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Volume 212, No. 48
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, December 3, 2020
NEW COVID RECORDS SET
COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND
By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
TAILS, A2
Watch County’s Christmas Tree Lit In Big Apple WEST ONEONTA
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s Otsego County’s COVID-19 numbers continue to climb, county Public Health Director Heidi Bond has a dire warning – NO gathering is safe. “I don’t know what it’s going to take to convince people to change their behavior,”
Democrats Back Away From Coup
All
Control At Hand, But ‘It Wouldn’t Be Fair’
Consensus On 20% In-Person Classes By JIM KEVLIN ONEONTA
she said. “If we don’t, we’re going to see these numbers continue to climb.” Though hospitalizations were down to four on Monday, Nov. 30 – down two from last week – by Tuesday, Dec. 1, they had doubled to eight, the highest number since Please See COVID, B5
addy Al” Dick’s family will be among the only people allowed in Rockefeller Center for the lighting of their 75-foot Norway Spruce at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2. By JIM KEVLIN And if you’re a Spectrum customer, you can attend, COOPERSTOWN too, live on NBC TV. For the first interview with the emocratic county returning Dick family on reps this week were Thursday, keep an eye on one vote away from shared control of Otsego www. OTSEGO.com County’s $120 million government for the next 14 months. FULL COVID STORIES ON They could have shared fully in who becomes the board’s chair and vice chair. OTSEGO.com They could have split committee chairmanships. Please See DEADLOCK? A3
Newsstand Price $1
SUNY Over Hurdle On Reopening Plan
Thanksgiving Hosts Stricken The Freeman’s Journal
For 212 Years
VISIT www.AllOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S DAILY NEWSPAPER/ONLINE
32-70 607-4
Faith Gay, a high-powered litigator with a New York City law firm, was ordained and installed Sunday, Nov. 29, as part-time pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Coopertown’s oldest congregation/DE-
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he stumbling block is gone, it seems. Enough faculty members have volunteered to teach 20 percent of the in-person, “dual modality” classes called for in SUNY Oneonta’s plan to reopen on Feb. 1, 2021, according to David Lincoln, president of the local chapter of the United University Profes-
Craig
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sions (UUP). “That’s correct,” said SUNY Oneonta President Dennis Craig when asked about Lincoln’s statement. Teaching in-person – and Please See 20 PERCENT, B5
No Lines, Crowds, Good Deals
Grayish Black Friday Sign Of 2020 Season Bonnie Johnson and her husband Eric of Oneonta look for deals on denim at JC Penney’s Black Friday sale.
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►Mayor GARY herzig happy to be out of COVID quarantine. ►bill ubner, 90, dies, played on Red Bursey’s unbeaten 1947 CCS team. ►SUNY ONEONTA’S CSA agrees to free, mandatory C-19 tests. ►rockEfeller’s “painting” up for auction as SQSPCA benefit. ►farewell thanksgiving, Welcome to Christmas at Cooperstown Price Chopper. ►lord’s table serves 800 Thanksgiving to-go meals. ►liberatarian candidate emerges for County Board seat. ►Follow covid-19 progress throughout the week.
City Clerk Powell Retires, Assistant Will Succeed Her
Ian Austin/The Freeman’s Journal
By LIBBY CUDMORE
By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA
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xcept for Council member Scott Harrington recusing himself, Tuesday ’s vote for Kerriann Harrington to succeed City Clerk Nancy Powell was smooth. Kerriann is Scott’s wife. “As an older person, I knew I wouldn’t be here for 20 years,” said Powell. “My Please See CLERKS, B3
With a clicker, Roxanne Campo makes sure TJ Maxx’s remains under capacity.
or Oneonta’s Bonnie Johnson, this year’s Black Friday gave her the opportunity to try something she hadn’t in years past. “It was nice to sleep in!” she said as she browsed shoes the day after Thanksgiving at JC Penney. “Usually I have to get up early.”
Mindful of masks and social distancing, shoppers nonetheless flocked to the Southside Mall on Friday, Nov. 27, although it was a somewhat smaller flock. “Shoppers are apprehensive about travel, so they’re staying local,” said Luisa Montanti, mall manager. “Store managers all told me they had good customer traffic and good sales results.” Christy Lopreste said Please See MALL, A3
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
THURSDAY, December 3, 2020
LOCALS Bassett’s Radiation Oncology Leads Way COOPERSTOWN
T
he Bassett Healthcare Network’s Cancer Institute’s radiation oncology program is the first in New York State to earn the prestigious national ASTRO APEx accreditation. “This particular accreditation program focuses on the process of care, safety, quality management, and patient-centered care,” said Alfred Tinger, MD, chief and medical director of the Bassett Cancer Institute.
“Achieving this honor provides our patients with additional confidence that they will receive the highest Tinger level of care possible.” Completing the ASTRO APEx accreditation program is voluntary and can take up to a year. Cancer centers must demonstrate compli-
FAITH GAY ORDAINED, INSTALLED AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
ance with 16 evidence-based standards of radiation oncology practice, including meeting the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s highest standards in policies and procedures, as well as patient care and communication. “This was a rigorous process to undertake and is a testament to the incredible commitment of the team in the cancer center to providing a higher standard of care to our patients,” said Tinger.
Be a Pen Pal! A program for students and seniors!
Otsego County Office for the Aging is partnering with local school districts to launch a Pen Pal Project between seniors and students during this time of increased isolation. We will pair an older adult with a local student who will exchange letters to increase socialization and reduce boredom and loneliness.
Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
Faith E. Gay, a recent graduate of Yale Divinity School and founding partner in Selendy & Gay, a leading New York City litigation firm, receives a ceremonial stole on Sunday, Nov. 20, as she was ordained and installed as pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Cooperstown’s oldest congregation. Presenting the stole are the Rev. Ed Townsend, right, interim pastor, and the Rev. Joe Perdue, Cooperstown First Baptist pastor. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Serene Jones, president of the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. About 100 people attended, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. The music was organized by Victor Simonson, and included eminent professional musicians.
‘Otsego’s Heartthrob’ Offers Fundraiser Prizes
Seniors: Connect with students on a personal level; share your life experiences with each other; combat loneliness and boredom. Students: Share your life experiences with older adults; develop skills in reading and writing; develop relationships
For more info, call 607-547-4232 | email aginginfo@otsegocounty.com
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“The 24th” star Cuyle Carvin, dubbed “Otsego’s Heartthrob,” is offering signed headshots as part of the Film COOP fundraiser on the crowd-funding site IndieGoGo, which seeks to raise $30,000 to hire a fulltime film commissioner and staff, design promotional materials and launch their first campaign. In addition to the signed photos, Carvin matched the first $1,000 raised. “Cuyle has been a huge backer of a local film commission office in Otsego County and we are grateful to him for his help,”
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said Greg Klein, Film COOP board president. “Through his donations, he is helping to build an industry in Carvin his hometown and asking his fans to chip in, too. With partners like Cuyle Carvin, we know we will be successful in meeting our goals.” An Oneonta native, Cuyle had a breakthrough film role in Tom Cruise’s “American Made” and recently appeared in Kevin Wilmott’s “The 24th.” He is a frequent fixture on AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and was a trivia item for the show as: “What non-regular has the highest body count on TWD?” This fall, Cuyle returned home to star in the feature “Asteroid,” which was filmed in Oneonta by Otsego Media, a company owned by Film COOP Board member Korey Rowe. Rocky Featured In ‘People’ Magazine
SChLAThER&BIRCh Law Office of Lester Sittler
TO OUR FRIENDS, CLIENTS AND COLLEAGUES After more than 32 years as a solo practitioner, Les Sittler will be closing his law office at 187 Cemetery Road, Fly Creek, New York, at the end of 2020. Starting in 2021, Les will join Schlather & Birch, at 192 Main Street, Cooperstown 13326, acting in an of counsel capacity. Les’ longtime assistant, Susan Gelatt, will join the staff of Schlather & Birch, working at the firm full time. With a concentration in real estate, estates, business, banking, and tax law, Schlather & Birch has been serving the Cooperstown and Central New York area since 1977 and looks forward to assisting Les’ clients on new matters in the coming New Year. Les no longer is accepting new matters or new clients, but will complete all pending matters, including closings already in progress. New matters should be directed to attorney Robert Birch at S&B. You can contact Bob at 607-547-5253. Any questions can be directed to Les or Sue at 607-547-6233. To ensure it has sufficient personnel to serve its growing client base, Schlather & Birch is pleased to announce that Lauren Cady Glynn née Carlson, former trust officer with Community Bank and Assistant Delaware County Public Defender, has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney, bringing with her a decade of litigation experience. A member of the Cooperstown Class of 2002, Lauren graduated with honors from the University of Southern California and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Lauren will be concentrating on real estate, estate planning, and trusts and estates administration. Schlather and Birch welcomes Les, Susan, and Lauren to the firm. 192 Main Street | Cooperstown, New York 13326 607-547-5253
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Rocky, the Saw-whet owl found inside “Daddy Al” Dick’s 75-foot-tall Norway Spruce, was featured in the Nov. 7 issue of “People.” She has proved so popular that Ravensbeard Wildlife Center, who rehabilitated her and released her last week, has put together gift items bearing her image.
Fly Creek Student Wins SUNY Award
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achary Brown, Fly Creek, was one of 70 SUNY Oneonta students to receive the he Richard Siegfried Student Award. The award, for freshman with a 3.9 or higher GPA, is named in memory of Richard K. Siegfried, SUNY Oneonta professor of theatre from 1958 until 1995 who epitomized excellence in his academic life, through imagination, meticulous scholarship and discipline. Brown is majoring in Digital and Studio Art.
