutter@ cooperstownny. org 1LegalJan.30

►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.

Things To Do In and Around Otsego County _________

A-10 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

►Fri., Jan. 31 CARNIVAL—All day.

Cooperstown Winter Carnival. Held 1/30 through 2/2. Find the schedule at CooperstownWinterCarnival.com LIBRARY—10 a.m.

“Coffee & Puzzles.” Each Friday. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.

SENIOR COFFEE HOUR—10 a.m. Coffee, tea, pastries, games, puzzles, special events and good conversation.

Held each Friday. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Highway 11 Hartwick. (607) 2936600.

BLOOD DRIVE— 10:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Cooperstown High School, 39 Linden Avenue, Cooperstown. RedCrossBlood.org SENIOR MEALS— 11:30 a.m. Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal Monday-Friday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $10.60 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of pineapple pepper pork, rice, Japaneseblend vegetables and oatmeal raisin cookies.

(607) 547-6454.

LIBRARY—1 p.m.

“Homeschool Hangout.”

Let’s get creative! We’ll build, draw and create.

Recommended for ages 5-18. Held each Friday.

Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.

POTTERY— 1:30-4:30 p.m. Open Studio. Experienced potters are invited to work on personal projects and hone their skills.

No instruction provided. $30/session. Held Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and 6-9 p.m. on Thursday. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@ SmithyArts.org.

SKATING—3-7 p.m.

Mixed use. Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Badger Park, 87 Beaver Street, Cooperstown.

(607) 547-2411.

THEATER—8 p.m. “The Shark is Broken.” Presented by Bigger Dreams Productions. Tickets required. Also showing 2/1 and at 3 p.m. on 2/2. Then showing at 8 p.m. on 2/7, 2/8 and at 3 p.m. on 2/9. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4325407.

►Sat., Feb. 1 RAFFLE—Enter to win.

“Valentine’s Day Raffle.”

Drawing held on 2/14.

No need to be present to win. The Artisans’ Guild of Oneonta, 148 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1080.

PARENTS—9:45 a.m.

“Baby & Me Yoga.” Donations appreciated. Held each Saturday through 2/15. Fit To Be Tied Yoga Studio, 103 Main Street, Key Bank, 3rd Floor, Cooperstown. (607) 7430054.

EDUCATION—10 a.m. to noon. “Knitting Basics.”

Presented by the 2025 Continuing Ed Classes.

Fees apply. Continues 2/8, 2/15 and 3/1. Go home with a finished project. Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, 597 County Highway 54, Cherry Valley. (607) 2643265 ext. 518.

YOGA—10 a.m. “Slow Flow Yoga.” Weekly class open to all levels. Suggested donation applies.

The Green Earth Health Market, Community Room, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. hello@erinrae. yoga.

POETRY—Noon to 2 p.m. “Love Poetry: A Generative Workshop with Julene Waffle.” Fees apply; bring your own paper/writing utensils.

_______

Time OuT OTsegO Things To Do In and Around Otsego County

The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111.

FUNDRAISER— 1-6 p.m. Spaghetti Dinner. Benefit for the Milford Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Squad. Dinner by donation. Milford Fire Department, back entrance, 64 South Main Street, Milford. (607) 286-9492.

FOOD—1-5 p.m. “2nd Annual Chowderfest.” Admission by donation. High Burl Brewery, 2803 State Highway 80, Burlington.

(607) 965-1247.

ARTS & CRAFTS— 1-3 p.m. “Clay Bead Class.” Make clay beads and a finished pair of earrings. Fees apply. Main View Gallery & Studios, 73-77 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 4321890.

AUTHOR TALK— 1:30 p.m. “Mechanize My Hands to War.” Local author Erin K. Wagner discusses her newest book, which looks at a future shaped by AI. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta.

(607) 432-1980.

BAZAAR—2-8 p.m.

“Janky Bazaar and Vintage Clothing Pop-Up Shop.” Continues 2/2.

Cooperstown Coworks, 6 Doubleday Court, Cooperstown. (607) 6432256.

OPENING RECEPTION—5 p.m. “Oneonta: Soccertown USA.” Free; open to the public.

Oneonta History Center, 183 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 4320960.

►Sun., Feb. 2 SHOW—9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Sidney Gun & Knife Show.” 40+ dealers of guns, swords,

INSURANCE

MANY COMPANIES. MANY OPTIONS.

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

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

Ben Novellano

33 YEAR! 1990-2023

Buying AntiquES, JEwElry, firEArMS Buzz Hesse Antiques & Appraisals, Estates, Artifacts Over 60 years experience Call today for a courteous and confidential talk

Matt Schuermann

Registered Mortgage Broker NYS Banking Dept.

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

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

370 MAin StrEEt, otEgo 607-287-5320 buzzh123@gmail.com

Buying AntiquES, EStAtES, ArtifActS

military souvenirs of any kind/condition. Paid admission. Presented by Midstate Arms Collectors.

Sidney Elks Lodge, 104 River Street, Sidney.

FIRST AID—10 a.m. to noon. “CPR Class for Heart Month.” Free. Laurens Fire District Emergency Squad, 34 Main Street, Laurens. (607) 433-2906.

DINNER—11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. “Chicken & Biscuit Dinner.” Eat in or take out. Fees apply.

Laurens Masonic Lodge, 7 Brook Street, Laurens.

STUDENTS—1-3 p.m.

“4-H International Night.”

Student presentations on customs clothing and food (samples available).

Pre-registration required.

Presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Southside Mall Community Room, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta.

(607) 433-2521.

SPORTS—3 p.m.

Info Meeting for Otsego Composite Mountain Bike Team. Open to grades 6-12.Woodland Cycles, 24 South Main Street, Milford. (607) 282-0013.

SUPPORT—7 p.m.

