The Nightingale & The Firefly
Boyhood, Interrupted •F
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WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM Newsstand Price $1
After Dusting, Trustees Toss 26 Uncleared-Sidewalk Fines COOPERSTOWN
‘C
learly there’s something amiss,” Mayor Jeff Katz told the Village Board at the February meeting on the 22nd, after five
The Freeman’s Journal
For 208 Years
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, February 25, 2016
By JIM KEVLIN
Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson underscored the importance of the Internet and social media in getting the word out to a national audience when he spoke Feb. 20, at the Friends of the Village Library Sunday Series. Contrary to “Field of Dreams,” today “you have to build it and take it to people.”
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COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND
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Volume 208, No. 8
NEW
1808 BY
VISIT THE
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Cooperstown’s Newspaper
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3-PART SERIES ON TRAGEDY, RESURGENCE BEGINS/SEE B1
letters of complaint from homeowners fined $108 each after a dusting of snow Jan. 18-19 wasn’t promptly cleared. His colleagues agreed, and within minutes Katz and the five trustees – Lou Allstadt was absent – agreed to “cancel” the five complainants’ fines and give “amnesty” to the other 21 Mayor Katz
FOR TEXTS of the snow-removal fine complaints, follow the link at WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM
who were likewise fined but paid without complaining. Katz also referred the question to the trustees’ Streets Committee, asking Trustee
Cindy Falk, committee chair, to return in a month with recommendations for a “less random” approach that would avoid future outcries. Snow-shoveling requirements have been much debated, implemented and revised for years. When he was mayor, Joe Please See FINES, B7
POLAR BEAR ... FLIGHT! J
amie Waters, organizer of the Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump for the past 21 years, appears to be taking flight off the diving platform at the Saturday, Feb. 20, event. (Truth in reporting: It ended in a belly flop.) As usual, the event was a success, raising a reported $125,000 for ailing youngsters and worthy institutions, including $11,000 donated to Springbrook for the first time this year/SEE SLIDE
2nd Jane Clark Talk Is Set For Those Left Out COOPERSTOWN
A
s she promised after a rare public talk in January quickly filled to capacity, Jane Forbes Clark has scheduled a reprise for 3 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at The Otesaga. Those turned away from the Hall of Fame appearance can sign up for priority seating at the front desk of the Village Library during regular house. AT THE HELM: Former New Lisbon Town Supervisor Bob Taylor will be installed May 1 as president of the state Association of Towns/DETAILS, A2
SHOW AT WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM
Ian Austin/The Freeman’s Journal
It’s Rare: CCS Boys, Girls In Section Finals Both At Onondaga CC This Weekend
AWARD TIME: Otsego 2000 is accepting nominations for its 2016 Historic Preservation Awards. The deadline is March 30. Check www.otsego2000.org for details.
By JIM KEVLIN
By BRIAN C. HOREY & LIBBY CUDMORE
COOPERSTOWN
COOPERSTOWN
T
here is no “I” in team … or Hawkeyes, Cooperstown Central’s basketball teams. NO ICE: Due to warm With sophomore Tyler Bertram leadweather, the Badger Park ice ing the boys and all area scorers, averaging has only been skateable 10 over 30 points a game, and senior Liz Millea days this year. doing nearly the same for the girls, opposing coaches might be tempted to think that both Brian Horey photos teams are one-trick ponies. Lady Hawkeyes’ Please See FINALS, B7 CCS Boys’ Tyler Liz Millea.
Businesspeople Voice Concern About Looming $15 Minimum
Bertram.
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oads, bridges. More school funding. Adjusting the propertytax cap. State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, brought the latest intelligence from Albany on all of that and more to a gathering of 75 Cooperstown Chamber of
Commerce members Monday morning, Feb. 22, at the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Grandstand Seward Theater. But when the Q&A began, it was clear the single issue on businesspeople’s minds was the $15 miniPlease See WAGE, A7
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
Birds · Equine · Home and Garden · Pets
4119 State Hwy 7, Oneonta 607-432-3884 brandowsfeedandpet.com
A-2 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL
THURSDAY, february 25, 2016
LOCALS
Bank Of Cooperstown Pioneer Assumes Emeritus Role
RICHFIELD MARINE TO CCS PUPILS: THANKS
COOPERSTOWN
president/CEO of Wyoming County Bank, Ranger has 40 years of experiobert Ranger of West Winence in commercial banking, half as a field has been named direcsenior bank executive. tor emeritus of the Bank of He currently owns and operates Cooperstown’s parent company, RWR Funding, arranging taxable and USNY Bank, effective at the annual tax-exempt financing for municipalishareholder meeting in April, when ties, public schools, fire companies, his term as board director ends. Ranger banks and corporations. He is the first board member to be He also sits on the Board for given this distinction, reflecting his role in NYCM Insurance, Edmeston. the founding of USNY Bank. He resides in West Winfield with his wife, Former Fleet Bank regional president and Marjorie.
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All OTSEGO. dining & entertainment
Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
Back from deployment in Romania, Marine Jeremy Denmeade of Richfield Springs thanks pupils in Ann Szwejbka’s third-grass class at Cooperstown Elementary School this afternoon for sending him letters from home while he was in Eastern Europe. The letter-writing exercise followed a visit to the classroom last fall by a community member familiar with Romania. A 2012 graduate of Richfield Springs Central, Denmeade is home on leave for a few days. His mother, Laurie Pestar, is a Cooperstown Elementary secretary. Pupils listening raptly, from left, are Waylon Cassell, Jonah Hitchcock, Max Scharf and Claire Kapusniak.
Former New Lisbon Supervisor Taylor President Of NY Association Of Towns NEW LISBON
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ob Taylor, the former New Lisbon town supervisor who completed 12 two-year terms in office on Dec. 31, has been elected president of the New York State Association of Towns, effective May 1. He was elected to what he described as an “honorary position” by 1,800 attendees at the association’s annual meeting earlier this month at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. All 932 towns in the state are members of the Albanybased association. The only other Otsego countian to hold the post in recent memory is Marie Lusins, when she was an Oneonta Town Board member. Formerly from Westchester County, where he was New Salem town supervisor for a term, Taylor moved to New Lisbon 35 years ago.
The Lake house Taste Your Way Around the World
He and wife Claire had been doing sheepsheering demonstrations downstate and, drawn here Taylor by proximity to The Farmers’ Museum, bought a farm and began raising sheep and other animals. He also was hired by Delaware-Chenango-MadisonOtsego BOCES in Norwich as director of instructional support services, a position he had held at Westchester County BOCES. As supervisor, he gained a reputation for pioneer-
TAKE-OUT from BOCCA
Pizza? Take it out! Pasta?Take it out! Salad? Take it out! Dessert? Take it out! If it’s on our menu, you can take it out! No Surcharge
2016 Grammy Award Winners
Call it in...take it out! 5438 State Hwy 28 • Cooperstown • 607.282.4031 • www.boccaosteria.com
with executive chef, Michael Gregory
Louisiana Down Home Cookin’
new york pizzeria
Friday, Feb. 26
- Chicken & Sausage Gumbo Soup - Blackened Southern Catfish - Apple Pie w/Cinnamon Ice Cream Visit a different country each Friday!
2 large plain pizzas $25* Tax included! Toppings extra
Only $17.99
Saturday, March 19 at 8 pm
1 – Jerk Chicken Wrap 2 3 4
with mixed green salad – Roasted Vegetable and Grilled Tofu Wrap with fried green plantain chips – Fried Chicken with mac & cheese – Fried Fish with green plantain chips
Smoothies Specials Pineapple . Strawberry . Banana Mango . Peanut Punch Super Green (kale, spinach, cucumber, ginger) Double fruit combos available on request.
Let’s get together and eat all night! Our 46th Season!
A FREE event featuring Tumbleweed Highway, and Horseshoe Lounge Playboys.
Tickets: Saturday only $30 for music from noon to 8 pm, including The SteelDrivers. Call 607-431-2080 or foothillspac.org
Saturday, March 18 Noon to 8 pm
Leading up to The SteelDrivers at 8 pm, we are proud to present The Howlin’ Brothers, Hop City Hellcats, Milkweed, and the Ruddy Well Band.
24 Market Street, Oneonta 607-431-2080 www.foothillspac.org
Saturday February 27 at 7pm
Schuyler Lake United Methodist Church, Church Street, Schuyler Lake Open mic—sign up to perform.
Music from the heart, for the heart • The VOICE Finalist 2012
Nicholas David
Saturday, Mar. 5 at 7:30 pm Otesaga Resort Hotel Cooperstown www.cooperstownconcertseries.org
Not valid w/other offers • 1 coupon per person
Friday, March 18 7 to 10 pm
16 Water Street Oneonta 607-353-7911
$5.99 Lunch Specials $2.50 Tropical
75 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown · 607-547-2930 126 Main Street/ Rt 20, Richfield Springs · 315-858-0405
M At u t si e c nt Lo i v on er s!
2521 CounTy highway 22 • RiChfieLd spRings RsVp - 315-858-2058 • cooperstownlakehouse.com
ing computerization of town finances, introducing programs developed by Steve Lawton, a computer teacher at the ONC BOCES, assisted by Ken Nolan, Butternuts. “It worked out beautifully,” said Taylor, who was succeeded by Tim Miller at the first of the year. Bob and Claire also operated Second Sunday Antiques & Collectibles in Oneonta for a while. The Taylors have three sons, including David, the local attorney, Kevin in Chicago and Benjamin in New Hampshire, and daughter Heather, who works in Vermont.
Please call the Otesaga’s Hawkeye Grill at 607-547-9931 for dinner reservations before the show!
TiCkeTS: $20 for adults $15 for senior citizens and college students with current ID $8 for students age 13-18 Children age 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult. Call 607-547-1812. Tickets also available at Church & Scott Pharmacy, Fly Creek General Store and Riverwood. Remaining tickets will be available at the door. Upcoming Event: Willy Tea Taylor Saturday May 21, 2016
Cooperstown Concert Series programs are made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Other support provided by Sound Performance.
THURSDAY-friday, febRUARY 25-26, 2016
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-3
AllOTSEGO. opportunities
Career Fair Are you a caring, compassionate person? Find a career that matters— assisting people with developmental disabilities to realize their dreams!
Wednesday Heritage at tHe Plains at ParisH Homestead
Come join our senior community team! We are looking for professional, caring, patient, employees that enjoy being with seniors. ImmedIate OpenIngs Lpn – Ft every other weekend Resident Care aide – Ft every other weekend Cook – Ft servers – pt/Ft dishwasher – pt Please apply in person at The Heritage, 163 Heritage Circle, Oneonta, NY. eOe
Personnel Director The City of Oneonta is seeking applications for Personnel Director. Applications should be submitted by March 11. Salary will be based on experience. Permanent appointment will be contingent upon satisfactory completion of Civil Service requirements. Job descriptions and applications are available at the Personnel Department, 258 Main Street, or online at www.oneonta.ny.us/personnel. EOE
VACANCY Pk-6 School Counselor Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton Central School TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Full-Time Tenure Track Position RESPONSIBLE TO: Pk-12 Principal SALARY & BENEFITS: Per GMUTA Contract RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: Pk-6 Guidance Office duties STARTING DATE: September 1, 2016 and limited hours during Summer 2016 QUALIFICATIONS Applicants should have NYS Certification in School Counseling and School Counseling experience. APPLICATION PROCESS: Send letter of application to: Annette D. Hammond, Superintendent, Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton CSD, 693 St Hwy 51, Gilbertsville, NY 13776-1104, Phone: 607-783-2207 CLOSING DATE: March 11, 2016 WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Leatherstocking Timber Products We are continuing to expand, and are currently looking for employees to fill several positions. · Heavy equipment/ Truck mechanic · Sawmill positions: Sawyer, grader, general labor · Kiln operations personnel · Sales representative: Experience in hardwood or dimension lumber preferred
March 2, 2016
3-8 pm
The Arc Otsego 35 Academy St., Oneonta, NY 13820 Now hiring for: Direct Support Professionals: Assisting individuals with developmental disabilities in a residential setting and/or day setting. Multiple locations and shifts
Fill out an Application On-Site Interviews No appointment necessary Childcare Available
Be sure to bring:
Community Service Providers: Assist individuals in their own homes and in the community. Full and Part-Time
Additional positions: Bus Driver, Registered Nurses, Plan Writers
For more information:
Read more at: http://www.arcotsego.org/ Careers/careeropportunities.asp
The Arc Otsego offers competitive wages, an outstanding benefits package and comprehensive training.
