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VISIT WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, December 19, 2013
Volume 205, No. 51
COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND
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The Rev. Douglas Deer points out a scene where Mary is lying down with Baby Jesus. His wife, Susan, he said, believes such scenes more realistically depict a mother and child.
NEW STRUCTURE, EC-DEC STAFFING LIKELY THURSDAY
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he decision on a new structure and consultant to shift Otsego County’s economic development efforts to a proactive stance was expected at an IDA meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19. For details later that day, check WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM
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,000-Year Tradition Alive In Pastor Deer’s Collection Trustees
The Freeman’s Journal
Volunteers Judy McBrearty, left, Fly Creek, and Susan Morgan, Cazenovia, heat up the wassail for crowds that braved 9-degree weather Saturday, Dec. 14, to enjoy The Farmers’ Museum’s annual Candlelight Evening/MORE PHOTOS, A3
CCS Board To Ponder: What Now? COOPERSTOWN
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fter the $6.6 million CCS bond issue was defeated Wednesday, Dec. 11, by a 180-180 tie in a public referendum, the school board was expected to discuss what to do next when it met at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. For details, check WWW.ALLOTSEGO.COM
BETTER BE GOOD: The Otsego County Sheriff’s Department is participating in a statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown that continues through New Year’s Day, Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. announced. SNOW ALERT: Village Hall reminds residents overnight parking is prohibited Nov. 1-April 1, but cars may be parked in Doubleday Field during snow emergencies. Sidewalks must be shoveled within 24 hours of a storm’s end, plus businesses’ sidewalks must be clear 9 a.m.-5 p.m. WINTER SOLSTICE: After Saturday, Dec. 21, days start getting longer.
Expand Parking Season
By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
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t one time, it was an Advent tradition at the First Baptist Church to hide the Baby Jesus somewhere in the church and let the kids find him on Christmas Eve and place him in the crocheted manger scene “One time, we couldn’t remember where we hid him,” said the Rev. Douglas Deer. “Luckily, we found him just in This pensive time.” Magi looks as That manger a wise man scene – plus 70 othshould. ers – was on display Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the church’s ecumenical Advent potluck service. Fifty will remain until Christmas Eve, when Deer, surrounded by mangers, hosts a candlelight service. “It gives it a warmer feel,” Here’s a he said. more whimIt’s part of an almost sical manger 1,000-year tradition. scene: on The first crèche is creda panda’s ited to St. Francis of belly. Assisi, in 1223 in Greccio, Italy, set up to emphasize Christmas is about Christ, not materialism and gift giving. Please See MANGERS, A6
It’s Possible P&D Revenues May Hit $360,000 Annually By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN
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1945 Gold 2-Peso Coin Mined From Salvation Army’s Kettles By JIM KEVLIN ONEONTA
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har’s gold in them thar kettles, Salvation Army Capt. Evelyn Hopping has discovered, to her delight. At the end of a recent
Ian Austin/The Freeman’s Journal
This internally lit Nativity Scene, one of dozens in Pastor Deer’s collection, emits a warm rosy glow.
day of 18-year veteran Vera Stewart’s bell-ringing at the Salvation Army kettle at JC Penney’s entrance to Southside Mall, a small gold coin was discovered inside. Dated 1945, the inscription read, “Dos Pesos” and “Estados Unidos Mexicanos.” The next day, the anonyPlease See GOLD, A6
fter a summer of debate, even a still-unresolved lawsuit, the Village Board has affirmed its support for paid parking, on-street and otherwise, and is even looking to expand it, although not immediately. In a Dec. 11 working meeting to review the first summer of on-street parking, it was learned the new Pay & Display machines on Main and Pioneer generated about $190,000, minus the $100,000 cost of the machines, for $90,000 in first-year revenues, Mayor Jeff Katz said. At the meeting, Katz and four trustees – Lou Allstadt, Jim Dean, Cindy Please See PARKING, A6
$1.6M In Ec-Dev Grants Help Fund Winslow Homer, Hall Ap By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN
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collaboration of The Fenimore Art Museum and the Arkell in Canajoharie on “Winslow Homer: The Nature and Rhythm of Life,” $74,000.
A mobile ap, so baseball fans around the country can find items in the National Baseball Hall of Fame that relate to their hometowns, $234,000. These grants extend successes from Governor Cuomo’s 2012 round of state economic-development grants into 2013. Last year, The Fenimore received Please See GRANTS, A7
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD