Issuu

M IA

E WIL

Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper

1808 BY

COOP

OUNDED

•F

founded in 1808

ON ALLOTSEGO: FRAZIER REELECTED BOARD CHAIR, WILSON reappointeD VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 218, No. 3

Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, January 15, 2026

Newsstand Price $1

Bassett Concludes 2025 Touting ‘Significant Projected Financial Improvements’ NY Grown l, a g e L , y t li a High-Qu ducts Cannabis Pro ICATES!

IF IFT CERT om/ enter We have G oshafarms.c ust be 21 to

https://d

COOPERSTOWN ccording to a press release issued on Monday, January 12, Bassett Healthcare Network reports that its operational performance has significantly improved, with a projected positive margin for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2025. Put in context of recent fiscal years, officials said this represents a “remarkable turnaround.” In 2023, the organization had a negative margin of about $60 million and, in 2024, a negative margin of about $55 million. Staci Thompson, MHA, FACMPE, president and chief execu-

tive officer of Bassett Healthcare Network, attributes the reported financial turnaround to initiatives launched in 2024 to stabilize the organization’s financial performance and operations. “I am so proud of the hard work of so many here at Bassett who have made these improvements possible. That includes literally thousands of people—practitioners, clinical chiefs, staff of every description and the executive leadership team. It’s been quite a feat, and it wasn’t easy,” said Thompson. “While we know Bassett, Continued on page 2

Sheriff’s Office Called to Hartwick Meeting in First 10 Minutes Town Board Manages To Pull It Together, Completes Hourslong Organization Meeting By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL

HARTWICK he Town of Hartwick’s town board organizational meeting the night of Monday, January 12 barely made it past the pledge of allegiance without incident. After a visit from two Otsego County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles with deputies speaking to opposing factions, the meeting proceeded with only a few raised voices over the following three hours, successfully completing the must-do organizational meeting for various proceINSIDE ► coopERSTOWN ICE protest, page 3 ► county reps on ice, page 3 ► your views, not ours, page 4 ► Oh, deer, page 4 ► Lots o’ letters, pages 4, 7 and 8 ► concerts coming up, page 5 ► NEWS IN BRIEF, page 6 ► TIME OUT OTSEGO CALENDAR, page 10 Follow Breaking News On

dures, contracts and appointments. AllOtsego was not able to independently verify allegations made by Hartwick officials in this article by press time. Newly-elected Town Supervisor Cody Moore, who ran on the Republican and Hartwick United lines on a platform of bringing civility back to Hartwick government, began the meeting with a statement requesting that “the materials and the keys from the supervisor’s office be returned within 24 hours, and that access to the office and its files be restored immediately. “Our town records do not belong to one indi-

vidual. They belong to the people of Hartwick,” Moore said. In an interview after the meeting, Moore said she had not had access to those items since the start of her term at the beginning of the year. As Moore proceeded to the next agenda item, public comment, Councilmember Tom Murphy jumped in. “Point of order, supervisor,” Murphy said. “You had your comment, but I Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel see no comments for the Hartwick Town Supervisor Cody Moore, right, and then-soon-to-be Deputy Supervisor other councilmembers.” Chris Briggs, left, speak with Otsego County deputy sheriffs. “Not today. I make the “I will postpone the after you,” Murphy said, agenda,” Moore replied. times shouting. “How do you want meeting,” Moore said. saying that had been The two continued to “This is not right permitted the prior two go back and forth about to stop me?” Murphy that I don’t get to speak Continued on page 2 the issue, with Murphy at asked.

Devlin Officially Announces Sheriff Reelection Campaign By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL

MILFORD tsego County Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. officially announced his reelection campaign for a sixth term on Wednesday, January 7. The Republican longtime head of the Sheriff’s Office was first elected in 2006. “Albany continues to pass laws that favor criminals over lawabiding citizens,” Devlin said in a press release. “Here in Otsego County,

Photo provided

OTSEGO COUNTY SHERIFF RICHARD J. DEVLIN JR.

our Sheriff’s Office has helped keep our communities among the safest places in New York to live, work and raise a

family.” According to the release, Devlin has 36 total years of law enforcement experience. Devlin touted the creation of the Offender Watch to monitor registered sex offenders; VINE, a victim-notification system; CHILDSAFE, a gun-lock distribution program; and Operation Safe Child, which supports child identification and protection. Devlin also launched the Otsego County Sheriff’s App. He helped to establish an Animal Cruelty Registry known as

Oscar’s Law with county board support. The Sheriff’s Office has also grown its presence on social media under Devlin’s tenure. Followed by more than 21,000 accounts on Facebook, the office regularly posts mugshots of accused criminals and incident reports, weather alerts, hiring and promotion details, and other office updates. Devlin recently signed a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to train five jail supervisors to serve administrative

immigration warrants in the county jail. He also recently launched a oneSaturday-a-month pistol permit service. “With nearly four decades in law enforcement, my focus has always been the same: protect our residents, support our businesses and schools, and run an effective, efficient, and well-trained Sheriff’s Office,” Devlin said. “There is more work to do and I’m ready to keep fighting for the safety and security of the residents of Otsego County.” Continued on page 2

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

A-2 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Hartwick

Continued from page 1 years. Moore then postponed the meeting “until he can calm down.” “Would you like to be removed from the meeting?” Moore asked Murphy. “Sure,” he said. “Ok, then you can leave.” “No, no, you said ‘removed’.” “Okay, so then I will call the police,” Moore said, shortly before leaving the room. Murphy, Councilmember Bryan LoRusso, and Town Clerk Andrea Vazquez (who was Moore’s election oppo-

Devlin

Continued from page 1 The release also announced endorsements from other local Republicans: State Senator Peter Oberacker; Assemblymen Chris Tague, Brian Miller and Joe Angelino; Otsego County Board Chair and county Republican Party Chair Ed Frazier; Otsego County Treasurer Allen Ruffles; Otsego County Clerk Jennifer Basile; and Otsego County Board of Representatives member Daniel Wilber, who chairs the body’s Public Safety and Legal Affairs Committee. “As town supervisor, county board representative, and now state senator, I have worked closely with Sheriff Rich Devlin in a number of

nent last fall) discussed and argued and aired out dirty laundry with members of the public, among them some current and former town officials, for nearly an hour. Several attendees walked out of the meeting. Vazquez accused Moore of locking her out of town financial records, said Moore lacked the experience for the job, and declared that voters ought to have chosen her instead for supervisor. Murphy made nonspecific accusations of ageism and age discrimination, appearing to trace back to incidents at meetings in the prior two years. He at one point compared Moore’s preventing him from

offering comments to Nazism. When deputy sheriffs arrived, they first met with Moore and Briggs, then with Murphy, Vazquez and LoRusso. Having brokered some kind of agreement, officials eventually returned and resumed the meeting with permission granted to Murphy to provide general comments at the conclusion of the must-do organizational meeting. Deputies remained to observe for some time after Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel the meeting resumed. Hartwick Councilmember Tom Murphy speaks at Monday night’s contentious meeting. Over the next three hours, the board passed reappointed Hancock committee members, arguing with. A few jokes organizational procedure Estabrook, LLP as the officials discussed with were even cracked. rules, appointed Chris town’s counsel, approved audience members their The Town of Hartwick Briggs as deputy super- meeting dates and town potential interest in posts recordings of its visor over the objections holidays, and more. joining, some of whom meetings at hartwickny. of LoRusso and Murphy, In appointing various they had just been gov/meetings/video/.

capacities,” Oberacker, who is also running for the NY-19 congressional seat, said in a statement to AllOtsego. “I can say unequivocally that there is no one more qualified or better equipped to serve as our sheriff than Rich Devlin. “Rich has done a tremendous job protecting the families and businesses of Otsego County, and under his leadership our communities have consistently remained among the safest places in the state to live, work, and raise a family,” Oberacker said. He added he is “proud to stand with Sheriff Devlin” and “even prouder to call him a trusted colleague and a good friend.” So far, the only other announced candidate is fellow Republican Michael J. Stalter,

himself a deputy for the Sheriff’s Office for 25 years who launched his campaign via Facebook on January 3. He retired as a sergeant last June and recently told AllOtsego he left because he lost confidence in Devlin’s leadership. Stalter said he is running to promote positivity, cut costs and change certain incident reporting policies. The primary is scheduled for June 23. Local Democrats have been energized to seek their own candidate after Devlin’s signing of the 287(g) ICE agreement. “I would also remind you all that the sheriff is an elected position— and that means you, the taxpayer, are [Devlin’s] boss,” Otsego County Democratic Committee Chair Caitlin Ogden wrote in a December 8 Facebook

statement asking for people to suggest candidates and condemning the 287(g) agreement as contributing to a “culture of fear amongst a vulnerable population.” In the last campaign, 2022, Devlin ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections. He last faced a retired state trooper running on the Democratic line, Bob Fernandez, in the 2018 general election. Devlin won with 51.79 percent of the vote, county records show.

Bassett

Continued from page 1 like all rural healthcare systems around the country, will continue to face challenges, we are developing the fiscal discipline and operational strategies to navi-

gate these changes as needed.” In the press release, Henry Weil, MD, chief clinical and academic officer of Bassett Healthcare Network and president of Bassett Medical Center, credits Thompson with the reported turnaround. “Bassett has made extraordinary progress in a short time, and to my mind, the game changer was the arrival here of Staci Thompson,” said Weil, who has been at Bassett for 40 years. “Staci joined Bassett at a crucial juncture and the depth of her expertise has been something I’ve never seen before. It has infused the organization with energy, operational know-how, and positive direction as we have navigated the most difficult industry chal-

The

lenges any of us have ever seen.” Dr. Weil added that he feels the public may have an outdated perception of Bassett. “It is understandable that, looking at 2023 and 2024 financial numbers, several recent letters to the editor may have made the communities we serve anxious about Bassett’s financial health,” Weil stated in the press release. “Those writers and our communities should be relieved to know that current year-end financial information paints a very different story—that of a plainly stable organization successfully navigating what elsewhere is a deepening crisis in rural care. Thankfully, Staci’s and my concerns are now less about finances and more about ease of access to care for our communities of patients,” Weil contends. According to the press release, recent statistics show reason for optimism around access as well—even as more people are choosing Bassett for their care, more people are choosing to grow their career at Bassett: inpatient admissions are up 13 percent since 2023 and outpatient clinic appointments have increased by 8 percent in three years. A total of 86 new practitioners joined Bassett in 2025, officials said, with an additional 40 already signed to start in 2026. Officials also announced that, “building on the positive momentum of the turnaround work of 2024 and 2025,” a 2026-2028 strategic plan is being launched that focuses on growth and access, quality and care innovations, and recruitment and retention. “These three pillars of our three-year strategic plan will continue to propel us forward with the positive momentum we’ve been building,” Thompson said.

job scene job scene HIGHER RATES. $1,500* SIGN-ON

BIGGER INCENTIVES. BRIGHTER FUTURES.