All positions include competitive wages, retirement, health insurance, and stable long-term employment. Please apply in person at 359 Delaware Cty Hwy 11, Oneonta.
Resume or Work History Names and contact information for three references
www.arcotsego.org 607-432-8595
The Arc Otsego is a chapter of NYSARC, Inc. and a member of The Arc of The United States. The Arc Otsego is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Community Bank, N.A. is seeking friendly, dependable, motivated individuals with exceptional communication skills and smiling faces to join our Bank Happy Team. Teller – Various locations centered in Oneonta
This full-time floating Teller position is based out of Oneonta. Major responsibilities include providing exceptional customer service, handling cash accurately, meeting customers’ financial needs, and promoting bank products and services at various office locations throughout the Central Region. Qualifications for this position include a high school diploma or equivalent, excellent communication skills, accuracy, and basic math skills. Reliable transportation is required. Prior cash handling and customer service preferred.
Teller – Schenevus
This full-time Teller position is located in Schenevus. Major responsibilities include providing exceptional customer service, handling cash accurately, meeting customers’ financial needs, and promoting bank products and services. Qualifications for this position include a high school diploma or equivalent, excellent communication skills, accuracy, and basic math skills. Prior cash handling and customer service preferred.
Branch Manager – Norwich
This full-time Branch Manager position is located in Norwich. Major responsibilities include management of branch operations in order to meet financial service needs of customers; lending; business development; sales and customer service calls on present and prospective customers; and directly supervises assigned personnel. Qualifications for this position include an Associate’s Degree or equivalent, specialized banking education and training, a minimum of four years’ experience in related banking and lending positions, excellent communication skills, sales ability, and demonstrated supervisory skills. Candidates being considered for this position will be subject to additional background checks as required by regulations. Employees in this job must register and comply with all rules and regulations of The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (The SAFE Act). Employees hired or transferring into this position will need to meet the qualification requirements, in Community Bank’s sole discretion, under Reg. Z, prior to acting as a loan originator in a consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling. Qualification requirements include but are not limited to an assessment of overall financial responsibility, character, and general fitness through review of a criminal background check, and credit report.
Branch Manager – Cobleskill
visit
AllOTSEGO.com
DAILY FOR OPPORTUNITIES
This full-time Branch Manager position is located in Cobleskill. Major responsibilities include management of branch operations in order to meet financial service needs of customers; lending; business development; sales and customer service calls on present and prospective customers; and directly supervises assigned personnel. Qualifications for this position include an Associate’s Degree or equivalent, specialized banking education and training, a minimum of five years’ experience in related banking and lending positions, excellent communication skills, sales ability, and demonstrated supervisory skills. Candidates being considered for this position will be subject to additional background checks as required by regulations. Employees in this job must register and comply with all rules and regulations of The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (The SAFE Act). Employees hired or transferring into this position will need to meet the qualification requirements, in Community Bank’s sole discretion, under Reg. Z, prior to acting as a loan originator in a consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling. Qualification requirements include but are not limited to an assessment of overall financial responsibility, character, and general fitness through review of a criminal background check, and credit report.
Facilities Specialist-Oneonta
ZONING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (PaRT-TIME) The Village of Cooperstown, listed in the Glimmerglass Historic District on the National Register of Historic places, and a Certified Local Government, seeks qualified applicants for the position of part-time Zoning Enforcement Officer. Duties include explaining and interpreting the Village zoning ordinances to contractors and the general public, reporting to the various zoning boards and Village Board of Trustees, investigating complaints of violations, attending monthly meetings of the zoning boards and Board of Trustees, assisting the public in applying for zoning permits. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in municipal planning, zoning enforcement, historic preservation or related field. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships between the public and Village representatives is an essential component of this position. Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Please send resume, cover letter, and references to the Teri L. Barown, RMC, Village Clerk, Village of Cooperstown, P.O. Box 346, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or by email to vcooperstown@stny.rr.com. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Any questions regarding this position should be directed to the Teri Barown at 607547-2411. Candidates must be Otsego County residents at the time of appointment. EOE.
CHECK
This full-time Facilities Specialist position is located in Oneonta. Major responsibilities include providing exceptional customer service and performing various maintenance repairs and preventative maintenance tasks for plumbing, electrical, lighting, and HVAC systems throughout the organization. Educational qualifications for this position include a High School Diploma (or equivalent); an Associate’s Degree in a related field is preferred. Applicants must have a minimum of five years in facilities maintenance or construction, including the ability to perform routine repairs to heating, air conditioning, lighting, and electrical and plumbing systems. Other qualifications required are strong carpentry, electrical, and plumbing skills; no fear of heights; ability to work effectively in a team environment and multi-task in a fast-paced environment; and ability to work independently and remain on task. To be considered applicants must have a valid driver’s license as travel to different locations is necessary as needed. May be required to lift 100 pounds as well as perform laborer functions such as climbing and shoveling. If you are interested in applying for these positions, please complete an application available from the Careers page at www.communitybankna.com, submit online or print out the form and send it to: Community Bank N.A. Attn: Human Resources 245 Main Street PO Box 430 Oneonta, NY 13820 Or Employment@communitybankna.com
AllOTSEGO.com
www.
An Equal Opportunity Employer Male/Female/Disabled/Veteran
DAILY FOR BREAKING NEWS OF OTSEGO COUNTY
Perspectives
A-4 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016
EDITORIALS
We Can Have It All: Natural Gas Now, Renewables Later
I
t’s not a question of either, or. It’s win, win: Natural gas today, as the cleanest, lowestcost fuel available for business and manufacturing. Tomorrow, inevitably, there will be even cleaner, even less-costly, sufficiently powerful renewables. We can embrace them then. That SUNY Oneonta – hardly a radical entity – would summon major employers and institutions from Otsego and Chenango counties to discuss what to do about “interruptible power” natural-gas contracts settles – or should settle Constitution Pipeline photo – the argument for now. The first segments of pipe for the Constitution Pipeline NYSEG, the natural-gas utility arrived in New York State in March 2014, two years ago around here, simply doesn’t have next month, but none has yet been laid. the supply to meet demand. During the rounds, Lutz Feed was of natural gas becomes a central ing cold snaps – like the sub-zero denied natural gas to operate a concern to anyone concerned Feb. 13-14 weekend – NYSEG new bird-seed drier at its Lower about the “fragile” local economy, directs major institutions, from River Street mill. as state Sen. Jim Seward, R-MilChobani to Fox Hospital, to switch If there’s not enough natural gas ford, described it several times in to dirtier, more expensive “high for a bird-seed drier, there’s ceraddressing Cooperstown Chamber viscosity residual” Number 6 oil tainly not enough natural gas for of Commerce members Monday, for heating. Amphenol’s 800-employee plant Feb. 22, at the Hall of Fame. This pains the people in these in Sidney that, previously Bendix • organizations who, for years now, and Scintilla, has been an economThere are two options on the have been seeking to maximize the ic mainstay of the local economy table: efficiency of their heating plants for almost a century. • One, NYSEG has plans to and – in SUNY Oneonta’s case, And, with the county’s first replace an 8-inch pipeline from explicitly – to reduce their carbon “shovel-ready site” awaiting a maDeRuyter, which has been servfootprints. jor employer in the Oneonta Busiing Oneonta for 50 years, with a • ness Park (formerly Pony Farm), 10-inch line. The goal is to start Already, there’s insufficient and promising plans to redevelop the work in 2020, but that could natural gas. In a story that’s makthe former D&H yards, this lack be 2022, or 2025, or 2030, given
regulatory vagaries. Do we really want to delay any significant economic development for half a generation? • Two, tap into the Constitution Pipeline, which, if final objections are met, can be functioning sometime in 2017. This is the fastest, fullest way to meet unmet needs, not only of future economic development, but of SUNY Oneonta, Fox Hospital, Chobani and other “interruptible power” contract holders. (And a feeder line up to Cooperstown would mean huge savings for Bassett Hospital, the Hall, the museums, the public schools en route, not to mention householders.) • Regrettably, the essential and successful anti-fracking fight also resulted in demonizing natural gas in some people’s minds. You’ll hear it argued, based on research by Cornell professor Tony Ingraffea, that leaking natural gas is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon monoxide from burning oil or coal. But this isn’t settled science. Others say Ingraffea overestimates the amount of leakage and, regardless, natural gas dissipates relatively quickly in the atmosphere, while CO2 lingers for years. Meanwhile, Lou Allstadt, the
most formidable anti-fracking leader around here, gave a very encouraging lecture on the future of energy last September at the Friends of the Village Library’s Sunday Series. Over recent years, he reported, fossil-fuel costs have risen steadily; the cost of renewables is dropping sharply. Market forces are already driving an energy transformation most of us will see in our lifetimes. • It’s going to happen. But not today. Shortterm, major employers, would-be employers and will-be employers are looking to natural gas as the cheapest, cleanest, most adaptable fuel source. And the Constitution can provide natural gas aplenty within months. The final hurdle to the Constitution Pipeline’s construction is a lingering decision on state waterquality permits. Let’s get on with it. The state regulators should complete the review and, lacking evidence otherwise, issue the permits promptly. The fate of the earth won’t be decided by the relatively miniscule amount of natural gas that would be burned in Otsego County, but – for now, at least – that relatively miniscule amount may determine the fate of Otsego County.
LETTERS
MIKE ZAGATA OTHER VOICES
What Do We Do About Poverty Effecting Half Our Neighbors?
ISSUE & DEBATE: Is Natural Gas Answer? Get Off Fossil Fuels, Don’t Develop Them Further
To the Editor: It is disheartening to see neighbor? According to Editor’s Note: Mike in your report, “Natural-Gas staff at St. Mary’s food Zagata, who lives in DavShortfalls Energize Pipeline pantry, they provide food for Push,” in last week’s edition, enport, is a former commisabout 300 mouths per week that Senator Seward and our sioner of the state Departand they’re not necessarily ment of Environmental local economic planners led by the same people each week. Sandy Mathes are pushing for Conservation. These aren’t people who more pipelines to increase natuare milking the public ashe median household ral gas consumption in our area. sistance programs like Food income average for The demand by local instituStamps and SNAP. Otsego, Delations and businesses for reliable They are people ware and Schoharie and adequate energy should who hold one or counties combined be taken as an opportunity more jobs but don’t to prioritize the development is about $49,000. have a cash reserve of renewables, not to call for According to the to handle expenses federal government, more natural gas. The serious when a car or the poverty level local and global harms done refrigerator breaks for a family of four by natural gas and other fossil down or a family is $24,000. Howfuels are no longer in dispute. member becomes ever, according to Their environmental costs now ill. Cooperstown, staff from Catholic Mike Zagata Milford, Otego, Un- clearly outweigh any benefits. It Charities of the is astonishing that Seward and adilla and Laurens Albany diocese, Mathes do not seem to recogalso have food pantries as the number for Upstate nize this. do towns in the two other New York should be about Can renewable energy sourccounties. $43,000. Thus nearly one es supply all our needs? Can we According to Opportunihalf of the residents in those entirely replace natural gas and ties for Otsego, about 6,000 fossil fuels? We won’t know three counties live near or people receive some form of below the poverty level. annual assistance. Catholic That’s an overall numCharities assists about 6,000 ber, but what does it mean Please See VOICES, A6 to you, and possibly your
T
Natural Gas Is Safest, Most Abundant
until we try. What we do know is that fossil fuels are slowly killing us. If we have to accept long-term limits to economic growth by sticking to truly clean energy, that’s a compromise we may have to make. At least that will give us a chance to leave a livable environment for future generations. In the meantime, we have to get off of fossil fuels, not develop them further. To that end, we need massive infrastructure investment in renewables to provide alternative energy. If Senator Seward and Sandy Mathes are serious about promoting economic development, they should focus on lobbying Albany to implement a wholesale transition to renewables. Building an infrastructure for renewable energy is the only way to create jobs while respecting the environment. ADRIAN KUZMINSKI Moderator Sustainable Otsego
To the Editor: The lead story “Natural Gas Shortfalls” in last week’s newspaper illustrates an imperative need for increasing the supply of natural gas, not only to our region but also to New England (where I recently lived.) While “fracking” has become a dirty word to many environmentalists, it is a source of natural-gas production in neighboring states, upon which we are dependent. Until such time as renewable sources of energy, such as solar power and wind farms (which local environmentalists also reject) become economically viable, natural gas is our safest, most abundant, and environmentally acceptable source of energy. Perhaps the environmentalist would prefer wood-burning stoves and furnaces. Senator Seward doesn’t want our region to “become a highway for pipelines,” but New York State is already a highway for commerce between New England and the rest of the nation. We should no more discourage using pipelines for the transportation of natural gas than we should discourage using Interstate 17, 88 and 90 for trucking and buses. WILLIAM W. DORNBURGH
Cooperstown
County Should End Predatory Tax Collections Immediately
James C. Kevlin Editor & Publisher
Tara Barnwell Advertising Director
Thom Rhodes • Allison Green Advertising Consultants
Celeste Brown Thomas Copy Editor
Mary Joan Kevlin Associate Publisher
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Ian Austin Photographer Tom Heitz Consultant
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR Otsego County • Town of Cherry Valley • Town of Middlefield Cooperstown Central School District Subscriptions Rates: Otsego County, $48 a year. All other areas, $65 a year. First Class Subscription, $130 a year. Published Thursdays by Iron String Press, Inc. 21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown NY 13326 Telephone: (607) 547-6103. Fax: (607) 547-6080. E-mail: info@allotsego.com • www.allotsego.com Contents © Iron String Press, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at USPS Cooperstown 40 Main St., 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
To the Editor: Otsego County taking property for back taxes is understandable and legitimate. Not allowing the property owner to pay those back taxes right up to the last minute before the tax sale, and not returning excess tax-sale money to the property owner, creates a misery-tax credit to all other Otsego County property owners. This makes us all unwilling participants in the taking of our neighbors’
property for profit, often leaving them homeless and destitute. This is a dirty business and I do not want any part of it or any of this dirty money to reduce my tax bills. It is like the medieval punishment of slowly crushing a person under a slab with everyone in a village forced to put a stone on the slab. Otsego County government is in place to help and serve the residents of Otsego County, not to confiscate their
property and what little additional assets they may have left. This tax-collection practice, and the misery it is continually creating, is making me sick. The Otsego County board should immediately end this predatory tax collection practice. This is a dark cloud over Otsego County, and a dark cloud over me, that I resent every day. JAMES R. DEAN Cooperstown
George H.W. Bush Attended Hall Of Fame Game As Vice President Vice President George H.W. Bush, center, with U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, left, and Hall of Fame Director Ed Stack.
To the Editor: I enjoyed your article on the presidents that have visited Cooperstown. I think you failed to mention George H. W. Bush. Back in the mid 1980s I spent the day with him and our local congressman taking photos for him. He was vice president at the time. The day started for a tour at The Baseball Hall of Don Urtz photo Fame, then to Doubleday
Field for the annual game and in the afternoon to The Otesaga for a Republican fundraiser on the lawn. Enclosed are a few of several photos I took that day. DON URTZ Richfield Springs Editor’s Note: Thanks, Don; we’ll do George H.W. Bush next year!
AllOTSEGO.com • MORE LETTERS, A6
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR WELCOME • E-MAIL THEM TO info@
THURSDAY, February 25, 2016
BOUND VOLUMES
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL A-5
Compiled by Tom Heitz with resources courtesy of The New York State Historical Association Library
175 YEARS AGO
Bridge at Albany – The question of constructing a bridge at Albany is exciting a large share of the public attention all over the state. The Albanians urge the project as one of great public convenience; the railroad from Boston terminating at Greenbush and its being important to connect that road with the great line of Rail Road communication to Buffalo. The Trojans and the inhabitants of the surrounding villages oppose the bridge with great warmth and spirit. They allege it will destroy the navigation of the river above Albany and inflict a severe blow on their commerce and prosperity. The City of Troy is a National Port of Delivery established by Act of Congress – that large sums of money have been expended by the National Government to improve the navigation above Albany to Troy and West Troy where is placed one of the largest and most important National Arsenals in the United States, it appears that the project can find but little favor with the citizens of this vicinity. March 1, 1841
200 YEARS AGO
Nathaniel P. Willis and W.W. Hovey to visit the factory of the General Aeronautic Company at Freehold, Long Island this week and make an investigation. February 23, 1916
75 YEARS AGO
If we have floods, tornadoes, railroad wrecks, fires of considerable extent, or other serious emergencies, the communities are preparing under the Tri County Motor Club to handle the transportation of physicians, workers, first-aid experts, food, clothing, or whatever is needed. The days of the old hit-or-miss handling of the necessary transport are over. A committee of the club, appointed by the Hon. Chester T. Backus, president, composed of Geary A. Wilmot, Frank Kniffen, A.L. Wahl and Howard E. Brown is organizing the motorists of the communities into an Emergency Motor Aid Corps. All car owners willing to serve are being listed, with type of cars, special training, and emergency telephone numbers. Special training for emergency work will be given. February 26, 1941
150 YEARS AGO
50 YEARS AGO
Excerpts from a critique of President Andrew Johnson’s annual speech to Congress, known today as The State of the Union speech: “His address to the Negro delegation was replete with sentiments of kindness and friendly advice; at the same time it failed to meet their expectations – for he did not favor universal suffrage, nor propose to override the constitutional rights of the States to compel even a limited Negro suffrage.” The Second Carnival which came off on our skating park Monday evening last, was a decided success. The illuminations, principally by paper-colored lanterns, were a very attractive feature. The music by the Seminary Band added life to the whole affair. The costumes were numerous and varied; the general interest and enjoyment greater. The young ladies of the Seminary showed a great deal of skill and taste in their varied costumes, as did several of our village young ladies. March 2, 1866
John F. Lambert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul J. Lambert February 29, 1816 of Cooperstown recently completed a Hartwick College January Term internship as a legal assistant with Feury, up a nice dwelling for himself. We welcome Mr. Hill to our Gozigan, and Washburn in Cooperstown. John is a junior town, and congratulate Fly Creek friends on the acquisition majoring in economics. Hartwick’s January Term is a speabout to be made to their business and personal interests. cial one-month academic semester. February 27, 1891 February 27, 1991
“The Novelty Works” will be the name of the new manufacturing interest soon to be established by Mr. Henry H. Hill of New York at Fly Creek, he having purchased the plant owned by Dr. J.K. Leaning, which embraced the foundry and machine shop formerly run by Mr. Badger. Mr. Hill will manufacture passenger, freight, and other elevators; also machinery of different kinds; will furnish plans and materials needed in the erection of various kinds of buildings, both iron and woodwork. He is an architect and practical machinist. The number of men employed will depend upon the amount of work which may be called for at the factory. It is expected that six or seven families will come with Mr. Hill as soon as he erects the necessary buildings and gets the machinery in position. He will put
At a special meeting of the Cooperstown Board of Trade last Wednesday evening the proposition of establishing a factory at Index for the manufacture of automobile engines was explained by S.W. Mower, formerly General Manager of the Otsego & Herkimer Railroad, who is at present connected with the General Aeronautic Company, extensive manufacturers of aeroplanes. This company has usually equipped its product with any standard engine specified by the purchaser. But, the perfection of an engine of superior attainments patented by them makes it necessary that they maintain a factory. Mr. Mower, knowing of the idle Index factory, succeeded in interesting the company in locating here. Pursuant to a resolution, President Frank B. Shipman appointed a committee consisting of M.E. Lippitt,
125 YEARS AGO
Winter returned to this area in earnest over the weekend. The temperature fell to 15 below zero Sunday morning and rose only to 13 that afternoon making it the coldest day of the winter here so far with a mean temperature of one below zero. High, gusty winds added to the discomfort of those who ventured outside. During the past week temperatures have averaged five degrees below normal. February 23, 1966
25 YEARS AGO
100 YEARS AGO
10 YEARS AGO
Glimmerglass Opera’s music director and principal conductor Stewart Robertson will give a special preview of the company’s 2006 Festival Season on Sunday, February 26 at 7 p.m. in Templeton Hall. This summer for the 2006 Glimmerglass Festival season Robertson will conduct Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance, Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and the world premiere of Stephen Hartke and Phillip Littell’s “The Greater Good.” For the preview Robertson will give musical examples from each opera and delve into the history and performance practices of the works. February 24, 2006
SUNY Goal: In 10 Years, $100 Million Endowment After ‘Possibilities,’ College Foundation Confident It Can Continue Growing Alumni Giving By JIM KEVLIN
F
ocus on this number: $100 million. “Possibilities Full of Promise,” SUNY Oneonta’s 125th anniversary fund drive, pushed the college endowment beyond $50 million to $52 million, the largest of any of the SUNY system’s “comprehensive colleges” – Brockport’s, New Paltz’s, Geneseo’s; there are 11 in all. The “Possibilities” goal was $12.5 million; when the three-year drive wrapped up last summer, the drive had raised $13.6 million. Yet there’s no resting on laurels in the College at Oneonta Foundation offices on the fourth floor of the campus’s Netzer Administration Building. Quite the opposite. Following approval by the College Foundation board on Jan. 29, work began in earnest this month on the goal of doubling that endowment to $100 million in 10 years. “Our best work is still ahead of us,” said Paul Adamo in an interview. Adamo, Class of 1981, 12 years later the foundation’s executive director and vice president for college advancement, was recruited back from Union College in Schenectady. • Doubling the endowment in a decade may sound ambitious, but as Adamo details plans to raise $3 million – probably $3 million plus – and invest it at a 5.25 percent return (plus inflation), reaching the goal seems almost inevitable. That’s because it’s built on alumni loyalty – 6,281 individual donations last year. “5,000 are loyal annual and very generous
donors,” said Adamo, adding, “I’m not satisfied with having 5,000 loyal donors; I want 10,000 loyal donors.” This will be helped by low turnover on Adamo’s 24-person staff, which results in the same gifting
COLLEGE OF ONEONTA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS ►OFFICERS President Paul Perlman ’76 Vice President William Pietraface Secretary Carol Baker ’66, ’71G Treasurer Todd Foreman’ Executive Director Paul Adamo ’81
Atty. PAUL PERLMAN
►DIRECTORS Janice Ashley ’62; Jerrold Bermingham ‘83; Keith Bundy ’62, ’66G; Carol Burkhart ’68, ’73G; Andrea Casper ’75; Edward Hyde Clarke ’10; Yvonne Cummings ’72; Arthur Dauria; Caitlin Dempsey ’17**; James Doig ’75; Karen Elting ’84*; Eleanor Filburn ’54*; James Guzewich ’74; Stanley Hansen, Jr. ’75; Jay Jacobs ’77*; Kenneth Kellerhouse ’57, ’60G; Nancy Kleniewski; Reginald Knight ’74; Meaghan Kristol ’16**; Daniel Lagani ’85; Patrick McCann ’75; William McVicar ’81; Mary Milmore ’06H*; Janet Perna ’70; Angelo Scopelianos ’77; Jeffrey Strauss ’71*; Andrew Turner ’11; William Vining ’81; Michael Williams ’88; Todd Zimmer ’90 *Indicates Honorary Director **Indicates Student Director
officer meeting with the same alumni year after year, developing a “long-term professional relationships that donors like to see.” Half Adamo’s staff is in the Office of Alumni Engagement. “We explore with them their passions and priorities,” he said. “We want them to make the college one of the top three (giving) priorities in their lives.” (The others are, typically, church and a graduate school, he said.) Most alumni need their incomes over the course of their lives, but they are increasingly intrigued by the option of including their alma mater in their estate planning. That gift becomes the logical outcome of “a lifetime of enjoyment and giving,” said Adamo. “My belief,” he said, “is we will have donors in the future who will make multi-million-dollar gifts to our college and our foundation.” Today, only 15 percent of donations are unencumbered – 85 percent are given for a specific purpose. Long-term relationships with alumni, however, build a level of trust so that donors will make unrestricted donations; the staff consistently reports back on how the money is then used. Adamo hopes to raise the share of unrestricted gifts a third more, to 20 percent of total gifts. • Granting scholarships today – 1,079 this academic year to 960 students, about a quarter of the enrollment – begins the loyaltybuilding process. “When students experience philanthropy and know others have invested in them, there is a higher percentage of likelihood they will become donors,” he said. That sentiment is reflected in many, many of the letters all scholarship recipients write to their donors, he said. (Adamo also has three staffers dedicated to ac-
Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
College Foundation Executive Director Paul Adamo reviews the final campaign report on “Possibilities Full of Promise.”
