The Freeman's Journal 09-24-20

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Volume 212, No. 39

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AllOTSEGO.com • Your COUNTY ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER

Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, September 24, 2020

COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND

Newsstand Price $1

RUTH BADER GINSBURG • 1933-2020

END of A FRIENDSHIP

By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN

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ne summer, while visiting Cooperstown, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg had a request for her friend, Kay Pierro.

“She wanted to go waterskiing!” Pierro said.

The Freeman’s Journal “So I asked around Lead bell-ringer Tom for a friend who had Heitz hands over the a boat to take her on, bell rope to Cooperbut (federal marshals) stown’s new Police needed to follow in a Chief Frank Cavilieri, second boat, so I had to who volunteered to help First Presbyterask around for another. tian Church members “She tried so hard to toll 200 times to mark get up, but the skis we 200,000 U.S. COVID had were too long for deaths. Details, more Justice Ginsburg, her.” photos at in an early official Ginsburg, 87, who portrait. www.AllOTSEGO.com has starred in an “Opera & Law” presentation every summer since Bassett’s CEO 2013 (except this one) at the Glimmerglass Festidied Friday, Sept 18, from pancreatic cancer.

Firms Up Plan; val,Pierro first met Ginsburg when Jane Forbes Five Promoted Clark hired her to cook for the justice and her

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal You may see Kay Pierro riding around Cooperstown with a “Riding With Ruth” decal on her SUV. She was the judge’s cook, then her friend.

husband, Marty, who were staying in Miss Clark’s guest house for the weekend in 2004.

“My husband always called it ‘the improbable friendship,’” Pierro said. “She was a Supreme

Court justice and I was just a cook, but she was the kindest, warmest, most gentle person I have ever known.”

Please See GINSBURG, B5

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assett Network President/CEO Tommy Ibrahim this week announced five more promotions, as he continues to firm up his executive team.

Key promotions included Drs. Henry Weil and Nicholas Hellenthal, well respected in the organization.

Details at

AllOTSEGO.com

www.

FULL COVID STORIES ON

AllOTSEGO.com

War Is Declared Tied, Benton, Robbins Face Off Again At Special Village Election On Sept. 29 On ‘Puppy Mills’ ►BOTH CANDIDATES, Benton MacGuire and Mary-Margaret Robbins, have filled out questionnaires, which are available for review by following the link at

By JIM KEVLIN

PAWS Unveiled In Otsego County COOPERSTOWN

By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN

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rian Shapiro, state director of the Humane Society of the United States, has a strict

warning for anyone who might be thinking about buying from a puppy mill.

“Underneath the cuteness, there is cruelty,” he said.

Shapiro was on hand for the Susquehanna SPCA’s announcement of the PAWS Please See PAWS, B4

►TWO YEARS AFTER BONES found, wife charged in Laurens man’s murder. ►homeless man arrested fourth time since July 31 after thefts from cars in Oneonta. ►EXCEPT FOR SODEXO’s 77, SUNY Oneonta “not considerBy LIBBY CUDMORE ing” further layoffs. ►LAURENS SUPERINTENDENT, ONEONTA to fill interim position at Cooperstown Central. one right, said Liz Colvin, a ►DELGADO OBTAINS $475k for transport hub can transform an OFO domestic-violence shelter. ►C.O.O.P announces entire city. it’s ready to promote filmmak“In Binghamton, the bus station was ing locally in a really low-income neighborhood

E

lection Night in Cooperstown Tuesday, Sept. 15, was a nail-biter, ending with a 272-272 tie and setting up a runoff election for next Tuesday the 29th.

The runoff is between

Benton

Democratic incumbent MacGuire Benton and Republican newcomer Mary-

Plan Detailed To Fix Parking Deck, Raze Oneonta Ford, Erase Eyesore

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AllOTSEGO.com

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Robbins

Margaret Robbins. Polls will again be open noon 9 p.m. at the fire hall.

Please See REVOTE, B4

‘Enough!’

Students Party; More Outbreaks

By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA

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nough!”

As photos of another off-camand it was not a nice place to be,” said pus SUNY Oneonta party Colvin, Wendel Companies’ Wendel Companies’ Option 2 would replace made the rounds on social Please See PLANS, B3 Oneonta Ford with transportation hub. media, SUNY Chancellor

Jim Malatras issued that one-word press release.

Meanwhile, a 79-yearold has died following a bout with COVID-19, with another hospitalized over the weekend.

Neither the death – the seventh in the county since March – nor the hospitalPlease See ENOUGH, B3

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD

A-2 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL

LeCates Promoted To Colonel In NYS Army National Guard

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

LOCALS

County Chamber Gives $1,500 To Community Foundation

TWO AT ALFRED: Marlena Volpe, Burlington Flats and Andrew Davis, Hartwick, were both welcomed as freshmen at Alfred State College. Volpe is majoring in Forensic Science Technology; Davis is majoring in Heavy Equipment Operations

BERNEGGER STARS: Cooperstown native Quinn Bernegger will star in “MIRANDA: A Steampunk VR Experience,” a steampunk virtual reality opera in collaboration Tri-Cities Opera and LUMA Projection Arts Festival ThursdaySaturday, Sept. 24-26.

State Army National Guard Surgeon Bill LeCates received his promotion to colonel from wife Debbie during a ceremony in Latham on Friday, Sept 18.

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r. William LeCates, Cooperstown, president of Bassett Hospital, was promoted to colonel in the state’s Army National Guard during a ceremony at the National Guard headquarters in Latham on Friday, Sept. 18.

LeCates, who joined the New York Army National Guard in 2009, currently serves as the National Guard state surgeon, in addition to his duties as president of Bassett Hospital. As state surgeon, he is chief medical adviser to state Adjutant Gen. Ray Shields.

He also helps oversee the work of 100 New York Army National Guard medical professionals.

LeCates is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan having deployed there twice, and to Liberia in 2015, to help combat tropical and infectious diseases, which included an outbreak of the Ebola virus.

He served as the division surgeon for the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division from 2017 to 2019 and became the state surgeon in January.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the NATO Medal.

RUN-OFF!

Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal

Harry Levine, Community Foundation of Otsego County president, received a $1,500 check in Cooperstown on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from Otsego County Chamber President Barbara Ann Heegan, left, and Kathryn Dailey, the chamber’s director of special events, proceeds from the chamber’s recent annual golf tournament at the Oneonta Country Club. Levine said the money will go into CFOC’s COVID Relief Fund, which recently announced 22 grants to local entities and is considering another round of grants.

PLEASE VOTE NEXT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29.

YOUR VOTE MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER!

Your Voice. our Values.

A community organizer since the age of 12, Mary Margaret wants to use her voice to represent the people of Cooperstown.

“I want to give back to a community that has given me and my family so much.”

- Mary Margaret Robbins Lyme Advocate & Heart Transplant Recipient

Barn Sale

Saturday Sept. 26 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Quilts, Linens, Antiques, More.

20% will be given to Cooperstown Food Pantry

Paid for by Cooperstown Democratic Committee

5931 St. Hwy. 80 Cooperstown, NY ··

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

SHOPPING LOCAL MATTERS Thankfully, we’ve all made it through this pandemic so far!

We are a local company, employ local people and have enjoyed local customers since 1963.

Please keep it LOCAL. Give us a try for the best quality & workmanship for all of your mattress and flooring needs.

WE WON’T DISAPPOINT! 4316 County Hwy 11 Cooperstown 607-547-6038 krazytoms.com info@cfbsales.com SinCe 1962

Open weekdays: 9 am to 5:30 pm Saturday: 9 am to 4 pm After hours by appt.

Closed Sunday

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-3

Perspectives

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

A-4 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL EDITORIAL

Help Revive Economy: Revive ‘County Historian’ Job

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s it happens, both AllOTSEGO.life stories in this newspaper – it’s rechristened for one week only as AllOTSEGO.heritage (see B1) – explore two surprising pieces of our county’s history. Too little known, not to our local historians, listed in the box at right, but to most of the rest of us.

Also this week, our county’s Heritage Businesses trumpet their longevity and success in twiceannual specialty pages, a favorite staple among readers, longtime and not.

The first story is an interview with retired farmer Jim Mayne, some of whose vintage tools are on display at the Edmeston Museum. His collection includes an 1845 hammer from South New Berlin, the first such tool – yes, Numero Uno – protected by the

►OUR LOCAL HISTORIANS BURLINGTON: Mark Arnold, Richard Graham BUTTERNUTS: Leigh Eckmair CHERRY VALLEY: Susan Miller HARTWICK: Carol Goodrich MARYLAND: Bob Parmeter MIDDLEFIELD: Les Rathbun MILFORD: Sandra Bullard NEW LISBON: Virginia Schoradt ONEONTA (city): Mark Simonson ONEONTA (town): Philip Bidwell OTEGO: Mary Johnson Butler OTSEGO: Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart, Sherlee Rathbone PLAINFIELD: Nancy Melville ROSEBOOM: Patricia Mabie WESTFORD: Mary Kay Harvard

SOURCE: www.otsegocounty.com

U.S. Patent Office.

The second features Richfield Springs native Norman Colman (or Coleman), a 19th century

POLITICAL LETTERS

The Freeman’s Journal

If you recognize what kind of axe Jim Mayne’s holding, send information to jimk@ allotsego.com

and self-definition. The novelist, somewhat out of favor in the U.S., is still internationally celebrated.

(The late Henry S.F. Cooper, writing about space for the New Yorker, was to meet with the USSR’s space minister. On arriving, the VIP’s only interest was grilling Henry on “The Last of the Mohicans.”)

Beyond that, things get thin pretty quickly, although local historians have considerable expertise. Gilbertsville Village Historian Leigh Eckmair on preRevolutionary settlement of the Butternuts Valley; Milford’s Al Bullard on hops, for instance.

And there are plenty of individuals, unheralded, who have toiled in the vineyards of local history over the years.

Please See EDITORIAL, A5

RUTH BADER GINSBURG AT THE OPERA

Mary-Margaret Robbins Would Let All Be Heard To the Editor: Do a favor to your neighbors and yourself by voting for Mary-Margaret Robbins for trustee of the Village of Cooperstown. She is a fine person, conscientious about everything she does.

As a trustee, she would serve all constituents faithfully and productively. She brings to the table a pleasant spirit of cooperation, a sound sense of priorities, and a deep desire for all voices to be heard. You can

promoter of Agricultural Experiment Stations and the first USDA commissioner. A historical marker in his honor is being unveiled Sunday, Nov. 1, in Greenville, Ind., where he was Floyd County Seminary principal for a couple of years.

Few people, you can be sure, have heard about the hammer.

And outside of the very good Richfield Springs Historical Association’s experts, few countywide are aware of Colman’s historical stature.

• There’s considerable scholarship at the local and national level surrounding the National Baseball Hall of Fame and James Fenimore Cooper, and that’s no surprise.

The first is a national landmark, a repository of national aspirations

‘These Dark Archangels, Will They Be Conquered?’

count on her to be thoughtful and constructive in all community matters.

