The Freeman's Journal 03-26-20

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VISIT www.AllOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S DAILY NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 212, No. 13

Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, March 26, 2020

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

Newsstand Price $1

â–şFIRST OTSEGO COUNTY CORONAVIRUS CASE SURFACES/SEE BELOW

Coronavirus Halts Dreams Park 2020 EMERGENCY FALLOUT Michealle Cole, a second grade teacher at CCS, shared this photo, of the 36 face masks she made to take to Bassett Hospital, on her Facebook page. The hospital anticipates needing 20,000 masks; a pattern is avaliable on their website/SEE A3

Jobless Claims Soar; Sales-Tax Slump Expected By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA

SEE MULTIPLE REPORTS ON

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n an average week, Alan Sessions, CDO Workforce disability resource coordinator, might field 25 calls about unemployment insurance. “In the last week, we’ve received 25 calls a day,� he said. “Sometimes the wait to talk with someone is an hour.� The majority Ruffles of the calls, he said, are waitstaff, kitchen help and retail workers suddenly jobless as Governor Cuomo ordered stores and restaurants closed in to facilitate “social distancing� and reduce the spread of COVID-19. “It’s early still, but these are the businesses that were immediately affected,� he said. Statewide, Department of Labor spokesman Deanna Cohen, said Please See JOB LOSS, A7

â–şThe fenimore, and farmers’ museums have delayed their April 1 opening day indefinitely, Todd Kenyon, communications direction, announced. â–şBe Prepared, county board Chair David Bliss urged in an open letter. He asked that those who could, stay home to help “flatten the curveâ€? â–şDMV closed until April 19, but there will be an extension of validity of any driver’s license, non-driver Identification or registration expiring on or after March 1, 2020, County Clerk Kathy Sinnot Gardner announced. â–şmedicaid costs may be passed down from Albany to counties, costing Otsego $1 milion in extra costs, county Treasurer Allen Ruffles fears. â–şBASSETT HAS 150 EXTRA BEDS in case the state sends patients to the hospital, upping its capacity to 300. â–ş200 “cooper’s cleanâ€? handsanitizers were given away by the Cooperstown Distillery Friday, March 20. The distillery said it is bottling more. â–şSEWARD has endorsed a business-friendly GOP COVID19 proposal, which extends By ELIZABETH COOPER sales tax payments by 90 days and makes no-interest loans here is still only one positive avaliable. case of the COVID-19 virus in â–şattorney ryan miosek had dinner delivered to the Otsego County. entire Bassett Hospital staff But don’t let your guard down, on Friday, March 30, in because that number doesn’t tell the appreciation of their service whole story. in the current crisis. With confirmed cases skyrocket-

Merchants, Restaurateurs, Rental Firms Brace For The Summer That May Not Be In the summer of 2016, Sal Furnari right, could be found daily, serving a full house at his Maskot’s Pizza & Grill, Hartwick Seminary. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Lonetta Swartout of Cooperstown Stay, below, was connecting hundreds of Dreams Park families with local accommodations.

Jim Kevlin/from The Freeman’s Journal archives

By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN

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et’s start with some good news. As soon as the coronavirus threat is safely dispatched, Destination Marketing Corporation of Otsego County plans to

IT’S HERE!

1st Otsego Case Surfaces; 35 Quarantined

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ing above 25,000 in the state and testing supplies dwindling, there may be many here who have the virus but remain unidentified.

In Otsego County alone, there are 35 people on quarantine - either awaiting test results or who have had close contact with someone who has a confirmed case - according to county Health Department figures. And that doesn’t include the many others Bassett Healthcare Network practitioners may have recommended self-quarantine to patients with symptoms. People are jittery. Please See COVID-19, A9

launch a new promotion: “On Deck: Your Cooperstown Bucket List Getaway,� aimed at attracting fans from around the region whose lifelong dream is to visit Baseball’s Mecca. “Not now,� DMCOC Executive Director Cassandra Harrington said Tuesday, March 24. “But when things change.� Please See DREAMS, A2

COOPERSTOWN’S JOYCE, ONEONTA’S BETTIOL

County Ex-Pats Report From COVID Hot Spots By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA

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he city that never sleeps has become a “ghost town.� Ask Carleigh Bettiol. “As of 8 p.m. Sunday evening, the city was on lockdown,� she said. “People are not allowed out unless for essential trips such as

Jenny Joyce and her visiting mom.

grocery, pharmacy, or medical visits.� Please See EX-PATS. A9

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD Enjoy your Hawkeye Bar & Grill favorites from the comfort of home ‰b|_ o†u |o ]o v;uˆb1;Äş _;1h o†| |_; -‰h;‹; l;m† orাomv omŃ´bm; and simply call in your order. Drive right up to the Hawkeye Bar & Grill ;m|u-m1;ġ -m7 o†u v|-@ ‰bŃ´Ń´ 7;Ń´bˆ;u ‹o†u l;-Ń´ ub]_| |o ‹o†u 1-uÄş Call (607) 544-2524 to place your order today.

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THURSDAY, mARCH 26, 2020

A-2 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Dreams Park Closing Affects Businesses – And Everyone Else

what I’ve already DREAMS/From A1 paid them,” she DMOC was said. “Once they do, seeking a posiDreams Park families tive response to will be repaid as well.” Cooperstown Sal Furnari, whose Dreams Park’s Maskot’s Pizza & posting on its Grill is right across website at 9 p.m. Route 28 from Friday, March 20: Southside the Dreams Park Because of the coronavirus threat, Mall manager entrance, expressed Luisa the hope that the “Cooperstown Montanti. other local youthDreams Park has baseball tournament determined it is venue, Cooperstown All-Star necessary to cancel the 2020 Village in West Oneonta season.” remains open; its owner, The impact on the local Marty Patton, said he will economy was immediate. be deciding week by week, Over the weekend, a month in advance, about Lonetta Swartout, proprietor whether to proceed. of Cooperstown Stay, the Still, he said, “health is the foremost local rental agency most important thing in life. for Dreams Park families, said her phone started ringing We need to whip this virus before anything happens.” with players’ parents seeking Mickey’s Place proprietor refunds on this summer’s Vinnie Russo, dean of rental reservations. She and Cooperstown’s Main Street each of her staff have been merchants, expects Dreams handling 100 calls a day. Park’s closing will mean a “My hosts have been two-thirds drop in downtown wonderful about refunding

shoppers in June. In July and August, school is out in the Northeast, so that’ll reduce the drop to about one-third, he said. “There are a lot of people who are going to be affected, even beyond the commercial marketplace,” he said. “There are many people who have acquired homes, put on additions simply to rent them out to Dreams Park families. Many are using rental income to pay their mortgages, or to pay their taxes. “Dreams Park alone generates income,” he continued. “Many people work there. The families buy food locally; the guy who delivers food there is local. Dreams Park buys supplies from local hardware stores.” He did original research at the end of the 1990s when Eddie Einhorn, a Chicago White Sox owner, was thinking of establishing Baseball World to compete with Dreams Park. At the

The Freeman’s Journal & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Vinnie Russo is dean of Cooperstown’s Main Street merchants.

time, he found families sharing rentals with other families were spending $1,000 a week on accommodations alone. That’s $1,000 per family, 1,200 families a week, times 13 weeks: almost $16 million spent on housing alone. And prices have gone up since then.

The concern isn’t limited to Cooperstown; Dreams Park’s impact is felt countywide. In Oneonta, Southside Mall Manager Luisa Montanti estimated retailers there will feel a 15-percent dip in business. “People buy bathing suits, towels, baseball equipment – things they forget to bring, or didn’t bring enough of,” she said. A greatest impact will be felt in the mall’s restaurants – the pizza parlor and the national chains. Plus, when it rains, the Southside Cinemas are usually packed, she said. Alone, the lack of a Dreams Park season has a huge impact, said Russo. But the renovations of Doubleday Field means it isn’t being rented out to out-of-town teams looking to playing ball in the “Home of Baseball.” What happens next depends on how quickly and successfully the State of Emergency quells the coronavirus threat, he said, whether it takes a

month, or six weeks, two months, or longer. A few businesses have “interruption insurance,” he said, and the governor’s emergency declaration closing stores would likely cover that. Some of the downtown merchants own their stores, have been there for more than 20 years and have paid off their mortgages. They will be in better shape than stores that rent, or merchants who have bought buildings in the past decade, he said. Still, business owners are looking for a bright side. For instance, Furnari is hoping Cooperstown All-Star Village’s rolling schedule will have families driving past his Route 28 Maskot’s again by mid-summer. And Swartout recounted the father of one of her renting families telling her, “I already have the week off. I’m coming to Cooperstown!”

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Of course we have books, but you can see our soaps, candles, puzzles and more online at greentoadbookstore.com! 198 MAin sTreeT, OneOnTA 607-433-8898

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Alex’s World Bistro at 149 Main Street is open taking scheduled to go orders from 3-7 pm & offering pickup times from 4-8pm! Don’t forget--with the purchase of food, you can bring home any of our house cocktails, wines or beers! To contact us, please call 607-547-4070 to place your to go order!

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WHILE OUR RESTAURANT IS CLOSED...

Carryout service is available from 11am-7pm Tuesday - Sunday. Free delivery service within a 10 mile radius and a $20 minimum order. Place orders via phone at 607-432-1782, at www.brooksbbq.com or the Brooks’ BBQ APP on your iPhone or Android.

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OTSEGO.life PAGE A-3

THURSDAY, March 26, 2020

To Go!

YOU’LL HAVE IT Danial Boecke, an employee at Munson’s True Value, ordered lunch from Brooks House of BBQ and had it delivered by Alyssa Ely-Rose

what’s fun

in Otsego County

BEST BETS

Adriene Mishler guides practitioners through a variety of yoga routines on her YouTube channel.

From Emergency, Novelty: Folks Around County Pick Up Dinners By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA

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t Brooks House of BBQ, the staff can’t answer the phones

fast enough. “We’re going to add additional phone lines,” said owner Ryan Brooks. “They’re just ringing constantly. With Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s order that all “non-essential” businesses be shuttered, restaurants can no longer accommodate

AllOTSEGO.life

Jim Kevlin & Ian Austin/

dine-in customers. “When the quarantines started happening last week, I walked into work and there were no customers coming in,” said Brian Wrubleski, who owns Mel’s at 22, Cooperstown. “It was like someone took something out of my heart.” Some, like Morey’s and The Depot in Oneonta, the Doubleday Café in Cooperstown and Jackie’s in Milford, simply closed. Many others, including Mel’s, Brooks, Council Rock Brewery and The Otesaga’s Hawkeye Grill have quickly Mel’s at 22 proprietor Brian Wrubleski packs to-go adapted to take-out and delivery. dinners with the help of daughter Alex Gauther, Please See TAKEOUT, A7 left, and Tomeka Ray.

BURLINGTON MOM, DAUGHTER CHURN THEM OUT

United Methodist Sewing Club Producing Scarce Face Masks By LIBBY CUDMORE BURLINGTON FLATS

T Michealle Cole, left, has made more than 75 washable fabric masks for Bassett Hospital; her daughter Julie delivers them.

he sewing that Michealle Cole, a Cooperstown Central second-grade teacher, uses as her “therapy” will help protect healthcare workers from COVID-19. “All I want to do is put a smile on people’s face,” she said. “Sewing is my therapy.” Cole, part of the Fly Creek United Methodist quilting group, has made

►FACE-MASK pattern is available on Bassett Hospital’s web site Visit: bassett.org/covid-19/ protective-fabric-masks.

more than 75 face masks to be donated to Bassett Hospital as shortages of protective gear loom. “We became aware there was a need at Bassett Hospital for masks,” said Rev. Sharon Rankins-Burd. “Someone found a pattern online, and apparently a lot of people are making these.” Please See MASKS, A7

Yoga, Cooking, Photography Class And A Dance Party

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chool is in session, but you don’t need to take the bus or do any homework – there are classes online to teach you everything from yoga to cooking to a new language – all for free. • Adriene Mishler teaches a variety of yoga classes her award-winning YouTube Channel “Yoga With LIBBY Adriene.” Whether a CUDMORE 15-minute exercise or a 30-day commitment, there’s a yoga class you’ll love! www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene • Get all the bragging rights of a Yale course without the tuition with the popular “The Science of Well-Being” course. Anyone can audit the course for free, or for $49, you can complete assignments and earn a certificate of completion. Enroll at www.Coursera.org. • The camera on your phone can do more than just take selfies! Brush up on the basics or expand your artistic eye with over 1,000 free courses through the Professional Photographers of America. www.ppa.com/education • Whether you’re looking to make a seven-course meal or learn how to boil water, the BBC offers instructions on a variety of techniques https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/techniques • Put on your dancing shoes and learn some Irish step dancing, hip-hop, ballroom and belly dance moves. www.learntodance.com/ online-dance-lessons/ • And with those new dance skills, join the Dancing Otsego virtual dance group and enjoy the fun of the club from the comfort of your living room. Visit Dancing Otsego group on Facebook. 7:30 – 9 p.m. Friday, March 27.

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL • HOMETOWN ONEONTA

AllOTSEGO.com, WHERE OTSEGO COUNTY GOES FOR BREAKING NEWS

VISIT www.

Perspectives

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

A-4 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL EDITORIAL

Job One: Defeat Coronavirus. Job Two: Limit The Damage

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s a community, we face two tasks. Last week, Governor Cuomo estimated New York Job One is to tackle the coronavirus State’s challenge would peak in 45 days, in early threat. May. If he’s right, that’s well before the summer As evident in closing schools and colleges, season arrives here with Memorial Day Weekend. local governments and business, in our The Hall of Fame’s decision to cancel the adherence to “social distancing,” and in Classic Weekend in mid-May is defensible. Bassett Hospital’s pro-active agenda, there is That would be cutting it a little fine. community-wide commitment to that. Cooperstown Dreams Park cancelling its Governor Cuomo, who has been at his best 2020 season is premature, particularly given the since the crisis loomed, put it well Sunday, March economic impact – which, in the end, means 22, in his interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer: impact on people: on retirees who depend on “In New York, we have already closed renting their homes, on business people every valve that we can close. We learned dependent on the summer season, and on our from China. We learned from South Korea, foremost institutions and their employees, and Italy. dependent on tourist visitations. “The lesson was loud and clear. Do everyIn short, pretty much everyone. thing you can as soon as you can, and that’s • exactly what we’ve done here in New York. Cooperstown All-Star Village in West Oneonta I can’t do anything else. I’m at zero has adopted a better model – “The Patton Plan,” Governor Cuomo tells CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Sunday, March 22: “The non-essential workers. You can’t go below lesson was loud and clear. Do everything you can as soon as you can, if you will. zero. So we have everything off. Owner Marty Patton is moving forward and that’s exactly what we’ve done here in New York.” “Now, we keep testing. We keep tracking incrementally. Depending on how the challenge • the positives. Isolate the positives. Slow the spread. looks in early May, All-Star Village may or may not cancel Job Two is to limit the long-term damage. Increase the hospital capacity and in the meantime, get the its first week, June 5-11. The second week in May, the With the welcome news that Italy’s epidemic is darn masks and ventilators and the PPE equipment.” decision will be made whether to cancel the second week beginning to dip, we can be assured that the coronavirus In Otsego County, as in New York State at large, let’s of youth-baseball tournaments, June 12-18. And so on. will dissipate. continue doing all we can do. Please See EDITORIAL, A5 So, foremost, let’s not act precipitously. LETTERS FROM THE GOVERNOR

Cuomo’s Daily Updates Show Much Being Done Editor’s Note: Here’s an example of Governor Cuomo’s daily email updates, which underscore how much is being done to combat coronavirus. Do yourself a favor: sign up at: https://now.ny.gov/page/s/coronavirus-updates Here’s what else you need to know tonight: Dear New Yorker, 1. Supplies are arriving Amid this pandemic, at the Javits Center, which we can’t underestimate the I toured earlier today to see emotional trauma people are the progress on the building facing or underestimate the of a temporary hospital there. The federal administration has deployed 339,760 N95 masks, 861,700 surgical masks, 353,300 gloves, 145,122 gowns and 197,085 face shields to New York State. Many state supplies have also been deployed to the Javits Center. The facility will open next Photo of the Day: I toured week. the Javits Center in New 2. We opened a York City today, where FEMA is beginning to build a 1,000- drive-thru mobile testing center in the bed temporary hospital. Bronx this morning. pain of isolation. It is real. This opening follows This is not the human condi- successful mobile testing tion — not to be comforted, centers in New Rochelle, not to be close to friends, Rockland County, Staten not to be able to hug someIsland and Long Island. one. This is all unnatural (Visits are appointment-only and disorienting. But my and must be made by calling hope is that while New York 1-888-364-3065.) New York may be socially distanced, is currently testing more we remain spiritually conthan 16,000 people per day, nected. We will overcome more than any other state or this challenge and we will country per capita. be stronger for it. Please See EMAIL, A5 •F

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Cooperstown’s Newspaper

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March 23, 2020.

