Volume 217, No. 45
Village Approves Small Apartment Building, Permits; Trustee Bauer Submits Resignation
By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL COOPERSTOWN
At the Village of Cooperstown’s monthly board meeting on Monday, October 27, officials approved a special use application for 26 Walnut Street for four apartments, a rezone for 15 Chestnut Street for the Leatherstocking Corporation, and a variety of permits. Trustees also voted
to declare old electric vehicle chargers at Doubleday Field as surplus and to accept a budget proposal from the Town of Middlefield for fire services.
Committee reports included the information that the EMS Emergency Squad was only able to raise a crew 39 out of 59 calls during the prior month reporting period.
The board approved permits for the Halloween parade, a veterans’ parade, Alzheimer’s walk, Christmas
parade, Christmas decorating day, the winter carnival, a fireworks display, and, retroactively, a Diwali celebration.
Two public hearings were held for different land uses. A rezoning request by the Leatherstocking Corporation for 15 Chestnut Street, the former site of the Cooperstown Inn that is now used as offices, was accepted without objection or public
Otsego County Veteran Journeys to Washington on Honor Flight
By WILLIAM BELLEN
HUDSON VALLEY
Shortly before 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 80 veterans from across and beyond the Hudson Valley gathered at New York Stewart International Airport to board Mission 37 of the Hudson Valley Honor Flight program. This American Airlines charter plane was bound for Washington, D.C. to bring these veterans, their guardians, and event staff on an all-expenses paid tour of the many memorials of the nation’s capital.
The Hudson Valley Honor Flight, based out of Walden, is one of more than 100 hubs for Honor Flights across the country. On its website, the nationwide nonprofit details a vision of all American veterans receiving honor and gratitude for their service, with their primary goal being the “celebrat[tion of] America’s veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials.” Flights typically consist of 75-80 veterans, each having an accompanying guardian and some
trained event and medical staff present at all times. Honor Flight events regularly gather sizable crowds of both families and volunteers who come out to support loved ones and those who protected their freedoms.
“This place was packed. There were people wall to wall. The buses brought
them in from Montgomery with a motorcycle escort, police…It’s a very emotional, patriotic thing,” recounted Bill Bassett, an Honor Flight volunteer and Vietnam-era veteran. “When you land in Washington, there’s volunteers all over the place to help with wheelchairs. Where’s the elevator? Where’s
the bathrooms? So there’s volunteers on both ends. There’s quite an operation.”
“It’s so rewarding,” Bassett continued. “Most of [the staff] are veterans, but not all. I went on the flight last year, and it was a very patriotic, emotional day, all day long.”
Bill Kirnan, an Airforce strategic air command veteran from the Vietnam era and original Hudson Valley Honor Flight charter board member from 2012, shared Honor Flight information and his thoughts on the program.
“There’s no cost for veterans. Every veteran is accompanied by at least one guardian,” Kirnan explained. “Each of the guardians we ask for a donation of $500.00, so they pay some of it. But one of our main supporters is ShopRite. ShopRite usually gives us over $100,000.00 a year, so they are a major supporter.”
“We see them off in the morning and they’re figuring all right, we’re going for a trip. But when they come home after the full day down there, it’s rather emotional, and we have things on board
Continued on page 13
Sherri France Honored with 2025 Fetterman Award
By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL COOPERSTOWN
Sherri France, local athlete, coach, and educator, was honored by the Clark Sports Center and The Clark Foundation at an emotional ceremony at The Otesaga Resort Hotel on Wednesday, October 29. Named for Patrick C. Fetterman, longtime associate director of the ACC Gymnasium and the Clark Sports Center, the award recognizes “individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to serving Cooperstown’s youth, particularly through athletics,” according to CSC’s website.
“It honors individuals who lead
with integrity, compassion and a commitment to lifting others up,” CSC Director David Fontaine said. “This year’s recipient, Sherri France, embodies those values everywhere.”
France teaches at Worcester Central School, leads the Cooperstown JV girls basketball team, and serves as an assistant coach for Cooperstown’s girls soccer and softball teams. A former high-school athlete, France was a key player for a Cherry Valley soccer state championship win before graduating in 1984. She has also supported sports activities at the CSC.
“Beyond coaching,” said Clark Foundation Executive Director
Continued on page 13
Photo by Maria Griswold
Bill Bellen, grandfather of reporter William Bellen, is welcomed back from his journey aboard the Honor Flight, flanked on either side by American flags and well-wishers.
Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel
Sherri France, a longtime figure in the Otsego County youth athletics world, was presented with the prestigious Fetterman Award on October 29 by Doug Bauer (left) and David Fontaine.
Tour with Eco-Yotta Officials Unpacks AI Research Center Proposal
By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL
ONEONTA
hen Tirusha
WDave and Prashanth Gorantala, a married couple from New Jersey, submitted a zoning proposal to the Town of Oneonta for their company Eco-Yotta Inc.’s hillside property, they weren’t expecting such a backlash. Things haven’t devolved into “Eddington,” a recent film about a rural community torn asunder by a mayoral election in the whirlwind year of 2020 while a data center grows in the background, but the tension is rising in meetings, online and on the campaign trail.
Utilizing its existing ~1,300-square-foot garage and ~10,000square-foot barn at their property at 357 County Highway 9, Eco-Yotta plans to build a hydroponic farm managed by artificial intelligence research computers whose heat will extend
Phase one of Eco-Yotta’s project is to assess how much heat is produced and needed in their ~1,300-square-foot garage, which will not include crops. They plan to remove the partition. Left, county board candidate Michele Clapperton follows Eco-Yotta Chief Technology Officer Prashanth Gorantala, right, on a tour.
the growing season to be year-round. The computers would also be used for projects by startup businesses and local students. The developers call their project an “agri-business” and have submitted a Planned Development District zoning proposal, which would allow a greater number of employees and business uses.
Dave, the chief executive officer, and Gorantala, the chief technology officer, say their
original “data center” proposal was filed as an industrial rezone upon the recommendation of the town. Those application documents, obtained by AllOtsego, did not mention agriculture or hydroponics. Gorantala says “the narration went off the rails” because that original proposal–for a proof of concept for the heating without the crops and contained entirely within the garage–was interpreted by many as entailing new construction.
For several months, residents have been showing up to meetings en masse to oppose the proposals. Democratic candidate for town supervisor Will Rivera even drafted legislation to regulate AI data centers, making opposition core to his campaign. “Despite all the rebranding, one thing hasn’t changed: They’re asking to rezone 150 acres of residential
Phase two of Eco-Yotta’s project would transform the inside of their ~10,000-square-foot barn, currently used for soccer, into a hydroponic AI research center. They estimated computers would take up about a tenth of the space, the rest to be used for crops.
and agricultural land into a PDD, giving themselves the keys to expand if they choose,” he said at the October board meeting.
A PDD, Dave and Gorantala say, would enable broader opportunities for collaboration with other businesses and educational entities, and the town could apply restrictions on additional construction. In parallel, Eco-Yotta’s attorney, T.J. Ruane of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, contends that the renovations are already permitted under its current residential agriculture zoning as a “home occupation.” Town code defines that designation as a profession “clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes and does not change the character thereof,” and limits such businesses to one non-resident employee.
The town’s top codes
officer, Clinton Rearick, passed Ruane’s September 30 letter making the argument along to the town attorneys. Reached for comment on Monday for his assessment of Ruane’s legal arguments, Town Attorney Rob Panasci said AllOtsego could file a Freedom of Information Law records request. EcoYotta says they have yet to receive a response.
The fight is a microcosm of a growing national battle over AI and its social, environmental, and infrastructural impacts. Unlike the massive data centers cropping up across the country to power the AI boom, Dave and Gorantala argue that their project is an attempt to mitigate those negative impacts by offsetting them for agricultural purposes at a small scale, and in the long-term expanding similar projects to other farms across the region for “edge computing,” distributed
AI computer infrastructure. Many opponents see no difference, calling it a rebrand of a proposal and technology facing heightened scrutiny.
What’s the Project?
“So everyone is saying that it’s a data center,” Gorantala said while walking toward the ~10,000-square-foot barn currently used for indoor soccer. “But it is not a data center. Let me try to explain: It is a hydroponics project.”
The first phase of the project would be in their ~1,300-square-foot garage. It would be a “small setup of servers that is like, you know, maybe 30 kW,” Gorantala said. “And using that heat produced from servers, we wanted to do research: What is the best way to harvest the heat and use that to heat the house?”
For phase two, Gorantala said while gesturing toward the barn, “we want to expand it here with hydroponics,” a farming method that does not use soil and is often inside. Everyone is talking about data centers, he said, “but we have to talk about, what is the size of the data center?”
Once inside, Dave points to a corner of the barn, perhaps a tenth of its overall size.
“The servers that we’re talking about, it might take up this much space,” she said.
During the winter, Gorantala said, running a hydroponic farm would require enormous heating expenses and propane use. “Okay, how about if we remove that expense completely out of this business?” That is where the AI computers come in. In addition to providing the heat, they would automatically monitor a variety of crops and allocate resources according to their needs.
Dave says the return on investment could be as quick as two to five years depending on size.