Inspir� Po�sibility

To place effective employment ads, call 607-547-6103

Drivers wanteD to deliver newspapers to hightraffic spots in the Cooperstown/Richfield Springs area every Wednesday afternoon. Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, registration and insurance. Approximately 4 hours per week. Rate of pay $16.00 plus mileage. Email General Manager Darla at Darlay@allotsego.com. OUNDED

OOP

•F

M C

IA E WIL

Home

Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper

08 - 2025

& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch

1808 BY

nta eo

SPRINGBROOKNY.ORG/APPLY OR TEXT APPLY TO 607-602-1927

wn on to

HOMETOWN anniversary ONEONTA

founded in 1808

Attention

Interviewing for: Advertising Sales Agent Applicants are currently being sought for the position of advertising sales agent to represent “The Freeman’s Journal,” “Hometown Oneonta” and “AllOtsego” media outlets. Required skills include: Excellent communication skills essential. • Driver’s license necessary Must be able to work both independently and as part of a team. Experience preferred but not necessary; will train the right candidate. Please send cover letter and resume to info@allotsego.com, with “Sales Position” in the subject line. No phone calls, please. 16--$18/hr + plus commission

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-3

Hundreds Protest ICE Shooting, Sheriff Office’s 287(g) Agreement legislator,” Berliant said, “I heard you loud and clear on Wednesday COOPERSTOWN [January 7] when you testified before early 400 people protested the county legislature that inviting Otsego County Sheriff ICE into our county makes you feel Richard J. Devlin’s (R) deciless safe. sion to sign a 287(g) Warrant Service “I share those concerns to my Officer agreement with Immigration core, and I will do everything I can,” and Customs Enforcement and the Berliant said. ICE shooting of Renee Good in Though the event was peaceful, Minneapolis, Minnesota in downseveral hecklers were present. town Cooperstown on Saturday, “She got what she deserved,” one January 10. The protest was orgamotorist shouted while driving past nized by local chapters of Indivisible, the demonstration, likely referring to a progressive activist group. Good. “F***ing scumbags.” Virginia Kennedy, the leader of After hearing speeches, protesters CooperstownOneonta Indivisible, marched on the sidewalks through began the event on the lawn of downtown chanting “ICE out for Cooperstown’s village hall and Good,” a call for ICE to end its activlibrary by asking demonstrators to be ities in Good’s name. “Peacekeepers” respectful and clean, thanking village Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel in yellow vests guided the demonpolice for being there to maintain Nearly 400 people protested Immigration and Customs Enforcement in downtown Cooperstown strators through the village. order, and read a statement Good’s on January 10, 2026. Demonstrators concluded the wife shared with the media. march where they started and “We had whistles,” Kennedy committed to further actions in oppoprotest became one of many across the country after quoted Becca Good. “They had guns.” sition to the Trump administration and ICE. the Minneapolis ICE shooting. Under Secretary Kristi Noem, the Department of “We’re going to let these folks [in the Trump Signs protesters brought included phrases like Homeland Security called Good “an anti-ICE rioter” “Abolish ICE,” “Impeach Noem Now,” “RIP Renee administration] know that America belongs to we, engaged in “domestic terrorism” hours after the Nicole Good,” “Vote Out Devlin,” and more. Devlin the people,” Kennedy told AllOtsego. “America does shooting. is running for his sixth four-year term this year. not belong to a small group of people in the White The Cooperstown protest was scheduled before Some demonstrators brought American iconog- House who are using our tax money to build arches and ballrooms and whatever else when people can’t news of the Minnesota shooting broke, and was raphy like flags. focused on opposing the Sheriff’s Office’s 287(g) County Board Representative Leslie Berliant (D- even afford to go to the doctor.” Devlin did not respond to request for comment on agreement. The agreement allows the Sheriff’s Office Cherry Valley, Middlefield, Roseboom) and recently to hold detainees in criminal custody with immigra- former Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek (D), and Caitlin the protest and the circumstances of Good’s death. EDITOR’S NOTE: See additional photos on tion warrants for an additional 48 hours to facilitate Ogden, the chair of the Otsego County Democratic AllOtsego.com. transfer to ICE. So far, according to Devlin, no one Committee, gave speeches. has yet been subject to the agreement’s terms. The “As a newly elected and newly sworn in county By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

County Reps, Activists React to Sheriff’s ICE 287(g) Agreement By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL

COOPERSTOWN hat’s the story with ICE?” Otsego County Representative James Powers (RButternuts, Morris, Pittsfield) asked Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. (R) at the body’s December 11 Public Safety and Legal Affairs Committee meeting, about two months after the 287(g) Warrant Service Officer agreement had been signed. “It’s a cold watery substance,” Devlin jokingly responded before answering. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there. “This program has nothing to do with law enforcement, we don’t go out and enforce immigration laws. It’s not our job,” Devlin said. “I’m training correctional supervisors to work with ICE to serve warrants on people that, they’re

already illegal aliens in our custody. So it’s within the walls of the correctional facility. “They’re already here on charges.” Per the 287(g) agreement, at the conclusion of criminal custody, the Sheriff’s Office may hold individuals with immigration warrants for up to 48 hours to facilitate transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, including by transporting the indi-

vidual to an ICE detention facility. Devlin told AllOtsego on Monday, January 12 that no one in the Sheriff’s Office’s custody has yet been subject to the terms of the agreement. County board representatives who spoke with AllOtsego varied in their reactions to the agreement, but said they learned about it after the fact. Devlin confirmed with AllOtsego he did not consult the county board

or county attorney prior to signing the agreement. AllOtsego has obtained the agreement from the ICE website and published it at the bottom of this piece online for public review. “I wish that we had a voice there. It would have been nice if we had some input,” Board Chair Edwin Frazier

Jr. (R-Unadilla) told AllOtsego after the first board meeting of the year, January 7, which included public comments against the agreement and a standing-room-only crowd. “But ultimately it’s the sheriff’s decision,” Frazier said, adding he has since

spoken with Devlin and understood his rationale. Devlin has maintained that he alone, as an independently-elected law enforcement official, had the authority to sign the agreement. He did not respond to AllOtsego’s request to cite the law or policy to that effect. Continued on page 6

Make a Smart Start in 2026 9-MONTH SHARE CERTIFICATE

4.00

APY*

$100,000 MIN. BAL.

3.75

APY*

$500 MIN. BAL.

SFCUONLINE.ORG • 877.642.7328 • INSURED BY NCUA *APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs and term accurate as of 11/03/2025. Offer subject to change without notice. A penalty will be imposed if a withdrawal is made prior to the maturity date. Fees may reduce earnings on account. Exclusions may apply. Membership eligibility required.

Perspectives

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

A-4 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL EDITORIAL

THE MYTH-BUSTING ECONOMIST

The Right To Be Heard

n our editorial of June 26, we bemoaned the fact that a reader was going to cancel her subscription because she viewed our content as “becoming too left-leaning.” Being that we work very hard to remain objective in our reporting, we took this comment to heart. But we understood why her perception was such. “While it is true that we strive to provide balanced, fact-based news coverage, our content has, indeed, been leaning to the left of late,” we admitted in that editorial. Our motto since September 2022 has been, and continues to be, “putting the community back into the newspaper.” We encourage submissions from our readers—of opinion pieces, letters to the editor, guest columns and the like. We have said it before, and we will say it again: This is your newspaper, and we want your voices to be heard. From January 1, 2025 through our issues of June 19, we published 109 letters from folks weighing in on any number of topics. More than half of those letters, 54 percent, were staunchly opposed to and critical of the current administration. Just 12 of the letters, or 11 percent—all penned by the same author—praised President Trump’s leadership and trajectory for the nation. And, over the past year, we have received and published numerous opinion pieces, the bulk of which have been overwhelmingly left-leaning and almost entirely anti-Trump and anti-Republican. Add to this our news coverage of the formation of several Indivisible groups throughout the county and their peaceful rallies in protest of the Trump administration and we admitted that it did, indeed, appear our publications had taken a turn to the left. Readers may remember that we were lambasted for a front page account of the “No Kings Day” rally in Oneonta last June, which one reader insisted was “not news.” We respectfully replied that any event drawing more than 1,200 people—whether you agree with it or not—is most definitely news. Given all this, it is understandable that the woman who called in June would perceive our website, and our newspapers, to be leaning in one direction over the other. Just check out this week’s letters. Today we reiterate once again that we are publishing the views and opinions of the folks who take the time to write them. It’s as simple as that. Yes, we do take positions on the issues when warranted—in our editorials, where our opinion belongs—but our overarching stance is in favor of finding a middle ground that both sides of the aisle can embrace. So, no, we are not left-leaning. But our letter writers and op-ed contributors definitely have been and continue to be. For whatever reason, those on the right side of the aisle have not been contributing to the dialogue, whether because they can’t be bothered, are happy with the direction Trump is taking, or are conflicted and don’t want to talk about it. But they are beginning to weigh in, and now we are getting flack for that as well. One subscriber recently sent a handwritten note complaining about “too much Oberacker” and “Republican snark,” writing “sick of GOP crap.” Another reader, reacting to an opinion piece by a conservative columnist, commented on Facebook, “I cannot believe this publication is even using the term ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’; really disappointing.” We are frankly appalled that as conservative opinions are given the light of day in our publications—and Republican politicians weigh in on the issues along with their Democratic counterparts—some of our right-leaning readers are objecting. Smacks a little bit of censorship, doesn’t it? Despite this alarming development we are, and will continue to be, bipartisan in our coverage of the news. That’s our job. We will continue to try to find common ground in our editorials. That’s our position. We will continue to print letters and opinion pieces from both sides of the aisle. We’re not “leaning” in either direction. And we continue to uphold the First Amendment and hold fast to our conviction that all voices deserve to be heard, whether everyone agrees with them or not.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

•F

OUNDED

M C

E WIL

Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper

1808 BY

OOP

“The Freeman’s Journal” welcomes letters to the editor that reflect the writer’s thoughts on an article or other item appearing in the paper. They must include the writer’s name, address, e-mail and telephone/ mobile number; the opinions expressed must be the writer’s own. Hostile, offensive, factually incorrect or excessively inflammatory content will not be published. Preferred length is no more than 250 words. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit letters for clarity and space. Please send letters to: info@allotsego.com.

founded in 1808

a publication of Iron String Press, Inc. Advertising Director / Publisher Emerita

Tara Barnwell

General Manager / Senior Editor

Darla M. Youngs

Senior Staff Writer: Eric Santomauro-Stenzel Office Manager: Larissa Ryan Sales Consultant: Randy Christian Intern: Arya Patel Columnists and Contributing Writers

Bill Bellen, Terry Berkson, Monica Calzolari, Rachel Frick Cardelle, Richard deRosa, Caspar Ewig, Maria Griswold, Chris Kjolhede, Larry Malone, Cassandra Miller, Wriley Nelson, Tom Shelby, Gayane Torosyan, Teresa Winchester, Jamie Zvirzdin

Web Architect Xander Moffat

Historian

Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart

Legal Counsel

Jill Ann Poulson

Editorial Board

Tara Barnwell, Faith Gay, Michael Moffat, Elinor Vincent, Darla M. Youngs

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR Otsego County • Village of Cooperstown • Village of Milford Cooperstown Central School District MEMBER: National Newspaper Association, NY Press Association Subscription Rates: Otsego County, $69 a year. All other areas, $89 a year. First Class Subscription, $155 a year.