She has ideas to share and wants to listen carefully to what you have to say. She understands our needs and opportunities, and holds a sincere desire to serve us with distinction. She is an exceptional individual who deserves every vote we have to give.

CHUCK HAGE Cooperstown

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fields questions in 2017 during her annual “Opera And Law” appearance at the Glimmerglass Festival.

Glimmerglass General & Artistic Director Francesa Zambello emcees.

Village Needs Younger Voices. Vote For Benton

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Cooperstown’s Newspaper

young family in 2004, but our experience is far from the norm. The lack of young people in Cooperstown is a problem that we need to correct if our community organizations, schools and local government are going to thrive in the future.

This is where Trustee MacGuire Benton comes in.

I may not agree with MacGuire on every issue that comes before the Board of Trustees, but I always value his perspective. His experiences are often closer to those of my children and the graduate students with whom I work, the very people we need to help shape our plans moving forward.

Please See FALK, A7

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To the Editor: I grew up reading the newspaper much as you are now. There were no cellphones, no social media, and no 24-hour news networks. My worldview was shaped by rotary dials, printer’s ink, and the 6 o’clock news.

I imagine many of you could say the same. Between 1990 and 2010, the federal Census showed that in the Village of Cooperstown there was an overall decline in every age group except for 50- to 59-year-olds. The sharpest decline (47 percent) was in the 30-to-39 age group.

My husband and I moved to the village with our

For 212 Years

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James C. Kevlin Editor & Publisher

Tara Barnwell

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Karli Cadel/Glimmerglass Festival

s many people may know, the Young Artist Program at the Glimmerglass Festival is an integral part of our work. One of our recent alumni, Alexandria Shiner (last seen as Bertha in the Barber of Seville 2018), went on to become part of the Cafritz Young Artist Program at the Washington National Opera and to win the first prize of the Met auditions.

• A few weeks before COVID closed everything, Ali took the lead role in a version of Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Consul” in the Supreme Court’s private chambers. The opportunity came about because Justice Ginsburg held occasional musicales at the Court, carrying on a tradition started

by Sandra Day O’Connor.

Rob Ainsley, the director of the Cafritz Young Artist Program, and I

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO

wanted to do something different than just a concert.

We asked Justice Ginsburg if we could present a one-hour version of “The Consul,” an opera that deals with immigration issues not unlike those currently

being hotly debated.

We had already presented the opera in various locations as a kind of outreach work, but all these were previews leading up to what we felt would be our most important showing of the piece.

• We arrived in the morning to

rehearse in the chambers like a funny band of traveling players carrying our costumes and props into the Supreme Court.

How strange – and how moving – to be telling this story of political dissidents, government overstep and visa frustrations before an audience of men and women who had sworn to uphold our country’s ideals.

RBG always loved meeting the new young artists and this was a special year. I still remember Ali, as Magda, staring into the eyes of one justice after another as she sang these words: To this we’ve come: that men withhold the world from men.

No ship nor shore for him who drowns at sea.

No home nor grave for him who dies on land.

Please see ZAMBELLO, A6

Advertising Director & General Manager

GUEST COLUMN

Libby Cudmore

Managing Editor

Larissa Ryan Business Manager

Kathleen Peters Graphics & Production

Elizabeth Cooper Correspondent

Ian Austin Photographer

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Man Socks Rooster

ast late fall, I was getting ready to box up my chickens and take them to Knight’s auction in

Ivan Potocnik Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart West Winfield so that we

Web Architect Consultant would be free to spend some IN MEMORIAM: Mary Joan Kevlin, Co-Publisher, 2006-17 time in sunny Florida.

My neighbor, Jim, who lives OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR Otsego County • Village of Milford • Town of Middlefield across the road, surprised Cooperstown Central School District me when he offered to keep my birds in his coop for the MEMBER: National Newspaper Association, NY Press Association winter. “Why would you Subscriptions Rates: Otsego County, $69 a year. All other areas, $89 a year. want to do that?” I asked First Class Subscription, $155 a year.

“Body heat,” was Jim’s Published Thursdays by Iron String Press, Inc. answer. “The more chickens 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.

in my coop, the warmer it will be.”

Jim raises Bantams and their diminutive and less heatTERRY producBERKSON ing size would allow plenty of room for the

heat of my Golden Comet hens and my big white Leghorn rooster.

• Actually, I was concerned that the much larger chickens would abuse his little birds – especially my rooster, who had spurs at least 3 inches long. To ease my mind I went out to the coop that night, got a hold of Geezbrook, the rooster who’s as blind as a Please See BERKSON, A6

Geezbrook’s happy now

AllOTSEGO.com • MORE LETTERS, A6

LETTERS TO EDITOR WELCOME • EMAIL THEM TO info@

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL A-5

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

200 YEARS AGO

Distressing calamity – Between three and four o’clock on Tuesday morning last, the family of Mr. Oliver Bentley of Plainfield in this County, were awakened from their sleep, by being nearly suffocated with smoke, and found their dwelling, a two-story house, in flames. The fire had progressed so far, that every effort to arrest its progress was useless. They therefore strove only to save themselves, and succeeded except for Mr. Bentley, aged about 50, who fell a victim to the devouring flames. It is supposed that the fire took from a candle which had early in the evening been used in the pantry where the fire originated. The family did not even save their necessary wearing apparel.

September 25, 1820

25 YEARS AGO

time as the Street Fair zone was the only spot to receive a “ducking.” It is evident that the “Gods of Rain” have designs on the proposition. Treasurer E.L. Pitcher reports that the funds now in hand and subscribed for Doubleday Field aggregate about $4,100. Despite the fact that Cooperstown was strengthened by the engagement of three players from the Mohawk Valley for the benefit game with Oneonta on Doubleday Field last Saturday, Oneonta took the game by a score of 11 to 5. The net result from the ball game was about $50. The Oneonta players gave their services and no allowance was made save for gasoline to get the team to Cooperstown.

September 22, 1920

75 YEARS AGO

175 YEARS AGO

The following statistics show the growth of New York City since 1696 when first counted at 4,302. 1731: 8,622; 1756: 10,381; 1773: 21,876; 1786: 23,614; 1790: 33,131; 1800: 60,469; 1810: 96,372; 1820: 123,706; 1825: 166,086; 1830: 202,589; 1840: 313,790. Total increase: 309,488.

Two Resolutions Adopted at the Recent Convention of the Otsego County Democratic Party: Resolved: That we are opposed to all legislation which would have a tendency to give to incorporated companies and concentrated wealth, the strength and ability to overthrow the rights of the people and control the business relations of the country. Resolved: That the history of the past clearly demonstrates that the Whig Party in their present pretensions are in favor of a convention to revise the Constitution of this State, which are deceptive and hypocritical, and designed to divide and distract the Democratic Party, and with a sole view to adopt a constitution which shall be congenial to their views and notions of government, and ultimately prostrate the rights of the many to sub-serve and advance the interests of the few.

September 22, 1845

150 YEARS AGO

Our District School opens with 225 scholars in attendance, which number will probably be increased to nearly 300 before the month is out. Professor Wight, the Principal, is rapidly recovering from his severe illness and will be here this week. Meantime, everything goes on well at the school under the direction of his able assistants.

At the County Fair: The particular attraction of the occasion, outside the show of stock and articles, was the walking of Mr. Weston. The feat of walking ten miles within two hours – with a half-mile walking backwards within 8 minutes – was performed within the specified time, and apparently without severely taxing the strength of Mr. W. The next day he gave another short specimen of “tall walking.”

September 22, 1870

125 YEARS AGO

Lieutenant Basinger Wins Bronze Star and Purple Heart – “I’m lucky to be able to tell this story in person, said Lieutenant, (J.G.) Ronald A. Basinger, U.S.N.R. at Manos, Admiralty Islands, “because only a miracle saved me from death at the hands of a sword-wielding Japanese officer.”

Basinger was attached to a mobile communications unit of the 7th Fleet fighting with an invasion force of Australians.

On June 21, the Japanese infiltrated behind the Australian lines and attacked Unit 15. A Japanese officer attacked Lieutenant Basinger with a Samurai Saber, inflicting a wound on his shoulder, a slash across his stomach, a slicing of skin from three fingers. The blow intended for Basinger’s neck severed the stock of his tommy gun. “I finally managed to raise the gun and emptied it into him,” Basinger recalled, adding “then another son of heaven joined his honorable ancestors.”

September 24, 1995 September 26, 1945

Ode To A Bicycle – “Oh my bicycle, my bicycle; ‘twould be my heart’s delight, but alas I cannot conquer it, though I strive with all my might. It turns and twists so easily that I go wobbling all around, and sometimes ‘tis so wicked as to throw me on the ground. We read of evil spirits in the olden time so far away, but they seem to hover near us down to the present day. For though I pedal vigorously, the handle bar grasp tight, an evil influence seems to hold me, and I cannot guide it right. But I will not be discouraged; day after day I’ll try – To conquer is my motto, and I raise my banner high. I’ll mount the hills, though difficult, the golden prize to win, and celebrate my victory by many a glorious spin.” E.Y.A. September 26, 1895

100 YEARS AGO

Street Fair Rained Out for the Third Time – “Jupiter Pluvius” got his work in again Saturday night when the Baseball Memorial Committee attempted to hold the Street Fair, twice postponed on account of rain, and yet a third

50 YEARS AGO

Nearly 1,200 persons attended the Open House at the Cooper Lane Apartments in Cooperstown Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The new 24-unit complex located at the site of the old Cooperstown Central High School at Chestnut Street and Glen Avenue was viewed by people from Oneonta, Unadilla, Sidney, Binghamton, Cooperstown, and area villages. Two apartments were shown, one where Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Larsen, resident managers are now residing, and one unoccupied.

September 23, 1970

10 YEARS AGO

A total of 48 pumpkins were floating in the Cooperstown Pumpkin Regatta. The event attracted lots of visitors. “The weekend was great for us,” said Alice Gaveria, co-proprietor with husband Sergio, of Danny’s Market. “We sold out an anticipated weekend’s worth of pumpkin soup, all 10 gallons, at our stand in the Doubleday Field lot by Saturday evening.”

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

LIFE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

GUEST COLUMN

Praising Justice Ginsburg, ...With One Reservation

COVID-19’s A Hoax?

Tragedy Says Otherwise

Now, More Than Ever, Citizens Need Gun Rights

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e mourn Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second female justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Born in Brooklyn in 1933, she taught at both Rutgers and Columbia, and became Columbia’s first tenured female professor. She was director of the Women’s Rights Project of the ACLU during the 1970s, and argued six important cases on gender equality before the Supreme LARRY Court, winning five BENNETT of them. President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in 1980, and Bill Clinton appointed her to the Supreme Court in 1993.

Her intelligence, intensity and persistence remain an inspiration to millions of women here and around the world, and to all who believe in gender equality. She will be rightfully honored and remembered not only for all the doors she opened for women, but also for her gender-blind positions on all law. Initially regarded as a moderate to liberal justice,

she became a liberal bulwark as the court moved to the right.

Ginsburg brought a substantive legal mind to and was a force on the court. She is perhaps best remembered for her dissenting opinion in the case of Bush v.

