Samurai Baseball & More
A-fine-arts-look-at-baseball Public Preview 7/18, 5-7 |Sat. hours: 7/19, 11-3 | See Induction Weekend Sched. The Art Garage 689 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown
Panel Offers Sobering Information About Expected Impacts of ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
By TERESA WINCHESTER MORRIS
n Thursday, July 10, the community room at the Morris Fire Department was filled to the brim, and attendees even spilled into the open space between the fire house and Guy
Rathbon Park. Organizers estimated 80 people in attendance. The occasion was a public forum titled “Effects of the 2025 Federal Budget on Services in Otsego and Chenango Counties,” organized by an hoc group calling itself “Butternut Valley Neighbors.” Principal organizers
were Tracey Hall, Sarai Halliday, Andrea Hull, Arlene Martin and Anna Niedzielski, all residents of various municipalities in Otsego County’s Butternut Valley.
The informational forum was prompted by concerns over changes to social and healthcare services taking effect as a result of the
recent enactment of the federal budget, officially titled the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Making up the panel were Tanya Shalor, chief executive officer of Opportunities for Otsego; Maggie Johnson, executive director of Community Cupboard of Edmeston;
Continued on page 11
Village Celebrates Selection of New Logo
By DARLA M. YOUNGS COOPERSTOWN
Attendees at the “Welcome Home Cooperstown” monthly meet and greet on Tuesday, July 1 were treated to a first look at the village’s new logo, as officials announced the winner of its logo contest and unveiled the new graphic.
A panel of judges including individuals from the Cooperstown Art Association, Fenimore Art Museum, the Village of Cooperstown Library, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum were asked to provide feedback on the 12 designs that were submitted.
“The individuals from those organizations all worked independently and submitted their responses individually,” explained Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh. “Which was interesting, as they all chose different
first choices! And gave the rationale for their selections.”
According to Deputy Mayor Cindy Falk, that feedback was received and reviewed by the village’s Community and Environment Committee, which determined the finalists based on the panel’s input.
This process helped officials narrow the logo options down to half a dozen, from which four finalists were chosen in a “blind” review. The artists— whose identities were unknown to the judges—were then given the opportunity to make minor changes in their designs if they wanted to, based on the feedback from the selection committees, Tillapaugh said.
The Village Board of Trustees made the final decision from those amended designs, tapping Oneonta resident Celeste Leone for the win.
According to Tillapaugh, the Welcome Home Cooperstown gathering proved to be the perfect setting for the announcement.
“The WHC events attract many people and the setting in front of Village Hall can’t be beat,” she elaborated. “As it turned out, the
Continued on page 8
Pro Football Hall of Fame Nominees Honored at Luncheon
By BILL BELLEN COOPERSTOWN
This past Friday, July 11, the Kingfisher Tower Room at The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown was bustling with activity. A crowd of roughly 40 people of all ages and backgrounds gathered upon invitation by Army veteran and football enthusiast Andy Hugos to attend this unique ceremony commemorating the nomination of Homer Jones and Jack Kemp to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The second luncheon of a nowannual tradition, this celebration was used to highlight the careers of both men, their impact on their families and people across the nation, and the importance
such mentor figures have on individuals. Hugos worked with a closely knit team to put on this event. By his side the whole
way was Georgia Meeter, designated cohost of the luncheon. The pair looked to bolster the effort for Jones’ and Kemp’s nominations by employing Patricia Slater’s artistic specialties to create tribute paintings of each player—the same pictures featured in nearly all of the event’s marketing.
Aiding in this publicity push were Ben Berin and Nick Stockwell, two young men Hugos hired as interns to enhance the public outreach of the movement and to put together a presentation on the nominees for the gathering itself.
The nomination process for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is rather unique. Anyone is able to nominate a player or coach, as long as they have been
Continued on page 6
Photo by Cindy Falk
Despite the threat of rain, Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh was able to unveil the village’s new logo on the steps in front of the Village Hall on Tuesday, July 1.
Graphic provided Celeste Leone designed the new logo recently adopted by the Village of Cooperstown.
Photo by Maria Griswold
Ernie Koy and Charles Dumas help Patricia Slater hold up one of Slater’s paintings celebrating Homer Jones in the New York Giants uniform (#45) and Jack Kemp in the Buffalo Bills uniform (#15).
Early Bird Swim Is July 31st
COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Friends of the Parks will hold their annual Early Bird Swim at Fairy Spring Park at 7 a.m. on Thursday, july 31. After the refreshing morning swim, there will be a dog paddle race, a light breakfast and drinks donated by Stagecoach Coffee.
Three Breweries To Partner
COOPERSTOWN—Brewery Ommegang has announced a collaboration with two other world-class breweries, Belgium’s liefmans and Italy’s Birrificio del Ducato, to produce the Passport Royale Mixed Culture IPA. The 7.5 percent ABV sour IPA includes 45 percent Ducato’s Machete Double IPA, 50 percent liefman’s Pale Sour and five percent liefman’s Blueberry Beer. The brewers recommend pairing Passport Royale with aromatic cheeses, grilled salmon or summer berry desserts. Sold in 16-ounce four-packs, it will be available at limited locations through the end of july. For more information or to find a vendor, visit https://www.ommegang.com/beer-finder/.
Baseball Exhibit Now Open
COOPERSTOWN—The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opened the new “Yakyu | Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of the Game” exhibition on its third floor, exploring the 150-year history of baseball in the United States and japan. Coinciding with Ichiro Suzuki’s long-awaited induction, the exhibit covers the extensive circulation of baseball concepts, players’ play styles, fan experiences, equipment and culture across the Pacific from the Meiji period to the present. Named for the japanese term for the game, it covers more than 1,800 square feet of museum space. Special attention is given to transpacific team tours, including the 1905 Waseda University team tour of the U.S. and the massively popular 1934 tour of japan featuring Babe Ruth. The exhibit also extensively covers the widespread exchange of MlB and NPB players over the decades, including major stars like larry Doby, Warren Cromartie, Masanori Murakami and Hideo Nomo. It was announced last year at press conferences in Tokyo, New York and los Angeles. For more information, visit baseballhall.org.
OLA Seeking Contest Entries
COOPERSTOWN—The Otsego lake Association seeks photos of or about Otsego lake for its ongoing contest. First-place entries in the youth, over-19 amateur and professional categories will receive $100.00 prizes. The association particularly wants more youth and professional submissions. Details and entry guidelines may be found at photos.otsegolakeassociation.org.
OCCA Annual Dinner Slated
HARTWICK—The Otsego County Conservation Association will bring together community members, local leaders and environmental advocates for its Annual Dinner at 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 24. Held at Creekside Station in Hartwick, the dinner will include a farm-to-table meal by Bee Blossom Catering, the presentation of OCCA’s Conservationist of the Year Award and a keynote address by renowned environmental attorney Anne Marie Garti. Tickets may be purchased online or by mailing a check to OCCA at PO Box 931, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Community members unable to attend are urged to consider a silent auction donation or event sponsor-
ship. Suggested auction contributions include art, wine, handmade goods, local experiences, gift certificates and themed baskets. For more information on tickets or donations, contact Shelby Macleish at coordinator@occainfo.org or (607) 547-4488.
Festival Expands Funding Goal
SPRINGFIElD—Donors from around the region and country have given more than $6.7 million to The Glimmerglass Festival’s 50th anniversary fundraising drive, surpassing the original goal of $5 million more than three months earlier than expected. A new goal of $7.5 million has been announced, and the drive will now extend to December 31. An anonymous donor offered an additional $1 million in matching donations as a challenge, and Board Treasurer Mark luis Villamar and his wife Esther Milsted made another $1 million gift. The festival’s 50th season opened on Friday, july 11 with Puccini’s “Tosca” and also includes productions of “Sunday in the Park with George,” “The Rake’s Progress,” and “Odyssey.” For more information, to purchase tickets or make a donation, visit glimmerglass.org/campaign.
Library Announces Events
SPRINGFIElD CENTER—The Springfield library will host the Ron Cain Magic Show at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, july 23, followed by a New York State Police K9 demonstration at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, july 30. Pop artist Michael Albert will give a presentation at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13. The library offers story time for children each Wednesday at 10 a.m. The library is located at 129 County Road 29A in Springfield Center.
New Smithy Show To Open
COOPERSTOWN—The Smithy Gallery will open its final exhibition of the season with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, july 22. “Music and Movement,” featuring work by more than a dozen Smithy member artists and guest artists, will be on display on the first two floors through August 30. There will also be a free performance and discussion by Duo Extempore, Nicole Brancato and Evan jagels, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, july 30. The Smithy’s other ongoing exhibition, “Reflections on Glimmerglass,” features local artistic and photography work inspired by Otsego lake and is on display through August 30. The gallery will be closed on Saturday, july 26 for Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. For more information, visit smithyarts.org.
Museum Hosting Film Series
ONEONTA—Hartwick College’s Yager Museum of Arts and Culture will present “Beneath Reservoir Waters,” a film series that examines the tension between urban water supply demands and rural communities. It coincides with the current gallery exhibition, “‘With That Shadow Over Them’: Constructing Catskill Reservoirs, Remembering Home,” on display through july 30. “Under Quabbin,” a documentary on the creation of Boston’s Quabbin Reservoir in central Massachusetts in the 1930s and the attending destruction of four towns, will be screened at 6 p.m. on Thursday, july 17. “lake of Betrayal: The Story of Kinzua Dam,” covers the destruction of treaty-protected Seneca Nation lands on the New York-Pennsylvania border for a Pittsburgh flood control project and will be screened at 6 p.m. on
Thursday, july 24. Both films are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Yager Museum Facebook page or https://www.hartwick. edu/campus-life/arts-culture/yager-museum/.
Fly-In Breakfast Returns Sat.
MIDDlEFIElD—The Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department will hold its next fly-in pancake breakfast at the Cooperstown/Westville Airport from 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, july 19. Allyou-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, real maple syrup and beverages will be available for $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for children.
Dairy Project Funding Available
AlBANY—The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Dairy Promotion Order Advisory Board seeks applications for dairy research and promotion projects to receive grants from its $16 million checkoff fund. Proposed projects should market, promote or research New Yorkproduced milk and dairy products with the aim of expanding product variety and consumer demand. Eligible applicants include non-profit entities, research institutions and private businesses that are not affiliated with the DPO Advisory Board. Projects may not promote a specific brand or trade name. Applications must be submitted by August 15. For more information or to apply, visit agriculture.ny.gov/dairy/dairy-promotion-order.
