Auditions to be held for Halloween show Bigger Boat Productions and Stuff of Dreams Productions will hold auditions for actors for the production of Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House” in October. Open auditions will be held for women from age 25 to 55. Auditions will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday June 13, and 7 p.m., Monday June 14, in the production center of Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center. INSIDE ►Playoff GAMES: Cooperstown wins its softball opener, but Oneonta is eliminated in the first round. Page A7. ►OutlAW OPENER: Oneonta wins at home in extra innings for first victory of the season. Page A7. ►Kuhn OBITUARY: Cooperstown resident’s full obituary is in this week’s papers. Page A6. ►SCOUT PROJECT: Milford junior works on his Eagle badge with a community project. Page A2. Follow Breaking News On
AllOTSEGO.com ►ONEONTA ARREST: A gasstation argument leads to a man discharging a gun illegally in the city. ►MERGER FORUM: The potential merger of Schenevus and Worcester central schools will be discussed Monday, June 14. ►FAIR GAME: Otsego County Fair confirms it is on for 2021. ►TITLE GAMES: Follow us online for the latest scores from this weekend’s high school section championship baseball and softball games. ►RICHFIELD PARK: Otsego County approved loan to ramp up industrial park in Richfield.
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Otsego communities struggle with housing needs
By KEVIN LIMITI Fly Creek Historical Affordable and available housgroup to restart ing remains an issue in Otsego meetings The Fly Creek Area Historical Society will have its first meeting in nearly 18 months, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 23, at 210 Cemetery Road in the hamlet of Fly Creek. Refreshments will be served. Masks are optional. The doors will be open for circulation and social distancing will be acknowledged.
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County in general, but particular issues have come up recently in both Cooperstown and Oneonta. However, both areas are doing their part to amend this issue. Although there has been some backlash, elected officials acknowledge the necessity of creating affordable housing in the area.
A planned development at 10 Chestnut St. in Cooperstown is being considered by the village’s boards. Francesca Zambello, who partnered with Josh Edmonds of Simple Integrity on the Chestnut Street project, described herself as a “concerned citizen” who was worried about the “really dire housing situation.” Zambello and Edmonds own three connecting lots and have formed their own company, not associated with Glimmerglass or Simple Integrity, to
build on the site. Zambello described the planned development as “elegant and stylish that will not only provide housing but also help the economy.” “Certainly there are negative voices,” Zambello said. “There always are about change.” Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh said one of the problems with housing in Cooperstown was that a lot of rentals were short term rentals which “put pressure on affordable
year round housing. “People can make much more money on short terms rentals then they can with long term affordable housing,” Tillapaugh said. Tillapaugh said the short-term rentals revolve around tourism and the baseball season, but the biggest employer in the area, Bassett Healthcare, had employees who, according to a survey she referenced, wanted to rent in the Cooperstown area but See HOUSING, Page A2
Cooperstown mourns community servant, Kuhn By PATRICK DEWEY The Cooperstown community found itself forced to consider life without Santa Claus when Paul Kuhn died Wednesday, June 2, at the age of 83. Kuhn was perhaps best known as Cooperstown’s Santa Claus, a post that he held with joy and authenticity for 20 years. According to Molly Myers, a Main Street Christmas helper from a young age, Kuhn’s listening skills and genuine care for people were a big part of what made him the perfect Father Christmas. A few years younger than Myers, Bella Anania said she remembers eagerly waiting in line with her three siblings to see Kuhn in character. She said that he could relate to any child. “He embodied the spirit of Christmas,” Anania said. Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh said as children aged and Christmas started to take on new meaning, Kuhn allowed them to reflect on the holiday season and Santa as symbols of giving. Kuhn also served as an advocate for Cooperstown’s youngest genera-
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Greg Klein/The Freeman’s Journal
Paul Kuhn embodied the character of Santa Claus for a generation of families in Cooperstown. His death led to an impromptu shrine in Pioneer Park, where he set up Santa’s workshop for decades.
tions through work with the Rotary Youth Exchange and The Farmers’ Museum. At the museum, he was a leader for young interpreters playing roles of historical figures. Kuhn himself also played the part of historical figures. “He knew history and had a won-
derful way of presenting it,” Tillapaugh said. For the Rotary Youth Exchange, Kuhn helped to pair incoming foreign-exchange students with host families in the area. He also mentored every student throughout their time in the new country and
community. As part of the program, students typically lived with up to three different families throughout their experience. “There are always a lot of cultural dynamics and family dynamics for students to get used to, and as an See KUHN, Page A3
AllOtsego people: Father-son climbing duo to take on Denali By GREG KLEIN Father and son climbing team of Tim and Henry Horvath are on the go again, trying to conquer Denali Mountain in Alaska during June. The father-son team left for Alaska on Monday, June 7. “It was kind of my idea,” said Henry, 16, who just completed his sophomore year at Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts. “Kind of? I’ve done this before. I didn’t need to do it again,” Tim said, laughing. “OK, it was my idea,” Henry said. They were scheduled to fly to Anchorage, then travel to Talkeentna, about 80 miles away, where they can shuttle to the glacial trek of the highest mountain in the United States, at about 20,000 feet. With about 40 pounds of gear, including two weeks of food, the Horvaths will attempt to summit Denali. The duo is fresh from another mountain
hike, finishing the Adirondack winter trail in March, going from Northville to Lake Placid in seven days and nine hours. The time was a Fastest Known Time for a duo unsupported on the winter trail. “That is actually one of the reasons we did the Northpoint to Lake Placid trail,” Henry said. “We thought it would be a good trip to see if maybe I could do Denali as well.” A Cherry Valley native and the owner of Redpoint Design/Builders, Tim said he grew up loving the outdoors. A biking habit turned into a hiking habit, with an eye on reaching summits and seeing vistas that most people don’t get to see, he said. Horvath said he has done 14 expeditions on the world’s tallest peaks, including Denali in 1995 and 1999 and the Himalayas in Nepal. Greg Klein/The Freeman’s Journal See PEOPLE, Page A2 Tim Horvath and his son, Henry, left Monday, June 7,
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD