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Cooperstown Village Board of Trustees Adopts Overall $9M Balanced Budget

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

COOPERSTOWN

At its April 27 regular meeting, the Village of Cooperstown Board of Trustees unanimously voted to adopt its 2026-2027 budget totaling $9,059,499.00 across its general, water, sewer, and trust funds as well as the trolley enterprise fund. The budget is a decrease from the adopted $11,554,408.00 last year, largely attributed to a reduction in debt service obligations and calculations in grants. The estimated tax levy will be $1,864,182.00, with a

tax rate per thousand dollars of assessed property value of approximately $5.41, up from $5.22 last year. The levy represents only around 32.5 percent of the total general fund budget, with the rest coming from a mix of sources including state aid, sales tax, fees and other sources. The levy had previously been around $1,800,000.00 for several years.

In a “Village Voices” newsletter, Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh lauded that the budget was balanced. The largest percentage of appropriations, 63 percent, is for the general fund and totals $5,669,760.00. The

Continued on page 15

SUNY Faculty, Staff Advocate for State Contract at May Day Rally

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

ONEONTA

Amidst statewide contract negotiations for SUNY faculty and staff, around a hundred members of the SUNY Oneonta and local community gathered on campus to celebrate May Day (also known as International Workers’ Day) and advocate for improved working conditions and compensation. The demonstration’s focus also included calls to tax the rich; fund education rather than the U.S. war with Iran and the Trump administration’s deportation agenda; and “defend academic freedom, free and fair elections, and democracy itself.”

The May 1 rally was organized by campus locals of the United University Professions, which represents around 900 faculty and professional staff; the Civil Service Employees Association, which represents around 220 employees ranging from custodial to clerical staff; and the liberal activist group CooperstownOneonta Indivisible. It

came as part of a national day of action with the May Day Strong coalition, a network of hundreds of groups across the country holding similar demonstrations.

Ethan Fox, who is the political outreach coordinator for UUP Oneonta and has worked as a service desk coordinator at SUNY Oneonta for the past several years, told AllOtsego that the “state’s coming up against the wire” and that fellow union members are “itching for an on time contract.”

Their current statewide contract is set to expire July 1. In parallel, CSEA is in negotiations for a new contract after their old one expired in March. The groups aimed to stand in solidarity with one another at the rally.

Jennifer Regg, the president of CSEA Local 635 at the university and who is on a large negotiating team meeting with state officials, told AllOtsego that it was good to collaborate because “we enjoy the same things, and want to see the same things for people.”

Freestyle Brings Family, Flavor to New NY-28 Location

By JULIA DELPOZZO

SUNY Institute for Local News

MILFORD

Freestyle, a family-run “cafe, bakery and gift shop” known for its creative baked goods and welcoming atmosphere, has found a new home at 2515 New York State Route 28, just south of Milford Center near Goodyear Lake.

Owned by husband-and-wife team Vincent and Rebekah Hopkins, Freestyle—previously known as Freestyle Confections—has grown steadily since opening its brick-and-mortar shop in 2021. The bakery, which serves customers from Oneonta and surrounding communities, is rooted in family, flexibility and a love of food made with care.

Both owners grew up surrounded by cooking and baking. Rebekah spent years watching and learning on her grandparents’ farm, while Vincent was raised in a Puerto Rican household where, as Rebekah puts

Continued on page 15

Photo by Julia DelPozzo

Vincent Hopkins works behind the counter of Freestyle, now at 2515 State Route 28.

Photo by Briana Ferguson

Around 100 SUNY Oneonta and local community members gathered at the IRC Quad on campus to celebrate May Day and advocate for labor contracts for university employees on Friday, May 1. At the mic, Virginia Kennedy of Cooperstown Oneonta Indivisible addresses the crowd with Ethan Fox of the campus chapter of United University Professions next to her at the left, with hand up.

ly & Wonderfull

Happy Mother ’s Day to all mothers!

Thank you for the life and love you give to your children, whether born, unborn, or deceased You are loved and you are not alone

Robert Abarno Family

Ryan Alsheimer

Kimberly Alsheimer

Joe Anderson

Elfried Anschlowar

Lucy Bailey

Abby M Bailey

Zane Baldanza

William Baldanza

Josie Baldanza

Adam Baldanza

Terri Baldanza

Fran Baldanza

Chad Baldanza

Banilla Family

Loretta Beckmann

Bob Beckmann

Jeremy Bordacs

Daniel Bordacs

Bordacs Family

Eddy Bordinger

Tammy Bordinger

Connie Bourgeois

Buckhert Family

Ginger B Butler

Paul Butler

Joseph Carroll

Elizabeth Cavanaugh

Clapper Family

Collins Family

Anne Coope

Corkery Family

Teresa D'Amico

Elena D Amico

Joseph D Amico

Benjamin D'Amico

D'Amico Family

Dangca Family

Patricia Dengler

Marie Dengler

Pastor Rodney Dirig

Dianne Dirig

Paul W Durpile

Precious Dwight

Alyssia Dwight

Chris Michaels Dwight

Sean Dwight

Jacob Efthimiou

Eric Efthimiou

Lolly Efthimiou

Leslee Efthimiou

Karen Elliott

John W Elliott

Ellen Falin

Horning Family

Caitlyn Feldman

Jessie Gage

Alan Gielskie

Katherine Gielskie

Noah Gielskie

Rose

Jude

Geor

Peter Gielskie

Nathan Gill

Madeline Gill

Emma Gill

John Gill

Eleanor Gill

Jeffrey Gillespie

Robert Glover

Vera Glover

Diane Grigoli

Salvatore Grigoli

Linda Holtsmaster

Jason Hewlett

Morgan Hughes

Max Hughes

Bethany Ingalls

Sarah Jahnke

Alex Katona

Connie Keane

Susan Kelly

Owen Kennedy

John Kennedy

MaryKay Kennedy

Max Kennedy

Monica Kennedy

Polly Kennedy

Robert Kennedy

Edmund Kennedy

Alice Kennedy

Margaret Kenyon

Beth Kenyon

Mark Kenyon

Amanda Kenyon

Ethel Koch

John Koch

Mary Catherine Kropp

Pastor Amy Kropp

Pastor Dennis Kropp

Caleb Kropp

Dorothy Kropp

Lorraine Kumpf

Walter Kumpf

Ian Lamont

Elizabeth Lamont

Pam Lamont

Gary Lamont

Hannah Lamont

Larson Family

Luis Martinez

Jean McKilligan

Charles McKilligan

Rebecca Meston

Zoie Montana

Sandra Morin

Philomena Naples

Neza Family

Mary O Keefe

Teresa O Leary

Adam Orenstein

Kara Peck

Walter Peck

Linda Porter

Chloe Quigley

Garrett Quigley

James Quigley

Mairead Quigley

Ciara Quigley

Katie Ritter

Ashton Ritter

Duane Ritter

Clayton Ritter

Saginario Family

Shinzo Saiki

Arline Saiki

Deborah M Sanna

Jeanie Schmiedel

Derek Schoelling

Sarah Schoelling

Dan Schoelling

Republicans Push Against State Renewable Energy Siting Authority

By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL

ALBANY

Republicans in Albany, in large part spearheaded by representatives for the Otsego County area, are criticizing the state authority responsible for siting large renewable energy projects. The officials say they want to protect upstate farmland. It comes amidst community concerns about rising electricity costs, a late state budget where debates over the state’s climate law have grown, and local resistance to solar projects.

“New York’s so-called green energy experiment is quietly paving over the very greenspace that it claims to protect,”

Assemblyman Chris Tague, who is running for the 51st State Senate seat, said at an April 17 press conference in Schoharie County.

Tague called the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection

Act “another Albany power play sold with lofty promises and unrealistic emissions goals.”

Assemblyman Joe Angelino, Assembly 102nd District candidate and former Representative Marc Molinaro, Nassau County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, social media influencer Alexandra Fasulo, and more were present. The speakers criticized the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Transmission, which is responsible for siting renewable energy projects of 25 megawatts or larger and under a 2024 law largely supersedes local municipalities in approving projects.

“New York’s so-called green energy experiment is quietly paving over the very greenspace that it claims to protect.”

— Assemblyman Chris Tague

existence: resistance to renewable energy projects at the local level.

By passing the Renewable Action through Project Interconnection and Deployment Act which empowered ORES, supportive lawmakers intended to assist the state in meeting the objectives of the CLCPA to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition the state to clean, renewable energy to fight climate change. The bill required developers to gather nonbinding input from local communities, a public comment period on the proposal, and provided for ORES to consult with other state agencies in assessing environmental impacts of projects.

According to the law,

Multiple officials have thanked Fasulo for bringing attention to the issue on social media. She recently founded the nonprofit American Land Rescue Fund. Its mission is to use “the power of law to defend America’s farmland, wildlife, and open spaces from industrial exploitation disguised as ‘green energy.’”

if a municipality argues that the project does not conform to its local laws and regulations or public comments raise a “substantive and significant issue,” hearings may be held and ORES ultimately determines the outcome. ORES may elect not to apply local laws if they are “unreasonably burdensome in view of the CLCPA targets, and the environmental benefits.”

State Republicans’ push leverages much of the reason for ORES’s

“Upstate New York, it’s our farmland. It’s our open space. It’s our way of life,” State Senator and NY-19 congressional candidate Peter Oberacker said of ORES in an April 30 social media post. “And right now we’re seeing more and more of that pristine land targeted for enormous solar projects without any real input from the people who actually live here.”

In early April, the State Senate Republican Conference sent a letter to then-ORES Executive Director Zeryai Hagos with requests for comprehensive information about projects in ORES’ jurisdiction and

standards they apply for permitting. The letter said the group does not intend to oppose energy development. “However,” efforts to “responsibly” grow, innovate, and diversify the state’s energy supply must not come at the expense of “natural and agricultural resources” or “the will of the citizens who will live next door to these projects.”

Perspectives

EDITORIAL

AYour Newspaper: a Primer

colleague recently suggested—after a bit of a brouhaha about opinion pieces versus reporting—that we might consider penning an editorial explaining where our content comes from and how it is positioned in “The Freeman’s Journal,” “Hometown Oneonta” and on our website AllOtsego.com.

On page one, you’ll find our top stories of the week. The upper portion of the page is generally devoted to what we consider “hard” news—original reporting on topics such as municipal government, school board meetings, “hot button” local issues, and the like. At the bottom of the page, we usually opt for a feel good human interest story. Pages two and three are for our second wave of stories, alternating between news and features.

Articles with bylines, which identify the author, represent original reporting from our one staff reporter, Eric Santomauro-Stenzel, and our freelance “stable,” which includes a number of talented local reporters as well as SUNY Oneonta students through the SUNY Institute for Local News, who are doing a great job. Pieces without bylines are those gleaned from press releases we receive.

Page four is our editorial page, where the content represents not hard news, but rather opinion. The weekly editorial expresses the views of the Editorial Board and/or is often intended to challenge thinking and to encourage readers to consider viewpoints that differ from their own. Our readers share their own opinions on news and issues of the day in their letters. We also often publish op-ed pieces here, which the Harvard Graduate School of Education describes as “a piece where an author, typically with expertise on a given topic, shares an educated opinion on a current, often controversial or debated issue.” Last week we featured our own “myth busting economist,” Larry Malone.

On page five, readers take a trip back in time with “Bound Volumes” via excerpts from our newspapers going back to the 1800s. Boy, how times have changed! “News from the Noteworthy” is a paid

Oadvertorial contributed by the movers and shakers of Otsego County: philanthropic foundations, arts organizations, human services groups, etc. And of course there is that challenging Merl Reagle crossword…

Page six is usually devoted to news briefs, although they move about from time to time, depending on space. These news briefs are, quite frankly, the core of a small, locally-owned newsroom. Each week we receive hundreds of e-mails, letters, and faxes from both near and far, covering everything from upcoming exhibits, plant sales, fundraisers, lectures, concerts, blood drives, breakfast at the historical society, sports scores, promotions, dean’s list honors—you name it. It’s here that our readers will also find regional tidbits such as grant opportunities, recently-released studies, updates on state programs, and more.

From there, the placement of news is less structured. Sometimes original reporting, sometimes well-written press releases and our regular columns, including “Life Sketches” by Terry Berkson, “Hawthorn Hill Journal” by Richard deRosa, “On Stage” by Rachel Frick Cardelle, and “Citizen Science,” this week introducing author Trisha Muro. Or sometimes a provocative op-ed piece, several of which caused the aforementioned brouhaha.

And, occasionally, readers will come across a “Partial Observer” column. The “Partial Observer” header indicates exactly that—the author is partial in some way to the subject about which they are writing. They may be writing about an organization of which they are a member, or an event in which they participated; a topic of which they are fond, or partial to, or with a clear preference toward one person or side.

It is important here to point out that the views expressed by contributors in columns, guest editorials, and op-ed pieces are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of AllOtsego and its affiliates. These are not to be confused with our original reporting, which remains fact-based and

unbiased, the way it should be. We simply endeavor to give voice to multiple perspectives because, let’s face it, we do not all share the same opinions, and dissenting voices deserve to be heard.

For those of you who may skip over the legal notices, we suggest you might want to take a closer look. Yes, a lot of these are legally required when forming a limited liability company. But there is news here as well—notices of public hearings on things that impact our communities, notices of election, notices of school budget votes and tax foreclosures.

At the back of the paper, readers will find continuations of articles. (Except last week, where the “jump” from our top story was missing. That article is printed in its entirety on page seven of this week’s editions.) And the back page is always a sampling from our online calendar. We print as many entries as we can in the available space, but the calendar on AllOtsego.com is far more comprehensive and includes events and activities of interest in the surrounding region as well as here in Otsego County.

Putting together a weekly newspaper is often not an easy task with just our small staff of four, and we face many challenges, including limited space. That’s where AllOtsego.com comes in. It is the home of all content from “The Freeman’s Journal” and “Hometown Oneonta,” and of additional original reporting and local news each week.

Subscribers to our hard-copy newspapers can access AllOtsego.com at no charge as part of their subscription; those who prefer to read their news online can currently subscribe to the website at a special rate celebrating America250—see the subscription ad on page 16.

So that’s us in a nutshell. Original, unbiased reporting; community news; engaging columns; and sometimes infuriating op-ed pieces. Thanks for reading, thanks for sharing your information and announcements, and thanks for helping us put the community back into the newspaper.

Baseball’s Greatest Player Ever

ne of the many joys of visiting Cooperstown, New York, is touring the Baseball Hall of Fame. I first visited this temple of sports heroes as a young boy in the mid1960s. Back then I was a San Francisco Giants fan and my favorite player was Willie Mays. Mays, who died a few years ago at the age of 93, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1979, but he wasn’t a unanimous pick, receiving 409 out of 432 votes, which was silly. Willie Mays was the greatest all-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

around player in MLB history.

But don’t take my word for it. Knowledgeable baseball minds, including players, broadcasters and journalists, have said the same thing. Ted Williams, perhaps the greatest pure hitter in baseball history, said Mays was the best all-around player. So did Pete Rose, Frank Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Vin Scully, and many others. Mays excelled at every facet of the game—hitting, hitting for power, speed, fielding, throwing—and

“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, or on topics of general local interest. 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. Maximum length is 300 words; however, the editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit letters for clarity and space. Please send letters to: info@allotsego.com.

Counsel Jill Ann Poulson

he had a brilliant baseball mind. Willie Howard Mays was born on May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama. He played a few years in the Negro Leagues for the Birmingham Black Barons in the late 1940s, until the New York Giants signed him in 1950. John Klima’s book “Willie’s Boys” covers that part of Mays’ baseball career. Legendary Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell, then a scout for the Giants, saw Mays play a game Continued on page 13

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR … IN THEIR OPINION

‘Friends’ Grateful for Assistance

The student volunteers who are members of the SUNY Oneonta “Into the Streets” program assisted Cooperstown Friends of the Parks on Saturday, April 25 at Fairy Spring Park. The Friends were delighted to have a large number of students (close to 50, pictured above) from the SUNY Oneonta wrestling team volunteer to help us. Under the direction and

guidance of the Friends and their coach, they worked diligently—painting, cleaning, raking, making paths, and performing other jobs to help prepare for the coming season at Fairy Spring Park. The Friends were amazed at the progress made by these hard working students and their coach Duane Ritter. The SUNY Into the Streets program is designed “to enrich academic learning experience for students, teach civic responsibility and help local

community with identified needs. Service opportunities are coordinated through the Center for Volunteerism and Community Engagement (CVCE),” according to the website.

Friends of the Parks truly appreciate their help, as they and the Village Parks Board put efforts into the enhancement of Fairy Spring Park for the community.

Jaye Shelby Member, Cooperstown Friends of the Parks

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

THE ‘RIGHT’ VIEW

FRANCIS P. SEMPA

Photo by Jaye Shelby

by Tom HeiTz/SHARoN STUART

185 YEARS AGO

Steamboat Accident—The steamboat Henry Eckford, Captain Tice, was preparing to tow some Canal boats into the river at the foot of Cedar Street, New York when her boiler exploded. The deck of the vessel was completely ripped up, and the fragments thrown in every direction. Captain T. who stood in front of the pilot house, was thrown entirely over an adjoining vessel and fell in the water, having been slightly scalded, besides having one leg broken. The crew consisted of six men, all of whom were more or less injured. A man by the name of Belcher was killed instantly by a sheet of lead thrown on board of a canal boat lying opposite the steamer.

May 3, 1841

110 YEARS AGO

Chalk Lake is filled—Despite the many stories that Chalk Lake was bottomless, that there was a strong undercurrent, that acres of forest had been thrown into same, that several cars and a locomotive had been lost therein, the Otsego & Herkimer Electric Line has completed the filling of this place which is located midway between Oaksville and Fly Creek, and known by name for the substance under the water. This lake, as it is called, is not two feet deep at any point—yet the gray substance which forms the bottom is such that a tool dropped by a workman would immediately sink. A solid bottom runs anywhere from 40 to 70 feet below the surface. This lake has no visible inlet or outlet, yet fish such as pickerel, bullheads and suckers swim therein.

May 3, 1916

Even in the off-season, when this photo was taken, the

A Sure Sign of Spring, Mount Vision Garden Center Opens for 2026 Season

By NICOLLETTE HENRIQUEZ

SUNY Institute for Local News

MOUNT VISION

ow that spring has sprung, Mount Vision Garden Center officially opened its gates for the 2026 season on April 25, welcoming customers back to a family-owned business that has been an Otsego County staple for nearly five decades.

35 YEARS AGO

The League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown area has given its first annual Community Service Award to Pamela W. Washburn. LWV President Martha Clarvoe said “our league recognizes and commends Washburn’s outstanding public service.” The award honors an elected or appointed individual who has worked to improve legislative procedures, efficiency, or effectiveness, encouraged and facilitated public participation in government, served impartially to ensure equitable and accountable government, and whose contributions of time and effort show great dedication to public service.

May 8, 1991

20 YEARS AGO

May 5, 2006

Founded in 1976, the garden center—located at 125 County Highway 46 just off State Route 205

By MERL REAGLE

A Dog’s Life… Some

in Mount Vision—will mark its 49th year in operation this season. While temperatures are still dipping below freezing in early spring, life is already thriving inside the business’ greenhouses.

Step inside, and the atmosphere shifts. The air is warm and bright, filled with the smell of soil and new growth. Rows of vibrant greens and early blossoms stretch across the property, signaling that gardening season is not far away.

“Year-round its summer in the greenhouses,”

maintenance and planning. Continued on page 15

Photo by Nicollette Henriquez

Mount Vision Garden Center greenhouses are active with planting,

New Farmers Market To Open

COBLESKILL—The new Schoharie County Farmers Market will open for its inaugural season on Sunday, May 24. It will feature a wide range of local farmers, producers, artisans and food trucks each Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October 11. For more information, visit schohariecountyfarmersmarket.com or its Facebook or Instagram pages.

‘Talking Opera’ Events Slated

COOPERSTOWN—The Guild of Glimmerglass Festival will hold five of its popular “Talking Opera” pre-season programs on its mainstage productions this year. All will be held in the ADA-accessible Fenimore Art Museum Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and are free and open to the public. Festival Music Director and Conductor Joseph Colaneri will discuss “Madam Butterfly” on May 27, followed by Conductor James Lowe’s presentation on “Oklahoma!” on June 3. “Fellow Travelers” Conductor Kelly Kuo will discuss the production on June 10. Colaneri returns to speak on “Cosi” on June 17, and Conductor Kimberly-Ann Baratczak will close the pre-season with “Robin Hood” on July 1. All programs will be recorded and posted on the guild website, glimmerglassguild.org, but the public is urged to attend in person and meet the artists.

CAA To Open Three Exhibits

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Art Association will hold a highly anticipated opening reception for three of its biggest shows of the year from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, May 15. “Essential Art: The 35th Annual Regional Juried Art Show” showcases outstanding work by artists from across New York and will be on view in Gallery A through June 25. “Everything is Part of Everything Else” is a solo exhibition of oil and watercolor work by Emily Falco and is also open through June 25. The 60th year of “Otsego Dreams: The Annual Leatherstocking Brush and Palette Club Fine Arts Exhibition,” will be in Gallery C through June 17. CAA is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit cooperstownart.com.

Chamber Announces Events

UNADILLA—The Unadilla Chamber of Commerce announced that this year’s Flag Day parade will line up at 2 p.m. and step off at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 14. Businesses who want their promotional materials in the 500 tote bags to be handed out should drop them off by June 7. Contact unadillachamber@yahoo.com to arrange dropoff. Following the 10 a.m. July 4 parade, colonial demonstrations and games will be held on the library lawn, 193 Main Street, and a 1976 time capsule will be opened at noon. Gillette Carnival will return to Community Field on Sperry Street from Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, July 12. The Chamber’s Carnival of Sales will be held on Main Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, and the Cullman Derby Soap Box Races will run on Clifton Street at noon on Sunday, July 12.

‘First

Thursdays’ To Begin

ONEONTA—Oneonta will host First Thursday community evenings on the first Thursday of every month. Businesses and organizations will remain open until 7 or 8 p.m. and many will have special discounts or menu items. Community Arts Network of Oneonta will hold free art activities in the Wilber Mansion from 4-7 p.m. Other participating organizations include Sugar Beats, Stoneonta, Sunnyside Up Beauty Bar, Leatherstocking Scuba, Lythik Noir, Otsego Bicycles, Muscles and Mascara Fitness, and DOSHA. For more information, visit the First Thursdays Downtown Oneonta, NY Facebook page.

Dems To Discuss Health Act

ONEONTA—The Oneonta Democratic Club will hold its next meeting in the third floor Community Room at Huntington Memorial Library at 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. Elevators are available. Lillian DeMauro, point person for the Delaware/Otsego Campaign for the New York Health Act Hub, will explain the major proposed legislation and discuss the history of healthcare policy in the state. For more information on the bill, visit nyhcampaign.org. To RSVP for the meeting, contact garymaffei@gmail.com.

UUVA Perennial Sale Returns

WEST WINFIELD—The Upper Unadilla Valley Association will host its annual plant sale in the Town of Winfield Park from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 16. In addition to hundreds of locally grown, reasonably priced perennials, the sale will feature hanging baskets and jams from West End Farms, a pie sale by the West Winfield Library, and used gardening books. A 50/50 Duck Derby will be held at 11:30 a.m. UUVA also seeks new members to fill vacancies on its Board of Directors; contact (315) 855-4368 for more information.

Gatehouse Sets May Programs

MORRIS—The Gatehouse Coffee Shop and Mercantile announced a full month of programming that celebrates mothers, creativity, community and spring. “Woman Prayer,” a gathering for women of

all faith backgrounds that will build a shared altar, will run from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. Gianluca Avanzato will lead a guided meditation and storytelling workshop entitled “Sacred Writing Circle: Dear Mother” from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. Herbalist A.C. Hill will lead a spring foraging walk from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, using a sliding fee scale from $10.00-20.00. Poets from Bright Hill Press and bassist Evan Jagels will offer a unique live performance of spoken word and music from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, May 22. Tracie Martinetti will lead a denim doodling workshop to customize jeans from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 30. For more information, visit thegatehouseny.com/.

Famous Jazz Trio To Perform

ONEONTA—The Oneonta Concert Association’s last show of the season will be the internationally renowned Julieta Eugenio Jazz Trio at the First United Methodist Church at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15. Laurens Central School sixth-grader Jenna Czarnecki will perform a trumpet piece as the evening’s featured young artist. Tickets are available at oneontaconcertassociation.org.

Hartwick Reviews Resources

HARTWICK—The Town of Hartwick will hold a public discussion of its natural resource assets at Town Hall at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. The information gathered will inform the creation of a Natural Resource Inventory for future planning. For more information, contact debcooperstown0@ gmail.com.

CCE Auction Now Underway

OTSEGO COUNTY—The “Spring into Giving” online benefit auction for Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties is open for bidding through 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. Visit cceschoharieotsegocounties.betterworld.org/ auctions/cce-auction for more information. The CCE Master Gardener Plant Sale will be held in the Fenimore Farm’s Louis C. Jones Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. More information is available at cceschoharie-otsego.org.

Mill Opens for 100th Year

EAST MEREDITH—Hanford Mills Museum will open for the 2026 season on Friday, May 15. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, through October 15. There will be an allday celebration of the 100th anniversary of the mill waterwheel on Saturday, May 23, with admission by donation. Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society will lead a guided bird walk from 8-9:30 a.m. There will be a ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m., live music by Small Town Big Band at 2 p.m. and other activities. For more information, visit hanfordmills.org.

YMCA Elects Board Officers

ONEONTA—The Oneonta Family YMCA held its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 28. Johna Peachin of Peachin Associates was elected president, with Becky Thomas of Benson Real Estate as vice president. Lisetta Coffin, president of Meer Huis, is secretary and Michael Walling of Community Bank is treasurer. After a brief hiatus, former president Chris Slonaker of NBT Bank was elected to another three-year term on the Board of Directors. For more information, visit oneontaymca.org.

Church Potluck Is Saturday

FLY CREEK—Fly Creek United Methodist Church, 852 County Highway 26, will hold a spring potluck at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. All are welcome.

Elaine Weiss To Address LWV

COOPERSTOWN—League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area will present an evening with Elaine Weiss, author of “Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools that Built the Civil Rights Movement,” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. Hosted by Cooperstown Graduate Program Director Gretchen Sorin, author of “Driving While Black,” the talk is free and open to the public. It will be held in the third-floor ballroom of the Village Hall, 22 Main Street.

Village Set To Flush Hydrants

COOPERSTOWN—The Village of Cooperstown Water Department will flush hydrants from Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 15. For more information, call (607) 547-2411.

Gas Surges 26 Cents in a Week

UTICA—The average price of gas in New York State shot up 28 cents over the week ending Monday, May 4 to $4.46 per gallon, AAA Northeast announced. Oil prices continued a steady march upward as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran entered its 10th week and approached one month of a tenuous partial ceasefire. Crude oil and refined product prices reached four-year highs last week, meeting or exceeding the levels of the supply shock in the early months of the Russia-Ukraine war. Domestically produced West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose $7.54 and Brent Crude was up $2.84 last week as markets digested contradictory signals about the conflict’s future, including the recently declared U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

In addition to high oil prices, shrinking domestic crude and gasoline inventories pushed costs upward. Gasoline inventories fell by 6.1 million barrels in the 11th straight week of decline to two percent below the five-year average. Crude stockpiles dropped by 6.2 million barrels as the U.S. exported a record 6.43 million barrels a day, more than 800,000 bpd higher than the previous record from February 2023, to parts of the world more directly impacted by the blockade of the Persian Gulf. Despite the surging prices, Americans are consuming more gasoline than last year, averaging about 100,000 bpd over last year’s figures for the last four weeks. New York’s price is 41 cents higher than last month and $1.36 above this week last year. To view the full report, visit gasprices.aaa.com.

CCS Tennis Wins CSC Title COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown varsity tennis took first place in the Center State Conference Championships at Utica’s Parkway Center on Thursday, April 30. They finished with 41 points, 12 ahead of second-place Sauquoit Valley, in a field of four teams. Every member of the team made it to the finals in their flights, and Henry Ayers and Alfred Hom won individual titles in first and second singles, respectively. The Hawkeyes suffered their first loss of the season 4-1 to Manlius-Pebble Hill on Saturday, May 2. Hom rallied to beat Eric Hu in a three-hour match, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Cooperstown was back in action for a 4-1 Senior Night home victory over Sauquoit Valley on Monday, May 4. Ayers and Hom won first and second singles. The doubles teams of Captain Bianca Adam and Micah Raffo and Rigzin Gazan and Emmett Ayers won their flights. The Hawkeyes will lose Gazan and Adam to graduation this year. Cooperstown will play a division match at Little Falls after press time on Tuesday, May 5.

Softball

Suffers, Baseball Flies

Cooperstown softball fell 12-3 to Mount Markham in a non-division road game on Wednesday, April 29. Carlotta Falso was stuck with the loss, striking out six but giving up 12 hits and six walks in six innings. She batted in a run, as did Sophia Johnson. Kayleigh Butler led the Hawkeyes on offense, going two-for-two and scoring a run.

Cincinnatus routed Cooperstown 14-3 on Saturday, May 2. Falso struck out six batters, walked 11 and allowed six hits. Scarlett Bong had an RBI single.

Hamilton’s Ellie Freeth threw a perfect game to beat the Hawkeyes 13-0 in a Division II game on Monday, May 4. She faced only 21 batters and struck out 16 of them, adding two triples and six RBI in the offensive column. Falso was stuck with another loss despite striking out 15 batters, allowing nine hits and three walks. Cooperstown fell to 1-9 for the season and 1-5 in their division. They will host West Canada Valley after press time on Wednesday, May 6. Cooperstown baseball defeated Herkimer 4-0 in a three-hit shutout at home on Friday, May 1. Joey Paterno earned the win on the mound with nine strikeouts over the full seven innings. Ty Burkhart made a two-RBI single in the fifth inning and scored on an error, and Paterno batted in Wyatt Butts for an extra insurance run in the sixth.

Butts hit a grand slam for his first varsity home run and totaled five RBI to lift Cooperstown to a 10-3 victory over Hamilton at home on Monday, May 4. The score was tied until the Hawkeyes got six runs in the fifth inning. Elijah McCaffrey earned the win, striking out 13 in six innings and allowing eight hits and a walk. Braden Rawitch recorded a walk and a strikeout in a single inning of relief, and added two RBI and two runs at the plate. The Hawkeyes rose to 5-2 for the season and 4-1 in their division. They will host West Canada Valley at Doubleday Field after press time on Wednesday, May 6

Chamber Announces Winners

ONEONTA—The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce announced its 2026 Annual Business Dinner Award Winners, recognizing individuals and organizations who made a lasting impact across the county. This year’s Business of the Year was Unalam, the Sidney-based glulam beam and laminated wood manufacturer. The Eugene A. Bettiol Jr. Distinguished Citizen is Jamie Reynolds, SVP and regional executive at NBT Bank, and Foundation Board chair at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital. Allen Ruffles, Treasurer and CFO of Otsego County and U.S. Army civil affairs specialist. Casella Waste Systems Territory Sales Manager Adam Stoutenburg earned Volunteer of the Year. They will be honored at the Business Dinner at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit members.otsegocc.com/events/.

Long-Pose Session Slated

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association’s popular “Figure This!” program will offer another long-pose pop-up figure drawing session with live nude models from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20. RSVP at cooperstownart. com by Friday, May 15; it will only run if at least five participants are confirmed. Each session costs $18.00 and CAA punch cards may be used.

Faculty Association Calls for Board Intervention in District Disputes

Editor’s Note: Due to a technical error, the continuation of this page one article did not appear in the newspaper last week. We print it here in its entirety and apologize for any inconvenience this caused.

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

COOPERSTOWN

At the Cooperstown Central School District board meeting on Wednesday, April 22, the Cooperstown Faculty Association, the union representing regular full-time, part-time, probationary, and tenured teachers, wanted to make a statement.

When union co-president and decades-long teacher Rebecca Burk-Sciallo rose to speak during public comment, over a dozen other faculty wearing black shirts with orange text reading “Cooperstown Faculty Association” rose beside her. The move reflects a continued escalation arc, where for months now CFA members have taken to public comment to express concerns about district practices.

“We want to begin by acknowledging the Board of Education and the work you do to support our students, staff and the future of CCS,” Burk-Sciallo said. “Over the past year, the CFA has consistently communicated openly and transparently serious concerns regarding leadership and follow through at the district level. The data reflects this.”

She pointed to 18 labor grievances filed with the district since the start of the school year, half of which advanced past informal and formal stages to the third stage, Board of Education review. In a later interview, Burk-Sciallo said most of those cases have been rectified.

“These are not isolated incidents. They are the direct results of repeated failures to follow contractual obligations and established procedures,” BurkSciallo said.

The speech, which addressed wide ranging concerns from the responsiveness of the district when concerns are brought forward to long-delayed faculty evaluations, concluded that “the relationship between district leadership and the Faculty Association has become untenable.” On behalf of her union colleagues, Burk-Sciallo asked “urgently for the Board of Education to intervene when the chain of command fails.”

In an interview, School Board President Pete Iorizzo said that he respects “the fact that they spoke very candidly. And clearly their concerns are very serious.” He said it is the board’s job “to treat them as such.”

Iorizzo added that the board does not respond to public comments in the moment so as to “try to be thoughtful in our judgment and respectful of

the process and make sure we’re asking the right questions.”

Asked about the call for board intervention, he said that processes for dealing with personnel matters occur in executive session and that until the board has enough time and another meeting to “fully digest” the comments, “it would probably be inappropriate for me to speculate on what the actual next action item would be.”

Reached for comment, Superintendent Sarah Spross responded to CFA concerns by saying that, “The District continues to work with the Faculty Association, to provide consistent and timely communication.

“We agree that teacher evaluations play a critical role in supporting both educator growth and student success. When done thoughtfully, they provide meaningful feedback, recognize strengths, and identify areas for professional development. We will continue to work collaboratively with the teachers on refining the [Standards-based Educator Evaluation and Professional Support] plan to assure that the plan is a supportive process that empowers teachers to refine their practice and better meet the needs of the students.”

CFA co-presidents Burk-Sciallo and Anne Reiss, another district teacher, told AllOtsego in an interview that the issues have been ongoing for years and calling for board intervention is the result of exhausted options. They also felt CFA had a “healthy relationship” with the board.

A common theme across the grievances, BurkSciallo said, is district officials not understanding the

existing union contract.

“We have made it clear that we would appreciate if there was training on being familiar with the contract. But consistently, it seems that decisions are made and choices are made without perhaps referring to the contract or even talking to union leadership,” Burk-Sciallo said.

The union also points to several issues with teacher evaluations. For around two years, teachers and administrators were collaborating on developing a plan for teacher evaluations to submit to the state following changes to state requirements. In the interim, CFA reps said, the district ought to have proceeded with the old system.

“I think our frustration lies in the fact that in the past few years, our evaluations under [Annual Professional Performance Review] were not done correctly, looking at growth, instead they were evaluated looking at achievement” of students, BurkSciallo said. She and Reiss said they were unaware of negative consequences for teachers stemming from the discrepancy, but their concern was avoiding the potential for them to occur.

Earlier in the academic year, teachers voted to approve an initial evaluation plan to send to the state for review. While acting upon feedback they then received, some teachers decreased their involvement in the process, citing workload. When they later returned after further work from the district, BurkSciallo said, “The plan that we had left was very much a different plan. And so that was not the plan that our members had voted on.”

Continued on page 13

Cooperstown Food Pantry Names Jackson New Executive Director

COOPERSTOWN

The Cooperstown Food Pantry, which serves all of Otsego County, announced on Friday, May 1 that Valerie Jackson will be the organization’s new executive director.

According to a press release, Jackson will be responsible for the overall operation of the Cooperstown Food Pantry’s programs, community engagement, and fundraising, as well as working with staff and volunteers to ensure successful day-to-day

operations and positive client experiences.

She will work closely with the CFP Board of Directors to facilitate the growth and forward movement of the organization and implementation of board vision and strategy, officials said. In her previous position as nutrition outreach and education program coordinator at Catholic Charities in Oneonta, Jackson assisted foodinsecure families with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and connected them with local food

The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is currently accepting applications for:

Part-time/Seasonal, Membership & Visitor Services Associate $16.00/hr.

Working at the National Baseball Hall of Fame is a career experience unlike any other. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our team and help welcome fans to the home of baseball.

This is a seasonal position running from May through August, with some potential opportunities to continue into the fall. As the face of the Museum, you will focus on providing Hall of Fame caliber customer service to visitors throughout the Museum, at the ticket booth and at the information desk.

A flexible schedule is required, including some evenings, weekends and holidays.

If interested, please visit baseballhall.org/careers to complete an application.

pantries and social service referrals. Jackson succeeds Will

Kleffner, who has been with the pantry for four years and is taking a posi-

tion at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.

Board President Sharon Oberriter said,

Continued on page 13

Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel

Cooperstown Central School teacher and Cooperstown Faculty Association Co-President Rebecca Burk-Sciallo, speaking at left, is joined by colleagues standing in solidarity as she presents concerns and requests to the district’s school board at their regular meeting on Wednesday, April 22.

GOOD NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Rollin’, Rollin’ Rollin’

COOPERSTOWN—Members of Cooperstown Friends of the Parks were joined by volunteers on Sunday, April 12 at Badger Park to roll up the skating rink for the season and officially welcome spring. Picture above, from left, are Jaye Shelby, Emily Price, Sawyer McManus, Parker McManus, Patrick Gibson, Dan Crowell, Tom Hohensee, Colette Landry, Dee Crowell, Bijal

Susie Knight, James Price and Evan Price.

OLT Protects 25 Acres Safeguarding Oneonta’s Water, Forest Habitat

MILFORD

Otsego Land Trust announced in March the permanent protection of 25 acres on Kelly Corners Road in the Town of Milford through a donated conservation easement from landowners James and Shannon Forbes.

The conservation easement safeguards wetlands, forestland, wildlife habitat and scenic open space while preventing future subdivision of the property. Part of the land is situated at the headwaters of the Wilbur Lake catchment, where upstream land use directly influences downstream water quality. The Forbes family’s woods and wetlands help maintain the high water quality of the City of Oneonta’s drinking water supply by absorbing runoff and preventing erosion and sedimentation, OLT officials said.

ONEONTA

The Arc Otsego was awarded a $10,000.00 grant in December from the Community Foundation of Otsego County to establish its “Essential Needs Fund.” Officials said this funding will provide critical financial assistance to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are experiencing hardship and are at risk of housing instability.

According to a press release, through The Arc Otsego’s Supported Employment Program, many individuals live independently in apartments

According to a press release, the Forbes property is also adjacent to lands already protected by the City of Oneonta, strengthening broader, landscape-scale conservation efforts in the region.

“We wanted to put our property into a conservation easement because this land and these woods are special to both Jim and me and our two daughters,” said Shannon Forbes, landowner. “We walk this land almost daily, throughout each changing season, and appreciate the wildlife and beauty found here. Our daughters grew up on this property, and we believe it helped shape who they are today. By protecting this land, we are preserving its wildness, its water and its ecosystems for the future.”

“This project highlights the vital role private landowners play in protecting Otsego County’s natural

and homes across Otsego County while receiving job coaching supports from The Arc Otsego out in the community.

“While maintaining this independence is a significant point of pride and progress, the rising cost of rent, utilities, and basic living expenses continues to threaten their ability to remain securely housed, and with increases in electric, gas, and oil, keep the lights on and heat running,” the press release reads. “A single unexpected increase in an electric bill or groceries, or a shortfall in rent can force individuals, many of whom live on fixed or limited incomes,

resources and drinking water,” said May Leinhart, program director at Otsego Land Trust. “By working in partnership with families like the Forbes family, we are strengthening regional conservation efforts and ensuring that forests, wetlands, and water resources remain protected for generations to come.”

The Forbes property contributes to OLT’s landscape-scale conservation goals, as it is located near eight other Otsego Land Trust–protected properties and within five miles of Milford State Forest and Arnold Lake State Forest. The conservation easement aligns with New York State conservation priorities, local comprehensive plans, and statewide goals to protect open space, water resources, and forestland, officials said.

to choose between essential needs.”

Officials said the grant will allow The Arc Otsego to distribute direct financial support for urgent housingrelated expenses, including rent and utility bills. Assistance will be provided on a case-by-case basis following a short application process, ensuring support is fair, timely, and tailored to each individual’s situation. By addressing financial crises before they escalate, the project will help prevent homelessness, protect health and safety, and allow individuals to remain connected to their jobs,

communities, and support networks.

“This funding from the Community Foundation of Otsego County provides financial support, and works to ensure that hardship doesn’t undermine the independence and progress of the people we support,” said Faith Tiemann, chief marketing officer at The Arc Otsego.

“Something as simple as a temporary gap in rent support can put someone’s housing, and their wellbeing, at risk. This grant allows us to step in at the right moment and protect stability,

Patel, Bianca Adam, Emily Rawitch, Boyd Richardson, Friends of the Parks President Bruce Miller,

Photo by Nancy Herman

Photos by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel A New Look for the New Season

Oneonta Set to Trade Old Pool for New $430,000 Splash Pad

By BRANDON RAUL RAMIREZ

SUNY Institute for Local News

ONEONTA

Along-awaited upgrade to Wilber Park’s recreational facilities moved closer to reality last Tuesday as the Future for Oneonta Foundation presented a fully-funded plan to replace the park’s aging kiddie pool with a modern splash pad.

During the April 21 regular meeting of the Oneonta Common Council, the foundation’s chair of the Board of Directors, former Mayor Gary Herzig, announced that the organization has secured $430,000.00 in funding for the project. The total was reached through contributions from nearly a hundred local donors— including significant gifts from Brian Wright and Five Star Subaru—paired with a $100,000.00 grant from the public-benefit corporation Empire State Development.

The proposed splash pad will be constructed within the existing footprint of the kiddie pool at Briggs Pool, a move that allows the project to utilize current water and sewer infrastructure. Herzig noted that the facility will be accessible to all ages and is intended to address a gap in free recreational spaces for the 16 percent of Oneonta’s population living below the poverty line.

“It’s going to be huge for our communities, for our families and young kids. And it’s more accessible. So, I’m really excited for it,” said Councilmember Kaytee Lipari Shue of the Fourth Ward.

City Administrator Greg Mattice confirmed that the city’s Department of Public Works will oversee the demolition of the existing structure at no additional cost to the project. While the city will incur some expenses for new water service and sewer lines, the Future for Oneonta Foundation is donating the installation as a gift to the city.

Councilmembers expressed strong support while raising questions regarding maintenance and design. Scott Harrington of the Sixth Ward inquired about long-term maintenance costs, which Herzig estimated would be comparable to the current kiddie pool.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission will be tapped to advise on the splash pad’s final theme and features, which are expected to include buckets and sprinkler-style elements. Mayor Dan Buttermann indicated that a formal motion to finalize the logistical responsibilities for the Department of Public Works is expected at the next council meeting.

In other business, the council confirmed three new appointments to city advisory bodies, all of whom are students at Hartwick College. Madeline Rodegher was appointed to the Board of Public Service. Addison Havens will serve on the Commission on Community

Relations and Human Rights. Josephine Becker was appointed to the Housing Commission.

Mayor Buttermann acknowledged Hartwick College’s Institute of Public Service for its continued efforts to connect students with civic engagement opportunities.

The Common Council also reviewed photographs documenting persistent litter and debris along the north side of Main Street. The visual evidence prompted a discussion on whether current code enforcement inspections and fine structures are sufficient to deter property owners from allowing trash to accumulate. While no formal action was taken at the April 21 meeting, the council directed city staff to continue developing options for a more comprehensive enforcement framework to improve downtown aesthetics.

In other business related to city infrastructure, the council voted to authorize site access agreements with Casella Waste Systems and Logan’s Trucking. These agreements allow the companies to continue using city property for operations through July 1, 2026.

A separate proposal from Casella to install a compactor system at 47 Market Street remains under review. Councilmembers requested revised cost figures and updated contract terms from the company before proceeding to a final vote.

The council’s roundtable discussion briefly revisited the possibility of a downtown paid parking permit system. Members requested updated enforcement data and a review of previous parking committee findings from 2025 before further deliberation.

There was also discussion of the grand opening of the Oneonta Public Transit Hub on Tuesday, April 28. The $3.25 million project on Market Street serves as the final piece of Oneonta’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The event will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony with state officials, food trucks and displays showcasing the city’s various revitalization projects.

Mayor Buttermann announced he will be absent from the May 5 council meeting. Councilmember Scott Harrington will preside over the session in his place.

This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Lab, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.

call

518-234-3581

607-604-4071

Photo by Brandon Raul Ramirez

Gary Herzig, chair of the Future for Oneonta Foundation, gives a presentation to Common Council memers on the modern splash pad which will replace the kiddie pool in Wilber Park.

GOOD NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Hill City Celebrations Awards Prizes to Festival Winners

ONEONTA

Hill City Celebrations recently announced that Casella Waste Systems, Oneonta Veterinary Hospital and Keller Williams Realty are the winners of the 2025 Festival of Lights. Winners were voted on by HCC board members and were recognized by board officials with prize earnings. Each winning organization was gifted with a monetary prize for themselves, and HCC matched an equal amount of money for winners to donate to a charity of their choice, officials said.

First prize of $500.00 was claimed by Casella Waste Systems, whose Christmas tree made of garbage cans was a crowd favorite all season. Casella chose the Veteran’s Outreach Center in Oneonta as its designated charity.

Second prize was awarded to Oneonta Veterinary Hospital, a new participant in this past season’s festival, who assembled a festive arrangement of pet carriers into a holiday display alongside a heart monitor made of lights. Oneonta Veterinary Hospital chose to support Super Heroes Humane Society by purchasing needed shelter supplies with its $300.00 prize.

Third prize went to Keller Williams Realty, whose display featured a charming array of lights with a tall, white tree. Keller Williams split its $200.00 prize between the Otsego Resettlement Coalition and the Gilbertsville Food Pantry.

“The sixth annual 2025 Festival of Lights was a success, and we would like to thank everyone for their amazing support and participation this past holiday season,” said HCC Chair Sean Lewis. “Though the festival brings light to our Oneonta community for weeks during the holiday season, we are honored to continue bringing that light forward into the new year as prizes benefit local organizations that provide critical services to our community.

“Congratulations and thank you to our winners. We are so appreciative of your generosity. Thank you to all festival participants for making this past holiday season another memorable year,” Lewis said.

According to a press release, prizes were sponsored by Cleinman Charitable Trust.

Hill City Celebrations is currently seeking board members and volunteers, officials said. Those interested can join HCC in fulfilling its mission to promote safe, substance-free, family-friendly events that support arts and culture by emailing firstnightoneonta@gmail.com.

AAA Recognizes Otesaga Hotel with Four Diamond Award for 25th Year

UTICA C ooperstown’s Otesaga Resort Hotel has once again been awarded the AAA Four Diamond Award. According to AAA Northeast, Four Diamond designation “recognizes the hotel’s commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience through refined service, upscale accommodations and attention to detail.” The Otesaga Resort Hotel has maintained the AAA Four Diamond Award since 2000, marking 25 consecutive years of excellence in hospitality.

“This recognition is a tremendous honor and a true testament to the dedication of our entire team,” said Marty Rosenthal, general manager/chief operating officer of The Otesaga Resort Hotel. “Our staff works tirelessly to ensure every guest feels welcomed and cared for and receiving the AAA Four Diamond Award affirms our commitment to excellence in service and hospitality. The award reinforces our true sense of ‘gracious hospitality’ to all those who honor us with their visit.”

of hospitality,

Mayor Buttermann Outlines His Priorities at First Public Forum

By DAKOTA KEATS

Oneonta Mayor Dan Buttermann outlined his priorities for the city’s future during his first Community Conversation event since taking office. During the Sunday, February 22 public forum, he emphasized improved communication, housing development, economic revitalization and public safety.

Buttermann, who began his mayoral term on January 1, hosted the event at the Elks Lodge at 84-86 Chestnut Street. The gathering marked the first of four Community Conversation events planned for 2026, with the next scheduled for May. Residents, city officials and community leaders attended to hear the mayor’s ideas and offer feedback.

During the discussion, Buttermann highlighted the need for clearer and more accessible communication between city government and residents. He said the city should develop a more intentional communication plan that makes better use of its website, social media, local newspapers and printed materials. The goal, he said, is to make city information easier to find, easier to understand and open to public input.

Buttermann also spoke about potential changes to the city’s committee structure, including strengthening the newly formed Negotiations Committee. That committee reviews major contracts and agreements. Buttermann said routine purchases would continue to move through the standard finance process, while larger or more complex agreements would receive additional review to ensure they serve the city’s long-term interests.