Transplant Technology Advances
CHARlOTTESVIllE, VA—New research by the University of Virginia Cancer Center announced major advances in blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants that will make it possible for blood cancer patients to receive “mismatched” transplants. Patients who could not find perfect matches have historically not received transplants due to the risk of graft-versushost disease. UVA researchers discovered that the drug cyclophosphamide can prevent most of this immune reaction and achieve rates of transplant success similar to those of “perfect match” donations. This advance may allow far more cancer patients to receive this lifesaving treatment. Full findings were published in The journal of Clinical Oncology.
Fresh Food Program Underway
DElHI—Following last year’s success, O’Connor Hospital announced that it will once again participate in a program that provides boxes of farm-fresh food to seniors across Delaware County. Overseen by the Delaware County Office for the Aging and New York Connects in cooperation with SNAP-Education and Schoharie Valley Farms, the program assembles half-bushel boxes of fresh local produce and distributes them via Delaware Opportunities Dining Centers and home delivery. O’Connor Hospital provided $28,000.00 in funding. Distribution began on june 5 and is expected to continue bi-weekly into the fall. last year’s pilot program distributed more than 2,300 boxes to about 200 households across the county.
Gas Prices Down a Cent
UTICA—New York State’s average price of gas declined one cent to $3.17 over the week ending Monday, july 14, AAA Northeast announced. New York’s gas price is seven cents higher than a month ago and 45 cents lower than this time last year. For more information, visit gasprices.aaa.com.
Glimmerglass Festival Announces Writing Contest Winners
COOPERSTOWN
Earlier this week, The Glimmerglass Festival announced the winners of its youth writing competition inspired by “The House on Mango Street.” Based on the acclaimed novel by Sandra Cisneros, “The House on Mango Street” is making its world premiere as part of The Glimmerglass Festival’s 50th anniversary season: “The Art of Making Art.” The opera unfolds in a series of neighborhood interactions, which range from fascinating to funny to frightening, through which the heroine, Esperanza, comes to understand that storytelling is the medicine she can offer her community—and herself.
Young writers in the Mohawk Valley—Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, Saratoga, and Schoharie counties—were invited to submit stories, poems, or essays inspired by their experiences and their neighborhoods.
In grades 7-9, Adele Beront (Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School District) was awarded first prize; Cora Connolly (home study), Killian Redden (Cherry ValleySpringfield Central School District), and Ella Swift (home study) received honorable mentions.
In grades 10-12, Kayleigh Butler (Cooperstown Central
School District) received first prize; Avalene Barber (Cooperstown Central School District) and Caio Legname (Oneonta City School District) received honorable mentions.
“It’s so important that we encourage young writers,” said Tim Lord, a Glimmerglass trustee who served as one of four adjudicators for the competition. “Youth voice and leadership are so important as we look toward shaping a just future for all in our communities. Sandra Cisneros has often remarked that ‘The House on Mango Street’ came about, in
The House on Main Street
part, because she had never seen any books that spoke to her experience, or the experience of others in her community.
“I was so moved by the work of every one of these talented young writers,” Lord continued. “Their writing opened my eyes to their singular experiences growing up in the Mohawk Valley. While the winning entries were truly exceptional, I applaud every writer who shared a story with us.”
Joining Lord on the panel were Susan Drake, Kelley
Adele Beront — First Prize Grade 7, Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School
I live in a house. No, not just a house. A home. Two stories collide in a journey of peace, anger, love, hate, fear, bravery, discovery. My life is ordinary but for me I’m in a battle between my brain and my heart. My brain says “Don’t! Don’t!” and my heart says “Do! Do!” I listened to my brain for so, so long. Now I realize I was miserable. I listen to my heart and my home now and that I will do forever.
I live in a house. No, not just a house. A home. A home that’s heart beats and walls breathe in sync with the women who live with it. It’s skin blue and green and bones of brick. It lives next to the ghost of Ripley Hall who tragically perished in fire. An old brick wall, once a stable, stands crumbling but tall. As windows and doors open, so do hearts once cold now warm and the scent of spring. I live in a house. No, not just a house. A home. Filled with warmth of two people who sleep in the beds it holds. Filled with the warmth of the man who visits every day. Filled with the warmth of people who love. Sometimes not filled with food, but filled with spirit. Filled with the warmth of relationships broken and repaired to be stronger.
I live in a house. No, not just a house. A home. A home not always inhabited by me and my mother. This is my story to tell. The story of how I lost my old house but also the story of how I found my home. Although I was happy I had lost my house, our landlord had sold it. I was living in tents in the yard of my parents’ friends. After that we were in my grandparents’ basement. For a long while my mother was scared and
stressed. A young child, a mother, and no house to call home. I live in a house. No, not just a house. A home. My home. Loved by me. Lived in by me. Paint might be peeling, walls may be covered in murals, songs have been sung, the world is changing rapidly, new is now old, old is now new,
people have grown but not left, and love thrives. My life, my heart, my weird obsessions live in the best house a confused girl could ever ask for. Life may be rough but my brick house stands tall. My home stands with me. I stand with my home. I live in a house. No, not just a house. A home.
Rourke and Cynthia Staley.
Drake is a long-serving member of both the Glimmerglass Festival Guild and the Pierstown Grange. Lord is the co-executive director of DreamYard, an arts and social justice organization dedicated to working with Bronx youth, families, and schools to build pathways toward equity and opportunity.
Rourke is the dramaturg at The Glimmerglass Festival and an award-winning librettist.
Staley is a retired school librarian teaching most recently at Dolgeville Central School
and previously at Owen D. Young Central School in Van Hornesville. She is a longtime member of the Glimmerglass Festival Guild.
All winners will have the opportunity to meet Cisneros and receive signed copies of the book at the “Pipeline Preview: From Page to Stage” event on Friday, July 18 at 5 p.m. on the Glimmerglass Festival campus. Bermel and Cisneros will share their creative journey, explore the opera’s themes, and discuss the collaborative process that brought this groundbreaking work to life. Winners will also receive tickets to the world premiere of “The House on Mango Street,” premiering the same night, and a chance to have their work published in “The Freeman’s Journal.”
“The House on Mango Street” premieres on July 18 at 7:30 p.m., with additional performances on July 28, Aug 2, 10, 12 and 16. Tickets can be purchased online at https:// glimmerglass.org/events/thehouse-on-mango-street/, or by calling the Box Office at (607) 547-2255.
Editor’s Note: The firstplace submissions by Adele Beront and Kayleigh Butler are printed below. The work of the winners and those receiving honorable mentions can be found on AllOtsego.com.
The Final Piece in the Puzzle We Call Life
Kayleigh Butler — First Prize Grade 11, Cooperstown Central School
How can one soul be both the light and darkness in my parents’ and my lives?
Born different, divergent, atypical, and little did I know his birth shed unimaginable change on my family.
Behind the walls of our rainbow-colored house with math scratched across every
window pane lie secrets, sorrows, and silent cries for help.
Love and acceptance glaze the inner edge of reality while difficulty lies above, below, and everywhere in between.
The brain holds truth and knowledge a normal being would never even begin to comprehend.
.dining&entertainment
What the world sees is a destructive and disruptive immature boy, but what I see is the smartest yet most misunderstood individual I have ever met. All he has ever wanted to be was the one to discover the final puzzle piece.
Graphic provided
“The House on Mango Street,” which served as inspiration for The Glimmerglass Festival’s youth writing competition, will make its world premiere on Friday, July 18.
Perspectives
ROGER CAIAzzA
LASTING IMPRESSIONS
GUEST EDITORIAL
Climate Act Costs are Unsustainable
There is a connection between the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and the recently announced New York State Electric and Gas rate case increase plan. I don’t think we can afford to implement the CLCPA.
The NYSEG rate case includes a proposed increase in annual electric revenues of approximately $464.4 million (https://pragmaticenvironmentalistofnewyork.wordpress.com/wp-content/ uploads/2025/07/case-25-e-0375-revenue-breakdown-between-clcpa-pol.pdf). This would result in a typical residential bill increase of $33.12 per month (a 23.7 percent increase to the total bill) for a customer using 600 kWh per month. The requested revenue increases due to CLCPA policy programs are 26 percent of the monthly increase, or $8.52.
This is just a portion of the electricity cost increases caused by the Climate Act. The NYSEG rate increase covers delivery costs, but ratepayers also must pay for supply costs.
Although not part of the CLCPA, New York State is a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is essentially a carbon tax. The RGGI is an integral part of the initiatives necessary to meet CLCPA goals. In 2021, the permits to emit a ton of carbon dioxide (allowance) cost $9.47 each. In 2025, the cost of an allowance is $19.70, and costs could be as much as $29.25 in 2027 due to recently announced revisions. Those cost increases will increase the cost of the electricity supply.
The Hochul Administration has never provided a full accounting of CLCPA costs. Instead they rely on the slogan that the “costs of inaction are more than the costs of action.”
That contrived statement (https://pragmaticenvironmentalistofnewyork.blog/2022/12/28/ climate-act-scoping-plan-costs-shell-game/) was based on misleading arguments and selective examples of costs and benefits. Although there is a legislative mandate to provide ratepayer costs, an update covering 2022 costs is long overdue.
In July 2023, the Department of Public Service released the “First Annual Informational Report on Overall Implementation of the CLCPA (https://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId=%7b20E17489-0000-C114-AD41-8089369DB6F3%7d). DPS found that 7.6 percent of the NYSEG monthly electric bill in 2021 was related to CLCPA costs. There has been no update of this “annual” report since then.
There have, however, been some encouraging signs that these issues are going to force reconsideration of the schedule and ambition of the CLCPA.
Eighteen state senators—including Sen. Peter Oberacker (R-C), 51st Senate District—recently urged Governor Kathy Hochul to “convene a comprehensive review process involving a wide range of stakeholders—industry experts, energy producers, ratepayer advocates, labor and local communities.” (https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/robert-g-ortt/senaterepublicans-call-governor-hochul-declare-energy).
Recent New York State Energy Plan (https://energyplan.ny.gov/) meetings have acknowledged that there are many evolving factors that will likely impact CLCPA progress. Even Gov. Hochul has suggested that a “slow down” (https://www.wgrz.com/article/tech/science/environment/gov-hochul-nys-climate-law-update-consumer-utility-rates/71-53053e4f-ffcd-475a-a02e119ec977ae77) on the CLCPA is needed.