“Post-Inauguration Community Meeting.” Presented by the Otsego Pride Alliance. Get support, make connections and write postcards to representatives. All welcome.

Refreshments provided.

Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, 12 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. (607) 386-1508.

SING—7 p.m.

“Oneonta Kirtan.” Fees apply. Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, 12 Ford Avenue, Oneonta.

►Mon., Feb. 3 LIBRARY—9 a.m. “Exercise Class.” Presented by instructor Carol Thompson. Free, open to all ages. Held each Monday and Thursday. Strawberry Hall, Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 397-7309.

DISCUSSION—3-5 p.m.

“Current Events Discussion Group.” Held each Monday. Village Library of Cooperstown. 22 Main Street, Cooperstown.

TAX SEASON— 6-8 p.m. “Free Tax Prep.”

Provided by Hartwick College via the IRS VITA program. Held Mondays and Tuesdays thru 4/15. Hartwick College, Golisano Hall, 2nd floor, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta.

(607) 431-4338.

SUPPORT GROUP— 6:30 p.m. “Divorce Care Support Group.” Presented by the Community

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Bible Chapel. Clark Sports Center, 124 County Road 52, Cooperstown.

►Tues., Feb. 4 COMMUNITY HIKE— 9:45 a.m. Hike with the Susquehanna Chapter Adirondack Mountain Club. Bring appropriate equipment/water and be aware of your level of fitness. This week’s hike will be at Lower Robert V. Riddell State Park, Davenport. Contact hike leader Linda Pearce at (607) 432-8969.

TOUR—2 p.m. “Virtual Zoom Tour: In the Spotlight—Women Artists at Fenimore Art Museum.”

Presented online by The Fenimore Art Museum.

SKATING—3-6 p.m. mixed use; 6:30-9 p.m. hockey. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Badger Park, 87 Beaver Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5472411.

MEET & GREET— 5:30-7 p.m. “Welcome Home Cooperstown.”

Gathering to welcome new residents to the Village of Cooperstown.

Celebrate Library Lovers’ Month by learning about activities at the Cooperstown Library.

Includes music by Luke Gheen and refreshments. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown.

(607) 547-8344.

EDUCATION—6-8 p.m.

“Art Class: Gelli Plate Printing.” Presented by the 2025 Continuing Ed Classes. Fees apply.

Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, 597 County Highway 54, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-3265 ext. 518.

►Wed., Feb. 5 VETERANS—8-10 a.m.

“Veterans Breakfast at Laurens Legion.” Held first Wednesday of each month. Free. Laurens American Legion, 11 Main Street, Laurens.

SUPPORT—10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Half off everything except priced jewelry and furniture. Every first and third Wednesday.

Helios Care Thrift Shop & Boutique, Price Chopper Plaza, 5626 State Highway 7, Oneonta. (607) 432-5335.

CRAFT—3 p.m. Crochet Group. Bring a project to work on or come and learn. Held each Wednesday. WorcesterSchenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester.

(607) 397-7309.

ART CLASS— 6-9 p.m. “Figure This!

Open Studio Life Drawing.” Non-instructional workshop with nude models for sketching.

Hosted by a Cooperstown Art Association member, who will be present

to field questions and comments. $18/session, cash. Held each Wednesday. Cancellations will be communicated prior to session. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown.

(607) 547-9777.

►Thurs., Feb. 6 CRAFT—10 a.m. to 7 p.m. “Open Sewing.”

Bring a project, sewing machine, and other tools and work with fellow crafters. Message/call to reserve a spot. Held each Thursday. Leatherstocking Quilts, 155 Main Street, Suite B, Oneonta.

ART RECEPTION— 5-7 p.m. “Slip the Body, Center the Mind: Ceramics Exhibition.” MartinMullen Gallery, SUNY Oneonta Fine Arts Center, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta.

DANCE—6-8 p.m.

“Line Dancing.” Fees apply. Each Thursday. Red Barn Farm Brewery and Kountry Kitchen, 3883 State Highway 7, Otego.

(607) 267-4353.

GAME—6-9 p.m. “Pitch Game Night.” All skill levels welcome. Held each Thursday. Muddy River Farm Brewery, 107 Winney Hill Road, Oneonta.

(607) 287-8770.

FILM SOCIETY— 7 p.m. “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.” Presented by the Film Society of Cooperstown. Featuring special guest Chris de Ville, puppeteer. Village Ballroom, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown.

►Fri., Feb. 7 AGING— 10-11:30 a.m. “Estate Planning: Do You Know Where to Begin?” Presented by the Otsego County Office for the Aging with attorney Lauren Glynn. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Highway 11, Hartwick.

(607) 547-4232.

TAX SEASON—10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Free Tax Prep.”

Provided by Hartwick College via the IRS VITA program. Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, Richfield Springs.

(315) 858-3200.

LIBRARY—Noon.

“Stories Come Alive.”

Reading for children aged pre-K through third grade.

Must be accompanied by a caregiver. Held each Friday. Richfield Springs Public Library, 102 West Main Street, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-0230.

YARN CLUB— 2-3:30 p.m. First Friday each month. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta.

(607) 432-1980.

►Visit allotsego. com/otsego-countyevents-calendar/ for the full calendar.

.homes Thinking of Selling Your House?

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

99 Main Street, Oneonta office 607.441.7312 fax 607.432.7580 www.oneontarealty.com Lizabeth Rose, Broker/Owner Cricket Keto, Licensed Assoc. Broker Peter D. Clark, Consultant

Inventory is low and buyers’ interest is at an all-time high! Call today!

Our professional team of Realtors is excited to help 166 Main Street, Suite 1 you start the new year right by listing with Oneonta | 607.433.2873 Oneonta Realty and the Scanlon Homes Team. oneontarealty.com