Compiled by Tom
HeiTz/SHARoN STUART
185 YEARS AGO
The Liberty Tree—Animated by a patriotic feeling very nearly assimilated so that which impelled our revolutionary sires to wage war with the tyranny and oppression of Britain, the Democratic citizens of the Village and neighborhood, on Wednesday the 7th instant, planted a Liberty Tree in front of Lewis’ Eagle Tavern, 125 feet in height. When it had been well set, the “Star-Spangled Banner” was flung out from its top, and then were heard the shouts of the participants of the patriotic enterprise; cheers succeeded cheers until twelve rounds swelled upon the breeze.
135 YEARS AGO
October 13, 1840
For The Ladies—There are some among us that are not content to rule their own affairs, but they must have a hand in ruling the affairs of everyone else—the outgoing and the incoming of all within their radius— the dress, the acquaintance, the reading, the conversation, the whole conduct of the life of others—as far as they can. These women rule their houses, they rule their husbands, they rule their neighborhoods, but they have never learned to rule their own spirits. Early in life these women succeed in bringing their husbands into subjection or in alienating their affections; or else they bring into the household an element and atmosphere of perpetual strife.
110 YEARS AGO
October 17, 1890
If Cooperstown does not return a majority favoring the amendment to the constitution giving the women of New York State the vote on November 2nd, it will not be because the Cooperstown Equal Suffrage Club has not been earnestly working for that end. A mass meeting to be held in Village Hall on Tuesday evening, October 26th is to be the climax of the campaign. At this meeting suffragists Dr. Anna Shaw, Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe of Tacoma, Washington, and Congressman F.W. Mondell of Wyoming will make addresses explaining why women should vote in New York State.
October 13, 1915
35 YEARS AGO
The League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area will celebrate its 20th anniversary at a party on October 24, 7-9 p.m. at the Christ Church Parish house on Fair Street, Cooperstown. League members, friends, and members of the community will reminisce about the past and celebrate the future. Past Presidents will speak and a group of League singers, directed by Katie Boardman, will entertain.
Newly appointed Middle School Principal David Pearlman will be honored at a reception sponsored by the Cooperstown Central School Parent-Teacher Organization on Tuesday, October 23. All district residents are invited to attend the reception to meet Pearlman and welcome him to the community at 7 p.m. in the Middle/High School cafeteria.
October 17, 1990
20 YEARS AGO
Mike Newell, a retired English teacher who resides in Hartwick, responded to the August 29 Katrina Hurricane disaster as a member of the Allegheny and Green Mountain Forest Service Team. Newell’s team, which is ordinarily called into action to fight vegetation fires in national parks and forest properties, was mobilized by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) to load food and water onto helicopters distributing supplies to residents and relief workers in devastated communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. For nearly two weeks, the team worked round the clock at an airport facility near Slidell, Louisiana to accomplish the mission. During that period, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stopped in Slidell briefly. Newell was later mobilized again for duties in the wake of Hurricane Rita.
October 14, 2005
Solution: “Anagram Antics” (October 8)
Yes, There Is Hope, and Help, for Quitting
The first anniversary of my mother’s death from Alzheimer’s disease at age 86 will be on November 14 this year. On November 20, six days later, comes the Great American Smokeout, an annual event since 1977 that encourages smokers nationwide to quit at least for that day. My mom smoked for 40+ years, up to two to three packs a day before she finally quit at age 61, in 1999.
Since beginning my position at Tobacco Free Communities: Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie in December 2019, I have learned smoking affects every organ of one’s body, and increases the risk of contracting many harmful and lethal diseases, including Alzheimer’s. I understand much better now why my mom struggled to quit, why it is so important to keep trying to quit, and to not feel ashamed if you relapse. I also hope if you smoke, you use GASO as an opportunity to try to quit.
aged. In the years before quitting permanently, my mom was getting bronchitis annually, sometimes several times a year. She was diagnosed with sleep apnea in her mid-70s, but had suffered from it for probably a decade before. My mom also had depression and anxiety for decades before being diagnosed and treated for it in her early 50s. I now know that the nicotine in tobacco often worsens them.
Nicotine gives smokers and vapers pleasure and relaxation initially that only lasts a few minutes, followed by the need for more. Their anxiety increases because of the need for more.
My dad, two brothers and I didn’t think my mom would ever be able to quit. She had tried several times before, but they didn’t take. My mom had also inherited her dad’s, my grandpa’s, strong physical health, which seemed to immune her from respiratory or heart diseases or cancer. But she wasn’t fully immune, especially as she
By MERL REAGLE
Like 70 percent of American smokers, my mom wanted to quit long before she finally did. As with my mom, most smokers try multiple times to quit—an average of seven attempts—before it takes hold. Two events pushed her to the finish line. One was her doctor telling her, after a checkup about age 59, that she was on the brink of developing serious emphysema and dying from it. Doctors talking to their patients about tobacco use and cessation, especially combined with nicotine replacement therapy, has the biggest impact on tobacco users making efforts to quit.
A Little This-a, A Little That-a… No theme, but a lot of dat-a
NOTE: In this themeless challenger, all question marks, which usually indicate the trickier clues, have been omitted in the spirit of who-knowswhy. ACROSS
1 Comment from someone you thought was out of earshot
Impassive
Pointy tool
Stevenson’s monster
City N of San Francisco
Calling 4
Tax
Upper cruster
Mad emperor
Body of eau
Historian Will or Ariel
Converge
Path, to Pablo
Jazz guitarist Farlow
River shocker
Demond’s co-star
Fitzgerald’s Last Tycoon, Monroe ___
Neglected
“Ours is but to ___”
Dangerfield comedy
Cirri and cumuli
Parisian pen pal
Nashville actress Blakley (anagram of ENERO)
“These jests ___ of season” (Shak.)
English poet laureate, 1790
Keep (from)
Bears witness
Platte River tribe
Continued from page 1
“agribusiness,” requesting a Planned Development District as opposed to the previous request of expanding an industrial district.
Eco-Yotta representatives told board members they hope to conduct artificial intelligence research linked to farming, using the computers’ heat to grow hydroponic crops. See the article on page 2 for further project proposal details.
DeSantis, who was present at that meeting, called the proposal a confusing “hodgepodge” of ideas with “no clarity.” She told the audience that the “underlying problem is the zoning codes,” with PDDs “used contin-
ually for spot zoning.”
“It’s like hitting a whack a mole that keeps popping up again and again. There should be a moratorium on PDDs,” DeSantis said.
Mayoral candidate Dan Buttermann said he was running because “we’re at a critical point in our communities, the town and the city do these things together.” Calling for cooperation between the two, Buttermann said he’d hope to bring people together if elected.
Asked about the Oneonta municipal airport, Basile, a current Otsego County board representative running for re-election, said, “Our budget is so bad right now that I cannot support the county trying to take over an airport.”
Hinchey, the 4th district
county representative candidate, said it was similar to other issues like the Eco-Yotta proposal and potential “c-store.”
“These are land developers that have a lot of money” that “don’t have our town in their mind,” Hinchey said, instead “catering to a group of people that aren’t addressing any of the problems that we have in this area right now.”
The candidates discussed housing issues.
Buttermann said “RSS is one part of the solution, and also rehabbing homes is another part of the solution.” He said he sees homes in disrepair around town, adding that he wants to see “partnership with local, responsible developers working to rehab those properties.” Buttermann
said he’ll reserve final judgement on the RSS proposal until it is further along, but that he hopes it will succeed.
Rothbart said, “I’m a strong supporter of RSS, and I strongly support this project.” He added that it cannot be the only solution, calling for use of blended properties, fixing vacant ones, or encouraging affordable housing development by giving vacant lots to developers who commit to keeping prices below a certain threshold.
DeSantis was apprehensive about the RSS project. “I’m worried about the fit of that project in that spot to the community. It does also concentrate one use into that area,” she said. DeSantis preferred singleor two-family homes, or
OBITUARIES
a “Cooperstown model,” “workforce housing” of 10 to 20 units that are “very low key.”
Clapperton expressed support for the RSS project. “What I discovered” at a recent meeting, Clapperton said, “was people like to complain about the homeless… what they don’t want to look at is solutions.”
Asked about immigration enforcement, Rivera told the crowd he was proudly Latino and “what is happening to our community is inhumane and without due process, and I do not stand for that. Period.”
Buttermann answered by sharing that the one of best days of his life was when his wife took the oath of citizenship. “It makes my children first generation. And
the asshole in the White House wants to take that away from them. And I say: f*ck you.” If elected mayor, Buttermann said, “There’s no way I will ever cooperate with ICE in any capacity, unless there’s an arrest warrant.”
Throughout the event, several candidates called for updated comprehensive plans for local municipalities. After taking additional questions from the audience, candidates spoke with residents.
Gary Maffei, a steering committee member of the Oneonta Democratic Club who co-moderated the event, told AllOtsego it went well. “The candidates were very engaged, and the public seemed interested.”
John Dunlap
1940-2025
COOPERSTOWN—
John Dunlap, a local contractor known for his passionate concerns for truth and social justice, peacefully entered into eternal life Wednesday afternoon, October 1, 2025, at the New York State Veterans Home in Oxford with his family attending him in his last days. He was 85.
Born August 12, 1940 in New Rochelle, he was given the name “Harold Jay Dunlap, Jr.” by his parents, Harold Jay Dunlap, MD and Rae Marguerite née Scranton Dunlap. A self-described “willful kid,” he wanted to go by a first name of his own choosing, and picked the name “John” after his grandfather’s first name (John Jay Dunlap was named after John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States.)
John was raised in Westchester County, first living in Larchmont and then Scarsdale. During his high school years, he attended The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut. After graduating from there, he attended and earned a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was a humanities major with a concentration in English.
In boarding school, college, and his 5-1/2 years in the United States Air Force, he enjoyed and excelled in playing football.
During his years
in the military, John lived abroad in Asia. On his return to the United States in 1969 he joined International Voluntary Services, a precursor to the Peace Corps. He served as a college-level teacher in Laos for two years, then returned to the States and attended graduate school in northern Arizona. He then moved to Indonesia, where he served as a teacher under a Fulbright Scholarship. It was during his years in Asia that the experiences and lifestyles he encountered shaped the simple lifestyle he led throughout the rest of his life.