Gore, which decided the 2000 presidential election. Disagreeing with the court’s majority opinion in favor of Bush, Ginsburg concluded her objection with “I dissent,” a not-sosubtle and cutting departure from the traditional “I respectfully dissent.”

Her celebrity most likely began then. She became a celebrity in many parts of our world, from law schools to SNL skits. She enjoyed unprecedented publicity for any justice of the Supreme Court. Even locally, Ginsburg’s love for opera and her talks at the Glimmerglass Festival made her a celebrity in Otsego County.

Having said that, I want to consider the idea of celebrity. Supreme Court justices are seldom celebrities, Please See BENNETT, A6

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graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine in 1978.

Adeline Fagan graduated from the SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine in 2019.

She started a residency program in obstetrics and gynecology in Houston.

She died from CORICHARD VID-19 STERNBERG Saturday, Sept.

19, age 28. She most likely became infected working a shift in her hospital’s emergency room in the late spring.

From what I’ve read, Adeline was lovely young woman. Since childhood she knew she wanted to be a doctor. The second of four sisters she had matched to a training program in Houston in 2019. She was a delightful caring person.

According to her sister whom she lived with, she always went to work with a smile on her face even if she had a 12- to 16-hour work

“On every question of construction (of the Constitution), let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit of the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.”

Dr. Adeline Fagan

shift ahead of her. She volunteered and served on three medical missions to Haiti before completing medical school. She played lacrosse.

She was a good sister, daughter, and friend.

She was one of over 1,100 healthcare workers who died from COVID-19 in the United States.

Adeline became symptomatic in the first week of July. She was hospitalized on July 14. In early August she was placed on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine. This is similar to a heart-lung machine which pumps blood out of the body where it is then oxygenated allowing the heart and lungs to rest. In her case her lungs were not Please See STERNBERG, A6

security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The word “infringe” can be substituted by “transgress, violate, breach, wander, offend, etc.” Only the politically corrupt or the intellectually dishonest would choose to transgress this Right.

Thomas Jefferson We the people • of Otsego County learly among have had enough too many of this blatant politicians, arhypocrisy of rogant academia, and GARRETT those in office New York State itself, deBLIECK who “swore” an there is an awful lot oath to protect of “squeezing” going the Constitution, and those on! The intoxication of gun controls has been adopted as who feign wisdom, but yet the preferred narcotic to dis- avoid true analysis.

Recognizing the intellecenfranchise the People their tually shallow arguments Right to defend themselves. among those who are opOver the decades it has posed to this Right are been repetition ad nauseum. ridiculous. For example, if Like cocaine, there is never gun control makes people too much control, and never so little reflection to the very safer, explain why the vast majority, and most bloody, reason the Second Amendment was placed as an essen- of shootings primarily occur in “no gun zones.” Or, if tial human Right to secure a supporting the 2A is akin to Free society. supporting a “gun culture,” This Right is stated as explain how spikes in gun follows: violence are skyrocketing “A well-regulated miliPlease See deBLIECK, A6 tia, being necessary to the

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EDITORIAL: Let’s Use History To Expand Tourism Into Shoulder Seasons EDITORIAL/From A4 Still, the story of Otsego County isn’t being told in an organized way. What’s more, historical tourism – defined as traveling with the primary purpose of exploring the history and heritage of a place – and the money it can generate, isn’t being pursued outside the Hall of Fame, Hyde Hall, and perhaps, the Greater Oneonta Historical Society.

• OCHA, the Otsego County

Historical Society, under Hoboken’s Anna Buell and, then, Hartwick’s Deb MacKenzie, sought to bring local historians together. That’s a resource that Brzozowski can be drawn on.

Still, coming out of the pandemic, we’ll need all the help we can get. Summer

tourism will be fine, but the idea of year-’round tourism has continued to elude us.

What better way to bolster the off-season with, say, self-guided tours on the Revolution (featuring the Cherry Valley Massacre and George Washington’s visit to Clinton’s Dam), or black history, (from Cato Freedom’s farm in the Town of Burlington to the Christ Church graveyard in Cooperstown), to the rail sites – the D&H smokestack in Oneonta

and the Leatherstocking Historical Railroad Association depot in Milford.

• Here’s a thought.

The position hasn’t been filled for years, but “Otsego County historian” exists on paper. Putting COVID-19 behind us, how may it be best used to spread knowledge and attract shoulder-season visitors?

You may have heard that Bob Brzozowski, the transformational president, then executive director, of

the Greater Oneonta society, is planning to retire at the end of the year.

Perhaps the county board should consider putting him, or someone like him, in charge of a strategic planning group, to consider the potential of the county’s rich local history, and recommend how best to revive the office to accomplish a series of beneficial and prosperity-inducing tasks.

Places have natural resources, and local history is one of ours.

Let’s work with it.

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

BENNETT: Only One Flaw BENNETT/From A5 though many are considered illustrious, from Warren to Douglas to Scalia – and often regardless of their politics. Yet in my 71 years no Supreme Court justice attained the level of celebrity and fandom as did Ginsburg.

Douglas came close, and he was revered by many for his 36 years on the bench. Yet in 1975 he retired at age 77.

Ginsburg did not retire when Obama was president, even though she was into her ’80s and had been through several bouts of cancer.

When the suggestion that she might retire was raised, she asked the question: ”Who do you think that the President could nominate that could get through the Republican Senate? Who would you prefer on the court rather than me?” Since the President appoints, not the Senate, he could have gotten a nominee through, even with compromises. If Ginsburg had retired at 80 Obama would have had four years to replace her.

Even for the best of us, celebrity and fame comes with the lure of hubris.

Today we face an almost certain third Trump nominee, setting the stage on the court for another 20 years. Any non-celebrity, moderate judge that Obama might have appointed would have been preferable to this situation. Ginsburg did us no favor by staying on, regardless of all the love for her and her resultant celebrity.

The media-driven fame game is part of what is rotting our nation and society. It needs to be corralled. Public servants should do their duty and then go, opening the way for others. The Congress, Presidency, Vice Presidency, and the Supreme Court offer a grand total of 546 seats.

In a nation of 330,000,000 we can certainly find other intelligent, capable, and – yes – persistent people to fill those seats. Even on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Larry Bennett lives in East Merideth.

justice. I am grateful Is there one, anyone for all she gave to our behind those doors Festival over the past to whom the heart decade. can still be explained?

As the Glimmerglass Is there one, anyone, Festival’s general who still may care? & music director, Tell me, Secretary, Francesca Zambello tell me! hosted Supreme • Court Justice Ruth As she threw the Bader Ginsburg papers in the air in an “Opera and screaming “Papers, Law” program nine Papers,” the room felt summers in a row electric. I shall never in Cooperstown. forget this, nor will The two met when anyone there.

Alexandria Shiner Zambello producted RBG, with a wink, Beethoven’s “Fidelio” told me how she loved in 2003 in Constitution Hall, and the simple and direct performance of became friends.

“The Consul” so close to the halls of

STERNBERG: Hoax? Heartbreaker Disproves That Get to the back of the line when vaccines are being given out, (but ultimately get the vaccine to protect the rest of us).

Taking care of you puts all healthcare workers and first responders at risk.

Now that you realize it is real, just crawl into bed, isolate yourself and your family, avoid direct contact with anyone not fully protected, cross your fingers, and pray.

Healthcare workers are already burned out, just like pretty much everybody else but even more so. They really don’t want to take care of people who had no respect for them.

To all the clowns at SUNY Oneonta who flagrantly defied social distancing and mask rules, you need to carefully read about the life and death of Adeline Fagan. Shame on you. Adeline was your

contemporary. For those still able to read about her, you are very lucky not to have contracted COVID-19 or if positive, get sick or die from it.

To those of you who assumed that students would behave responsibly and let that be your plan, shame on you.

To those so inclined, please join me in contributing to the GoFundMe page set up by Adeline’s sister.

The money collected will help to pay their expenses

Jon Hansen

that have accrued, loss of income of her family over the past three months, and funeral expenses.

Go to gofundme.com, hit search (the magnifying glass), and enter Adeline Fagan’s name.

Richard Sternberg, a retired Bassett Hospital orthopedic surgeon, has agreed to provide his professional perspective while the coronavirus threat continues. Dr. Sternberg, who is also a village trustee, resides in Cooperstown.

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BERKSON: Chickens A Mystery

BERKSON/From A4 bat in the dark, and trimmed about an inch and a half off of those tines of his.

I was surprised when the next day we released the chickens in Jim’s yard and two of his Bantams immediately attacked my high-stepping rooster, who always looks like he’s climbing stairs.

Incredibly, he cowered into a corner, but what was even more surprising is that my hens came to Geezbrook’s defense and fought off the bantam roosters.

After a couple of days the newcomers were accepted and things settled down.

• All my chickens made it through the winter and, according to Jim, they produced eggs prolifically.

Now back in my yard, the hens who had come to Geezbrook’s defense started picking feathers from his neck to such a degree that all that was left was a 3-inch length of his bare red skin.

Could it be because he proved to be a “woose” when the bantams attacked him?

I didn’t think so. Maybe it was the hens’ way of flirting with him, but in any case he looked so bad that I had to do something about it.

• I have a drawer full of single socks that somehow lost their mates somewhere between the trip from the hamper to the laundry room. I accuse my wife Alice of being careless with the cloths. She accuses me of not putting pairs in the hamper.

ZAMBELLO/From A4 To this we’ve come: that man be born a stranger upon God’s earth, that he be chosen without a chance for choice, that he be hunted without the hope of refuge.

To this we’ve come.

(To the Secretary) And you, you too shall weep!

If to men, not to God, we now must pray, tell me, Secretary, tell me, who are these men?

If to them, not to God, we now must pray…

Who are these dark archangels?

Will they be conquered? Will they be doomed?

STERNBERGFrom A5 adequately functioning to get oxygen to her body.

She fought courageously for two months. Much longer than most people last but eventually effects of COVID-19 and complications of the ECMO overtook her and she died. She was with both reverence and unable to say goodbye. understanding. We believe I repeat, she was 28 years the Constitution is in dire old. I repeat, over 1,100 need of both protecting and healthcare workers have defending; a sanctuary for an died from COVID-19 in the enduring free society.

United States.

Likewise, to those who • have been elected to political “I’m mad as hell and I’m office in Otsego County, not going to take this anywe expect you to abide more.” Actually, I haven’t by your oath of office. really taken it well so far.

Each of you have sworn People who claim COVIDan oath to protect the 19 is a fraud, a conspiracy, Constitution. That means not really dangerous, and that those laws, personal refuse to protect themselves beliefs or beliefs of certain or their families, other misguided constituents to people, and me: Please have which are each repugnant to the integrity to be consistent the Constitution, you have and not ask for care when sworn the unenviable duty you and yours get sick. to deny and reject. That is the essence to why an oath is sworn.

Therefore, if one has neither the courage nor the scruples to stand upon their sworn oath, he/she has no business participating in a Constitutional Representative Republic!

Garrett deBlieck, an organizer of the local Second Amendment Sanctuary movement, lives in Unadilla.

de BLIECK: Follow The Law

deBLIECK/From A5 in cities who are virtually entirely run uncontested by gun-hating Democrats over decades?

To quote Thomas Paine, “the balance of power is the scale of peace.” This is the foundation for the Second Amendment and therefore is absolutely necessary. This fact can be revealed simply by observing the reality that a miscreant would think twice before attacking a person if that person could reasonably be also armed.

• America today has spiraled into violence. Not by supporters of the Constitution, but rather by those bent to destroy it. Blood will be, and is, upon the hands to those who strive to eliminate the people from defending themselves.

I am proud to be among a fantastic team of the Otsego 2AS grassroots organization.

Indeed, we have thousands of signatures soon to be formally presented. We adhere to the Constitution

ZAMBELLO: Ginsburg Inspired ‘Electric Performance’

Anyway, I use the unmatched pairs for sleeping socks in the winter and, because I have restless-foot syndrome, many of the heels have holes in them, rendering them useless even if a mate is found.

Why not cut the toe off of one of these socks and slip it over Geezbrook’s head to protect his neck?

• That night I went out to the coop with a toeless sock I had cut with a pair of scissors. Alice went with me because I knew that it wouldn’t be easy to slip the sock over Geezbrook’s head – especially because we would have to turn on the lights so we could see what we were doing.

I snatched him off his perch and held the rooster down as Alice slipped the sock into place while mumbling, “Sounds like a man bites dog situation.”

The procedure was a success – in spite of the rooster screaming bloody murder.

Minutes later, there he was back in the coop with his vulnerable neck protected. He tried to work it off but the elastic on the relatively new sock was holding.

For the next couple of days, Geezbrook was no longer henpecked. I was proud of successfully executing my idea.

Then, Alice walked out to the coop one afternoon, gestured towards Geezbrook and said, “I found the mate to that sock.”

Terry Berkson farms outside Richfield Springs.

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THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-7

POLITICAL LETTERS

Former Mayor Backs Robbins’ Bid To the Editor: On Tuesday, Sept. 29, we again have the opportunity to choose who represents us on the Cooperstown Village Board.

With the marvelous turnout this past week, I hope everyone will return to the polls or to their absentee ballots and cast their votes. This is how our local government works.

I urge you to vote, and vote for a person who will represent us, the village residents of Cooperstown.

Friendly Elbow Bumps At March Forum

I am going to vote for a person who is raising a family here, is a local resident who keeps our needs in the forefront of her mind, and is someone who cares for the Village first, someone with heart: Mary-Margaret Robbins.

I fully endorse her as candidate for village trustee and urge everyone to vote for the Heart of Cooperstown.

CAROL BATEMAN WALLER Mayor (retired) Cooperstown

Robbins Like Republicans Of Yesteryear To the Editor: The last time I wrote a letter supporting a Republican was for Gov. Jeb Bush, which was published as a guest editorial in the Manchester Union Leader during the primaries.

What a better world it would be if a capable guy like Jeb had won. Lordy.

I am not a resident of New York State so I can’t vote here, but I do live here much of the year and I would encourage anyone who can vote here to vote for

Mary-Margaret Robbins, a person that I have come to know as being forthright, inventive, meticulous, cheerful and quietly courageous – all increasingly rare attributes – and particularly needed in government officials.

If the Republican Party is to have a productive future, it will be with decent people of integrity like Mary-Margaret, Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney.

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At the urging of Trustee Joe Membrino, he and the two other Cooperstown Village Board candidates at the League of Women Voters’ March 5 candidates forum exchanged friendly elbow bumps at the end of an evening of debate. The March primary was delayed until Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Membrino led the ticket with 287 votes. Republican Mary-Margaret Robbins, left, and Democrat MacGuire Benton, right, tied 272 each and are facing off in a Tuesday, Sept. 29 special election.

Trustee Supports Democratic Incumbent

To the Editor: I strongly urge citizens of Cooperstown to vote for MacGuire Benton in the run-off election Tuesday, Sept. 29, for the Village Board.

I have worked with MacGuire on the board for 1½ years and before that in other endeavors for the past

Mary-Margaret Robbins Offers A Fresh Outlook To the Editor: I wish to clearly support the candidacy of MaryMargaret Robbins for trustee of the Village of Cooperstown. She is forthright, inventive, courageous and smart, having no hidden agendas.

Her allegiance is to Cooperstown, not any political party, though she does have bipartisan support!

Further, she has the maturity and circumspection to not support flying the rainbow flag from the village flagpole. She represents the opportunity to add another voice of reason to the Village Board.

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three years.

Mac is exceedingly hard working and thorough in his preparation. He has recognized issues and potential solutions, on occasion before the rest of us.

He has pushed for the continued improvement of Cooperstown and rehabilitation of its infrastructure.

He put forward the initiative to get Board meetings recorded and available for streaming to promote transparency in our government.

He has proposed bills that were subsequently approved unanimously.

Mac and members of his generation are the future of village government. Already he brings a perspective to a board that not including him averages over 65 years old.

He has demonstrated a

willingness to learn and to improve his work.

Although he has been accused of it, when it comes to the village, he is not doctrinaire.

Mac has said that further rehabilitation and upgrades cannot be delayed any further administrations chose to do before 2009. As it is, we are already delayed this year in road upgrades by the pandemic crisis.

If we don’t fix things now, like water and sewers, even if short-term disruptive, the cost and disruption will be much greater when these systems ultimately, fail.

Vote for Mac in the run-off.

RICHARD STERNBERG Village Trustee Cooperstown

Village Needs Younger Voices. Vote For Benton FALK/From A4 For example, MacGuire saw the need to provide video access to village meetings even before the pandemic. In a desire to further government transparency and be more inclusive, he suggested policies last year that made the transition to online content easier when it became necessary due to the pandemic.

He recently pointed out the benefits of an official village Facebook page so that people do not have to turn to AllOtsego.com or Celebrate Cooperstown to get information about what is going on. Mac is committed to free and open communication and helping to make Cooperstown a place where young people of all backgrounds want to live.

On Sept. 15, something

unusual happened: MacGuire Benton and Mary-Margaret Robbins – both eager to serve as village trustees – tied in a race for a seat on the board.

Both have widespread support, each garnering 272 votes. And both undoubtedly love our Village and want what’s best for it.

However, if you are still undecided about whether to vote or for whom to vote in the run-off election on Sept. 29, I urge you to look to the future. Ensure there is a voice in village government that represents the next generation. Vote to re-elect MacGuire Benton noon-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the fire hall, or by absentee ballot prior to the 29th.

CINDY FALK Deputy Mayor Cooperstown

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THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA LETTERS

Oneonta Not Alone; No SUNY Campus Mandated Testing For Incoming Students To the Editor: As a retired SUNY Oneonta professor of biology, I have been following the local and national coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak on the campus. Here are some thoughts on the coverage.

SUNY Oneonta’s planning for reopening for the fall semester began in April with widespread input from all stakeholders on campus. The Local Control Group, which includes representation from the City of Oneonta and the Otsego County Department of Public Health, also provided input.

At this time there were many questions about COVID-19 testing, including who should be tested, availability of tests, cost of testing, and reliability of testing procedures.

The draft plan for the fall 2020 semester, which did include a statement saying that prior to returning “students must attest to having no COVID-19 symptoms and no known infection” but no mandatory testing, was submitted on June 1 and subsequently approved by SUNY, the state Department of Health, and the State of New York in July.

Sixty other SUNY campuses also had their plans approved requiring no mandatory testing.

As students began returning to colleges and universities around the country, we began to hear of COVID-19 outbreaks on their campuses. Since the coronavirus does not discriminate, all types of schools were affected including public and private, big and small, elite and non-elite.

As the semester began here for SUNY

Oneonta, a small group of students, making up less than 1 percent of the SUNY Oneonta student population, held an outdoor gathering off campus.

This led to 672 positive COVID-19 cases since Aug. 24, the disruption of campus life for over 7,000 students, faculty, and staff, and untold loss of revenue for the businesses and restaurants in the City and Town of Oneonta.

One possibility for the rapid spread of infections among this student population, and in other rapid epidemiological events around the country, could be that the coronavirus mutated into a new strain. Epidemiologists are now looking into just such a possibility.

Fortunately, there has been no community spread as reported by the county Department of Public Health and no deaths. Unfortunately, the reputation and credibility of SUNY Oneonta and its administration has been called into question.

SUNY Oneonta has faced many challenges since its beginnings in 1889 as a State Normal School. I am confident that going forward the college will continue to maintain the quality of education and student life that SUNY Oneonta has become known for.

SUNY Oneonta merits strong support as it faces this newest challenge.

WILLIAM J PIETRAFACE, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Biology SUNY Oneonta Oneonta

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The slab steps aren’t

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And I sure wouldn’t send my kid down that slide with

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OTSEGO.heritage

Axes To Grind

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

1,000

PAGE B-1

what’s fun

Edmeston’s Jim Mayne examines two of hundreds of antique tools he collected in more than a halfcentury farming.

in Otsego County

BEST BETS

AllOTSEGO.heritage

Ian Austin/

Marcella Drago, left, and daughterin-law Kathy look over a Bible from 1847 that was part of the 2019 Greater Oneonta Historical Society auction, being held online this weekend due to COVID.

An Antique Auction Presidental Photos And Golf For Pets

AllOTSEGO.heritage

Ian Austin/

Jim Mayne’s Massive Collection Showcased At Edmeston Museum

By LIBBY CUDMORE

tion of many See Jim Mayne’s hundreds of vintage tools. tools 9 a.m.“He said no, noon Saturbut then when days through Oct. 17 at The I got home, it Edmeston Muwas waiting in seum. my mailbox.”

The Edmeston Museum has a replica of the Leonard Hammer, as well as the patent in a pop-up show it is hosting Saturdays through Oct. 17.

“Leonard Powers was a farmer, no special engineering skills, but he had some ideas for providing Please See TOOLS, B2 ►IF YOU GO:

EDMESTON

F

or years, Jim Mayne had coveted the Leonard Hammer, an 1848 tool patented by Edmeston farmer Leonard Powers. It was only the second such patent issued in the Jim Kevlin/ OTSEGO.heritage United States.

“I was visiting a friend who had Two-year volunteer Kristopher Convis, an it, and I asked if I could buy it off Edmeston Central freshman, holds up a Black him,” said Mayne, interviewed Raven ax, one of the rarest items in Jim Mayne’s pop-up exhibit at the Edmeston Museum.

Saturday, Sept. 19, amid a collec-

All

Indiana Remembers Tiny Greenville Erecting First Marker To USDA Chief From Richfield Springs

Commission, which is planning to unveil a historic marker on Sunday, Nov. 1, in front of the Greenville Elementary School.