For 212 Years

SHATTERED DREAMS...ALL-STAR HOPES

Dreams Park Cancels 2020 Season Entirely Editor’s Note: Cooperstown Dreams’ Park Friday, March 20, announced it is cancelling its 2020 season due to coronavirus.

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n the best interest of our country, state, local community, local partners, coaches, umpires and most importantly, our employees, players and their families, whose health and safety we are ob- It’s become a Dreams Park tradition for departing teams to get ligated to protect, photographed by the front gate. Cooperstown pation. Cooperstown Dreams Park vate sector, we have notified the New Dreams Park employees will remain working at York State Department of Health, has determined reduced hours and payroll, to the Otsego County Emergency Services it is necessary to extent permitted by the mandates and Bassett Healthcare that our facilicancel the 2020 of Governor Cuomo. ties are available for use, if needed in season. In response to calls by many levels combating COVID-19 or for caring All teams will receive a 100% of government for help from the priPlease See DREAMS, A6 refund or the option of future partici-

Under ‘Patton Plan,’ All-Star Village Will Start Season If It Can ... Monday, March 23, Cooperstown All-Star Village proprietor Marty Patton said his baseball park will be back in business once coronavirus subsides.

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o our Cooperstown All Star family of players, coaches, umpires, guests and employees. The health and safety of Cooperstown All Star Village players, coaches, umpires, guests and employees is our highest priority. As we continue to actively monitor developments related to coronavirus (COVID-19) we want to assure you that Cooperstown All Star Village is taking all necessary health and safety precautions in accordance with the

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James C. Kevlin Editor & Publisher

Tara Barnwell

Managing Editor

Larissa Ryan Business Manager

Thom Rhodes Advertising Consultant

Elizabeth Cooper Correspondent

Ian Austin Photographer

Ivan Potocnik Web Architect

Kathleen Peters Graphics & Production Tom Heitz Consultant

IN MEMORIAM: Mary Joan Kevlin, Co-Publisher, 2006-17 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR Otsego County • Village of Milford • 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.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and New York State

FRONT PORCH PERSPECTIVE

If Not For A Buttonhook

Advertising Director & General Manager

Libby Cudmore

A highpoint of All-Star Village history was the appearance of Little League pitching phenom Mon’e Davis in 2014.

health officials for our players, coaches, umpires, guests and employees. In an effort to carry on the Cooperstown experience that our players, coaches and umpires have planned for and fund-raised for several years. We have made a decision regarding the 2020 tournament (assuming that our Nation is going through this self imposed quarantine) four weeks in advance of each week. Starting the first week in May (leaving family’s, players, coaches and umpires a full Please See ALL-STAR, A6

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ome years ago, I had dinner at Great-Grandpa’s house down in tidewater Maryland. It’s a handsome brick house with dormers, and it used to face a clear view across the fields to broad West River. But realtors overran the area, and the fields filled up with houses for commuters to Washington. And Great-Grandpa’s house is now a restaurant – a high-toned French one, mind you, down there in Shady Side, a hamlet once home only to truck farmers and to men who fished, ►FOR FULL VERSION of Jim

Atwell’s March 12-13 column, type “ahoy, maties” in search line at

AllOTSEGO.com

www.

dredged oysters and hauled enraged blue crabs from the Chesapeake’s tidewater. We ate our dinners in an expansive, open-beamed addition to the house. It had been JIM built out over the ATWELL old backyard. It was tasteless of me, but I couldn’t describe the backyard as it once was. “You know, the privy would have stood right over there, between the hat rack and the waiter’s station.” My fellow diners grimaced and went back to their goat’s cheese and endive vinaigrette.

As a little girl, his grandmother was pulled from a well by a buttonhook, to safety.

But I sat fascinated. “And this table,” I added, “is probably just about over the old well.” If we were above that well, I was at a spot crucial to my life. For about 1880, a toddler, GreatGrandpa’s youngest daughter, fell down the family well. My grandmother. Please See ATWELL, A6

AllOTSEGO.com • MORE LETTERS, A5-6

LETTERS TO EDITOR WELCOME • EMAIL THEM TO info@

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL A-5

BOUND VOLUMES Compiled by Tom Heitz and SHARON STUART, with resources courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library

200 YEARS AGO

Married on the Ninth Inst. at Washington City by the Rev. Mr. Hawley, Samuel Lawrence Governeur, Esq. of New York to Miss Maria Hester Monroe, youngest daughter of the President of the United States. Editor: To Patrons – This number completes half a year since the resumption of our editorial duties; and we should be unmindful of our obligations to the public, were we to refrain from expressing our thanks for the patronage this paper has received. There are but few country journals in the state, whose circulation is more extensive; and this evidence of approbation, is deemed sufficient to increase our exertions to make the paper more useful and respectable. March 27, 1820

100 YEARS AGO

75 YEARS AGO

Mrs. Hyde Sued on Defamation Charge – Action for defamation of character was begun in this village on Saturday of last week, when summonses were served on Mrs. W.T. Hyde, owner of the Glimmerglen Farms and county agent for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The amounts sought as damages in these actions were not made public. The actions were brought by four employees of the Hyde properties and Glimmerglen Farms as a result of accusations made in connection with the disappearance of one fur-lined man’s overcoat, and one ladies’ leather overcoat. As far as known the missing property has not been recovered, although state troopers have been investigating the case. The plaintiffs are Charles Jennings, who is in charge of the poultry house at Glimmerglen Farms; Floyd Green, a stableman; Silas Marsh, a chauffeur, and Eugene Frank a greenhouse man. March 24, 1920

175 YEARS AGO

Anti-Rent actions in Delaware County – On Monday last, Sheriff Steele and C.E. Parker went to Andes to serve some Chancery Subpoenas and a summons. On their return, near Fish Lake, they were stopped by some fourteen disguised and armed men. It being evening and somewhat dark, they were forced to return to Andes, where they were detained till near night the next day. While in confinement at Andes, Steele succeeded in sending a special message to Delhi, who arrived at about 12 o’clock. The Sheriff then summoned almost every man in Delhi, who went with him to Andes, armed and prepared for a conflict. When we got there no Indians were to be found – their friends having sent an express from Delhi, to inform them the Sheriff was coming prepared for action. Yesterday, the Sheriff with his posse, returned through Bovina, and arrested one person, who is indicted for having been disguised, &c. Today, with a posse of about 400 men, armed, he went to Kortright, and sold on an execution where he had been prevented from selling before by the appearance of some 75 or 80 Indians. Steele has selected about 50 men and is preparing to start to make arrests this evening. March 24, 1845

150 YEARS AGO

Hospital Notice – Patients must make application before admittance at the Hospital – either in person or by letter. In no case are patients admitted without previous application, unless in the event of very sudden attacks, or accidents, when immediate help is needed. All applications should be made to Dr. Lathrop, or Miss Cooper, and accompanied by a letter from a physician of good character. There will be two vacancies in the men’s ward very soon, owing to the dismissal of convalescent patients. Rags for carpeting, will be gratefully received. The female patients are preparing them both for use at the hospital, and also for the new Orphan House. Susan Fenimore Cooper S.F.C. March 24, 1870

THE VIEW FROM WEST DAVENPORT

50 YEARS AGO

March 24, 1945

125 YEARS AGO

Local: Charles R. Burch went to New York last week to consult occulists and had a successful operation performed upon his eyes. He was accompanied by T.C. Turner. Mr. Burch is expected home in a few days. A gentleman interested in bringing out “Mikado,” the entertainment, says: “Ladies should come prepared to take off their hats.” There are some very desirable seats left unsold for Thursday night, and not all are sold for Friday night. Monday was the first really spring-like day of the season – sunshine and shower, light snow squalls at times, and a south wind melting the snow on the ground; in the evening the chirp of the robins. James P. Kinney of this village has the contract for putting the hedge around the hospital building lot. The plants used will be from the celebrated Chautauqua Nursery of Portland, New York. The Rev. Sherman Coolidge, missionary to the Shoshone reservation in Wyoming, who is a full-blooded Indian, will conduct a religious service in Christ Church Wednesday at 8 o’clock. The public is cordially invited to attend. March 28, 1895