“The servers are merely a utility for heat production” where “it serves a second purpose, because now SUNY is able to utilize the AI servers for their students.”
They aim to have as many as 20 student interns.
Eco-Yotta has been in conversation with faculty and administrators at SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College. At the October town board meeting, SUNY Oneonta Director of Community Affairs and Government Relations Caroline Williams read a statement confirming the university had reached a memorandum of understanding with Eco-Yotta to create educational opportunities, but that the university had no position or involvement on the location or construction of the facility.
Eco-Yotta hopes to have the computing power to support startups and new software ideas. Both Dave and Gorantala having a background in childcare and education, he mentions an idea they had for a childcare analytics app to track a child’s growth and devel-
Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel
Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel
Fenimore Art museum, Farm Announce Leadership Change
r. Paul S. D’Ambrosio, president and chief executive officer of Fenimore Art museum and Fenimore Farm, has announced his retirement in 2026, after more than four decades of transformative leadership, scholarship, and institutional advancement, officials announced on Thursday, October 30.
“On behalf of the board, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Paul for his remarkable service,” noted Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the Fenimore Farm board of Directors. “His steady leadership, integrity, and care for our mission have strengthened Fenimore Farm at every turn—building lasting partnerships, elevating our visitor experience, and nurturing a culture that puts people first. His leadership has made Fenimore Farm what it is today, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”
Dr. Jeff Pressman, chairman of the Fenimore Art museum board, remarked, “Paul’s tenure and dedication to the Fenimore Art museum has been extraordinary. His vision and scholarship elevated our institution and deepened its impact on both our community and the field of American art. It has been an honor to serve alongside him, and his legacy will continue to inspire all of us for years to come.”
After receiving his master’s in museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, D’Ambrosio joined Fenimore in 1983 as a folk art intern, becoming assistant curator the following year, associate curator in
(Formerly at Elks Club)
1987, and chief curator in 1996. He pursued a doctoral degree at boston University, earning a PhD in American and New England studies in 2000. His dissertation formed the basis of the acclaimed exhibition and publication “Ralph Fasanella’s America” (2001), praised by “The New York Times” and later shown at the Ellis Island Immigration museum. He has curated exhibitions nationally and internationally and authored or edited numerous books and articles on American art, from “Folk Art’s many Faces” (1987) to “America’s Rome” (2009) and, most recently, “The Elegant brush of Sturtevant J. Hamblin” (2024).
A dedicated educator, D’Ambrosio served as an adjunct professor in the Cooperstown Graduate
Program from 1983 to 2021, teaching American art and American folk art for 38 years and shaping generations of museum professionals.
D’Ambrosio was named vice president and chief curator in 2005 and became president and chief executive officer in 2011. During his tenure, he strengthened the museum’s position as a leading center for American art, expanded programming, and guided the institution through key strategic transformations.
When it came to identifying the future leadership of both institutions, D’Ambrosio looked to his former student and mentee, Joshua Campbell Torrance, who is currently serving as the executive director of The Florence Griswold
Continued on page 9
Perspectives
EDITORIaL
ELaissez-faire or Lazy?
lection Day will have come and gone by the time this editorial hits the newsstands, but we can’t help but wonder how candidates’ campaigns—or lack thereof—may or may not impact the results. We have come to expect low voter turnout for off-year elections, and history shows that the party not in control of the government tends to benefit from this. We are, however, somewhat taken aback by what appears to be a lack of effort on the part of some of those running for office this year.
First and foremost, though, let us say that we have great respect for anyone who serves in public office, regardless of their party, politics or personal beliefs. It is an often thankless job, in which few good deeds go unpunished. So thank you to those who are willing to serve, who are serving and who have served. Your hard work and dedication are appreciated.
However, we would be remiss if we did not point out that some people just didn’t seem to be in it to win it this year. Now maybe that’s because they were incumbents and felt secure in resting on their laurels. Or maybe it’s because they were new to politics and the campaign trail. Worse is the possibility that these candidates actively wish to be unaccountable to the public they seek to represent, preferring to campaign off the record and in private, allowed by their lack of publicized policy and funding commitments to govern with private commitments and the winds of political convenience.
We hope our ongoing reporting will provide some answers to those musings—campaigns end on election day; the paper does not. However, regardless of the root cause, and even given the general off-year election apathy, we were very surprised by the way things panned out.
Over the last two months, as promised in our October 9 editorial, AllOtsego has delivered to our readers the most thorough pre-election coverage that our limited resources could provide. We heard—in their own, unedited words—from candidates in contested races for the Otsego County Board of Representatives, City of Oneonta mayor, Town of Hartwick supervisor and town council, Oneonta Common Council, and Town of Oneonta supervisor and town council.
In that October 9 editorial, we wrote: “As we approach the oft-overlooked but always impactful upcoming local elections on November 4, we are excited to bring you, over the coming weeks, some of our most comprehensive electoral coverage in years. Contrary to popular belief, it is these elections that have the most immediate impact on our communities. Ensuring water is safe to drink, fires are put out, parks are clean, housing is safe, roads are paved, and so much more, are all issues most directly addressed by the people elected to village, town, and county government. Yet these races are almost always decided by a small fraction of those who show up for presidential elections. We hope that by giving these races the attention they deserve, with whatever resources our small newsroom has, more of our fellow Otsego County residents will cast informed ballots for the candidates of their choice.”
We are pleased to have been able to live up to our own expectations, having provided a forum by which those running for office could introduce their platforms and state their case. We are not pleased, however, by what seems to be a lack of interest on the part of some candidates to represent themselves. For instance:
• Multiple candidates invited to debates sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area either declined to participate or didn’t respond to the league at all.
• Some candidates were going to opt out entirely of AllOtsego’s rather, let’s face it, softball Q&A, choosing in the end to simply skip the questions they found uncomfortable.
• When searching online for candidates’ platforms, campaign materials and contact information, it quickly became apparent that many of these materials were not readily available. We had to be clever, for instance, in making contact with a number of the challengers running for office for the first time, many of whom did not even have a dedicated Facebook page.
• Otsego County 7th District incumbent David Bliss, who remained on the ballot but had dropped out of the race, gave no official notice of this until Monday, October 20 when he called our office and officially endorsed James McCartney. Carolyn Marks also dropped out of her race for Oneonta Common Council, with no formal announcement of which we are aware.
• And, perhaps most disappointing of all, was the fact that out of the five contested races for the Otsego County Board of Reps (not counting Bliss and the 7th District) only one incumbent—Michelle Catan of the 4th District—even replied to our Q&A invitation. Throughout this process, we reached out to all candidates the same way: electronically. Our two e-mails to sitting Otsego County representatives James Powers, Richard Brockway, Jennifer Mickle and Donald Scanlon—all Republicans—went unanswered. We even checked with the clerk of the board to make sure their e-mails were working and were assured that they were. Makes you wonder how often our representatives actually check their government e-mails…
By the time this paper publishes, we will know whether this “let the chips fall where they may” approach to our local elections—at a juncture when Otsego County’s governing board could skew Democrat for the first time in many years—has harmed the Republicans or if they were, indeed, secure in their seats for another two years. Regardless, we can’t help but wonder if the attitude of many of today’s political candidates—both incumbents and challengers, conservative or liberal—is “laissez-faire” or just plain lazy.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
“The Freeman’s Journal” welcomes letters to the editor that reflect the writer’s thoughts on an article or other item appearing in the paper. They must include the writer’s name, address, e-mail and telephone/ mobile number; the opinions expressed must be the writer’s own. Hostile, offensive, factually incorrect or excessively inflammatory content will not be published. Preferred length is no more than 250 words. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit letters for clarity and space. Please send letters to: info@allotsego.com.
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Board Tara Barnwell, Faith Gay, Michael Moffat, Elinor Vincent, Darla M. Youngs
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TERRY BERKSON
LIFE SKETCHES
Coon in the Coop
The other day I finished weeding the garden and walked out to the chicken coop to water and feed my birds and collect their eggs. Disappointment hit me when I opened the door and found a dead chicken sprawled out on the floor with a leg half chewed off. To provide early foraging, I had left the chute leading to the yard open overnight as I had been doing for the last several days. Obviously, some critter had taken advantage of my carelessness. It’s been about three years since a weasel had decapitated one of my hens and made off with the head. I say weasel, not because I saw it, but because the crime fits that animal’s MO.
Anyway, I drew a chalk line around the murdered chicken, picked it up with a shovel and headed for one of several vacant woodchuck holes in a hedgerow in back of the barn. The holes are unoccupied due to the efforts of my neighbor’s son, who picked off seven unwelcome diggers last year. I was thinking of how to mount an investigation to find the animal that had committed “henicide.”
Back in the coop, I lifted the outside door to the laying box and was about to reach in when I noticed that there was something in there, apparently sitting on the eggs. A chicken, I thought. I bent to look inside and came face to face with a raccoon. He had a matter-of-fact expression on his face, as if he were asking, “What, I can’t hang out for a while?”
The first thing I thought was, “Coon in the daytime, maybe he’s rabid.” It was a good thing I hadn’t reached in without looking. I let the door slide closed and went outside to shut the hatch leading to the yard. All the chickens were outside, so the coon was alone and locked in the coop. I was due for a dental appointment in West Winfield in less than an hour. There wasn’t much I could do in that short amount of time
Continued on page 11
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR … IN THEIR OPINION
Nelson Is Not Antisemitic
Thank you to James Dean for clarifying Wriley Nelson’s article for me [“Israel’s Grip on the U.S. is the End of International Law,” published October 2, 2025]. It was difficult to read in more than just one way.
I would like to make it clear, as well, since some folks don’t seem to know the difference, that antisemitism is not at all the same thing as anti-Israelism, which means the government (as in Netanyahu versus the people). Many Israeli Jews do not support their leader, just as many of our citizens do not support our leader.
Carole Roos Cherry Valley
Extending Thanks for Their Help
The Cobleskill Fire Department would like to express our deepest gratitude to the following agencies for their help and support during our recent responses to the two structure fires in the village. Your professionalism, devotion
to helping others, and willingness to answer the call for help are appreciated and embodies the true meaning of mutual aid: the Cobleskill Rescue Squad, Cobleskill FD Auxiliary, Cobleskill Police, Water and Codes Departments, Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office and Communications Division Dispatchers, Schoharie County Fire Coordinators Office, Schoharie County FAST, Schoharie County EMS Branch, Schoharie County FIVES Team, Richmondville FD, Carlisle FD, Middleburgh FD, Central Bridge FD, Schoharie FD, Schoharie FD Support Services, Rural Grove FD, Worcester FD, Red Cross, NYS State Police, New York State University Police Department at SUNY Cobleskill, and the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
Ben Righi Fire Chief Cobleskill Fire Department Council Has Said ‘No’ to RSS
No, not every resident has said “no” to Rehabilitation Support Services in the city.
Many have shown support for RSS. There’s a whole group
dedicated to it, and you’ve likely seen their signs around town. In fact, it was the City of Oneonta Common Council who said “no” to RSS and doubled down on it. In May, the Common Council was asked to approve the sale of a vacant lot—“The Old Ford Building.” They were asked to sell it to RSS for a project the mayor claimed “would be the perfect spot” for low-income, mixed-use housing. When asked to sell to RSS, the council voted 5-3 not to. With a communal space on the ground floor of a beautifully designed building, which fit the Comprehensive Plan, the council said “no.” With an offer of $477,000.00 and planned PILOT agreement, the council said “no.” They didn’t say “no” to the residents or business owners of Oneonta. They said “no” to RSS.
To drive this home, on October 21, while residents responded to RSS plans to develop on River Street, the council hosted Grow America. A corporation that, for the low price of $60,000.00$120,000.00, will design and develop site plans for 27
Continued on page 12
Columnists and Contributing Writers
Bill Bellen, Terry Berkson, Monica Calzolari, Rachel Frick Cardelle, Richard deRosa, Caspar Ewig, Maria Griswold, Chris Kjolhede, Larry Malone, Cassandra Miller, Wriley Nelson, Tom Shelby, Gayane Torosyan, Teresa Winchester, Jamie Zvirzdin
Photo by John Purcell
The perpetrator of the “henicide,” caught red-handed.
Tom HeiTz/SHARoN STUART
185 YEARS AGO
Died in this village of consumption, on the evening of the 24th, ultimo, Mrs. Phebe Tracy, widow of Mr. Elisha Tracy, in the 50th year of her age. She has long been a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and eminently adorned her profession with those Christian graces enumerated by the Apostle, among which patience and meekness shone with peculiar luster. She lived the life, and died the death of a Christian, leaving an interesting family of children and a large circle of friends to believe that what is their loss is her gain. Yet, in this misjudging world they picture death a fearful tyrant—O’ believe it not! It is an angel beautiful as light that watches o’er the sorrowing spirit here—and when its weary pilgrimage is done, unbars the heavy gates of everlasting life, and vanishes forever.
110 YEARS AGO
November 2, 1840
In Our Town: Mrs. F. Ambrose Clark is among those who have entries at the Horse Show which opens this week at Madison Square Garden. Mr. Clark, as usual, is among the list of entrants.
More the 30 members of Otsego Chapter D.A.R. attended the monthly meeting held at the home of Miss C.C. Murdock on Chestnut Street, Friday afternoon. The feature of the meeting Friday was a paper entitled “Phases of German Life” by Mrs. Waldo Cory, who has recently returned from an extended stay in that country.
November 3, 1915
60 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Ida H. Wilcox of Cherry Valley has purchased Woodside Hall at the eastern end of Main Street from Walter W. Stokes, Jr., of Cooperstown and New York City. She plans to open a home for convalescents there sometime prior to the first of the year. Mrs. Wilcox has operated a similar home in Cherry Valley for the past five years. She said that extensive renovations will be made to the property and a new heating plant installed. Woodside Hall was built in 1829 by Eben B. Morehouse after he purchased a few acres from the pioneer Bowers family on the slopes of Mt. Vision. A reversal in Morehouse family fortunes forced a sale of the residence in 1836 to Samuel W. Beall. However, Morehouse reacquired the property in 1849. In 1856, Joseph L. White, a prominent New York lawyer, purchased the property. White, who was involved with canal construction in Nicaragua, was killed by an assassin and Woodside Hall became the property of John F. Scott, whose family was among early settlers in Springfield. Stokes purchased the property from Scott in 1895.
November 3, 1965
35 YEARS AGO
As part of a fund drive to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research, a mini walk-a-thon has been designed for young children who will collect on pledges made by sponsors based on the number of laps that are walked, hopped, or skipped to music around the classroom. The children at Sugerbuns, a play group on Railroad Avenue under the care of Mary Turi, Sugarbuns founder and her assistant Jackie Young, are between the ages of 18 months to 5 years.
November 7, 1990
Foundation Invests $700K+ To Meet Needs
As Otsego County needs grew in 2025, the Community Foundation of Otsego County answered the call. Including resources from our donor-advised funds, we invested over $700,000.00 in our community. This includes two grant rounds, totaling $235,000.00, which targeted family and child welfare, with a focus on food insecurity and the needs of our county arts organizations, which add so much to our lives.
Every year, Otsego County children need winter coats and outerwear. The number of our kids that aren’t equipped for winter is unsettling. Last year, CFOC awarded more than $15,000.00 in grants to Opportunities for Otsego, the Unadilla Community Food Pantry, and Catholic Charities of Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie Counties to buy new winter clothes for more than 300 children.
Summer needs are different, but no less important. A $5,000.00 grant made to Community Arts Network of Oneonta supplied scholarships for attendees of the Summer Arts Program for Kids (ages 6-10 years). The kids had a great time and the families were ecstatic. “Thank you so much!” said a guardian who received scholarship funding for their youths. “I was really struggling to afford things for them to do, as I still work five days a week. You have no idea how much this is appreciated.”
You, too, can help CFOC support our Otsego County nonprofits in multiple ways. Make a gift before the year ends to support grants we make to address pressing needs. You can make your gift securely at our website, cfotsego.org. If you are 73 or older, and are required to take a distribution from your IRA, you can direct that amount or a portion of it to CFOC and reduce your adjusted gross income. This year is also a great year to consider establishing a donor-advised fund. In 2026, tax law will change, reducing the potential
By MERL REAGLE
Definitials… Let
deduction you receive. Setting up a fund this year means you receive the full tax benefit and can then distribute gifts to your favorite charities in the years to come. Many local donors set up this type of fund with us to streamline their giving.
We’re all in this together, and making sure we protect and support our neighbors is more important than ever. The Community Foundation of Otsego County is committed to strengthening our community and nonprofits. Please help us do this important work.
Jeff Katz is the executive director of the Community Foundation of Otsego County.
20 YEARS AGO
November 4, 2005
Photo courtesy of the Community Foundation of Otsego County students at the 2025 CAno summer Arts Program for Kids.
CCS Football Season Ends
COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown football ended its season with a 54-20 loss to Morrisville-Eaton in the quarterfinals on Saturday, November 1. Senior Thomas Hellenthal scored on a nearly 50-yard run. Senior quarterback Brenin Dempsey ended his career with a touchdown and a scoring pass to Sawyer Bridger. The Hawkeyes finished the season 4-5. ME will host three-seed Waterville in the semifinals on Friday, November 7.
Ensemble Destined for NYC
ONEONTA—The Hartwick College Wind Ensemble will make its second appearance on the main stage at Carnegie Hall on Monday, March 23. They will arrive in the city the night before for a pre-performance clinic at the Westin Hotel Times Square. The ensemble features more than 40 performers, including students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members. Contributions to the music department to assist with the trip are welcome.
Bernat, Ratinov To Perform
STAMFORD—Friends of Music of Stamford, NY will present acclaimed chamber musicians Nina Bernat, double bass, and Anthony Ratinov, piano, in a concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. They will perform works by Beethoven, Janáček, Achron and Brahms. The concert will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 96 Main Street. There is a suggested donation of $15.00 per person, or $10.00 for seniors and students. No advance sales or reservations will be made, and only cash and check are accepted.