THURSDAY, December 3, 2020
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-3
Vacancy Controversy Opens Door To County Board Deadlock DEADLOCK?/From A1 They could have required consensus on every important decision as the county emerges from the COVID19 threat. Still, “I don’t think it would be fair to leave a district without representation,� said county Rep. Jill Basile, D-Oneonta, a comment echoed by other Democrats on the county board. “It would be a bad thing for the voters of (predominantly Republican) District 6,� said Rep. Adrienne Martini, D-Oneonta, “because it means they wouldn’t have representation for a year in all likelihood.� Whether that sentiment carried the day will be known by the time you read this article. (Check www. AllOTSEGO.com) The county Board of Representatives was scheduled to vote Wednesday, Dec. 2, on whether to appoint Oneonta businesswoman Jennifer Mickel, a Town of Maryland resident, to succeed state Sen.-elect Peter Oberacker as county rep from District 6 (Maryland, Worcester, Westford, Decatur.) But with Republican
â–şCOUNTY BOARD DEADLOCK? The Story To Date
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ere’s a quick synopsis of what’s happened to date on filling the now-vacant seat on the county Board of Representatives held by state Sen.-elect Peter Oberacker: • Monday, Nov. 16, Oberacker resigns from District 6 (Maryland, Worcester, Mickle Westford, Decatur), giving his support to Oneonta businesswoman Jennifer Mickle, who chairs the Maryland Board of Assessment Review. • Tuesday, Nov. 17, county Republican Chairman Vince Casale convenes the District 6 Republican committee members, who endorsed Mickle for the job. • Wednesday, Nov. 18, a report of what’s transpiring appears on AllOTSEGO.com, surprising Democrats. • Thursday, Nov. 19, county Rep. Meg Kennedy, C-Hartwick/Milford/New Lisbon, convenes the Administration Committee, and despite heated words from Democrats, the committee approves Mickle’s nomination, 3-2, along party lines.
Oberacker’s Nov. 16 resignation from the county board, neither the GOP nor the Democrats had a majority. If Democrats, as a bloc, withheld their votes, Mickle couldn’t be elected. But neither could anyone else. A Democratic nominee, former Worcester town supervisor Diane Addesso, appeared before the board’s
• Monday, Nov. 30, Kennedy, responding to the Democrats’ dismay at the situation, reconvened the Admin Committee, which interviews the Democratic choice, former Worcester town supervisor Diane Addesso. Because Admin has already Addesso sent Mickle’s name to the full board, Democrats withdrew Addesso’s name, saying there’s no point going forward. • Wednesday, Dec. 2, the county Board of Representatives meets. Without Oberacker’s vote, Republican members lack the majority to approve Mickle. Democrats, by not voting, can block Mickle’s selection, but lack a majority to approve a candidate of their own. • Jan. 1, 2021, if Mickle was approved on Dec. 2, Republicans hold sway in reelecting the chairman, vice chairman and committee chairs, and appointing the committees. If Democrats have withheld their approval, the board’s leadership must be decided by the parties, consulting and compromising.
Administration Committee on Monday. But since Admin has already endorsed Mickle the Thursday before, Martini withdrew Addesso’s nomination before a vote. If Mickle wasn’t approved, here are three possible outcomes: • SCENARIO ONE: District 6 might now remain without a county rep until the board’s reorganization
Friday Less Black Than Usual
MALL/From A1 she was shopping on Black Friday for the first time. “My daughter really wanted to come, but it’s always too busy. Now with COVID, I didn’t think there’d be as many people.� And although it wasn’t as crowded as in years before, that doesn’t mean that the stores were empty. “It’s busier than we expected,� said Pam Morrissey, JC Penney manager. “But it’s a great year for gifts, and a lot of people are buying home appliances!� Most years, the store is open on Thanksgiving – with Morrissey bringing in a full spread to feed her employees – but this year, the doors were closed until 5 a.m. the next day. “We put a lot of COVID precautions in place,� she said. “Everyone is wearing masks, and people are buying them to give as gifts.� TJ Maxx, the mall’s other anchor, had employee Roxanne Campo out front with a counter to make sure the big box wasn’t over capacity. “We’re allowing 170 people at any one time,� she said. “We didn’t know if it was going to get busy or stay quiet.� Although there will be no in-person visits with Santa, letters may still be sent through the mall’s custom North Pole mailbox. Additionally, on Saturdays through the 19th, the mall will again host artisans and craftspeople, who can sell their wares in the center corridor, Montanti said. In addition to sanitation stations and one-way traffic patterns throughout the mall itself, stores each found their own ways to draw in customers who might otherwise be skittish about spending a day shopping. “We have some of the only open dressing rooms in the region,� said Kacey Haggerty, store leader, Maurice’s. “It’s a big attraction!� “I came in to try things on and make sure I know all my sizes, then order online,� said Kali Jones, who came in from Otego to pick up an online order at the woman’s clothing shop. “It reduces the risk.� “As a bookstore, we’re the safest place to be,� joked Mike Konze, Black Tree Books manager. “We opened at 6 a.m. and only did $2 in business in three hours.� All kidding aside, he said, many of their sales come from their new online store, which offers both shipping
and curbside pickup. “People are starting to realize that a used bookstore isn’t like a Barnes and Noble, rely on just what the district manager sends us,� he said. “We’re a resource. A lot of folks are searching for a special first edition or a rare book as a gift.�
meeting on Jan. 1, 2022, after the November 2021 elections. • SCENARIO TWO: Governor Cuomo might order a special election, but that’s rarely done, said Martini. • SCENARIO THREE: The county board has 30 days after Oberacker’s nomination – until Dec. 16 – to name a successor. If
Republicans and Democrats can agree on that person, a special Admin meeting could be scheduled, and the county board could approve him or her when it meets Dec. 15 to pass the budget. County board Chairman David Bliss, RCooperstown/Middlefield, said he wasn’t sure what would happen at Wednesday’s board meeting. Later in the day, he planned to call Rep. Andrew Marietta, D-Cooperstown/ Otsego, who the day before was quoted as saying Democrats would vote as “a bloc,� but declined to clarify what that meant. “I would hope (Democrats) would endorse Jennifer Mickle,� he said. “I’m in favor of her. I think she would be a good representative. Plus, Pete has endorsed her.� Some of the Democratic unhappiness goes back to last Jan. 1, when the Republican majority reelected David Bliss, RCooperstown/Middlefield, as chairman, and Meg Kennedy, a Conservative allied with the Republicans, as vice chair, according to county Rep. Danny Lapin, D-Oneonta.
The move broke recent precedent: A Democrat, Gary Koutnik of Oneonta, had served several terms as vice chairman. “It was disappointing,� Lapin said. “Even though Meg Kennedy makes an excellent vice chair and Dave an excellent chair. It was backsliding.� He planned to vote “no� on Mickle. “It’s not Republican or Democrat,� he said, “it’s picking the best person for the job.� The parties’ county chairman offered their assessments. “This is one of those times you put governance above politics,� said GOP Chairman Vince Casale. “I don’t think it’s in the interest of good government to allow residents and taxpayers in four towns to go without representation for an entire year.� Democratic County Chairman Clark Oliver said he hasn’t sought to pull his party’s reps behind one position or another. “That’s why I’m proud to be a Democrat,� he said. “We have smart people who work with their own constituents on their own accord, and vote the way they think.�
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Perspectives
THURSDAY, December 3, 2020
A-4 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL EDITORIALS
If You Want Public Office, You Ought To Say Why Publically
End Of Coronavirus Is Near, Multiple Vaccines Tell Us T For Now, Wear Masks, Social Distance, Avoid Crowds
Y
ou hear talk about vaccine to health workers a “second wave” by mid-December (stillof COVID-19, President Trump says next and it’s here. But take week), and to the general heart. In context, we’re public by April. OK. But it’s hard to not seeing the end of the beginning, but the beginimagine the public will have ning of the end. to wait until spring. The USA Today’s lead supply will be taking off and headline Monday was demand will be rising. “Moderna seeks emerIn an interview in early gency FDA approval for April, when this all began, COVID-19 vaccine,” In his Nov. 23 briefing, Governor Cuomo Bond told that, since 9/11, and it was echoed in this county – among many reported Cooperstown had the lowest all the national newsothers in New York State COVID infection rate in the state. papers – the New York – conducted exercises Moderna was the third out of Times, the Wall Street Journal, to see how quickly the local the Washington Post – and many the gate, after Pfizer and Astrapopulation could be vaccinated if Zeneca sought FDA approval in local ones that still publish on biological warfare struck. the past week.. Mondays. The answer: Staff and volOur county public health That was foretold last week on unteer nurses could vaccinate the front page of this paper: “VAC- director, Heidi Bond, echoes the everyone in the county in four national predictions: We can CINE DUE: Local Drugstores days. Four days. Prepare To Give Protective Shots.” expect to begin administering a Please See EDITORIAL, A5
he county board’s Administration Committee set a poor precedent in deciding to interview candidates for state Sen.elect Peter Oberacker’s District 6 seat in “executive session” – that is, in secret, out of the public view. The county attorney, Ellen Coccoma, last week advised the Admin Committee when it interviewed the Republican candidate, Jennifer Mickle, that whether to do so in public or not was optional, up to the reps. To close the door instead of opening it was the wrong way to go. It was bi-partisan poor judgment, too. At this past Monday’s Admin meeting to interview the Democratic nominee, Diane Addesso, at least county Rep. Adrienne Martini, D-Oneonta, questioned if darkness should trump light. Then she said, oh, never mind. Admin Committee chair Meg Kennedy, C-Hartwick/Milford/ New Lisbon, made the motion,
and Republicans Ed Frazier and Keith McCarty, and Democrat Andrew Marietta, as well as Martini, went along. If Mickle, Addesso and Libertarian Andrew Hamill ran for the seat, they would have had to answer questions in public from the public. Why should they get a free ride into Oberacker’s seat without having to tell the public in this limited manner why they want the job and what they would do with it? After all, when crowned by their fellow representatives, Mickle, Addesso or Hamill would be participating in votes that will have an impact on all of us living in Otsego County. When this sorry process is over, soul-searching is warranted by all county reps. The state Committee on Open Government is available to conduct a training session for the board, but it’s as much a question of attitude: Does county government belong to everyone, or to them alone?