In 1976, John once again returned to the States. With his friend, Leonard, he visited Cooperstown and wound up liking it so much that he decided to settle down in this area. He made a home for himself out of an old garage near The Hickory Grove Inn on State Highway 80. Shortly thereafter he began renovating a camp on Red House Hill Road, which became his home. At his sugges-
Dignified and Caring Service since 1925 Peaceful grounds. Home-like atmosphere. Suitable for large or small gatherings. Peter A. Deysenroth 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown | 607-547-8231 www.cooperstownfuneralhome.com
tion, the Presbyterian Church sponsored a Hmong family from Laos, bringing them from a refugee camp in Thailand to the U.S. The Lee family, a mother and five children, lived with him for nine months. At that time, he was teaching school in Cherry Valley, but became disillusioned with the America educational system, quit teaching, and started his restoration contracting business in 1981.
About the same time, John met Karen Muehl, and they were married and had two children, Sarah Elizabeth and Timothy Andrew. It was John and Karen’s desire that their children should experience a different culture, so in December of 1992, they all moved to Monterrey, Mexico. John taught English at the Instituto Technológico de Monterrey. The family returned to Cooperstown in June of 1994.
During his years in the Cooperstown area, John was an active, devoted and faithful member of The First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, where he sang with The Chancel Choir and served on various boards and committees. His commitment to peace and justice led him to travel to Nicaragua with Witness for Peace in 1985. Locally, he invested in rental properties, in part to improve low-income housing options in the area.
John is survived by his wife, Karen Dunlap; their children, Sarah Dunlap and Tim Dunlap; two grandsons, Chase Dunlap and Jude Dunlap; sister Betsy (Jack) Erhard and
brother George (Ann) Dunlap; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his niece, Jennifer Robin Stinnett.
A Memorial Service to the Glory of God and in Thanksgiving for the Life of John Dunlap will be held at 2 p.m. n Sunday, November 9, 2025, at The First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, 67 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, with the Rev. Jessica Lambert, pastor, officiating. Immediately following the service there will be a time for refreshment and fellowship in The Chapel.
To honor John’s memory, memorial donations would be appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association (www. alz.org) and The First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, to the attention of the Social Action Mission Team, 25 Church Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Gail Reed Freehafer 1940-2025
COOPERSTOWN—
Gail Reid Freehafer died on Thursday, October 2 at home in Cooperstown, New York. We’ve lost our beautiful mother, nana and wonderful friend.
Gail Lynne Reid was born on July 25, 1940 to parents Evelyn and Herbert Reid. She grew up in the New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York City areas, moving numerous times due to her father’s career as an
Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar.
Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home will take the time to find out what made your loved one special.
Whether it’s finding just the right flowers, or finding a musician to play her favorite tunes on her old guitar, we’ll do what’s necessary to make her service as unique as she was.
Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home 14 Grand Street, Oneonta • 607-432-6821 www.grummonsfuneralhome.com
executive at US Rubber. One constant was their beach house on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, which she loved dearly. Their street ended at the ocean, which was problematic for the boys cruising by to catch a glimpse of Gail.
She graduated from Greenwich High School, attended Boston University and then Columbia School of Nursing, where, in addition to making lifelong friends, she met her first husband, James Elting, who was attending Columbia Medical School. They married and, after spending time in Cooperstown for his medical internship at Bassett, lived in Winter Park, Florida and Guilford, Connecticut before finally moving back to Cooperstown, the town they had fallen in love with, in 1973. They purchased Riverbrink and, in addition to assisting with her husband’s medical practice, Gail set to work transforming the home with her inimitable style while maintaining its architectural integrity.
Gail went on to establish Gail Reid Elting Interiors, designing many client and personal investment projects over the years. She was the ultimate tastemaker, seeing beauty in contemporary, traditional and antique styles, combining them exquisitely. She also found beauty in a diverse and broad group of cherished friends, who described her as generous, beautiful, outrageous, funny, and strong. Gail entertained frequently and seemingly effortlessly, usually cooking from her dog-eared and stained Julia Child cookbook. She was a knowledgeable and creative gardener, a
longtime member of the Lake and Valley Garden Club, and was proud to showcase her gardens for the National Garden Club tour when they came to Cooperstown. Her decoration of Santa’s House every year, and her friendship with Santa himself, gained her much admiration and respect from her young granddaughters. She married John Freehafer in 1985, after a many-year courtship. Together they travelled frequently, enjoyed exploring varied cuisines, and read probably a thousand books collectively. Gail was an unapologetic feminist, and an inspiration to her daughters and granddaughters. She was a fierce defender of reproductive rights, and one of her prouder moments was marching on Washington, D.C. in 2005, joining her daughter Kim and the Texas contingent of Ann Richards and Molly Ivans in the March for Women’s Lives. She loved Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones (attending concerts in her Ferragamos). Her parties always resulted in everyone dancing with the volume UP. Her joie de vivre was genetic, with deep roots that continue to spread. She was predeceased by her husband, John, and survived by her daughters, Kimberley Elting and her husband Stewart Cohen and Laird Elting and her husband, Jean Robert; granddaughters Teal and Reid Cohen and India and Petra Robert; her stepchildren, Peter Freehafer and his wife, Michelle, Susie Freehafer Frazier and her husband, Matt, and Lisa Freehafer. We will celebrate Gail when the peonies bloom. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gail’s memory to Planned Parenthood of Greater New York at https:// www.weareplannedparenthood.org/cOJVhOyrzkq4uBcxVekXFA2
As the scent of L’Air du Temps fades… to her dear friends, of which she had so many, and her family who loved her, if you are feeling sad, you know what Gail would say. Buck up.