Where should we go from here? The first step is to demand that DPS provide an updated Informational report that documents what the costs are now. It is unacceptable that this report is over a year late. I also believe a pause to reconsider the CLCPA timing and targets is necessary.
Next, we need to define acceptable affordability. A Business Council of New York memo (https://www.bcnys.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/January 2023 Hearing - CLCPA Scoping Plan Implementation.pdf) on Climate Act implementation made the point that the “CLCPA only requires the consideration of equitable impacts and cost minimization, in effect making affordability and cost-effectiveness of CLCPA implementation measures a consideration, not a requirement.”
When asked about accountability for the CLCPA program costs, utilities in recent rate cases have responded that they are mandated by the law to include the projects. In the rate cases, DPS staff claim that defining acceptable affordability is not in the scope of individual rate cases. This must stop, because the observed increases are simply not acceptable.
Born in Cooperstown and a graduate of Oneonta High School, Roger Caiazza holds a bachelor’s in meteorology from SUNY Oneonta and a master’s in meteorology from the University of Alberta, Edmonton. Before his retirement in 2018, he was a certified consulting meteorologist and worked in the air quality industry for more than 40 years. The goal of Caiazza’s blog, “Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York,” is to explain the importance of balancing risks and benefits of both sides of environmental issues.
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Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of William Cooper is in the Fenimore Art Museum
FLORENCE MCDERMOTT
Be Very Afraid— Of George and Martha
It takes chutzpah to present a 1962 play about battling academics and hope audiences will relate. Bigger Dreams Productions, under the direction of Gary E. Stevens, took that chance not long ago when the ensemble presented George and Martha, the eternal couple who love each other but can’t help but tear each other apart.
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” by Edward Albee, seems as timeless as Adam and Eve—if the Garden of Eden were in Hell. It could be a metaphor for the current U.S population, a country ripping itself apart, indivisible but divided. The play’s title, alluding to great literature, sexual identity, mental illness and suicide, speaks to issues we face today. It’s also a cautionary tale about the destructive effects of alcohol. The play evokes the kind of reaction you have when you see a fight—you can’t look at it, but you can’t look away, either.
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” was staged at Oneonta’s Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in May. Although the production is over, the evening stays with you long after.
“Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night,” should have been the warning given to audiences bracing for a revival of Albee’s lacerating play. Instead, Martha, the tipsy faculty wife and daughter of the college president, uses another famous Bette Davis put-down as she enters. Looking around the room, she declares with withering hauteur, “What a dump!” Martha, already tipsy, goads her exhausted husband, George, with a challenge to name the movie where Davis uttered that famous line. When George demurs, saying he’s tired, she hammers him with a barrage of invective.
“Oh, George, what a cluck you are! You’re a cluck!”
Martha yells with the force of a diva reaching for the balcony. When she lambasts George’s lack of sociability at the party they just attended, he retorts loudly, the fire finally lit, “Do you want me to go around braying at everyone, like you do?”
Martha objects, of course, but continues to bray throughout the scene, finally getting George’s attention when she mentions a new faculty couple are coming over for drinks, even though it’s 1:30 in the morning. George objects but intuits the reason for the invitation—the professor is young and handsome, a potential conquest for Martha. Her insult, “cluck,” easily slips into “cuck,” short for cuckold, exactly what George has been over the years to a succession of young, ambitious professors who want to gain favor with the college president’s daughter.
The invective rises until Martha screams, “F*** you,” as the door opens to Nick and Honey. Most people would flee, but Nick wants to climb the faculty ladder and Honey has no choice but to join him—the faculty wife, who’s an enabler of her husband’s ambiContinued on page 11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR … IN THEIR OPINION
Praise for Last Week’s Editorial
Congratulations on the editorial concerning the Texas flash floods that resulted in such a loss of life. Many angels were taken by a ravage flood. Loss of life from an accident or fire or storm, loss of life from violence, loss of life from a weather event especially involving the most innocent of children is heart breaking. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and friends. May they go with the angels.
Father John P. Rosson Gilbertsville
City In Need of Structure Change
“Less is more” is a key indication that something that needs to be done in the City of Oneonta in terms of its operating structure.
Four Common Council members instead of eight to represent the eight wards would save the city government money and allow the city to hire people that are actually qualified; for example, someone who has
their master’s degree in public administration to be city administrator.
The city should keep four committees—Legislative, Finance, Quality of Life/ Infrastructure, and Budget— to keep everything in order and to help make sure the city is running smoothly. It should reduce the size of the Finance and Grants departments and reduce the salary for the finance director and city administrator by half or at least by a quarter.
The city government should be using some of these recommendations to help run the city more efficiently. Andrew (AJ) Hamill Oneonta
Bill Ralston Will Be Missed
Reading of the passing of Bill Ralston in the July 10, 2025 issue of “The Freeman’s Journal” filled me with great sorrow. I had known Bill for many a year through our mutual interest in the fine points of antique furniture. He was unequivocally a true master of antique furniture construction, and he possessed
restoration knowledge and skills that surpassed the highest plateau. Those of us who might be in future need of his eminent skills will now be lost. Who can replace him? None that I am aware of.
Bill was a great human being who I have always held and will continue to hold in the highest regard. I am deeply saddened by the loss of his companionable friendship, which I will always be grateful to have enjoyed over the years. Rest in Peace, Bill. Buzz Hesse Otego
Could There Be a Double Standard?
When Joe Biden won the election
Republicans respected the nation’s selection.
But when Trump became chief exec, Democrats deemed him a wreck And continued their brash insurrection.
Waldo Johnston Vero Beach, Florida and Cooperstown
Columnists and Contributing Writers Terry Berkson, Monica Calzolari, Rachel Frick Cardelle, Richard deRosa, Caspar Ewig, Chris Kjolhede, Larry Malone, Cassandra Miller, Wriley Nelson, Joel J. Plue, Sarah Roberts, Tom Shelby, Gayane Torosyan, Teresa Winchester, Jamie Zvirzdin
by Tom HeiTz/SHARoN STUART
160 YEARS AGO
Summary of News—The Post Office at Cooperstown is among the offices designated as those on which orders may be drawn or paid, under the postal money order system just put in force in this country.
The Seminary—The first term of this Institution under the management of Dr. Kerr, closed on Wednesday. We are assured that the examination of classes which extended through three days, showed thorough teaching and hard study. The exhibitions on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings were largely attended, and the audiences could not but be pleased; the young ladies and gentlemen acquitted themselves in the most creditable manner.
Local Statistics furnished by Mr. Jarvis, Assistant State Marshal, pertaining to Election District No. 1 and the Village of Cooperstown: Number of inhabitants in the district: 2,538; voters: 649; families: 522; Dwellings: 430; Soldiers sent to the Army: 72, of whom 20 died in the service; Inhabitants on the corporation: 1,622; 407 voters; 33 families; 260 dwellings; 47 men sent to the Army.
July 14, 1865
110 YEARS AGO
Cooperstown is to have a day policeman during the months of July, August and September until the Otsego County Fair as the result of action taken by the Village Trustees at their monthly meeting Monday evening. His compensation will be approximately $2 a day and his hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Tuesday, Michael Kraham was appointed to the position. The action is welcome news to the majority of citizens who see no reason why the enforcement of the law should begin here at 6 or 7 o’clock in the evening and continue until 5 a.m. only.
July 14, 1915
85 YEARS AGO
At its annual meeting in St. Louis on July 8, the National League of Professional Baseball clubs voted to continue playing an annual game at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, the birthplace of baseball, between two major league clubs, adding the suggestion that clubs rotate in giving their services to the Cooperstown game. Authoritative opinion is expressed that the American League will concur in the arrangement. On the subject of old players eligible for Cooperstown’s Hall of Fame, Ford Frick, president of the National League, said it is the thought of his league, as well as that of Commissioner K.M. Landis, that any further selections of stars of the 1880s and earlier should be made by a committee of baseball men who go back to that period.
July 17, 1940
60 YEARS AGO
An appropriation of $340,000 has been allocated for work this year at Glimmerglass State Park at the north end of Otsego Lake. Howard Stowell of Jamesville, general manager of the Central New York State Parks Commission, said the major portion of the money will go into building an access road from the Cooperstown-East Springfield highway to the site, and a bridge over Shadow Brook which flows through the property into Otsego Lake. Additional picnicking facilities are also slated for construction. July 14, 1965
20 YEARS AGO
Under the direction of coaches Jack Vineyard, Sharky Nagelschmidt and Ed Dubben, the Cooperstown American Legion Post 579 baseball team has bounced back from four losses to start the season and is now playing like a squad loaded with all-stars. A 6-2 victory over Delhi on July 10 at Doubleday Field has raised everyone’s expectations. “We’ve been playing well since the start of the season, but we’re just starting to gel as a team,” said Ed Dubben. Members of the team include Chris Connolly, Eddie Bauer and Scott Dubben. July 15, 2005
Solution: “Transition Period’” (July 10)
Federal Cuts Make Local Control More Critical
This past February, the New York State Department of Health celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Tobacco Control Program. There was, and is, much to celebrate. When the TCP began in 2000, New York State’s adult smoking rate was 21.6 percent. By 2022, it had been halved, plummeting to 11.3 percent. Not coincidentally, the death rate from lung cancer in New York State fell by 50 percent, too. Incredibly, only 2.1 percent of New York State high-school students smoked in 2022, down from 27.1 percent in 2000. In addition to 100,000s of lives being saved, billions of dollars in healthcare costs associated with smoking were, too.
There is still work to be done. About 450,000 Americans, 30,000 of them New York State residents, die of tobacco-related diseases annually, the number one cause of preventable deaths. Almost 1 million New Yorkers live with a serious smokingrelated illness. E-cigarette use among New York State high-school students has dropped significantly from the peak of 27.3 percent in 2018, but almost one in five still used them in 2022.
Those stats come from TCPs research and data collection, which inform and guide policy work at the state and local levels. Policies center on changing our environment and building a tobaccofree norm, which has shown to reduce tobacco use rates significantly. An example is New York State’s 2002 Clean Indoor Air Act, which banned smoking and then vaping indoors, almost everywhere except for people’s private residences.