Cooperstown Central School’s Girls Volleyball Team has won the Center State Conference championship. The Redskin girls beat Hamilton in the semi-finals 15-10, and 15-12 and then came back to upend Clinton 15-4, and 15-12. That finished the season for an unblemished 7-0 record. Members of the team are: Mary Chamberlin, Mary O’Leary, Margaret Towne, Cathy Towne, Elizabeth Blessin, Eileen Miller, Janet Phillips, Jeanne Warner and Laura Karkowski. March 25, 1970

25 YEARS AGO

The $250,000Doubleday Field renovation project is going “swimmingly,” according to the Chairman of the Doubleday Field Advisory Committee Chairman, Stuart Taugher. Taugher was recently elected to the Cooperstown Village Board. Drainage work on the field has been completed and workers are pouring the concrete for the restroom floors. Work on electrical service and plumbing will commence next week. Taugher added that the project is of such a nature that meetings of the Doubleday Field Advisory Board will be held at 5 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month. March 26, 1995

10 YEARS AGO

Springbrook will soon welcome twenty-four children with disabilities from as far away as Wisconsin, while saving $890,000 annually. Springbrook receives fourteen million, seven hundred thousand dollars from state bonds, more than paid for by the savings, and can begin a twenty million dollar expansion that includes duplexes for the twenty-four residences, infrastructure, six classrooms and an expanded gymnasium. March 25, 2010

LETTERS

Did Anyone, Or Everyone Constitution Gives Us Right To Do What Makes Sense Editor: the Preamble and the constituents are in favor of effective laws that made Kill U.S. Pandemic Team? ToI’mtheafraid that Mr. deBlieck Second Amendment gun control, but the NRA gun purchases legal and fair,

A

friend of mine commented that he was upset with the president because he had eliminated the Pandemic Response Team (PRT). I didn’t know there was such a thing and I’m guessing that neither did the President. However, the fact that my friend was blaming the President for eliminating it, and then a year or so later having us face a pandemic MIKE with the corona virus, prompted me ZAGATA to attempt to explain how the national budget process works. Explaining the budget process will allow the reader to place blame where it belongs. That is, if indeed, there is blame to be placed. The President, also referred to as the Administration, submits a budget to Congress for legislative approval. All budget legislation must start in the House of Representatives. Once passed by the House, it is sent to the Senate for approval and, if approved, it becomes law. That’s the simplified version. Here’s what really happens.

The President sets a target for his spending called the budget. For example, President Trump made it clear that he wanted to rebuild our military and thus his final budget should reflect that. Then two things happen. The director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) takes the President’s budget and allocates funds to the various agencies within the Administration. By “agencies,” I mean things like the Department of Defense, Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture, EPA, Department of Homeland Security, etc. In general, the heads of those agencies make up the President’s Cabinet. The OMB then directs the Secretaries (heads of the various agencies) to figure out how much money they need for the next year. The agencies then prepare their agency’s budget by asking each of their internal departments to submit a budget and then adding them together into one budget for each agency. Please See ZAGATA, A6

(LTE, March 19-20) doesn’t understand what the U.S. Constitution actually says and does. Like the power to declare war and raise taxes, the power to organize and arm militias is explicitly reserved to the Congress of the United States. Don’t believe me? Read Article One. There are no provisions that allow the “entire population to form a militia.” Moreover, the Constitution authorized the militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions and not to “secure the liberty of the place in which they live.” Don’t believe me? Read Article One. Today, everyone has an idea of what the Second Amendment means – with many Americans believing that it allows a citizen to have any kind and keep as many guns as one wants. Let’s start with phrase “the People.” Read the Preamble of the Constitution – it says, “We, the People.” The Second Amendment allows the People (a plural usage), not individuals, to keep and carry arms when serving in the militia. Period. Don’t believe me? Read

back-to-back. More to the point, Congress passed laws in 1792 and 1903 delegating the authority to organize militias (and after 1903, the National Guard) to the respective states but not to individual citizens. Don’t believe me? Read the laws. As to the kind of weapons, in my opinion, no one needs assault weapons, which are specifically designed to kill humans with a massively high volume of firepower. I am not an anti-gun nut. When I was younger, everyone seemed to have a gun to go hunting, and many kept their guns strapped to the back window of their truck. No one was worried about that – least of all me. Even my family kept shotguns and pistols (with a license to carry). And no one was worried about that – least of all me. But the gun lobby, especially the National Rifle Association (NRA), has gone far beyond the America of my childhood by advancing unrestricted gun ownership. Today, why do you think there are so many guns?? I believe that it’s all about money – the NRA’s

join New York’s Coronavirus response effort. We still need more citizens to join this reserve staff. If you are a recently retired medical professional, a therapist, a psychologist or a qualified medical or nursing school student or staff member, we want your help. Enlist here: health.ny.gov/assistance. 5. The FDA has approved the use of a new experimental treatment in New York on a compassionate care basis to treat COVID-19 patients. The trials

we would not have many of these problems. Too many people go underground for their guns – and therein lies one of the biggest problems we currently have. Gun Control does not mean people are going to take away your guns. It means that proper and effective control over the purchase of weapons best serves honest and fair Americans. Moreover, it also means that individuals respect what our Constitution actually says and not misstate the words for their own personal satisfaction and gain. PATSY SMITH Cooperstown

EDITORIAL: Overcome Threat, And Keep An Eye On The Future

EDITORIAL/From A4 Variations on “The Patton Plan” are no doubt being considered by The Fenimore and Farmers’ museums, Glimmerglass Opera, and the Hall itself as it looks ahead to July 26 and the prospective record-breaking induction of Derek Jeter. Act if you must, but not immediately. All is not lost. • Running off county-bycounty numbers on “The Coronavirus Economic Impact,” the New York will use antibody injections to help State Association of stimulate and promote individuals’ Counties (NYSAC), is immune systems against the virus. estimating Otsego County’s Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: government stands to lose I want to remind New Yorkers that $1,968,867 in sales-tax revNew York State Parks remain open for enues alone, equivalent solitary walks or hikes — but you must to about 20 percent of the keep six feet of distance from others. tax levy. You can also take a virtual tour of That translates into many New York State parks. $49,221,682 in lost sales Ever Upward, – gasoline, restaurants, souGov. ANDREW M. CUOMO venirs – and doesn’t count

Cuomo Daily Updates Underscore All That’s Being Done EMAIL/From A4 3. I launched the New York Stronger Together campaign. Celebrities including Robert De Niro, Danny DeVito, Ben Stiller and La La Anthony have shared videos amplifying my message that people must stay home – not just to protect their own health, but to protect the health of more vulnerable New Yorkers. 4. 30,000 people have responded to our call for retired nurses and doctors, medical school students and others to

itself has become a powerful and influential moneymaker. Guns are sold not only to our citizens (many – about 40 percent – without a background check), but they are also sold around the world to our allies and to our enemies. Oh, that glorious money! Our country is awash in uncounted guns. Stop to think about the things in our lives that are so destructive –and big businesses and institutions (like the NRA) are the ones making money off everyone in our country (not only guns, but alcohol, drugs, gambling, cigarettes, and vaping). If we enforced proper and

lost occupancy tax on hotels and lodging, also substantial. Apply the multiplier of 3 as money moves through the local economy, and that loss – even without lodging – would translate into $150 million, or $2,500 for every man, woman and child in the county. That’s NYSAC’s “mild scenario.” • Job One is Job One – saving lives. Let’s adhere to Governor Cuomo’s regimen, and give our healthcare community – the doctors, nurses and hospital staff, who are emerging as the heroes of this crisis – all the support we can. But let’s look ahead to the job that awaits, and – with patience, prudence – minimize the long-term impact of a short-term crisis on the county that we love.

THURSDAY, mARCH 26, 2020

A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA LETTERS

During This Crisis, Reach Out To Elderly. And Elderly, Accept Our Help To the Editor, As social distancing becomes a new way of life, I am fearful. I don’t fear the coronavirus, but I fear the social isolation it is creating among us, especially the older population. We live in a village, with surrounding communities, whose median age is over 50 years old. Of this group, more than half are over the age of 65. There are many who live alone, with few or no family and friends close by.

Going to the Cooperstown Senior Community Center, Clark Sports Center, library, restaurants, etc. provided them with social outings and contact, but now those are closed, and we are all told to stay home. I write to encourage all of us, young and old, to become more aware of our neighbors, especially those older, as well as the activity in and around their homes. Are the curtains open every day, or the lights on in the evening?

All-Star Village ‘Welcomes Families With Open Arms’ ALL-STAR/From A4 month before the first week tournament begins), we will let everyone know via our website, Facebook and emails to coaches whether we will open or cancel that week, obviously if we are open the first week the other weeks will be open as well. Our goal is to give our players the Cooperstown experience they have planned for and fund raised for. For those of you wondering how we will handle your refund, should we cancel a week or the entire season we will give you two options, All teams will receive a 100% refund or the option of future participation. This policy remains the same for our on site hotel

guests. As stated we will not be making that decision until the first week in May in an effort to give our players the chance to participate in what they have worked so hard for. The most important thing we can do as Americans is remain calm, follow the rules set forth by your state and our federal government and remember we are all in this together. We will come through this! Our community is ready to welcome all of our baseball families with open arms. God bless you all and God bless America and the World. Praying for us all, Martin Patton

If Needed, Dreams Park Open To People In Need DREAMS/From A4 for those inflicted with the virus. Cooperstown Dreams Park will also establish a local food donation center and food kitchen for those in our community that are in need of basic essentials, as permitted by governmental agencies. Cooperstown Dreams Park was hoping to avoid this outcome, but it is the only responsible course of action. Like the rest of the nation, we have never experienced anything like this. We know our staff will be resilient and steadfast in its preparation for the 2021 season and that once again the joyous sounds of kids playing the game of baseball at Cooperstown Dreams Park will be heard.

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Crisis Assistance For Seniors

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Has the newspaper or mail been removed from the front stoop? Would getting groceries or medicine be a challenge for your next door neighbor? We cannot assume each person in our community is fine. As the time of social distancing lengthens beyond two weeks into months, depression and loneliness will become our enemy, most especially for those living alone. If you fall into the more mature adult category, you have lived the

majority of your life not asking for, or accepting, help. This is not the time to let your pride get in the way. If you need assistance, reach out to your neighbors or friends. If your neighbor reaches out to you, say “yes – thank you.” In an effort to be in touch, an email with thoughts and activities will be sent to all who receive the Cooperstown Senior Community Center emails, Monday-Friday. If you wish to be a recipient, send an email to: coopseniorcenter@

gmail.com We will get your contact info and gladly add you to the list. The coronavirus has provided each one of us an opportunity to rekindle what was once the way of life, “neighbor helping neighbor.” It’s what will keep us connected, safe, healthy and smiling – a caring community. Stay well. CAROLE LACHANCE Acting CSCC Executive Director

ZAGATA: Plenty Of Blame To Go Around

ZAGATA/From A5 The agency budgets are then submitted to the OMB. That’s where the lobbying begins as each agency head wants the budget they submitted to be fully funded. However, the actual budget is supposed to balance against the amount of revenue the federal government expects to take in from taxes (that we pay) and other revenue sources. When that doesn’t happen, the government will have a budget deficit that will add to our national debt. You and I aren’t allowed to do that – when our checkbook is empty, we’re broke. The federal government just prints more money and then raises our taxes to pay for it. The OMB meets with representatives from the White House in an attempt to allocate money to meet the President’s priorities and still provide adequate funding for each agency while balancing the budget. It is during this process that the Pandemic Response Team (PRT) might have been “cut” from the budget. However, the amount of money involved is so small that it is very

doubtful anyone ever said explicitly to cut the PRT – PRT was likely part of a bigger program, some of which could be cut with very little “pain.” Once the OMB completes this process, the Administration’s “approved” budget is sent back to the agencies. The amount of money approved for each agency is the amount that agency is allowed to seek from Congress – starting with the House. It is called the “pass back” budget. Each agency then appears before the House Appropriations Committee to make the case for their budget. Members of the Committee ask the various agency heads, or their representatives, questions about their budget, including what’s in it and what’s not. This provides the second opportunity for the PRT to be included in the budget or axed. Because the House is now controlled by the Democratic Party, the Democrats may also be responsible for the lack of funding for the PRT. It is during the Appropriations process that the budget is carefully scrutinized and where lobbying is done on behalf of the various programs either included in, or left out of, the budget by the Administration’s budget. Thus, this is the part of the

budget process where the PRT was likely not funded. In other words, if the President’s budget doesn’t include something, anything, that Congress feels should be funded, the House Appropriations Committee can add it into the budget bill that it passes and sends along to the Senate. Once passed by the Senate, it goes to the President for signature and, at that point, he could veto the entire bill. We know this because each year the President submits a “balanced” budget and Congress ads “pork” that leads to an unbalanced budget and deficit spending. That is indeed how the process works. I lived it as Audubon’s director of Federal Relations. To place blame based on a lack of understanding of the budget process or unverified sources is simply not appropriate and serves to fuel the divisiveness leading to our current political climate. Now, if ever, is the time to come together irrespective of party affiliation. Mike Zagata, a DEC commissioner in the Pataki Administration and former environmental executive for Fortune 500 companies, lives in West Davenport.

ATWELL: Buttonhook Worked, Enabling Columnist

ATWELL/From A4 As little boys, my brother and I would sit open-mouthed as she told the story – which she only knew from adults who repeated it later, shaking their heads. She’d been playing in the sunny back yard with another little girl and perhaps meant only to look curiously down into the well’s darkness. But she tumbled in, head first. The other tot came into the busy kitchen, pulled at her own mother’s dress. “Annie Owings is down the well,” she lisped. The women ran shrieking into the yard. Neighbors’ doors banged open and a half dozen people rushed to

stand around the well hole, peering down in horror. The little girl was almost completely submerged. Only one foot jutted above the water in a tiny, highbutton shoe. Men bent themselves over the well rim, stretching, clawing down toward the water. But the shoe was just out of reach, even for the tallest of them. Then a quiet voice said, “Lemme try, cap’ns.” And a tall black waterman stepped to the well, drawing from his pocket a buttonhook. Lying down on his stomach, he leaned over the well rim, bent his torso down into the darkness. He reached down with the

From the Village of Richfield Springs Board of Trustees The Village Board of Trustees and the Public

Library Board of Trustees made two very difficult announcements last week. The first notified certain staff they would not be reporting to work for the duration of the Governor’s executive order. These people will continue to receive their regular pay based on their usual attendance. The second announcement declared the remaining staff essential to the operations of our Village. These people will continue to work as usual, taking the necessary and proper precautions to limit physical contact with the public. It is important to note that nobody has been ordered to continue working. The Village must continue to operate, but it is the personal responsibility of individual staff to decide if he or she can and should report. Thank you to all our staff for your continued dedication to our Village. The next several weeks will not be easy, but your contribution, whether from home or from work, will be what gets us through this. Finally, it is our sincerest hope that our families, friends and neighbors will be spared the worst effects of this frightening virus. Our community has always shown compassion and strength in times of need and it’s hard to imagine this experience will change us. Continue to follow the recommendations of health professionals and government officials, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you find yourself needing anything at all.

Robin Moshier, Mayor Barb Wahl-Shypski, Luke Van Riper, Kevin Putnam, Peyton Carter, Trustees

hook, stretched himself even farther, snagged the shoe’s topmost button. And drew Annie Owings out of the darkness, back from death. “They rolled me on a barrel to get the water out,” Grandma would say, “and finally I coughed and started to cry.” I told Grandma’s story to my table companions, and we sat silent. Then we toasted her and that buttonhook. And the tall black man, name unknown, who saved her life. And also opened life to my father, my brother and me. I’ve thought of that distant day often since our meal at Great-Grandpa’s. An event 60 years before my birth almost meant I wasn’t. No big loss for the world, I know; but a considerable one for me. How many other near misses, I wonder, were there for me, back across the generations? Beyond forebears who might have been snuffed by wars, plagues and falls down wells, what were my chances that all the right conceptions would take place, across all

those endless generations? It’s dizzying, strikes me wordless. And makes me wonder about a human’s value. Maybe each of us should say, “What am I worth? I’m only here by sheer blind luck.” Or maybe the opposite: “I must mean something since, despite unthinkable odds, here I am.” Here we are, headed for a second darkness, gifted for a bit with life. By that fact, maybe we owe something to all those faceless ghosts – humans who could have been. But never were. Jim Atwell, a retired college administrator and Quaker minister, lives in Cooperstown.