Funeral Home
Photo provided JOHN DUNLAP
Photo provided GAIL REED FREEHAFER
Remembrance Service Slated
COOPERSTOWN—Bassett Healthcare Network will hold its annual remembrance service for parents, families and caregivers that have lost children or pregnancies from 7-8 p.m. on Thursday, November 6. It is open to all community members who are grieving these profound losses. Bassett’s Spiritual Care Team and Women’s Health Team will bring together people with similar struggles. The service will be held in Clark Auditorium at Bassett Medical Center, 1 Atwell Road. RSVP to gerald. paciello@bassett.org. There will be a virtual attendance option on Zoom at bassett.org/memorial. All attendees are invited to submit names ahead of time for the candle-lighting ceremony.
Halloween Party Scheduled
RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, will hold its Halloween Party and Community Fun Day from 14 p.m. on Sunday, October 19. It will feature escape rooms, crafts, pumpkin carving, door prizes and food. Attendees who donate a costume will receive extra tickets for the door prizes. The party is free and open to the public.
25 Main Releases Calendar
CHERRY VALLEY—25 Main Collective will display its fall exhibition, “Highlight,” through Sunday, November 2. It features extra work by artists who participated in the Cherry Valley Art Trail on October 4-5. Upcoming classes with open spaces include a stamped charm bracelet workshop from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22 and a wire-wrapped moon pendant workshop from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, October 25. The latter class coincides with Falltoberfest, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This family-friendly event will feature vendors, ghost tours, music, a beer garden, Oktoberfest games, cookie decorating, dance performances by the Happy Haggs, pumpkin carving, and more.
The November exhibition, “Inspired by a Book,” will open with a reception featuring food and music from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, November 7 and remain open until November 30. There will be an artists’ talk at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 23. Jessica Capeci will lead a fire cider workshop from 1-3 p.m. on November 9 and Marissa Perkins will demonstrate making sterling silver spinner rings from 14 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. Cherry Valley’s Farm Toy Show will be held at the Cherry ValleySpringfield Central School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 8. An American Legion 5K will begin at the Old School at noon the same day, with registration open at 10 a.m. For more information or to inquire about a class, contact 25maincollective@gmail.com.
CAA To Host Fall Classes
COOPERSTOWN—Local artist Kristin Stevenson will lead a cold wax painting workshop at Cooperstown Art Association from 5:30-7:30 on Tuesdays from November 4 through December 2. The class is $135.00, with a $5.00 discount for CAA members and all materials included. Cynthia Marsh will teach a class titled “Creating Portals and Painting Light” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 25. It is $130.00 with a $5.00 discount for members. Paul Marcellino will teach a figure drawing class for beginners through advanced students from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from November 4 through December 16. Registration is $230.00, with a $5.00 member discount. Materials are not provided. For more information or to register, visit cooperstownart.com or contact (607) 547-9777 or gallery@cooperstownart.com.
CAA’s fall exhibitions will be on display through Friday, October 31 during gallery hours, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. “Lasting Impressions,” a juried show of waxworks exploring themes of memory and connection, is displayed in Gallery A. “Water’s Edge,” in Gallery B, features Cooperstown-area landscapes by local folk painter Kara Mattice. The Central New York Watercolor Society showcases its Signature Members Exhibition in Gallery C.
GOHS Auction Coming Up
ONEONTA—The Greater Oneonta Historical Society will hold its 19th annual GOHS Live and Online Benefit Auctions in November. The Live Auction will begin in the newly renovated thirdfloor ballroom at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 14, with doors opening at 5. Admission is free and there will be refreshments available for sale. In addition, there will be an online auction open at 32auctions. com/GOHSAuction2025 from 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 13. Featured items include sports ephemera, Oneonta collectibles, antiques, furniture, toys, framed artwork, tours and experiences, jewelry, apparel, overnight stays, local gift certificates and more. Some items will be available for early viewing at the History Center in October. To make an item donation or inquire about sponsorships or volunteering, contact (607) 432-0960 or directormm@oneontahistory.org.
Museum Hosts Conference
COOPERSTOWN—The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum hosted about 100 American and Canadian guests for the International Sports
Heritage Association’s Annual Conference on October 7-9. Established in 1971 as the Association of Sports Museums and Halls of Fame, ISHA includes more than 130 member institutions. Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark received this year’s Legacy Award. The Hall of Fame also earned awards for its social media campaign for School Resource Kits, its Black Baseball Initiative outreach program, the video presentation in the “Souls of the Game” exhibit and the 2024 East-West Classic game program magazine. For more information, visit baseballhall.org/education.
DuBois To Discuss Restoration
LEONARDSVILLE—Cooperstown-based craftsman Jackson DuBois, executive director of the Timber Framers Guild, will present an account of his work restoring the spire of Notre-Dame de Paris after its 2019 roof fire on Friday, November 7. Held at the Horned Dorset Inn, 2000 Main Street in Leonardsville, the talk will be the highlight of the Upper Unadilla Valley Association’s annual banquet, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $64.00, including a prix fixe dinner, tax and tip. A cash bar will be available. Note any dietary restrictions when making reservations. To RSVP, send a check to Larraine McNulty, 156 Pritchard Road, West Winfield, NY 13491 by Wednesday, October 29.
Artists Talk About Botanicals
STAMFORD—Artists Andie Hope, Tracy Qiu, Ali Shockey, Kathleen Sweeney and Carol Woodin will discuss their creative process and botanical influences at Headwaters Art Center, 66 Main Street in Stamford, at noon on Saturday, November 1. It accompanies the final day of the “Botanical Impressions” exhibition. For more information, visit roxburyartsgroup.org/botanical-impressions.
Website Improvements Made
ALBANY—New York State Homes and Community Renewal announced major improvements to the New York Housing Search website. It consolidates listings of housing lotteries and waitlists for all HCR-financed projects. By giving New Yorkers the opportunity to apply for affordable housing online, it makes the home search process easier for all. For more information, visit HousingSearch.ny.gov.
Speakers To Present on AI
COOPERSTOWN—Friends of the Village Library of Cooperstown will open the 2025-26 Sunday Speaker Series from 3-4 p.m. on Sunday, October 19. Renowned artificial intelligence experts Dr. Izabella Lokshina and Dr. Cees J.M. Lanting will discuss the origins and implications of AI. The talk is free and open to the public.
Pumpkin Glow Set for Oct. 26
COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association’s annual Pumpkin Glow will return on the steps of the Village Hall from 6-7 p.m. on Sunday, October 26. All community members are invited to submit their decorated pumpkins for display. Bruce Markusen will present ghost stories starting at 6:30 p.m. The Pumpkin Glow is free and open to the public, although donations are welcome. For more information, visit cooperstownart.org.
Fire Dept. Seeking Donations
RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Richfield Springs Fire Department and Village of Richfield Springs seek public donations to bring their firehouse up to NFPA standards. More resources are needed to supplement a $1.5 million grant through Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Checks may be sent to PO Box 1456, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. Members of the public are invited to visit the firehouse and ask questions during weekly training from 6-8 p.m. each Wednesday.
Pilot Project Announced
OTSEGO COUNTY—The Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Otsego County and the Vernonburg Group announced the Butternuts Neutral Host Mobile Tower Pilot Project, a groundbreaking rural wireless infrastructure initiative backed by Governor Kathy Hochul’s Connectivity Innovation Mobile Service Grant Program. This pilot project will expand mobile service and broadband access in the Town of Butternuts. It was awarded more than $843,000.00 through Gov. Hochul’s program and will deliver shared, multi-operator mobile coverage from a new county-owned E-911 public safety tower. Using a neutral-host architecture, the tower will allow multiple mobile operators to share a single set of radio infrastructure and the associated costs. Up to 200 households and businesses will become accessible to mobile and fixed wireless service, and the project will serve as a model for the Otsego County Broadband Expansion Initiative and future expansions statewide. Deployment is scheduled for next year. For more information, visit otsegocounty. ny.gov/broadband.php.
Lachance To Sing at Museum
CANAJOHARIE—Renowned mezzo soprano Joelle Lachance and piano accompanist William
Shi will perform her original “Guys or Dolls” piece in the Original Gallery of the Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Boulevard, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 18. Attendees may visit the galleries and enjoy Prosecco before the show. Tickets are $40.00 or $75.00 for pairs. For more information or to register, visit arkellmuseum.org/content/joelle-lachance-guys-or-dolls.
Otesaga Receives Recognition
COOPERSTOWN—The Otesaga Resort Hotel was named fourth on Condé Nast Traveler’s 38th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards list of the top 10 resorts in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. More than 757,000 readers submitted survey responses. This was the sixth time The Otesaga has been recognized in one of the travel industry’s longest running and most prestigious recognition programs.
HartLand Promise Expanded
ONEONTA—Hartwick College announced the expansion of its HartLand Promise Scholarship to include students from Albany, Broome and Schenectady counties. Launched in 2022, the program guarantees Hartwick’s top scholarship award of $10,000.00 annually for eligible students from across the region. More than 18,000 highschool seniors at nearly 600 schools in the new counties will join those already eligible in Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego and Schoharie counties. Since its inception. HartLand Promise has supported nearly 250 students. For more information, visit hartwick.edu/hartland.
Rotary Road Rally Returns
ONEONTA—The 4th Annual Oneonta Rotary Road Rally Scavenger Hunt will take place at Damaschke Field from 1-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 19. The family-friendly event will lead teams around a 30-mile loop through Otsego County to follow clues, answer riddles and take photos. Teams are judged on a combination of mileage, time, clue answers and group photos. The top three teams will have a grant of $1,000.00, $750.00 or $500.00, respectively, donated in their honor to the food bank or program of their choice in Otsego, Delaware or Schoharie counties. All proceeds support the service work of the Oneonta Rotary Club. Registration is $25.00, $10.00 for ages 1218 and free for children under 12. Payment may be made on race day by cash or check. All teams must have at least two responsible adults to serve as driver and navigator. Pre-registration is available at oneontarotary.org.
Clerk To Host Passport Fair
UNADILLA—Otsego County Clerk Jennifer Basile will host a passport fair at Unadilla Town Hall, 1648 State Route 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 18. Photo services will be available. Attendees should bring a check or money order to accompany the application, a completed DS11 application in black ink, a certified copy of a state-issued birth certificate and a copy of the front and back of their drivers license. Cash or card are accepted for county clerk fees. To view a complete list of required documents, visit travel.state.gov. Call (607) 547-4276 for more information.