The TCP’s data and research also inform and guide 20 Advancing Tobacco Free Communities organizations, which use it to work with local governments, employers, and residents on creating tobacco-free spaces where people live, work, and
By MERL REAGLE
play. As more TF spaces are created, tobacco use goes down, and critically, prevents youth from ever initiating tobacco use, which can lead to lifelong addictions.
I do that for Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie. I have the TCP’s data showing that while New York State’s statewide adult smoking rate is only 11.3 percent, rural counties like ours have rates above that. The research shows adult smoking rates in the DOS area are: 16.1 percent for Delaware County, 18.3 percent for Otsego, and 20.3 percent for Schoharie, in 2021.
ATFC staff also share research with their communities, including the fact that the tobacco industry continues to spend over $9 billion annually to market its products aggressively to our children to tempt them into initiating tobacco use and become, in the industry’s words, “the replacement generation.” We share that along with rural populations, other groups have higher smoking rates than their counterparts: people of color, LGBTQ+ members, those from low-income backgrounds, and with mental illnesses and disabilities. People from these often-intersecting groups often struggle to afford and access healthcare, making it more perilous for them if they get a tobaccorelated disease.
All of these statistics and data have been crucial to the TCP’s successes, efforts, and understanding the new and continuing challenges in reducing tobacco addiction, disease, and death.
Since late January 2025, though, the TCP has lost data and staff that is already impacting its effectiveness. Ironically, as the TCP was celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Trump administration was enacting steep cuts to federal tobacco
Continued on page 11
Hope in the Desert… Some dry humor
ACROSS 1 Center of activity
Dice game
Transported by truck
Sandwich alternative
___ ghanouj 22 Casserole tubes 23 “Count me in!”
Calming technique 25 Like some fried foods 26 Elevate, in a way
Hope catchphrase
Punjab city
Hook’s helper
Course for nonnative speakers, briefly
Corleones’ homeland
Slangy mouth 40 Other, in Ocotlán 42 Poitier’s cop Virgil
Loosened, as boots 48 “I’m listening ...”
50 Like budding, in plants
52 With 58 and 66 Across, a “helpful” comment from Hope as Crosby carries him piggyback across the desert in Road to Morocco 53 Pen point 55 Creator of agent James
Sea delicacy
Grand Central or Penn: abbr. 58 See 52 Across
Autocrats
Wood-surface applications
See 52 Across
Units named for a German
Yesterday’s
Parking reg., e.g. 73 Actor O’Neal 74 With 81 and 92 Across, Crosby’s reply
Manual subjects? 78 Just Shoot Me star
See 74 Across
Machine gun syllable
No way to be conceived?
Mahmoud Abbas’s org.
Trio over a 6
See 74 Across
retired from their career for at least five years prior to the nomination. These nominations are then considered by a designated selection committee that whittles down the number of nominations in a series of votes until they reach a final vote on permitting admission of three to five new members to the hall. Hugos nominated Jones and Kemp last year as well, with Kemp reaching the final five but falling shy of the 80 percent approval needed for admission.
Both Jones and Kemp played major roles in professional football history, setting countless records in the wide receiver and quarterback positions, respectively.
Outside of these purely analytical metrics, Jones’ career lasted from 1964 to 1970 and was characterized by his invention of the “endzone spike,” a scoring celebration that has maintained popularity to this day.
Kemp played professionally from 1957 to 1969, with a defining moment being his role in the boycott of the 1965 American Football League All-Star game in protest of civil rights violations faced by African American team members. This moment would leave a lasting impact on Kemp, helping mold the
basis for the ideology of his later political career, during which he served as United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George H. W. Bush among other achievements. With these monolithic careers in mind, Berin commented, “We’ve compiled a lot of statistics about them that just point them out. Some of these statistics aren’t really followed by the NFL. Just for reference, Homer Jones’ 49 yards per touchdown reception, which is a record, you know? But the NFL doesn’t really count that stat … Jack Kemp had, I think, the second most rushing touchdowns in the
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relationship with the game of football as a former professional running back, and the impact of Jones, his former teammate. The sons of both Jones and Kemp were present, with Kemp’s son Jimmy sharing his thoughts on the legacy of the game of football and the “lessons football teaches us about life.”
Charles Dumas, the son of Jones, shared the following:
AFL when he played, but I’m pretty sure he’s also fifth right now for all-time QB rushing touchdowns … It’s just a testament to [him]. Everybody talks about, these days, about the modern players who are really mobile QBs, and this is a guy who’s been overlooked.”
The luncheon began with a blessing followed by Meeter taking the floor, speaking to the power of mentorship on youth and how Jones and Kemp played that role for so many during their careers. Hugos then shared a short anecdote about his idolization of President John F. Kennedy, connecting it to the impact these players had
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HUGE SELECTION OF PERENNIALS
on his own youth:
“What that young quarterback did was stand under center, call the signals, reassure people, and just hold onto the ball long enough to stem the tide,” Hugos said. “Now, lo and behold, the initials of that young quarterback were the same as President Kennedy’s: JFK was Jack French Kemp. And I remember even [at] 10 years old, I recognized, this guy really knows what he’s doing.”
Following videos recounting key moments of each man’s time in the leagues and some stats detailed by Berin and Stockwell, special guest Ernie Koy shared some remarks on his personal
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“I really didn’t see my dad play football at all. I was too young. I just didn’t start realizing how important he was until I saw the accolades he had [at] … the 100 year celebration,” Dumas recalled. “To give you a little background, the Giants have been in the NFL for 100 years [in] 2024 … And before the celebration, they went and they picked 100 of the best football players they had for the Giants in those 100 years and my father was number 27 out of 100. That was a proud moment. I would never have ever expected that.”
Finally, Slater and the rest of the crew unveiled two new paintings she had painstakingly put together, one of which was gifted to Ernie Koy and his wife, Barbara. It provided for a very emotional closure to the ceremony, as family members and advocates for Jones’ and Kemp’s induction to the Hall of Fame shared an exciting moment of anticipation for what comes next.
Otsego County’s most interesting and entertaining read and its most diverse news source, featuring award-winning reporting, local news, insightful commentary, and entertaining columns by beloved local writers.
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Photo by Maria Griswold
Ernie Koy, Marcella Koy, Charles Dumas, Patricia Slater, Georgia Meeter, Andy Hugos and Jimmy Kemp gather for a group shot at the conclusion of the luncheon event.
Oneontans Celebrate Historical Marker for ‘Little Red Caboose’
By BILL BELLEN ONEONTA
Tuesday, July 1, marked the second of five New York State Historical Markers being unveiled throughout the city of Oneonta this summer. These yellow and blue markers signify important people, places, and organizations that played a major role in the history of New York.
This marker in particular was placed to commemorate the historic red caboose located in Neahwa Park. In 1883, the train car was the meeting place of eight railroad workers who joined together to form the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen, later renamed to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen in 1890. This was one of the earliest—and became one of the largest—labor organizations in the country, lasting until its dissolution in the 1960s to merge with various other unions. Seeing the importance of the red caboose, the union and its partners petitioned for the car to be restored, and it was moved to its current location in Neahwa Park in 1924.
Over the years that followed, the caboose was the site of frequent vandalism, causing the Smithsonian Museum to inquire about acquiring it, to move it to a more secure and visible location. Resident railroad expert and Greater Oneonta Historical Society Visitor Services Supervisor Bhanupratap Gaur shared more on this history:
“Local railroad enthusiasts (Jim Loudon, Russ Hawkins, Dave Jones, and Bruce Hodges) founded the Leatherstocking Railway Historical
Society in an effort to preserve, protect, and keep the caboose in Neahwa Park, fundraising thousands of dollars to install a glass enclosure around the caboose. In 1983, the enclosure was installed and the LRHS held a dedication ceremony that September in celebration of the BRT’s centennial year. The caboose has remained in the spot since.”
Reflecting shared sentiments regarding the value of the caboose, the GOHS, which operates the Oneonta History Center, collected numerous historic primary documents regarding the caboose, the BRT, and the Delaware and Hudson Railroad in order to justify
its significance. Using this documentation, they applied for and were approved to receive grant funding for the marker from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, a group dedicated to funding historical markers across the state.
Dr. Marcela Micucci, executive director of the GOHS, said that this site “is a fundamental piece of Oneonta’s rich railroad history and a staple in our community. It is because of the railroad that we [have] the town and city we know and love today…This marker is for perhaps one of the most well-known historical artifacts in Oneonta—the
Red Caboose. It is an honor to be able to commemorate it.”
The ceremony on Tuesday commenced at 1 p.m. with a brief recounting of the history of the caboose as well as the commitment of GOHS to preserving the history of Oneonta. Various speakers including Dr. Micucci, Gaur, and Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek offered thoughts and remarks on the importance of both the site and the recognition itself.
“I’ve admired the Red Caboose since I was very young, growing up just outside of Neahwa Park and getting to see it in the pavilion again and again,” Gaur shared with the paper. “In the last few years working with the GOHS, I began to do the tours of the caboose on the Fourth of July, where we open up the pavilion and the caboose and let visitors look around inside and learn more about its history. This unveiling is just another part of celebrating the caboose and its importance to all of us.”
The GOHS offered guided tours of the historic red caboose, led by Gaur, preceding the celebrations for the Fourth of July in Neahwa Park. The historical society is also actively fundraising to revitalize the caboose pavilion by revamping the Plexiglass enclosure and installing new walkways. Donations can be made via the GOHS website, www. oneontahistory.org, with a memo to put the donation toward “The Caboose,” or in person at the GOHS itself. The next historical marker unveiling will take place on Friday, July 25 at 2 p.m. at the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club to recognize the historical significance of Oneonta’s Sixth Ward.
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Dr. Marcela Micucci, Bhanupratap Gaur and Jim Loudon proudly display the new historical marker for Oneonta’s “Little Red Caboose.” The marker was installed on July 1.
A Banner Effort: One Woman’s Mission to Preserve Vets’ Stories
COOPERSTOWN
In a small village where banners meant to honor veterans were voted down for non-compliance with the existing sign law, Joanie Parrillo decided to take a different path—one that couldn’t be blocked by a vote or buried in bureaucracy.
What began as a quiet act of remembrance became a deeply personal mission to preserve the voices of those who served, and to ensure their stories would live on.
Parrillo never set out to write a book.
“I didn’t plan this,”
Parrillo reflected. “It started with a few conversations, a few memories—and then it grew.”