RICHFIELD SPRINGS “As historians, we have a rom 655 miles away, responsibility and interest in Greenville, Ind., is telling stories like his.” claiming Norman Jay A town of only 900, Colman, the nation’s first U.S. Greenville can boast connecsecretary of agriculture, born tions to two national figures: OUR Norman on May 16, 1827, in Richfield Colman, first John B. Ford, whose early Springs, as its own. local experiments with plate ag secretary. glass grew into Pittsburgh “We wanted to honor him: Plate Glass, now Fortune 500 PPG He was the first to hold a national office,” said Matt Uhl, chairman of Industries, and Colman. the Greenville Historic Preservation Please See COLMAN, B2

By JIM KEVLIN

F

Matt Uhl, left, Greenville (Ind.) Historic Preservation Commission chairman, and commission member Andy Lemon show off the Norman Jay Colman historic marker, which will rise Nov. 1 at the elementary school.

B

id on paintings, pottery, ephemera and more at the Greater Oneonta Historical Society’s annual benefit auction. This year’s auction is online, giving you the whole weekend to place your bid at www.32auctions.com/ GOHSminiauction. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 – Sunday, Sept. 27. Presented by Oneonta History Center. 607-432-0960 or visit www.oneontahistory.org • Kevin Gray leads you on a Zoom tour through “Pete Souza: Two Presidents, One Photographer” with an in-depth discussion and Q&A session. Suggested donation, $5, registration required. 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, www.fenimoreartmuseum.org/ LIBBY • CUDMORE Play a round of golf this weekend to benefit homeless, abandoned animals. Admission, $40/person, note that you’re playing for the Susquehanna SPCA’s “Par For Paws” benefit. Friday, Sept. 25 – Sunday, Sept.

27, Otsego Golf Club, 144 Pro Shop Dr., Springfield Center. www.sqspca.org/ • Join the Walk to End Alzheimer’s to raise awareness and funds to support care of dementia patients, support, and research to end the disease. Be sure to visit the garden created to honor all those impacted by dementia. 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, www.act.alz.org to register or donate.

• Teens can learn about music theory by diving into songs they enjoy. Cost, $10 suggested donation. 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept.

26, Presented by Wesk Kortright Center. www.westkc.org/calendar/

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THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

Rare Tools On Display In Edmeston TOOLS/From B1 additional support, so he applied for and received a patent.” said Museum Curator Deb Mackenzie of Hartwick.

“You find that a lot in rural areas,” she said, “where someone has an idea to improve a rake, a knife or an ironing board, they’re not afraid to ask for and get a patent on it.”

The Leonard Hammer is one of thousands of hand tools in Mayne’s collection, which also includes the first hammer ever patented – from South New Berlin in 1845. “I paid $750 for it,” he said. “I had a friend who collected tools, so I got into it.”

Recalling a collection of his axes and hatchets at a presentation in Town of Middlefield Historical Association in the School District #1 schoolhouse, Mackenzie reached out to him to help him curate a collection of axes and hatchets, now on display at the Edmeston Museum.

“Jim is an amazing collector,” said Mackenzie, adding, “He has such a vast knowledge of antique tools.”

A retired dairy farmer and Burlington Flats native, Mayne, 87, moved to Edmeston in 1951 to take over his uncle’s farm, bringing with him his wife, Jacqueline. The couple raised four daughters and a son, Bob, who lives with them.

Mayne began going to auctions and antique stores seeking hammers, axes,

AllOTSEGO.heritage

Mayne’s collection includes the rare Leonardsville hammer, top, and the South Berlin tool that received the U.S. Patent Office’s first patent for a hammer. wrenches and other hand tools. “I have so many books on nothing but wrenches and hammers,” he said. “I love showing them.”

From there, he started added padlocks and oil cans to his collection. “There was a man who was helping out with an auction in New Berlin, and there was a can at the bottom of a box that got covered up. He wanted to buy it for next to nothing, but the auctioneer hauled out the can and I bought it!”

He paid $300 for that can of Winchester Gun Oil, the only oil they manufactured and a very rare item on the collector’s market.

And it’s not his only rare piece. Among the axes and hatchets in the Edmeston Museum exhibit is the Black Raven ax, manufactured by Winchester and prized for its rarity.

“It’s very picturesque,” he said, pointing to the seal on the head. “If you see one on eBay, it’s going for three or four hundred dollars.”

He has two; the first is in the museum’s pop-up display; the second – with a less-clear engraving – is in his collection at home.

He used to mount and bring his collection to the Otsego County Fair. “I would bring about 10 things to the agricultural building and I would always win prizes,” he said.

“But then someone complained that I was monopolizing it, so I stopped doing that.”

It had been almost a decade since Mackenzie had seen the Middlefield exhibit, and wanted to share it once again.

“I know a lot of people haven’t seen it,” she said.

If you miss it, you may just be able to still catch a glimpse.

“You don’t need to go to the museum to see my tools,” he joked. “You can just come to my house!”

County Native, 1st USDA Secretary, Honored COLMAN/From B1 According to Uhl, 41, a banker with Farm Credit Mid-America, this could be the first memorial to the early promoter of Agricultural Field Stations, son of Hamilton and Nancy Coleman, who was born on May 16, 1827. There are 10 historical markers in the Town of Richfield, but none honoring Colman, (whose name is both Colman and Coleman in various accounts.)

Uhl was assisted in researching and obtaining the marker by Andy Lemon, 39, a Greenville Town Board member and a fellow member of the Historic Preservation Commission board. “He was really passionate about this,” said Uhl. While information on Norman’s early days in northern Otsego County is scant, his father was quite prominent, serving as county commissioner of deeds in 1838 and as Richfield town supervisor in the late 1850s, according to “Six Generations in Otsego: The Colman Family

History,” published in 2018

by Sara Campbell.

Given his family’s standing and the westward migration of the period, it’s understandable that by age 23 young Norman had the education and means to find himself in St. Louis, Mo., studying law.

In 1850, law degree in hand, Colman was hired as the first principal of Greenville’s brand new Floyd County Seminary, “a new, spacious brick edifice, containing two distinct departments, and capable of accommodating upwards of 150 students,” according to a newspaper ad over Colman’s signature. Tuition was $4-8 a year for in-county students.

In its first year, the seminary grew from 40 to 100 students, according to a blog posting Uhl developed to make Colman’s story available.

By January 1851, the New Albany (Ind.) Daily Ledger reported on exercises the two-room brick schoolhouse and remarked on “intelligence displayed by the pupils.”

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At the time, seminaries like Floyd County’s were built by local subscription from parents seeking education for their children. But in 1852, the Indiana Legislature created a public school system, absorbing institutions like the Floyd seminary.

Perhaps seeing the handwriting on the wall, by then Colman had returned to St. Louis to open a law office with a fellow law school alumnus, Michael Kerr. He took his new bride, Clara Porter, daughter of the Porter Public House proprietor, with him. (Their daughter, Laura Kate, would eventually marry a governor of Maine.)

In St. Louis, he was elected Fifth Ward alderman, and in 1855 founded his first newspaper, The Valley Farmer, dedicated to sharing best farming practices with the region’s growing farming community.

During the Civil War, Colman served in the 85th Missouri Militia. Returning home, he renamed the newspaper Colman’s Rural World, and expanded distribution up and down the Mississippi.

In 1862, during the Civil War, Vermont Congressman Justin Morrill and University of Illinois professor John B. Turner championed the LandGrant College Act, signed

by President Lincoln, that endowed colleges (like Cornell, locally) to develop and pioneer better farming techniques.

“One can easily draw the connection and passion Colman had with empowering farmers with better, empirical information to increase agricultural yields,” Uhl writes.

Championing the movement raised the influence of Colman’s Rural World throughout the decade, with the boy from Richfield Springs rising to president of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture. In 1874, he was elected lieutenant governor.

In April 1885, newly elected President Grover Cleveland brought Colman to Washington D.C. as U.S. commissioner of agriculture. In February 1889, sensitive to farmers’ growing clout, Cleveland elevated the commission to a cabinet-level department, and Colman was likewise elevated to first USDA commissioner.

By then, Democrat Cleveland was a lame duck, having lost to Republican Benjamin Harrison, departing in March, and Colman – after serving three weeks – left with him.

Colman returned to St. Louis, and resumed editorship of the Rural World until his death at age 84 on Nov. 3, 1911, from pneumonia.

The Greenville commission’s first goal was to obtain a state historic marker for Colman, but Indiana’s Division of Historic Preservation & Archeology found his in-state role was too narrow, and encouraged Uhl and Lemon to raise funds for a local marker that was a replica of the state one.

AllOTSEGO.life B-3 Downtown Plans Include Oneonta Ford Razing Chancellor To SUNY-O: Enough!

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

PLANS/From A1 senior project manager assigned to the Oneonta project.

“But with our plan, they took a whole city block, redeveloped it, and now there’s retail, a diner that people come to even if they’re not taking a bus, even the DMV put their offices in there.”

Wendel presented its concepts to renovate city’s downtown parking deck, as well create a transit hub, during a special Common Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

“You want to be welcomed into the city,” said Sean Beachy, project architect. “A transit center can maintain that urban edge and create an active center along Market Street.”

Two concepts were presented.

The first would incorporate the transit hub, including seven covered bays for both Oneonta Public Transit and Trailways buses, a taxi area, a “kiss-n-ride” drop-off – “you give them a kiss and off they go to the bus,” said Beachy – and an improved waiting area with restrooms and OPT office spaces.

“The storefront on Main Street does not provide appropriate space for offices or passengers,” said Mayor Gary Herzig. “There are

safety issues, and this is something we are sorely in need of.”

The parking garage would also be renovated, improving lighting, fixing leaks, firming up the structure and adding an elevator.

“The need for renovation is obvious to anyone who has ever used our parking garage,” said Herzig. “There are leaks, it’s dingy, there’s no elevator access.

It’s not a very inviting space.”

The first concept was the less expensive one: $4.54 million in rehab and $5.75 million for the transit hub. In all, $10.3 million.

However, Beachy cautioned, it would mean a loss of 40-80 parking spaces from the lower level.

The second option would renovate the parking garage and establish the bus bays, as well as build a new transportation hub at 27 Market St., site of the former Oneonta Ford.

The back the building would be tiered green space. “My vision is that families could sit there, they could watch a movie on an outdoor screen, the kids could run around,” said Beachy. “I enjoy going to places like that, and I see this as a huge opportunity.”

Additionally, he said, that space could be developed for further

retail adjacent to Clinton Plaza.

“Transit hubs spur economic development,” said Colvin. “It’s like they say – if you build it, they will come.”

The cost of the second option is $13.3 million, with $8.75 million for the transit hub.

“The second option is preferable,” said Herzig. “When they came to us with the plan to put it in the parking garage, I told them that it cannot be our only option if we’re going to lost 40-80 parking spaces.”

The city has $8 million from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, state and federal Departments of Transportation, and CFA grants, as well as $.5 million from Restore New York to demolish Oneonta Ford.

Currently the building is owned by the Twelve Tribes, but Herzig said a deal is nearing completion.

The presentation and designs will be available on the city website, and public comment will be accepted by email at cityinfo@oneonta.ny.us until 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 30.

From there, Wendel will finalize its report and present it to Common Council, who will decide how to move forward.