knowledging all donations within 48 hours.) As with everything these days, this undertaking involves database management, keeping information current on 60,000 alums. Developing the $100 million goal began within weeks of the “Possibilities Full of Promise” conclusion with individual “selfassessments” by members of the College Foundation board. The foundation contracted with BoardSource, national consultants based in Washington D.C., to guide the process. The next step was development of a “vision statement” – more specifically targeted than a “mission statement” – that defines the $100 million goal as part of “supporting affordable access to high-quality academic experiences for students.” The detailed plan approved Jan. 29 spells out specific steps going forward, particularly in the area of gifts of property and personal property,” and “more complex gifts in lifelong and estate planning,” the executive said. Much of what is desired is already happening. Adamo cites the Global Connectedness Fund,
which provided $20,000 to 34 students to study abroad this year. Since 2012, the D’Antonio Student Travel Fund has allowed 604 students to attended professional conferences around the country. The Clement Fund for Field Study in Geosciences this year sent 33 students on two “extended field trips” along the San Andreas Fault, enhancing their course, “Field Geology of Plate Boundaries.” Alumni giving is also focused on improving faculty, with 180 professors participating in professional development programs over the past three years. • The SUNY Oneonta community’s legacy of giving goes back to the foundation’s founding in 1982, with the faculty, in particular, endowing many scholarships that are still awarded annually today. When Adamo was recruited back to his alma mater from Union College in 1992, he found “an incredible high amount of alumni loyalty and enthusiasm.” Still, he found less than $100,000 in scholarships was available annually, and this lead to the first two fundraising campaigns, in the 1990s, and subsequent and continuing efforts. “This is serious business we’re involved in,” Adamo said. Becoming part of the loyal alumni cadre isn’t all work and no play. At the time he was interviewed, Adamo’s staff had sent out invitations to the “best donors” in the New York City area to a reception planned for the Vanderbilt Room of Café Centro in Manhattan’s Met-Life building, an expression of appreciation and a means of further building loyalty: it’s a circle. “A college can be part of a person’s life for the rest of his or her life,” Adamo said.
THURSDAY-FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25-26, 2016
A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA
As With Any Addiction, Weaning From Fossil Fuels Better Than Cold Turkey To the Editor: A few years ago, we fought and won a battle to prevent hydrofracking for natural gas in New York State. Many of us supported a ban because fracking posed a real danger to local water supplies. Some of the veterans of that battle are now fighting the construction of new gas pipelines in the area. They argue that these will lead to more consumption of fossil fuels and thereby accelerate climate change. While I am greatly concerned about climate
change, I do not support this campaign. The problem is we are dealing with an addiction, an addiction to energy. We need heat in winter and cooling in summer. We must drive long distances to work and school and to shop for necessities. Electricity powers our lights and smart phones. It pumps our water. Our milk needs refrigeration, and our food needs cooking. Our lives depend on energy, and fossil fuels provide most of this energy.
LETTER
This dependency changes everything. Consider for a moment another battle over addiction, the “War on Drugs.” The primary strategy – cutting off the drug supply – has failed miserably despite a tremendous effort made by law enforcement agencies since 1971. The problem is that with every drug seizure, the supply is reduced, thereby making drug dealing more profitable for new suppliers. Today, addiction to narcotics in one form or another remains a scourge. An alternative strategy proposed by
progressives is to reduce demand by treating the addicts, educating young people about the dangers of drug use, addressing its social causes and, in some cases, legalizing, taxing and regulating usage. This strategy has demonstrated measurable success in fighting tobacco addiction. Reducing demand for fossil fuels, as with addictive drugs, is the only approach that can work. As long as demand persists, energy cartels, like drug cartels, will supply fossil fuels to satisfy demand one way or another.
Environmentalists should focus their attention on energy conservation and increasing competitive sources of renewable energy. But while our addiction persists, we should adopt policies and practices that enhance our immediate safety and well-being. If distributing clean needles to heroin addicts is appropriate, then allowing the construction of a pipeline – the safest means of transporting natural gas – is also appropriate. RICHARD BLABEY Cooperstown
Jobs Needed To Curb Poverty Here, And Jobs Require Natural Gas VOICES/From A4 people annually in the three counties. Charlotte Valley Central School may have a larger percentage of its students on the assisted lunch program than any other Upstate school. This list of the groups that assist the poor is incomplete and it does not include all of the Federal and State programs for those in need. That number is in the tens of thousands. Indeed, who would have ever thought that Oneonta would have a population deemed “homeless”? We do and it is growing. Governor Cuomo, in his 2016 “State of the State” address, went so far as to rank Oneonta among the 10 cities in New York with the highest poverty level. If you have difficulty relating to numbers, it may be easier to relate to what you can observe. As one drives through our beautiful countryside, it is difficult not to observe fields overgrown with goldenrod. It looks pretty in the fall when the yellow tops are waving in the wind, buy it is an indicator of poverty. Goldenrod invades fields that are left fallow when a once-thriving family farm goes out of business because it can no longer make ends meet. Stop a minute and reflect upon how many fields like that exist in these three counties. When we attend religious services our pastor, priest or rabbi often talk about our responsibility to assist the poor. Usually that means making a monetary donation. However, there is more than one way to provide assistance. One of those ways is to participate in and support the creation of a viable, healthy, local economy that results in the creation of new jobs. Having a meaningful job allows one to regain their self-esteem and become at least partially self-sufficient. It is the gift that keeps on giving. According to state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, one of the impediments to job creation in our area is the lack of a secure supply of natural gas. It seems that NYSEG, now owned by a Spanish company, has looked at the lack of business growth in the Oneonta area during recent times and decided not to increase the existing supply of gas. As a result, both businesses and the two colleges may, at times, be forced to curtail their use of gas under a clause in their contracts that allows their service to be interrupted when supply is low. That means that if we get hit with a severe cold snap their service could be curtailed just when they most need the gas. If NYSEG can’t assure a dependable supply of gas to existing customers, how can we attract new business that likely will need an un-interruptible supply? The answer is that we can’t. Zero new growth equates to no new jobs at a minimum. It also helps assure that our young people will continue to leave and our
population will continue to decline. That may not seem important, but as people leave there are fewer people left to pay for our schools, roads and government. As a result, those of us who are left will have to pay more in taxes to maintain the same level of services. In the City of Oneonta, the situation is even more critical as over half of the property within the city is tax exempt due to its ownership by not-for-profits. That means those who live there are paying double what they would normally pay for a given level of services. By placing a 2 percent cap on tax increases, the state has helped with our tax bills but, at the same time, forced cuts in our schools and local government. An opportunity to help address this situation has presented itself in the form of the Constitution Pipeline, as it has the potential to both create jobs associated with the project and to create or maintain existing jobs by increasing the supply of natural gas, especially to communities and businesses that don’t yet have it. Yes, there will be impacts that some will be asked to endure, but the overall result has the potential to be positive. Some local governments have looked at the glass as being half empty and others have looked at it as being half full. The Town of Windsor has taken the half-full approach. It chose that approach because of the following reasons. The
pipeline company building the project will make payments to property owners to either buyout or lease the needed rightof-way for the pipeline and that money will boost the local economy. The town believes that will create new jobs and increase local business. During construction there is expected to be a short-term economic shot-in-the-arm from lodging, food and fuel needs associated with construction workers. Motels, campgrounds, rental properties and local eateries will be in demand. On a more longterm basis, there will be jobs associated with the on-going operation and maintenance of the pipeline and compressor station. However, other significant benefits may well be those not often considered. The construction company is upgrading roads – an expense usually borne by the town. The 2012-13 school tax budget rose by 2.55 percent, but the tax rate was reduced by 5.8 percent. The budget for town taxes for 2012-13 increased by 3.08 percent, but the tax rate was reduced by 8 percent. How could that be? The tax-rate reductions were due to tax assessments on the pipeline and compressor station and they will be annual assessments. The pipeline was assessed $10,340,352 and the compressor station was assessed $19,478,736 for a total assessment of $29,819,088 – another gift that keeps on
giving. Think about what that influx of new money would mean to you as a taxpayer and to our schools, roads and infrastructure. Then take it a step further and think about what an increased supply of clean-burning, low-cost energy in the form of natural gas and good schools might mean to our economic viability as they could well attract new business and professionals like doctors to staff our hospitals. Lastly, think about how the proposed taps off the primary pipeline will save taxpayers money by providing gas to schools, colleges and government offices and what that low-cost energy will mean to major employers like Amphenol. Rights-of-way (ROW) also provide a habitat type for wildlife that is rapidly vanishing as our abandoned farmland is replaced by forests. Deer, songbirds and other wildlife frequent the early successional habitats (grass, forbs and low woody vegetation adjacent to “edges” created where the cleared ROW butts up against the forest) in search of food. Indeed, recent research at Cornell and the Alleghany National Forest in Pennsylvania shows that birds hatched in the forests often move out of the forest and into openings, like those provided by the ROW, after they fledge, or leave the nest, to feed on insects and fruits in preparation for the rigors of migration. As a result, the rights-of-way
make excellent areas for bird watchers to add new species to their life lists. No one is touting this as a panacea. It will take leadership, mutual respect and a commitment to our community
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
and our neighbors who share it to turn around our economy and help those in need get back on their feet. To me that is a goal worth pursuing.