What followed was a learning experience in every sense: technical hurdles, emotional weight and the challenge of doing justice to lives marked by sacrifice.
Before the book, there were banners.
Parrillo spent seven months advocating for their installation— meeting with officials, drafting proposals and rallying support. When the effort was ultimately denied, she turned her energy inward.
“I spent seven months
on the banners,” she said. “Now it’s been seven months on the book. Different paths, same purpose.”
Inclusion in the book was open to any veteran in the Cooperstown vicinity, living or deceased. What Parrillo thought would be a modest 100-page tribute quickly grew into a 300plus page volume.
“I’d read a poem someone wrote and immediately envision the photo that needed to go with it,” she explained. “Then I’d create it.”
Each page became a blend of memory and artistry—words paired
with images that deepened their emotional resonance.
Originally, Parrillo envisioned the book as a hardcover in landscape format. But as the pages grew and costs climbed, she made the difficult decision to change the design.
“I wanted everyone to be able to afford it,” she said. “So, I went with softcover and portrait layout. That was the best I could do—and I think it still honors the stories beautifully.”
Parrillo also took great care to do things the right way. She sought and received copyright permission for every piece she included.
“The cover was the hardest,” she recalled. “I was down to the final days before sending it to the publisher—and I still didn’t have permission.”
With help from a friend, she finally tracked down the owner of the image.
“When I asked and told him the reason for the book, he gave me permission. So did the others. They understood what it meant,” Parrillo said.
A high-school classmate stepped forward to help Parrillo, volunteering her time as an editor— “She didn’t hesitate. She just said, ‘Tell me what you need.’” That spirit of generosity became a theme throughout the project. Others offered feedback, encouragement and ideas, from keepsake designs to event planning.
“You actually find out who shows up,” Parrillo reflected. “And it made a big difference.”
Now that all the veterans and families featured in the book have placed their orders, Parrillo is opening book purchases up to the public. Those interested in securing a copy— including individuals or local stores interested in purchasing for resale— must do so within the next two weeks, as Parrillo needs to give the publisher a final count.
“Now is the time,” she urged. “Once this order goes in, that’s it—unless there’s enough interest later to justify another run.”
The book, as yet untitled, is an 8x11 softcover, over 300 pages, priced at $28.95. Payment must be
first of the Lakefront Park concerts was shifted to the porch of the Village Hall, as it appeared it would rain, so as WHC wrapped up, the concert began, featuring the Woodshed Prophets duo. And it didn’t rain!”
made by cash, check, or money order. No electronic payments will be accepted. To place an order, mail payment to Joanie Parrillo, PO Box 493, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Questions? Call or text Parrillo at (607) 287-0877.
Though it may not have anything to do with baseball, Parrillo is quick to point out that this book is very much about Cooperstown.
“It’s real Cooperstown history,” she emphasized. “It’s true. It’s raw. It’s emotional. And it matters.”
To ensure that history is preserved for future generations, Parrillo is donating a copy of the book to the village library and to the school.
“This belongs to Cooperstown. It’s part of who we are,” she said. For Parrillo, this book is more than a project, it’s a promise fulfilled. A promise to honor, to remember, and to carry forward the legacy of those who gave so much. And this fall, she said, that promise will be shared with the community in a celebration worthy of the stories it holds.
Regarding Leone’s final design, Falk said comments were favorable toward the diamond shape, which made the design stand out and also visually connected with baseball. The emphasis on the lake, which was featured in all submissions in one way or another, was also a real positive according to Falk.
“Yes, the baseball diamond was liked by many,” Tillapaugh agreed, “and actually was used in several submissions. In describing the logo on July 1st, Celeste noted that when she thought of our founding nearly 240 years ago, the lake was the constant, and not buildings or museums. So she particularly wanted to focus on that.” Falk said of the process, “Working on the logo project made me realize just how fortunate we are to have so many talented and generous people in the community, including the designers and the reviewers. It also made all of us stop and think about what makes Cooperstown so special.
“Baseball is definitely part of our story, but the village’s history is more than that. This design includes the ‘founding’ date, but it also showcases what we know as Council Rock, reminding us of the Indigenous history that came before European settlement,” Falk continued. “Perhaps most importantly, Leone’s image really focuses on Otsego Lake and the surrounding hillsides, which frame our village and contribute to its unique character.”
Tillapaugh said she loved the way all the submitted designs incorporated Otsego Lake and, in the case of Leone’s design, framed it in the baseball diamond.
“The one constant throughout our village’s history is the lake and its use by Indigenous people as well as early immigrant settlers,” Tillapaugh said. “For me, Celeste’s design pays tribute to the natural beauty of our region— beautiful Glimmerglass,
Towering Trees and Vast Valleys: The Beauty of Eastern Otsego
By BILL BELLEN
OTSEGO COUNTY
Otsego County is truly an underappreciated natural gem. Within the bounds of our county limits lie five pristine state parks, roughly 20 idyllic state forests, and numerous waterway accesses and pathways. Though many people may first think of the Adirondacks or Catskills when they consider the natural wonders of Upstate New York, it is our intention to show how our corner of the world has just as much to offer its residents and tourists.
My colleague Maria Griswold and I are on a summer-long mission to shed light on the vast array of vistas and vacation destinations Otsego County has at its disposal. For clarity, this series will be focusing on state parks and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation-managed state forests and waterway accesses in order to maintain a manageable scope.
Our first steps in this journey began in the rugged, rolling hills of the east and northeast of the county, in Decatur State Forest. Like many of the forests we will be introducing, there are no marked hiking trails or access sites here. Visitors are able to travel a couple of unpaved, but well-maintained roads that traverse the woods. The roads navigating this site do not maintain very wide shoulders, as the denseness of the trees around you can be felt on all sides—another trend that will continue in destinations to come.
Ironically, our next stop was anything but claustrophobic. To the west of Decatur, Maple Valley State Forest is a very scenic drive, especially with the plethora of lilies in bloom along the roadsides during our time there. A few feet of clearing on either side of the roadway allows for a sunny and welcoming transit, weather permitting. At the north end of the forest, you will find Little Elk Creek passing through, though it may be safer to view it from the road as we did rather than to bushwhack down.
Only three stops in, and we already reached
a highlight of our exploration. Bear Swamp State Forest sits adjacent to the border with Schoharie County and is nearly 1,000 acres larger than Maple Valley State Forest. This site has quite a few more choices for road travel, although the quality of these routes definitely dwindles as you venture deeper. While a number of small bodies of water are present, the premier destination here has to be Bear Swamp Pond itself, which has a small water access path down to its shores. Its beautiful and swampy shores create an aura around the pond that I can only describe as uniquely Otsego. However, the true highlight is the view shortly thereafter. A beautiful panorama of the vast landscapes of Otsego County is laid out before you in a way I had never seen before. As scenic as scenic can be, the aweinspiring beauty of our county is on full display for those who brave the trek up these semiprecarious roads.
Honey Hill State Forest, while still picturesque in its own right, did not quite compare to those that came before. With only two small roads winding through its edges and part of its territory being within neighboring Schoharie County, our time here was not as thorough or awe inspiring. Following this, we traveled to Cherry Valley State Forest. This is arguably one of the more wellknown forests on this list and the first for which we found a designated state forest informational sign. With Snyder Creek gently flowing in the north and sprawling forests surrounding a number of quality roadway options, it is no wonder why Cherry Valley residents take pride in this locale. Those willing to navigate through some brush may also be able to take a peek at the small bog semiadjacent to Morton Road. This forest provides an interesting thought experiment for those with a historically-centered mind into how the wider landscape around Cherry Valley would have looked during the time of the massacre that made the location famous. Our time at Roseboom State Forest did not provide a very thorough
examination of all the site had to offer. With the main access road to the center of the site being gated shut and the path no longer visibly traversed, we were unable to visit the deeper sections of the park. This cannot take credit away from the accessible portion on Roscoe Jones Road, which offered by far the best maintained route of travel in any of the forests we visited, as well as a scenic side road with a creek flowing beside it.
The last of the state forests on our docket for the day, R. Milton Hick Memorial State Forest presented a pleasant surprise to round out this endeavor. After navigating some roads through the woods, we passed a very pleasant couple who live on a pocket of private property in the middle of the state land. We then came across a pond that appeared to be the headwaters of the neighboring Elk Creek. A quaint water access trail led down to its shore, with a sizable beaver dam greeting us at the bank. No doubt equally impressive and scenic as Bear Swamp Pond, the site put a smile on our faces as we left for our final destination.
Certainly the most popular location on this list, Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park is a perfect destination for travelers of all varieties. Named in honor of the couple who donated the land that the park now sits on, it boasts over three miles of marked
trails with a perfect balance between open fields and dense forests. The site has numerous accessible pavilions with seating and areas to eat. Its clean and maintained facilities include a playground. Atop the valley and forest views, there are also a few small ponds with walkable perimeters, with cabin camping options available for those who want an extended visit to embrace the scenery. Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park is also one of three locations on the New York State Birding Trail, a series of sites that the NYSDEC has recognized for their potential for recreational activity and birdwatching. Whether it be the countless birds that reside in the houses that line its fields, or the cornhole set and net for various outdoor sports, Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park is the perfect first park to highlight the potential Otsego County has to offer.
And with that, our journey was brought to a close. In this, the first of a four-part series, it is my sincere hope that you, the reader, have already gained a new appreciation for the natural wonders our county holds in store. I myself had never heard of locations like Bear Swamp Pond or Elk Creek before embarking, which I find to be all the more telling for how important it is to give these landmarks the attention they deserve. Our next
Henderson To Run for Hartwick Town Council
HARTWICK
Kimberly Henderson has announced her candidacy for Hartwick Town Council.
According to a press release, Henderson is bringing her strong financial background and deep local ties to the table, with a focus on modernizing town operations while preserving hometown values.
The daughter of Bruce and Julie Wellman, Henderson was born and raised in Hartwick and made the decision to return in 2014 to raise her family.
“Hartwick has always been home,” she said. “It’s where I wanted my
children to grow up— with the same sense of safety, connection and shared values that shaped my life.”
With a long-standing
career in the banking industry, Henderson said—if elected—she brings valuable experience in budgeting, financial oversight, and
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customer service, skills she believes are essential to helping the town make responsible and effective decisions.
region
Photo by Maria Griswold
A picturesque weeping willow sits beside a quaint pond located just below one of the numerous parking lots in the Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park.