ENOUGH/From A1 ization were related to the SUNY outbreak. “(The deceased) had been on isolation after testing positive for COVID,” said Heidi Bond, county public health director.

Although the spread from the college outbreak has begun to slow, four cases of COVID-19 were reported by the school on Friday, Sept. 18, another four on Saturday, Sept 19, but no cases since Sunday, Sept 20.

One student remains in isolation on campus, and two students are in quarantine on campus awaiting test results.

On Monday, Sept. 21, three cases were reported in the Town of Butternuts, all from the same family following travel out of state.

Two of the SUNY students in the photo were identified and suspended by the Office of Community Standards.

“We have zero tolerance for this type of irresponsible and unsafe behavior,” said President Barbara Jean Morris, in a statement on the school’s website.

“We will always pursue this immediate action in the spirit of the overwhelming number of SUNY Oneonta students who followed safety protocols and lost out on a semester on campus because of the behavior of a few.”

Added Mayor Gary Herzig: “It’s very disappointing. But I’m pleased the college is acting swiftly. Let’s hope it’s an isolated incident.”

The students who held the party were not quarantining, said campus spokesman Kim MacLeod.

According to Oneonta Police chief Doug Brenner, the party was not reported to police. “We had a few calls this weekend, but we were unable to correlate it with any of our calls.”

With the colder weather, windows and doors are being closed, he said, adding, “The students learn. They’re not turning the music up as loud, so it’s harder for us to get a notification.

By the time the pictures start making the rounds on social media, the party is over.”

Herzig said the photo had been forwarded to him by concerned citizens, and he reached out to the school. “People are paying attention,” he said. “They’re concerned. We all need to be working together to stay healthy.”

However, with only six off-campus houses remaining on active quarantine, Brenner said there is concern that the parties will start again.

“As kids come out of quarantine, they may feel a false sense of security,” he said. “But you could still pass it on, or you could get infected again.”

Now, probably more than ever, let’s celebrate our

Heritage Businesses established in

1881

1856

800.NBT.BANK • www.nbtbank.com

member FDIc

oTsego couNTy HeRITAge BusINess EstablishEd in

established in

Church & Scott, Inc.

Leatherstocking Cooperative Insurance Company

1886

5396 State Hwy, 28, Cooperstown, Ny 13326 (607) 547-1228 OtsEgO cOunty hEritagE businEss

established in

1886

4313 County Highway 11, Cooperstown 607-547-2007

otsego County HeRItAge BusIness

1888 tillapaugh

funeral service 132 years by the same family!

28 pioneer st., cooperstown • 607-547-2571

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness established in

established in

1898

eLLsWoRtH & sILL “An oLd-fAsHIon stoRe compLete WItH oLd-fAsHIoned supeRB customeR seRvIce”

76 Main Street • Cooperstown • 607-547-9277

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

1899

1899 Central Plaza East, Edmeston 800-234-6926 • www.nycm.com otsEgo County HERItAgE BusInEss established in

EstablishEd in

1917

1901

SUSQUEHANNA SPCA

4841 State Hwy 28, Cooperstown 607-547-8111 • www.sqspca.org otSego County HeRItAge BuSIneSS

207 Main st., cooperstown • 607-547-8822 www.mohicanflowers.org • on facebook

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness EstablishEd in

established in

1925 Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.

established in

1933

1937

Funeral Home

Founded by Chester & Mildred ingalls Serving all faiths with care and dignity.

Peter a. deysenroth

82 Chestnut St., Cooperstown • 607-547-8231

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

established in

1951

The Family Restaurant for Over 69 Years Brooks’ Bottling co., LLc I-88 exit 16, Rt. 7 oneonta • 607-432-1782 • brooksbbq.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

oneonta • Richfield springs • cooperstown • Roxbury 607-432-6900 • 315-525-6050 • 607-547-9319 • 607-326-4012

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness Print Services

Wide Format

Custom Apparel

Promotional Items

The Village Printer 330 Pony Farm Rd. Oneonta, NY 13820 607-432-5259 800-333-7559 www.thevillageprinter.com email: sales@thevillageprinter.com

Proudly Serving Our Community Since 1954

3919 St Hwy 23, West Oneonta 607-432-6633 | www.reinhardthomeheating.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

established in

1955 Don olin Realty

oVeR 60 yeARs oF eXPeRIence 37 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown 607-547-5622 | www.donolinrealty.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

B-4

AllOTSEGO.life

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

6 Puppy Mills Locally, PAWS Promoters Say PAWS/From A1 – Puppy Mill Awareness With Shelters – initiative, which seeks to educate people about the harm that puppy mills do to animals and consumers.

“Right here in Otsego County and throughout this region, we have active puppy mills,” said Stacie Haynes, SQSPCA executive director. “Puppy mills that operate their business in a cruel and inhumane way. Puppy mills that have already been shut down and continue to operate. Puppy mills that put on a façade with unsuspecting consumers who believe they are buying from a responsible dealer.”

She is aware of four operating in the county. “We have plenty of responsible breeders,” she said, “And we stand with them in this fight.”

A puppy mill, as Shapiro defined it, was any breeding operation “where an animal is treated like a widget coming off a machine.”

“These are dogs that languish in sub-par conditions,” he said. “A puppy mill is only there to make money.

“I get calls from people all the time who got a puppy from ‘X’ and now their animal is sick with parvo,” a gastrointestinal disease, said Libby Post, executive director of the state Animal Protection Federation. “They can pay thousands of dollars in cash, but parvo is deadly in puppies, so that isn’t a guarantee. They may have to put the animal to sleep, which is heartbreaking.”

The major goal of PAWS, Haynes said, is educating the public on how to determine if someone is a reputable breeder or a puppy mill.

“A responsible breeder will encourage you to visit and see where the puppy was born and raised,” she said. “Responsible breeders will not keep dogs in crowded spaces or cages. The dogs will be in clean, roomy, comfortable areas.”

The SQSPCA – as well as the Delaware Valley Humane Society, the

Election Redo In Cooperstown

REVOTE/From A1 This week, the candidates were asked to provide a final statement to village voters.

“I think things are going very well,” said Benton.

“A Village Board of proven leaders has worked very hard. I hope the people of Cooperstown will keep the progress going. I want to keep the progress going. I want to keep things going the way they are.”

Said Robbins, “As a longtime resident of Cooperstown, I choose to live here, work here and raise my family here. Now, I’m running for the Village Board to ensure Cooperstown stays a great place to live, work and raise a family for generations to Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal & HOMETOWN ONEONTA come.”

Libby Post, executive director of the NYS Animal Protection Because of the short Federation, is joined Monday, Sept. 21, by, from left, Brian time to the runoff, Village Shapiro, NYS director, Humane Society, Stacie Haynes, executive director, SQSPCA, Melinda McTaggart, Animal Shelter Administrator Teri Barown of Schoharie County and other regional shelter directors in extended office hours – 8 a.m. announcing PAWS arrival in Otsego County.

- 7 p.m. Thursday the 24th, and 8 a.m. - noon Saturday the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley, Post. “It’s a bipartisan issue, and we 26th – for people who want to the Catskill Humane Society and Super need every elected official to know that vote absentee to pick up appliHeroes in Ripped Jeans – will all have people will not vote for them if they cations or drop off ballots.

PAWS resources on their websites to don’t care about companion animals.”

Absentee ballots may also assist the public in making the right Greg Forester, a resident of Herkimer be submitted Election Day choice.

County, expressed worry that Amish until the polls close at 9 p.m.

“Shelters should be a resource even puppy mills, which he said used What happened here if you’re not getting a dog from us,” she “brokers” to sell their puppies, would Election Night provides a hint said. “You can call us up and say that you skirt the laws. of what’s to come nationally found a breeder, and we can give you “We don’t have cause to go into the after Nov. 3. those questions to ask so that you know barns, but I’ve found them suspended in A few minutes after you’re not buying from a puppy mill.” cages,” he said. the polls closed at 9 p.m., In addition to education, PAWS will “When Pennsylvania shut down Tuesday, Sept. 15, Election work with policymakers to strengthen puppy mills, the Amish moved them up Inspectors Tom Lyon and Ed Ag and Markets law and get more here,” said Post.

Gwilt had the official count funding for inspectors to help shut “We support changes to the law,” said from voting machines: 234 puppy mills down.

Shapiro. “At the end of the day, there for Joe Membrino, plus the “When people run for office, the are no brokers if people aren’t buying 227 for Benton and 208 for question they should be asked is, ‘how from a puppy mill. There is no reason, in Robbins. do you feel about these issues?’” said 2020, to support a puppy mill.”

But there were 108

absentee ballots, a lot more than usual.

First, Village Administrator Teri Barown and Election Inspectors Nancy Morton and Tom Heitz certified each of them, checking absentee voters against the list of registered voters provided by the county Board of Elections.

Ten voters had apparently forgotten they’d voted by absentee in the March 18 election that delayed six months by COVID-19, and they voted again.

“You put ‘already voted’ on those ballots,” said Barown, “and set them aside.”

One voter who had voted in March had since died, and his ballot was disqualified, too.

The ballots were then counted individually, “Membrino, Benton,” said Compton. Then, “Membrino, Robbins,” Heitz would say.

There were a number of ballots with single votes for either Benton or Robbins.

Counting absentees and adding them to the machine count took an hour and a half, as the candidates, friends, family members and supporters stood by.

When Barown announced the tie, Robbins and Benton gasped, laughed and shook hands.

Membrino’s wife Martha gave her hubby a big hug, (which they agreeably repeated for the photographer.)

Both candidates in the tie rejected a coin toss– one means of resolving ties – and opted for the runoff election.

Now, probably more than ever, let’s celebrate our

Heritage Businesses EstablishEd in

1962

Cooperstown Flooring & Bedding Inc.

EstablishEd in

1964

607-547-2586 PO Box 4 5838 State Rt. 80 Cooperstown, NY 13326

Formerly Krazy Tom’s • Rick Card Proprietor

4316 County Hwy 11 • Cooperstown 607-547-6038 www.krazytoms.com OtsEgO cOunty hEritagE businEss

established in

1964

147 River street, Oneonta (607) 432-2121 - www.mamco-molding.com

otsego county heRitage business

established in

1976

Training Museum Leaders for more than 50 years

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness ESTABLISHED IN

EstablishEd in

1973

1964

munson’s 5662 Hwy 7, oneonta • 607-432-8756 www.munsonstruvalue.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

55 oneIDA st. oneontA, ny 607-432-2800 • 800-388-3632

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

EstablishEd in

1978

*formerly Century Storage

157 Main Street • Cooperstown 607-547-5740 • www.hubbellsrealestate.com otsego county HeRItAge BusIness established in

1980 ace glass co.