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THURSDAY, mARCH 26, 2020

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-7

From Crisis, Fad: Takeout Dinners Impact Of Emergency In Business Will Create ‘Huge’ Sales Tax Loss

he said. “The community make it look beautiful in the TAKEOUT/From A3 has been so welcoming take-out box too.” “I don’t think a lot of to me, and we want our Although face-to-face people know which restauinteraction has been minirants are open,” said Council customers to feel comfort knowing that we’re still mized, he’s still finding Rock’s Becky Davidson. here.” new ways to interact with “But it’s always nice to see his customers. “I do some friendly faces.” most of the deliveries Take-out isn’t new to myself,” he said. “We Brooks, but the spread include two free cookies of COVID-19 prompted with every order, and Ryan to move up his my daughter Alex plan to add delivery. writes a little message “We want to help get on every one of the people the food they boxes.” want,” he said. “We Similarly, The deliver within a 10-mile Otesaga is including a radius with no fee, but card from the staff with it’s a $20 minimum order.” Jim Kevlin/ OTSEGO.life each order. “When we re-open, they can bring In addition to the Council Rock Brewery’s Kyle it to The Hawkeye or company vans – a Llewellyn fills a “crowler” can – that’s half a growler The 1909 and get a free frequent sight around – as Manager Becky Davidson glass of wine,” said the county in the supervises. Shideler. “It’s our way summer – Ryan put of saying thank you his own SUV up for “We’ve been doing to all the people who are delivery. “The crew is take-out all along with our supporting us through these having fun in my car,” fish fry, so we had a busy difficult times.” he said. And Wrubleski is Some, like John Shideler, Friday,” said Davidson. “And I posted on Facebook concerned about the The Otesaga’s new General to let people know that our employees he had to Manager, are finding ways shrimp and garlic pesto fries temporarily lay off. “It’s to add new offerings to are still available, so people depressing,” he said. “A lot their “to-go” menu. “We’ve know they can still get their of people in this industry added a grilled salmon so favorites.” live paycheck-to-paycheck, we have a fish offering,” he “It’s a different methand I’m trying to support said. “And we’re absolutely odology,” said Wrubleski. them as best I can.” still offering our desserts: “With dine-in, it’s a fullIn addition to delivery We have a new apple service interaction with the and manning phones, Ryan cinnamon bread pudding.” customer. You make the has shifted some employees The response, he said, meal look beautiful on the to the bottling plant to keep has been strong. “We’re a plate. But we’re trying to them on payroll. “These are favorite in the community,” tough times, but we’ll get through them together,” he said.

All

Mom, Daughter To The Rescue

MASKS/From A3 While the masks are not full protection against COVID19, she said, they will help health-care workers at Bassett reduce the risk. “While fabric masks are not a substitute for health-caregrade respirator-type masks, this is a coordinated effort to use the fabric masks to extend the life and supply of the respirator masks,” said Bassett pharmacy director Kelly Rudd. “These respirator masks are in critical short supply nationally, and provide the best protection for our health care workers, patients and community.” Rudd says the handmade fabric masks will be disinfected and can be used repeatedly throughout the coronavirus threat, according to guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the use of fabric masks during a crisis response. “They’re reusable, you can wash and dry them,” said Cole. For those who can’t sew, there are still ways to assist, including donating supplies or money to buy supplies. In all, Bassett believes they will need 20,000 masks. The pattern calls for two rectangles, 9 by 10 inches, of “tightly woven” pre-shrunk cotton fabric – no red, as it might run when laundered – and one of batting – either flannel or thin quilt batting – and two elastic loops to go over the ears. One yard of fabric can make approximately five masks.

Legal

Legal

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of JUST JUMP SKYDIVING, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 2/10/20. The office of the LLC is to be located in Otsego County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any proces against the LLC served upon it to: The LLC, 1693, Laurens, NY 13796. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act. 6LegalApr.30

with Sec of State of NY (SSNY) on March 5, 2020. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall may process to Robert A. Gouldin, Esq., 93 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 6LegalApr.23 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Emerald Glen Morris Ny LLC

Notice of Formation of

Arts of Org. filed SSNY 12/26/19. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY design agent of LLC upon whom process may be served & mail to 1967 Wehrle Dr #1-086 Buffalo, NY 14221 General Purpose 6LegalApr.16

Shove Enterprises LLC.

Legal nOtice

Legal nOtice

Arts of Org filed

Notice of

Legal

Formation of 47 Chestnut LLC. Arts of Org. filed with the Secretary of State on 03/05/2020. Principal Business and Office Location: 47 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to 47 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: any lawful activity. 6LegalApr.16 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILTIY COMPANY Richfield Grange, LLC Articles of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on February 25, 2020. Office Location: Otsego County SSNY is designated

JOB LOSS/From A1 some regions are seeing up to 1,000 percent increases in unemployment claims. From Monday, March 16, to Saturday, March 21, there were over 1,734,100 total calls and a 65 percent increase from call numbers on Monday, March 9, which saw just 2,542 calls And there were over 2,270,300 hits on the Department of Labor website, averaging over 250,000 logins per day – a 400 percent increase over the normal average. With the announcement that Dreams Park will not be opening for the summer – and with the Baseball Hall of Fame, Fenimore and Farmers’ museums closed – Sessions believes a lot more claims have yet to be filed. “It’s still early, but obviously, the tourism sector is going to be affected,” he said. “It’s hard to predict when those businesses are going to be open, and so many of those workers live paycheck to paycheck.” Treasurer Alan Ruffles, who is chairing Otsego County’s emergency task force, estimated the county is facing a $3 million shortfall in sales tax revenue. The state Association of Counties (NYSAC) ran two

computer generated predictions – “mild,” showing a $1.9 million sales tax loss, and “severe,” showing a $5.9 million loss. “My forecast falls right in the middle of that,” Ruffles said. “And that’s just sales tax. They didn’t take bed tax into account.” By comparison, Ruffles said, summer tourism in 2019 generated $40 million in sales tax, which means businesses generated $504 million. The state sales-tax projection translates into a $49 million loss at the cash register. “That’s huge,” said Ruffles. Ruffles’ model shows a $3 million sales-tax loss this tourist season. “If gas prices drop, if they put in travel bans or we lose Cooperstown All-Star Village, that number will increase,” he said. Ruffles named Otsego Now CEO Jody Zakrevsky to a task force that will look at COVID-19’s economic impact. “It’s a tough time for everyone,” said Zakrevsky. “We’re looking at how we can help the small businesses recover, and how to assist the larger businesses with any additional resources they may need.” The task force, Zakrevsky

said, will have a conference call with other agencies – to be identified by Ruffles – to talk about ways to collaborate, combine resources, and identify opportunities for Otsego County. The Otsego Now board, which planned to meet Thursday, March 26, will defer loan repayments for 60 days and longer if needed. “We’re reaching out to the businesses and asking them what they need,” he said. “And businesses are always welcome to reach out to us directly.” Additionally, the Small Business Development Center is also ready to assist businesses with filling out applications for SBA assistance. His office is closed and Zakrevsky is working remotely, but he’s planning to use GoToMeeting, a video conferencing software that allows their meetings to be “public” when the building is closed. “Our number-one priority needs to be the safety of the residents,” said Ruffles. “Our public health director, Heidi Bond, is doing a remarkable job. But at some point, there has to be consideration of the economic effects of COVID-19 down the road.”

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as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of the process to 1019 County Highway 25, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity. 6LegalApr.16 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF DC Estates LLC Art. of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/11/2020. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 297 Main St, Suite M6, Oneonta, NY, 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalApr.16 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF

Legal

FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC) Name: JCN Cranes, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on February 14, 2020. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to The LLC, 6 Railroad Avenue, Oneonta, New York 13820. Purpose: Any lawful business purpose. 6LegalApr.16 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Inner Awakening with Janice LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/13/2020. Office: Otsego

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County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of the process to the LLC, PO Box 513 Morris, NY 13808. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalApr.9 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of MICHAEL F. ALLEVATO LLC Art. of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/21/2020. Office location: Otsego County, SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to 810 Mooney Road, Worcester, NY. Purpose: Any lawful purpose permitted under LLC law. 6LegalApr.9 Legal nOtice

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Notice of Formation of 1945 County Highway LLC Arts. of Org. filed w/ SSNY 2/12/20. Off. in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agt. of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 1945 County Hwy. 22, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. Purpose: any lawful activity. 6LegalApr.9 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Raldor73 LLC, Art. of Org. filed with SSNY on 8/15/19. Off. loc.: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served & shall mail: 101 Cemetery Rd., Fly Creek, NY 13337. Purp.: any lawful purp. 6LegalApr.9

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Copper Helix Design, LLC.

Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company

Art. of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/18/2020. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as Agent upon whom process against it may be served. Post office address SSNY shall mail copy of process to is 258 Bloomfield Rd, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. Purpose: Any lawful purpose permitted under LLC Law. 6LegalApr.2

Name: STEVEN M. GRIDLEY EXCAVATING LLC Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 20 February 2020. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 685 Hoose Rd, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalApr.2 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Jay Mike LLC Filed 1/22/20 Office: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 10 Market Street, Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820 Purpose: all lawful 6LegalMar.26

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A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL

OBITUARIES

Ted Peters, 97, Cooperstown; Submariner, Bassett Researcher

COOPERSTOWN – Theodore Peters Jr., Ph.D., 97, a World War II veteran and nationally known Bassett Hospital researcher, passed away at Cooperstown Center on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Dr. Peters was wellknown in the village, having served for decades as member and chair of the water and sewer board, which recently dedicated the new facility in his honor. Moreover, on his own initiative, he was also active in protecting Lake Otsego, having started monitoring and analyzing the lake water in the early 1960s. Dr. Peters was an accomplished musician, playing (trumpet) with the Rhythm Kids, a swing band, in high school and playing both the trumpet and the drums

for sixty years with the Cooperstown Community Band. He loved playing tennis and squash, and he was Theodore an avid Peters jogger (before it was cool), fly fisherman and outdoorsman who loved hiking and camping in the Adirondacks and across our nation. Dr. Peters was born into a medical family in Chambersburg, Pa., on May 12, 1922. His father was a country doctor, his mother ran the office and his sister, Elizabeth (Bebe) became a nurse.

Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar. Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home will take the time to find out what made your loved one special. Whether it’s finding just the right flowers, or finding a musician to play her favorite tunes on her old guitar, we’ll do what’s necessary to make her service as unique as she was.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

After high school, he went to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, having majored in chemical engineering. He graduated summa cum laude in two and a half years due to World War II. While at Lehigh, he met (1941) and then married Maggie (June, 1945), his wife of over 67 years. While in graduate school at MIT, he was he was commissioned into the Navy, sent to radar school and then to submarine school, where he again graduated at the top of his class. He then reported aboard the submarine Cabezon, based in San Diego. He was especially proud of his country and his service during World War II and the Korean War, culminating in 26 years in the Navy. He retired as a commander in the mid-1970s. In between his World War II and Korean War service, he completed his Ph.D. in medical biochemistry at Harvard University in 1950, working with his advisor, Dr. Christian Anfinsen. Dr. Anfinsen later won the Nobel Prize for Medicine as he was nominated by Dr. Peters for his work in synthesizing insulin. Completing his doctorate in three years, Dr. Peters taught at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, which was his father’s alma mater. In 1951, Dr. Peters was recalled into the Navy and served as flag communications officer to the Commander, Submarines Atlantic, a two-star admiral, in Groton, Connecticut. Upon returning to civilian life, he taught at Harvard Medical School before being recruited to the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in 1955. At Bassett, he conducted basic research. Dr. Peters specialized in the study of the structure and actions of serum albumin, a blood protein. He retired in 1988, after several years as head of research. During these years, Dr. Peters presented at dozens of conferences, published over 100 journal articles and upon retiring as an Emeritus Scientist at Bassett, wrote his signature work, “All About Albumin.” He visited six continents, missing only Antarctica. He visited nearly 20 countries and all 50 states. His wife, who predeceased him in March, 2013, was his planner, navigator and companion on so many of his travels, and all his postcareer trips. Dr. Peters is survived by his four children, Theodore (Patrice), James (Robin), Melissa Barry (Thomas) and William (Trina). In addition, he had seven grandchildren, as well as four great-grandchildren, He was also a loving uncle to his nieces and nephews. A memorial service is being planned for the summer. Arrangements are entrusted to the Tillapaugh Funeral Service.

Ryan Smith 36; Town Of Maryland; Chef, Stone Mason, Firefighter MARYLAND – Ryan Austin Smith, 36, a stone mason and trained chef, passed away at home on March 19, 2020. He was born July 23, 1983 in Oneonta, the son of Ronald and Deborah (Hitchcock) Smith. Ryan attended Charlotte Valley Central School and ONC BOCES in the Culinary Arts Program and boy could he cook! He married his soul mate, Colleen Vitale, on Aug. 29, 2015. As he would say his heart, the woman who tamed the beast. Ryan was a concrete mason, working for Harry Jungclaus in Milford, who he highly respected and thought of as family. If you knew Ryan or just met him you instantly felt drawn to him. He could light up a room with his crooked smile and the glare of his bald head. He was the life of the party and full of pranks and jokes, from his boops to his you won’ts. To know him was to love him. He always had a helping hand or one of his unforgettable warm

hugs. He really loved everyone. Ryan was a “good ol’ boy”. His children and his Ryan Smith wife meant the world to him. He loved to put Colleen on the spot and make her blush. He showed his love of singing with Rylie, his love of hunting and fishing with Zane and Cassie and his love of smoke truck with Austin. When he wasn’t working, he was tinkering on something in the garage. He loved being a fireman. His real passions were watching the coal roll. Every time he heard any diesel the windows went down. He loved being in the barn with the animals. He could even make a goat smile. Red tractors were his “thing” and so was mud. He is survived by his loving wife, Colleen; children, Zane, Cass, Austin, and Rylie; the “adopted”

son, Dustin; his parents, Ronald and Deborah Smith; siblings, Aryn Smith and Amanda (Andrew) Shaffer; niece, Jaidyn; grandparents, Kathleen Smith and Ernest and Norma Hitchcock, who he adored; many aunts, uncles and cousins; Stephen Mateunas and family, who always had his back; the “brothers” he made at the Middlefield Fire Department and of course his pups, Silas and M2. He was predeceased by his son, Ryan Patrick Smith; grandfather, Alton Smith; aunt, Rhonda Hitchcock and uncle, Graig Austin. Staying within the legal guidelines, there was a small private service for immediate family. A public celebration of Ryan’s life for family and friends will be planned and announced at a later date. Donations may be sent to the Middlefield Fire Department or to the Go Fund Me that was set up in Ryan’s name. Services are entrusted to the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home.

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*APR (Annual Percentage Rate). Rate is accurate as of March 16, 2020. The special offer applies to lines of $20,000 or more. Initial rate is fixed at 2.40% for 24 months. After 24 months, the variable rate can be as low as Prime minus .50% with a floor of 2.00% for the remainder of the loan. The maximum (ceiling) APR is 21.00%. The rate will be based on the Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal. Loan to Value (LTV) of 80% or below. Offer requires automatic monthly payment transfer from USNY Bank retail checking or savings account. APR and the Initial Introductory Fixed Rate will increase by 1.00% if the auto pay feature is not selected prior to closing or is cancelled any time after the loan is in effect. This is only available to new Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) customers. The HELOC is for personal use when secured by a single family, owner occupied or secondary residence dwelling. Property insurance, including flood insurance if applicable, is required. The Bank pays for third party closing costs on this HELOC including credit report fees, flood determination fees and recording fees. If the line is closed and discharged for any reason within the first 36 months, you will reimburse USNY Bank for all of the third party closing costs paid on your behalf at closing, generally ranging from $819 to $1,069 for a $50,000 line or loan. NYS mortgage tax required. Consult your tax advisor regarding interest deductibility. Must be 18 years of age or older to apply. Offer is subject to credit and property approval and may be modified or discontinued at any time. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. Offer expires May 29, 2020.