Legion Announces Vets Event
GILBERTSVILLE—The Gilbertsville American Legion Auxiliary will host its public Veterans’ Day Ceremony at the Butternut Valley Grange Hall, 7 Bloom Street in Gilbertsville, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 9. After opening ceremonies and remarks by the Boy Scouts and village Mayor Aidan Woishnis, Gary Flaherty of the Oneonta Veterans’ Outreach Center will deliver the keynote address. There will be patriotic music and light refreshments. Applications for “Hometown Heroes” banners honoring a veteran will be available. For more information, call (607) 783-2232.
Church Potluck Is Saturday
FLY CREEK—Fly Creek United Methodist Church, 852 County Highway 26, will hold a community potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 8. All community members are invited to bring a dish to pass, a friend and a game to share.
Garden Club Meets Monday
ONEONTA—The Oneonta Garden Club will meet at St. James Episcopal Church, 305 Main Street, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 10. Michelle Peters of Ambiance Florist in Albany will demonstrate creative and practical tips for incorporating seasonal flowers and avoiding the use of floral foam in holiday decor. Several of Peters’ award-winning arrangements will be raffled. Light refreshments will be served.
Kids’ Sewing Class Announced
COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association will host a two-day holiday sewing class for children ages 7-12 from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7. Betsy Foster will teach fundamental sewing techniques and help participants create holiday gifts and decorations. All supplies are included. The class is $90.00, with a $5.00 discount for CAA members. For more information, visit cooperstownart.com.
Waller Wins Another WAC Title
WASHINGTON, DC—The Gonzaga College High School Men’s Soccer Team won its second consecutive and 18th overall Washington (DC) Catholic Athletic Conference title with a 1-0 victory over The Heights Men’s Catholic School on Sunday, November 2. Head Coach Scott Waller, CCS Class of ’93, is the son of former Cooperstown Mayor Carol Waller and husband Bill. Scott’s son Charlie, a midfielder for Gonzaga, was named WCAC CoPlayer of the Year and All-Star.
Veterans’ Parade Is Tuesday
COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Veterans Club will welcome 25 veterans from the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11. Following the ceremony, a parade will start at 60 Main Street at 11 a.m. and proceed to the World War I memorial on Pine Street. All visiting and local veterans are invited to the Hall of Fame for a presentation after the parade.
Churches To Celebrate Nicaea
ONEONTA—Two Oneonta churches, St. Innocent’s Orthodox Mission and Atonement Lutheran Church, will hold a joint worship service to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea on Sunday, November 9. Called in AD 325 by the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine, the council ironed out doctrinal disputes in early Christianity and produced the Nicene Creed, a basic
statement of faith shared by most of the world’s Christian denominations. The two congregations will gather at Atonement, 1 Center Street, at 2 p.m. for a Service of Word and Prayer, approved by the Lutheran-Orthodox Dialog Joint Committee. Father Micah Breland of St. Innocent’s will preach and an Orthodox cantor will sing a psalm. Pastor Paul Messner of Otsego County Lutheran Parish will conduct the liturgy. A brief reception will be held after the service. All are welcome.
LWV Presents Civics Lecture
COOPERSTOWN—League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area will host Lindsey Cormack, PhD, for a talk titled “How to Raise a Citizen” at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 6. Held at Cooperstown Coworks, 6 Doubleday Court, the talk is free and open to the public. Dr. Cormack is an author, political science professor and director of the Diplomacy Lab at Stevens Institute of Technology.
Holiday Bazaar Is This Weekend
GILBERTSVILLE—The Major’s Inn will host its Joyful Traditions Holiday Bazaar, the final event of its 2025 season, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8. Besides holiday-themed items, the market will feature local crafts, jewelry, glassware, china, silver and baked goods. Lunch will be available for purchase starting at 11 a.m. Proceeds will support restoration and maintenance of the Tudor-style historic inn, which is located at 118 Marion Avenue in Gilbertsville. For more information, call (607) 783-2967.
‘Salute to Vets’ Set for Sunday
ONEONTA—The Oneonta Community Concert Band will perform in honor of veterans at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 9. Made possible by funding from the Otsego County Events Grants Program, the concert is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. Conductor Andrew D. Pease will lead the group through a selection of traditional and contemporary patriotic music. For more information, visit the OCCB Facebook page.
Holiday Art Show Returns
COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Art Association’s beloved Holiday Show and Sale will return to the galleries at 22 Main Street from November 15 to December 23. It will feature a wide variety of local art and handcrafted treasures. The “Dinner’s On Us” raffle drawing, a week’s worth of local gift certificates valued at $400.00, will accept tickets throughout the month, with the drawing scheduled for 4 p.m. during the Adorn-ADoor Wreath Festival on Saturday, November 29. The show will begin with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, November 14. For more information, call (607) 547-9777 or visit cooperstownart.com.
Boys Lose in Semifinals
COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown boys soccer reached the end of its season with a 2-1 loss to top-seeded Bishop Ludden-Grimes in the Section III Class C semifinal on Wednesday, October 29. Hayden Spencer scored late in the first half on an assist by Shane Bradley. Cooper Coleman made three saves in the net. The Hawkeyes finished the season 12-5-2 and will lose a significant 11 seniors to graduation.
Talk on Vets’ Brain Health Set
ALBANY—The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services will host a free public Chat and Chew webinar titled “Mind Matters: Veterans and Brain Health,” from 1-2 p.m. on Thursday, November 15. Moderated by Dr. Lessie Branch, the interactive session will discuss cognition, memory, research and other matters related to veterans’ mental health care, as well as the work of the Nathan S. Kline Institute. Registration is available at https://meetny-gov.webex.com/webappng/sites/ meetny-gov/meeting/register/a778ee35a66b4e4e ac5164def277de57?ticket=4832534b00000005ea 29244a5001afd0f63c1f97c513d95ff76497262ef0 e435fe5602d90f62f0c2×tamp=17622809535 76&RGID=r3c074fc92b4d35a4edf66c7719ca2aaa &isAutoPopRegisterForm=false.
Book Sale Collection is Nov. 8
COOPERSTOWN—Friends of the Village Library of Cooperstown will hold the first of two collections for its winter book sale from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 8. Donations of used books, DVDs and audiobook CDs will be accepted at the Fair Street entrance of the Village Hall. Outdated travel guides, dictionaries, encyclopedias and textbooks will not be accepted.
Lung Cancer Screenings Slated
COOPERSTOWN—In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Bassett Healthcare Network will hold two awareness and screening events. The first will take place at FoxCare Center in Oneonta from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12 and feature a raffle basket to raise money for the Bassett Cancer Institute expansion project. The next will be held in the Clinic Building Lobby, 1 Atwell Road in Cooperstown, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, November 14. In addition
to screenings, both events will feature information on lung cancer and related community resources.
FoxCare
To Hold Blood Drive
ONEONTA—The American Red Cross will run a blood drive at Bassett’s FoxCare Center, 1 FoxCare Drive in Oneonta, from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 6. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments may be made in advance at 1-800-733-2767, redcrossblood.org or by using the American Red Cross Blood Donor app.
Sanctus Real Concert Planned
OTEGO—Popular Christian music group Sanctus Real will perform a concert at Otsego Christian Academy, 353 Main Street in Otego, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 15. The group has recorded eight number-one songs and 19 top-10 hits, with more than two million singles sold. Concert tickets are available at otsegochristian.org, the Academy’s Facebook page or by calling (607) 988-0141.
Pathfinder To Host Workshop
EDMESTON—The Kennedy Willis Center on Down Syndrome, 3 Chenango Road in Edmeston, will host a caregiver workshop at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 13. It will feature a 30-minute screening of the PBS film “Caregiving,” followed by a panel discussion of experts on resources for local caregivers. The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. Earlier in the day, interested caregivers may sign up to participate in the Virtual Dementia Tour, an adaptive experience that provides greater insight into the challenges faced by people living with dementia. To inquire about VDT, contact (607) 965-8377.
Certification Workshops Slated
OTSEGO COUNTY—Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties will host a pair of workshops on certifications that can enhance farm profitability, from 10 a.m. to noon at 287 Main Street in Schoharie on November 13 and from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 123 Lake Street in Cooperstown on November 14. Space is limited; register at reg.cce.cornell.edu/cert_schots_243.
Harman To Discuss Lake History
HARTWICK—Dr. Willard Harman of the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station will present a talk on the history of Otsego Lake conservation efforts at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 15. It will be held at Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Route 11 in Hartwick, and is free and open to the public.
Recycling Program Is Saturday
HARTWICK—The Hartwick Conservation Advisory Committee will hold a free recycling education program from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 8. Held at the Hartwick Municipal Dropoff Center, 103 Town Drive, it will demonstrate proper recycling and disposal techniques for all interested community members.
Griffin Wins Steinholding Title
ONEONTA—Trout Creek resident Joel Griffin, 52, won the 2025 New York State Steinholding Championship and will represent the state at the inaugural US Steinholding Association in Cincinnati on November 22. This Bavarian contest of strength, known in German as Masskrugstemmen, challenges participants to hold a one-liter stein of beer or water in front of them with a locked elbow and level arm as long as possible. It was Griffin’s second consecutive state title, and follows hard on his 2025 Hofbräu National Championship victory in New York’s Central Park in September. For more information, visit ussteinholding.com.