Photo by Maria Griswold
This beautiful view of the rolling hills of Otsego County can be seen from the roads navigating in and around the Cherry Valley State Forest.
of interest will be the southern part of the county, where we will travel alongside the trickling waters of
Schenevus Creek, up to the tippy top of the highest point in Otsego County. I look forward to you joining us there!
cFOc awards
$100,000 to arts groups
SPRINGFIELD—The Community Foundation of Otsego County has awarded $100,000.00 to 23 arts organizations in Otsego County for its Spring 2025 Grants Cycle, officials
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Notice of formatioN of JENNIFER
L. GRIGOLI, NURSE PRACTITIONER IN PSYCHIATRY, PLLC.
Arts. of org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/15/2025. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 55 Maple St., Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: to practice the profession of Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry.
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Notice of formatioN of
Two Cheeky Lads, LLC,
a Limited Liability Company (LLC) filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on June 5, 2025. NY office Location: OTSEGO County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served upon him/ her to: C/O Two Cheeky Lads, LLC, 13 Coryelle St, Lambertville, NJ 08530. General Purposes.
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Notice of formatioN of Oneonta House LLC,
a Limited Liability Company (LLC) filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on June 4, 2025. NY office Location: OTSEGO County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served upon him/her to: C/O Oneonta House LLC, 81 W. Main St., Milford,
announced last month.
This grant cycle—one of the largest provided by the CFOC in its six-year history, officials said— was made possible by the Mildred Parish Foundation Donor-Advised Fund and other generous donors. According to a press release, the funding will support a variety of arts
NY 13807. General Purposes.
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Notice of formatioN of 212 PLR LLC.
Filed with SSNY on 05/09/2025. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 6956 STATE HWY 80, COOPERSTOWN, NY 13326. Purpose: Any Lawful.
6LegalJul.17
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Notice of formatioN of Zuill Landscaping, LLC.
Arts of org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 5/23/2025. 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 165 Zuill Lane, Schenevus, NY 12155. Purpose is any lawful purpose.
6LegalJul.17
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Notice of formatioN of Fly N66 LLC
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 2/13/25. 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 391 Airport Rd., Oneonta NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalJul.24
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Notice of formatioN of 4JAS, LLC
Articles of org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 6/9/25. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as
agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 8-12 Dietz St., Ste. 202, Oneonta, NY 13820, which is also the principal business location. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalJul.24
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Notice of formatioN of Pierce Creations LLC
Articles of organization for Pierce Creations LLC were filed with the New York Department of State on June 13, 2025. The office of the LLC is in Otsego County, NY. 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:7014 13th Ave., Ste. 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. The LLC is formed to engage in any lawful activity under the New York LLC Law.
6LegalJul.24
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY
Name: GAUGHAN TRUCKING LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 16 May 2025. 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 189 Hinds Road, Springfield Center, NY 13468. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalJul.24
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY:
The Center of ME LLC,
organizations and arts programming, ranging from art classes for children to art therapy for families dealing with loss.
“The many arts organizations in Otsego County contribute tremendously to our quality of life here,” said CFOC Executive Director Jeff Katz. “We are thrilled to be able to
support their work and to have developed this round of funding based on input we received from the arts community.”
Recipients of the 2025 Spring Grants Cycle awards are: Butternut Valley Arts and Crafts; Catskill Choral Society; Cherry Valley Artworks; Cherry Valley Community
LEGALS
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 04/11/2025.
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 P.O. Box 381, Oneonta NY 13820. Purpose: to engage in any lawful purpose.
6LegalJul.31
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Notice of formatioN of White Pine Acres LLC
Art. of org filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) 05/22/2025.
Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy of process to 37 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
6LegalJul.31
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY (LLc).
Name:
Clover Field Landscapes, LLC
Articles of organization of Clover Field Landscapes, LLC were filed with the New York Secretary of State (SSNY) on May 14, 2025. The office location is Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to 809 Co. Hwy. 22, Burlington Flatts, N.Y. 13318. The LLC purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalAug.7
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Notice of formatioN of
FST PROPERTIES LLC.
Filed with SSNY on 06/11/2025. Office: Otsego County.
SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 42 MEDALLION DR, OTEGO, NY 13825. Purpose: Any Lawful. 6LegalAug.7
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Notice of formatioN of
HOLLY HOPS FLOWER FARM LLC
Arts. of org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/23/25. 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, 8200 W. Lake Dr., W. Palm Beach, FL 33406. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 6LegalAug.7
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Notice of formatioN of
Caleb Backus Farrier Service LLC
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on March 14th, 2025. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Caleb Ley Backus, 190 Butternut Rd Unadilla, NY 13849. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalAug.14
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Notice of formatioN of
Hat Trick Homes, LLC, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on June 30, 2025. NY office Location: OTSEGO County. SSNY is desig-
nated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served upon him/her to: C/O Hat Trick Homes, LLC, 31 Pioneer Street, Suite 3, Cooperstown, NY 13326. General Purposes.
6LegalAug.14
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Notice of formatioN of GLEASON HOLDINGS LLC
Articles of org. filed with NY Sec. of State (SSNY) on 6/30/25. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 5445 Rt. 67, East Durham, NY 12423. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Principal business loc: 9 Elm St., Worcester, NY 12197.
6LegalAug.14
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY.
Name: TIM ELLIS & SON GENERAL CONTRACTING LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 1 July 2025. 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 341 Morton Road, Cherry Valley, New York 13320. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalAug.14
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY
Name:
Facilities Corp.; Community Arts Network of Oneonta; Fenimore Art Museum; Film Otsego; Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center; Friends of Huntington Memorial Library; Friends of Music and Art Cooperstown; Greater Oneonta Historical Society; Hartwick College; Helios Care;
Hyde Hall; Klinkhart Arts Center; Little Delaware Youth Ensemble; Oneonta Community Concert Band; Orpheus Theatre; Otsego 2000; Richfield Springs Community Center; Salvation Army of Oneonta; Worcester Free Library; and Worcester Wieting Memorial Association.
TITCHENERS LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 1 July 2025. 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 15 South Street, Cooperstown, New York 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalAug.14
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Notice of formatioN of The Bremo Group LLC filed Arts of org. on 07/03/2025 . Office: Otsego Co. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 418 Broadway STE N, Albany, NY 12207 USA Purpose: Any Legal Purpose.
6LegalAug.21
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reQUeStS for bidS
Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) pursuant to New York General Municipal Law 103 and on behalf of the project Landowner, will be receiving sealed bids for a water well BMP (642) regarding Project #08-37-1 funded through NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets Climate Resilient Farming Grant. The successful bidder must have technical knowledge and experience with the water well BMP systems to be installed as well as conducting a Step-Down aquifer performance pumping test.
The Step – Down Pumping Test should follow the following parameters:
• Step pumping rates: 50%, 100%, 150% of the max design production rate (maxDPR)
– performed at 15, 30, 45 gpm or based on the well drillers estimated yield*.
• Step duration:
• Step 1: One hour after stabilization
• Step 2– 3: Two hours each after stabilization
• The air life method for the pumping test is Not allowed by NRCS or NYS DEC.
Additionally, if the 150% maxDPR gpm pumping rate appears to over pump or drawdown the well to the depth of the pump then the well driller will need to decrease the pumping rate to the 100% maxDPR gpm. At which the test will continue for 2 hours after stabilization.
*Step pumping rates dependent on well drillers estimated yield after installation. If a lower yield is estimated, then the step rates will be 25%, 50% 100% of the estimated yield. If possible, a 4th step can be performed at 150% of the estimated yield.
Attendance by the contractors or their representatives at the site showing at 10 a.m. on 07/25/2025 will be MANDATORY and by registration only, and failure to do so will result in an automatic rejection. Bid packets will be picked up at the site showing and shall be returned, sealed and labeled “Water Well CRF Project #08-37-1” in the lower left corner of a 13”x9” manila envelope addressed to the Landowner in care of Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District, 967 County Highway 33, Cooperstown NY 13326. email or electronic bid submissions will Not be accepted. The project will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, with both the engineer and the landowner reserving the right to reject any or all bids. Bids will be received up until 08/07/2025 by 4:00 p.m., with the opening of the packets will
be at the SWCD office (967 County Hwy. 33 Cooperstown, NY 13326) on 08/08/2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Additional BMP and event information (addresses, landowner contact, etc.) may be obtained from District Manager, Christos Galanopoulos, at Christos@otsegosoilandwater. com or requested by phone at 607547-8337 ext. 4. Requests for hard copies and registering for the field event will be due by 07/23/2025 at 4:30 pm.
2LegalJul.24
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY
Name: KD RISING LLC.
Articles of organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 11 July 2025. 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 12 Commons Dr, Apt 201, Gilbertsville, NY 13776. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalAug.21
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Notice of formatioN of Mountainside Farm LLC
Office Location: Otsego County N.Y. articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (“SSNY”) on July 3, 2025. SSNY is designated agent of LLC upon whom process may be served and SSNY shall mail process to Mountainside Farm LLC located at 135 Chestnut Ridge Road, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Any lawful purpose.
6LegalAug.21
Photo by Anna Niedzielski
flood plain, going to the 5-year. The Guadalupe rose almost 30 feet in less than an hour. That would be like the Susquehanna flooding River Street and cresting the Main Street bridge.
Predictably, storms are getting more extreme. We owe it to the children that died there to do something about it. Something other than “thoughts and prayers”—because actions speak louder than words and public prayers without action is nothing but political theater.
Chip Northrup Cooperstown
tion from cuckold to king is complete, making us understand why Martha will never leave him. Bigger Dreams Productions’ next performance, “The Gazebo,” will run in August.
Florence McDermott is the editor of the Rotary Club of Cooperstown’s newsletter, “The Oil Can,” and an avid theater buff.
Tobacco
Continued from page 1
Dr. Diane Georgeson, health officer for the City of Oneonta; Carolyn Lewis, director of legislative affairs and grants at Bassett Healthcare Network; and Tamie Reed, director of the Otsego County Office for the Aging. Stephanie Bauer of the Cooperstown Area League of Women Voters served as moderator.
According to Shalor, OFO serves 3,500 households, responds to 1,500 referrals and logs 15,000 hours of volunteer services per year. OFO oversees essential programs, including but not limited to WIC (a state program for women, infants and children), Building Healthy Families, Wheels to Work, Emergency Housing, domestic violence services, and Head Start. There are 11 Head Start Centers in Otsego County.