LETTERS
These Facts Correct: After Vacancy Rift, Bi-Partisan Trust Needs Rebuilding Guns Are Killing Us
To the Editor: In his most recent letters to the editor on the subject of gun regulation, Mr. Brockway seems to have the shoe on the wrong foot when it comes to factual statements, a particularly bad error for a blacksmith. In addition to his past claims that the Democratic presidential candidates all wanted to take your guns away, which he surely knew to be false – none of them had ever said any such thing - he has now decided that Kirsten Gillibrand wants to put you in jail for not surrendering them. Oh please. And with regard to the consequences of the Australian gun buy-back program, the statement that
To the Editor: The run of bi-partisanship on the county Board of Representatives has there was a 400 percent been interrupted by the Republican increase in gun violence caucus’ recent efforts to steamroll as a consequence was long through a replacement for Representaago flagged by Facebook as tive Oberacker. false information. In fact During my two and a half terms on there has been a decrease in the county board, cooperation between gun-related shootings and parties has ebbed and flowed. Since crimes of violence since the the 2017 election it has been split 7-7 measures taken in Australia. between Democrats and RepublicanHere are some facts for affiliated members. him, and if he disagrees with Thankfully, a bi-partisan governthem he can argue with the ing coalition and leadership team was editors of the New England Journal of Medicine and Pediatrics, which is the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. From Pediatrics, 2019: STATE GUN LAWS AND PEDIATRIC FIREARMRELATED MORTALITY: “States with laws requiring universal background Please See WHELAN, A6
ascendant and the board increased its productivity and collegiality. There was an understanding that it was in the county’s interest for the party caucuses to work with each other. Representative Bliss has been selected as chair three years running, in votes that relied on support from both parties. Some cracks began to show in January 2020 as the leadership team became fully Republican after two years of shared leadership with a chair and vice chair from different parties. But cooperation mostly continued until this month.
With Representative Oberacker’s recent election to state Senate, he is set to take office in January 2021. This will create a vacancy in his county district because his board term runs through December 2021. \ The board’s Rules of Order and local law clearly outline how to fill vacancy, within 30 days and with nominees submitted by both major parties, to be voted on by the Administration Committee and then the full board. Unfortunately the Republican caucus apparently coordinated to prevent Please See STAMMEL, A6
Oh, Say, Could We See... ...Old Glory flying at full staff at the corner of Main and Pioneer in downtown Cooperstown? Sunday, Nov. 30, there it was, soaring in the wind. Monday, it was back to half-staff. Police Chief Frank Cavileri said the officer in charge of flag raising that day wasn’t aware of the strictures. Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch pointed out, “We are still in PAUSE.”
SAFE Foes, Pay For Challenge
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Cooperstown’s Newspaper
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To the Editor: If gun enthusiasts wish to challenge the constitutionality of New York State gun laws, the ensuing court cases should be done on their own dollar. This will end up in the taxpayers’ lap if the county Board of Representatives agrees to a “gun sanctuary.” For the county board to take on this role would be financially highly irresponsible, especially in light of the budgetary constraints which just forced layoffs of 58 employees. ANTOINETTE KUZMINSKI M.D. Fly Creek
For 212 Years
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James C. Kevlin Editor & Publisher
Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
Tara Barnwell
Advertising Director & General Manager
BE AFRAID, BUT DO IT ANYWAY
Libby Cudmore
Managing Editor
Larissa Ryan Business Manager
Kathleen Peters Graphics & Production
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The Joys, Challenges Of Retirement
om told me that they ing job at a factory. After a string of promised her the “Goldhorrible jobs. en Years” but she got the • Elizabeth Cooper Ian Austin Correspondent Photographer “Rust Years.” Not her Ozzie and Harriet dream. But good money to feed her family. She had dreamed of retiring. Yet Ivan Potocnik Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart after a couple of weeks into retireMom was careful and saved from Web Architect Consultant ment her litany changed from “can’t every paycheck. She belonged to a wait to retire” to telling me: “Don’t union and got a good pension. She IN MEMORIAM: Mary Joan Kevlin, Co-Publisher, 2006-17 do it’’. planned golden years of traveling. OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR My Mom was born when women After a couple months staying at Otsego County • Village of Cooperstown • Village of Milford were supposed to stay home, while ERNA MORGAN home she wanted to go back to work. Cooperstown Central School District their husbands supported the family. A week or two on a bus tour was OK, McREYNOLDS MEMBER: National Newspaper Association, NY Press Association But, my Dad, Mom’s husband, but she didn’t want “vacation” all of Subscriptions Rates: Otsego County, $69 a year. All other areas, $89 a year. lost their farm and his health. He the time. First Class Subscription, $155 a year. became too ill to work. With three girls under Any point here? Sure. You have probably Mom’s “Golden Years” Published Thursdays by Iron String Press, Inc. the age of 5 at home, my Mom had to go to already figured out that I did what most of us were “Rust Years.” 21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown NY 13326 work. She got lucky and landed a good-payPlease See ERNA, A6 Telephone: (607) 547-6103. Fax: (607) 547-6080. E-mail: info@allotsego.com • www.allotsego.com Contents © Iron String Press, Inc.
AllOTSEGO.com• MORE LETTERS, A5
LETTERS TO EDITOR WELCOME • EMAIL THEM TO info@
THURSDAY, December 3, 2020
BOUND VOLUMES
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL A-5
Compiled by Tom Heitz/SHARON STUART, with resources courtesy of The Fenimore Art Museum Research Library
200 YEARS AGO
Thanksgiving --- Wednesday next is the day recommended by the Chief Magistrate of this State to be set apart for Public Thanksgiving and Prayer to Almighty God. The inhabitants of this County, being principally emigrants from New England, and accustomed to venerate the examples of their forefathers, it is presumed a recommendation so consonant with their practices, will meet with the most respectful consideration, and that setting aside the things of time and sense, they will, with one heart, join in devout aspirations of prayer and thanksgiving, for the innumerable mercies and benefactions of their common Father in Heaven. December 4, 1820
75 YEARS AGO
interesting, from the text: “Say not thou that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not consider wisely concerning this.” The material interests of the country were not discussed. The comparisons were along the line of the nation’s growth in education, morality and religion – “and there is a steady growth, and the former days were not better than these.” The discourse was one well calculated to turn away the thoughts of the hearers for the hour from the daily ambitions, cares and worries of life, and to afford cheer and courage in the contemplation of matters of higher import. A collection was taken for the benefit of The Thanksgiving Hospital. December 5, 1895
100 YEARS AGO
175 YEARS AGO
Advertisement: Dentistry – William S. Barnard respectfully informs the inhabitants of Otsego and adjoining counties that he is located at Milford, for the practice of DENTAL SURGERY in all its branches. His office is on River Street, two doors south of the Presbyterian Church, upstairs, where he will be happy to wait upon those who will favor him with a call in the line of his profession. Teeth of his setting may be seen in the Village, which have been in use five years, proving perfectly satisfactory. All operations at the following prices will be warranted equal to any in the State of New York, or no charge: Whole set on gold plate -- $65.00. Small plates, proportionately low. Teeth on pivot, each $1.50; filled with gold 65 cents; filled with composition 35 cents; Set of teeth cleansed 50 cents. December 6, 1845
150 YEARS AGO
Death of our oldest citizen – Mr. Charles Thurston, the oldest resident of this village, died December 2, and was buried with Masonic honors on Sunday last. He was born in North Stonington, CT., July 2, 1780, and was in his ninety-first year. He had resided in this town 80 years, and in Cooperstown since 1816. Mr. T. was for many years in the employ of the Messrs. Phinney, who esteemed him an excellent and faithful work-
December 5, 1945 man. He was always an ardent Democrat, and when asked on November 8 whether he would go to the polls and vote for Hoffman, replied “Yes, if it kills me.” December 8, 1870
125 YEARS AGO
Thanksgiving Day this year came on November 28 and the weather was superb – neither too warm, nor too cold, and the sun shining brightly all day long. The attendance at the Union services in the Methodist Church was quite large, and the sermon by the Rev. Mr. McHarg most appropriate and
Cooperstown Girls Play Basketball – Friday evening was the occasion of two lively games of basketball, one between the “Bluebirds” and the “Juniors,” with a score of 3 to 1, the three points being the dexterous throws by Miss Ann Hyde of the “Juniors.” Frances Byard scored the point for the Bluebirds.” In the first half, their allowed time having expired after neither team had scored, they clamored for a second trial. This was granted after some hesitation, yielding the eventual result. Teams from Hartwick Seminary and high school freshmen then took possession of the boards. The high school fellows easily led the visitors all through the contest, the game closing in their favor with a score of 31 to 9. December 8, 1920
50 YEARS AGO
The Service Guild of the Presbyterian Church will meet Monday, December 7 at 8 p.m. at the home of Mrs. Frederick H. McGown, Jr. Mrs. Jane Oldham, who teaches children under the BOCES program for Otsego and Delaware counties will be the speaker. There are also Christmas projects to work on. Hugh Cooke MacDougall of New York City spent the Thanksgiving weekend with his grandmother, Mrs. Joseph B. Cooke at her home on Chestnut Street. Mr. and Mrs. Waldo T. Ellsworth of
LETTER
End Of An Era: The Groff Era
Editor’s Note: This a letter of appreciation to the communities from Dr. Jerry Groff, who recently retired after decades among the hospital’s leadership.