Coop XC Races Harvest Classic
HAGAMAN—Cooperstown cross country traveled north of Amsterdam for the Harvest Classic Invitational at Bob’s Trees on Saturday, November 1. Although the girls could not field a full team, Evelyn Rhodes finished second in a field of 65 runners with a time of 18:05. Courtney McCarthy finished sixth in 19:19. Olivia Temp (19th, 20:55) and Maggie Heavner (39th, 23:26) completed the Cooperstown squad. The boys team finished 11th of 14 complete teams. Owen Capozza Flannigan led the scoring in 34th place with a time of 18:01. Brendan Heavner was 49th in 18:39, followed by Elias MacLeish (56th, 19:04). George Riesenfeld (86th, 21:02) and Taylor Kepner (97th, 23:14) rounded out the team. Cooperstown will compete in the Sectional Championships and State Qualifiers at Mount Markham on Saturday, November 9. The Class D boys will start at 10:40 a.m. and the girls will race at 1:30 p.m.
Gas Prices Remain Lower
UTICA—New York State’s average price of gasoline held steady at $3.10 per gallon over the week ending Monday, November 2, AAA Northeast announced. Demand strengthened by more than half a million barrels a day to 8.9 million, but remains about 200,000 barrels per day below the figure for this time last year. Oil prices held steady and net exports increased, lowering domestic inventories to nearly three percent below the five-year seasonal average. The New York price is nine cents lower than last month and eight cents lower than this week last year. To view the full report, visit gasprices.aaa.com.
James A. Broe
1951-2025
ONEONTA—James
Alfonsos Broe, 97, passed away October 20, 2025. Jim was born September 26, 1928 in Oneonta, the son of Christopher and Rose (Mangan) Broe.
James married Joyce Marie McLaud on April 14, 1951.
Jim and Joyce owned and operated The Broe Dairy Farm in Colliersville, New York from 1947-1993. They were honored in continuing his Irish family’s farming legacy.
Jim and Joyce, along with all their children, took over a small family farm and built what would become one of the largest dairy operations in Otsego County.
James was a Milford Town Planning Board chairman, and a New York State Eastern Milk Producers delegate for Milford. He was on the Board of Directors at Oneonta Savings and Loan and A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital. He was a member of the Oneonta Rotary Club, where he served as president, and the Oneonta Elks Club. He was an active member of the Executive Service Corps Otsego Delaware Inc. He and his family were active members of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and Parish in Oneonta, where
Jim served as an usher, and volunteered for a host of jobs including as an occasional PE teacher for his children’s school. He was proud to have established the James and Joyce Broe Family Scholarship for SUNY College at Oneonta.
Jim was happiest on his tractor in the fields or in the barn with his girls (the cows) and his sons, 60s music playing on the AM dial, or Joe Cambell on Sunday mornings with Glen Miller and his orchestra. He loved his family, from Sunday softball games to Disney World and Christmas in New York with all the grandchildren. His is a legacy of tradition and family that lives on through the annual Broe Family Reunion each year.
He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Joyce Marie (McLaud) Broe; his eight children, Dennis Broe (Sri), Jeffrey Broe (Jane), Colleen (Doug) Tuomey, Patrick Broe (Kim), Jeanne (Jeff) Salinger, James Broe (Debbie), Margaret (Geary) FitzPatrick, and John Broe (Kristin); 21 grandchildren; 22 greatgrandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Joseph Broe (Lorraine), Gerald Broe (Ruth), Thomas Broe (Delores); and his sisters, Mary (Joseph) Otvos, Gertrude (Thomas) Natoli, and Elizabeth “Betty” (James) Priore.
Calling hours/visitation were held on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz Street, Oneonta. A funeral mass was held on Monday, November 3, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 39 Walnut Street, Oneonta.
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
OBITUARIES
Burial followed in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Oneonta, New York, in the family plot overlooking the family farm at the junction of the Schenevus Creek and the Susquehanna River.
Donations may be sent in memory of James Broe to Oneonta Dollars for Scholars (https://oneonta. dollarsforscholars. org/oneonta.dollarsforscholars@gmail. com), Oneonta Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 1083, 37 Center Street, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.lhpfuneralhome. com.
Feury Jr. 1943-2025
COOPERSTOWN—
Theodore Patrick “Tim” Feury Jr. passed away Monday afternoon, October 27, 2025, at his home in Cooperstown. He was 82.
Born March 4, 1943 in Utica to Theodore Patrick Feury and Kathryn Marsh, Tim’s father missed his birth as he was serving on the USS Saratoga in the Pacific Ocean as a naval officer during World War II. After the war, his father resumed his career as a Cooperstown attorney.
Raised in Cooperstown, Tim graduated from Cooperstown Central School (CCS) with the Class of 1961. His first job, in high school, was custodian at the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was in the first pair of students to be awarded the Scriven
Scholarship (now called the Clark Foundation Scholarship). At CCS he served as the president of his senior class, and was a member of the 1961 undefeated CCS Redskins basketball team. Interesting to note: Tim, and the rest of the starting five, all wore glasses, and were coached by Paul Lambert, father of the current Coach Lambert. Tim’s team was inducted into the CCS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008, the year it was formed.
After graduating high school, Tim attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics, and was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity and the sports editor of the school newspaper, “The Hill.” He later earned his master’s in statistics from the University of Chicago.
On Sunday, March 10, 1968, Tim married Dianne Ellen Graham in a ceremony at the Cooperstown United Methodist Church.
His career began as a Commissioned Health Services Officer, Lieutenant Commander, Statistician at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, during the Vietnam War.
He then launched his long actuarial career at The Hartford Insurance Group in Hartford, Connecticut, continued at Security Mutual Life in Binghamton and retired as assistant vice president/chief actuary from Blue Cross Blue Shield in Syracuse. Over the years, Tim always held the position of pitcher on his company softball teams.
Tim loved to travel, hike, cross country ski, play tennis and golf, attend symphony concerts, and watch basketball and baseball, always remaining a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. He continued to play basketball into his
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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
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later years and finished his career in the men’s league at the Clark Sports Center. He was also proud of his accomplishment of driving the 18th green at the Leatherstocking Golf Course (during a winter’s deep freeze).
Tim was an active member in the Chenango Bridge Methodist Church, Manlius United Methodist Church and the Cooperstown United Methodist Church, serving as treasurer of the two latter. Tim served on the board of the Lakewood Cemetery Association and was a faithful member of the Cooperstown Methodist Men’s breakfast group. In addition, in retirement Tim became a Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cooperstown.
Tim is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Dianne, of Cooperstown; their son, Theodore P. “Ted” Feury III of Cooperstown and his children, Charlotte Dianna, Theodore William, and Timothy Patrick Feury; their daughter, Margit Kathryn “Meg” Feury Ragland and her husband, George Arthur “Gar” Ragland Jr. of Asheville, North Carolina and their children, Kathryn Kessler, George Ridge, and Graham Arthur Ragland; and a sister, Ellen Feury Levine and her husband, Harry, of Princeton, New Jersey and Cooperstown. Tim was also much loved by his brother-s and sisters-in-law and dozens of nieces and nephews.
A private graveside service will be held in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown, where Tim will be laid to rest near his parents.
Dianne, Ted and Meg would enjoy hearing or receiving written stories about Tim, delivered to 4 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, or via e-mail.
Expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial donations may be made to Cooperstown United Methodist Church (ctownumc@gmail. com), Spina Bifida Foundation of NYS (https://sbanys.org), or Mercy Medical Angels (https://www.mercymedical.org).
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown. Frances Kirby Forster 1934-2025
COOPERSTOWN— Frances Kirby Forster, loving wife and mother,
155 Main Street Worcester, nY 607-397-9711 www.hellerskinnerfh.com
passed away early Saturday morning, October 4, 2025, at the age of 90 at Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.
Fran was born on December 9, 1934 in Mickleton, New Jersey, moving with her family to Seaview, Virginia, then back to Mickleton in 1941, and finally to Westville, New York in 1945, where the family lived and worked on a dairy farm. In 1952, she graduated from Milford High School and then attended Albany Business College. She worked for William Sherman, director of the Otsego County Probation Office, as a secretary before marrying Henry Forster in 1955. They lived in Oneonta for three years, where Henry attended Hartwick College and Fran worked as a secretary at the Homer Folks Hospital. In 1958, they moved to Sodus, where Henry taught the sciences. Fran attended Oswego State College for two years, then two years at Oneonta State College, earning a degree in childhood education.
In 1962, the couple moved to Fly Creek Valley on a 97-acre farm, raising Christmas trees, making fishing lures and selling fishing bait. Henry taught science at Edmeston Central School and Fran taught kindergarten for 19 years at the Richfield Springs Central School.
In 1963 and 1966, two sons were born, namely Eric Henry and Mark Alexander. Mark passed away in 1989 and Eric in 2014.
Frances and Henry retired in 1985 and spent winters in Florida, where they fished and swam in the Suwannee River and the Gulf of Mexico.
Henry passed away in 2013. In 2021, Fran moved to the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home.
Fran was a great lover of music and art. In her younger years, she enjoyed painting, playing the piano and singing. Later, from 1999 to 2014, she helped her son, Eric, on the family’s organic farm, raising vegetables for local farmers’ markets.
Her brother, Allan, and sister, Alva, are both deceased. Fran is survived by her nephew, Jeffery Kirby (Debra, deceased), their daughters Kaelin Kirby and Alexandra Scammell (Bradley), and their daughter Gianna Scammell; also the family of her nephew, Timothy Kirby (deceased) (Denise) and his sons Wesley, Daniel, and Thomas; also sister-in-law Dorothy Forster and daughter Michele (Jason) and their children, Hannah and Owen, and sisterin-law Annaliese Bettiol (Art, deceased) and children Michael (deceased), David, Daniel, and Karen.
Frances’ ashes will be scattered around the family’s oak tree, joining her husband and two sons. Arrangements were with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Funeral Home
Photo provided JAMES A. BROE
Photo provided THEODORE P. FEURY JR. Theodore P.
Fenimore
Continued from page 3
When it came to identifying the future leadership of both institutions, D’Ambrosio looked to his former student and mentee, Joshua Campbell Torrance, who is currently serving as the executive director of The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Torrance will join the Fenimore in January 2026 as senior vice president, working alongside the current administration until the official retirement of D’Ambrosio during the summer of 2026.
LegaL nOtice
Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY
Name:
MOMMAS MARKET LLC.
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 23 September 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 216 Bentley Oaks Blvd., Auburndale, FL 33823. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalNov.6
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY
Name:
SACRED MEN SING LLC.
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 29 August 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 PO Box 1184, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
6LegalNov.6
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY
Name:
STERLING BUR LLC.
D’Ambrosio remarked, “I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished throughout my tenure. I am confident that under Joshua’s
leadership the future of Fenimore Art Museum and Fenimore Farm are in good hands. There is no one I trust more with the stewardship of two places that have meant so much and been such a large part of my life, for 42 years.”
“This is a home-
LEGALS
coming for me,” Torrance commented. “I graduated from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and began my career under Dr. D’Ambrosio in 1998 as a curatorial assistant. Paul has been a mentor and friend to me throughout my career, and I am honored to have been selected as the new president and chief executive officer. I look forward to working alongside him and ensuring a smooth transition for all the stakeholders. I look forward to building upon what he started.”
6LegalNov.6
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Notice of formatioN of DISCO MUFFIN LLC
Arts of Org. filed with SSNY 8/26/2025
Otsego Co. SSNY design agent for process & shall mail to 41 STATE ST, # 112, ALBANY, NY, 12207 General Purpose
6LegalNov.6
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Notice of formatioN of
Charming Familiar Studio LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/02/2025.
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:
Charming Familiar Studio LLC, P.O. Box 213, Gilbertsville, NY 13776. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalNov.13
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Notice of formatioN of W&M Unlimited, LLC.
Filed 7/23/25. Cty: Otsego. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to 499 St. Rt. 51, Gilbertsville, NY 13776. Purp: any lawful. 6LegalNov.13
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Notice of formatioN of SLUGGERS LLC
Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/26/25.
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 NORTHWEST REGISTERED AGENT LLC, 418
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 23 September 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 58 Chestnut St. Apt. B, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.
Broadway, Ste. N, Albany, NY 12207
Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalNov.13
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Notice of formatioN of Fireflies Teaching Roundtable
Articles of Organization filed with the New York Secretary of State on May 26, 2025. Office location: Otsego County. The New York Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and is directed to forward service of process to 19 Woodside Avenue, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.
6LegalNov.20
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Notice of orgaNizatioN of Boldest Move LLC under Section 203 of the Limited Liability Company Law.
1. The name of the limited liability company is Boldest Move LLC.
2. Articles of Organization of Boldest Move LLC were filed with the New York Secretary of State on September 12, 2025.
3. The county within this state in which the office of the limited liability company is to be located is Otsego County.
4. The street address of the principal business location of the limited liability company is: 87 Jomar Lane, Olivebridge, NY 12461.
5. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the limited liability company upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address within or without this state to which the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the limited liability company served upon him or her is: Boldest Move LLC, 87 Jomar Lane, Olivebridge, NY 12461.
6. The limited liability company is organized to carry on all lawful activities.
6LegalNov.20
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Notice of formatioN of
American Destiny, LLC, filed with the Secretary of State on September 2, 2025. Office Location is in Otsego County.
The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.
The Secretary of State shall mail process to P.O. Box 264, Cooperstown, New York 13326. Purpose: any lawful activity.
6LegalNov.27
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Notice of formatioN of Limited LiabiLitY compaNY:
The name of the limited liability company is: DMAJ Holdings, LLC (the “Company”).
The date of filing of the Articles of Organization of the Company with the Secretary of State was September 5, 2025.
The county in which the principal place of business of the Company shall be located is Otsego County.
The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the Company upon whom process against it may be served.
The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the Company to DMAJ Holdings, LLC, PO Box 614, Morris, NY 13808. The purpose of the business of the Company is any lawful business purpose.
6LegalDec.4
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Notice of formatioN of John Henle Architecture, LLC, a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)
filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on July 23, 2025. NY office Location: OTSEGO County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the PLLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served upon him/her to
The PLLC: C/O
John Henle Architecture, LLC, 1736 Sweet Hill Road, Milford, NY 13807.
Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.4
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY
Name:
HATCH OF NEW YORK LLC.
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 25 September 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 969 Alexandra Drive, Corona, CA 92881. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS Laws. 6LegalDec.4
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Notice of formatioN of Renee Wellenstein, DO, PLLC.
Filed 10/6/25. Cty: Otsego. SSNY desig. for process & shall mail to 109 Pioneer St., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purp: any lawful. 6LegalDec.11
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Notice of formatioN of Redpoint Design/Build LLC.
Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 10/27/25. Office location: Otsego County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 5934 State Hwy. 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: all lawful purposes. 6LegalDec.11
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Notice of pUbLic HeariNg
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of
Cooperstown will hold the following public hearing in the Village Office Building, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York on Monday, November 17th, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard, to discuss the following:
Proposed Local Law No. 11 of 2025 - Amend Section § 270-14Parking reserved in designated locations - Doubleday remove EV charging and Fowler Lot remove buses and RVs
Any resident of the Village of Cooperstown is entitled to be heard upon said local at such public hearing. Disabled citizens, who require assistance in attending said public hearing, or in furnishing comments or suggestions, should contact the Village Clerk to request assistance. Copies of the proposed local law are available for inspection at the Village Clerk’s office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Dated: November 4th, 2025
By order of the Village Board Village of Cooperstown
Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org 1LegalNov.6
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Notice of formatioN of a NY Limited LiabiLitY compaNY H&K 449 Main Street Properties LLC
Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 09/16/2025. 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 1238, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Purpose: to engage in any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.11
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Notice of formatioN of HANSEN VISION GROUP LLC.
Filed with SSNY on 09/22/2025. Office: Otsego County.
SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 2 HANDSOME AVE., ONEONTA, NY 13820.
Purpose: Any Lawful. 6LegalDec.11
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Notice to bidderS
Sealed bids will be received as set forth in instructions to bidders until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 04, 2025 at the NYSDOT, Office of Contract Management, 50 Wolf Rd, 1st Floor, Suite 1CM, Albany, NY 12232 and will be publicly opened and read. Bids may also be submitted via the internet using https://www.bidx. com. A certified cashier’s check payable to the NYSDOT for the sum specified in the proposal or a bid bond, form CONR 391, representing 5% of the bid total, must accompany each bid. NYSDOT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
Electronic documents and Amendments are posted to www.dot. ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/const-notices. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all Amendments are incorporated into its bid. To receive notification of Amendments via e-mail you must submit a request to be placed on the Planholders List at www.dot. ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/ const-planholder. Amendments may have been issued prior to your placement on the Planholders list. NYS Finance Law restricts communication with NYSDOT on procurements and contact can only be made with designated persons. Contact with non-designated persons or other involved Agencies will be considered
a serious matter and may result in disqualification. Contact Robert Kitchen (518)4572124.
Contracts with 0% Goals are generally single operation contracts, where subcontracting is not expected, and may present direct bidding opportunities for Small Business Firms, including, but not limited to D/M/WBE’s and SDVOBs.
The New York State Department of Transportation, in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation and Title 23 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, Title IV Program and Related Statutes, as amended, issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all who respond to a written Department solicitation, request for proposal or invitation for bid that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability/handicap and income status in consideration for an award.
Please call (518) 457-2124 if a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the letting.
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Notice of ViLLage eLectioN ViLLage of cooperStoWN
Please take notice that the next Village Election of officers for the Village of Cooperstown will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The following offices will become vacant at the end of the current official year (March 31, 2026) and are to be filled at the Village Election on March 18, 2026, for the terms noted next to each office: mayor- two-year term Village trustee (2 positions) – each position a 3-year term
Village trustee (1 position)- fill a 1- year term Absentee ballot applications are available in the Village Clerk’s Office, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York during regular business hours 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning November 17, 2025.
Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street, PO Box 346 Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) (607) 547-5487 (fax) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email)
Dated: November 1st, 2025 1LegalNov.6
Region 02: New York State Department of Transportation 207 Genesee Street, Utica, NY, 13501 D265628, PIN SRRC25, Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming, Yates Cos., STATEWIDE RAILROAD STANDBY WHERE AND WHEN., Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $200,000.00), Goals: MBE: 5.00%, WBE: 10.00%, SDVOB: 0.00% 2LegalNov.13
Eco-Yotta
Continued from page 2
opment. The two imagine that local students and business startups could come to them to use the AI computers in facilitating their projects. Inside the spacious home currently used as a shortterm rental business, they hope to transform the dining room into a conference room and bedrooms into offices and storage spaces.
Eco-Yotta estimates the total cost of the project to be between $3.5 million and $5 million. For phase one, Gorantala estimated $1.5–$2 million, and for phase two $2–$3 million depending on construction costs. Citing his prior work constructing a farm in New Jersey, he plans to do much of the construction himself with outside assistance from student interns and contractors as necessary.
“They have been planning this,” said Otsego County Chamber of Commerce President Sean Lewis, who describes himself as a “connector” for the company, “and they have
been talking to financial institutions, local financial institutions, to gain capital to do this.”
Facing Resistance
Some critiques of the project are untethered from reality. One accusation floated on social media without evidence, which has appeared in public comments against the project, is that EcoYotta is a foreign shell company, really based in India. Another claim circulated that Dave is an attorney for the firm Eco-Yotta hired about a month ago.
“I hope we don’t get, like, a bill from law school,” Dave recalled joking with Gorantala upon seeing the post. “I only remember getting my MBA, not my JD.”
Some of the opposition has been overtly racist. “Go back to your country,” read one anonymous message received through Eco-Yotta’s website.
Dave was born in the U.S., and Gorantala is a naturalized citizen.
“These are a couple of hard-working Americans who had a dream and are chasing that dream,” Lewis said.
The couple says the town has been misrepresenting or omitting portions of their proposal explanations in meeting minutes, particularly with regard to their commitments against new construction. Opponents have also complained about the quality of minutes, and the town recently began publishing video recordings of town board meetings.
Eco-Yotta says the town board’s unwillingness thus far to visit the property for a tour and to ask questions despite invites since as far back as July, posting its “home occupation” zoning clarification request on the town site, and not working with them to create restrictive PDD provisions, is evidence of its bad faith. Gorantala told AllOtsego that the “home occupation” discussion is “completely different from our application.”
Gorantala took particular issue with Trish Riddell Kent, a Republican board member who has been one of the most outspoken opponents of the project. Gorantala claimed she has not been asking specific questions
while at the same time “stating that ‘we have so many questions’ in front of everyone. But don’t you see, it is just for the applause she’s looking for.”
Kent shared prior statements from meetings with AllOtsego, but declined to comment for this article.
Addressing earlier implications of racism, Interim Town Supervisor Brett Holleran, and Republican candidate for a full term, said, “The claim of racism by any board member is absolutely absurd and unfounded. An audience member during a public comment period did in my opinion inappropriately use offensive language, however the board in no way, shape or form condones such rhetoric–we are to hear requests in a non-partisan apolitical manner.”
Holleran said he would be unable to confirm details on the minutes by press time.
Holleran says he is familiar with the property, having “spent a lot of my youth at that residence with the former owners.” Eco-Yotta has received “equal treat-
ment and due process like every applicant.”
Rivera has also condemned racist comments against the project while maintaining opposition to it. Most critiques raised during public meetings have echoed national debates about AI and the data centers required to run it.
Kent, who has called for a local moratorium on data centers, said at the October meeting that “agri-business” is a “manufactured use of the term” and that “it is a substantial development proposal” unlikely to be a “home occupation.”
She, and many others, raised concerns about electricity and water use, adding that there was not enough information about the project.
Some residents have objected to AI technology altogether, citing increasing reports on its negative impact on some users’ mental health, its frequent inaccuracies and potential to take human jobs.
Mirroring the kinds of advocacy AI optimists frequently use, Eco-Yotta sees AI as an inevitability to prepare
for. Supporting “ethical AI,” Gorantala said, “We are at the start where it has to go in the right direction.”
Electricity Over the river and through the woods just under a mile from the Eco-Yotta site is NYSEG’s Oneonta office. Criticism of EcoYotta’s project has dovetailed with widespread, bipartisan opposition to NYSEG’s ongoing rate hike proposal.
Eco-Yotta’s PDD application estimated 3,000,000 kWh per year of electricity use, the equivalent of nearly 300 homes as of a 2022 Energy Information Administration average home electricity use estimate. In response to power concerns, EcoYotta says they intend to build a small solar farm for their facility.
Eco-Yotta has also said NYSEG confirmed their project would not require power line upgrades. In an August 11 e-mail to leaders of the Otsego Chamber, Capital Energy Partners, and Otsego Now, NYSEG employee Carly Norton
Continued on page 11
Telegraph School Prepares for a Season of Music, Magic, Masks
CHERRY VALLEY
The Telegraph School invites the community to join a series of immersive workshops this fall and winter that prepare participants for Koliada, the beloved roving performance and celebration returning to Cherry Valley on February 6 and 7, 2026. According to offi-
cials, the February 2025 Koliada “was a wonderful creation of village magic, bringing nature and the mythic to our small village of Cherry Valley, New York. This year, thanks to new grant funding, we are excited to make Koliada bigger and better, with expanded workshops and performances.”
Koliada draws from the rich Slavic heritage of
Telegraph School founder and ritual artist Angelica Palmer, who is bringing this ancient village tradition back to life. It dates back to pre-Christian times in the Slavic world of Central and Eastern Europe. People dressed up as animals and spirits representing the darkness of winter and the returning sun. They went from house to house in their village, singing songs and performing skits to call back the sun and bless the fertility of the crops for the coming year. In exchange they were given gifts of
food, drinks and coins.
Cherry Valley Koliada continues this tradition with a series of free workshops, a public performance, and a roving theatrical procession that travels around the village, performing for people in their homes and for passersby.
“There is a lot of fear, overwhelm and desperation in the world right now. The seasonal village rituals of Slavic Europe offer a supernatural magic that is a balm for the soul. Embodying spirits of nature and bringing love
and connection to our neighbors helps us keep hold of our humanity,” said Palmer. “The world is changing rapidly and through play and connection, our community stays strong and resilient.”
Upcoming Workshops
• Crafting Your Creature: Saturday, November 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. With Marc-Anthony Polizzi and Tooth, participants will begin building their Koliada creatures, experimenting with recycled materials and non-human body shapes to create costumes that inspire movement and imagination.
• Intuitive Interspecies
Communication (virtual): Sunday, November 9 from 1-2 p.m. Facilitated by Max Pospisil, this online session explores Slavic traditions of animals speaking during Koliada
through guided meditation and imaginative practices.
•Artist Talk: Rebirthing the Ancient Traditions and Songs (in person and virtual): Sunday, November 16 from noon to 3 p.m. Artist Angelica Dzeli Gosiewska Palmer traces the evolution of Koliada—from its ancient beginnings to its modern-day revival as a celebration of nature, ancestry and seasonal magic, followed by a community sing to begin learning traditional songs for the February performance.
All in-person workshops are in the Cherry Valley Old School, 2 Genesee St, Cherry Valley and are free and open to the public. Materials are provided, and donations are welcome to support the continuation of this community tradition. Registration is required at thetelegraphschool.org.
Eco-Yotta
Continued from page 10
results of a “non-engineered capacity study for the proposed AI data center” and that upgrades would be required for the “requested 3.0 MW load at this location.”
Reducing the load to 1 MVA would have no impact on the transmission system, Norton wrote. “If this is a location that your client is committed to, we will then develop a cost and time estimate to develop the upgrades.”
“Any additional load beyond this would require a load study, which is both costly and time-consuming,” Gorantala wrote to AllOtsego. “This means we have sufficient power to support the hydroponics operation within the existing structures, but no capacity for future expansion.”
In a statement, a NYSEG spokesperson wrote they “cannot
Sketches
Continued from page 4
other than blowing out the side of the coop with a shotgun, so I went back to the house to wash and change my clothes.
When I returned home around noon I had a plan. With a handful of corn for bait, I lured my chickens into the barn and closed the door. Then I returned to the scene of the crime and carefully replaced the wooden laying box door with a piece of Plexiglass so that I could look inside the coop at the intruder. I observed that his eyes were clear and he wasn’t foaming at the mouth. My wife, Alice, had gone south for the weekend and had taken her camera, so I called my neighbor, John Purcell, to come over and take a mug shot of the culprit.
Minutes later John was tooling up the driveway. He thought that the coon was cute. He said it looked like a pet he once had. I asked him if he wanted to take the animal over to his place, but he declined. I reminded him that this coon was a killer, that if he weren’t stopped, he’d be back for another chicken.
“He might even turn into a serial killer,” I warned.
“What about a trial?” John said. “DNA? Paw prints?”
“His presence is proof enough for me,” I returned.
Frustrated, John hesitatingly agreed to
discuss details about specific customers, however, NYSEG does frequently work with the Otsego Chamber on load requests to the grid. In that process, dependent on the requested amount of electricity, either an internal study by NYSEG or external study by [New York Independent System Operator] must take place.”