NBT Bank is pleased to partner with
The Otsego County Chamber honoring
NYCM Insurance
as the NBT Bank Distinguished Business of the Year
John Remillard
as the Eugene A. Bettiol, Jr. Distinguished Citizen of the Year and
Oneonta Family YMCA as the Chamber of Commerce Quality of Life Award
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MLS#101349 Maryland $249,000 Wonderful, mostly original, pre-1880s farmhouse. Straight and solid, it only needs your imagination. Lovely views of the open fields and lower valley, it borders a year-round trout stream. The dairy barn has been maintained and is in usable condition, ready for anything. There are 2 additional outbuildings for tool storage and equipment. Dave LaDuke, Broker 607-435-2405
Laura Coleman 607-437-4881
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“Komeekha”, the larger cottage, has 3 BRs, open kitchen/dining, large LR w/fireplace, new floorto-ceiling window. “Anakusak” is a guest cottage w/kitchen/sitting area/BR, full bath. Porch and deck to take in lake views. 150´ deeded lake frontage w/new stone steps down to the lake, new large pontoon-style float dock w/buried anchor and extended sitting area. PrOPerty DetaILS —0.42 acres —Covered open porch —Deck —Waterfront lake view —Large yard —Detached garage/storage —Patio —Parking area
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THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL A-7
tHURSDAY, february 25, 2016
Seward Vowing ‘Aggressive Defense’ Against $15-Per-Hour Minimum Wage WAGE/From A1 mum wage. Mel’s at 22 proprietor Brian Wrubleski started the litany: “It’s getting very discouraging being a small business.” He’s already grappling with the challenge, as waiters and waitresses saw their minimum rise from $5.75 to $7.50 this year. Generally, the minimum wage rose from $8.75 to $9 on Jan. 1, but Governor Cuomo, in his State of the State speech and budget message to the state Legislature on Jan. 13, included raising the minimum wage generally to $15 by 2020. Connie Haney, Cooperstown Bat, said her staff of 25 doubles in the summer, and most of
those additional 25 are high school students who need to be trained from scratch. “It’s not a dis against 14year-olds,” she said, “but they don’t know how to work.” Ben Novellano of Bieritz Insurance said, “I think ($15 an hour) is a disincentive for them to continue their educations.” Tim Dolan, proprietor of Cooperstown Event Rentals, pointed out, “$15 – that’s a 50 percent increase over current payroll. Am I going to have to raise my prices 50 percent?” He’s planning a 5,000square-foot warehouse for his growing business. If plans go forward, Dolan said, he’ll need a warehouse manager. With everyone
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through. “It’s about economics,” said White. “It all falls to the bottom line.” Scott Barton, whose family operates the Lake N Pines Motel on West Lake Road, asked, if fast-food restaurants pay $15 an hour, “how are we going to compete?” Hartwick College President Margaret L. Drugovich pointed out another wrinkle: The Federal Labor Standards Act recently raised the cutoff for non-profits’ Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal exempt employees – those who don’t receive time and Scott Barton of Lake N Pines Motel and Connie Haney of Cooperstown Bat were among business- a half after 40 hours a week people raising their conserns to Senator Seward. – from $24,000 to $51,000 a year. making $15, “I’m going to said three customers raised At Hartwick alone, 400 have to pay that guy $25 an concerns about the $15 employees are affected. hour just to get his attenminimum with him in the “There is no source of tion.” past week alone, two saymoney except tuition,” Scott White, Bank of ing reductions in staffing is she said. “There’s not the Cooperstown president, their only option if it goes money there for non-profits to make these kinds of adjustments.” Jason Tabor of Principal Financial Group asked, “What’s the most efficient and effective way for our voices to be heard?” And Seward encouraged businesspeople to write or email the governor’s office to let him know there’s opposition out here. The Republican-dominated Senate, Seward told
TRUCKLOAD SALE
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the gathering, “has not signed on to the governor’s proposal … I’d like to take the issue outside the budget, since the governor has included nothing in the budget for this issue.” He agreed with fears that employers will simply eliminate jobs so they can afford to pay $15 an hour to the remaining workers. Stopping at fast-food outlets while crossing his 10-county district, the senator noticed outlets are beginning to put pads on their counters so patrons can automatically order. “People are already looking for ways to cut down their costs,” he said. “That’s only going to increase.” Seward said at another point, “Ideally, this should be done at the federal level, so we don’t have state competing against state.” Several times, the senator, who is running for his 15th term this fall, describe the Upstate economy as “fragile,” and said it has yet to recover from the Wall Street collapse in 2008 and the resulting recession. “This is one of those issues where we have to play defense, and play it aggressively,” he said. Golf all winter with our indoor golf simulators. 89 courses to choose from and the Pro Studio practice area
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Although every precaution is taken, errors may occur in print. We reserve the right to correct any such errors. Prices valid for a limited time only. Participation times may vary. Previous purchases excluded. Picture may not represent item exactly as shown, advertised items may not be on display at all locations. © 2016 Knorr Marketing SCHBU-1133 2/16
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The family of Dennis Carr would like to send a very heartfelt special thank you to the whole Oneonta community. We are extremely appreciative of every individual who organized the spaghetti dinner at OHS along with all of the teachers, administrators, students, athletes, and friends who have reached out to our family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Love, Sue, Josh, Chad, Chelsea, Kevin, Tim, Roger & Gloria Carr and Ken Swift
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A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016
OneOnta • 75 Market Street 607-433-1020 COOperStOwn • State Hwy 28 607-547-5933
MLS#100155 $99,000 6- or 7-BR, 3½-bath, single-family or set up as 2-family home, w/2,100+/- sq ft, 2-car garage, nice yard. On bus route, 2 miles to Cooperstown Village. Call Katherine L. Fistrowicz @ 607-267-2683 (cell)
MLS#103937 $110,000 Amazing State Land Buy! 52 acres borders State land, rushing stream, stone walls and deep woods! Long road frontage near Cooperstown. Priced to move. Thomas Spychalski @ 607-434-7719 (cell)
MLS#101629 $229,900 Hide Away or Play! This immaculate 3-BR retreat on 92 mostly wooded acres is bordered by State land on 2 sides. A hunter’s paradise! Call Leanne McCormack @ 607-287-8965 (cell)
MLS#103053 $79,500 Home is in very good condition on 3.4 acres near Richfield Springs village. Move in tomorrow. Call George (ROD) Sluyter @ 315-520-6512 (cell) Virtual tour: Rodshousetour3.com
MLS#98943 $19,900 9 Acres Perfect setting for your dream house that can pay for itself in just a few years. Or use it to generate enough income so you can upgrade those dreams! Call Erin Moussa @ 607-435-1285 (cell)
MLS#99984 $168,900 Lovely Ranch Home has walk-up finished 2nd floor, versatile 2,200 sq ft commercial shop, 4.5+/- acres, pond. Between Cooperstown and Milford! Call Katherine Fistrowicz @ 607-267-2683 (cell)
MLS#103489 $169,000 Original Character, Modern Comfort Village home is being sold for less than what has been invested. Call now to see this opportunity while still available. Call Rodney Campbell @ 315-868-0148 (cell)
MLS#103037 $99,000 Priced Far Below Appraised Value! More than 54’lake frontage with incredible water views. This waterfront cottage awaits your vision and loving care. Call Leanne McCormack @ 607-287-8965 (cell)
MLS#103239 $299,000 115’ Canadarago Lakefront AC, new bay window, rebuilt front stoop. 2,275 sq ft metal storage building, dog kennel. All on 2 level acres of lawn facing the lake. Call George (ROD) Sluyter @ 315-520-6512 (cell)
MLS#103896 $159,500 Home Seeking New Owners! 2,000+ sq ft, master ensuite, finished family room, deck, fenced yard, and the privacy of a dead-end street. Call Erin Moussa @ 607-435-1285 (cell)
MLS#100017 $429,000 Multi-Use Commercial Building Cooperstown 1st floor has 2 retail spaces accessible from Main Street. 2nd floor: 4 offices, bath; 3rd floor: 2-BR apt. Call Katherine Fistrowicz @ 607- 267-2683 (cell)
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MLS#101973 $599,000 (sold together) Huge Price Reduction with Added Potential! Commercial: Café, Barbershop, 4 Apartments and a 3-BR house! (Commercial $485K, house $180K.) Call Erin Moussa 607-435-1285 (cell)
MLS#103491 $349,900 Exceptional 4-Season Home on Canadarago Lake Few lake homes have this comfort in/out. Enjoy boating, fishing, snowmobiling or relaxing lakeside. Call Rodney Campbell @ 315-868-0148 (cell)
MLS #103100 $175,000 Home on 100 Acres Unbelieivable Price! Well cared for 3-BR home is one of the best buys on the market! Priced to sell immediately. Call Donna Schulz @ 607-267-6330(cell)
MLS#103836 $235,000 Great Business Opportunity – Automotive Owner Financing! 19-year established business. Approximately $60K equipment and inventory. Call Rodney Campbell @ 315-868-0148 (cell)
MLS#102893 $459,000 Luxury Custom Retreat Dazzling 3,300 sq ft Eurostyle home with 40 mile views, on nearly 50 acres. Call Donna Schulz @ 607-267-6330 (cell) Virtual tour: www.OtsegoLuxury.com
MLS#101341
Just Sold by Pamela Andela! This 3-BR, 1-bath home in Cherry Valley. Call Pamela Andela @ 315-717-1907 (cell) for information or help finding your next home.
MLS#101213 $89,000 Circa 1820, 3,200+/- sq ft, 4-5 BRs, 3½ baths, wide plank floors, chestnut woodwork, fireplace, 2 parlors, pantry, deck, fenced backyard. Near Cooperstown. Call Katherine L. Fistrowicz @ 607-267-2683 (cell)
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MLS#103891 $249,500 Colonial, 4 BRs, 2 baths, 35 acres, stream. Cow barn, 6 Spacious 4 BR, coop, 2 bathworkshop, house is close togarage. I-88. Large stalls, chicken 2-car 15 acres backyard,w/electric workshop/garage, small shed. Make your pasture fence. Wide plank floors, office. appointment today. Priced@to315-520-6512 go this week! (cell) Call George (ROD) Sluyter Virtual Tour: www.RealEstateShows.com/708598
MLS#103895 $92,000 2,100 sq ft home w/4 BRs, 2 baths, gas fireplace, master BR suite, front porch, deck, garage. Split-rail fencing around .37-acre corner lot. Large backyard. Call Katherine L. Fistrowicz @ 607-267-2683 (cell)
MLS#102571 $175,000 Great Location This 3-BR country retreat w/barn on over 54 acres of pasture and forest offers escape from the hustle and bustle. This won’t last long! Call Adam Karns @ 607-244-9633 (cell)
MLS#104054 $99,500 51.08 acres, stream, 800’+ on NYS 28, perfect for a home, children, animals, crops. Near Cooperstown and Richfield Springs. Less than $2,000 per acre. Call George (ROD) Sluyter @ 315-520-6512 (cell)
Locally owned and operated Single and multi-family homes Commercial property and land
99 Main Street, Oneonta office 607.441.7312 fax 607.432.7580 www.oneontarealty.com
Great Commercial Opportunity! Two buildings on 5 acres on a busy corridor – State Highway 23 in Southside Oneonta. Two 8,000 sq ft buildings with overhead doors, loading docks and outdoor fenced storage area. Plenty of parking for both buildings. Separate heat and electric, 2 wells. Minutes to Oneonta and I-88, an hour to Albany and Binghamton. MLS#99178 $875,000
Lizabeth Rose, Broker/Owner Cricket Keto, Licensed Assoc. Broker
Lovely, Affordable, 4-BR Home in the East End of Oneonta. Open floorplan between LR and DR w/pass-through to kitchen. Short walk to Main Street, hospital, school and playground. Home is in move-in condition w/recent updates including replacement windows. MLS#104041 $109,500
Peter D. Clark, Consultant
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Here Comes Summer! “Camp Grinnloch” is a delightful cottage on Otsego Lake w/50’+/- of frontage, deck area, and dock. Renovated by the current owners, the camp offers screened-in front porch, large LR/DR w/unusual carved mantelpiece around the fireplace, up-to-date kitchen w/new appliances, full bath w/stack washer and dryer, 3 BRs. New septic system. Everything is redone: walls, wainscoting, wiring, kitchen, bath, etc. Easy steps w/platform areas access the cottage from parking along the road. Currently used as a summer rental property w/excellent rental history, reservations and income transfer w/ownership. Most furnishings remain. Purchase as investment, or enjoy summer on Otsego Lake. Offered Exclusively by Ashley-Connor Realty Reduced $350,000 Visit us on the Web at www.ashleyconnorrealty.com Contact us at info@ashleyconnorrealty.com
For Appointment: Patricia Bensen-Ashley, Broker/Owner, 607-437-1149 Jack Foster, Sales Agent, 607-547-5304 • Donna Skinner, Associate Broker, 607-287-4113 Robert Schneider, Associate Broker, 607-282-2814 • Chris Patterson, Sales Agent, 518-774-8175
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OTSEGO.seniority
THURSDAY-FRIDAY, February 25-26, 2016
PAGE B-1
The Nightingale & The Firefly/Part I
NISSAN
Boyhood, Interrupted
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HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO
BEST BETS SUNY senior Melissa Trainor stars as Bianca and the Schoolmaster in “The Taming of the Shrew” at SUNY this weekend.
All-Female Cast Stages Shakespeare’s ‘Shrew’
W AllOTSEGO.seniority
Jim Kevlin/
Dr. Ashok Malhotra, the founder of SUNY Oneonta’s Philosophy Department who retired in December after a 48-year career there, is also an artist, and paintings in the great room at his Center Street home depict his boyhood in India’s Punjab province, including portraits of his grandfather, upper left, and father, upper right.
Placid Family Life Taken Apart By Raj End, Destructive Flood “Even though you are small, you can perform miracles,” his grandONEONTA father told him. “You can be the hope in the hen Ashok Maldarkness.” hotra was 5 or Malhotra, one-time 6, his grandfaNobel Prize nominee, ther told him a story. retired from SUNY A nightingale had flown Oneonta in December far from her nest, seeking Hari C. after a 48-year career Chopra had food for her fledglings, a lifelong im- there and 75 years of a and it was night, dark life full of tribulations pact on his night. Lost, at the end of a grandson. and accomplishments, branch, she wept. taking him from a modAlong came a firefly and, est home in the small town of learning of the nightingale’s Ferozepur, near the India-Pakiplight, guided her home by his stan border, half-way across the tiny light. Please See MALHOTRA, B5
‘LOL’ READING: Reading of the Tony-winning play “God of Carnage,” about two sets of parents behaving badly, 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26. Free by donation. Part of series of “LOL” play readings at The Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 Rte. 80, Cooperstown. Info, www. fenimoreartmuseum.org.
By JIM KEVLIN
W
The Ferozepur Cantonment, where Ashok Malhotra’s grandfather worked, was a key British Army facility during The Raj and is still a landmark in that Indian city near the Pakistan border.