25 YEARS AGO
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was abuzz Tuesday as Ted Spencer, curator, took his spot in front of the statues of Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, waiting for his cue to be on television. Spencer was just one of many people interviewed from 7 to 9 a.m. for a live broadcast segment of “Good Day New York” a New York City-based television program that aims to bring vacation spots within driving distance of the city to viewers. Host Jim Ryan and correspondent Donna Hanover (wife of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani) were in Cooperstown, along with about 15 television technicians and producers. December 3, 1995
10 YEARS AGO
Seismic Testing for natural gas deposits was underway along Beaver Meadow road near Cooperstown. Gastem Inc., the Montreal-based exploration concern, had just completed its first vertical frack on Crumhorn Mountain and was preparing for another in Cherry Valley’s Irish Hollow. Then came word from Albany on Monday, November 29, of the lop-sided 93-43 approval for a state-wide drilling moratorium on the much-feared method of discovering and extracting natural gas from deep subterranean shale deposits. Local environmental groups and their supporters who have opposed fracking for more than a year were exultant. “This is a very significant achievement,” said Nicole Dillingham, President of Otsego 2000, a member organization in the anti-fracking coalition. December 2, 2010
LIFE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Doctor In The House (Isolated)
L
T
oday is Thanksgiving 2020. The historic challenges and losses in the past year remind us to take extra time to give thanks for the things that have been good in our lives. I completed my 37-year career at Bassett in October, and with that came the final move from Cooperstown to be close to family in New England. In 1977, when we arrived in town, Adam was a 1-year- old toddler, Lauren was born at Bassett Hospital the next year, and Sarah was small when we returned in 1986. The Cooperstown community of friends became our extended family. Jeannine and I will always be grateful for your warmth
Cooperstown have announced the engagement of their daughter Eleanore Taylor Ellsworth to Hugh Cooke MacDougall, son of Hugh MacDougall and the late Ursula Cooke MacDougall of New York and Cooperstown. Thanksgiving weekend guests at the home of Mrs. Charles D. Ellsworth on Pioneer Street were her son Gerald, a graduate student at the University of Michigan and Mrs. Roy Baker of Rochester. December 2, 1970
The latest Groff family photo includes dad Jerry (at the back); best-selling novelist Lauren (second row, third from left); mom Jeannine (next to Lauren); physician son Adam (second row, right), and Olympic tri-athlete Sarah Groff True, (lower left).
and caring. Bassett Hospital has been my professional home and I still believe in its mission. Since the usual farewells were not possible, let me say that among the great privileges of my career are the trust of my patients and the dedication of my colleagues. It is my sincere hope that
the tradition of Bassett continues into the future. The Groff family will visit Cooperstown whenever we can (speaking of which, who has housing for Hall of Fame weekend?!). When we do come back, it will surely feel as though we never left. Thank you. JERRY GROFF
ike many of us this Once my daughter arrived Monday before ThanksgivThanksgiving, my family had a very ing, our pod had no contact truncated get together and with any other individuals dinner. throughout her My daughter visvisit. ited from Annapolis, • Md. She had been Nevertheless, we self-isolating, had were instructed to rarely gone out, self-isolate this past always took precauweekend. My housemate, tions, and was tested the week before she who has had a mild decided to come chronic cough for visit. seven months, We decided that RICHARD decided to go to the STERNBERG Bassett after-hours the risk of being infected by her was care center. She very, very minimal after all was evaluated, prescribed of these precautions, and steroid medication and an invited her. antihistamine, and was told I myself have been follow- it was probably chronic ing precautions and avoidbronchitis and she was dising contact except when charged. absolutely necessary. My A COVID-19 test was housemate works at Bassett taken and she was told that Hospital. She takes all preshe needed to isolate and cautions and has refrained everyone else in her pod from unnecessary contact. needed to isolate until the test came back and it could be determined whether it was positive or negative.
EDITORIAL: Vaccinations Near; Meanwhile, Stay Safe EDITORIAL/From A4 • The good news has been sensibly muted by the remaining threat. Public officials – our mayors, in particular, who are on the front lines – don’t want to say we’re out of the woods. And we aren’t. Still, it was particularly heartening when Governor Cuomo, in his daily briefing Nov. 23, identified Cooperstown as the community with the lowest infection rate in the state, 0.24 percent – about one person in 400. That’s one quarter of one percent, compared to Lancaster, the Buffalo suburb, at a high of 9.68 – about one person in 10. Cooperstown’s low rate didn’t just happen. Mayor Tillapaugh and the Village Board have been constant and unanimous in messaging: wear masks, social distance, avoid crowds. That the village could be singled out after hosting people from around the country over the summer – fewer certainly – affirms the local leadership. • Still, countywide we’re in the midst of that predicted second wave, with
daily infections hitting a one-day record of 30 last week. This past Monday, there were 19 in-county cases reported. The City of Oneonta, after largely avoiding infections from 700-plus cases that erupted on SUNY Oneonta at the end of August, is now the epicenter of this second wave. With local bars as the flashpoints, 66 of last week’s 130 cases countywide were in the city and town of Oneonta. Like Tillapaugh, Oneonta’s Gary Herzig has been an activist mayor, using his bully pulpit to promote safety measures, and forming the “Survive, Then Thrive” committee to do what might be done to help the local economy. Early on, he raised the alarm that things were awry at SUNY Oneonta, paving the way for COVID-fighter Dennis Craig’s appointment as interim president. Craig is working his way around pockets of faculty resistance, building consensus around a reopening plan, aimed for now at Feb. 1, but – Craig is the first to say – subject to adjustment, depending where we are at the time. •
All that said, the emerging national FOOD FOR THOUGHT strategy for rolling out the vaccinations makes sense. Certainly, vaccinate front-line and healthcare workers first. Then, vaccinate everyone over 50. The numbers suggest that will nder Goverlargely eradicate the plague. nor Cuomo’s As of Nov. 25, 240,213 Americans COVID-19 had died of COVID, according to the regulations), churches and Centers for Disease Control. Of those, synagogues are limited to 220,852 were 55 and over; 19,361 a maximum of 25 people. were under 55. These restrictions apply That means 92 percent of COVID’s even to the largest cathevictims have been 55 and older; only 8 drals and synagogues, which percent, 54 and younger. ordinarily hold hundreds. About 30 percent of all Americans And the restrictions apply are 55 and older, yet they make up 92 no matter the precautions percent of victims. Vaccinate a third taken, including social of the nation (110 million people of distancing, wearing masks, 320 million total), solve 92 percent of leaving doors and windows the problem. open, forgoing singing, and It’s a cold calculation, but a practidisinfecting spaces between cal one. services. Meanwhile, nobody wants to be the At the same time, the last person to die from COVID. And, Governor has chosen to imwhile the odds are much, much better pose no capacity restrictions for younger Americans, nobody’s com- on certain businesses he pletely safe. For the love of the people considers “essential.” And it who love you, wear masks, social turns out the businesses the distance, avoid crowds.
We were told this would take two to three days. • Personally, I felt that the probability that my housemate had active COVID-19 based on her history of present illness was no greater than that of the general population in this area. The process she had was chronic, there were no acute changes, she showed no common symptoms of COVID-19, and she was afebrile. Even if this had been triggered by infection with the virus, which itself was very unlikely, the active stage was long passed by many months ago. Given the situation I was tempted and briefly considered whether the instructions were valid. Nevertheless, we followed them to the letter and only today when the lab report came back “no detectable virus” did we stop our Please See STERNBERG, A6
Acupuncture = Churches
(U
Governor considers essential include hardware stores, acupuncturists, and liquor stores. Bicycle repair shops, certain signage companies, accountants, lawyers, and insurance agents are all essential too. So, at least according to the Governor, it may be unsafe to go to church, but it is always fine to pick up another bottle of wine, shop for a new bike, or spend the afternoon exploring your distal points and meridians. Who knew public health would so perfectly align with secular convenience? NEIL J. GORSUCH Supreme Court Justice Concurring on Diocese of Brooklyn vs. Andrew M. Cuomo
THURSDAY, December 3, 2020
A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA
ERNA: Retirement Can Be Scary. At First It Was, But It Worked Out
ERNA/From A4 do – I didn’t follow Mom’s advice. I retired. Afraid as always. Maybe this time I was right. Did you know 10,000 baby boomers retire every day? You don’t need any statistics. You know. You live it every day. Your long-time doctor and your lawyer have retired. Your plumber. Electrician. A year or so ago it seemed that all of the local CEOs, college and hospital presidents retired the same week. • Are they like Mom? Regretting every day that they retired? Baby Boomers do retire a few years later than
STERNBERG: He Attests Household Survived Cautions
STERNBERG/From A5 immediate self-quarantine. My daughter, who had driven home is going through a two-week quarantine just for visiting, even though Cooperstown has one of the lowest rates of infection in the country right now • It’s tempting to say that we know better, we understand the odds better, or we don’t feel bad and ignore medical advice. Nevertheless, it is critical to follow these instructions. It’s better to err on the side of caution then to assume that there aren’t any problems and proceed from that point. The rate of infection has been going up constantly to new daily highs. The number of confirmed infections daily in the United States has been going up dramatically. The number of daily deaths is going up. It’s still not clear how many people have actually been infected. A study last week from the CDC suggested that the actual infection rate may be up to eight times greater than the documented infection rate. This, of course, would decrease the rate of death from the infection, since the number of deaths divided by the new number of total cases would be decreased. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t decrease the daily number of deaths due to the infection. • I was annoyed, in denial, argumentative, and generally all around ticked off to be told what to do when I didn’t think it was necessary. But that’s why we have medical professionals and of course a doctor who chooses to treat himself, has a fool for a patient. Thankfully we got the all-clear today and we can go back to our lives albeit in the new normal. Before we did get permission to end quarantine a day of work was lost, several appointments had to be canceled or rescheduled and a pending important clinic visit for myself was in the process of being rescheduled. But it was necessary and correct in the fight against the virus. Richard Sternberg, retired Bassett Hospital orthopedic surgeon, is providing his professional perspective weekly during the COVID-19 threat. A village trustee, he resides in Cooperstown.
the Greatest Generation. They are healthier and more active. But many work. Some because they can’t afford not to, but many are just like my Mom. She really wanted a longer vacation. When she wanted to take it. Not a permanent vacation. Recently I commiserated with a 36 year old. He went from a structured job – which he loved – to self-employed when his wife took a job on a remote Caribbean island. A sort of retirement. Hard to do, he said. No structure. No people coming at you making you react. No co-workers. He liked some of the freedom but he misses having a regular job. Two months later he fell dead
from a heart attack. A week earlier I had coffee with a 67 year old who had retired almost two years ago. He has nightmares about his job. He loved his job. Didn’t really want to retire but it was time. Intellectually he was at the top of his game. But he had great successors from the next generation. He did the right thing, he believes. But why the nightmares? Does he have a mental illness? Is this normal, he worried? • Why do we have friends who say they love retirement? That they never missed their jobs. Did they hate their jobs and count the days to retire-
ment – those golden years? For me, I retired at the right time, for the right reasons. I had plans. Spend more time with some terrific non-profits with which I work. Mentor? Take up those old passions like gardening, go out for coffee or lunch. I knew how I should prepare to retire. I coached clients for 30 years. “You’ll have a black pit ahead of you. Plan”, I told them. Frightening. Retirement – terrified me. Fear drove a planning frenzy for the next third of my life. My French teacher was right – I am a perfectionist. I intended to corral my fears and do this perfectly. But even with all of that
STAMMEL: GOP Should Reflect On Returning Trust, Collegiality
STAMMEL/From A4 Democratic input into this process, rejecting bi-partisanship. Representative Oberacker inexplicably submitted his resignation letter a month and a half prior to commencing his new position, unexpectedly vacating the board prior to important votes on the annual budget and other matters. His resignation letter was dated Nov. 13 to take effect the 16th; but it was not received by the board clerk until Nov. 17 (according to the date stamp). The clerk did not share the resignation with the Board members until the 18th, a day after the local Republican Committee met to nominate a replacement. Upon receipt of the resignation letter, the Democratic board members inquired with board leadership about the process for moving forward and how the Democratic Committee could submit a name (the committee had a regular meeting scheduled for the 19th). These inquiries were ignored by leadership, and the Administration Committee voted on the morning of the 19th, along party lines, to approve the Republican nominee. Does this sound like collegial bi-partisanship? It sounds like a fishy partisan power move to me, contrary to the letter and spirit of county law. The county board now has seven Democratic members, six Republicanaffiliated members, and one vacancy. Democrats have a plurality in weighted voting on the board but neither party has a majority. Bi-partisan cooperation will be required to move forward on any items, including the filling of this vacancy.
It had been my expectation that the board would fill the vacancy as I believed that to be in the county’s best interest. I also expected that the board would choose a Republican, as this is historically a conservative district. But now I ask myself what the Republican plurality would do if the shoe were on the other foot. Would they keep open a vacancy in a traditionally Democratic district and press their advantage to maintain their plurality and greater control over the Board? If you had asked me a year ago, I would opine that the Republicans would probably do the right thing and fill the vacancy. Today, after their latest maneuvers, I’m not sure. The success of our county and board depends on restoring bi-partisan respect. With the county still fighting a pandemic and dealing with a likely double-dip recession, we need a highfunctioning and fully staffed board. Although the timing of the filling of this vacancy is unknown, I do not plan to keep the position vacant for over a year and I expect some of my Democratic colleagues feel similarly. But we also need the GOP caucus to work to rebuild bridges and trust. Like any relationship, this one requires work and good faith on both sides. I hope the holidays and New Year allow my Republican colleagues to reflect on their recent actions and consider how they can contribute to restoring trust and collegiality. ANDREW STAMMEL County Representative District 4, Town of Oneonta
planning I spent my first year in mourning. I missed my colleagues. I missed my clients. I missed feeing useful. My friend with nightmares is suffering too. • At a conference with my Adviser Hall of Fame colleagues – many of whom are my age – they applauded my courage. Said they envied me. They’re afraid to retire. Some know they’re staying too long. Missing the chance to spend time with their spouse, children, grandchildren. To do charitable work. Give back. Pick up those old hobbies abandoned to climb to the top. Like the 77-year-old with whom I had dinner last night?
Afraid? Her husband is sliding into dementia. He retired 17 years ago. “Be Afraid but Do it Anyway” still seems to be working. Now a couple of years later retirement seems less scary, not so heartbreaking. Eventually I plunged into my plans and some unexpected projects too. COVID has upended life, but also has bestowed its blessings. Erna Morgan McReynolds, raised in Gilbertsville, is retired managing director/ financial adviser at Morgan Stanley’s Oneonta Office, and an inductee in the Barron’s magazine National Adviser Hall of Fame. She lives in Franklin.
WHELAN: The More Guns Sold, The More Deaths From Shooting
WHELAN/From A4 checks for firearms purchase in effect for equal to or more than five years had lower pediatric mortality rates.” From Pediatrics, 2017: “The shooter playing with a gun was the most common circumstance surrounding unintentional firearm deaths of both older and younger children.” From the New England Journal of Medicine, 2018: Fifteen per cent of all deaths in children and adolescents were firearm related. Of all firearm deaths at all ages, 26 percent occurred among children and adolescents. In March and April of 2020, gun sales soared, a typical American response to feeling threatened, this time by a virus - perhaps people thought they could shoot it - and pediatric deaths from unintentional shootings by children increased by 45 percent compared to the rates in the preceding three years, as more guns became domestically available. These facts add up to an appalling number of firearm related deaths, many of which could be prevented by banning assault weapons, reducing permissible magazine loads, and requiring safe storage and documentable ownership. Screening out mentally unstable persons from access to ownership is also entirely appropriate, and in fact has been upheld by the Supreme Court. The Second Amendment was never meant to confer any right to indiscriminate ownership or use. Mr. Brockway for some reason refers to deaths occurring in urban “war zones” as being “questionable”. What in the world does that mean?
And what is the relevance of opioidrelated deaths, DWI deaths, or the Twin Towers? I’m glad not to be blamed (as a physician) for contributing to the opioid epidemic, but I would never take legislation intended to prevent overprescribing personally. The fact remains that firearm related deaths can be reduced by sensible legislation; that sanctuaries are for people, not inanimate objects, and that the courts of New York have held that nothing in the SAFE Act is in conflict with the Second Amendment. It does not impede target practice or traditional hunting. You may not like it, but that’s the way it is. If you don’t like it you could try to overturn it by legal means - Adrian Kuzminski, in a recent piece in this paper, offers the model of appeals to the principle of “Home Rule” - but as a state law it does surely confer an obligation for enforcement, both on the part of county board members and the police, as it stands. And you don’t need assault weapons - which were not even conceived of by the framers of the Second Amendment - to hunt, target shoot, or protect yourself in your own home. It’s fine that Mr. Brashear and his friends and family wouldn’t want to be around people who don’t respect their firearms, but it should also be a legal obligation to register them, keep them safely away from children and adolescents, and take full responsibility for their use and transfer, which obviously isn’t happening now. What are the objections to that? MARY ANNE WHELAN, MD Cooperstown
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All
OTSEGO.life
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2020
Bresee’s Elaine Bresee adjusts Santa’s hat at the Greater Oneonta Historical Society, where he is on display, much like he used to be in the windows of Bresee’s and, later, in front of Marc and Elaine’s Milford Center home. Below, Elaine shows off the pants from the store’s original Santa costume.
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Lives
what’s fun
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BEST BETS
This cheeky Christmas card, from 1882, is part of the Fenimore Art Museums “Deck the Halls” exhibit, opening this weekend.
Deck The Halls, Tour By Candle And Hear Carols
AllOTSEGO.life
Ian Austin/
Restored Five Years Ago, Jolly Elf Reclaims His Stature In Downtown By LIBBY CUDMORE
►IF YOU GO: Bresee’s Santa and
ONEONTA
E
ven Santa Claus sometimes needs a little work done. For the past five years, he’s been a Christmas Time treat at the Greater Oneonta Historical Society, but for many years after Bresee’s Department Store closed down in the 1990s, he was out of the public eye.
his mailbox will be at The Greater Oneonta Historical Society, 183 Main Street, through the Christmas season. An entourage of elves are with him through Dec. 7.
“He had been in our warehouse, and we rescued him,” said Elaine Bresee, Milford Center, whose husband Marc was one of the last family members to manage the namesake downtown Oneonta department store. Please See SANTA, B2
JOYCE MASON SAVED ‘LORD’S KITCHEN,’ AND MUCH MORE
Oneonta ‘Missionary At Heart’ Retires – For Now By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA
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n 2008, Joyce Mason, working as a missionary in Honduras, got an urgent message that she was needed at home in Oneonta. “Opportunities for Otsego had decided to Ian Austin/ OTSEGO.life give the Lord’s Table two Joyce Mason is retiring as Lord’s Table weeks’ notice that they director after rescuing the food pantry would no longer run it,” 10 years ago.
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f people are hungry, you have to feed them.”
JOYCE MASON Retiring Director, The Lord’s Table
she said. “And although they tried to limp along, it wasn’t enough.” After locating a landline phone to talk with the staff at St. James Episcopal Church, Mason came back to Oneonta as director of the nightly feeding ministry and the Loaves &
Fishes food pantry. “I got home on May 31,” she said. “I went into work on June 2, and I’ve been here ever since.” And at the end of the year, Mason will retire from feeding families, the elderly and the disenfranchised after 22 years of service. “If people are hungry, you have to feed them,” she said. “That’s important. It doesn’t matter if they’re rich or poor or sideways. Please See MASON, B2
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL • HOMETOWN ONEONTA
T
he art and décor of Christmas is on display as the Fenimore Art Museum presents “Decking the Halls,” a new exhibit celebrating the holidays with images and objects from their collections. 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, The Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. www. fenimoreartmuseum. org/ • Afterwards, bundle up and take a private candlelight tour of The LIBBY Farmers’ Museum CUDMORE and learn about how Christmas was celebrated in the historic village. Reservations required. 3 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 4-5. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. www.farmersmuseum.org/ • It’s Christmas on Fifth Avenue without having to leave the county as artists and business owners fill Cherry Valley windows with cheery displays. Carolers sing in the gazebo at 1 p.m., lights come on at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Main Street, Cherry Valley. www.instagram. com/lightupcherryvalley/ • Sidney Waller shares sites to visit on a Civil Rights-themed trip through the South in “From Antebellum to Anti-Racism: Redirecting Your Down South Tourism.” 3-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, Cooperstown Village Library www.facebook. com/VillageLibraryOfCooperstown/ • The Otsego County Cooperative Extension hosts a Zoom talk show with a guest bartender and previews of their upcoming year. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. www.occainfo.org
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THURSDAY, december 3, 2020
Oneonta Samaritan Retires – But For How Long? GOHS Santa Shines Again MASON/From B1 Anyone can come.” A native of Forrest Hills, Mason moved to Sidney with her husband, James. He passed away in 1995, leaving her with their two sons, James and Peter. “After they graduated high school, I became a missionary,” she said. “And I was sent to Honduras.” But when she got back, there was much work to be done to get the pantry and the kitchen where they needed to be to serve the city’s hungry. “When I got here, it was not a happy situation,” she said. “So much of what was in the freezers wasn’t labeled, and I had to throw everything in the dumpster. It made me very sad.”