“We are 85 percent federally funded. Any federal cuts will impact our ability to serve our clients. Needs will grow as these cuts impact the poor. Food insecurity is one of the highest needs. With changes in eligibility requirements, if people lose eligibility in one area, they may lose it in another,” Shalor said.
Johnson said that Community Cupboard of Edmeston, operating since 2017, serves both Otsego and Chenango counties and is supported by private donations and foundation grants. The service relies heavily on USDA commodity foods. With cutbacks and changes in eligibility requirements for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), food banks are anticipating an increase in need, Johnson said, adding that cuts in Medicaid will also impact food insecurity, as people will be forced to choose between paying for medicine or buying groceries. Some impacts will be felt by October of this year, Johnson projected.
Valerie Jackson, nutrition outreach and education program coordinator for Delaware Otsego Schoharie Catholic Charities, attended the forum. She said that Catholic Charities helps people apply for SNAP and may be reached at (607) 431-9303.
“ALICE populations will be most impacted,” Johnson said.
The acronym “ALICE” stands for “asset limited, income constrained,
employed.” Its population earns just above the federal poverty level but less than what it costs to make ends meet.
Johnson urged attendees to contact their respective U.S. senators and representatives regarding the Farm Bill, which is being debated now.
“It’s essential, because it holds the SNAP budget,” she said.
As part of community networking, Johnson urged people to contribute extra produce from their home gardens to a local food bank or, if they have money to spare, buy food to contribute to food banks.
Dr. Georgeson focused largely on the coming impacts of the spending cuts to Medicaid.
“Medicaid is insurance for low-income Americans under the age of 65. Seventy million or 23 percent of the U.S. population is covered by Medicaid. In New York, 7,000,000 are covered. In Otsego County, 13,091 people, or 22 percent of the population, are covered by Medicaid. Josh Riley, congressman from District 19, has estimated that 32,864 people will lose coverage in his district,” Georgeson said.
District 19 covers all of Otsego County.
Georgeson also elaborated on factors that may decrease coverage other than direct budget cuts.
“There are work requirements and many people lose coverage because they don’t have the administrative support to fill out forms properly,” Georgeson said, noting that Rep. Riley’s office has announced its availability to any constituents having coverage issues.
Lewis sought to reassure the public of Bassett Healthcare’s commitment to its 244,000 patients in its eightcounty service area.
“Bassett is deeply committed to monitoring what’s happening. We are in communication with legislators and have been working to make sure Bassett is sustainable in-house. Our primary goal is to take care of our patients and we will continue to provide care regardless of coverage,” she said. Nonetheless, provisions of the “Big Beautiful Bill” are said to threaten healthcare systems, especially in rural areas.
In answer to a question from the audience about Medicaid funding in New York State, Lewis said, “New York
State will have to decide if it will continue to fund Medicaid to its full level. Seven billion dollars must be covered.
“The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ also limits how a state can raise money for its half of the match and proposes taxing hospitals,” Lewis added.
Reed, whose agency oversees Otsego County programs such as Meals on Wheels, homecare services, transportation and caregiver respite, summed up OFA’s mission by stating, “Everything we do is to help older adults keep living in their communities.”
Funded by federal, state and local tax dollars, OFA serves 2,500 Otsego County residents. Reed said that OFA is monitoring developments in the SNAP and Medicaid programs.
“We are working with state and federal entities to keep informed. Sometimes getting information is the hard part,” she said.
Advocacy proved successful, Reed said, in the case of the Older Americans Act, which the Trump administration sought to dismantle by eliminating health and wellness programs, the Ombudsman program, Medicare counseling, and caregiver respite.
“Through an aggressive advocacy effort, we were notified on May 31 that all of these programs were restored,” Reed said.
In answer to a question from the audience about how people would be notified of changes in Medicaid, Lewis responded, “It will be up to the state. A big piece is how we will let people know. All Medicaid recipients have to recertify and re-enroll. It used to be once a year, but now it’s twice a year,” Lewis said, further stating that with recertification, current Medicaid recipients may lose coverage.
“Work requirements used to be between an age bracket of 19 to 54 years. That has been increased to 64 years,” Lewis said.
One audience member worried that a lot of money will go toward administrative costs, rather than supporting Medicaid recipients themselves.
Shalor stressed that making calls to both federal and state representatives is important.
“Even if you get a canned response, call as often as possible. Even canned responses get ticked. You don’t have to be an expert. Elected
officials want to hear from constituents more than agencies,” she said.
Asked by one attendee, “What is your greatest nightmare,” both Shalor and Johnson answered “the unknown.” Dr. Georgeson fears that more and more people will not have access to healthcare, which could lead to advanced diseases and even death. Lewis is concerned about delay of care.
“It will get worse and more expensive,” she said.
Reed expressed a concern about apathy in the general population.
“Take charge of your life and be proactive. Be a strong advocate,” she urged.
Locally, nonprofits are taking charge by meeting on a regular basis to avoid duplication of services.
Letters
Continued from page 4
Flooding Must Be Addressed
I went to summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, as did my stepmother, our children and our grandchildren. We know several of the families that lost a daughter or granddaughter in the recent flooding. There are memorial ribbons to the dead tied to the fence around my grade school. Our daughter’s house overlooks the Guadalupe River from a high bluff. Her family has been searching the river for the dead.
Flooding is common in the Hill Country due to the topography and the monsoon rains that come up from the Gulf of Mexico. When it starts to rain hard, you move to higher ground. Most Texas towns have storm warning sirens— like the firehouse in Cooperstown—that signal an approaching tornado or flash flood. Kerrville, where the worst of the flooding occurred, voted against a storm warning siren system out of concern that “it might spook the tourists.”
There are many camps in the Hill Country and several on the Guadulupe, the Blanco, and the Medina. The late great Kinky Freidman lived at a camp that his parents had run on the Medina. All of the camps evacuated at the first sign of a storm front. All of them except Camp Mystic, which prohibited cell phones and had no warning system.
Due to global warming, the FEMA 500-year flood plain is now the 50-year
Woolf
Continued from page 4
Continued from page 5 tions. The couple work as foils to George and Martha and as echoes of their younger selves, reminding them of lost opportunities. The length of the play, three hours, makes the audience feel like they are in the moment with the characters, purposely causing discomfort to witness a battle of wills. The actors inhabit their roles, and the drama rests on the standout performances of George and Martha, leaving little room for anyone else.
Despite the constraints, Nick and Honey, played by Nick Kocieniewski and Evelyn Kinnear, were convincing as the couple trapped into becoming props in the ongoing battle between the two main characters. Unaware that their failed fertility and lopsided power dynamic—she has money and he doesn’t— echo their hosts, they are forced to witness their own futures. It’s a cautionary tale and they struggle to figure out if they can change their fates to avoid the bitterness ahead.
Maria Manzano Johnson gave life to Martha with the selfconfidence the role demands. Her seething Martha made it impossible to take your eyes off her, despite the wrecking ball she has become. Her infidelities, her mockery of George’s lack of ambition and her drinking don’t push her husband away, as much as she tries. When Martha is completely drunk at the end and confesses George is the only person who’s made her happy and must be punished for loving her, the pathos is almost too much to take. It’s hard to look at a woman who has admitted her misery is of her own making. Kudos to Maria for her incredible performance.
Tom Russo’s George starts off as the weary husband trying to deflect his wife’s anger, and engages our sympathy. Tired and defeated by too much Martha, too much booze, and too much failure, we feel his pain and want her to stop hectoring him. The tables turn later, when Tom becomes the George who is the equal of Martha, his powerful voice rising to match hers. He becomes larger and larger and, finally, he becomes the destroyer, the man who shatters his wife’s illusions. The transforma-
control agencies. The cuts eliminated the federal Centers for Disease Control’s Office on Smoking and Health and key components of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products. According to a May 15 “New York Times” article, “Trump Budget Cuts Hobble Antismoking Programs,” experts on tobacco control are predicting they “would set back a quarter-century of public health efforts that have driven the smoking rate to a record low and saved lives and billions of dollars in health care spending.”
The elimination of OSH, which had allocated $100 million of its $260 million annual budget to states, has already affected states’ tobacco control programs, including New York’s. Most of the state’s DOH staff who guided our local work have been cut because their positions were funded by the CDC. New York State’s DOH will also lose valuable national research on tobacco use. The FDA’s annual National Youth Tobacco Survey, which has tracked youth ecigarette use, especially flavored e-cigarettes, will not be done after 2025. The FDA’s CTP lost staff who prevented retailers from selling tobacco to minors and marketing illicit vapes. This is a concerning health problem because youth have continued to acquire and use flavored e-cigarettes with ever higher concentrations of nicotine despite laws prohibiting the selling of flavored vapes and the selling of tobacco products to minors.
These cuts make the TCP’s mission and our efforts to reduce tobacco use rates locally even more important. New York State, counties, and municipalities can still work to create tobacco-free spaces and prevent youth from ever initiating tobacco use. We look forward to continuing our work even if the federal cuts have hobbled it for now.
Jennifer Hill is the community engagement coordinator for TobaccoFree Communities: Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie.
WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU Promotions, births, meetings, new hires, events, milestones, grand openings, sports results, anniversaries and more.
Photos welcome, too! info@allotsego.com
From left, Stephanie Bauer (moderator from the League of Women Voters), Tanya Shalor (Opportunities for Otsego), Maggie Johnson (Edmeston Food Cupboard), Dr. Diane Georgeson (City of Oneonta health officer), Carolyn Lewis (Bassett Healthcare director of legislative affairs) and Tamie Reed (Office for the Aging) made up an informational panel on the anticipated impacts of the “Big Beautiful Bill” on social and healthcare services. The session took place at the Morris Fire House on July 10. Approximately 80 people attended.
Carnival. Held through 7/19. Featuring Friday night fireworks, Saturday chicken BBQ and auction, parade, rides and more. Free
Borst Field, Schenevus. (607) 638-9017.
SUMMER ARTISANS
MARKET 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Continues 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 7/19 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 7/20. Butternut Valley Arts and Crafts Center, 124 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2632150.
FUNDRAISER
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “Dine Out for a Cause.” Eat out and support Helios Care. Feel Good Smoothie, 4 Clinton Plaza Drive, Oneonta. (607) 3864079.