For Auctioneer Buzz Hesse, This Sale Is Final After 40 Years, Archaeologist Turned Entrepreneur Decides He’s Going, Going, Gone Into Retirement By LIBBY CUDMORE OTEGO
A
fter nearly 40 years, Hesse Galleries, is going, going... gone. “I’ve worked all my life,” said owner Buzz Hesse. “I’m 76 and I’m not getting any younger. My wife and Jim Kevlin/ OTSEGO.seniority I would like to travel, consider other things.” In April 2013, Buzz Hesse packed his Otego His last auction under the Hesse auction house when selling off the moosehead, birch-bark canoes and other remnants of Stevens Galleries moniker was planned ThursHardware, then Oneonta’s oldest downtown store. day, Feb. 25: the estate of Allen and
All
hat play features a drunk heckler, a pantomime horse, food juggling, cross-dressing, disguises and more? SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department’s production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew!” High-energy comedy, with all-female cast. “If this were a movie, it would be PG-13.” 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 26-27 & 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28 (also March 1-3). Tickets $5; free with student ID. Hamblin Theatre, Fine Arts Bldg., SUNY Oneonta. Info, www.oneonta.edu/academics/theatre.
Dorothy Caswell of Laurens. “People have been e-mailing me, saying that Otego won’t be the same on Thursday nights,” he said. “They’ve been sending me these wonderful Buzz Hesse accolades, and some of them have brought me to tears. “People have said I’ve touched their lives, but we’ve just always done what we thought was the best job for Please See HESSE, B2
‘FROZEN’ FETE: Kids encouraged to dress up, as the Village Library of Cooperstown presents the family movie “Frozen” on Saturday, Feb. 27 with special guest, the Hill City Ice Queen, doing photos, story time and autographs. Free! Story time upstairs 1-1:45 p.m.; film downstairs at 2 p.m. 22 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, (607) 547-8344. ONEONTA IN 1866: Oneonta History Center hosts a free program 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, on Oneonta in 1866 and the first 50 years of the center’s home building. Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. Info, email info@oneontahistory.org. SPANGLISH CONCERT: “Splanglish: Music of Passion and Propriety” concert, with Timothy Perry on clarinet and Margaret Reitz on piano. 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 & 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28. Free, all welcome. Anderson Center for the Arts, Hartwick College, Oneonta. Info, email paiged@hartwick. edu. DINNER WITH DRAGONS: Join the SUNY Oneonta Women’s Soccer team for dinner! All-you-can-eat pasta & a silent auction, noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28. $10 adults; $5 kids under 10. Elks Club, 84 Chestnut St., Oneonta, Info, email liz.mcgrail@oneonta.edu.
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B-2
THURSDAY–FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25-26, 2016
HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO Thursday, February 25
LAND TRUST OPEN HOUSE -- 5-7 p.m. Come meet the Otsego Land Trusts’s new executive director, John Winter. All welcome; light refreshments served. No RSVP needed. First Presbyterian Church, 25 Church St., Cooperstown. Info, (607) 547-2366.
Friday, February 26
LOL PLAY READING – 7 p.m. Reading of Tony-winning play “God of Carnage,” about two sets of parents behaving badly. Free by donation; all welcome. Part of series of “LOL” play readings at Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 Rte. 80, Cooperstown. Info, www. fenimoreartmuseum.org FREE FILM – 7 p.m. Screening of 1973 rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar,” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Part of Lenten series of films focusing on Jesus. Parish Hall, Christ Episcopal Church, 69 Fair St., Cooperstown. THEATER – 8 p.m. (also Feb. 27 & March 1-3 at 8 p.m. & Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.) SUNY Oneonta Dept. of Theatre presents “The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.” High-energy comedy features a drunk heckler, a pantomime horse, juggling food, cross dressing, disguises and more! All-female cast. If this were a movie, it would be PG-13. Tickets $5 (free with student ID) at Hunt Union Info Desk, or tickets. oneonta.edu, or at door. Hamblin Theatre, Fine Arts Bldg, SUNY Oneonta. Info, www.oneonta.edu/ academics/theatre
Saturday, February 27
‘WINTERFEST–8 a.m.-4 p.m. Pancake breakfast, organizations and events at annual Winterfest. Milford Central School. LEUKEMIA FUNDRAISER – Three-week event, “Stepping for Stephenie” luached today at Winterfest to Benefit Stephanie Talaia-Murray, MCS 2012 alumunus and Hamilton senior. Pledge for available at MCS, Clark Sports
Centers or on Facebook, “Stepping for Stephanie.” FROZEN’ FILM & GUEST – 11:45 p.m. story time upstairs; 2 p.m. film downstairs, followed by photo opportunities. Kids encouraged to dress up for free showing of family movie “Frozen” with special guest, the Hill City Ice Queen, doing photos, story time and autographs before and after. Free. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, (607) 547-8344 or www.villagelibraryofcooperstown.org. HISTORY PROGRAM – 2 p.m. Oneonta History Center presents program about Oneonta in 1866 and the first 50 years of the Center’s home building celebrating its Sesquicentennial Celebration (the hardware store years, Walter Brown, and David & George I. Wilber). Free; all welcome. Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. CONCERT – 3:30 p.m. (Also 7:30 p.m. Sun. Feb. 28). “Splanglish: Music of Passion and Propriety” concert, with Timothy Perry on clarinet and Margaret Reitz on piano. Free. Anderson Center for the Arts, Hartwick College, Oneonta. Info, email paiged@ hartwick.edu. SPAGHETTI DINNER – 4:30-7 p.m. To benefit the Living Waters Mission Project, providing clean water to adults and children in a small village in Honduras. Homemade sauce, salads, desserts. Vegetarian and gluten-free options. Adults $10; kids $5. Eat in or take out. First Presbyterian Church, Church & Pioneer Sts., Cooperstown Info, (607) 5478401. THEATER – 8 p.m. (also March 1-3 at 8 p.m. & Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.) SUNY Oneonta Dept. of Theatre presents “The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.” All-female cast. If this were a movie, it would be PG-13. Tickets $5 (free with student ID) at Hunt Union Info Desk, or tickets.oneonta.edu, or at door. Hamblin Theatre, Fine Arts Bldg, SUNY Oneonta. Info, www. oneonta.edu/academics/theatre MORE CALENDAR, B4
Era Ends As Buzz Hesse Lays Gavel To Rest HESSE/From B1 the buyers and the sellers.” Hesse got into antiques by way of his first love, archeology. “In 1955, I was a Boy Scout, and some of the other kids in my troop were finding arrowheads,” he said. “I realized I could go into freshly plowed fields and find them myself.” And in high school, he made a decision that would change his life forever. “I played on the football team, but we had a game that coincided with a field that I’d always wanted to explore being plowed – so I skipped school to explore, found a beautiful chert drill.” But the next day, his coach forced him to wrestle two of the varsity wrestlers Jim Kevlin/ OTSEGO.seniority in front of everyone to teach The team that made Hesse Galleries hum all these years included, from left, him a lesson. And although proprietor Buzz Hesse, wife Jackie Hesse, John Carter, Bella the dog, Virhe pinned both, the event ginia Stevens, Levi Cole, Karen Mintel and Christine Getter. was so stressful that he spent the remainder of the certified by the New York valuable antiques. “In 1983, he hadn’t called, the other day in the nurse’s office. State Archeological Society, we had a Lionel train set bidder would have gotten it “It taught me that I should he soon found his way back with an engine and three for much lower.” never do something my to antiques. “So many of cars,” he said. “The highest Hesse also handled the heart isn’t into,” he said. these artifacts just end up price that one had ever gone Stevens Hardware auction, And he soon realized that in a drawer in a museum for was $8,000 at Sotheby’s, and, last year, auctioned off he could just as easily buy somewhere, never to be and this one had some dete- his personal collection of artifacts in antique stores as seen,” he said. rioration on the wheels.” “Star Wars” memorabilia. he could dig them out of the He sold at flea markets The crowd was big that “It’s a wild and exciting ground. “I’d go around to and auctions, and then, in night, with an absentee bid beast,” he said. “I’ll miss it.’ stores with a friend of mine 1978, opened Hesse Galler- in from a buyer in Vermont As he retires, he plans to and ask, ‘What’s that? Tell ies. “I never went to aucwho was on the road that return more to his love of me about this!’ It was such tioneer school and I wasn’t night. Hesse never looked archeology. “I have a few an overwhelming thing for a fan of that ‘auctioneer at the absentee bids himself, archeological sites I want to me. ” chant’,” he said. “But when but the bidder called in a bid investigate and some papers He still has the first piece I first started, people would from a phone just outside to write,” he said. he bought, a captain’s chair come up to me and say they the Lehigh Tunnel, just as But Hesse will continue he purchased for $1. “It’s liked how articulate and the highest bid was placed. with appraisals and the ocin storage somewhere, but I specific I was.” “He ended up being the casional auction. “I’m not know I have it,” he said. He quickly gained a good underbidder, and someone ready to give up antiques as Though he worked on dig reputation, and soon, found else got it for $10,400, a re- a whole,” he said. “It’s who sites for the state and was himself in calling rare and cord price,” said Hesse. “If I am. It’s a part of my life.”
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THURSDAY-FRIDAY, fEBRUARY 25-26, 2016
T
he Cooperstown Central Boys Basketball Team includes, front row, from left, Ethan Niles,
Riley Hall, Sean Mayer, Jack Lambert, Zack France, Dan Francis and Carmen Booan. Back row, from left, are Coach Bertram, Teddy Trosset, Tyler Bertram, Chad Carr, Owen Kennedy, Travis Thompson, Noah Hecox, Duncan Clark
Go Team Go!
T
he Cooperstown Central Girls Basketball Team includes, front row, from left, Meghan
Fans: Cheer Our CCS teams at the Sectional Finals
Perrino, Maggie Schuermann, Elizabeth Millea, Jennifer Flynn, Paige Cring, Mallory Arthurs. Back row, from left, are Coach Glen Noto, Olga Papaux, Julie Ford, Head Coach Mike Niles, Ciara McGoldrick, Maria Noto, and Coach Matt Hazzard
CCS Boys vs. Tully 12:45 Saturday, Feb. 27, Onondaga CC CCS Girls vs. Syracuse Academy 12:45 Sunday, Feb. 28, Onondaga CC NEXT WEEK STATE TOURNAMENT BEGINS
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Saturday, February 27 CONCERT – 8 p.m. “Rock Varieties” concert, featuring The Holy Thunderheads, Brian Beckford & Open Your Eyes Small Bear. Foothills Production Center, upstairs, 24 Market St., Oneonta. Tickets, info, (607) 431-2080.
Sunday, February 28
SUNY SOCCER DINNER – Noon-3 p.m. Join the SUNY Oneonta Women’s Soccer team for dinner! Team hosts 11th Annual “Dinner and Auction with the Dragons.” Events supports team’s training trip to Florida. All you can eat pasta dinner and silent auction. Tickets $10
adults; $5 kids under 10. Elks Club, 84 Chestnut St., Oneonta, Info, email liz.mcgrail@oneonta. edu or call Liz McGrail at (607) 436-3474 and players will deliver tickets to you. THEATER – 2 p.m. (also March 1-3 at 8 p.m.) SUNY Oneonta Dept. of Theatre presents “The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.” Hamblin Theatre, Fine Arts Bldg, SUNY Oneonta. Info, www.oneonta.edu/academics/theatre CONCERT – 7:30 p.m. “Splanglish: Music of Passion and Propriety” concert, with Timothy Perry on clarinet and Margaret Reitz on piano. Free. Anderson Center for the Arts, Hartwick College, Oneonta. Info, email paiged@hartwick.edu.
Great looks! Visit the
Tuesday, March 1
THEATER – 8 p.m. (also March 2-3 at 8 p.m.) SUNY Oneonta Dept. of Theatre presents “The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.” Hamblin Theatre, Fine Arts Bldg, SUNY Oneonta. Info, www.oneonta.edu/academics/theatre
Wednesday, March 2
THEATER – 8 p.m. (also March 3 at 8 p.m.) SUNY Oneonta Dept. of Theatre presents “The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.” Hamblin Theatre, Fine Arts Bldg, SUNY Oneonta. Info, www.oneonta.edu/academics/ theatre
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Thursday, March 3
COOP KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP – 6 p.m. Cooperstown kindergarten orientation and registration for parents of children who will be age 5 on or before Dec. 1, 2016. Parents encouraged to complete registration by March 31. Cooperstown Elementary School, 21 Walnut St., Cooperstown. Info, email interim principal Ann Meccariello at ameccariello@cooperstowncs.org SIP & PAINT – 2-4 p.m. Greater Oneonta Historical Society hosts a “Sip & Paint.” Caitlin Cook-Wightman, art teacher at Cooperstown Central School, leads participants step-by-step in creating an original piece of art. Take home your painting - and maybe a new-found talent. $30 includes materials and one glass of wine. Matt Masterjohn of Dietz & Wall Wines will serve. Space limited. Pre-register by March 10 at (607) 432-5495. Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta.