She immediately set to restocking the fridges. “I ordered food from the Regional Food Bank and, sometimes, from restaurants or catered events, like weddings,” she said. “And I started calling every group I could get to help serve the meals.” With the First United Methodist Church hosting Saturday’s Bread, and the Salvation Army offering the “Meal With a Message,” a hot meal is offered free of charge seven days a week in the city. “There is no place else between Albany and Binghamton that does that,” Mason said. “And in a town this size, we’re absolutely blessed to have three meal
service programs.” In 2018, Mason spearheaded the formation of the Otsego County Hunger Coalition, creating a network of all the food pantries, feeding programs and farmers’ markets in the county to make sure everyone has access to food wherever they may be. But there have been challenges along the way. “After the flood of 2011, we were the Otsego County Disaster Feeding program,” she said. “St. Mary’s was housing people, many of them from Lantern Hill” – the Southside trailer park – “and we had to feed them three meals a day.’ She was preparing lunch for the flood victims one afternoon when she smelled
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dining&entertainment
IT’S HERE!!!!!
THE GREAT OTSEGO HOLIDAY LIGHT TRAIL NOW to December 31, 2020
The map of local, spectacular light displays is up and running! Gather the family! Call some friends! Load up the car! Go to Facbook, then to The Great Otsego Light Trail. Like us then Begin The Journey! Follow the lights on the map and enjoy the best lights in the region! ALSO AllOtsego.com and Destination Oneonta facebook pages will have the interactive map as well! Don’t forget to add your favorite light displays and photos to the page too!
LEAF
Share the joy.... Share the light this season!
smoke. “The food pantry was on fire,” she said. Rather than shut down, the pantry moved into St. James and continued its ministry. “We were closed from Friday to Tuesday,” she said. “We had to keep it going.” The pantry was rededicated in March 2012, and Mason was lauded by Father Kenneth Hunter for continuing to feed the most needy among them. And this year, the ministries had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the Lord’s Table to go to take-out only. This year, 3,642 households have received food, the highest number in five years. “It’s tough for the older people especially,” she said. “They need that socialization of sitting down and having a meal with somebody. It’s not available to us right now, but as soon as we can reopen, we will.” It has also limited the food available at the pantry. “We’re having a lot of trouble getting beef or pork,” she said. “It’s just not available.” While Mason is leaving her post at year’s end, she doesn’t expect to stay put for long in her retirement. “I’m a missionary at heart,” she said. “I go where I’m needed.”
SANTA/From B1 “We had him outside in our sleigh every year,” said Elaine, but as the years went by, the wintry weather took its toll on the 1930s fixture, which was a centerpiece of the department store’s holiday decorations for decades. “He was starting to get pretty trashed,” she said. “His fingers had broken off, and he was starting to fade.” So in 2013, the couple had him repaired, and in 2015 donated the figure to the Greater Oneonta Historical Society, where it has once again become part of downtown shoppers’ Christmas expectations. The restoration was done by Marjean McCaslin-Doyle, the costume shop manager in SUNY Oneonta’s Theatre Department, and it was a challenge. “Someone had tried to curl his beard at one point,” she said. “But it’s synthetic hair, so it had gotten singed.” She bought him a new mustache and gently cleaned and restored the original beard. His hand-tied wig also needed restoration, and worse, no longer hid the holes in his head. “I had to fill, paint and seal the scalp,” she said. His lips were similarly
deteriorated, with holes between the beard and mustache. “The face was in the worst condition,” she said. “The rose in his cheeks had been rubbed off, and there was a lot of effort in trying to match the original colors.” She ordered a set of plaster mannequin hands, but also made a cast of one hand. It came out so well, she doesn’t remember which hand is bought and which one she made. “It took two years, but she restored him,” said Elaine. “She was so careful in ordering just the right hands so that they matched the rest of him.” His costume – one of the two original Bresee’s Santa suits – was restored by Kathleen Moore, one of Marjean’s colleagues in SUNY’s costume department. “The collar and the cuffs are real rabbit fur,” she said. “And the suit is very heavy wool, not like the material they use now. It’s amazingly made – it wouldn’t have lasted this long otherwise.” Once restored, the Bresees donated the plaster Santa – as well as the Santa Chair and the mailbox – to GOHS in 2015. “Letters in the mailbox were always answered for the longest time,” said Marc Bresee. “There would be about 75-100 of them, but then when people started really coming, we couldn’t answer them all.” Instead, Marc said, each visiting child was given a candy cane and a coloring book, with a promise that Santa would read the letter. Even now, a letter still shows up on occasion. “This one says, ‘I would like robots, please!’” said Bob Brzozowski, GOHS executive director. “But I don’t know who sent it!” And Santa can’t sit in an ordinary chair, but instead, sits on the Bresee’s Santa Chair, which was made by the store’s in-house carpenters for the Jolly Old Elf to meet with visitors. “We toyed with donating these for about five years,” she said. “I always have trouble parting with things from the store.” But they haven’t parted with all of the store’s Santa ephemera yet. Bresee’s kept two suits, as well as a wig and beard on hand, so that one could be sent for cleaning while the other was being worn – including by Bresee’s most famous Santa, Clark Chaplin. “Of course, Clark always had his own beard,” she said. Marc wore the suit to dress up for his children when they were kids, and for his father, Phillip, when he was at the Thanksgiving Home. “They were having cocktail hour one Thursday, and in he came in the full suit!” he said. “They were all very happy to see me. In 2019, the Bresee’s loaned the second suit for Orpheus Theatre’s production of “Elf.” Santa’s sleigh – also a decoration from Bresee’s – has returned to the couple’s porch, with two former store mannequins, a boy and a girl, dressed in cozy red pajamas as they wave to passerbys. And a new Santa is there too. “He’s not as beautiful as the other one,” said Elaine. “But another one will come along.”
THURSDAY, december 3, 2020
WANTED: Journalists to SUCCEED
Libby Cudmore at our newspapers
D
ear Friends,
produce a newspaper. As important is what Libby brought to a lively, committed workplace – creativity, curiosity, cheerfulness and a capacity for hard work.
Our managing editor for the past decade, Libby Cudmore, has told us she will be pursuing a career in higher education, begin►REPORTERS ning Jan. 1. We’re thankful for and We’re also looking for one fullappreciative of Libby’s substantial time or two part-time reporters to contributions for so long to the help cover the news of Oneonta, growing success of Hometown Cooperstown and the county at Oneonta, The Freeman’s Journal large. Writing skills essential, phoand www.AllOTSEGO.com. tography skills helpful. Her pending departure means a If these opportunities appeal to loss of talent, energy and dedicayou, please send initial inquiries to Libby Cudmore tion. It also comes as we look jimk@allotsego.com and, if availahead with optimism to the retreat able, a resume. Our hope is to fill of COVID-19 over the next weeks and months, these position soon, so Libby can play a role in and the revenue and growth opportunities that training her successor and working with our will present. For both reasons – Libby’s loss new reporter or reporters on carrying out the and a promising future – we are seeking to fill responsibilities of her beats. at least two positions: Despite the challenges we all face, here’s look►MANAGING EDITOR We’re willing to train Libby’s successor in this position, but are looking for applicants with professional experience in journalism or public relations, plus experience in editing, pagination and other skills needed to
ing forward to a successful 2021 and beyond – for us all!
JIM KEVLIN, Editor & Publisher
AllOTSEGO.life B-3 Partners In City Clerk’s Responsibilities, Powell Hands Off Baton To Harrington CLERKS/From A1 goal was to build a team to make that transition seamless, and we were able to accomplish that.” Among those who joined her team in 2015 was Harrington, the deputy clerk and now airport manager as well. “Nancy put us in a really good position,” said Harrington. “We’re still going to work and serve our customers very efficiently.” Powell, who moved to Oneonta as a young woman when her mother relocated from the Albany area, became one of the city’s first female firefighters in 2002, alongside Michele Daley Pearsall. “After 9-11, I wanted to become an EMT,” she said. “But Chief Burns said that in order to do that, I also had to become a firefighter.” Alongside Pearsall, she worked as a call firefighter, eventually becoming the city’s first female part-time firefighter. When she saw an ad for an administrative clerk position at City Hall, she took the civil service exam. “While I was there, Bonnie Molinari, the deputy clerk, was retiring, and so was the city clerk, Jim Koury,” she said. “They started looking through applications, and because I had been a notary, mine stood out.” She was hired as the deputy clerk in 2013, and was appointed city clerk in 2015, succeeding Doug Kendall. Like Powell, Harrington, who grew up in Middleburgh, had a background in emergency services, meeting her husband when she was taking paramedic training in Cooperstown. She was hired as a
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dispatcher for Otsego County Emergency Services and then, under Chief Joseph Redman, as the dispatcher at the Oneonta Public Safety Building. That was where, she said, she discovered her true passion. “I love technology,” she said. She brought the Nixle system – which can send out mass alerts on anything from snowstorms to road work – to public safety, as well as updating the police department’s Facebook page. As deputy clerk, she continued to work on developing the city’s technology, revamping the website and handling all the social media. She also wrote a $45,000 grant to have their records digitized for easier access. “We can look at records dating all the way back to the 1900s in a matter of minutes,” she said. “And we can print them and have them certified right away too, when before you’d have to come back or we’d have to mail them. It’s saved us so much time and money.” When the COVID-19 pandemic set in, Harrington was tasked with setting up
and maintaining the city’s Zoom and live-stream meetings, something she’s aiming to work towards implementing even after the pandemic is over. “I’d love to see a scenario where we can set up a camera and stream the meeting from Council Chambers,” she said. “Hundreds of people are able to see meetings that they might not have otherwise gone to.” Even her daughter Meghan, 14, watches the meetings. “She’ll text me from the other room and say she’s watching me on the TV,” she said. “I could never get her to go to a meeting, but I’m hearing more and more of younger people tuning in, which is what we want.” She and Scott also have a 9-year-old daughter, Addison. Harrington took over as airport manager when City Manager George Korthauer retired in February; with her new appointment as clerk, it is unsure of what will become of that position. In her immediate retirement, Powell plans to “not obligate myself” to any immediate roles, but to pursue her hobbies, including baking and, when the pandemic is over, travel. But she doesn’t anticipate staying idle for too long. “Out of the blue, opportunities have always presented themselves,” said Powell. “I feel like that’s going to happen here.”