Auto Commercial & Residential Glass, Tabletops, Plexiglas THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED BUSINESS FOR 40 years!! locally owned • Joe BRIguglIo, owneR 607-432-3588 • 124 oneida st., oneonta • aceglasscony.com

otsego county HeRItage BusIness established in

1981

*

330 Pony Farm Rd. • Oneonta • 607-433-1951 OtsEgO cOunty hEritagE businEss

EstablishEd in

1980

lamont Engineers

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

1981

Dedicated to Service...Committed to Excellence

197 Elm Street • Cobleskill, NY 518-234-4028 • www.lamontengineers.com

otSEgo CouNtY HERItAgE BuSINESS

established in

1982 LEAF

www.helioscare.org • 607-432-5525

established in

Visit us on facebook and instagram

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness 5006 St. Hwy 23 • Oneonta, NY

established in

1983

cooperstown optical

Leatherstocking Education on Alcoholism/Addictions Foundations, Inc. 80 Water Street • Oneonta • 432-0090 • www.leafinc.org

5370 Rt. 28 • cooperstown (on chestnut street, next to community Bank) 607-547-8080 • www.cooperstownoptical.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

AllOTSEGO.life

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

B-5

Ginsburg Leaves Many Friends In Otsego County

GINSBURG/From A1 They stayed in contact for years, and Ginsburg frequently invited her to events, including to the Supreme Court itself and to the unveiling of her portrait at the New England School of Law in Boston.

“My son graduated from there, and when she found out, she invited us both to the ceremony,” said Pierro.

“She would bring me gifts back from Europe, and we would write to each other.”

Glimmerglass’ music & general director, Francesca Zambello, had struck up a friendship with Ginsburg after she directed Beethoven’s “Fidelio” at the National Opera House in 2003.

“She wrote me a letter and said it was her favorite production of ‘Fidelio’ that she had ever seen,” Zambello said.

“I saw her at the Washington National Opera right before the pandemic,” she continued. “And she had her tickets reserved for this year’s Glimmerglass

Festival. We’re all mourning her passing.”

When Zambello became head of the Festival in 2010, she invited Ginsburg and her family to attend the shows. “She had visited when Paul Kellogg was director, but we began talking about doing a program about opera and the law, since so many of them involve contracts and wrong-doing,” she said.

“And I thought, how wonderful it would be if I could engage her in our love of opera together in a way the public could appreciate.”

The program started in 2013 and was a sell-out every summer. “It was one of our most successful programs,” she said.

In 2017, the Festival produced “Scalia/Ginsburg,” a comic opera about the friendship between Ginsburg and fellow Justice Antonin Scalia.

“After one performance, she came and spoke about him, which was great,” said Zambello. “He never visited

passion for opera.”

Following the news of her death, a vigil was held on the steps of the Otsego County Courthouse, where Village Trustee Richard Sternberg and Dave Pearlman, retired CCS high school principal, led the gathering in Kaddish, the traditional Jewish prayer of mourning.

“People were very moved,” said Sternberg.

Sternberg had met Ginsburg several times; his cousin was a protégée and student of her husband, Marty Ginsburg, at Columbia Law School.

“When my nephew was born, I found myself standing next to a short, very slight lady at his bris,” Sternberg said. “She was Carli Kadel/Glimmerglass Opera introduced to me as Judge Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Ginsburg, but I didn’t think much of it.”

Glimmerglass Festival production staff members in front of a mural painted by Danielle Ibrahim, He saw her at several 2018 Stage Operations Intern, in the hall where other events, including his scenery is transported. nephew’s Bar Mitzvah.

“She was a Supreme Court Glimmerglass, but I would opposite sides of the aisle. see him at the National They disagreed all day, but at justice then, and I made the connection,” he said. “I Opera, and they would sit on night they would share this

didn’t say much, which was unusual for me.”

At his niece’s Bat Mitzvah, he overheard another woman ask about the famous lace on her collar.

“She told the story that she and Sandra Day O’Connor thought that since Judge (William) Rehnquist put gold stripes on his robes, that they would put lace on theirs as a response,” he said.

Though he often saw Ginsburg at the Festival, he declined to introduce himself again. “I was intimidated, plus she had bodyguards,” he said.

Zambello said the Festival is beginning to look at ways to honor her legacy during next year’s season.

“She loved the Festival and was very proud of what we were doing with social justice,” she said. “But she also loved a good ‘La Boheme.’ She really was our greatest spokesperson.”

“We had a wonderful relationship,” said Pierro.

“She was a real treasure.”

Now, probably more than ever, let’s celebrate our

Heritage Businesses established in

1990 Bieritz insurance

TheYourBieriTz Agency “Hometown” Insurance Agency 23rd Anniversary Serving Otsego County 30th Anniversary serving Otsego County 209 Main st., cooperstown (607) 547-2951 • www.bieritzinsurance.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness established in

2002

L.J.’s sassy Boutique Formerly Village Cobbler

607-547-6141 • 165 Main Street Cooperstown

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

established in

2004

COOPERSTOWN NATURAL FOODS 61 Linden Ave., Cooperstown (near the high school) (607) 547-8613 | cooperstownnaturalfoods.com OTSEgO COUNTy HERITAgE BUSINESS

established in

established in

Cooperstown Family Chiropractic Drs. Jill and Matt Craig

AllOTSEGO.com

2008

4910 St. Hwy. 28, Cooperstown • 607-282-4140 otsego county HeRItAge BusIness EstablishEd in

2011

Oneonta Realty

2009

21 Railroad Avenue, cooperstown 607-547-6103 • www.allotsego.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness EstablishEd in

2013

established in

1990 john mitchell real estate

info@johnmitchellrealestate.com 216 Main Street, Cooperstown otsego county heritage Business established in

2008

HOMETOWN

ONEONTA

& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch

21 Railroad Avenue, cooperstown 607-547-6103 • www.allotsego.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness EstablishEd in

2010

Melissa Manikas

29 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown 607-547-2886 OtsEgO cOunty hEritagE businEss

established in

2014

Everything we touch turns to SOLD!

99 Main St. • Oneonta, NY 607-441-7312 • www.oneontarealty.com OtSegO cOuNtY HeRItAge BuSINeSS established in

2015

Family Owned and Operated

61 South Main Street, Oneonta · 607-353-7433 otsego county HeRItAge BusIness established in

2018

Custom electronics

Power & Energy Solutions Division 87 Browne St • Oneonta • 607-432-3880 www.customelec.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

11 Railroad Ave., cooperstown www.cooperstowndistillery.com • on facebook

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

22 Chestnut street, Cooperstown (607) 322-4012 melsat22.com - find us on facebook

otsego county heRitage business

established in

EstablishEd in

COOPERSTOWN BEVERAGE EXCHANGE

COOPERSTOWN ESCAPE ROOMS

2015

73 Main St., Cooperstown • (607) 282-4374 www.cooperstowndistillery.com

OTSEGO COuNTy HERITAGE BuSINESS

established in

2019

scAnLon HoMes teAM 607-433-2873 • 166 Main Street, Ste. 1, Oneonta www.oneontarealty.com

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

2017

73 Main St., Cooperstown • 607-544-4617 on facebook • cooperstownescaperooms.com

OTSEgO COuNTy HERITAgE BuSINESS established in

2019

J. GORMAN FINE JEWELRY

antiques | custom design | bridal | expert repair

54 Main Street • Cooperstown • 707-JGORMAN

otsego county HeRItAge BusIness

B-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

OBITUARIES

IN MEMORIAM

Linda L. Hamilton, 75

Frank E. Mullet, 99, Edmeston; 18-Year School Superintendent

EDMESTON – Frank Emerson Mullet, 99, the retired 18-year superintendent at Edmeston Central School, passed away peacefully on Sept. 14, 2020.

Raised in Spencer, Mass., he received a sports scholarship to catch for the Bates College baseball team in Lewiston, Maine, where he majored in physics. During college, Frank traveled to California and worked at Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank.

After World War II began, he enlisted in the Navy, where he served as a signalman on destroyers protecting convoys traveling to and from Europe and North Africa. He received several medals and an honorable discharge in 1945.

Frank returned to Bates College, where he met Marian Leona Goddard, a nursing student. They were married on Aug. 15,1950.

Frank began his career as a science teacher and coach in Fort Plain and then as its high school principal.

Later, Marian and Frank moved to the pastoral setting of Edmeston to raise their children. Frank served as superintendent of the Edmeston Central School District for 18 years.

He was a member of the Rotary Club. He started an effort to bring the first public pool to Edmeston Frank in 1970, to Mullet teach all kids how to swim safely.

In his retirement, Frank supported Marian as she led the creation of Pathfinder Village, a community for people with Down Syndrome and he was principal of the Pathfinder Village School.

Frank loved sports of all kinds, and, following in his family tradition, he was a passionate fan of the Boston Red Sox. He enjoyed playing golf with his friends until the age of 92.

He loved desserts, especially pies and donuts.

The Mullet mincemeat pie was a favorite.

Marian and Frank were a strong team with a dedication to their family and their hometown of Edmeston. They supported each other throughout their lives, including the loss of their son, Tom, to cancer at age 19. In his memory they established

Legal

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Legal nOtice Notice of formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) Name: Shooting Stars Tactical Company, LLC Articles of Organization filed by the Department of the State on: 08/03/20 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 3 Miles Ave Ste 2 Oneonta NY 13820.

Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalOct.29 Legal nOtice VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN RUN-OFF ELECTION NOTICE to be conducted September 29, 2020 1. Due to a tie vote between two candidates (listed below) for one Village Trustee seat at the September 15, 2020 annual village election, it is necessary to conduct a run-off election between the two candidates to determine a winner.

2. The Village of Cooperstown constitutes one election district and the polling place for such district shall be at the Village Fire Hall, 24 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, New York.

3. The hours during which the polls

shall be open for voting are 12:00 noon to 9:00 pm. on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

4. Absentee ballots are available by application at the Village Clerk’s Office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York. Due to a short time frame, the Clerk’s Office will be open additional hours starting September 21, 2020.

Please contact the office by calling 607-547-2411 for the hours or view on the homepage of the Village website www.cooperstownny.org.

5. The names of all those who have been duly nominated in accordance with the provisions of the New York State Election Law for the Village Office whose certificates of nomination and independent nominating petitions have been duly filed with the Village Clerk, and that the office for which they have been nominated are as follows: Trustee: one position – Three (3) year term: Democratic Party: MacGuire Benton, 28 Delaware St., Cooperstown Republican Party: Mary-Margaret Robbins, 20 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown Heart of Cooperstown Party: Mary-Margaret Robbins, 20 Pioneer St., Cooperstown Many Voices One Village Party: MacGuire Benton, 28 Delaware St., Cooperstown Dated: September 17, 2020 TERI L. BAROWN, RMC

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VILLAGE CLERK/ ADMINISTRATOR VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 Phone: (607-5472411 Email: tbarown@ cooperstownny.org 1LegalSept.24 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of BBC 24, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 08/26/2020.

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 process against the LLC served upon it to: The LLC, 5560 State Highway 7, Oneonta, NY 13820.

The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act.

6LegalOct.29 Legal nOtice

Notice of Formation of Hussar Holdings LLC. Arts of Org filed with Sec of State of NY (SSNY) on June 15, 2020 Office Location: Otsego County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall may process to Stanislaw Kowalczyk, Jr., 864 Franklin Mountain Road, Otego, New York 13825.

Purpose: any lawful purpose.