LUNCH 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Free lunch for children aged 18 and under. Must be eaten on site. Adult meals available for purchase. Available Monday to Friday through August 15. Unatego Elementary School, 265 Main Street, Unadilla. BLOOD DRIVE Noon to 5 p.m. American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. RedCrossBlood.org
OUTDOORS 1-3 p.m.
“Summer Nature Hike.” Presented by Otsego County Conservation Association. Meet at the Table Rock parking area, Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta. (607) 547-4488.
ROCK PAINTING
1 p.m. “Summer Reading Program: Rock Painting for the Community.” Registration required; all materials provided. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Highway 11, Hartwick. (607) 2936600.
OPENING RECEP-
TION 5-7 p.m. “Samurai, Baseball and More: A Fine-Arts-Look-at-Baseball.” Open Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment through 9/13. There will be special hours and events for Hall of Fame Weekend. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown. (315) 9419607.
LIVE MUSIC
5:30-7 p.m. The Mopar Cams. Free. Al Gal-
lodoro Memorial Stage, Muller Plaza, Main Street, Oneonta.
FIRE PIT FRIDAYS 6-10 p.m. Live music, food and more. Featuring music by Without A Net. The Tap House, Brewery Ommegang, 656 County Highway 33, Cooperstown. (607) 5441800.
OPERA 7:30 p.m.
“The House on Mango Street.” Music by Derek Bermel; libretto by Sandra Cisneros and Derek Bermel. A coming of age tale following Esperanza, a young girl, who discovers that storytelling is the medicine she can offer her community. Tickets required. Presented by The Glimmerglass Festival at the Alice Busch Opera Theater, 7300 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 547-2255.
THEATER 7:30 p.m.
“Junie B. Jones Jr.”
Presented by Orpheus Theatre. Tickets required. Also showing at 7:30 p.m. on 7/19 and at 3 p.m. on 7/20. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4321800.
CONCERT 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m.
“Sirsy.” Rock and pop music. Presented by Cherry Valley Artworks. Fees apply. The Star Theater, 44 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-3080.
THEATER 7:30 p.m.
“Kimberly Akimbo” by David Lindsay-Abaire. Presented by the Franklin Stage Company. The story of a teenager navigating adolescence, despite a rare condition that causes her to age rapidly. Free; donations appreciated. Also showing at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on 7/19, and at 5 p.m. on 7/20. Franklin Stage Company, 25 Institute Street, Franklin. (607) 829-3700.
►Saturday, July 19
HIKE All day. “Saturday Hike: Thacher State Park.” Hike with the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Bring your own lunch. Registration required with hike leader Jim Austin, (607) 4375734. John Boyd Thacher State Park, 830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville.
FISHING 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; registration is
5:30-7: a.m. “Annual Bass Tournament.” Presented by the Richfield Springs Community Center. Weigh-in held at 1:30 p.m., followed by free lunch for anglers and sponsors. Fees apply. Cash prizes available. Canadarago Lake Boat Launch, 135 Dennison Road, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-3200. FUNDRAISER
7:30-11:30 a.m.
“Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department Fly-In Pancake Breakfast.”
All-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, real maple syrup, sausage and beverages. Fees apply. Cooperstown/ Westville Airport, 866 State Highway 166, Cooperstown. (607) 5479007.
MUSEUM 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Dairy at the Mill Day.” Hanford Mills Museum, 51 County Highway 12, East Meredith. (607) 278-5744.
FAIR 10 a.m. “Otsego County Fairgrounds Clean-Up Day.” Clean the hall and animal barns in preparation for the Otsego County Fair. Potluck lunch. Martin Hall, Otsego County Fairgrounds, 48 Lake Street, Morris.
BEEKEEPING 10 a.m. to noon. “Coffee with a Beekeeper.” Featuring Dean Haskin of Mickle Hollow LLC. Reservation appreciated. East Worcester Beekeeping Supply, 59 Main Street, East Worcester. (518) 8607988.
WORKSHOP 10 a.m. to noon. “Native Lifeways Workshop: Forging Friendships with Beaded Gifts.” Registration required. Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471400.
LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m. to noon. Music at the Market: Melissa Clark. Huntington Park, Wall Street, Oneonta.
SIDEWALK SALE
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Books, housewares and postcards for sale to support the Greater Oneonta Historical Society. Oneonta History Center, 183 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-0960.
PLANETARIUM Family-friendly shows open to the public. Fees apply. SUNY Oneonta Planetarium, Perna Science Building, Room 018A, Oneonta. (607) 4362011.
• 10:30 a.m. “Worlds of Curiosity.”
• 11:30 a.m. “The Sky Tonight.”
SIT N’ STITCH 11 a.m. Crochet with
Emma or knit with Gloria. Beginners welcome, yarn and needles/hooks available. Unadilla Public Library, 193 Main Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3131.
PRESERVATION Noon to 2 p.m. “Digitization Station.” Bring photos, slides, clippings, and more to be scanned and shared with local historical societies, etc. Richfield Springs Historical Museum, 134 Main Street, Richfield Springs.
QUIET CAT CAFÉ Noon to 3 p.m. Drink, snack and cuddle with adoptable kitties. Presented by the Super Heroes Humane Society. Registration required. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.
QUILTING 1 p.m. “Block of the Month Class Session.” Fees apply. Leatherstocking Quilts, 155 Main Street, Suite B, Oneonta.
OPERA 1 p.m. “The Rake’s Progress.” Music by Igor Stravinsky; libretto by W.H. Auden and Chester Kallman. Nick Shadow conjures tempting adventures for Tom Rakewell, while Anne Trulove fights for our protagonist’s salvation. Tickets required. Presented by The Glimmerglass Festival at the Alice Busch Opera Theater, 7300 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 547-2255.
WORKSHOP 1 p.m.
“Home Herbalism: Building Your Own Apothecary.” Presented by AC StaubleHill, the Traveling Herb Farmer. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 285-4111.
ANTIQUES
2-3:30 p.m. “What’s in Your Attic? What is it Worth?” Brian McMurray hosts an open discussion on identifying and evaluating “finds.” Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Highway 11 Hartwick. (607) 2936600.
LIVE MUSIC
4-5:30 p.m. Wyatt Ambrose. Free. Al Gallodoro Memorial Stage, Muller Plaza, Main Street, Oneonta.
ANNIVERSARY
4 p.m. “50th Anniversary Celebration.” Free community party featuring pet parade, food, dance and more. West Kortright Center, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith. (607) 278-5454.
MARKET 5-10 p.m.
“Nighttime Alley Market.” Dietz Street Alley, Oneonta.
DANCE 6-8 p.m.
Ecstatic Dance Oneonta presents “Qi Awakening.”
Tickets required. Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, 12 Ford Avenue, Oneonta.
COCKTAILS 6-8 p.m.
“Get Lit! Historic Lighting and Cocktails.” Fees apply. Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5098.
BASEBALL 7 p.m.
Oneonta Outlaws vs. Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs. Damaschke Field, Neahwa Park, 15 James Georgeson Avenue, Oneonta. (607) 4330545.
OPERA 7:30 p.m. “Sunday in the Park with George.” Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; book by James Lapine. A dazzling exploration of life, love and the relentless drive to create. Tickets required. Presented by The Glimmerglass Festival at the Alice Busch Opera Theater, 7300 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5472255.
►Sunday, July 20
SUNDAE RUN/WALK
8:30 a.m.; registration 7-8 a.m. “23rd Annual RSCC Sundae Run and Walk.” Presented by the Richfield Springs Community Center. Includes make-your-own sundaes by Stewart’s Shops. Starts from the Richfield Springs Veterans Club Pavilion, 13 Lake Street, Richfield Springs. (315) 749-3286.
GARDEN TOUR
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Village of Unadilla Garden Tour.” Presented by the Rotary Club of Unadilla. Fees apply. Benefit for Rotary youth programs. Pick up a map from a Rotarian or local Unadilla businesses. info@unadillarotary.org.
GAME 10:30 a.m.
“4th Annual Guns vs. Hoses Softball Game.” Free admission. Includes “touch the truck,” featuring dump trucks, police cars, fire trucks and more. Presented by the Richfield Springs Fire Department. Richfield Springs Central School, 93 Main Street, Richfield Springs. (315) 922-4881.
OPERA 1 p.m.
“Tosca.” Music by Giacomo Puccini; libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Follows the heroine as she saves her lover from a corrupt chief of police, but at what price? Presented by The Glimmerglass Festival at the Alice Busch Opera Theater, 7300 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 547-2255.
PRESENTATION
1-3 p.m. “Otsego County Medal of Honor Recipients.” Presented by Frank Antonucci. Part of the Swart-Wilcox House Museum Summer Sunday
Series. Free and open to the public; accessible facilities. Bring own folding lawn chair. Front lawn of the Swart-Wilcox House Museum, Wilcox Avenue, Oneonta.
LIVE MUSIC 3 p.m. Tyler Henderson Trio. Presented by the Friends of Music of Stamford. Oneonta native jazz pianist performs popular swing classics with fresh twists. Suggested donation applies. First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, 96 Main Street, Stamford. friendsmusic.
org
DRUM CIRCLE 5 p.m. “Cherry Valley Drum Circle and Potluck.” Presented by The Telegraph School. All ages/skill levels welcome. Bring your own or use the provided drums. Free-will donations appreciated. Cherry Valley Gazebo, Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-3785.
►Monday, July 21
COURSE 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. “ServSafe Food Manager Certification and Renewal Course.” Fees apply; registration required. Presented by the ExCL Center at SUNY Oneonta, Butternut Valley Room, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta. (607) 436-2831.
BUDDHIST 10:30 a.m. to noon and 2:30-4 p.m. “Buddhist Arts and Sciences Summer Immersion: Integrating Buddhist Arts and Sciences in Daily Life.” Continues through 7/25. Fees apply; registration required. Lunch included. Samye Institute, 412 Glimmerglen Road, Cooperstown. (607) 5475051.
FOOD—11-11:30 a.m. “Free Summer Food Program.” All kids and teens under 18 eat lunch at no cost. Held MondayFriday through 8/22. Greater Plains School, 60 West End Avenue #1, Oneonta; and at Wilber Park Pool, 1 Wilber Park Drive, Oneonta. (607) 432-0061.
SENIOR MEALS Seniors enjoy a delicious meal Monday-Friday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $11 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of ziti with meatballs, Italianblend vegetables, garlic bread and fruited gelatin. (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.