CV ‘No Kings’ Event Planned
CHERRY VALLEY—Cherry Valley Indivisible will co-sponsor a local iteration of the “No Kings” Day of Peaceful Action on Saturday, October 18. According to a release, No Kings is a nationwide mobilization uniting millions of Americans against what they view as the Trump administration’s corrupt ends and authoritarian means. More than 2,500 peaceful demonstrations are expected to attract about five million participants nationwide on Saturday. The Cherry Valley event will take place at the traffic light from 10-11 a.m. About 200 people attended Cherry Valley’s first No Kings protest on June 14. Participants are encouraged to bring a friend. Associated events will take place in Canajoharie at 11 a.m., Cobleskill at noon and Oneonta at 1 p.m. For more information, contact indivisible cv@proton.me.
Coop Soccer Suffers Setbacks
COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown girls soccer dropped an overtime match to Hamilton 3-2 on Tuesday, October 7. Freshman Lanie Nelen and junior Sophia Johnson scored on a corner kick from senior Mia Pelcer and a pass by junior Ruby Stevenson, respectively. Eighth-grader Emma Johnson made 25 saves.
Nelen and Pelcer again scored in the first half to lift the Hawkeyes to a 2-1 upset victory over Sauquoit Valley on Thursday, October 9. Stevenson and sophomore Claire Baldo made assists and Johnson recorded 17 more saves. Cooperstown moved to 6-8 for the season and 5-3 in their division. They will host Waterville after press time on Tuesday, October 14.
Cooperstown boys soccer fell 2-0 to Westmoreland in a Center State Conference match at home on Monday, October 6. Cooperstown outshot Westmoreland 9-6 and senior Cooper Coleman made a save in the net. The Hawkeyes fell to 7-4-2 for the season and 4-2 in their division.
drives harmful algae blooms (HABs): runoff from roads and building sites, and septic tank discharge of nutrients. New York State standards do not address the discharge of nutrients from septic systems. The proposed development could turn the wetlands into toxic pea soup bogs.
3. Land use plan out of date. The Town of Otsego had already embarked on a revision to its comprehensive land-use plan before the subdivision plans were submitted. Both towns are participating in a revision to the watershed plan in conjunction with a Nine Element Watershed Plan to address the mitigation of HABs in area ponds and Lake Otsego.
4. Moratorium. Under these circumstances, it would be irresponsible for the towns not to impose a moratorium on development plans within the watershed. When a town is undergoing an update to its comprehensive plan, it is standard operating procedure to have a limited moratorium on new permits, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas.
5. No rush. The Manocherians have owned the land for decades. It will take over three miles of public road paving and ROW clear-cutting to access the property and more miles of interior roads. The absorption rate for wooded lots without views or lake access is likely to be very slow.
6. Residential development. Both town plans emphasize the need to encourage residen-
tial development where public utilities—water and sewer— are available. The proposed development is entirely rural. It does not address the regional need for affordable housing.
7. Entitlements and the environment. The number of lots that may be allowed is subject to an environmental SEQR review that must take the combined impact of the 1,500 acres on the watershed and the wetlands.
Given the risks, both towns should proceed with caution.
The far better option is for the owner to negotiate the sale or donation of a conservation easement on the environmentally sensitive areas. The Manocherian State Natural Area has a nice ring to it.
Chip Northrup Cooperstown
Play’s Message Still Rings True
In these times, it’s wonderful to experience something meaningful and affirming. Last weekend, Cherry Valley Artworks gave three audiences just that, with its performances of “What the Constitution Means to Me,” a 2019 Broadway hit whose message lands with everyone.
Playwright Heidi Schreck structured a tale of four generations of women that invited audience participation, included a mini-debate, and ended with attendees contemplating what it truly means to be American. The play was alternately hilarious and heartbreaking, and it was deeply patriotic… perhaps in unexpected ways. The setting is an American Legion hall, and all three actors (Maureen Iseman Broeking,
Chris Shearer, and 15-yearold newcomer Bella Crowe) earned their standing ovations. While the nonprofit Cherry Valley Artworks produced the play, the local American Legion post, which shares space with the arts organization, contributed props (and applause).
The experience was heartwarming, and I urge Artworks (cvartworks.org) to put on more plays in the future. I encourage everyone to attend. If you can’t swing the tickets, dress rehearsals are free!
Kathleen Taylor Cherry Valley
Where’s the Beef? How Much Is It?
Over the past week—and prior to that—I have repeatedly noticed that the Price Chopper puts up signs in their meat section that advertise “weekly
specials!” with an alleged reduction in per-pound prices—for example, “80 percent ground beef,” and stacked immediately next to or against the sign will be that product, but with a significantly higher price per pound. People naturally pick up those packages, and rarely check the price per pound, but they will be priced at the regular price and that is what the register reads. If it should happen to be noticed, the person at the register cannot reverse it. Customer service must be called, that person then finds the newspaper ad and sign, verifies that that is the case, and must reverse it herself on the register while the line backs up.
I have called attention to this three times this past week. The first time, the customer service person came back to the meat counter, found a butcher (the “Ring Bell” is no longer there), then had to change the price at the register herself. The explanation was that the store gets butchers from several different other stores and they put on the stickers that their home store has for price per pound. The second time, the explanation was that “they have to put on what the corporation says.” The third time was—no explanation.