Published Thursdays by Iron String Press, Inc. 21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown NY 13326 Telephone: 607-547-6103. Fax: 607-547-6080. Email: info@allotsego.com • www.allotsego.com Contents © Iron String Press, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at USPS Cooperstown 40 Main Street, Cooperstown NY 13326-9598 USPS Permit Number 018-449

Postmaster Send Address Changes to: Box 890, Cooperstown NY 13326

Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of William Cooper is in the Fenimore Art Museum

Larry malone

Is Capitalism Creative?

y two previous columns referenced the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal last fall. When opened in 1825, it was one of the human-built marvels of the world. The canal was the creation of the government of New York State, just 29 years old when the first shovel was turned on July 4, 1817. Capitalism and its expanding markets had surely motivated the need for a canal into the American West, but no group of individuals or business enterprises would have brought it forward on their own. Joseph Schumpeter (1883-1950), an immigrant from what is now Czech Republic, was one of our most important American economists. Schumpeter’s contributions to the economics profession celebrated the creativity of capitalism, an organizing system for society that constantly brings forward new technologies, new ideas, and new ways of organizing work and production. Economists had enthusiastically lauded the virtues of capitalism in the first decades of the 20th century. But the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, and the total collapse of the economy and human suffering that went with it, called into question whether capitalism could still deliver the goods for the benefit of all. Schumpeter’s reaction was published in 1939 in his lengthy two-volume masterpiece “Business Cycles: A Theoretical, Historical” and “Statistical Analysis of the Capitalist Process.” Therein he coined the phrase “creative destruction” to describe the true nature of capitalism; a system that he suggested moves forward by constantly renewing itself. But those new technologies, ideas and ways of organizing work also, simultaneously, destroy what comes before them. Schumpeter argued that innovations under capitalism come in waves, where busts follow booms as the process of creative destruction plays out. In the end, it is workers who unfortunately pay the ultimate price when their job is destroyed as capitalism undertakes another reinvention. It’s worth a look to consider some of the ways Schumpeter’s creative destruction has played out in the last couple of decades. Self-scanners have destroyed employment for cashiers and store clerks. Drawing your own drink at McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s has reduced employment opportunities for teenagers. Ironically, these innovations have meant that you now do the work once performed by a paid employee! Remember how DVDs replaced VHS, and streaming replaced DVDs? In the process, Blockbuster, a one-time Fortune 500 company, had a short 29-year lifespan. Their managers and employees, and the moms and pops once owning and running small video stores in our towns, lost their jobs. Similarly, with smartphones replacing cameras, the few places you can still print photos are taking their last breathes. Other jobs that have vanished recently include typists and secretaries, data entry keyers, switchboard and telephone operators, customer service representatives, bank tellers, loan processors, real estate appraisers, insurance and travel agents, toll booth operators, and parking lot attendants. Capitalism’s ongoing destruction of jobs to drive economic progress and growth is not a new development. You can sign up for a class this summer at the Fenimore Farm (previously branded as The Farmers’ Museum), to learn how brooms were made in 1850. It will take you the better part of a day to make a single broom, which would make such brooms very expensive in 2026. With automation and sophisticated machinery, capitalism long ago solved broom production so that only a few hands are needed today to make tens of thousands of brooms. Professionals in the financial world who follow changes in employment have been baffled by recent trends in the labor market. The last four monthly job reports from the U.S. Department of Labor show that the U.S. economy added just 52,000 jobs over that time. And the current unemployment rate of 4.4 percent is the highest since October 2021. Last month, at a time when hiring normally surges from holiday spending, the economy added just 50,000 jobs. That number pales in comparison to the previous three Decembers, where new job creation was over four times greater: Continued on page 9

Letters to the editor … In their opinION

Village: ‘Please Don’t Feed Deer’ The Village of Cooperstown would like to remind residents and visitors that intentionally feeding deer is harmful and illegal throughout New York State, including within our village. In addition to deliberate feeding, deer may also gain unintentional access to food at uncovered or poorly sealed compost bins, bird feeders or garbage cans. These unintended food sources can attract deer and contribute to unsafe conditions for both people and wildlife. Deer that associate people with food are more likely to approach homes, parks and roadways. This increases the risk of vehicle collisions, exposure to deer-carried ticks that may spread disease, and other unwanted humananimal interactions. In addition, concentrated feeding leads to overbrowsing by deer, damaging gardens, landscapes and natural areas. While offering food to deer may seem compassionate during the cold winter months, it can have serious and unintended consequences. Deer that become accustomed to

being fed by people lose their innate ability to forage. Many common foods—including corn, bread, and food scraps— are not suitable for deer and can cause digestive problems, illness, or death. Feeding deer also contributes to the spread of disease, such as chronic wasting disease (CWD), among the deer population. The best way to help deer is to allow them to remain wild and away from houses, streets and vehicular traffic. The Village of Cooperstown encourages residents and visitors to enjoy observing wildlife from a distance, protect natural habitats, and refrain from illegally feeding deer. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to protect public safety, wildlife health and the natural beauty of Cooperstown. Village of Cooperstown Board of Trustees

Partnering with ICE Is Not Safe As a native Cooperstownian, I write to share my concerns regarding the agreement between the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and

Customs Enforcement [a Warrant Service Agreement as part of the 287(g) program with ICE on October 17, 2025] where ICE will train, certify, and authorize officers to serve and execute warrants. Otsego County Sheriff’s Office wrote, “This will enhance community safety by enabling law enforcement to work with ICE to remove dangerous or potentially threatening individuals rather than releasing them into the community.” But serving and executing warrants by ICE officers has been problematic in Oregon where I live. Under oath, an ICE supervisor admitted during a hearing of U.S. District Court in Portland in early December that he created and signed arrest warrants for individuals knowing they had already been arrested without a warrant. Another ICE officer testified that he was directed to include an inaccurate twoparagraph block in each report for people who were arrested and taken to the Portland ICE building. It’s difficult to argue that partnering with ICE will remove dangerous individuals from Otsego County. Only Continued on page 7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL A-5 news from the noteworthy

COOPERSTOWN CONCERTS

Building Momentum, Making an Impact

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

210 YEARS AGO

Advertisement: I want all persons to settle up with me for Newspapers, particularly those living off the road, and I will engage to furnish them with papers as usual, provided they will be punctual in paying me. My dues are in small sums, and nothing but punctuality will enable me to pay my debts, keep me in humor, and make me your humble servant, George Griffith. Elopement: Whereas my wife Sally has forsook my bed and board, without any just provocation, this is to forbid all persons harboring or trusting her on my account, as I am determined to pay no debts of her contracting. John R. Bruce, Edmeston, December 26, 1815. January 18, 1816

85 YEARS AGO

The 1940 hunting season in New York State claimed the lives of 28 persons and brought varying degrees of injury to 159 others the Conservation Department announced last week. The figures for the 12-month period included all accidents reported and were slightly under those of a year ago. In 1939, 30 persons lost their lives while 175 others were wounded or injured during the season. During the open deer season last fall, 13 persons lost their lives hunting the prized white-tail. Of this total three drowned, two died of heart attacks and the remaining eight met death by bullets either from their own guns or from those of hunting companions. Sixteen persons were wounded or injured during the open deer season. January 15, 1941

60 YEARS AGO

The effectiveness of fluoridated water in reducing tooth decay was demonstrated long before formal scientific investigation even began. Nature had conducted its own experiment among some seven million residents of 1,900 communities where water supplies had been fluoridated naturally. It was the observation of dentists in these areas that the residents developed less tooth decay than the national average. This led to investigations as to the reason and it was during these studies that the theory linking cavity prevention to fluorides was conceived. January 12, 1966

35 YEARS AGO

The League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown area believes recycling is the most cost effective and environmentally safe method of reusing and saving our natural resources. The League opposes burning of trash as a method to reduce the waste stream. Burning mixed paper, Styrofoam, plastic, and magazines, etc. has been proven by the New York State Health Department to produce hazardous chemicals. The smoke and exhaust given off by such burning often settles near the ground and is a proven health hazard. The practice of burning such waste in barrels, outdoor fireplaces, or wood stoves is not a suitable solution to reducing the trash that goes to the landfill. Martha B. Clarvoe January 16, 1991

20 YEARS AGO

Barbara Robinson, who, with her husband, Gordy, owns Robinson Service Station on Chestnut Street, reports that contaminated soil at the station is in the final stages of being hauled away. “This is the last part of the journey,” we hope,” she said. Although contaminated with petroleum products, the soil is considered non-hazardous and is being hauled to a landfill in Albany for disposal. The Robinsons specified that the work be done by local contractors. Scott Ubner began the work which was completed by John Schallert, Jr. The project was monitored by Tom Lane of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Robinsons are now hopeful of selling the property to an unnamed buyer. January 13, 2006

Solution: “New EnglandStyle Chatter 2” (January 8)

usic is vital for communities as a universal language that unites people, creates connections and promotes cultural growth. In recent years, the demand for live music in our region has grown significantly—and Cooperstown has emerged as a yearPhoto by Randy Smith round destination for The Cooperstown Concerts Diwali celebration of light in October featured Kiran Ahluwalia outstanding, diverse and her band. performances that increase in attendance over the prior season. draw audiences from across the region. Nearly every performance sold out, and audiences For more than 55 years, Cooperstown Concerts described the events as joyful, welcoming, and has been a proud part of the local arts scene. Our enriching. small, independent, all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit At the heart of Cooperstown Concerts is a has remained steadfast in our mission to foster small team of volunteer board members who are community, celebrate diversity and promote working hard to redefine what live music can look cultural growth through live music performances. like in a rural community. Our innovations are Guided by the belief that cultural experiences turning performances into inclusive cultural gathshould be available to everyone, we strive to erings that encourage connection before, during be “Your Home for Live Music,” bringing and after the music. Over the past few years, we outstanding performances to people across the have expanded our programming, introduced new region at affordable prices. These commitments and culturally diverse artists, and enhanced the have never been more evident than they are today. concert-going experience through social lounges, Over the past three seasons, Cooperstown dance floors, food partnerships, and collaborations Concerts has gained new momentum. During with local hotels and businesses. the 2024-2025 season, more than 1,300 people With an exciting 2025-2026 season now Continued on page 9 attended eight concerts, representing a 70 percent By MERL REAGLE

Food Naming: A Report Card…

Care for an unappetizer?

ACROSS 1 Tope opener 4 Make ___ (complain) 9 My gal 12 Spurious name 17 Mo. of decision 18 Recipient 19 “___ boy!” 20 WWII field marshal, familiarly 21 Popular bread spread (grade: F) 23 Another popular bread spread (grade: F) 25 Powder or shoe follower 26 “Mighty ___ a Rose” 27 English hymnologist John Mason ___ 28 Myrmecology specimen 29 Picture taker, briefly 31 Deli purchase (grade: F) 36 Popular chocolate/ nut candies (grade: F) 39 A direction, in Durango Rogers 13 Coach Holtz 40 ___ kleine Nachtmusik 91 Breakfast cereal (grade: F) 14 Doubled up, perhaps 41 Tristan’s love 92 Betty Crocker side dish 15 Immediately (grade: F) 42 Collectibles ending 16 Elect. keyboard 96 You, politely, in German 43 Type of dive or song 19 ___ dei 97 Well goo 45 Pretend 22 Empower 98 Insurance giant 46 Meat entree (grade: F) 24 Pig’s digs 99 The little guy 53 Cobb and Hardin 30 Do zen 101 Sky bear 54 Hospital battery 32 Taboo list 104 Bakery items (grade: F) 56 Casablanca’s Lund et al. 33 Paraphernalia 107 Dessert (grade: F) 57 Teachers’ org. 34 Honeybunch 109 Forget-___ 58 Polite term of address 35 Grape abuser 110 QED section 59 Rose supporters 36 With “free,” a common 111 Places redundancy 60 Destroyer detector 112 Promise to pay 37 Anthem start 62 Meat entree (grade: F) 113 Cookies 38 Damage the patched spot 67 Indian corn 114 “Send help” 42 Quick 68 Has a taste for 43 One who puts things away 69 Busby Berkeley’s real name 115 Ex-Chicago mayor Jane 116 She’s coming out 44 Grains and karats: abbr. 70 Raw resource DOWN 47 Flying ttoys 71 Let in or let on 1 Short distance 48 Extorted 72 Pop 2 Area near TriBeCa 49 Gomer’s org. 74 Picture tube: abbr. 3 Stays on the range too long? 50 Jo or Rose follower 77 Chinese appetizer (grade: F) 4 Cutting tool 51 Madonna’s ex 81 One with a rash or a yen 5 Ducks, geese, and turkeys 52 Prepare to feather 83 411 respondent: abbr. 6 Takes off one’s cloche 55 Suppress anger, e.g. 84 Bi plus 1 7 Japanese watchmaker 58 Les ___ 85 ___ on (get drunk) 8 States, in comix 59 Undoes an edit 86 Tampa Bay talk radio sta- 9 Mason’s secretary 60 Dundee dogs tion (or its location in the 10 Order to relax 61 Assents state) 11 Eric Clapton classic 62 Lucknow attire 88 Cowboy humorist’s full 63 Wharf extension name, William Penn ___ 12 I love, in Latin

64 Intentions 65 Burnett vignette 66 Latin phrase of position 67 Often angry assemblage 71 Fuel suffix 72 Grand Canyon transit 73 A wire service 74 Of an ancient illness 75 Actor Santoni 76 F ierce dinosaur, in shorthand 78 Big grower in Hawaii 79 Resorts of sorts 80 Of the ear 82 E lement in photoelectric cells 86 Paler 87 Socks or Stimpy 88 Conductor Toscanini 89 Douglas and Reed 90 “And ___ of thousands” 91 Funny Dennis or Larry 92 Mag that “exposed” Burt 93 Cheer, of a sort 94 Neuwirth and Rebozo 95 Suspicious 100 Mexican dessert 102 Plumlike fruit 103 Rub follow-up 105 Dove sound 106 Chess pcs. 107 Boxer’s blow 108 Sugar ending

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA NEWS BRIEFS

BBWAA Election Coming Up COOPERSTOWN—The results of the 82nd Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame election will be announced at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20 at a live broadcast from the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery. Extensive coverage by MLB Network will begin at 10 a.m. This year’s ballot featured 12 new candidates and 15 returning candidates. Jeff Kent was elected by the separate Contemporary Baseball Era Committee in December and will join any BBWAA electees at Induction Weekend, scheduled for July 24-27.

