FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA Letters

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Candidate Urges Citizens To Vote

On March 5, 2020, the League of Women Voters held a forum in the Village Hall Board Room. By luck of the draw, I was chosen among the three candidates for trustee to take the first question from the audience.

A voter asked, “What will you do to address COVID19.” At that time, we could not have known what the pandemic would mean to our families, our village and our nation. The question was prescient, though; the pandemic soon engulfed us with fear, anxiety, disruption and illness. At the time, my answer was not very useful; I suggested that our public health officials would know better than I what to do.

During the pandemic’s pre-vaccine phase, duties of the village trustees did not abate; fulfilling them just became more complicated— governing in the time of Zoom. The first civic casualty of the pandemic was the March election itself. Twice postponed, it was eventually held in September 2020.

Among our duties that spring was to prepare a village budget for the 20202021 fiscal year. We knew revenues would be a major concern because of tourism’s collapse. Trustees very soon reached a consensus that a primary commitment in budget planning would be to preserve the village’s exemplary work force. We protected the paychecks of village employees and staff, even employees like those in the Streets Department, who obviously could not work from home.

The village emerged from the worst of the pandemic on its feet and forward looking. Today, challenges remain, but opportunities for the village abound, thanks to the vision of former mayor Jeff Katz, and the ongoing leadership and dedication of Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh and Deputy Mayor Cynthia Falk.

As chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee, I have assisted in the oversight of finance and personnel administration. Thanks to the village’s clerk, deputy clerk, public works director, treasure and deputy treasurer, our auditor has described our government’s activities as “above and beyond” many others whom they audit.

In addition, as the Board of Trustees’ representative on the Water and Sewer Board, I assisted in the oversight of the village’s successful completion of waste water treatment plant upgrades, which will serve the village for decades to come. The staff at the Municipal Water Works and Wastewater Treatment Plant have proven their capability and dedication time and again.

It is an honor to serve the village with collaborative and collegial trustees. I ask for your readers’ votes to continue my service and urge all voters to turn out on Tuesday, March 21, between noon and 9 p.m. at the Village Fire Hall.

Joseph R. Membrino Cooperstown

Health Needs Outweigh Profits

Through cardiac rehab, I came to FoxCare gym. The program changed my life after open heart surgery and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Graduating cardiac rehab on December 12, I immediately joined with my husband, paying for a year with lockers.

FoxCare gym is safe. Like so many members, I have illnesses that cause severe discomfort at regular gyms. FoxCare gym is routine, purpose, safe haven. I’m 53, with Celiac disease, chronic nerve pain, anxiety, depression, no balance from GBS, and a compromised immune system. FoxCare equipment is spaced apart, most wear masks, we clean machines. Nurses and physical therapists available for questions add to safety.

There are no good optional gyms. Many people are elderly, have illnesses. We can’t thrive at regular gyms. The gym will stay open for patients anyway; we’re begging you to let us remain. Membership will go up, people are coming back. Closing FoxCare gym has me circling the drain. It’s our only social time. We encourage each other. It helps mind, body, spirit. There’s nowhere else members are this helpful, kind, considerate. Healthy people don’t understand us.

YMCA for me is free; I paid FoxCare. My pharmacy and cardiologist are there. The pharmacy will lose business if this happens. Don’t take this away from those of us with illnesses, the elderly, the swimmers; we are also patients! We’re devastated. Please don’t let money and profit be priority over special health needs.

Thank you for your consideration.

Suzanne Peterson Oneonta

Therapool Loss a Real Concern

FoxCare Fitness closing has a hidden downside to the percentage of us who cannot just “go to another gym.” I and several like me can ONLY exercise with the therapool and were given

PT instruction on what to do when in there. We cannot go to endless PT to keep using the pool, insurance does not allow that. There are no other local options with a warm pool. It will be a huge loss for me health wise, and many like me. There should be a way those of us with long term health issues can still use the therapool. PT doesn’t use it often. I’m very upset and very disappointed and don’t think we were considered in this.

Emily Phillips Oneonta

Project Prom Seeks Support

Spring is just around the corner and the planning for Cooperstown High School’s prom and Project Prom is underway! The Class of 2023 is ready to celebrate!

Project Prom began in 1984 at Cooperstown and provides prom attendees a safe, alcohol- and drug-free, fun night of entertainment, food, and raffles. The event is held at the Clark Sports Center and ends at dawn.

We’re looking forward to continuing the tradition of keeping our seniors and their guests safe on this memorable and exciting evening.

Project Prom is made possible through generous contributions and we’re hoping you will consider helping make this year’s event a success. Gifts of any kind are appreciated, and no gift is too small.

Your tax-deductible donation can be made payable to “Cooperstown Foundation for Excellence in Education” or “CFEE,” with “Project Prom” written in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to Cooperstown Project Prom, c/o Treasurer Kara Grady, 46 Elm Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. If you have an item to raffle, please contact

Melanie Craig.