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Milford House. 2, possible 3 bedroom. Nice lawns. Views. Garage. Milford schools. No pets. No Smoking. $750.00 plus utilities. Dave LaDuke: (607)4352405 TFN APARTMENTS FOR RENT CENTER CITY ONEONTA The Best “One Room” for one. TV, wireless, heat, private entrance, many extras. References! Non- smoking, drug free! Clean!, Private!, Quiet!, Secured! $100/week. 607-267-4489 (eves) 3ClassFeb26 Cooperstown apartments.Edge of village.2 bedroom upstairs. Recently redone. $950 includes heat and elec. Parking. No dogs. No Smoking. Call Dave LaDuke: (607) 435-2405 TFN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Oneonta Retail Space For Lease! Over 8,000 square feet of space featuring
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loading dock with overhead door and warehouse area, plus a light and bright retail space second to none in the downtown lower hub of the city. $2950 per month. Call Benson Agency Real Estate, LLC for details at 607-432-4391. TFN BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Oneonta Business For Sale! Turn key, established Bar/Restaurant business in busy center city location. Contact Benson Agency Real Estate, LLC at 607-4324391 for more details. TFN LAND FOR SALE 34 Acres - Excellent opportunity to build on property adjoining a golf course. Property lends itself well to hunting. Added bonus: Located within a short distance to two of the areas largest employers. Call now to see this exceptional opportunity while still available. (Sell Broker) Rodney Campbell (315) 868-0148. TFN
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LEGALS Legal
Legal notice Notice of Formation of Azure Arts LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/26/15, under LLC Law Sec. 203. Office location: 1149 County Highway 27, Richfield Springs, NY, 13439, Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Christina Milliman,1149 County Highway 27, Richfield Springs, NY, 13439. Purpose: Any lawful business. 6LegalFeb25 Legal notice Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company, (LLC) Name: WILLSUE, LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary
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of State of New York (SSNY) on 1/13/2016. 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: 50 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalFeb25 Legal notice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY The name of the entity is Suntime LLC, for which the Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State on January 21, 2016. The office of said entity is to be located in Otsego County, New York. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the limited liability company, upon whom process
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against it may be served, and the post office address within this State to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against it served upon her is 1130 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10128. The purpose of the business of such limited liability company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Limited Liability Company Law. 6LegalMarch3
County, New York. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the limited liability company, upon whom process against it may be served, and the post office address within this State to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against it served upon her is 168 Sugar Hill Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326. The purpose of the business of such limited liability company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Limited Liability Company Law. 6LegalMarch3
ticles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State on January 20, 2016. The office of said entity is to be located in Otsego County, New York. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the limited liability company, upon whom process against it may be served, and the post office address within this State to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against it served upon her is 1130 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10128. The purpose of the business of such limited liability company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Limited Liability Company Law. 6LegalMarch3
LIABILITY COMPANY
Legal notice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY The name of the entity is P & L Properties VII, LLC, for which the Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State on January 20, 2016. The office of said entity is to be located in Otsego
Legal notice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY The name of the entity is Bissell Road, LLC, for which the Ar-
Legal notice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED
The name of the entity is N811SA LLC, for which the Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State on January 20, 2016. The office of said entity is to be located in Otsego County, New York. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the limited liability company, upon whom process against it may be served, and the post office address within this State to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against it served upon her is 1130 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10128. The purpose of the business of such limited liability company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Limited Liability Company Law. 6LegalMarch3
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Legal notice BARRISTER AND MANN LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/04/2016. Office loc: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Devin S. Morgan, ESQ. Hoffman Warnick LLC, 540 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. 6LegalMarch3 Legal notice MEGAMOTION, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/11/2016. Office loc: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 3514 Craig
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Road, Clinton, NY 13323. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose. 6LegalMarch3 Legal notice EMILYSARA, L.L.C. Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 01/07/2016. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY designated Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to C/O TROSSET GROUP ATTORNEYS, P.O. BOX 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: Any Lawful purpose. 6LegalMarch3 Legal notice THE EMPIRE HOUSE HOTEL, LLC filed with SSNY 12/18/15. Office location: Otesgo County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail
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process to Sasan Khashaei, 136 Marion Avenue, Gilbertsville, NY 13776. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalMarch17 Legal notice Notice of Formation of Brower Property Management, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of NY (“SSNY”) on 01/25/2016. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her to: The LLC, 17 Spencer Dr., Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: any legal purpose. 6LegalMarch31
AllOTSEGO.life B-5
Thursday-fRIDAY, february 25-26, 2016
Raj’s End, Then Devastating Flood, Altered Family’s Fortunes water for 15 cups of sweetin sixth, and Sanskrit, the MALHOTRA/From B1 ened tea. language of literature and globe to a bright, meticuShe would then call her poetry, in seventh.) lously maintained home on daughter, Vidya, to knead His grandfather had been Center Street. the flower for chapatis, a railroad stationmaster for He seems to remember enough for 45 of the flatthe British. He was transevery detail of those early breads to sustain the famferred every two years; days in the house he shared Ferozepur was his final with 10 brothers and sisters, ily that day. The youngest would eat first. posting, and he retired in his parents – father Ni1941, the year Ashok hal and mother Vidya was born. In his re– and grandparents Hari tirement, he worked as Chand Chopra and his a civilian in the local wife Veera. Army post. The family of 15 slept Of the adults, Hari in two rooms. Every Chopra was the only morning in those early one who could read, years, his grandmother, having completed high between 4-5 a.m., would school. He would begin churning milk read to the children in a big bowl, reciting from “The Arabian devotional songs – “I Nights,” the tales of remember listening from While Malhotra has no photos Sinbad, Aesop’s my bed; I never wanted from his earliest years, this one it to end” – until the was taken with two of his young- fables, and literature from China and Japan. liquid became butter. er brothers before he left India. He never distinguished By then, Ashok’s At age 6, Ashok entered what he read by country father, who owned 10 cows elementary school, typically or culture; Ashok simply and sold milk – this put the four grades; most Indians accepted this wide range of family firmly in the Inwould study no further. The world literature as part of a dian middle class – would other day, with his iPad common culture. be making the rounds for close at hand, Malhotra told “Grandpa’s home!” the Ferozepur, selling his daily how each student wrote his children would shout when wares. he arrived home at 5. And To the sound of his wife’s or her lessons on a white board, with handle attached, he would sit in the one cane devotions, grandpa Hari after mixing ink from black chair and put his feet up. would have been handpowder and cutting a quill The grandchildren would pumping water into an urn. for a pen. assemble his multi-part At 5, he would summon On one side of the brass hookah, place tobacco his grandchildren, oldest board, pupils would write in the bowl, drop burning to youngest – Ashok was their Urdu lessons; on the charcoal on it, and watch as eighth in line – for a coldother, math. (In the next six he inhaled through the bubwater dousing with a ladle. grades – high school – stubling water. Meanwhile, Veera would dents who went on would As the smoke entered start a fire in a modest begin learning Hindi, the his lungs, “his eyes would hearth – a square, three national language, in fifth; pop open; we knew, now, sides of brick, heated with English, the official lanthe fun would begin,” his dried cow chips from the guage of the ruling British, grandson remembered. Risfamily’s herd – and boil
AllOTSEGO. seniority
AllOTSEGO.seniority
Jim Kevlin/
At his home on Center Street, Professor Ashok Malhotra, recently retired founder of SUNY Oneonta’s Philosophy Department, examines the book he published containing 40 of the 250 stories he remembers his grandfather telling him during their evening walks in Ferozepur.
ing, the grandfather, Ashok in tow, would then go for a walk, telling a story as he went. The walk would be a mile, two miles, five miles, depending on the length of the story. “You are my vitamins,” he would tell his grandchildren. “You are the flowers in my garden.” That was seven decades ago now, and Malhotra had forgotten many of the stories. A few years ago, however, an artist as well as a philosophy professor, Ashok began painting a portrait of his grandfather from a dark black and white photograph, adding the colors he remembered from those long-ago walks. As he painted, the stories came back to him. By the time the portrait was complete, he remembered 250 of them. He has since written down 80, the first 40 in a book published in 2011, “Grandpa Chopra’s Stories for Life Nourishment,” and 40 more in an e-book. “My goal, in the next couple of years, will be to write them all,” Malhotra said. Of all, “The Nightingale and The Firefly” has brought the most nourishment over the grandson’s many years. And so life proceeded, day to day, a dependable cycle, devotional songs, chapati and tea, studies in Urdu, grandpa’s stories in the evening, as history – the waning days of the British Raj – developed around the unsuspecting family. That life received its first cruel jolt on Aug. 15, 1947, the day of partition, when Moslems were ordered to leave India for Pakistan, and Hindis in Pakistan were ordered to depart for India. Since Ferozepur, in the state of Punjab, was only three miles on the Indian side of the border, communities like Ashok’s hometown experienced a huge, immediate disruption. “There was lots of killing in the streets, lots of looting going on,” some of which the 6-year-old witnessed from the windows of his family refuge. If partition was the
beginning of the end, the end came the next summer, when the Sutlej River, separating India and Pakistan, overran its banks. At 2 a.m. one August morning, the family was awakened: 14 feet of water is headed toward the city; evacuate, they were told. The three generations, the 15 people, climbed aboard a big, bullock-drawn cart. The family hung on in the flat cab as they traveled all night and all day until 5 the next evening, covering 15 miles. Thousands of people had evacuated; there was no food, no water. Military aircraft flew over, dropping dried chapatis on the refugees below. After 14 days, the water reportedly receding, two of
his father went on a scouting mission to Ferozepur and found water had receded to 3 feet. A hellish return trip on the bullock cart followed. “There were dead snakes, animals, rats, all floating by,” Malhotra said. “It took seven, eight, nine hours to make it through.” “We finally came to our house,” he recalled. “It had always been so clean. Everything was smashed. The whole thing was in disarray.” Mud was everywhere. Most disastrous, the family’s 10-cow herd had drowned. The Chopra-Malhotra clan lost its means of support. At the grandfather’s direction, the family began filling buckets of water to begin the cleanup. Ashok’s father was increasingly morose, with 14 people to support and no way of doing so. “One day, he got up and just went away,” said Ashok. “I was 8 years old.” “Grandpa kept going,” said the grandson. “He said, education is all there is.”
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PART II of “The Nightingale & The Firefly” – in next week’s edition – will follow young Ashok Malhotra to university in India, then Ph.D. studies in Honolulu – and love.
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B-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL
THURSDAY, February 25, 2016
OBITUARIES
John D. Walrath, 80; Farmer of Distinction EAST SPRINGFIELD – John D. Walrath, 80, a former Otsego County Farm Bureau president who operated a Dairy of Distinction in East Springfield, passed away on Saturday, Feb.20, 2016, at his home. He was born on May 21, 1935, to Robert and Ruth (Willams) Walrath at his family’s Dutch Corner Farm. On May 5, 1984, he was married to Gail Welden Patterson; she preceded him in death on Dec. 25, 2013. John was a graduate of Springfield schools and Cornell. He enjoyed his life on Dutch Corner Farm working with his father, Bob, as a registered Holstein farmer. He was an active 63-year member of the National
and New York State Holstein Association. John received the honor of being selected as a delegate John Walrath to represent New York State at the National Holstein Convention a few times over his career. He was also a member and director of Dairylea Cooperative, past president of the county Farm Bureau and the O-H-M Holstein Club, where he was sale chairman and hosted the New York State picnic. He was a Past Master of
the Springfield Grange. John was proud to receive the Dairy of Distinction award and was recognized as being a Bi-Centennial Farm in 1993. He retired from farming in November 2000, still remaining active in the O-H-M and Farm Bureau. John also enjoyed his involvement with the Amish community and playing pitch on Thursday nights. Affectionately known by his family as Pop, he is survived by his stepdaughter Randalin Patterson of Lansing; “adopted children” Brenda and Brian Hysack of Herkimer; step-grandson Craig Hysack of East Springfield; stepdaughter Susan (Bruce) Hargrove of
East Springfield; stepson Daniel (Michelle) Patterson of Richfield Springs; and adopted grandchildren Brian Jr. and Sarah Hysack and step-grandson Randall Patterson, as well as several cousins. John was predeceased by a stepdaughter Anne Patterson and his step grandson Kyle Hysack. Services and burial will be scheduled for May 21, 2016. An announcement will be published at a later date by Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley. Donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice in John’s memory. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home.