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FEEDING MINISTRIES COORDINATOR St. James Episcopal Church Are you compassionate and want to help those in need? St. James Episcopal in Oneonta has a Feeding Ministries Coordinator position open. Responsibilities include: • Coordinating a 5 day per week hot meal ministry • Coordinate the grocery pantry that is open to the public 25 hours per week Please call: Father Kenneth Hunter, Rector St. James Episcopal Church 305 Main St. Oneonta, NY 13820 or email to sjrector@stny.rr.com
607-432-1458
THURSDAY, december 3, 2020
B-4 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA
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Legal nOtice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Board for the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public hearing on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 4:30 P.M. or as soon thereafter as can be heard: Meeting location to be determined. Meeting to be held either in the Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York or via videoconferencing, due to Executive Order 202.1 issued by the Governor. 24 Glen Avenue - Applicant seeks variance from Section 227-3A(6) to provide illumination for proposed freestanding sign at rear of Leatherstocking Credit Union The plans for this project are on file with the Village Clerk’s Office at the Village Office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York, and may be seen during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Public comments must be provided by email to the Zoning Officer at zoning@ cooperstownny.org no later than Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. or by regular mail to the address below and received no later than Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. Jenna Utter Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 Tele: (607)547-2411 Email: jutter@ cooperstownny.org 1LegalDec.3 Legal nOtice SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF OTSEGO NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY, Plaintiff, against Jack E. Sanders, Jr., as Heir to the Estate of Joy Miller Sanders; Unknown Heirs to the Estate of Joy Miller Sanders, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein
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generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; Gutchess Lumber Company, Inc.; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; United States of America Department of Treasury; New York State Department of Taxation and FinanceTax Compliance Division-C.O.-ATC, and JOHN DOE AND JANE DOE #1 through #7, the last seven (7) names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the mortgaged premises described in the Complaint, Defendants Index No. EF2020-155. Plaintiff Designates Otsego County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated in Otsego County. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); the United States of America may appear or answer within 60 days of service hereof; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated October 23, 2020. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF
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LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE; New York State law requires that we send you this notice about the foreclosure process. Please read it carefully. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT You are in danger of losing your home. If you fail to respond to the Summons and Complaint in this Foreclosure Action, you may lose your home. Please read the Summons and Complaint carefully. You should immediately contact an attorney of your local legal aid office to obtain advice on how to protect yourself. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services’ at 1-800-269-0990 or visit the Department’s website at http://www.dfs. ny.gov. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should
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LEGALS
be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. We are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable Brian D. Burns dated October 23, 2020. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 235 Sohne Road, Mount Vision, NY located at Section 174 Block 1 and Lot 26 Dated: November 9, 2020 Filed: November 10, 2020 Pincus Law Group, PLLC., Attorney for Plaintiff, By: George J. Weissinger, Esq., 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556 (516) 6998902. 4LegalDec.24 Legal nOtice Notice of Qualification of J&J ENTERPRISES LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/27/20. Office location: Otsego County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/25/20. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Lemery Greisler LLC, 60 Railroad Place, Suite 502, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. DE addr. of LLC: c/o United Corporate Services, Inc., 874 Walker Road, Suite C, Dover, DE 19904. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, Div. of Corps., P.O. Box 898, Dover, DE 19903. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 6LegalDec.31 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation for Harvest 336 LLC Name of LLC: Harvest 336 LLC Date of Filing of Articles of Organization with the NY Department of State: November 6, 2020 Office of the LLC: Otsego County
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The New York Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served. The Secretary of State may mail a copy of any process to the LLC at: Sharon Boustani, 336 Coye Brook Road, South New Berlin, New York 13843 Purpose of the LLC: Any Lawful Purpose 6LegalDec.31 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company, (LLC) Name: Denison & Festa LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/09/2020. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 143 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.31 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of ONIE PROPERTIES, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 9/30/2020. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 8-12 Dietz St., Ste. 202, Oneonta, NY 13820, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.31 Legal nOtice Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company, (LLC) Name: 143-147 Main Street LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/06/2020. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 143 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.31 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 9 O’Neill Drive, LLC.
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Filed 10/21/20. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: c/o Paul J scorzafava Jr, 9 O Neill Dr, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: General. 6LegalDec.31 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company. Name: AGRINOMIC INSIGHTS LLC Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 16 November 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 272 Bissell Rd, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws 6LegalDec.24 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company. Name:
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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF
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D’amico & Jahnke, LLC.
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF
Filed with SSNY on 10/15/2020. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 9 South Main Street Oneonta NY 13820. Purpose: any lawful 6LegalDec.10
LONGTAIL CONTRACTING, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Sec’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/27/20. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it my be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 109 Sunset Drive, Apt. 2, Oneonta, New York 13820. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 6LegalDec.24 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF COOPERSTOWN AREA REAL ESTATE, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Sec’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/28/20. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 224 Lakeside Drive, Burlington Flats, New York 13315. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 6LegalDec.24
CARR - ADAMS FARM LLC
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Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 30 October 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 289 Greenough Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalDec.24
Notice of Formation of
Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company. Name: INNOVATION AG LLC Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 30 October 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 7937 US Hwy 20, Sharon Springs, NY 13459. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under
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NYS laws. 6LegalDec.24
J. Talbot Property Maintenance LLC, Art. of Org. filed with SSNY on 9/24/20. Off. loc.: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom proc. may be served & shall mail POB 440, Otego, NY 13825. Purp.: any lawful. 6LegalDec.17 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company ( LLC) Name: Jake’s Old Fashion Deli, LLC Articles of Organization filed by the Department of State of New York on: 02/16/2017 Office location: County of Otsego Purpose: any and all lawful activities Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC 501 Main Street Otego, NY 13825 6LegalDec.10 Legal nOtice
Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Mandr Brothers LLC. Filed with SSNY on 10/28/2020. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 41 Stewart Ave Apt B Roscoe NY 12776. Purpose: any lawful 6LegalDec.10 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC): Name CASCADILLA CREEK 1, LLC, Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/16/20. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: Cascadilla Creek 1, LLC 6 Country Club Rd, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Latest date upon which LLC is to dissolve: No specific date. 6LegalDec.3 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC): Name EDCB ENTERPRISES, LLC, Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/16/20. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: EDCB Enterprises, LLC 6 Country Club Rd, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Latest date upon which LLC is to dissolve: No specific date. 6LegalDec.3 Legal nOtice
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Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company. Name: SPRINGFIELD CONVENIENCE CORNER LLC. Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 23 October 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 4964 US Hwy 20, Springfield Center, NY 13468. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalDec.3 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 77 Beaver Street Property Management, LLC Filed 7/17/20 Office: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 77 Beaver Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: all lawful 6LegalDec.3 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Oaks Creek Property Consulting LLC filed with SSNY on 9/25/2020. Office: Otsego County. United States Corporation Agents, Inc., has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served and mailed to: 7014 13th Ave. suite #202, Brooklyn, NY 11228 Purpose: any lawful purpose 6LegalDec.3 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY The Olde Guard, LLC Articles of Organization filing date with the Department of State (SSNY) September 14, 2020. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as the agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 3522 County Highway 11, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws 6LegalDec.3
►NOTICE OF FORMATION? ► PUBLIC NOTICE? ►SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS? ►NOTICE TO BIDDERS? Publish them all in The Freeman’s Journal and Hometown Oneonta Contact Larissa at 607-547-6103 or ads@allotsego.com
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THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL B-5
THURSDAY, december 3, 2020
IN MEMORIAM
SUNY Over Hurdle On Reopening Plan
Susan Borden Landon Jan. 28, 1951-Nov. 23, 2020
Susan B. Landon
The family of Susan Borden Landon, regretfully announces that Susan passed away peacefully at home on Nov. 23, 2020, after a long illness with cancer. Susan resided with her husband Tom Landon in Oneonta, NY. A full obituary will be released at a later date, with more details including planning for a memorial service to be
held sometime in January. As per Sue’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to Sue’s memory go to the Institute for Spiritual Development, the metaphysical church and learning center that Sue helped to found, with her sister Rev. Diana Friedell. A donation button can be found on the home page at www.isdoneonta.org. Or checks
made be payable to the Institute for Spiritual Development, with “Rev. Sue” on the memo line and sent to Diana Friedell, 400 County Highway 58, Oneonta, NY 13820. Arrangements are being made with the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home in Oneonta. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to, www. lhpfuneralhome.com.