Melanie Craig, Kara Grady and Lara Hurysz Cooperstown Project Prom Fundraising Committee

Sadness, Anger at FCF Closing

Having heard the news of our fitness center closing, it brought a lot of emotion and wondering why, after all this time, it had to happen. I am in my 90s and I doubt I would have made it this far without my regular exercise classes at FoxCare Fitness. The employees and all my fellow members are a wonderful group and enjoy being at the FoxCare facility.

It makes me sad to think that I may no longer have any classes to attend and the uncertainty of finding another fitness center is too much of a burden for me at this point. After all is said and done, I’m hoping to hear that the classes will continue at the FoxCare Fitness Center.

Shirley Walker Oneonta

Nycamh

Continued from page 1 issues. Farming is in the top 10 most dangerous occupations in the state,” Scott said. “We need to double our funding so we can continue to be a great resource for our farmers.”

Maryann Robinson, human resources manager for Sunnyside Farm in Scipio Center, New York, is concerned about the safety of her employees.

“NYCAMH used to conduct safety walkthroughs, first aid programs, machinery-specific training and other programs for us,” Robinson said. “Now they can’t come out for on-site visits anymore. It’s essential for us to have this training for the safety of our employees.”

Kim Skellie from El-Vi Farms in Newark, New York agreed. “We milk 2,000 cows, have 35 full-time employees and 18-part timers,” Skellie said. “NYCAMH is very important to our company to keep our people safe. They also conduct animal handling and training. The organization would be very hard to replace.”

Governor Kathy Hochul, the New York State Senate and Assembly—as well as members of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee— are being contacted.

“We need to get our budget increased so we can help these farmers that need our help. It pains me that our staff can’t be responsive to them,” Scott said. “Right now, we can’t give the farmers what they need. We are a great resource and we have a fully-trained staff, but without funding, they can’t physically visit farms and do the training. All we want to do is help the farmers.”

‘AI: Perils and Potential’ Discussion is Next Tuesday

ONEONTA—United University Professions Oneonta will sponsor a panel discussion program on artificial intelligence, “AI: Perils and Potential,” on Tuesday, March 21 at noon in Le Café, Morris Complex, SUNY Oneonta. The panel will consist of SUNY Oneonta President Dr. Alberto Cardelle, UUP Oneonta President and Professor of Africana and Latinx Studies and Political Science Dr. Robert Compton, and Dr. Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, coordinator, Ed Tech Program, and professor, English Education. Audience questions and discussion are invited after the panelist’s formal presentations. The program is free and open to the general public, including all segments of the college and Greater Oneonta community. UUP will provide a complimentary lunch. An RSVP at ONEUUP@oneonta.edu is required to allow for coordination of the lunch order. The RSVP should include your name and contact information.

Pathfinder Produce Celebrates Anniversary March 16

EDMESTON—Pathfinder Produce, a weekly greengrocer and delivery service operated by Pathfinder Village’s Adult Day Services, will celebrate its tenth anniversary on Thursday, March 16 during its regular market hours, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“The story of Pathfinder Produce has been one of empowerment,” said Tina Heyduk, Pathfinder’s chief administrative officer, who oversees the Pathfinder’s Day Services. “Our market began as a project to help curb childhood obesity, address adult health concerns, and improve families’ diets in conjunction with Bassett Research Institute’s 5-2-1-0 community programs. With our weekly market, area residents have enjoyed greater access to fresh produce. In many rural communities that are in USDA food deserts, families must travel over 10 miles to buy an apple.”

“Another way Pathfinder Produce empowers people is that it offers paid employment and vocational training for people with intellectual disabilities. ADS team members have grown in knowledge through their tasks organizing the weekly market and our grant-funded food deliveries,” added Mrs. Heyduk. “They give back to their community. Each team member takes pride in serving their friends and neighbors through our produce-related programs.”

During the March 16 market celebration at the Pathfinder Village Commons, there will be recipe samples, specially-themed baked goods, and customers will receive recyclable shopping bags as part of Pathfinder’s observance of World Down Syndrome Day, an annual global event held annually on March 21. To learn more about Pathfinder Produce, customers may visit the market’s website at https://pathfinderproduce.org or its Facebook page.

Crafters Wanted for Two Popular Events

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—Applications are still being accepted for two popular craft events in Richfield Springs: the 42nd Annual Friendship Craft Festival to be held on Saturday, June 10 in Spring Park and the 3rd Annual Fall Craft Fair scheduled for Saturday, October 7 at the Cullen Pumpkin, 587 Cullen Road. Both events are sponsored by the Church Of Christ Uniting in Richfield Springs. For information and an application for both events, go to www. rschurchofchristuniting.com or call Carla at (315) 858-1451.