William Edward Eissler Sr., 74; Served Nation In Vietnam Era
SPRINGFIELD CENTER – William Edward Eissler Sr., 74, passed away on Saturday morning Feb. 20, 2016, in Bassett Hospital, with his family at his side. He was born on Oct. 9, 1941, in Queens, son of the late George R. and Caroline Berner Eissler. A lifelong area resident, he was raised and educated in Richfield Springs. On May 16, 1960 he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and proudly served during the Vietnam Era and was honorably discharged on July 30, 1966. On March 27, 1964, he was united in marriage with the former Margaret Faye Grissom in Jacksonville. Mr. Eissler first worked for Mohawk Data Sciences until they closed. He then those who so desire, that contributions be made in her worked for 25 years in the memory to the Susquehanna heavy construction industry. The last seven years were Animal Shelter, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, spent working for Schultz Construction Company in NY 13326. Arrangements are entrust- Ballston Spa. Surviving him are his ed to Tillapaugh Funeral devoted wife of 53 years, Service, Cooperstown. Margaret; daughter, Donna Hribar and her husband,
Marjorie A. Tyler, 80; Remembered For Her Campfire Toast
PIERSTOWN – Marjorie A. Tyler, 80, of Pierstown died Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, at Bassett Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. Born March 3, 1935, at Bassett, Marjorie grew up in Cooperstown and lived her entire adult life in Pierstown. She was the daughter of Donald and Margaret (Thorn) Smith. She attended Cooperstown schools and married her lifelong love Kenneth Tyler on Feb. 27, 1954. They would have celebrated their 62nd anniversary this week. Marjorie devoted her
life to her family and was dedicated to their care and happiness. She relished every minute with them and especially enjoyed camping with her family and her famous “campfire toast”. She loved sharing in her children and grandchildren’s adventures and lives. She is survived by her husband Kenneth of Pierstown; her daughter Shirley Collison (Paul) of Cherry Valley; her daughter Terri Maine (Douglas) of Richfield Springs; her grandchildren Christopher (Alexandra) Collison of Rochester; Matthew Col-
lison (Stacy McGlashan) of Jordanville; Travis Collison of Roseboom; Melinda Tyler (Juan Quispe) of New Jersey; Shirley Tyler of Cooperstown; Justin Tyler (Karen Griffiths) of Schuyler Lake; and Kathleen Cotten of Richfield Springs. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Joseph, Lauren, Jenna, and Melany, and by twins which are due shortly, as well as by her beloved cat, Buddy. Funeral and committal services for Marjorie will, in accordance with her wishes, be private. The family suggests, for
Harry Lyons, 76; Former Fly Creek Fire Chief FLY CREEK – Harry Burnell “Skip” Lyons, 76, a former chief of the Fly Creek Volunteer Fire department, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, in Lynchburg General Hospital in Virginia of complications from Lewy body dementia. He was the husband of Lola Mae Beadle Lyons for 35 years. Born in Setauket, on May 7, 1939, he was the son of the late Margaret Joan Fulford and Irving Lyons. He retired from Bassett Hospital after 23 years. In addition to volunteering with the fire department, he was a member of the Wanderers Car Club. Skip gave many hours of his time to Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County, Fla, after his retirement. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, David Lyons and wife, Janette, Gary Lyons and Chad Lyons; three daughters, Melanie Huntington and husband, Jim, Diana Graham and husband, Bob and Brandi Lyons; a brother, William Lyons and wife, Thea; sister, Margaret Weed; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the
Lewy Body Dementia Association at LBDA.org, the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory in Red Lion, Va., where he was living.
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William of Fly Creek; two sons, William E. Eissler Jr. and his fiancée, Lisa BondZaffarano of Richfield Springs, George Eissler and his wife, Denise of Springfield Center; one brother Donald Eissler; four grandchildren, William Hribar and his wife, Megan, Becky Baker and her husband, Kurt, Jeremiah Hribar and Tiffany Eissler and fiancée, Matt Duquette; five greatgrandchildren, Liam, Cole, Blake, Chelsey and Zachary. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and George Eissler; and a sister, Florence Eissler. A funeral was planned at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 at J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, with the Rev. Mark Ioset officiating. Calling hours, 4-7 p.m. Interment with military honors provided by the Marine Corps will be later this spring in Fly Creek Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to the J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home.
ST. MARY’S ROMAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 39 Walnut Street, Oneonta (Corner of Walnut and Elm streets) www.saintmarysoneonta.org · 607-432-3920
Lent for Real Life!
Sunday, February 28 to Friday, March 4
All presentations will be held in the Parish Center and all prayer is in the Church proper. Sunday, FebRuaRy 28 – Third Sunday of Lent 3 pm – Lent, Life and Mercy – Sr. Katherine Hanley, CSJ
In Lent the Church celebrates God’s deep love for us. How do we celebrate? In this Year of Mercy let us focus on the mystery of the adventure of mercy. 5 pm – Pot Luck dinner
Monday, FebRuaRy 29 9 am – eucharist 10 am – Lord, teach us to pray – Rev. david Wm. Mickiewicz
This presentation will explore prayer, Jesus at prayer and various forms of Catholic prayer. 7 pm – Our Mission of Mercy: Supporting Persecuted Christians in the Holy Land deacon Gregory Kandra The struggles and hopes of our brothers and sisters in the Middle East will be recounted and what all of us can do during Lent to show our solidarity and support.
TueSday, MaRCH 1 a day of Prayer 9 am – eucharist
10 am – Our Mission of Mercy: Supporting Persecuted Christians in the Holy Land (Repeat Presentation) 1:30 pm – Rosary 3 - 4 pm – exposition of the blessed Sacrament 5 - 6:30 pm – Sacrament of Reconciliation 7 - 8 pm – Taize Prayer
WedneSday, MaRCH 2 9 am – eucharist 10 am – Jesus, Friend of Sinners – ameen aswad
What does the Bible have to say about prison ministry and the need for aftercare upon a person’s release? How does the power of the Gospel transform their lives. Helpful resources. 7 pm – Jesus, Friend of Sinners – ameen aswad (Repeat Presentation)
THuRSday, MaRCH 3 9 am – eucharist
10 am – Change: The Only Thing We Can be Sure of and How to Deal With It – Mark Mogilka This session will take a look at approaches to change and explore some life-giving strategies for both dealing with it, transitioning and growing through it. 4:30 - 6:30 pm – Knights of Columbus Fish Fry 7 pm – Change: The Only Thing We Can be Sure of and How to Deal With It (Repeat Presentation)
FRiday, MaRCH 4 international Women’s day of Prayer 8 am – opening Prayer for Peace
10 am – Reflection 1: Recognizing the Sacredness and dignity of the Human Person 12 pm – Reflection 2: Recognizing the dignity of Work and Rights of Workers 2 pm – Reflection 3: Recognizing That We are all Called to Care for Creation 4 pm – Reflection 4: Recognizing our obligation to Reach out to the Poor
7 pm -- Taize Prayer and Concluding Prayer for the World
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL B-7
THURSDAY, february 25, 2016
Village Board Forgives 26 Unshoveled-Sidewalk Fines FINES/From A1 Booan identified money in the budget to buy a sidewalk plow and have the village crew again clear the sidewalks as was done in the distant past. The Democratic then-majority rejected the idea. As it stands now, residents are required to clear sidewalks “to the pavement” within 24 hours of significant snowfall, although enforcement is hit and miss, Public Works Superintendent Brian Clancy told the board, since he lacks the person-power to check all 26 miles of sidewalks every time it snows. In this case, Clancy said, it snowed on a Sunday afternoon; his crews checked around that Tuesday, and didn’t clear the sidewalks themselves and levy fines until that Friday. Complainants, however, questioned whether enough snow had fallen to warrant
shoveling, much less $108 fines. In some cases, snow shovelers who had been contracted to clear sidewalks and driveways did so, but didn’t feel sufficient snow fell later do it again. Here’s a sampling of the citizen reaction. “I have been told snow removal to the bare concrete is the standard,” wrote retired physician David W. Vaules, Nelson Avenue, who makes sure his sidewalk is cared for when he and wife Martha go south for a time in the winter. “…I find this excessive and unreasonable.” Laura Moellering, caretaker at 2 Pine Boulevard, said she usually clears not just 2, but 4, to accommodate pedestrians. “On the date in question,” she wrote, “I was very ill with the flu so I went out the prior evening and shoveled only the actual 2 Pine sidewalk, and in the morning was too sick to go out.”
Robert Gray, 20 Beech St., said that, due to COPD and asbestosis, he can’t shovel; his snow blower was broken and he was awaiting a spare part. Further, his wife had been hospitalized and “I was there for extended hours caring for her. I have resided at this residence for 25 years, have never been cited and always maintain my property.” Emily DeSantis and Jason Tabor, 19 River St., wrote, “We take the duties of property owner very seriously.” However, the phrase “free from snow and ice” in the ordinance “has been interpreted very literally … without using common sense.” Finally, Shelby and Ashley Cooper, 14 Lake St., concluded, “Please use common sense when applying this in the future.” “All we did was get people upset,” Mayor Katz said in an interview the morning after the meeting. Because of the
difficulty in establishing a sensible objective measure, and because there’s insufficient staff to check every street, “there’s a certain randomness in it.” Most people understand that the issue is “passability. We all know something we can walk around (vs.) something we can trudge through,” he said. However, he fell short of saying the wrong judgment call was made. “It’s hard for me to say that,” he said. “There’s such a randomness to the process … I wouldn’t say it’s a failure of the person. I think it’s a failure of how (the law) is written.” Meanwhile, he expressed the hope that neighbors would alert Village Hall if a sidewalk clearly needs to be shoveled but hasn’t been. He said that works when sidewalks begin deteriorating; perhaps it could work I this instance as well.
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Can CCS Boys, Girls Both Win Section, State Titles? FINALS/From A1 But they would be wrong. “Both teams have a tremendous guard plan,” said CCS Athletic Director Mike Cring. “It makes it difficult for teams to stop you, because it’s difficult to press you – and you press them.” Both teams won their Section III, Class C semi-final games last weekend, the boys 74-70 over Herkimer on Saturday, Feb. 20, and the girls 52-47 over Frankfort-Schuyler on Sunday, Feb. 21. “They’ve seen Millea seven times in the last few years,” said Lady Hawkeyes’ Head Coach Mike Niles. “It was not surprising to see them try to shut her down.” And it’s the first time in the 20 years Cring’s been at CCS that he remembers the boys and girls teams both vying for sectional titles, much less state crowns.
“I’m not aware that it’s ever happened!” In what may be a preview to this weekend, the Hawkeye boys gelled Saturday, with Carmen Booan hitting for 9, freshman Jack Lambert drilling a critical fourth-quarter bucket to post 9, big man Owen Kennedy with 8 and Noah Hecox with 7. “You’ve got a freshman scoring 13, 14 points a game, a sophomore that’s 6-6,” said Cring. “It’s a good mix of players.” But Bertram’s 32 was key, with 14 of those coming in a 30-point fourth quarter and two free throws with under 6 seconds on the clock. The Hawkeyes will face Tully, a 7055 upset winner, at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb 27, at OCC (12:45) for the Section III Class C title. En route to defending their state title, The Lady Hawkeyes are 22-1, with their
only loss coming early in the season. “They’re the favorite team,” said Cring. “Our girls have a very good chance of continuing to States.” It was a tight game, but Megan Schuermann had a team-high of 14 points, Maria Noto scored with 12 and Julie Ford scored 11 that made the difference in a very close game. “When you get to this point, all teams can be pretty tough,” said Cring. “But they’re going to continue the recipe they’ve had over the past eight weeks.” They’ll take on Syracuse Academy of Science for the Section II Class C Title at 12:45 Sunday, Feb. 28. “I’m excited for our kids,” said Cring. “I know how hard some of them work at this. It’s enjoyable to see this happen. It’s a great thing for our kids, but also for community.”
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