Housing and economic growth were described as urgent needs for Oneonta. Buttermann emphasized the importance of addressing vacant and underused properties and working with outside partners to expand housing opportunities. He pointed to redevelopment possibilities for existing sites, including the Oneonta Theatre building on Chestnut Street, the municipal airport, and areas along Market and Main streets.

Public safety was another central

During the discussion, Buttermann highlighted the need for clearer and more accessible communication between city government and residents.

topic. Buttermann noted an increase in the number of people seeking warming services during cold weather and stressed the need to explore longerterm shelter solutions in coordination with county and state officials. He also discussed the rising cost of emergency equipment, saying fire trucks and similar vehicles are costly investments that often require assistance from state and federal partners.

Eighth Ward Council Member Don Mathisen, who represents downtown, said he supports the mayor’s focus on housing and economic growth, calling them critical priorities for the city.

“When it comes to housing, this is a small community, we don’t need large apartment buildings,” Mathisen said. “What we need is mostly single-family homes, two-family homes and threefamily homes.”

Mathisen said the city should focus on rehabilitating or removing vacant properties and replacing them with smaller homes that better reflect the character and needs of the community. He added that encouraging entrepreneurship and attracting new businesses would help strengthen the local economy.

“I’m an optimistic person, and I know Dan Buttermann well,” Mathisen said. “I think he’ll do a good job as mayor.”

As Oneonta looks ahead, residents and city leaders expressed hope that continued dialogue and collaboration will help the city address its challenges. Participants said thoughtful planning and community involvement will be key to creating new housing opportunities, supporting local businesses and ensuring Oneonta’s growth benefits everyone.

This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Lab, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.

Photo provided

Sean Lewis, chair of Hill City Celebrations (second from left) presents the first-place prize check to Casella Waste Products. Pictured from left are Adam Critti, Lewis, Adam Stoutenberg and Matt Lubbers.

Photo provided

Gabrielle Argo, secretary of Hill City Celebrations (far left) presents the second-place prize check to Oneonta Veterinary Hospital. Pictured from left are Argo, Dr. Pamela Stafford, Brice Cooper, Dr. Hannah Harby, Reese Morris and Jorge Stafford (kneeling).

SUNY Institute for Local News ONEONTA

Photo by Dakota Keats

In his first public forum, recently elected Oneonta Mayor Dan Buttermann shared his plans and goals for Oneonta in the current and upcoming years.

Photo by Dakota Keats

When City Council Member Don Mathisen was asked what he hopes will happen to Oneonta in the next year, he said, “More people coming here and starting businesses, and leading happy, healthy lives.”

Works by CCS Students Featured in Exhibition

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

COOPERSTOWN

From April 24 until this Friday, the area’s youngest and teenage artists have a gallery space of their own at the Cooperstown Art Association Galleries. Featuring students from Cooperstown Elementary School and the Junior-Senior High School, students have their creativity and talent on display. Admission is free of charge.

Starting in 1995, said CAAG Executive Director Janet Erway, students have filled the walls and floor space with their designs. “It’s a show that I always truly look forward to. There’s just so much energy in their work.”

Around 2013, the exhibition began incorporating middleschoolers, and by 2017, the elementary school, Erway said. Art and Music Night, the kickoff event for the exhibition, used to be held at the elementary school, “but because of the popularity of the exhibit here and the amount of work the teachers are putting into getting the artwork here, they said, why don’t we just expand it into K through 12 and have it here?”

This year’s exhibit, overseen by elementary art teacher Alyssa Ketcham and junior-senior art teacher Carlylia Muller, arranged by the high-schoolers, includes myriad artistic expressions. Drawings by elementary schoolers greet visitors as they round the staircase, giving way to the brightly lit exhibition space. Paintings, collages, and sculptures fill the walls and corners, with additional boards with art standing in the room. Not all of it is so bright, though: parting a curtain beneath a black canopy reveals a glow-inthe-dark exhibit.

“That’s something that’s pretty exciting for the students, to put together artworks that will glow under the UV light,” Ketcham said. Outside the tent, older students “get their own wall showcasing what they’ve been working on over the course of several years, which is pretty nice.”

The elementary art is more guided by assignment, whereas older students with more experience are given more flexibility. The art draws on a wide array of themes.

“We go through learning about different artists from different times through art history and through different countries,” Ketcham said of her elementary schoolers. Older students “may be learning a new technique or learning about a new artist,” and bring “quite a bit of voice” to their work, “everything from animal combinations to political opinion. It’s all out there.”

In addition to promoting students’ self-expression and making connections with global art and people, Ketcham said, “it’s a really amazing chance to get into their own community, to see what’s out there, to welcome the community into seeing what’s happening within the district.”

The upcoming CAAG calendar includes “Leatherstocking Brush & Palette Club” from May 16 to June 17; “Essential Art” from May 16 to June 25; and a solo exhibit by Emily

Falco from May 16 to June 25. The CAAG, located at 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Cooperstown students from kindergarten to 12th grade have had their work on display at the Cooperstown Art Association Galleries since April 24. The works feature everything from drawings (and sculptures) of animals to glow-in-the-dark pieces. There’s still time to view their work, which will be on display until Friday, May 8, with gallery hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photos by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel

Cooperstown Honor Society Inducts New Members

COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Central School chapter of the National Honor Society inducted new members at a ceremony on Thursday, April 23. Inductees are pictured left to right: Yimdrulk Gyamtso; Olivia Temp; Lillian Badgley; Sophia Johnson; Owen Capozza; Yousef Khedr; Brian Zhang; Leah Phillips; Sawyer McManus; Thomas Geertgens; Andrew Olski; Brody Murdock. Not pictured: Brayden Sentz. Current Honor Society members read personalized introductions for each inductee detailing their accomplishments as proud loved ones watched throughout the Sterling Auditorium. Superintendent Sarah Spross applauded students for their “exceptional achievements” that “stand as a shining example of what is possible through dedication and heart” in a speech. Club advisor Sabrina Page said in an interview that the “special cohort” of students was selected based on academic merit and interviews conducted by faculty about their service and experiences outside of class. The “awesome opportunity” made Page think, “Wow, maybe we could take advantage of some of these guys’ real skills in developing some programs in the community.”

Local Investments in Rural Broadband Service Announced

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

OTSEGO COUNTY

Some Otsego County residents with poor access to Internet service are expected to benefit from recently-announced investments in rural broadband. The April 27 announcement from Governor Kathy Hochul, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representative Paul Tonko included three projects serving Otsego County, among others.

According to a state press release, the $542 million overall investment across rural communities in New York includes $287 million in federal funding, $7 million in state funding and $248 million in private sector funding from nine participating Internet service providers. The federal funding for these awards comes from $664.6 million that Congress allocated to New York State in 2023 as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. Next steps include submitting provisional awards for state and federal environmental review.

Three of those awards were said to assist, in part,

Otsego County: CBN America LLC to serve 3,087 locations in seven area counties with fiber optic technology; IBT Group USA LLC to serve 5,478 locations in nine counties and the Oneida Indian Reservation with fixed wireless technology; and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. to serve 14,877 locations in 37 counties and two Tribal Reservations with low Earth orbit satellite technology.

“New York State has led the way in making broadband affordable and welcomes the opportunity to move forward with our federal partners in implementing the BEAD program and bringing affordable, reliable and critical digital infrastructure to the unserved and underserved communities in New York,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “Closing the digital divide means ensuring that reliable, high-speed access reaches every household in the state—and that it remains affordable when it gets there. New York is showing the rest of the nation that both are possible through its landmark Affordable Broadband Act and commitment to reaching the final 1% of unserved or underserved households.”

According to state data from June 2025 prior to BEAD, Otsego County’s least well served areas are

in the northeastern portion of the county. In particular, the Town of Roseboom’s population is about 98 percent unserved, according to state data. State law defines “unserved” as “any location which has no fixed wireless service or wired service with speeds of less than 25Mbps download available.”

Otsego County has also been making efforts to expand broadband access in partnership with the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District and the Vernonburg Group, a broadband services consulting company. The Otsego County Broadband Technical Assistance Project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service, recently completed its yearlong project to assess issues and opportunities in the county.

The initiative progressed “through six structured phases that include stakeholder coordination, needs assessment, gap analysis, strategy development, public engagement, and final reporting” from May 2025 to April of this year, according to the project webpage. The Otsego County Planning and Solid Waste Department plans to release more details on final deliverables in the near future.

SQSPCA Celebrates Empty the Shelters® with Reduced Adoption Fees

COOPERSTOWN

BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its signature Empty the Shelters® event with a nationwide reduced-fee adoption effort now through May 17.

The Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is taking part in this nationwide event, joining more than 335 shelters across 39 states to help pets find loving homes. During the event, BISSELL Pet Foundation will sponsor reduced

adoption fees of $70.00 or less for cats and dogs, making it more affordable to welcome a new pet into the family. All pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.

At the SQSPCA, adoption fees will be waived from May 1 through May 17 for all dogs and cats six months and older. Available animals can be seen at the shelter during normal business hours—Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.—and/or online at www.sqspca.org.

“Ten years ago, Empty the Shelters® began with a simple goal—to bring awareness to the incredible cats and dogs

in shelters,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “Today, it has grown into a national effort that has helped nearly 400,000 pets find families. Those adoptions have opened space for other pets to enter shelters, provided relief for shelter teams, and created the heartwarming joy that only adoption can bring. This impact has all been possible thanks to the commitment of shelters, adopters, donors and supporters across the country. As we celebrate 10 years, we encourage everyone to consider adoption and help more pets find the homes they deserve. It’s never too late to make a difference.”

This is the SQSPCA’s first time participating in the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters® event, though they have partnered with the BISSELL Pet Foundation in other ways previously.

“We are so excited for this amazing opportunity to highlight our adoptable animals and help as many pets connect with adopters as possible,” said SQSPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes. “The BISSELL Pet Foundation is an incredible organization that does so much for dogs and cats in need. We are so grateful for their impactful work.”

Hall of Fame Partners with Ebbets Field for Military Classic Uniforms

COOPERSTOWN

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has partnered with Ebbets Field for uniforms worn by Hall of Famers and players participating in the Saturday, May 23 Hall of Fame Military Classic: A Tribute to Service and Sacrifice. The uniformed representatives on Doubleday Field will wear wool jersey tops replicating baseball uniforms from armed forces, officials said.

“We’ve been honored to work with the Hall of Fame for many years, including the uniforms for the 2024 Hall of Fame East-West Classic,

and we really hope the players love these jerseys and that they honor the work that they’ve done,” said Sunny Chang, design director for Ebbets Field. “We’re thrilled to be able to bring authenticity to these moments.”

According to a press release, the Hall of Fame Military Classic jerseys feature the name of the service branch across the chest and a left sleeve patch with the game logo. The jerseys were based on archival photos and available historic uniforms, and each military branch reviewed the jerseys before they were fabricated.

Ebbets Field also

produces the jerseys worn by Hall of Famers when they are first elected to the Hall of Fame.

“We are so grateful to Ebbets Field for creating jerseys that represent the spirit of the Hall of Fame Military Classic,” said Josh Rawitch, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “The authenticity of these jerseys connects the stars of today with the legends of the past who sacrificed so much for our country.”

Game-worn jerseys from the Hall of Fame Military Classic and autographed by the player who wore them will be auctioned off at MLB.

com following the game to support the museum’s nonprofit mission. A limited number of jerseys with patch sleeve logos will also be available for purchase through the Hall of Fame’s Museum Store, with sales benefiting the museum’s mission of preserving history, honoring excellence and connecting generations.

The Hall of Fame Military Classic legends game will feature seven Hall of Famers and 25 former big league stars in a seven-inning contest at Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field.

Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Rollie Fingers, Todd Helton, Fergie

Jenkins, Tony La Russa, Jack Morris, and Scott Rolen will serve as managers and coaches at the Military Classic.

Fueled by assistance from Major League Baseball, the complete roster features: Jeremy Affeldt, Nick Ahmed, Al Bumbry, Charlie Culberson, Ryan Dempster, Mark Dewey, Jonny Gomes, Mitch Harris, Edwin Jackson, Ian Kennedy, Jonathan Lucroy, Kevin Mench, Rick Monday, Charlie Morton, Daniel Murphy, Jake Peavy, Curtis Pride, Josh Reddick, Zach Reks, David Robertson, Chris Rowley, Shane Spencer, Alex Wilson, Todd Zeile and Brad Ziegler. The family-fun activities begin when gates open at 11 a.m. on May 23, and a pregame home run hitting contest will begin at noon, followed by the 1 p.m. game. Activities will include a bounce house/ slide, balloon artists, face painting, food and beverage options from local food trucks and music and giveaways, including a free 24-page commemorative program magazine. Children 12and-under can Race Around the Bases following the game.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame Military Classic are on sale now online or at 1-888-325-0470.

Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel

Rally

Continued from page 1

Each said that compensation is a sticking point. Regg spoke about the pressures of inflation, healthcare, housing, utilities, gas, childcare and more.

“I mean, a lot of our members have second jobs just to make ends meet. It’s really difficult in this day and age for anybody,” Regg added.

Fox said that some adjunct faculty faced the same struggles.

Regg said the CSEA negotiations have been ongoing since January with regular meetings and that “things are going well.”

One of the priorities for UUP, Fox said, is artificial intelligence protections and guardrails, particularly ensuring that AI “does not have a role with hiring, firing, and disciplinary action.” Compensation increases, particularly for more precarious faculty, “more formal guidelines around telework,” and protecting retiree benefits are also objectives.

At SUNY Oneonta, staff are pushing to prevent professors from being spread thin and to reduce reliance on lowpay adjunct professors.

UUP Officer of Contingents, Professor Melissa Lavin, who has taught at the university since 2013, wrote to AllOtsego that, “Adjunctification and contingency are exploitative employment forms in higher education,” with worse pay and less job security than tenured or tenure-track professors.

Lavin said that UUP is working to offer lecturer lines to adjuncts with a certain number of classes, and simultaneously to elevate extra service pay

for full-time faculty.

“As it is now, full-timers are directly competing against adjuncts for work at our campus. At the state level, we hope for a contract that builds upon the gains of the last one, given adjuncts lag in every measure of worker compensation and dignity,” Lavin wrote.

Lavin also pointed to efforts to return professors to three courses for both semesters, rather than having one semester with four classes. Having four classes “forces the professoriate into quantity over quality scenarios as we must navigate research, advising, and other service requirements.” Lavin said, “The union has made encouraging gains, as we work alongside management to implement a 3-3 trial across four departments for the 2026–2027 academic year. As the pilot departments go, so goes the campus!”

Willie

Continued from page 4 at the Polo Grounds in 1950. After the game, he told the Giants’ front office that he just saw “the best goddamn baseball player I have ever seen in my life.”

Mays was a great hitter—finishing his career with a lifetime .302 batting average, 3,283 hits, 660 homeruns, 1903 RBIs, 338 stolen bases—but was an even better fielder. He was awarded 12 golden gloves and holds the MLB record for the most outfield putouts—7,095. He played in 24 all-star games. He made the greatest catch in World Series history—perhaps in baseball history—in 1954, when he outran a Vic Wertz blast to center

field in the Polo Grounds and caught the ball over his shoulder, robbing Wertz of a triple. That amazing play has been known ever since as “the catch.” One broadcaster described Willie Mays’ glove as the place “where triples go to die.” Baseball journalist Arnold Hano wrote an entire book about Mays’ catch titled “A Day in the Bleachers.”

The best book about Mays is James Hirsch’s “Willie Mays: The Life, the Legend.” Another good read is “24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid,” coauthored by Mays and John Shea. For young baseball fans that never had the privilege of watching Mays play, go to YouTube and watch some videos of Mays’ greatest moments at the plate and on the field. Better still, visit the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and learn about baseball’s greatest player.

Francis P. Sempa is the author of the books “Geopolitics: From the Cold War to the 21st Century” and “America’s Global Role.” He is a contributing editor to “The American Spectator” and writes a regular column for “Real Clear Defense.”

Jackson

Continued from page 7 “We are so pleased to have Valerie as Will’s successor. She shares our passion for caring for our neighbors. Her former role in the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program has given her essential insights and understanding of the needs of the neighbors we serve in our mission of dealing with food security.

“Valerie’s strong relationships with our staff and collaborative relationships with our fellow food pantries, county agencies, and local nonprofits can only continue to strengthen our programs at a time when our families are increasingly challenged to provide for their needs,” Oberriter continued.

Jackson said, “I welcome the opportunity to help direct the Cooperstown Food Pantry in addressing poverty and hunger in the region and to continue to grow as a model organization for community food security.”

The Cooperstown Food Pantry, which served more than 8,395 people in 2025, is open six days a week: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays from 1-5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. People in need of food assistance can call the pantry at (607) 547-8902 to place an order and arrange a time for pick-up.

For more information, see cooperstownfoodpantry.org and the food pantry’s Facebook page.

New Marker Honors Soldier’s Service

COOPERSTOWN

Otsego County will be unveiling a historical marker honoring Revolutionary War soldier John Davidson. The event will be held on Saturday, May 9th, at 11 a.m. at the junction of State Highway 80 and Red House Hill Road, Cooperstown (opposite the Hickory Grove Motel).

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation, with assistance from the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, arranged for the marker. There will be a brief service including an honor guard from the Cooperstown Vets Club. Speakers will include Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh. Following the unveiling, Bennett Motor Sales Inc. has provided transportation to visit Davidson’s gravesite, just up the hill from the marker.

Light refreshments will be provided. Parking is available on Red House Hill Road. Organizers ask those attending to please not park at the Hickory Grove Motel.

State Senate Passes Sodium Warning Bill

ALBANY

On Tuesday, May 5, the New York State Senate passed the Sodium Warning Bill (S428A/ A5207A), legislation designed to strengthen menu transparency at restaurants statewide and help consumers make informed choices. Sponsored by Senate Health Committee Chair Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Karines Reyes, the bill would mandate clear warning icons on chain restaurant menus for items that exceed the daily recommended sodium limit, marking a significant step toward reducing sodium intake and lowering New Yorkers’ risk of chronic disease. The bill awaits debate on the Assembly floor. Each year, New Yorkers spend upwards of $40 million on healthcare for diabetes and hypertension.

Dispute

Continued from page 7

She said the district and teachers are now “very close” to a final plan. “But we need to make sure that this evaluation system is fair for teachers” and that it helps the teaching of students.

The tension has risen alongside a creeping contract expiration date of June 30. The current

CFA contract went into effect on July 1, 2023. Both Iorizzo and CFA representatives declined to comment on the status of contract negotiations. However, Reiss said, after learning from prior contracts, “when we find out that there are issues with some of the things in the contract, those are the things that we bring forth to negotiate on the next contract.”

Dr. Susan Vicki Rezen

1947-2026

MIDDLEFIELD—Dr. Susan Vicki Rezen, age 79, passed away on the evening of April 12, 2026 in Leesburg, Florida after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Her loving husband and devoted caregiver, Chris Debow, was by her side.

She was born on March 28, 1947 in Cooperstown, New York to Victor and Angelia Rezen and grew up on her cherished family dairy farm on Rezen Road in Middlefield, New York.

She is survived by her husband, Chris Debow; her niece, Patti Engel, Patti’s husband Troy, and their son Wesley Engel; her nephews and their families— Victor, Janet, Carly, and Conrad Erway; and Eric, Christine, Emeilya, and Hailey Erway; as well as many friends and loved ones from her communities in Florida and New York. She and Chris also remained close friends with her first husband, Robert Addis, over the years. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Victor and Angelia Rezen, and her sister and brother-inlaw, Nancy and Harold Erway.

Dr. Rezen led a distinguished career in audiology and education. She graduated salutatorian from Cherry Valley Central School in 1965, and that same year she

was named both Otsego County Dairy Princess and Oneonta Dairy Queen. She earned her BA magna cum laude from SUNY Albany in 1969 and her MS from Purdue University in 1971, beginning her work as an audiologist in Gary, Indiana. In 1974, she received a Rotary Fellowship to teach at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, where she worked with deaf and hearingimpaired students. She earned her doctorate in education from Syracuse University in 1980 and began teaching at Worcester State College, where she helped establish the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department as a professor

of audiology. Throughout her career, she lectured widely and taught internationally, including summer programs in China in 1989, 1990, and 1992. In 2007, she was honored by her colleagues at Worcester State College for her extraordinary dedication. She also authored three guidebooks on hearing loss. She retired in 2008 and moved with Chris to Leesburg, Florida.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Rezen lived a life of adventure and curiosity. She traveled to 73 countries, visiting all seven modern wonders of the world and two surviving ancient wonders. She completed 50 scuba

dives, made three solo parachute jumps, hangglided, paraglided, rode on a powered parachute, explored close to a dozen caves with her first husband, who is a nationally known spelunker, and even experienced a zero-gravity flight on the famed “Vomit Comet” for her 70th birthday. In 1972, she survived the Mohawk Airlines crash in Albany, New York following a return flight from Denmark.

Among her childhood keepsakes was an award from an organization called “I Dare

You,” recognizing her leadership qualities and challenging her to aspire nobly, adventure daringly, and serve humbly. Dr. Susan Vicki Rezen embraced that challenge throughout her life and leaves behind a legacy well worth celebrating. She did not want a funeral. Her family will have a small gathering on Memorial Day weekend at the Woodland Cemetery in Delhi, New York, where she will rest in peace beside her mother and father.

Photo provided DR. SUSAN VICKI REZEN

Photo by Xanthe Elbrick VALERIE JACKSON

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF H&K 449 Main Street Properties LLC.

Filed 9/16/25. Cty: Otsego. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail POB 1238, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purp: any lawful.

6LegalMay.7

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Elkan Family Farm, LLC

Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on: March 22, 2026. 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: 2224 County Route 26, Fly Creek, NY 13337. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalMay.7

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF MARINO & SEGAR PROPERTIES LLC.

Filed with SSNY on 03/23/2026. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 27 WEST END AVE., ONEONTA, NY 13820. Purpose: Any Lawful.

6LegalMay.7

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY:

The name of the limited liability company is: CALAMA Management, LLC (the “Company”).

The date of filing of the Articles of Organization of the Company with the Secretary of State was March 19, 2026. The county in which the principal place of business of the Company shall be located is Otsego County. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the Company upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the Company to CALAMA Management, LLC, 38 Nokomis Avenue, Oakland, NJ 07436. The purpose of the business of the

Company is any lawful business purpose.

6LegalMay.7

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Name:

EAST HILL 95 LLC

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 2 March 2026. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 192 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalMay.7

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY:

The name of the limited liability company is: Boundless Courage, LLC (the “Company”).

The date of filing of the Articles of Organization of the Company with the Secretary of State was April 2, 2026.

The county in which the principal place of business of the Company shall be located is Otsego County.

The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the Company upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the Company to Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP, Attn: Christina J. Graziadei, Binghamton, NY 13901.

The purpose of the business of the Company is any lawful business purpose.

6LegalMay.14

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

92 MAIN ST COOP LLC

Articles of Organization filed with the SSNY on 2/25/2026. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY Designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copies of process to 92 Main St Coop LLC, 6098 St. Hwy. 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any law-

ful purpose. 6LegalMay.14

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF NOM NOM ENTERPRISES LLC

Article of Organizations filed with the SSNY on 2/14/2026. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY Designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copies of process to Member, 6098 State Hwy 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalMay.14

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF PIONEER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC

Article of Organization filed with the SSNY on 3/5/2026. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copies of process to The LLC, 29 Pioneer St., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalMay.14

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF KTR Construction LLC, filed with the Secretary of State on April 2, 2026. 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 639 Green Road, Otego, New York 13825. Purpose: any lawful activity. 6LegalMay.14

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF HARBOR PHYSICIAN SERVICES, PLLC.

Art. of Org. filed with NY Secretary of State (SSNY) 04/02/2026. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 48 Monroe Ave., Oneonta, NY 13820

Purpose: To practice the profession

LEGALS

of medicine. 6LegalMay.28

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

TALBOT PROPERTIES LLC.

Filed with SSNY on 04/13/2026. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 2187 CNTY. HWY. 4, GILBERTSVILLE, NY 13776. Purpose: Any Lawful.

6LegalMay.28

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

Hill City Hitting Center, LLC, a limited liability company (the “LLC”).

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (the “SSNY”) on 4/15/2026. Office location: Otsego County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC, upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to the LLC, 253 Southside Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purposes: any lawful activity.

6LegalMay.28

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

Grounded Minds Mental Health Counseling, PLLC.

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on May 6, 2025. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: 29 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: to practice mental health counseling and any lawful act or activity for which a professional limited liability company may be organized under the laws of New York.

6LegalMay.28

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF DESIGNING OTHERWISE, LLC.

Articles of Organization filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/9/2026.

Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at 107 Haggerty Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalMay.28

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Reborn Hope LLC

Articles of Org. filed with the SSNY on 4/7/2026. Office loc: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 140 Sanly Rd., Unadilla, NY 13849. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

6LegalJun.4

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF SUNFLOWER SLG LLC

filed with the Secretary of State on April 26, 2026. 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 P.O. Box 21, Springfield Center, NY 13468. Purpose: any lawful activity.

6LegalJun.4

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NOTICE OF COLLECTION OF VILLAGE TAXES VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, That the Village of Cooperstown, New York have received the tax roll and warrant for the collection of the General Village Tax of the Village of Cooperstown for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2026 and ending May 31, 2027. Taxes will be collected in two equal installments by mailing to the Village Treasurer’s Office, Village of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, N. Y. or may be paid online at www.cooperstownny.gov under the payment tab at the top of the page from June 1, 2026 and by November 1, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The first installment to be collected

from June 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026 without additional charges.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that on the first installment of all such taxes remaining unpaid on July 1, 2026 (5%) five percent will be added for the first month and an additional (1%) one percent for each month and fraction thereafter, until paid or returned to Otsego County Treasurer.

CHRISTY COOK, VILLAGE TREASURER VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN 22 MAIN STREET, PO BOX 346 VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN, N. Y. 2LegalMay.14

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF OTSEGO

SUMMONS AND NOTICE

Index No. EF2025-1093

Date Filed: 12/22/2025

Equity Prime Mortgage LLC, Plaintiff, -against-

Daryl Kiel; Deborah Allen; Any unknown heirs, devisees, distributees or successors in interest of the late Jared Kiel, if they be living or, if they be dead, their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the Plaintiff; and “JOHN DOE”, said name being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, and any parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest or lien upon the mortgaged premises, Defendants.

PROPERTY ADDRESS: 0 County Highway 3A, Unadilla, NY 13849

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60)

days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Brian D. Burns, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Otsego County, entered April 22, 2026 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Otsego County Clerk’s Office.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $194,250.00 and interest, recorded in the Otsego County Clerk’s Office on August 13, 2024, in Instrument Number 20243099 covering premises known as 0 County Highway 3A, Unadilla, NY 13849 a/k/a Section 323.00, Block 1, Lots 23.00 and 21.32.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Otsego County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is situated.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME.

SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY.

SENDING A PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE

ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: December 19, 2025

V. Melanie Rajaphoumy, Esq. Associate Attorney LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (585) 247-9000 Fax: (585) 2477380 our File No. 25-100401 #102945 4LegalMay.28

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF OTSEGO

Index No.: EF2026-156

SUMMONS

Original Filed with Clerk on: 2/25/2026

Plaintiff Designates Otsego County as the Place of Trial

The Basis of Venue is that the Subject Action is Situated in Otsego County

Subject Property: 244 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

NEWREZ LLC

D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, Plaintiff(s), -againstDEBRA L. CHRISTIANCE F/K/A DEBRA L. CARR AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF JAMES A. CHRISTIANCE JR.; JENNIFER REGG AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF JAMES A. CHRISTIANCE JR. AND JAMES A. CHRISTIANCE JR.’S UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTERST AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING UNDER, BY OR THROUGH SAID DEFENDANT WHO MAY BE DECEASED, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE REAL

PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN; UNITED STATES OF AMERICAINTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, Defendant(s).

TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiffs Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); the United States of America may appear or answer within 60 days of service hereof; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, Judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to compel a determination of claims and to foreclose the right of redemption which Defendants may claim to certain real property in connection with the foreclosure of mortgage held by Plaintiff recorded in the County of Otsego on May 5, 2008 in Instrument No. 2008-00063432 covering premises known as 244 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Dated: Uniondale, New York February 23, 2026

Respectfully submitted, PINCUS & TARAB, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, PLLC By: /s/ Linda P. Manfredl, Esq. Attorney for Plaintiff

Freestyle

Continued from page 1

it, “food is the center of every family gathering.”

The idea for Freestyle began in May 2018, when the couple decided they no longer wanted to work separately. That decision led to the creation of Freestyle Confections, now commonly known simply as Freestyle.

Like many small food businesses, they started at home. Rebekah and Vincent became cottage bakers—known in New York as “home processors”—registered through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

“We had to bake everything out of our home kitchen. Everything had to be shelf stable, made with our home kitchen equipment—no commercial equipment—and it all had to be prepackaged and labeled with very specific details before we could go sell at farmers’ markets and events,” explained Rebekah.

The business expanded during the pandemic. In 2020, Rebekah began selling gifts online, and the inperson café followed in 2021. Since then, Freestyle has continued to evolve, combining baked goods, beverages and curated gifts under one roof. They have operated out of a handful of retail spaces in the Oneonta area, including three years on Oneonta’s Main Street.

The new NY-28 location is in the former Bear Pond Winery building.

Family remains central to the operation. Their children help out regularly, making the shop as much a family space as a business. Their son, Ezekiel, often dances outside the shop in a cookie costume to attract customers, earning the title of “mascot.” Their daughter, Emerson, plays a key role inside, managing the front of the café.

“She loves talking to customers, taking their orders and going to make the drinks!” said Rebekah.

The couple’s foster daughter, Delilah, also helps run the front of the house.

The name Freestyle reflects both creativity and personality.

“We were searching and searching for the right name, and our daughter Emerson had a little LEGO guy with a T-shirt that said ‘Freestyle,’” Rebekah explained. “We started talking about how perfect that sounded for us, because we not only love music and Vincent does freestyle beatboxing, but we also wanted to switch our bakery menu daily!”

The menu features a wide variety of baked goods, including loaded brownies, gourmet cookies, jumbo Rice Krispies treats, artisan bread, granola, whoopie pies, scones, fruit crumble bars and fruit pies. Rebekah shared that their signature brookie—a blend of a traditional chocolate chip cookie and a Dutch cocoa cookie—is their most popular item.

The café also serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches, drinks like coffee and hot cocoa, and rotating seasonal offerings.

Freestyle accommodates a range of dietary needs, including glutenfree, nut-free, dairy-free, vegan and keto options.

“We try to accommodate everyone,” said Rebekah.

Rebekah designed the dining room herself, aiming for a cozy, nostalgic feel.

“We want it to feel like home. And we have been told time and time again that it does,” Rebekah said proudly.

Customers have compared the homey restaurant-slash-giftshop vibe to the popular comfort food chain Cracker Barrel. During the winter, a puzzle is often set out for customers, while warmer months bring outdoor seating under a pavilion built alongside the building.

Their business model is built around small-batch baking that highlights individual ingredients.

“We are very focused on a quality versus quantity menu,” said Rebekah.

Freestyle also fills special orders for birthdays, holidays and events, including frequent orders

from SUNY Oneonta.

“The SUNY parents are so appreciated by us,” Rebekah said, explaining that parents often order cakes, balloons, and handmade gifts for their kids when the college students cannot make the trip home on their birthdays. “They have helped keep us afloat when things are quiet.”

For the Hopkins family, the atmosphere matters as much as the food.

“Our favorite sound in the café is laughter,” Rebekah said.

Freestyle is open every Thursday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Lab, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.

Village

Continued from page 1

fund covers a wide range of costs, from police and parks to streets improvement and snow removal. Some notable expenses include a line nominally for a $450,000.00 for a Cooperstown Fire Department pumper truck, which will actually be put into reserves for a later vehicle purchase, and an over $100,000.00 increase in group health insurance costs, an approximately 31 percent increase.

Tillapaugh told AllOtsego the village is “not immune” to rising healthcare costs across the country.

“All the costs have gone up in our American healthcare system,” she said.

“It’s 31 years old,” Tillapaugh said of the old pumper truck. However, during the budget process, members of the Fire Department urged for a new rescue truck instead, which can run as much as $2 million and is more frequently used, Tillapaugh explained.

So by this time next year, “450 [thousand] will have stayed in reserve, because we won’t have purchased” the pumper truck. Purchasing new fire equipment can often take years amidst a national shortage.

The Police Department budget has slightly

declined, in part as a result of fewer equipment expenditures and personnel changes. While the village is pursuing several street improvement projects, they make up a far smaller portion of the budget than last year.

Other appropriations are to: sewer, 18 percent; water, 18 percent; trolley, 1 percent; and some left over to trust and agency fund. The trolley fund is an “enterprise” fund designed to fund itself through fares.

The budget includes a $125,000.00 contingency for unexpected costs.

Tillapaugh explained a fluctuation in the general fund total from last year as being the result of the speed of grant receipt. The village had originally accounted for the money, “but we didn’t get a signed contract from the Department of State until September 2025.” She said in her experience, “I’ve never seen a grant come that we’ve gotten through the state that we don’t have to fund up front in some way, and then be reimbursed.”

The village has been developing the budget since early this year, reviewing details in board committee meetings.

Garden

Continued from page 5 owner Eddie Wilms said.

The operation has grown steadily over the years. What began as a small business has expanded into 25 greenhouses, staffed by about 20 employees during the peak season. In addition to serving local customers, Mount Vision Garden Center supplies starter plants to other garden centers and greenhouses across New York and Vermont.

On a recent visit, Wilms drove through the property in his RTV, pointing out greenhouse after greenhouse as workers prepared for the busy weeks ahead. Even in the off-season, the greenhouses are active with planting, maintenance and planning.

Family remains central to the business’ dayto-day operations. The Wilms grew up working together at the garden

LEGALS

center, and that closeknit approach continues today. There are no formal titles or rigid job descriptions; everyone pitches in where needed to keep things running smoothly.

“We can’t do this without each other,” Wilms said.

Operating a greenhouse business in upstate New York is not without challenges. Heating the structures during extreme winter temperatures requires constant monitoring and hands-on effort, particularly when the mercury drops to zero. Crops are regrown and rotated about every two months, with different plants following carefully planned schedules. Weather variability and changing gardening trends require ongoing adjustments.

Despite the complexity behind the scenes, customers see a steady and familiar presence each spring. The garden center offers a wide selection of starter plants, produce, herbs, vegetables, and flowers, drawing both first-time gardeners and longtime patrons who return year after year.

While the business has expanded significantly over the decades— including a major growth period that doubled its size in 2010—its philosophy has remained consistent. That approach was recognized recently when Mount Vision Garden Center earned Best Garden Center, Best Landscaper, and Best Produce Stand honors in “The Daily Star” 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. The Wilms family also operates a nearby farm stand at 102 Blood Mills Road from June through November.

During AllOtsego’s

visit to the garden center in mid-March, Wilms did not bring up the accolades himself. When asked about them, he simply said, “We’re humble.” The response reflected a broader focus on the work itself rather than awards or recognition.

As opening day approached, Wilms said what excites him most is not the growth or honors, but the people— both employees and customers—who return each spring. The energy of opening day, familiar faces walking through the greenhouses and the renewed sense of community mark the true start of the season.

Mount Vision Garden Center may not reinvent itself every year, but its consistency is part of its appeal. What it offers, Wilms explained, is “good, old reliable.” For many in Otsego County, that reliability is a sure sign that spring has arrived.

This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Lab, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.

The Arc

Continued from page 8

dignity, and community connection,” Tiemann explained. Sarah Paulino, assistant director of employment services added, “Many of the people we support fall between the cracks; they may need extra help but are unable to qualify for additional services or financial assistance. Programs like this offer vital support, and anything that strengthens the independence of people with disabilities is a win.”

from pg. 14

425 RXR Plaza

Uniondale, NY 11556 (516) 699-8902

TO: Debra L. Christiance A/K/A

Debra L. Carr as Heir

1250 Russell Drive Ocoee, FL 34761

Jennifer Regg as Ileir 2 Club Avenue Oneonta, NY 13820 United States of America-Internal Revenue Service 86 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007

#102949

4LegalMay.28

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF THE TENTATIVE SOLID WASTE USER FEE ROLL

Notice is hereby given that Otsego County Solid Waste Department has completed the tentative Solid Waste User Fee for 2026. The Solid Waste User Fee Roll contains solid waste billing units established for each parcel. A copy has been filed in the Solid Waste Department Office located at 140 County Highway 33W, Cooperstown, New York. Individuals interested in examining the tentative roll may visit the Solid Waste Department during normal business hours or an electronic copy can be viewed online at the following web address: https://www. otsegocountyny. gov/departments/ solid_waste/solid_waste_user_fee. php

Kyle King 607-547-4225 solidwaste@otsegocountyny.gov Otsego County

Solid Waste 1LegalMay.7

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown will hold the following public hearing in the Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York on Monday, May 18th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard, to

discuss the following:

Proposed Local Law No. 3 of 2026 - Amend Section § 44 - Boating - to consider changes to the fine for no wake zone violations and the addition of a no Wakeboard Boat Policy

Any resident of the Village of Cooperstown is entitled to be heard upon said local at such public hearing. Disabled citizens, who require assistance in attending said public hearing, or in furnishing comments or sug-

►Need to publish a Notice of formatioN, public Notice,

gestions, should contact the Village Clerk to request assistance. Copies of the proposed local law are available for inspection at the Village Clerk’s office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Dated: May 5th, 2026

By order of the Village Board Village of Cooperstown

Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk

Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.gov 1LegalMay.7

LegaL nOtice

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Village of Milford

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until May 18, 2026 at 2 p.m. at 64 South Main Street Milford, NY, by the Village

Clerk and must be marked “Att: MFL Construction Bid.”

The scope of the project includes moving the library front wall out 6 feet and replacing the windows. Plans may be picked up at the Milford Free Library during open hours Tuesday and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by calling (607) 286-9076.

Sealed bids must be submitted in an envelope addressed to the Village Clerk, Village of Milford, 64 South Main St., Milford,

NY 13807. Att: MFL Construction Bid. Faxed Bid proposals will not be accepted.

A public hearing on the MFL Construction Bids will be held at 3 p.m. on May 18, 2026 at the Milford Free Library, 64 South Main Street, Milford, NY.

Dated: 7 May, 2026 Milford Village Clerk 64 South Main St. Milford NY 13807 (607) 286-9076 mi.ill@4cls.org

►Friday, May 8

ANNOUNCEMENT

One month remaining for vendors to register for the 45th Annual Friendship Craft Festival. Deadline is 6/5. Festival to be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 6/13. Spring Park, US Route 20, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-1451.

BOOK CLUB Read

“My Friends” by Fredrik Backman and discuss with the group at 6 p.m. on 5/13. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.

BOOK CLUB Read

“The Time of a Child” and discuss with the group at 4 p.m. on 5/21. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5478344.

QUILT SHOW 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “2026 Quilt Show: Quilts In Bloom.” Presented by the Susquehanna Valley Quilters. Continues 5/9. St. James Church, 305 Main Street, Oneonta.

GAME 11 a.m. Beginner Mahjong. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.

DEADLINE 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artists submit work for the 35th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition. Only open to New York State artists. Submit art on 5/8 and 5/9. Exhibit on view 5/16 through 6/25. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5479777.

BLOOD DRIVE

1:30-5:30 p.m. American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. RedCrossBlood.org

ADULT EDUCATION 1:30 p.m. “Animal Sheltering.” Presented by Stacie Haynes. Tour the Susquehanna SPCA campuses, including the companion animal facility and the farm. Fees may apply; registration required. Continues on 5/15. Center for Continuing Adult Learning, Oneonta. (607) 441-7370.

Things To Do In and Around Otsego County

CHICKEN DINNER

4:30-6 p.m. or until sold out. Laurens Legion Chicken Barbecue. Fees apply. Eat in or take out. Laurens American Legion, 11 Main Street, Laurens. yreckert@yahoo.com.

BOOK CLUB

5:30 p.m. “Book Club: A Curious Witch’s Year.” Take a year-long journey through the book “A Spell in the Wild: A Year (and Six Centuries) of Magic” by Alice Tarbuck. Free. Group meets second Friday of each month. Mountain Magic Market, 52 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown. (607) 2877278.

BENEFIT AUCTION

7 p.m.; preview at 6 p.m.

Fine Jewelry Auction to benefit Bassett Healthcare’s School-Based Health Centers. Featuring well-known social media personality Benji Spears as guest auctioneer. Cooperstown Coworks, 6 Doubleday Court, Cooperstown.

PLANETARIUM

7 p.m. “The Life and Death of Stars.” Familyfriendly show open to the public. Fees apply. SUNY Oneonta Planetarium, Perna Science Building, Room 018A, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta. (607) 436-2011.

THEATER 7:30 p.m.

“Rock of Ages.” Presented by Orpheus Theatre’s Startstruck Players. Tickets required. Also showing at 7:30 p.m. on 5/9 and at 3 p.m. on 5/10. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1800.

KARAOKE 8 p.m.

“Spring Has Sprung.” Hartwick American Legion Post 1567, 3099 County Route 11, Hartwick. (607) 293-7511.

►Saturday, May 9 MOtHEr’S day

BIRDING 8 a.m.

Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway Bird Walk. Presented by DelawareOtsego Audubon Society.

Time OuT OTsegO

Things To Do In and Around Otsego County

Led by Charlie Scheim and Sandy Bright. Easy hike on unpaved but level ground. Meet in the parking lot. Susquehanna Greenway Trail, Silas Lane off Route 205, Oneonta. (607) 434-4880.

MOMS 8 a.m. to noon. Pancake Breakfast To Celebrate Mom. By donation. Milford Fire Department and Emergency Squad, 64 South Main Street, Milford. (607) 286-9492.

MEMORIAL RIDE

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Eric Ericson Memorial Ride.” Presented by the Red Knights Chapter 44 at the Laurens Fire Department, 34 Main Street, Laurens. ny44@redknightsmc.com.

COMMUNITY DAY

Residents of Otsego County receive free admission to Fenimore Art Museum, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 5798 State Highway 80; Fenimore Farm and Country Village, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 5775 State Highway 80; and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 25 Main Street, Cooperstown.

BAKE SALE 9 a.m. to noon. “Bake Sale and Auxiliary Membership Drive.” Wells Bridge Fire Department, 2708 Route 7, Otego. wbfda13859@ gmail.com.

FUNDRAISER 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “Frank Briggs Annual Pancake Day.” Real maple syrup and real butter. All-you-can-eat. Fees apply. East Meredith Fire Department, 6192 County Highway 10, East Meredith. (607) 2785444.

BABY SHOWER

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Everything you need to know about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, fatherhood, babies and beyond from local organizations. Presented by Opportunities for Otsego at the

Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 4338000.

EXPO 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The 4th Annual Otsego County Steampunk & Oddities Expo.” Fees apply. Featuring potion making, treasure hunt, costumes, steampunk motor mashup and more. Borst Field, Schenevus.

CONSERVATION

10 a.m. Tree Planting. Wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather during this session of planting in the riparian area along the creekside. Bring your own lunch and digging tool. Presented by the Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District at 6439 State Highway 28, Fly Creek. (607) 547-8337 ext. 4.

RECYCLE 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Drive-Through Drop-Off.”Presented by the Otsego County Conservation Association. Accepting paper to be shredded, textiles, Styrofoam, cork, VHS tapes, CDs, cassette tapes, ink/toner cartridges, and more. Held in the parking lot adjacent to the Alumni Field House, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta. (607) 547-4488.

FESTIVAL 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Earth Festival. Tabling by local organizations, workshops, lectures, demonstrations and more. Presented by Otsego County Conservation Association at the Chase Auditorium, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta. (607) 547-4488.

WORKSHOP

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “From the Medicine Cabinet.” Learn how to stock the medicine cabinet with a variety of homemade natural remedies for everyday ailments. Tickets required. Fenimore Farm

and Country Village, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471450.

LIVE MUSIC

10:30 a.m. “Storied Winds.” Trio exploring spoken word performance. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.

WORKSHOP 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bread and Butter Class. Fees apply; registration required. Main View Gallery and Studios, 77 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1890.

PLANETARIUM

11 a.m.; noon; 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. “From Earth to the Universe.” Explore how ancient cultures viewed the night sky from Earth and how scientists explore the stars and planets today. For adults and children ages 5+.

SUNY Oneonta Planetarium, Perna Science Building, Room 018A, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta. (607) 436-2011.

DEADLINE 11 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Artists submit work for the 35th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition. Only open to New York State artists. On view 5/16 through 6/25. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5479777.

CRAFT 11 a.m. “Sitn-Stitch.” Bring a knit or crochet project to work on or learn the craft. Held second Saturday of each month. Unadilla Public Library, 193 Main Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3131.

WRITING 1-3 p.m.

Sacred Writing Circle with Gianluca Avanzator: “Dear Mother.” The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 285-4111.

WELLNESS

1:30-4:30 p.m. “Reset, Reflect, Recharge: A Free Mental and Emotional Wellness Fair.” The Atrium at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080.

BOOK CLUB 2 p.m. “BYO Book Club.” Followed by Book Journaling Club. Meets second Saturday of each month. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Highway 11, Hartwick. (607) 2936600.

FUNDRAISER 4 p.m.

Chicken BBQ. Proceeds support the Richfield Springs Fireman’s Auxiliary. Take-out only. Fees apply. Richfield Springs Fire Department, 34 East James Street, Richfield Springs. (315) 922-4881.

WORKSHOP

4:30-6:30 p.m. “Saturday Night Out: A Pottery Immersion Workshop.” Tickets required. Azure Arts, 1149 Allen Lake Road, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-8899.

POTLUCK 6:30 p.m.

Celebrate spring with the Fly Creek United Methodist Church. Good food and fellowship; bring a dish to share. Fly Creek UMC, 852 County Highway 26, Fly Creek.

CONCERT 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. “Gershwin, by George.” Presented by the Catskill Symphony Orchestra. The annual Wendy Brown Memorial Fundraiser. Blues, jazz and Broadway infused orchestral pieces. Tickets required. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta.

►Sunday, May 10

BIRDING 6-8 a.m. Onderdunk Road Bird Walk. Led by longtime birder Bob Donnelly. Look for snipe, rails and bitterns in Sharon Springs. Meet at Bob’s Country Store, 102 State Highway 165, Roseboom. (607) 397-3815.

LIVE MUSIC 1-3 p.m.

“Sunday Sessions with Beatriz de la Torre.” The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111.

►MOnday, May 11

DEADLINE Last day to register for Veterans Free Dinner. Open to others in the community for a fee. Held at 6 p.m. on 5/13 at the Oneonta Elk’s Lodge, 84-86 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1312.

POTTERY 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Throwing with More Clay.” Fees apply; registration required. Held Mondays through 7/6 except for Memorial Day. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@ SmithyArts.org.

SENIOR MEALS Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal MondayFriday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $11 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of stuffed peppers, wax beans, tossed salad and mandarin oranges. (607) 547-6454. • 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.

CONNECTIONS 12:15 p.m. “Learning Tai Chi: Basic 6 and More.” Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com.

CONNECTIONS

12:45 p.m. Bluegrass Circle Jam Session. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail. com.

QUILTING 1-4 p.m.

“Drop-in Quilting Class: Log Cabin Quilt Block.” Series held the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. Fees apply. Leatherstocking Quilts, 155 Main Street, Suite B, Oneonta. (607) 4413111.

VETERANS 5-7 p.m. “Women’s Veteran Night.” Good company, dinner and more with fellow women veterans. Held second Monday of each month. Oneonta Veteran’s Ourtreach Center, 4 Academy Street, Oneonta. (607) 203-2228. RABIES CLINIC 6-8 p.m. Otsego County Rabies Vaccination Clinic. For pet dogs, cats and ferrets. Free. Previous vaccination certificate required for the three-year booster. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. (607) 547-4230. LIBRARY 6:30 p.m. Board Meeting. Edmeston Free Library, 26 East Street, Edmeston. (607) 965-8208.

►tuESday, May 12

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 the Homer Folks Forest, Oneonta. (607) 431-8010.

PRESCHOOL TUESDAY 10 a.m. “Look at Faded Elegance.” Toddlers make a room collage. Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 547-1400. STORY TIME 11 a.m. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661. LUNCH & LEARN Noon. “Waste Less, Use More: From Fridge to Soil.” Presented by Worms Waste Not. Interactive talk to get started on a composting journey. Free. Held online and in person at the SUNY Oneonta ExCL Center, 4 Dietz Street, Oneonta. (607) 436-2831.