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VISIT WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM Volume 206, No. 6
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Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, February 6, 2014
COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND
PUMPKINFEST ENDED ‘Fall Into Cooperstown’ Weekend Will Replace It, Chamber’s Szarpa Says pumpkin weighing and paddling isn’t worth the work it requires, according to chamber Executive Director Pat Szarpa. Instead, the chamber is planning a “Fall into Cooperstown” festival that will involve the village’s major institutions – The Farmers’ and Fenimore museums and the Hall of Fame – and will refocus on bringing
By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN
P
umpkinFest is no more. The Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has decided the benefits from the annual weekend of giantThe Freeman’s Journal
Congressional candidate Sean Eldridge chats with county Rep. Gary Koutnik during his Tuesday, Feb. 4, visit to Cooperstown.
Mathes, Mayor Katz, Discuss Opportunities On Main, Railroad Ave.
MAKING MUSIC
Eldridge Visits To Accept Nod Of Local Dems
Allstadt, Falk, Horvath Join Conversation By JIM KEVLIN
COOPERSTOWN
G
COOPERSTOWN
overnor Cuomo, AG Schneiderman and Comptroller DiNapoli all accepted the county Democrats’ endorsement Tuesday, Feb. 4 – in absentia. Not Sean Eldridge, who is running against Congressman Chris Gibson, R-19. The freshman from Shokan, Ulster County, gave a short but rousing address to the county committee meeting in the county Office Building, before departing for home, trying to beat that evening’s expected snow storm.
S
andy Mathes, the county IDA’s “single point of contact” economic developer, came calling the other day. And Mayor Jeff Katz and two members of the Village Board’s Economic Sustainability Committee, Trustees Lou Allstadt and Cindy Falk, were here to meet him.
Paul Donnelly & Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
CASALE OUT: GOP “placeholder” Vince Casale, the county chair, advised Village Clerk Monday, Feb. 3, he won’t be running for Cooperstown mayor. A vacancy committee had until Wednesday evening to nominate a challenger to incumbent Jeff Katz. Check WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM VENDORS SOUGHT: The Cooperstown Farmers Market is seeking 6-8 new vendors for the 2014 season. Submit applications by Feb. 28 at www.cooperstownfarmersmarket.org
business to downtown stores, she said. Details are being firmed up now and will be announced in the next few weeks. The main source of revenues from PumpkinFest, Szarpa said, was sponsorships, and about $24,000 was raised for last year’s event. The chamber expected to clear $4,000, Please See PUMPKINS, A6
Katz
“I was definitely impressed by him and Elizabeth” Horvath of Cooperstown, the Industrial Development Agency’s Please See MATHES, A6
Fundraisers Mayor Waller Planned In Joins Gibson As Local Rep 2 Tragedies Donations In Westford, Dinner For Mike Basile By LIBBY CUDMORE
A
fter two weeks of tragedy, the Westford and Hartwick fire departments are banding together to help out the families of the fallen. In Hartwick, the two fire companies will still host the planned spaghetti dinner, Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle for Hartwick Fire Department Company #2 Fire Chief Michael Basile, who died Saturday, Jan. 18, after battling colon cancer for over a year. “We expected Please See DONATION, A6
The talent came out in full swing at the CCS Cabaret Night on Friday, Jan. 31. Clockwise from top are: John Meyer showing off his guitar skills; Mike Burch tickling the ivories; Mary Iverson demonstrating her vocal prowess, and emcee Aaron Idelson. The evening helps underwrite scholarships presented by CCS’s Friends of Music & Arts.
Mathes
COOPERSTOWN
F
ormer Mayor Carol B. Waller has joined U.S. Chris Gibson’s staff as constituent services representative in the congressman’s Cooperstown office. “I am honored to have Carol join our office, and know she will be an excellent addition to the constituent services team,” said Gibson. “Carol’s local knowledge and community ties, as well as having the experience of being a small business owner, make her the ideal addition.” Please See WALLER, A2
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