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THURSDAY, mARCH 26, 2020

Doctor On Frontlines Of Hotline whether they are local or from other parts COVID-19/From A1 Bassett Healthcare Network’s coronavirus of the state, Hospital spokeswoman Karen Huxtable Hooker said. hotline – 607-547-5555 – fielded 3,300 in “We will certainly prioritize the care its first 10 days of operation. Though the vast majority were deemed not to be at risk, of people coming to us from throughout the Bassett Healthcare Network,” she said health practitioners are urging everyone to Saturday. “That is our responsibility.” practice “social distancing.” The governor has asked hospitals to find At Bassett Healthcare Network, the top ways of accommodating more patient beds priority is to protect the communities it serves. That doesn’t just mean treating those wherever possible. Huxtable Hooker said that Bassett has been able to add believed to have the illness, it 120 more beds, bringing its total means preventing others from capacity to over 300 beds. getting sick as well. “The work continues to identify An elaborate triage system additional spaces for conversion,” – a strategic assessment of she said. relative risk -- has been created to do just that, using phone or ►VIDEO SYSTEM DIAGNOSES FROM AFAR video conferencing as much as Cohen has been overseeing the possible to avoid contagion. implementation of the Network’s It is a scary time, but new video conferencing system, doctors, nurses and other staff and it’s invaluable, he said. stand ready to do their part, one “What we ramped up dramatiBassett doctor said. cally over the past two weeks was “This pandemic reminds the ability to see patients at home,” Dr. Scott Cohen me of why I went to medical Cohen said. The Network had been pauses from his school, and of why we do using the technology for about a hotline responwhat we do,” said Dr. Scott year so patients could consult with Cohen in an interview from the sibilities at specialists remotely. Network’s Norwich office. “We Bassett’s Norwich In one instance, parents have a common goal. We want office. were worried about the “weird to take care of our community, symptoms” of their 9-year-old our patients, our neighbors and ourselves.” asthmatic son. “I was able to hear his cough and see ►FAMILY ON PHONE “WAS SCARED” him,” Cohen said. “His color was good and I With testing supplies limited and much could tell he wasn’t in respiratory distress.” still unknown about how COVID-19, also The child was treated remotely, without known as novel coronavirus, progresses, danger of being exposed to the virus in the area doctors and nurses are trying to do doctor’s office. their best, but it isn’t easy. A young man with a newborn baby also Symptoms can resemble those of other had an appointment related to another less serious illnesses, and even known illness, but because of the video chat system COVID-19 cases can have very different he didn’t have to come in. trajectories, Cohen said. “He was so thankful that he didn’t have “How do we reassure people when we to leave the house and potentially expose don’t know what the outcome is going to himself to an illness and worry about be?” he said. bringing it back to his baby,” Cohen said. In one of Cohen’s cases, he spoke with “That was absolutely huge.” a teenager who was getting short of breath, And a woman with COPD was able to ask had a significant cough and a high fever. He spoke with her the next day and she was questions about contact with a nephew with a runny nose, cough and fever. worse. “We were able to talk her through that,” “The family was scared,” he said. he said. She was brought in for an evaluation and ►hotline processes 3,300 so far he is keeping in contact with them, but she The vast majority of those who call was not tested. “We were able to follow the hotline have only a common cold or them, to keep them feeling like they were being cared for, because they were,” he said. perhaps the flu. Though virus symptoms can sometimes overlap, medical practitioners But the inability to test was frustrating. are often able to make a determination by “We have to use our judgment,” he said. asking simple questions. “I have to say, ‘Listen, you have symptoms Of the 3,300 who had called as of that could be (the virus). I have to quaranMonday, 2,900 were referred to an RN for tine you until you meet the criteria to be taken off quarantine.’ It’s very frustrating for further evaluation by phone. About 850 were then referred to a practitioner for more patients and for practitioners, but we don’t thorough analyses, though still by phone. have a choice.” Of those, 450 were given appointments at ►Girding for downstate influx the special COVID-19 examination sites the On Friday, March 20, Governor Cuomo Network has set up. called upon Upstate hospitals to prepare There, they can have their upper respiraadditional space for patients from harder tory symptoms better diagnosed and treathit downstate areas. On Monday, there ment can be prescribed. were more than 12,000 cases in New York Because of the lack of testing supplies, City and more in surrounding downstate there may be patients who have the virus, counties. but cannot be definitively identified as such. “It could be a person comes in from New Numbers were not immediately available York City, but we have a hospital bed in for how many patients Bassett had tested at Albany, and if that’s what it gets to that’s locations across its eight-county network. what it gets to. If we have a hospital bed Otsego County has tested just over 100 with a ventilator anywhere in the state I people and of those, 75 have been negative would be happy.” and 27 tests are still awaiting results, county Bassett has been contacted by the state Public Health Director Heidi Bond said. and stands ready for an influx of patients,

Ex-Pats Report From Crisis Hot Spots that many clinics throughout Washington EX-PATS/From A1 State are running low on supplies. “We’re Bettiol, daughter of Patricia Bettiol and low on masks,” she said. “So my clinic is the late Gene Bettiol Jr. turned Broadway star, is holed up in her Manhattan apartment. holding off on testing. We’re only doing it in designated areas now, trying to find ways to “On a normal day, I would most likely be mitigate exposure to other patients.” taking the subway somewhere, going to She echoed the advice of the CDC, an audition, going to take a fitness class including hand-washing and social or meeting a friend for dinner,” distancing. “It’s nice to see people she said. “Now I spend my time taking it seriously,” she said. “As cooking, cleaning, doing puzzles we learn more and more, it’s going and home workouts.” to be better to wrap our brains Jenny Joyce, daughter of around it.” Cooperstown’s May-Britt Joyce And if you do get it, she advised, now working as a nurse in Seattle, only go to the emergency room if echoed the “ghost town” sentiment you are having trouble breathing. about her city. “Testing is important, but it doesn’t “There is no one out and about,” change what your doctor would she said. “The restaurants and Bettiol tell you,” she said. “Unless you are movie theaters are empty. We went severely ill, you’re going to end up to a ski area a few weekends ago, and it was only open to pass holders so there treating it at home.” Though Bettiol is healthy, she admits that wouldn’t be as many people on the slopes. It the quarantine has its own tolls. “I think was the only one that was even open.” the lack of fresh air is the toughest part,” Even the famed Pike Place Market is she said. “I often take walks on the Upper abandoned as stores were ordered closed. West Side just to reset and get fresh air in “On the upside, my commute is a third of my regular day-to-day, so that has been a what it was,” she joked. challenge.” Joyce was on the front lines even before But she sees that quarantine is a good the first official cases of COVID-19 time to learn something new, catch up were declared. “We didn’t have access to on your reading or schedule online chats testing,” she said. “We saw people who had with friends. “There are a ton of online symptoms, but no travel associated with coronavirus. We thought they were fine, but classes you can take, from cooking to dance lessons,” she said. “Or set up little happy we didn’t know.” hour dates with your friends and family Flu season was still in full effect, and via Zoom to make it seem like you’re out pneumonia was a concern. “It’s frustrating, with them!” because we saw this coming, and we felt And hopefully, the lockdowns will like we weren’t being heard,” she said. prevent the further spread of the virus. “Washington has been trying since January “I hope you don’t get it here,” to say ‘something isn’t right.’” said Joyce. Though testing is available, she said

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-9

THURSDAY, mARCH 26, 2020

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MLS#125334 $135,000 Charming Home in Norwich 2,300 sq ft. Close to amenities, new appliances, new roof, 4 BRs, 4 baths. Priced to sell. Call Carol Olsen @ 607-434-7436 (cell)

MLS#121101 $59,000 Land with Possible Owner Financing 45 mostly wooded acres in Franklin w/stream and trails. Call David Mattice @ 607-434-1647 (cell)

MLS#125338 $169,000 3-BR Ranch in Oneonta on ½ Acre Backs up to Forever-wild landscape. Separate sleeping wing, oversized garage. Full basement. Call Lorraine Takahashi @ 607-545-0884 (cell)

MLS#125265 $145,000 Income Property in Oneonta Fully rented 2 apartments: 3 BR and 1-BR. Central air. Call Stephen Colwell @ 607-435-6542 (cell)

MLS#125256 $150,000 Quaint Ranch on a Country Road 4 BRs, 2 baths, views, full basement, attached garage on 17 acres of land. 20 minutes to Cooperstown. Call Sharon Teator @ 607-267-2681 (cell) MLS#125297 $79,000 Cabin Overlooking Otsego Lake On 1 acre. Deeded lake access rights and boat-docking privileges. 5 minutes to village of Cooperstown. Call Donna Schulz @ 607-267-6330 (cell)

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MLS#125232 $129,000 Canadarago Lakefront Lot 220’ water frontage. 10+ acres. Privacy, Spectrum high-speed internet available,4 ready for you to build newLarge home. Spacious BR, 2 bath house is closeyour to I-88. Call Rodney Campbell @ 315-868-0148 (cell)your backyard, workshop/garage, small shed. Make appointment today. Priced to go this week! Virtual Tour: www.RealEstateShows.com/708598

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MLS#125272 MLS#114624 $59,900 $174,900 1982 double-wide w/3 BRs, 2 baths and 1½ story, 2-car 32garage. AcresNew of Wooded Privacyupdated This 1,350 sq ft home heating system, electrical, new has screened frontinporch, 2-stall garage w/unfinished walls and ceiling 1 BR. New ceiling in master bath. loft. basement a place for guests CallFull Sharon P. Teatorand @ 607-267-2681 (cell) to sleep. Call Rod Sluyter @ 315-520-6512 (cell)

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In these moments of uncertainty, we would like to share the Governor’s message:

Stay Calm. Stay Safe. Stay Home.

Help us slow this pandemic by eliminating gatherings and practicing social distancing. All of us hope that you all stay healthy.

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