KWC Announces Webinars EDMESTON—The Kennedy Willis Center on Down Syndrome will present a two-part Lunch and Learn Zoom webinar, “Design with Dignity: Inclusive Environments for Older Adults with I/DD,” at noon on Wednesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 4. The sessions will present evidence-based strategies for inclusive environments to family members, DSPs, programs administrators, healthcare providers and other stakeholders who care for older adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Registration is $20.00 and includes both sessions, and must be completed in advance at https://pathfindervillage. org/ innovation-kwc/education.

Clerk To Hold Passport Fair HARTWICK—The office of Otsego County Clerk Jennifer Basile will hold a Passport Fair at the Hartwick Seminary Fire Department, 4877 State Route 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 21. Photo services will be available. Attendees should bring a copy of the front and back of their drivers license, a certified copy of a state-issued birth certificate, and a DS11 application completed in black ink. They should also have a check or money order to submit with the application and cash or card for county clerk fees. For a complete list of guidelines, visit otsegocountyny. gov/departments/a-c/county_clerk/passports.php.

Local Students Make NU List

Road on Saturday, October 3. For more information or application materials, contact friendshipcraftfestival@yahoo.com or fallcraftfair@yahoo.com, respectively.

Riley Introduces Safety Act ONEONTA—Congressman Josh Riley announced the Tractor Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and expand the National ROPS Rebate Program, at a press conference in Oneonta on January 5. Rollover protective structures are proven life-saving safety upgrades that prevent death or serious injury in tractor rollovers. Proper use of a ROPS and seatbelt is 99 percent effective in preventing death or injury. New York’s ROPS rebate program has delivered more than 2,000 retrofits to farmers across the state and inspired similar legislation in 27 other states. Funding for the federal program was cut earlier this year. Riley’s legislation would reauthorize and expand the program to cover at least 70 percent of costs and cap out-ofpocket costs to farmers at $500.00.

20th Octet Challenge Opens COOPERSTOWN—Otsego Outdoors will offer its 20th Otsego Octet Challenge through March 19. Participants who complete eight of the featured Winter Challenge activities earn an embroidered patch, a waterproof sticker and a listing on the website roster. Activities include hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing at state parks (Glimmerglass, Robert V. Riddell, Gilbert Lake, Betty and Wilbur Davis), state forests (Arnold Lake, Goodyear Lake Waterway Access), an Otsego Land Trust property (Parslow Road Conservation Area), a town park (Fortin Park) and the Rogers Environmental Education Center. There is a “choose your own” option that includes any outdoor activity in Otsego County. Credit may also be earned by participating in a winter festival or by reporting invasive species on the iMapInvasives app. The Otsego County Conservation Association will host a free iMapInvasives workshop at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21. For more information or to register for the Octet Challenge, visit otsegooutdoors.org.

ROCHESTER—Nazereth University released its Fall 2025 Dean’s List, honoring students who maintained a grade point average of at least 3.5 while completing at least 12 credit hours of graded coursework. Local honorees included Daphnee West of Cherry Valley, Ariana Bosc of Springfield Center, Leah McCrea of Cooperstown and Nora Wick of Maryland.

Pierce Honored at SUNY Canton

Art Garage Event Is Saturday

Shakers Topic of Presentation

COOPERSTOWN—Local fine-art photographer Jamie Young will be the final artist-in-residence for The Art Garage’s winter “Something Old, Something New” show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 17. He will display samples of his work, exhibit antique cameras and demonstrate his cyanotype technique, pending sufficient interest. This will be the final day to view “Something Old, Something New.” The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Road, is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and by appointment. Contact leartgarage@gmail.com or (315) 941-9607 for more information.

FLY CREEK—The Fly Creek Area Historical Society will hold its next monthly meeting at 852 County Route 26 on Wednesday, January 28. Jim Johnson will give a presentation on the New York Shakers at 6:30 p.m., followed by refreshments and the business meeting at 7:30. All are welcome.

Church Seeks Craft Vendors RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Church of Christ Uniting seeks craft vendors for two popular annual fairs. The 45th Annual Friendship Craft Festival will be held in Spring Park on Saturday, June 13 and the 6th Annual Fall Craft Fair will be at 587 Cullen

County

Continued from page 3 In an e-mail to other county officials, obtained by AllOtsego, Devlin wrote that the sheriff, as a “conservator of peace with authority defined

by statute and common law” who is independently elected and not a county department, has “broad discretion over law enforcement operations and may enter into agreements with other agencies without Board approval.”

NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: 2026 HOME IMPROVEMENT FUNDING NOW AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA Roof • Windows • Siding • Bathrooms • Heating & More Is your home telling you it’s time? Roof showing age, leaks, or storm damage Old, drafty windows driving up energy bills Outdated bathrooms or exterior issues Projects you “planned” to do-but put off because of cost You may qualify for special home improvement funding programs not available to the general public. Lower out-of-pocket costs Spread payments over time Move forward without delaying needed work Even homeowners who could pay cash are encouraged to check eligibility. ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED Programs, appointments, and installations are available RQ D ¿UVW FRPH ¿UVW VHUYHG EDVLV LQ \TXU DUHD 3URJUDPV FKDQJH IUHTXHQWO\ DQG PD\ close without notice.

CALL NOW TO CHECK ELIGIBILITY

888-849-9991

or visit NyProgramFunding.com APPROVED APPLICATIONS WILL HAVE THE WORK COMPLETED BY A QUALITY REPAIR CREW PROVIDED BY HOMEOWNER FUNDING. NOT AFFILIATED WITH STATE OR GOV PROGRAMS. LICENSE NY-RC-H-21274

CANTON—SUNY Canton released its Fall 2025 semester part-time honors, recognizing students who maintained a GPA of at least 3.25 in 6-11 credit hours of classwork. Among the honorees was Cheyenne Pierce of Otego, an early childhood care and management major.

State Announces WQ Funds ALBANY—New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced that a total of $25 million is available for agricultural water quality conservation projects through the 31st round of the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement and Control Program. Eligible projects include but are not limited to nutrient control through manure storage, vegetative buffers along streams and conservation cover crops. Proposals are due on April 20. Applications and full eligibility information may be found at agriculture. ny.gov/funding-opportunities. The County Attorney’s office did not respond to AllOtsego’s e-mailed questions for this story, including about whether it would be possible for the county board to amend, rescind or defund the agreement. Representative Daniel Wilber (R-Burlington, Edmeston, Exeter, Plainfield), the chair of the board’s public safety committee, told AllOtsego he wasn’t “in the position to tell the sheriff how to run the Sheriff’s Office. “It’s a legal position to take. It seems sensible to me. I’d rather have ICE come pick somebody up than have what we have in some of the other jurisdictions going on,” he said, referencing ongoing national events. “My constituents—I’ve heard from quite a few of them—don’t want these criminal aliens back on the street.” Wilber said the agreement will help to

avoid the “chaos” seen elsewhere. A protest hosted on Saturday, January 10 by local chapters of the progressive advocacy group Indivisible was originally scheduled in opposition to the 287(g) agreement. It took on new meaning, and size, after the ICE shooting of Nicole Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “I could anticipate something like Minneapolis happening. And I hate to have been right about that,” Representative Leslie Berliant (D-Cherry Valley, Middlefield, Roseboom), a new member of the public safety committee, told AllOtsego after she spoke at the protest. Berliant said demonstrators were justifiably angry, concerned, and scared about ICE’s actions elsewhere and “what the potential is in our community by inviting in an agency that has

FCO To Present Free Concert COOPERSTOWN—Fenimore Chamber Orchestra will present a free family concert at the Village Hall Ballroom at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 7 in conjunction with the Cooperstown Winter Carnival. The 45-minute program is designed as a lively introduction to orchestral music that will delight all ages. It includes Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” and Leroy Anderson’s “The Typewriter.” For a full schedule of events, visit cooperstownwintercarnival.com.

Oneonta DMV Expands Services ONEONTA—The office of Otsego County Clerk Jennifer Basile announced that the Oneonta Satellite location of the Otsego DMV will expand its services, effective January 13. It will now be able to process new issuances of Enhanced Driver’s Licenses, REAL ID-Compliant licenses and reciprocity transactions, all by appointment only.

Continuing Ed Classes Slated ONEONTA—The Center for Continuing Adult Learning Oneonta offers a full suite of classes for winter 2026. Remaining January classes include a presentation on the Hobart Book Village, a group of seven independent bookstores in one block of Hobart, from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, and “The Incredible Life of the Honeybee” from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, February 2. For more information or to view a full schedule, visit (607) 441-7370.

Film Showcase Entries Sought STAMFORD—The Roxbury Arts Group issued an open call for submissions to its Local Lens Film Showcase at Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main Street in Stamford. Any local film stakeholders are invited to submit up to three short films (10-30 minutes) or one full-length film by March 7. Foreign-language entries must be subtitled and content warnings should be included in the application. Accepted short films will be shown at Headwaters from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, April 10; long films will be screened from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, April 24. For more information or a full list of eligibility guidelines, visit roxburyartsgroup.org/open-calls.

Scholarship Deadline Nearing WASHINGTON, DC—Graduate and undergraduate music students can apply for the DAR Marian Anderson Legacy Scholarship through January 31. Sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution, this one-time award of $5,000.00 honors the legacy of groundbreaking Black contralto and civil rights icon Marian Anderson. To qualify, a student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and submit references through the application system. For more information or to apply, visit https://www. dar.org/outreach/education/scholarships.