6LegalOct.29

LAURENS – Linda L. Hamilton, 75, an area native who retired from Bassett, went the Thomas Frank Mullet to be with the Lord SeptemFoundation, which benefits ber 20, 2020. She was at the people and organizaBassett Medical Center in tions of Edmeston and the Cooperstown. surrounding community.

She was born Aug. 29, 1945 in Mt. Vernon, the Frank was predeceased daughter of Clarence H. and by his parents, Elton Frank Lucille H. (Jarrett) Hamilton.

Mullet and Evelyn Honey Linda graduated from Mullet; devoted wife of 68 Cortland State College with a years, Marian; son, Thomas teaching degree, received her Frank Mullet; and siblings, nursing degree from Broome Doris Ryerson and Edward Community College and comMullet. pleted graduate studies at He is survived by his Bob Jones University. daughter and son-in-law, While living in CaliforMartha and Martin Winsor; nia she was a coordinator in education at American son and daughter-in-law, Heritage Christian Junior John and Debra Johnson High School. Linda retired Mullet; son and daughterfrom Bassett Medical Center in-law, James and Pamela Burton Mullet; seven grand- in Cooperstown, as a Home Hemo-Dialysis Coordinator. children, Sarah Hartman, She also served the Lord Deborah Batt, Elizabeth Jesus faithfully by heading up MacKenzie, Ian Mullet the mission’s community at and Hillary, Benjamin and Susquehanna Valley Baptist Adam Mullet; and seven Church.

Linda loved to travel and great-grandchildren, Brianna camp. She was a quiet unasand Sophia Hartman,

Kenneth and Levi Batt, and Caitlyn, Gavin and Lydia MacKenzie.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Thomas Frank Mullet Foundation may be mailed to 36 South St., Edmeston, NY 13335.

There will be no calling hours or services.

Arrangements are with Delker and Terry Funeral Home.

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received as set forth in instructions to bidders until 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the NYSDOT, Contract Management Bureau, 50 Wolf Rd, 1st Floor, Suite 1CM, Albany, NY 12232 and will be publicly opened and read. Bids may also be submitted via the internet using www.bidx.com.

A certified cashier’s check payable to the NYSDOT for the sum specified in the proposal or a bid bond, form CONR 391, representing 5% of the bid total, must accompany each bid. NYSDOT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Electronic documents and Amendments are posted to www.dot.ny.gov/ doing-business/opportunities/const-notices. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all Amendments are incorporated into its bid. To receive notification of Amendments via e-mail you must submit a request to be placed on the Planholders List at www.dot. ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/ const-planholder.

Amendments may have been issued prior to your placement on the Planholders list.

NYS Finance Law restricts communication with NYSDOT on procurements and contact can only be made with designated persons. Contact with non-designated persons or other involved Agencies will be considered

suming private person who St., Schenevus, NY, with the made many lasting friendPastor Fred Johnson, officiships. ating. Per current She is survived by restrictions please her special Christian wear a face covering friend, Joyce St. Clair; and maintain social her siblings, William distancing. and Susan HamilThe interment will ton, Jane Hamilton, be private at the Mt. Pamela and Armond Vision Cemetery.

Nardone, Betty ManExpressions of ganiello, Beverly Bona sympathy may be and many nieces, sent to, www. nephews, and friends. lhpfuneralhome.

Linda A memorial service com. ArrangeHamilton will be held 12:30 ments are with p.m. Friday, SeptemLewis,Hurley & ber 25, 2020 at the First Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Baptist Church, 15 Monitor Dietz St., Oneonta.

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LEGALS

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Worked For Bassett

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a serious matter and may result in disqualification. Contact Robert Kitchen (518)457-2124.

Contracts with 0% Goals are generally single operation contracts, where subcontracting is not expected, and may present direct bidding opportunities for Small Business Firms, including, but not limited to D/W/MBEs. The New York State Department of Transportation, in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat.

252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federallyassisted programs of the Department of Transportation and Title 23 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, Title IV Program and Related Statutes, as amended, issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all who respond to a written Department solicitation, request for proposal or invitation for bid that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability/handicap and income status in consideration for an award.

Please call (518)457-2124 if a reasonable accommodation is needed

Legal

to participate in the letting.

Region 09: New York State Department of Transportation 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901 D264320, PIN 903710, FA Proj Z001-9037103, Delaware, Otsego Cos., Bridge Rehabilitation Project: NYS Route 357 Over Susquehanna River, Village of Unadilla, Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $75,000.00), Goals: DBE: 6.00% 2LegalOct.1 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of 1639 DISTILLERY LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 08/25/2020. Office loc: Otsego County.

SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: Kevin Lynch, 145 West Main Street, Stony Point, NY 10980.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

6LegalOct.15 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company ( LLC) Name: RMT Student Rentals LLC Articles of Organization filed by the Department of State of New York on: 08/07/2020 Office location: County of Otsego Purpose: any and all lawful activities Secretary of State of New York (SSNY)

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is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: Robert Marks 3600 Fieldston Rd., Apt. 6K Bronx, NY 10463 6LegalOct.8 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Rosalie LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/19/20.

Office location: Otsego County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: David Howell, 333 Hook Road, Katonah, NY 10536.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

6LegalOct.8 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF TRASK TRAVEL LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 8/25/2020.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to 362 Pony Farm Rd., Oneonta, NY 13820, which is also the principal business location.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalOct.8 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF MATERIAL MAXIM, LLC. Articles of Organization were

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filed with the NY Secretary of State on 08/14/20.

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 process against the LLC served upon it to: The LLC, 147 River Street, Oneonta, NY 13820.

The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act.

6LegalOct.8

zation filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 11 August 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 PO Box 46, West Oneonta, NY 13861.

Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalOct.1

Legal nOtice

Notice of Formation of

Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name: SPRINGMEADOWS FARMS LLC. Certificate of Conversion filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 4 August 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 PO Box 307, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalOct.1 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company Name: EDITH’S ESTATE LLC

Legal nOtice

Patriot APS, LLC Filed w/ SSNY 8/10/20.

Office location: Otsego County.

SSNY designated as agent upon whom proc. may be served & shall mail to 5001 St Hwy 23 Suite 3-148, Oneonta NY 13820.

Any lawful purpose.

6LegalSept.24 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF J&R PROPERTIES OF WORCESTER, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/1/20.

Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Kehoe & Merzig, PC, 8-12 Dietz St., Ste. 202, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Principal business location: 27 Solar Bluff, Worcester, NY 12197.

6LegalSept.24

Articles of Organi-

►Need to publish a Notice of Formation, Public Notice, Supplemental Summons, or Notice to Bidders?

Contact Larissa at 607-547-6103 or ads@allotsego.com and she can get you started.

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL B-7

THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

OBITUARIES

Mike Fulton, 65; Wed Cooperstown’s Karine Rich COOPERSTOWN – Michael A. “Mike” Fulton passed away peacefully on Sept. 8, 2020. His wife, Karine Rich, was by his side at their home in Fort Pierce, Fla. Mike was born July 12, 1955, in Watertown, to Barbara Ritchie and Robert Fulton. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend to many. He started his work as a young boy delivering newspapers. As he grew in his teenage years he became an accomplished keyboard player in the rock and roll band “Warlord.” He also worked in the Wellesley Island Duty Free Shop on the U.S.-Canadian border.

He met and eventually married Linda Loveland in 1976. They had two boys; Christopher, and Alexander.

Realizing he had an entrepreneurial spirit, he founded the Landing Marine Center in Fishers Landing, on the St. Lawrence River. From there he started the very first floating hot dog stands on the St. Lawrence at Lake of the Isles. Simultaneously, he was among the first hired

by Miller Brewing Company in Fulton, where he worked until the plant closed in 1994.

Mike He then Fulton started his journey to Florida.

Mike was an avid boater and fisherman. He obtained his 50-ton Masters Captain’s license and earned a special certification in commercial towing at sea. He was also a certified Yamaha Jet Ski mechanic.

He then worked for Florida Fasteners in the marine industry and Quickdrive before finding his true calling. He found his “niche” in the roofing insulation arena working for O’Hagin Products. He specialized in attic ventilation. He worked his way up to become the National Manager of Technical Training and Compliance until his passing.

Mike was well respected in the industry, writing

numerous articles on various roofing insulation topics and cutting edge ideas.

He truly loved his O’Hagin family and many colleagues and customers he met over the years.

Mike was known for his honesty, integrity and work ethic no matter what he did. He served on various committees with the FRSA. In 2013, Mike received the distinguished Earl R. Bank award for his service.

In 2013 in Bermuda, he married Karine Rich, the widow of Walter Rich, Cooperstown, founder and president of the Delaware Otsego Corp. and the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad; Rich passed away on Aug. 9, 2007. Karine and Mike spent happy years together, dividing their time between New York and Florida visiting beloved friends and family. He introduced his grandkids to his passion for Twinkies and S’mores over a campfire. He loved his Bloody Marys playing golf, and his “Vitamin V” and Grapefruit while fishing.

Besides his wife Karine and many friends and colleagues, he is survived by his son Alexander and grandchildren Ella and Asher; his daughter Stephanie Stringer and grandchildren Cora and Mason; his son Derik, his brother Jerry; niece Celeste, and nephew Matthew. He also leaves behind his fivepound, four-legged daughter Ms McKenna.

A short church service in memory of his life was held Saturday, Sept 19, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, East Ocean Blvd., Stuart, Fla., with Pastor Dave Albers officiating.

A celebration of his life will follow.

In Mike’s memory, the family has asked that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Treasure Coast Hospice or to the Redeemer Lutheran Church’s Sanctuary Church Roof Fund for roof renovation project, in care of Pastor Albers.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Martin Funeral Home, Stuart, Fla.

rsar y Our 132nd annive

Tillapaugh Funeral Service Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar.

Our historic Family Room

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.

Our Chapel comfortably seats over 200.

George M. Tillapaugh (1888-1913) · Revo and Anna Tillapaugh (1913-1958) George G. and Marjorie Tillapaugh (1935-1988) · Martin H. Tillapaugh (1988-Present)

dignity · tradition · continuity

Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home

28 Pioneer Street, cooPerStown • 607-547-2571 Proudly serving area families since 1888

14 Grand Street, Oneonta • 607-432-6821 www.grummonsfuneralhome.com

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visionsfcu.org *APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates and terms available on new loans only. Certain relationship criteria are required to receive rates – ask for details. Credit union membership required with a $1 minimum deposit – certain restrictions apply. Check with a Visions Federal Credit Union representative for membership eligibility details. Loan rate based on creditworthiness, may vary from the rates shown, and is subject to standard credit criteria. Rates can change at any time. New Auto payment would be $226.24 on $15,000 at 2.75% A.P.R. with a 72-month term. Used Auto payment would be $229.59 on $15,000 at 3.25% A.P.R. with a 72-month term. Financing of maximum LTV up to 115% for qualified borrowers. Other terms available. Visions Federal Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA. This rate/term is only available for Visions members who make auto purchases at participating dealer partners, Sept. 1 – 30.

B-8

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