A register person said that he had also frequently complained, without avail. Another person noticed the same phenomenon at the Price Chopper Norwich store. This is not a benign mistake. Buyers beware! And think about complaining to a higher level of corporation (the number is on the back of the “Advantage” card, if you have one). Or, if feasible, shopping elsewhere.
Mary Anne Whelan Cooperstown
It’s always been easier for me to help others than to help myself
As a Veteran, when someone raises their hand for help, you’re often one of the first ones to respond. But it’s also okay to get help for yourself. Maybe you want or need assistance with employment, stress, finances, mental health or finding the right resources. No matter what it is, you earned it. And there’s no better time than right now to ask for it. Don’t wait. Reach out.
Photo courtesy of Cherry Valley Artworks
Bella Crowe, Chris Shearer and Maureen Iseman Broeking on stage during the recent performance of “What the Constitution Means to Me.”
►Fri., Oct Ober 17
BOOK SALE 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. Continues 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on 10/18 and 9 a.m. to noon on 10/19. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Highway 11, Hartwick. (607) 2936600.
COOPERSTOWN
8:30 a.m. Meeting of the Streets Committee. 1st floor boardroom, Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-2411.
GOVERNMENT
9 a.m. Otsego County Parent Committee Budget Workshops: Administration Committee, chaired by Margaret Kennedy. Budget Lab (basement), County Office Building, 197 Main Street, Cooperstown.
BLOOD DRIVE Noon to 5 p.m. Elm Park Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. RedCrossBlood.org
BLOOD DRIVE
1-6 p.m. Otego Community Center, 5 River Street, Otego. RedCrossBlood.org
FARMERS’ MARKET
3-6 p.m. Held Fridays at the Four Corners, Hartwick. (607) 2937530.
DINNER 5:30 p.m.
“57th Annual Charter Dinner.” Presented by Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society. Featuring keynote speaker Julie Brown of the Hawk Migration Association. 6th Ward Athletic Club Banquet Room, 22 West Broadway, Oneonta. (607) 397-3815.
HALLOWEEN
5:30-8 p.m.
“Things that Go BUMP in the Night Ghost Tours.” Fees apply. Tour departs each half hour. Continues 10/18. Fenimore Farm and County Village, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471450.
HALLOWEEN 6 p.m. “Hyde & Shriek! Candlelight Ghost Tours.” Tickets required. Continues 10/18. Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5098.
Time OuT OTsegO
Things To Do In and Around Otsego County
Farm, 587 Cullen Road, Richfield Springs. (315) 867-3878.
OKTOBERFEST
10 a.m. Trivia, Germanthemed foods and more. Admission fees apply. Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, 1316 County Highway 26, Fly Creek. (607) 358-5748.
HALLOWEEN 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Schenevus Spooktacular.” Trick ‘r treating, costume contests, vendors and more. Presented by the Eastern Otsego Farmers’ Market, 130 Borst Way, Schenevus.
RAILROAD 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. “Pumpkin Patch Express.” Tickets required. Also held 10/19. Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad, 136 East Main Street, Milford. (607) 432-2429.
WORKSHOP 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Equine Assisted Personal Development Workshop: Release and Receive.” Mend your heart, awaken your strength. The horses will guide you home. Fees apply. Taylortown Equine, 434 Bedbug Hill Road, Fly Creek.
CEMETERY CLEAN-
UP Noon. Led by the Richfield Springs Historical Association and Museum. Bring water, a bucket and gentle scrub brushes. Richfield Hill Cemetery, Richfield Springs.
QUILTING 1 p.m.
“Block of the Month” class session. Fees apply; registration required. Leatherstocking Quilts, 155 Main Street, Suite B, Oneonta. (607) 4413111.
OPPORTUNITIES
1-5 p.m. “Head Start Open House.” Presented by Opportunities for Otsego. Village Library of Morris, 152 Main Street, Morris. (607) 433-8000.
MUSIC 1-2:30 p.m.
“Graphic Scoring and
Musical Improvisation Workshop with Evan Jagels.” The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 285-4111.
OPENING RECEPTION 1-4 p.m. Members Show presented by the Leatherstocking Brush and Palette Club. Edmeston Free Library, 26 East Street, Edmeston. (607) 965-8208.
ART 1-5 p.m. “HipHop and Art Hootenanny.” Art, music, food and fun. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Avenue, Oneonta.
SEWING CLASS
1:30-3 p.m. All experience levels welcome. Held every Saturday. The Green Giraffe, 179 Main Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3234.
AGING 2 p.m. “Free Seminar: Medicare.” Learn seven common mistakes seniors make when enrolling in Medicare. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Route 11, Hartwick. (607) 293-6600.
ART 2 p.m. “Exploring Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes with Curator Jenny Robb.” Fees apply; registration required. Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, (607) 5471400.
HALLOWEEN
2 p.m. Pumpkin Painting with the Cooperstown PBA. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344.
RAILROAD 4 p.m. “Afternoon Train Ride.” Richfield Springs Scenic Railway, 167 McKoons Road, Richfield Springs. (315) 717-5969.
POTTERY
4:30-6:30 p.m. “Saturday Night Out: A Pottery Immersion Workshop.” Groups or individuals learn/expand wheelthrowing skills. Tickets re-
quired. Azure Arts, 1149 Allen Lake Road, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-8899.