NY Gas Drops Below $3.00 UTICA—The average price of gas in New York State fell three cents to $2.99 per gallon over the week ending Monday, January 12, AAA Northeast announced. Demand and prices typically bottom out in January, and 2026 has followed the trends so far. Domestic demand dropped significantly to 8.2 million barrels a day last week and inventories registered their highest single-week increase in a year. Oil markets are unsteady but prices remain about 20 percent below the figures from early 2025. New York’s current price is 11 cents lower than last month and 14 cents lower than this time last year. To view the full report, visit gasprices.aaa.com. been clearly acting with lawlessness and making the communities it enters less safe than they were before they got there.” Opponents of the policy have spanned from progressive activists speaking at county board meetings to a recently announced Republican challenger for sheriff, 25-year Sheriff’s Office veteran Michael J. Stalter. Concerns, too, span from general opposition to ICE’s activities to questions about allocating strapped county time, resources, and jail space to the enforcement of federal immigration law. Some have raised concerns that the agreement could damage the area’s national reputation, and therefore tourism economy, or that the agreement could

put the county at legal liability. “It seems to be the style these days for some politicians to claim that because they were elected, they can do anything they want and are no longer answerable to citizens,” Virginia Kennedy, leader of CooperstownOneonta Indivisible, said at the January 7 county board meeting. “Prudence called for the county attorney to weigh in here,” Kennedy said. “Even if not legally compelled, shouldn’t caution have driven the sheriff to consult with the attorney and the board before this decision? As one of only seven counties of New York’s 62 to have entered into such an agreement, what price will Otsego County pay for its participation?”

Subscribe to AllOtsego.com Call (607) 547-6103 for more details.

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

Letters

Continued from page 4 about a third of the people arrested in Oregon from January 20 through mid-October had been convicted of a crime, and less than 10 percent of those arrested had been convicted of a violent crime. Nationwide, the trends are similar. Just under half of those arrested had no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, according to the ICE count released by the Deportation Project. And of those arrested, only 5 percent had been convicted of a violent crime. ICE activity enhances Oregonians’ fear, not their safety. Several Oregon counties and towns, including Salem, the capital, and Hood River, “the windsurfing capital of the world,” have declared a state of emergency because of ICE officers’ infringements on constitutional rights. ICE officers routinely wear masks and refuse to provide identification. Tactics like unmarked cars and aggressive actions cause confusion and alarm. Legal immigrants are scared to leave their homes. ICE actions on the Oregon coast make people’s lives less safe. The Coast Guard helicopter crew stationed at Newport, Oregon has saved approximately 500 lives including 30 commercial fishermen in the last 10 years. But in late October, with no notice to the community or state and local officials, the helicopter disappeared. ICE does not manage the Coast Guard, but there is evidence that the removal happened because ICE intends to build a detention center where the helicopter crew is based. Thanks to the Court, search and rescue operations have been restored at least temporarily. Since 1791, Otsego County residents have entrusted their civic affairs and safety to their sheriffs, including my grandfather, Ziba Holbrook, who served from 1912-1914. Sheriff Devlin, I respectfully hope you will carefully weigh the risks and benefits of a partnership with ICE. Trust is the foun-

dation of any effective law enforcement agency. Without it, collaboration deteriorates and public safety efforts weaken. Jill Holbrook Rockaway Beach, Oregon

DJT Must Be Impeached Donald J. Trump told us that he wanted to be a dictator on day one and, in this instance, it is probably the only statement he has made that he has adhered to for the entire year. His presidency is exhausting and every week we fall farther down the rabbit hole of his authoritarian agenda. If your military leaders suspect a boat is running drugs, you overpower the boat, arrest the smugglers, and allow them their day in court, where you prove your claims have validity and a jury finds them guilty. Killing people that are clinging to the boat you just bombed is totally unacceptable. Bombing another country that we are not at war with in order to extract their president back to the U.S. and killing innocent civilians in the process—all done without Congressional approval or notification— is unconstitutional. To be told by the president that this action was not to free the people from a dictator’s control, but rather to drill for oil on their land, was classic Donald Trump. We are all living with the effects of rising CO2 levels and his vision of the future has us going beyond the tipping point that the Earth can endure. Of course, Donald Trump will be dead when the climate disaster is fully upon us. He lives day to day and his biggest agenda is accumulating more wealth and power in any way possible, regardless of the cost to you and your family. DJT does not believe in the Constitution or the three equal branches of power. He is an unwell man with enormous power who is willing to circumvent the law to achieve his aims. Every rational person must protest loudly his corrupt administration, his flouting of the Rule of Law, his vindictiveness and divisiveness. We must call our elected leaders not only in our

own state but in any state that is able to rectify what is happening. We must impeach him and remove him from office and we must hold those who have enabled him accountable as well. Even then it will take years to repair our nation and its standing in the world. As we enter 2026 and the 250th celebration of our country, let us reclaim the vision of our founding fathers and mothers. Karen Mihan Carol Beechy Cooperstown

Of course, like any those years. Is it wrong to time for Hartwick resiresponsible citizen this give incentives to incor- dents to unify and have gave me cause and porate the old with the a class action lawsuit concern to ask questions. new? The county board against the county of I went to Joe in the tax members deny that they Otsego and the state of office and did learn that gave the 10-year exemp- New York. the state has a formula to tion and place the blame David Petri determine equalization on Otsego Now. Yet let’s Hartwick rates which was used for be truthful: They are to both school and property blame, for they are the Lions Letter tax determinations. Do ones who appointed those these rates sound equal members to Otsego Now. of Thanks to you? I also talked to No one other than the This holiday season, Carol McGovern, clerk Town of Hartwick citi- many families, senior of the county board, and zens should in any way citizens and children in Alan Ruffles, county be giving tax exemptions our region experienced treasurer. Last September in our town—not the “food insufficiency.” when I questioned the county or the state, and As the severity of the school tax, I talked to perhaps this should be hunger crisis deepened several county reps about taken to court. What ever throughout the year, this situation. happened to home rule? local service organiI find it extremely I find that in most areas zations increasingly hard to understand why in our county it is hard to collaborated to assist Why Were We Hartwick town taxes get answers. It is hard to our neighbors in need. Singled Out? should increase at all and contact county reps and In 2025, the cost When Otsego County common sense would they and others often and utilization of the we do know or want to Cooperstown Lion’s Club residents received their leave one to think OCTOBER 1 –notDECEMBER 31, 2020 property tax bills last should be paying very know the answers. As SNAP Match Program week, those observing little if any tax at all. of now, no one knows rose by more than 500 explain how the Hartwick has had more or can residents of Hartwick percent! Meeting the fiscal were again in shock. activity than perhaps state determines and needs, time demands and town in the county. established the equaliza to We were told by the any expertise necessary county that there would Hotels, dining places, tion rates. Apparently, address the hunger crisis homes being built all they feel that properties required a community be a 5 percent increase large are not being assessed at wide collaborative effort. but instead found an over the place and 1 –full DECEMBER 31, 2020 tax revenues.OCTOBER the rate and increase of 13.1 percent. bed that they Without all of your kind It is appalling that the know more about the ness and support, our This aroused my curi without looking Otsego county board values osity and even more Lions Club SNAP Match so when a friend in gave a 10-year tax at the properties than the Program would have themselves. If struggled to survive. exemption to the large assessors Oneonta town said his To went down .5 percent. hotel on the Hickey that be the case, why do all of you—especially assessors at all? Otsego 2000, who has property on State Route we need I then looked into some The question is why is been our steadfast partner other towns, and found 28 in Hyde Park. Perhaps they had given Hickey Hartwick being singled offering endless support, increases for Laurens at if a 10-year tax exemp- out when it is one of the ideas, and promotion— 5.3 percent, Middlefield at 4.6 percent, Milford tion on the 215-year- chief donors to the county we offer you a heartfelt tavern—a historic ? Assurance coffers? If you have a “thank? Kelly at 7.6 percent, Morris at old you.” Edge All-Season ? Assurance WeatherReady ? WinterCommand Ultra All-Season ? Kelly Edge HT county tax increase Assurance CT Touring Sport All-Season Family (inc. ROF &of SCT) 5 ? Kelly Edge All-Season Perf. ? Kelly ? Wrangler DuraTracimportant to ? Eagle 7.2 percent,? Richfield at landmark Additionally, as Edge MT ? Wrangler AT Adventureof w/Kevlar ? Kelly Winter Access AssuranceOtsego MaxLife Maxx 2 then it should be ? Kelly Edge AT the history Otsego ? Winter percent, 7.5 percent,? and the number of people ? Eagle Exhilarate ? Kelly Edge HP ? Kelly Safari TSR ? Wrangler Fortitude HT , excludes C-Type ? Winter Maxx SJ8 still the same for all the towns adversely effected by the at 2.1 percent. This is County—it ? WinterCommand ? Wrangler TrailRunner would AT not anything new for be standing. Located in throughout the county. hunger crisis grew, the the orexact center are Prepaid the Mastercard county ® orgenerosity, Hartwick residents, as almost *By online mail-in rebate. RebatesWhen paid by Goodyear Visa® Prepaid Card. energy, and we also got pounded on of Otsego County on reps going to stand up to kindness extended to our † ASKmain AN ASSOCIATE THEand GOODYEAR artery runningABOUT the state say enough30-DAY the Cooperstown school the SNAP PLEDGE Match Program into Cooperstown for all ? Assurance is enough? Perhaps it is Continued on page 8 taxes. ? Kelly Edge All-Season ? Assurance WeatherReady ? WinterCommand Ultra All-Season ? Kelly Edge HT OFFERS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: ? Assurance CT Touring Sport THE All-Season FOLLOWING Family (inc. ROF & SCT) ? Kelly Edge All-Season Perf. ? Kelly Edge MT ? Wrangler DuraTrac ? EagleAT OFFERS AVAILABLE LOCATION:

UPGRADE & SAVE FOR THE SEASON

™

? Assurance MaxLife® ? Eagle Exhilarate® ? WinterCommand®

? Wrangler® AT Adventure w/Kevlar® ? Wrangler Fortitude HT®, excludes C-Type ? Wrangler TrailRunner AT®

? Winter Maxx® 2 ? Winter Maxx® SJ8

INSURANCE

? Kelly Edge AT® ? Kelly Edge HP®

? Kelly Winter Access™ ? Kelly® Safari® TSR

THE TIRE SHOP

MANY COMPANIES. MANY OPTIONS.

*By online or mail-in rebate. Rebates paid by Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard® or Visa® Prepaid Card.

Bieritz insurance agency 155 ERIE BLVD Real people who truly care... ASK AN ASSOCIATE ABOUT THE GOODYEAR 30-DAY PLEDGE † CANAJOHARIE , NY 13317 your hometown insurance agency! 209 Main Street, Cooperstown OFFERS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING518-673-5399 LOCATIONS: 607-547-2951 across from Bruce Hall THETIRESHOP.BIZ 607-263-5170 in Morris Celebrating our

36th YEAR!

Ben Novellano

THE TIRE SHOP

*Get up to $75 back by online or mail-in rebate on a qualifying purchase of a set of 4 select 1990-2026 Goodyear tires with any form of payment method; plus get an added rebate of up to $75 more when the purchase is made on the Goodyear Credit Card. Subject to credit approval. Get a $75 Prepaid Card with purchase or Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance WeatherReady®, Assurance® ComforTred Touring, Assurance MaxLife®, Wrangler® All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar®, Wrangler DuraTrac®, Wrangler Fortitude HT® (excluding C-Type), Wrangler TrailRunner AT®, Eagle Exhilarate®, WinterCommand®, Win LT and WinterCommand® Ultra. Get a $50 Prepaid Card with purchase or $100 Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance® All-Season, Eagle® Sport All-Season Family (including ROF & SCT), Winter Maxx® 2 and Winter Maxx® SJ8. Get a $25 Prepaid Card with purchase or $50 Prep purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Kelly Edge® HT, Kelly Edge AT®, Kelly Edge MT®, Kelly® Safari® TSR, Kelly Edge HP®, Kelly Edge All-Season®, Kelly Edge All-Season® Performance and Kelly Winter Access™.