Bernice ‘Bunny’ Joseph, 94 April 20, 1926-Nov. 21, 2020
ONEONTA passing on Jan. 25, – Bunny was born 2020. The couple to Lillian and Jacob moved to Oneonta Grossman, on April in 1950 and be20, 1926, in the came very active in Bronx, where she the community. grew up. Her accomplishWhile in New York ments included City, she attended being a founding the Arts Students member of the League and conTemple Beth El tributed to the war Sunday school; the Bernice “Bunny” effort as a draftfirst women presiJoseph sperson working on dent of the temple; advanced radar systems. and treasurer of the League of She married Howard Women Voters. Joseph in 1947 and was marA fierce advocate of human ried for 73 years before his rights and supporter of the
arts and music. She was loved by many in the community. As an artist she was a founding member of the Main Street Artists Group, where she painted for many years. Moreover, she was a member of the Central New York Watercolor Society. Her work was shown at many other galleries and area shows. Bunny was a loving mother and grandmother, where family was a priority. As a homemaker, she was renown as an amazing cook, especially for her baking. She organized family gatherings
at Cooperstown, where family members from all over the United States would gather. She was predeceased by Kiki Kass, her sister. She is survived by three children and spouses; Leslie and Jesse Kalfel, Stephen and Susan (Bresee) Joseph, Dr. David and Mary Beth (Caufield) Joseph; grandchildren Leah, Jacob, Daniel, Zachary, Trinity, and Ricky, along with many nieces and nephews. Donations can be made to Helios Care of Oneonta, 297 River Street Service Road, Suite One, Oneonta, NY, 13820.
OBITUARIES
William J. Ubner, 90; Played On ‘Red’ Bursey’s Unbeaten ’47 Team
FLY CREEK – William J. Ubner, 90, who played on legendary Cooperstown football coach Lester G. “Red” Bursey’s 1947 undefeated team, passed away Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, at his home in Fly Creek Valley. He was born on Dec. 16, 1929, at home on the family farm in Fly Creek Valley. Bill was a son of Stanley and Jenny E. (Bice) Ubner. After attending school in Fly Creek, he attended Cooperstown High School and graduated with the Class of 1949. During his high school years he excelled as a football player. As a
member of “Red” Bursey’s 1947 unbeaten team, Bill and his fellow teammates were inducted in 2010 into the Cooperstown Central School Athletics Hall of Fame. After high school Bill continued playing football with the Little Falls Giants, a local semi pro team. Bill received training through the DHIC milk testing program at Cornell University. He was employed by DHIC for 17 years until he decided to leave and join the county Highway Department. For many years, Bill trained and conditioned many dogs, running them in field trial competitions.
It was at one of these field trials that he met his future wife, Karen Schnick, who shared his love for dogs. They eventually combined their kennels and their lives, uniting in marriage on July 22, 1972, in Karen’s hometown of Meriden, Conn. They continued to compete, both with and against each other, at field trials throughout New England and New York. Bill is survived by his wife of 48 years, Karen S. Ubner of Fly Creek Valley; a sister, Stella Lincourt of New Hampshire; a sisterin-law, Diane Campbell of Texas; and several nieces and nephews including
Mark Ubner (Melissa) of Schuyler Lake, Richard Lincourt (Elaine) of New Hampshire, Linda Escow of Hamden, Elizabeth Davis (Brian) of Laurens, Christopher Patacsil (Sandra) of San Antonio, Texas, and Travis Campbell (Kaylee) of Austin, Texas. He was predeceased by his parents, Stanley and Jenny Ubner; his father and mother-in-law, Arthur and Blanche Schnick; a brotherin-law, Harold Lincourt; and his niece’s husband, Gerald Escow. Arrangements are entrusted to the Connell, Dow20& Deysenroth Funeral Home.
Dr. Ted Edmonds, 89; Optometrist Leaves Survivors In Cooperstown
COOPERSTOWN - Dr. Theodore Charles “Ted” Edmonds, 89, formerly of
Lewisburg Pennsylvania, passed away Thursday morning, Nov. 26, 2020,
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at Woodside Hall in Cooperstown following a long and valiant battle with a pervasive form of Parkinson’s disease. He was born on May 24, 1931, in Erie, Pennsylvania, the son of Glenn M. Edmonds and Mildred (Bolyes) Edmonds. He was predeceased by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 63 years, Carol Adelaide (O’Brien) Edmonds. They married in 1952 and stared their life in Erie where both attended Penn State University at the Behrend Center Campus. He was accepted into the Massachusetts College of Optometry and moved the family to Boston where he graduated in 1966. Upon graduation, the family moved again to Lewisburg, Penn., where Ted and Carol raised two sons. He was active with Boy
Scout Troop 538 and guided many boys to the rank of Eagle Scout including both sons and several grandsons. He retired from optometry to pursue another lifelong hobby of woodworking and custom furniture. Ted is survived by his two sons and their wives, Scott and Susan Edmonds of Broomall, Pennsylvania, and Lee and Jean Edmonds of Cooperstown, as well as seven grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Beverly A. (Edmonds) Potts of Erie, Pennsylvania. A Christian memorial service will be held graveside in Lewisburg Cemetery at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, with social distancing and masks requested. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the John H. Shaw III Funeral Home, Lewisburg.
Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar. Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home will take the time to find out what made your loved one special. Whether it’s finding just the right flowers, or finding a musician to play her favorite tunes on her old guitar, we’ll do what’s necessary to make her service as unique as she was.
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20 PERCENT/From A1 in a “dual modality” mode, with a video camera in the back of the classroom – provoked opposition last month when the first draft of a campus reopening plan, put together by a COVID Response Team named by Craig on his arrival from SUNY Purchase in mid-October. A continuing conversation between the administration and faculty, staff and student leaders is ongoing, said the president. A Rapid Response Team developed the plan, chaired by finance VP Julie Piscitello and Provost Leamor Kahanov, and has involved 50 people. “These issues and these times are stressful for all of us,” Craig said. “Even when we don’t agree, there are many things we do agree on. I hope the community sees the rigorous debate as something we value and ultimately will make our plan stronger and our community stronger.” The local reopening plan for the spring semester is due at SUNY headquarters in Albany on Dec. 10, but Craig, Lincoln and Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig all emphasized: How it rolls out will depend on a state of the COVID-19 threat at the time. If the COVID threat is still strong, Craig reaffirmed, it’s possible Governor Cuomo would roll back the date to March 1 or even later. If, with prospective vaccines being announced almost daily – by Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca in the past week alone – the virus is in retreat, then that would guide the scenario. “That’s something that will be determined by conditions on the groups in January and February,” Craig said this week, “by the data and the science.” “When you look at the numbers,” asked Lincoln, “are we really going to open in the spring? I have no idea. I think we need to continue to plan” for whatever may happen. “Needless to say,” said Herzig, echoing the president’s perspective, “the campus reopening, students coming back to Oneonta, is a very important part of who we are, culturally, economically, in every way.
That said, we all agree we only want to reopen in a way that’s smart and safe.” Lincoln, whose UUP chapter represents more than 600 on-campus professionals, said differences remain, but he was reassured by a Zoom “town hall meeting” with his membership that the administration will listen and respond to concerns. However, he said, the UUP is being guided overall by 25 points contained in a “Be Smart, SUNY Oneonta” petition posted on line Nov. 15. By earlier this week, about 750 people had signed it, many anonymously. At issue is whether faculty are being told how to participate in the reopening, or being asked, on many points, but particularly in the case of “dual modality,” Lincoln said. The Administration told him, three times, “it’s a goal – 20 percent,” he said. “They are close enough. There is no mandate. They have reached a goal close enough to that 20 percent.” There’s no one way of looking at risk, said Lincoln, a retired OPD firefighter who was assigned to lower Manhattan in the days after 9/11. “How I look at risk vs. benefit is probably different” from that of many UUP members. Bill Wilkerson, poly-sci professor and Faculty Senate president, wasn’t available to give a sense of faculty sentiment, but Keith Schillo, one of the professors behind the petition drive, agreed the number of volunteers was near 20 percent, adding, “We have no argument with people who volunteer to teach face-to-face.” This past Monday, he said, he and allies presented a plan to address “two major issues”: One, the quality of dual-modality teaching and, two, “health, safety and well-being.” “The 20 percent goal was not the only issue,” he said. Jennifer Regg, Lincoln’s counterpart at the CSEA, which represents officer workers and other nonfaculty staff, said her membership is focused on safety. “I’ve been working with management,” she said. “We’ve got members on a couple of the committees. We’re trying to do our best to get our concerns voiced.”
Hospitalizations Double, Numbers Remain High
COVID/From A1 the pandemic started in March. “Some of those hospitalized exposed people on Thanksgiving,” she said. “And none of these gatherings were over 10 people.” With 92 new cases reported over the last seven days, compared to 126 last week, the positive testing rate is now at 4.4 percent, a record for the area. “Last week, we were at 1.9 percent positivity,” she said. “We had 130 cases in October, and 289 cases in November.”Since March, there have been 1,325 COVID cases in the county. That means, minus 765 at SUNY Oneonta and 71 at Hartwick, there have been 522 cases outside the county’s campuses. I don’t think they’re going to decrease,” she said. “They’ll either stay the same or increase.” Oneonta remains a hot spot, Bond said, and contact tracers are still seeing spread from Market Street’s Copper Fox cluster, which infected five staff members and 26 patrons, and caused 27 “secondary infections” from coming in contact with infected patrons or employees.
The Red Jug Pub and the Beer Barrel Inn also spawned new cases, with three at the Main Street bar and “approximately five” from the Fonda Avenue tavern. “It’s so easily transmitted,” she said. “What we’re seeing is that if one person in the house gets it, the whole family gets sick, or if someone at work went to the bar and then comes into work, they spread it to their co-workers.” Though she said she frequently sees people wearing masks and social distancing when she is in public, people are letting their guard down with friends and family members who don’t live in their home. “If I’m shopping and I see a clerk for five minutes, we’re both wearing masks and they’re behind plexiglass, so it’s low risk,” she said. “But it’s going out shopping with your friends, taking your mask off in the car. You feel safe with them, but that’s when it’s risky.” To stop the spread, she advised, people have to do more. “We have to go back to our behavior in March and April. That means no bars and no restaurants,” she said.
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