FILM FEST 7 p.m. “Event Horizon.” Shown in Scare-o-vision with live actors. Presented by the 2025 Worcester Wieting Theatre Fall Film Festival. Free; donations appreciated. Worcester Wieting Theatre, 168 Main Street, Worcester.
►Sun., Oct Ober 19
MEDITATION
11 a.m. “Sundays at Samye: The Practical Bodhisattva—How to Be a Spiritual Hero in Everyday Life.” Meditation, study and discussion. Held Sundays through 12/21. Samye New York, 412 Glimmerglen Road, Cooperstown. (607) 5475051.
BINGO Noon; brunch at 11 a.m. “Black Cat Awareness Month Bingo!” Benefit for Super Heroes Humane Society. Minimum food/beverage purchase applies. Brew U, 99 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 435-0035.
CHILDREN Noon to 2 p.m. “Utica Children’s Museum—Mobile Museum.” Cullen Pumpkin Farm, 587 Cullen Road, Richfield Springs. (315) 867-3878.
MUSIC 1-3 p.m. “Sunday Sessions with Brodie Coleman and Yana King.” The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111.
HALLOWEEN
1-4 p.m. “Richfield Springs Community Center’s 6th Annual Halloween Party and Community Fun Day.” Pumpkin carving, food, crafts, photo ops and more. Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-3200.
OPERA 1 p.m. “Grounded.” Live HD broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera House. Tickets required. Lunch available for purchase. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080.
ART WORKSHOP
1-4 p.m. Comic Strip Workshop for Kids ages 9-12. Tickets required. Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471400.
SCAVENGER HUNT
1-4:30 p.m. “Oneonta Rotary Road Rally Scavenger Hunt.” Fees apply; registration required. Damaschke Field, 15 James Georgeson Avenue, Oneonta. oneontarotary.
org CELEBRATION
1:30-5:30 p.m. 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII and the Cooperstown Veterans book unveiling. Includes music, food, dress for the era, and a chance to support local veterans. Proceeds benefit local veteran charities. The Pratt Hotel, 50 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown.
CONCERT 3 p.m. Balourdet Quartet with pianist Asiya Korepanova. Presented by the Friends of Music of Stamford. Suggested donation applies. First Presbyterian Church, 96 Main Street, Stamford. friendsmusic.
org
SUNDAY SPEAKER
3 p.m. “AI: What It Is and How It’s Changing Our World.” Presented by the Friends of the Village Library of Cooperstown. Free and open to the public. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344. FOOD 5 p.m. “Local Foods Local Spirits.” Tapas-style tasting bites by area chefs with local ingredients, local cider, beer and wine. Featuring music by Fast Friends. Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, 101 Main Street, Pioneer Alley, Cooperstown.
DOCUMENTARY
6-7:30 p.m. “Healthdem-
ic: Preparing for Disease Next.” Presented by the Oneonta Seventh Day Adventist Church. Free. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-8354.
RELIGION 6-8 p.m. “A Better Hope Gospel Seminar.” Presented by the Oneonta Seventh Day Adventist Church. Free. Continues each night through 10/25. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4328354.
►MOn., Oct Ober 20
GOVERNMENT 9 a.m. Otsego County Parent Committee Budget Workshops: Human Services Committee, chaired by Adrienne Martini. Budget Lab (basement), County Office Building, 197 Main Street, Cooperstown. CRAFT 11 a.m. “Pom Pom Pumpkin Coaster.” Suggested donation applies; registration appreciated. Also held at 6 p.m. on 10/22. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.
SENIOR MEALS Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal MondayFriday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $11 for guests. Today, enjoy a lunch of pizza burgers, O’Brien potatoes, carrot coins and brownies. (607) 547-6454.
• 11:30 a.m. Each Monday-Friday. Nader Towers Housing, 2 Mitchell Street, Oneonta. • Noon. Each Monday and Wednesday. Cherry Valley Facilities Corporation Café, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley. CONNECTIONS Noon. Tech Support with Eric. Solve tech dilemmas. Reservations encouraged. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com.
CONNECTIONS 1 p.m. “The Power of Whole Food Plant Based Eating.” Led by Karen Palmer. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com.
LIBRARY 1 p.m. “Home School Hangout.” Stories, activities, crafts and learning for home school families. Held each Monday. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980.
POTTERY 1:30-4:30 p.m. Open Studio. Experienced potters work on personal projects. No instruction provided. Fees apply. Held Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and 6-9 p.m. on Thursday. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@ SmithyArts.org.
FIRST AID 5:30 p.m. “CPR/AED First Aid Certification: Recertification Course.” Presented by the American Red Cross. Fees apply; registration required. Community Room, Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. (607) 547-2800 ext. 130.
COOKBOOK CLUB 6 p.m. Make delicious food from the pages of “Taste of Home Winning Recipes.” Or just bring your own recipe to share. Edmeston Free Library, 26 East Street, Edmeston. (607) 965-8208.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY 7 p.m. Meeting of the Otego Historical Society featuring a program on the Civil War prisons of the North and South presented by Mark Dye. Otego Town Hall, 3526 State Highway 7, Otego. (607) 287-4095.
►
Visit allotsego.com/
otsego-county-events-calendar/ for the full calendar