155 ERIE BLVD c &G? -CA<<=J .AJ=K CANAJOHARIE, NY 13317 518-673-5399c ? 9?K 9D= c -=EA .J9;LGJ .J9AD=J c GEHML=J 1@==D 9D9F;AF? (=L 1J9H THETIRESHOP.BIZ c 'MDLA &AF= (=O .AJ= =9D=J

BENSON FINANCIAL SERVICES

If you receive a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard®, then the following applies: Rebates paid in the form of a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard®. This Prepaid Card is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, a c .AJ= ,=H9AJ c ?JA;MDLMJ9D design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. This card may be used everywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted. Registration, activation, acceptance, or use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Prepaid.AJ=K Card Agreement. Prepaid Cards will not have cash a expire after 6 months from date of issuance - other terms, conditions, and fees may apply. c &9OF 9F< !9J<=F .AJ=K c .AJ= @9AFK If you receive a Goodyear Visa Prepaid Card, then the following applies: Visa Prepaid Card is issued by MetaBank®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused fu c .0 /.0 .AJ=K c ,M::=J .J9;CK after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply. MetaBank does not endorse or sponsor the Goodyear Credit Card offer.

Offers available only at participating U.S. Goodyear retailers and websites. Offers valid only for U.S. residents who are individual consumers with mailing addresses in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Commercial fleets are not eligible for these rebates. Not valid on previous purchases. Cannot be combined with o tire rebate offers. Rebate forms must be postmarked no later than 1/31/21. Base portion of rebate offered by Goodyear, and bonus portion of rebate offered by Citibank, N.A. Goodyear is not affiliated with Mastercard. Additional terms, conditions, and fees apply. See participating retailer for complete details and Goodyear Credit Card is issued by Citibank, N.A. Company and affiliates. DuPont™ and Kevlar® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company used under license by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber c .AJ= -=JNA;= ,=;9HHAF? c )AD @9F?=K †Terms and conditions apply. See store associate for details, or for more information, visit https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tire-warranty/30-day-pledge. c !GG<Q=9J (9LAGF9D ;;GMFLK c MKLGE 1@==DK

Lifetime Income Strategies Tax & Planning Services

©2020 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. All rights reserved. -L9L= GFLJ9;L *JA;AF? c MLG ;;=KKGJA=K *Get up to $75 back by online or mail-in rebate on a qualifying purchase of a set of 4 select Goodyear tires with any form of payment method; plus get an added rebate of up to $75 more when the purchase is made on the Goodyear Credit Card. Subject to credit approval. Get a $75 Prepaid Card with purchase or $ ® Adventure with,G9< Kevlar®, Wrangler DuraTrac®, Wrangler Fortitude HT® (excludingcC-Type), Wrangler *A;CMH TrailRunner AT 9HK , Eagle Exhilarate®, WinterCommand®, Winte Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance WeatherReady®, Assurance® ComforTred Touring, Assurance MaxLife®, Wrangler® All-Terrain c )>> .@= 9;C@G= =FLMJQ ® ® ® LT and WinterCommand Ultra. Get a $50 Prepaid Card with purchase or $100 Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance All-Season, Eagle Sport All-Season Family (including ROF & SCT), Winter Maxx® 2 and Winter Maxx® SJ8. Get a $25 Prepaid Card with purchase or $50 Prepa ® .AJ=K c #FL=JKL9L= 9LL=JA=K Edge All-Season Performance and Kelly Winter Access™. purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Kelly Edge® HT, Kelly Edge AT®, Kelly Edge MT®, Kelly® Safari® TSR, Kelly Edge HP®, Kelly Edge All-Season®, Kelly&G9<=J

Investment advisory services, offered through PVG Asset Management Corporation. PVG Asset If you receive a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard , then the following applies: Rebates paid in the form of a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard . This Prepaid Card is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, an Management Corporation is separately owned design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. This card may be used everywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted. Registration, activation, acceptance, or use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Prepaid Card Agreement. Prepaid Cards will not have cash acc after 6 monthsand from date of issuance - other terms, conditions, products and fees may apply. and otherexpireentities marketing names, If you receive a Goodyear Visa Prepaid Card, then the following applies: Visa Prepaid Card is issued by MetaBank , N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused fund or services independent PVG after the valid are thru date. Card terms and conditionsof apply. MetaBankAsset does not endorse or sponsor the Goodyear Credit Card offer. Offers available only atCorporation. participating U.S. Goodyear retailers websites. Offers valid only for U.S. residents who are individual consumers with mailing addresses in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Commercial fleets are not eligible for these rebates. Not valid on previous purchases. Cannot be combined with oth Management PVGandAsset ON THE retailer for complete details and r 4(%4)2%3(/0 "): tire rebate offers. Rebate forms must be postmarked no later than 1/31/21. Base portion of rebate offered by Goodyear, and bonus portion of rebate offered by Citibank, N.A. Goodyear is not affiliated with Mastercard. Additional terms, conditions, and fees apply. See participating Financing Management Corporation Goodyear Credit Card is issued by Citibank,and N.A. Donald Benson FARM TIRE OPEN MON. SAT. 8-6 Available Kevlar are registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company used under license by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and affiliates. DuPont and CPA aretrademarks not oraffiliated. SERVICES †Terms and conditions apply. See store associate for details, or for more information, visit https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tire-warranty/30-day-pledge. Don Benson, CPA/CFP® 155 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie, NY The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. All rights reserved. (607) ©2020 432-3775 • 28 Oneida Street, Oneonta ®

518.673.5399

™

SALE

15% OFF TV Stands

Ancient Wisdom Therapies Reiki and Shamanic Practices

Suzanne Summers RN, Reiki Master Teacher Bonnie Baryk RN, Reiki Master Teacher ancientwisdomtherapies@gmail.com 607-437-4103

Your Source for the News of Cooperstown & Otsego County 607-547-6103

Your subscription includes 1 year FREE ACCESS to E

•F

OUNDED

OOP

M C IA

Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper

E WIL

08 - 2025

& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch

1808 BY

Home

wn on to

HOMETOWN anniversary ONEONTA

88 Cortland St. | Norwich

SUBSCRIBE!

nta eo

www.westcottelectric.com 607-334-5510

Business Directory

New Electric Services • Upgrade ServiceMeters & Panels • Repairs & Renovations Car Chargers • Generator-Sales/Installs

founded in 1808

25% OFF IN-STOCK RESTONIC MATTRESSES

Real Wood, Finished & Unfinished Furniture for every room in your home.

The Pine Shop SaleJan.ends 24

5382 State Highway 7 • Oneonta (607)432-1124 • Mon. - Fri. 9-5:30, Sat. 9-5 www.thepineshoponeonta.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Letters

Continued from page 7 was felt from many service organizations, foundations, clubs, businesses and individuals in our community...truly a shared commitment! We offer a specific thank you to: the Rotary Club of Cooperstown; the Raymond Han and Paul Kellogg Foundation; the Community Foundation of Otsego County; Hulse Hill Farm; Willy’s Good Chicken Dinner; S. Tier French; the Mohawk Valley Gives Donor Campaign; Alex Webster Family Memorial Funds; the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market vendors; New York State and Bermuda Lions Foundation; Gaia’s Breath Farm and The Art Farm; Schlather & Birch Law Firm; and the Otsego County Bar Association. In our list of generous

donors above, please forgive any unintended omissions. We hope all of our neighbors enjoyed happy holidays. Your kindness, generosity and sense of community is inspirational! Marianne Rae Chairperson, Lions Club SNAP Match Program, on behalf of the Cooperstown Lions Club

Congrats on a Job Well Done I just finished reading Richard DeRosa’s “Hawthorn Hill Journal” [“Reflections at Year’s End,” issue of January 8, 2026] and found myself smiling as he captured the fear that grips anyone who chooses to step “into the arena,” to borrow from Teddy Roosevelt. My father used to say that if you’re no longer scared to share

your work, you’re probably not pushing hard enough—and it might be time to retire. I feel that truth every time I draft a proposal, pitch a project, or even send a professional e-mail. There’s always that flicker of “is this the one where I’m exposed and tossed out.” I often wonder whether that internal critic ever quiets, or whether it simply changes shape as we grow older and (hopefully) better at our craft. Yet here I am, well into my career, and my stomach still turns over each time I hit “send” or type a question into a webinar chat box. Your essay reminded me that this tension—the anxiety and the contentment, the hesitation and the joy—is part of the work, no matter the field. Writing, like any craft, demands a willingness to risk a little piece of

Legal

Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/13/2025. 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 210 Burdick Rd,, Milford, NY 13807. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalFeb.12

to be placed on the Planholders List at www.dot. ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/ const-planholder. Amendments may have been issued prior to your placement on the Planholders list.

into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability/handicap and income status in consideration for an award.

10-14 HIGH ST LLC. Filed 11/26/25. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 224 N Queens Ave, Massapequa, NY 11758. Purpose: General. 6LegalJan.15 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of RUIZ TRANSPORT LLC Arts of Org. filed SSNY 12/4/2025 Otsego Co. SSNY design. agent for process & shall mail to 1967 WEHRLE DR., STE. 1 #086, BUFFALO, NY, 14221 General Purpose 6LegalJan.29 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of MJM Quality Services LLC, filed with the Secretary of State on December 05, 2025. Office Location is in Otsego County. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to 185 Honey Joe Road, Fly Creek, NY 13337. Purpose: any lawful activity. 6LegalJan.29 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of

Legal nOtice Notice to Bidders Sealed bids will be received as set forth in instructions to bidders until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 05, 2026 at the NYSDOT, Office of Contract Management, 50 Wolf Rd, 1st Floor, Suite 1CM, Albany, NY 12232 and will be publicly opened and read. Bids may also be submitted via the internet using https://www.bidx. com. A certified cashier’s check payable to the NYSDOT for the sum specified in the proposal or a bid bond, form CONR 391, representing 5% of the bid total, must accompany each bid. NYSDOT reserves the right to reject any or all bids. Electronic documents and Amendments are posted to www.dot. ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/const-notices. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all Amendments are incorporated into its bid. To receive notification of Amendments via e-mail you must submit a request

NYS Finance Law restricts communication with NYSDOT on procurements and contact can only be made with designated persons. Contact with non-designated persons or other involved Agencies will be considered a serious matter and may result in disqualification. Contact Robert Kitchen (518)4572124. Contracts with 0% Goals are generally single operation contracts, where subcontracting is not expected, and may present direct bidding opportunities for Small Business Firms, including, but not limited to D/M/WBE’s and SDVOBs. The New York State Department of Transportation, in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation and Title 23 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, Title IV Program and Related Statutes, as amended, issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all who respond to a written Department solicitation, request for proposal or invitation for bid that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered

Folks Need to Get Involved Last Saturday I attended the rally held at the Cooperstown library, protesting the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an agent of ICE. I estimated there were 200 protesters. Other than one person who seemed to be trying to disrupt the rally with a loudspeaker, the rally went very smoothly, peacefully and courteously, following all legal requirements. This was clearly “the right of the people to peaceably petition” their government. I also attended the No Kings rally several

LEGALS

Michael Figliomeni LLC

Legal

oneself each time. Thank you, Mr. DeRosa, for sharing your reflections and for giving voice to an experience many of us feel but rarely articulate. Mark Segina Mount Vision

BIDDERS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT AWARD OF THESE CONTRACTS MAY BE CONTINGENT UPON THE PASSAGE OF A BUDGET APPROPRIATION BILL BY THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Please call (518) 457-2124 if a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the letting. Region 09: New York State Department of Transportation 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901 D265567, PIN 901876, FA Proj , Otsego Co., PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE - NY Route 28, Village of Cooperstown & Town of Otsego., Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $200,000.00), Goals: DBE: 0.00% D265667, PIN 980770, Chenango, Otsego Cos., JOC HIGHWAY/DRAINGE MAINTENANCE - Various Locations., Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $40,000.00), Goals: MBE: 5.00%, WBE: 10.00%, SDVOB: 0.00% 2LegalJan.15

Legal

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Hulbert Creative Group LLC Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on November 18th, 2025. 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 396 3rd Avenue, Apt. 2N, New York, NY, 10016. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalFeb.19 Legal nOtice PUBLIC NOTICE OF LAW NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Representatives of the County of Otsego at a meeting thereof held on the 7th day of January 2026, duly adopted a Local Law entitled: A Local Law establishing the salaries of Director Real Property Tax Service II, Personnel Officer, County Clerk, Commissioner of Elections (Rep), Sheriff, Emergency Services Coordinator, Director of Public Health, County Superintendent of Highways, Commissioner of Social Services Group I, for the year 2026, which is subject to permissive referendum. This Local Law establishes the following salaries for 2026: Director Real Property Tax Service II $79,935

months ago. Again, it was peaceful petitioning of our government by about 2,000 people. At that event I talked to another local political organizer and commented that if just one quarter of the participants would follow up by actively supporting the candidates that best aligned with their positions, and give just 40 hours apiece, that would be 10,000 hours of work to get candidates elected. This does make a difference and, in a district where the sitting congressman was elected by less than 2,000 votes, it is invaluable. It is relatively easy to go to a protest but the only thing that will really work with the current crowd in power is to defeat them at the ballot box. Please, if you really want a change back to a constitutional democracy,

follow up your protesting, or channel you anger, by volunteering. You can contact the candidates directly, the local party organization of your choice, or other politically active groups and people in the area who will make sure to get you involved. Richard Sternberg Cooperstown

WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU Promotions, births, meetings, new hires, events, milestones, grand openings, sports results, anniversaries and more. Photos welcome, too! info@allotsego.com

Legal

Personnel Officer $118,214 County Clerk $90,241 Commissioner of Elections (Rep) $73,403 Sheriff $107,509 Emergency Services Coordinator $86,798 Director of Public Health $118,214 County Superintendent of Highways $130,035 Commissioner of Social Services Group I $130,035

on the Otsego County website.

(SSNY) on Nov. 24, 2025. 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 174 Cty. Hwy. 11c, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalFeb.19

designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY may mail a copy of any process to the LLC, 6225 State Route 28, Fly Creek, New York 13337. Purpose: Any lawful act under New York LLC Law. 6LegalFeb.19

The full text of this Local Law is available for inspection in the Clerk of the Board’s Office in the County Office Building, Cooperstown, New York during regular business hours and is also available on the County’s website. Dated: January 15, 2026 Carol D. McGovern Clerk of the Board of Representatives Otsego County, New York 1LegalJan.15 Legal nOtice PUBLIC NOTICE OF LAW NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Representatives of the County of Otsego at a meeting thereof held on the 7th day of January, 2026, duly adopted Local Law 2 of 2026 entitled: A Local Law to establish the position of County Administrator of the County of Otsego as amended. It is the intent of this Local Law to amend the term of office for such position. The full text of this Local Law of 2026 is available

Dated: January 15, 2026 Carol D. McGovern Clerk of the Board of Representatives Otsego County, New York 1LegalJan.15 Legal nOtice PUBLIC NOTICE OF LAW NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Representatives of the County of Otsego at a meeting thereof held on the 7th day of January, 2026, duly adopted Local Law 1 of 2026 entitled: A Local Law creating an exception to the residency requirement for County Attorney in the County of Otsego.

Legal nOtice Notice of formation of 37 Church Street, LLC.

The full text of this Local Law of 2026 is available on the Otsego County website.

Articles of Organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 12/22/2025. The office of the LLC is to be located in Otsego County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/ her to: The LLC, 8 Brookwood St., Glen Head, NY 11545. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity. 6LegalFeb.19

Dated: January 15, 2026

Legal nOtice

Carol D. McGovern Clerk of the Board of Representatives Otsego County, New York 1LegalJan.15

Notice of Formation of

It is the intent of this Local Law to modify the qualifications to hold such office by permitting the recruitment and appointment of non-residents of the County from counties within New York State

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Oaks Creek Construction LLC Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York

SDD FLY CREEK, LLC Limited Liability Company (“LLC”). Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (“SSNY”) on 12/23/2025. Office location: 6225 State Route 28, Fly Creek, Otsego County, NY. SSNY has been

Legal nOtice NOTICE OF VILLAGE ELECTION Please take notice that Village Election for the Village of Milford will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 from Noon - 9 p.m. at the Village Hall. The following offices will become vacant April 1, 2026 and are to be filled at the Village Election: One Village Trustee - Two Year Term Village Mayor – Special One Year Term One Village Trustee – Special One Year Term If you are interested in running for either position, Independent Nominating Petitions are available at the Milford Village Hall or New York State Board of Elections website at www. elections.ny.gov. Completed independent nominating petitions should be delivered to the Milford Village Clerk at the Village Hall, 64 South Main Street, Milford beginning February 3, 2026 and no later than 5:00 p.m. February 10, 2026. Patricia Winsor Milford Village Clerk 1LegalJan.15

►Need to publish a Notice of Formation, Public Notice, Supplemental Summons, or Notice to Bidders? Contact Larissa at 607-547-6103 or ads@allotsego.com and she can get you started.

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

Concerts

Continued from page 5 underway, we are continuing this trajectory with wide-ranging events, from rock and roll to jazz/funk, folk, Indian, and classical live music events. Our first ever Diwali celebration was a highlight of the fall season. The community-focused evening brought people across the region together in the celebration of light, with music, dancing, insights and Indian foods. Coming soon, we will headline the Cooperstown Winter

Carnival concerts with two nights of live music, nostalgia, and dancing, as we celebrate The Allman Brothers Band (February 6) and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers (February 7) with renowned tribute bands. On April 16, we will feature Cerus Quartet, the compelling chamber ensemble dedicated to showcasing the dynamic sound of the saxophone in classical and contemporary music. Cooperstown Concerts stands at an exciting moment—one that offers the opportunity to build on our

momentum, serving more people and making a greater impact through music. Together, the organization and the people who support us by donating, volunteering, and buying tickets to our shows can ensure that Cooperstown remains a creative, inclusive, and inspiring home for live music, now and for generations to come. For more information about Cooperstown Concerts and our concerts this season, or to offer your support as a donor or volunteer, visit our website at CooperstownConcerts.

org. We look forward to seeing you at a show soon! Randy Smith is the president of Cooperstown Concerts.

Malone

Continued from page 4 223,000 (2022), 216,000 (2023) and 256,000 (2024). The lack of job creation points to the

possibility of more job destruction. Today’s busted myth is that those jobs eventually come back. They do not. Instead, in this young new year, we just might be seeing more of a strong ongoing trend where AI is joining up with automation to eliminate employment in all sorts of work environments. Some will say that new types of jobs are

created when the old jobs are destroyed. That has certainly been true at various times over the history of our nation and is deserving of attention. That’s why I’ll have more to say about Schumpeter’s creative destruction and its workings next time. Larry Malone is professor emeritus of economics at Hartwick College.

When did you last watch a Congressional hearing? Visit https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/chrg for an eye-opening experience.

OBITUARIES Judith Jackson 1943-2025

FLY CREEK—Judith Jackson, 82, entered into eternal life late Monday morning, December 22, 2025, with her husband, David, by her side at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, following a valiant battle with cancer. Arrangements are pending with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Alvin M. Walker Jr. 1935-2026

PIERSTOWN—Alvin M. Walker Jr. “Merk,” 90, of Huff Road in Pierstown, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 9, 2026 when his hardworking heart finally wore out. Merk was the son of the late Alvin M. and Mary Walker. He is survived by Carol, his wife and best friend of 63 years; daughter Amy and her husband Christopher; son Steven and his partner Sylvia; and son John and his husband Keith. Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Merk did not grow up on a farm, but farming was in his blood from the start. As a boy, he worked on local farms, where he earned the nickname “Merk” from farmer Merkery—a name that stayed with him for life. He went on to attend the National Agricultural College (NAC), now Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and graduated with a bachelor of science in dairy science. After graduating from college, he spent a summer working on a hay crew in the Sand Hills of Nebraska before returning home and volunteering for the draft. Merk was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of “Spec 4.” He did not serve overseas, which allowed him to meet Carol, the woman he would always lovingly call “Sonnies.” She would always lovingly refer to him as “Dearie.” Their first date was on December 6, 1958, while she lived next door to his parents in Trenton. Despite disliking his jacket and his decision to light a second cigarette,

Photo provided

ALVIN M. WALKER JR.

she agreed to another date—and from there, 63 years of marriage unfolded. After the Army, Merk began his career as a dairy farmer. The path took him from hired man to renter to co-owner when Carol and Merk purchased their beloved farm on Huff Road in Pierstown on December 1, 1966. Merk was no stranger to hard work, determination and perseverance—qualities that sometimes looked more like stubbornness but fueled his success. He started with 33 cows in Pierstown, and through several expansions, grew the herd to 52 before retiring from milking in 1995, when Steve (always “Junkman” to Merk) moved the cows to a larger farm. Merk was actively involved in his community. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Cooperstown Presbyterian Church; acted as treasurer of the Otsego County Farm Bureau; was a member of the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) Committee; and spent 10 years on the Town of Otsego Planning Board. Merk was known for his work ethic, commonsense approach to problem-solving, and practical insight—qualities he instilled in his children. Even after retiring from milking, he never stopped farming. He

raised heifers for others and baled hay for almost three more decades. His high-quality, dust-free hay earned him a loyal following. For nearly 60 years on his Pierstown farm, Merk employed countless local teenagers, guiding them with patience and humor. He took pride in teaching them the value of hard work, leaving many with lessons that shaped their lives long after they left the hay wagons and the hay mow. Merk finally retired from baling in 2022, much to the disappointment of his long-time customers. Throughout his farming career, Merk had a deep affection for his Allis-Chalmers tractors. In semi-retirement, he began collecting D 15s, convinced he always needed “another tractor or two.” Simply stated, Merk was a steadfast man who took pride in his land, his farm and his family. Carol, Amy, Steven, and John extend their heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary staff at Helios Care, whose compassion and support made Merk’s final months/ weeks comfortable and peaceful. The family is forever grateful that, even though he did not get his wish to die in the hayfield, he was able to remain at home on the farm he loved. There will be calling hours and a brief religious service at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, New York, on January 24, 2026, from 2-4:30 p.m. The religious service will start at 2 p.m., followed by an opportunity to share stories about Merk and to offer condolences to the family. Immediately following the visitation there will be a reception until 6:30 p.m. at Landmark

leWiS, HurleY & pietrobono

Inn, 64 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown. In accordance with Merk’s wishes, burial will be private at the convenience of his family at the cemetery bordering his beloved farm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820 (https://helioscare.org/donate).

Sheila M. Ross 1946-2026

FLY CREEK—Sheila M. Ross, a lifelong area resident long active in Republican politics, peacefully entered into eternal life early Saturday morning, January 3, 2026, at Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. She was 79. Born Sheila Marie Skubitz on May 2, 1946 at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, she was the only child of William Skubitz. After graduating from high school she attended the Utica School of Commerce, where she earned an associate’s degree. In 1966, Sheila married William L. Ross Sr. and they raised their family on a subsistence farm on Christian Hill. In 1986 they moved to their home on Willow Avenue in Fly Creek. For nearly 15 years, Sheila and Bill owned and operated the B&S Inn in Oaksville. They enjoyed wintering in Port Orange, Florida, but especially enjoyed returning home to Fly Creek in the spring. Long active in government affairs and a faithful and dedicated Republican, Sheila served as the Republican County elections commissioner for the Otsego County Board of

Heller & Skinner

Funeral Home

51 Dietz Street oneonta, nY 607-432-1511 www.lhpfuneralhome.com

155 Main Street Worcester, nY 607-397-9711 www.hellerskinnerfh.com

Proud to be family-owned John & Kathleen (Heller) Pietrobono

Photo provided

SHEILA M. ROSS

Elections and enjoyed serving as the Otsego County Republican chairwoman for many years until stepping down in 2013. Sheila never went anywhere without her dog, Maggie, who was her faithful companion until entering long-term healthcare. Sheila is survived by a son, William L. Ross Jr., and wife Tricia of Cobleskill and their two children, William and Madyson, and a daughter, Sherry L. Tesch and husband Paul of Walworth and their two children, Ross and Jake and his fiancé, Liz, and their daughter, Celeste Tesch. She was predeceased

by her husband, Bill, who died June 5, 2021, and her father, William, who died March 9, 1987. Sheila’s family would like to thank all of her caring, faithful friends that visited her week after week since she entered Cooperstown Center. Their commitment to friendship was a true testament of the many wonderful relationships she had made in her 79 years. A celebration of Sheila’s life will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Cooley’s Stone House Tavern, 49 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown. Later this spring, Sheila (and Bill) will be laid to rest in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery in Fly Creek. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in Sheila’s memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601. Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

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.

Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home 14 Grand Street, Oneonta • 607-432-6821 www.grummonsfuneralhome.com

Funeral Home

Dignity, Respect, Tradition

Dignified and Caring Service since 1925

Peaceful grounds. Home-like atmosphere. Suitable for large or small gatherings.

Peter A. Deysenroth

82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown | 607-547-8231 www.cooperstownfuneralhome.com

Things To Do In and Around Otsego County _________

A-10 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

►Fri., Jan. 16 AMERICA 250—Get tickets to enter the America 250 Quilt Raffle. Proceeds support the Laurens Town Banners for Heroes. Do not need to be present to win. Drawing held 7/25. Laurens Legion Auxiliary, 11 Main Street, Laurens. (607) 432-6314. BLOOD DRIVE— 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Quality Inn, 5206 State Highway 23, Oneonta. RedCrossBlood.org FILM FRIDAY— 6 p.m. “The Night of the Hunter.” Registration required. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344. THEATER—7:30 p.m. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma! Youth Edition.” Presented by Orpheus Theatre’s Startstruck Players. Tickets required. Showing at 7:30 p.m. on 1/17 and at 3 p.m. on 1/18. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4321800. PRESENTATION— 7:30 p.m. “Stories from Greater Yellowstone: A deep dive into the heart of the Rockies, and how to defend this threatened wilderness.” Presented online by the DelawareOtsego Audubon Society. (607) 397-3815.

►Sat., Jan. 17 FLEA MARKET—9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Antiques, collectibles, jewelry, ephemera and more. Chris Brown Auction Gallery, 19 North Main Street, Bainbridge. FESTIVAL—10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Frost Fest.” Frostacle course, open fire cooking, hot cocoa bar and more. Hartwick College Pine Lake, 1894 Charlotte Creek Road, Oneonta. (607) 4314520. AGRICULTURE— 10 a.m. to noon. “Expanding Farm Sales: Markets, Profits, and Branding— Selling to Schools and

Wholesale Buyers.” Fees apply; registration required. Presented online or in person at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties Education Center, 123 Lake Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5472536 ext. 226. GIVEAWAY—11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Subaru will be giving away new shoes to individuals and families in need. Coats and other winter wear also available. First come, first served. Five Star Subaru, 331 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 4320201. LUNCH—11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Soup and Sandwich Luncheon.” Eat in or take out. Free will offering. Includes free puzzle exchange table. New Life Fellowship Hall, Gilbertsville Baptist Church, Commercial Street, Gilbertsville. (607) 783-2993. WORCESTER WRITERS—Noon. WorcesterSchenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 397-7309. LIBRARY—Noon to 2 p.m. “Game Day.” Free. Unadilla Public Library, 193 Main Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3131. NEW YEAR—1-3 p.m. “Vision Board Workshop.” Free. Edmeston Free Library, 26 East Street, Edmeston. (607) 9658208. WORKSHOP— 1-3 p.m. “Hand Wrapped Wire Bead Bracelets with Amanda Trumbull.” Fees apply; registration required. 25 Main Collective, 21 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 2645340. OPEN MIC—1-3 p.m. “Poetry Reading and Open Mic.” The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 285-4111. SEWING CLASS— 1:30-3 p.m. All experience levels welcome. Held every Saturday. The Green Giraffe, 179 Main Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3234. POTTERY— 1:30-4:30 p.m. Open Studio. Experienced

_______

Time OuT OTsegO Things To Do In and Around Otsego County

potters work on personal projects. No instruction provided. Fees apply. Held 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and 6-9 p.m. on Thursday. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@ SmithyArts.org. FILM—2 p.m. “Winter Film Series: The Great Museum.” An inside look at the inner workings of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum. Yager Museum of Art and Culture, Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta. (607) 431-4480. ENERGY—2-5 p.m. “Catskills Energy Future.” Presented by the New York Energy Alliance. Film and conversation on a shift in NYC’s infrastructure strategy. Fees apply. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080. DANCE—2-4 p.m. “Body and Soul Dance.” Weekly gathering exploring the possibilities of dance. Includes warm-up, improv and group choreography to be performed with a monthly drum circle. Admission by donation to support food programs. Held each Saturday. First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta, 296 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 287-3888.

►Sun., Jan. 18 BIRD COUNT—All day. “Annual Waterfowl Count 2026 (NYS).” Data aids the Department of Environmental Conservation in managing these species for the upcoming year. Coordinated locally by the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society. (607) 267-8491. MEDITATION—11 a.m. “Sundays at Samye: A Morning of Practice and Study.” Meditation, study and discussion. Samye New York, 412 Glimmer-

glen Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5051. MUSIC—1-3 p.m. “Sunday Sessions with Maryalice Doherty.” The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111. MLK JR. CELEBRATION—2 p.m. Oneonta NAACP celebrates the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Elm Park Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (508) 284-0331. MEDITATION—5 p.m. Sunday Evening Meditation. All welcome. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111.

►Mon., Jan. 19 DEADLINE—Last day to register for “Plant n’ Sip at Social Eats.” Presented by the Oneonta Federated Garden Club. Plant a succulent to take home. Fees apply; includes supplies, snacks and one mimosa. Held at 10:30 a.m. on 1/25. Social Eats Café—Project 607, 546 Main Street, Oneonta. EXERCISE CLASS— 9 a.m. Free; all welcome. Held each Monday and Thursday. Strawberry Hall, Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 3977309. STORY TIME— 9:30 a.m. Staff share stories, activities and play. Held Mondays through Thursdays. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980. CONNECTIONS— 11 a.m. “Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group.” Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com. SENIOR MEALS—Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal MondayFriday. Suggested dona-

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

tion is $4 for seniors, $11 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, Sonoma-blend vegetables and bananas. (607) 5476454. • 11:30 a.m. Each Monday-Friday. Nader Towers Housing, 2 Mitchell Street, Oneonta. • Noon. Each Monday and Wednesday. Cherry Valley Facilities Corporation Café, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley. SKATE-N-DANCE— Noon to 4 p.m. Interskate 88, 5185 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 4320366. CONNECTIONS—Noon. “Tech Support with Eric.” Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com. CLOTHING SWAP— 1-3 p.m. Refresh your wardrobe. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 285-4111. BLOOD DRIVE— 1:30-5:30 p.m. Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, Richfield Springs. RedCrossBlood. org RECOVERY—2 p.m. Shadow Work Journaling Group. Supportive space to process emotions, build insight, and strengthen recovery through reflection and writing. Friends of Recovery Dedicated to Others, Turning Point Oneonta, 22 Elm Street, Oneonta. (607) 267-4435.

►Tues., Jan. 20 COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS—8-9 a.m. Local community members gather to chat about what’s happening around Oneonta. Held each Tuesday. Green Earth Health Market, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-6600. STORY TIME— 9:30 a.m. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 9886661. COMMUNITY HIKE— 9:45 a.m. Hike with the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Bring appropriate equipment/water and be aware of your level of fitness. This week’s hike will be at Gilbert Lake State Park, 18 CCC Road, Laurens. (607) 431-8010. GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP—10-11:30 a.m. Free drop-in group open to all aged 18+. Facilitated by staff trained in grief and loss. This is a safe and confidential space to focus on understanding the grief process, make sense of strong emotions, and learn. Held third Tuesday of each month. St. James Church, 305 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-5525. SENIOR MEALS— 11:30 a.m. Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal Monday-Friday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $11 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of tuna casserole, beets, green beans and sherbet. (607) 547-6454. • Each Monday-Friday. Nader Towers Housing, 2 Mitchell Street, Oneonta. • Each Tuesday and Thursday. Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, Richfield Springs. VETERANS—1-2 p.m. “Military Spouse Survivor’s Group.” Oneonta Veteran’s Outreach Center, 4 Academy Street, Oneonta. (607) 2032228. ART TOUR—2 p.m. “Virtual Zoom Tour: Cooper, Cole, and the Hudson River School.” Free; suggested donation requested. Presented by Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. (607) 5471400. SERVICES—2-4 p.m. Q&A with the Otsego County Office for the Ag-

ing on programs, services and more. Held 3rd Tuesday of each month. Edmeston Free Library, 26 East Street, Edmeston. (607) 547-4232. CRAFT—5 p.m. “Adult Craft Night: Make-YourOwn Fire Cider.” Registration required. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5478344.

►Wed., Jan. 21 BABIES— 9:30-11:30 a.m. Diaper Sale presented by Creekside Industries. Held third Wednesday of each month. Opportunities for Otsego, 3 West Broadway, Oneonta. (607) 432-8595. STORY TIME— 10 a.m. Held each Wednesday. Springfield Library, 129 County Road 29A, Springfield Center. (315) 858-5802. STORY HOUR—10 a.m. Open to children ages 2-5, plus caregivers. Held each Wednesday. Cherry Valley Memorial Library, 61 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-8214. STORY TIME—10 a.m. Free. Held each Wednesday. Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 3977309. WORKSHOP—10 a.m. to noon. “Green Estate Planning Workshop with Attorney Lauren Glynn.” Presented by the Otsego County Conservation Association. Lunch available for purchase. Registration required. Freight Wheel Café, 3097 County Highway 11, Hartwick. (607) 547-4488. CHILDREN— 10:15 a.m. “Story Time: Peppa Pig.” Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344. STORYTIME— 10:30 a.m. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Highway 11, Hartwick. (607) 293-6600. DISCUSSION—Noon. “Slow Living Discussion Group.” Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344. JOB FAIR—1-3 p.m. Includes representatives from Springbrook, Oneonta Job Corps and Lowe’s and Otsego County personnel. 4 Dietz Street, Oneonta. BLOOD DRIVE— 1-6 p.m. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. RedCrossBlood. org TECH HELP—2-3 p.m. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 9888-6661. FOOD—3:30-5:15 p.m. “Soup’s On: Homemade Soup To Go.” No age, socio-economic or church membership requirement. Free; donations welcome. Continues each Wednesday through 3/25. Elm Park United Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-6552. CONSERVATION— 6-8 p.m. “Reporting Invasives with iMapInvasives.” Presented by Otsego County Conservation Association. Free; held online via Zoom. Registration required. (607) 547-4488. ART CLASS— 6-9 p.m. “Figure This! Open Studio Life Drawing.” Non-instructional workshop with nude models for sketching. Hosted by a Cooperstown Art Association member. Fees apply, cash. Held each Wednesday. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-9777. LIBRARY—6:30 p.m. Library Board Meeting. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 9888-6661. ►Visit allotsego.com/ otsego-county-events-calendar/ for the full calendar