Asked about potential impacts on electricity rates, the spokesperson wrote “NYSEG’s rates ensures that existing customers are not impacted by costs new, large customers who may need upgrades to interconnect to the grid. That cost is borne by the new interconnecting customer. The only way NYSEG can change its rates is through the rate case process which is overseen by the Public Service Commission.”
Meeting Demands
The town’s Planning Board was skeptical
flush the animal out of the laying box with a pitch fork while I waited outside the coop with my 12-gauge Remington.
“Be careful where you aim,” my neighbor said, sticking his head out the coop door.
A minute later the killer lay face down in the dirt. I could hear my chickens cheering in the barn. John wanted to do an autopsy to see if part of my dead
of the proposal, and whether Eco-Yotta would stick to its limited scope, at its Monday, October 20 meeting. “This is not agriculture,” one member said, according to an audio recording of the meeting obtained by AllOtsego. Another member said, “I think it’s trying to fit a square peg into a round hole,” with others adding they did not have enough information and raising electricity concerns. Attendees applauded when the Planning Board voted that they were not in favor of the project.
Dave and Gorantala are adamant that concerns can be addressed by a well-tailored PDD restricting them from large-scale development in the way elected officials and community members have feared.
“Eco-Yotta has changed their business plan and [Zoning Map Amendment] request on 3 occasions,” Holleran wrote to AllOtsego. “We
chicken’s leg was in the coon’s stomach, but I warned him about rabies. I then picked up the carcass with a shovel and carried it to one of the vacant woodchuck holes—thanks to my neighbor’s son. To my surprise a woodchuck whistled at me from what I thought was a vacant hole.
“You see,” John said. “You can never be sure about anything.”
“I can be sure of one
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as a board have heard each application request and have allowed them to present their requests as we would with any other applicant. We have referred their projects for a preliminary review with the Planning Board as well.”
The growth Dave and Gorantala envision is laying the seeds for Oneonta to become a tech hub that retains local college students after graduation, and to spread similar AI hydroponic projects to other cold northeastern areas, potentially in a franchise model.
Dave said it’s for “small mom and pop little farmsteads every weekend on the corner of their driveway. It’s that population that needs the guidance and the assistance and the help so that they can survive and that they can thrive.”
In the property’s dining room, Lewis, the Otsego County Chamber president, said he was
thing,” I responded. “Sure of what?”
“This raccoon won’t be feasting on chicken legs any more.
Terry Berkson’s articles have appeared in “New York” magazine, “Automobile” magazine and many others. His memoir, “Corvette Odyssey,” has received many good reviews: “highly recommended with broad appeal,” says “Library Journal.”
“just now starting to understand how hard these two individuals are working.”
“They’ve got full time employment,” he said. “They live a four-hour drive away, and they are here a lot, and they drive back and forth in the middle of the night.”
Mentioning their Honda, Lewis said they’re not billionaires, as some have alleged. If the project takes
off, Gorantala and Dave say, they will move to Oneonta to see it through.
Subscribe online or by calling (607) 547-6103.
Please send cover letter and resume to info@allotsego.com, with “Sales Position” in
Applicants are currently being sought for the position of advertising sales agent to represent “The Freeman’s Journal,” “Hometown Oneonta” and “AllOtsego” media outlets. Required skills include: Excellent communication skills essential. • Driver’s license necessary Must be able to work both independently and as part of a team. Experience preferred but not necessary; will train the right candidate.
Sue Ann Jenkins 1953-2025
PHOENIX MILLS—
Sue Ann Jenkins, a lifelong resident of Phoenix Mills, entered into eternal rest at her beloved family home, Elmhurst. She was 72.
Born May 22, 1953 in Cooperstown, Sue Ann was the daughter of Ruby (Robinson) Jenkins and Arthur Jenkins Jr. She grew up in her mother’s family home, Elmhurst, located alongside the Susquehanna River, with her parents, pets and extended family members. She enjoyed playing in the river and walks with her best friend and neighbor, Mr. Black, along the railroad tracks as he taught her about the native plants and animals and, importantly, that no one ever really owns nature. She also enjoyed visiting with her father’s family in the Catskills: her dad’s family farm in Lexington on the Schoharie Creek and her great-aunt’s guest house and cabins on the Esopus Creek near Phoenicia, where she met people from many countries who vacationed there.
Sue Ann graduated from Cooperstown Central School in 1971 and went on to complete the Freshman Foundation Year at Pratt Institute’s
Letters
Continued from page 4
Market Street. Something RSS has already done, proposed and fought for. Oneonta city government didn’t say “no” to selling 27 Market. They said “no” to RSS.
After the vote, the mayor wrote a nice article based on a quote: “That’s baseball.” I think a quote by Frank Reynolds is more fitting—“That’s politics.”
Charles Spencer
Resident of the Sixth Ward of Oneonta since 2020, Otsego County since birth
Carnival Calls for Support
Planning for the 58th Cooperstown Winter Carnival has begun! This year, our community theme is “Let the Games Begin” and is set to take place from February 5 through February 8, 2026. Join us for a festive Winter Carnival that blends the excitement of Super Bowl Sunday with the pageantry of the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. This beloved annual event brings our community together through delicious food, lively enter-
College of Art and Design in Brooklyn. While there she also met and campaigned for Shirley Chisholm, who was running for the Democratic Primary for president in 1972. She then returned home to help her parents care for relatives, and to create a quilt design business eventually known as Threadbinder. Her designs were featured in many national magazines and several quilt and fine craft books. Her work was also sold through the Smithsonian Museum Shop. As well as maintaining her business, she worked for several years at the Cooperstown Art Association, weekends at the Upstate Home (now Springbrook), at their house in Worcester, the Red Cross, and for art conservators Sheldon and Caroline Keck, helping to assemble their 40 years of records and transferring them to computer discs via Mrs. Keck’s ancient computer, “Scheherazade.”
In the mid-nineties, Sue Ann completed her degree through Empire State College, earning a bachelor of science degree with a double major in art and human services. She then worked for the “Old Meadows” Nursing Home, first in the Supervising Nurse’s Office and later as an activity aide in the dementia wing. She also helped Dolores Coleman at Coleman’s Answering Service in Cooperstown. She loved good friends, old movies, music, trips with her mother and with friends, and Bernie Sanders.
Sue Ann survived two bouts with cancer in 2011 and 2013 with the help of Dr. Pat Gambitta, Dr. Renee Wellenstein and Dr. Joy Anderson,
tainment and festive winter fun.
We’re kicking off the festivities with a dazzling evening on Thursday, February 5 at The Otesaga Resort Hotel, starting at 4:30 p.m. Don’t miss the fireworks show at 6 p.m. sharp—a brilliant start to a weekend full of excitement.
Throughout the weekend, the Village of Cooperstown will come alive with a mix of traditional favorites and fresh, creative winter carnival events. Our local restaurants, pubs, shops, and organizations are already dreaming up unique offerings to delight visitors and residents alike.
To ensure the success of the 58th Cooperstown Winter Carnival and continue the tradition of providing a memorable and accessible experience for all, we are seeking your support. Your generous contribution will go a long way in covering the costs associated with organizing these events.
There are several ways you can support the Cooperstown Winter Carnival:
1. Financial donation: You can make a monetary contribution to our event fund. No amount is too small, and
OBITUARIES
and especially her “lil sis” Diana Nicols, who stood by her from the moment of diagnosis, through surgery and treatments. Also, neighbor Heidi Parkhurst helped with those many trips to Syracuse. Pastor Maryellen Moore provided much appreciated spiritual strength through the years. With the “extra life” she was given, Sue Ann devoted herself to help countless others online, on the phone and in Zoom meetings who shared with her the daily challenges of Complex PTSD, bullying, and grief.
Sue Ann is survived by many friends and relatives, including cousins Ruth Cross of Windham, Lois Banks of Lexington, Janice Mabin of Ashland, the Rev. David Robinson of Dryden, and Lou Wimbish Mierzwa of Texas; second cousins include Tim Cross, Regina Cross (Dr. Joe Calabro), Sylvia Banks, Maureen Farrell, Bonnie (Paul) Varney, and Connie Jo Robinson.
She was predeceased by her parents, her “sweetie” Franklyn Pierce Smith and many beloved pets and friends.
Although it was Sue Ann’s request that there be no services, family and friends are invited to gather at 1 p.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery, 140 Cemetery Road, Fly Creek, where she will be laid to rest with her parents.
Memorial donations in Sue Ann’s memory may be made to the Herkimer County Humane Society, PO Box 73, Mohawk, NY 13407.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
every donation is greatly appreciated. Please take a minute to write a check to “Cooperstown Winter Carnival” and send to: PO Box 912, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
2. Support with a giftin-kind: Help us enhance our fundraising efforts or support an event. Please contact cooperstownwintercarnival@gmail.com.
3. Sponsorship opportunities or to host an event: Partner with us to host an event or sponsor a key event for increased opportunities for exposure and brand recognition. Please contact cooperstownwintercarnival@gmail.com.
4. Participate: We want you to enjoy the benefits of all that Cooperstown has to offer by joining us and participating in the different events throughout the weekend. Help us keep the winter magic alive and thriving! The 58th Annual Cooperstown Winter Carnival Committee: Chad Bellanger, Kristen Bellois, Rosemary Brodersen, Kate Dwyer, Bill Francis, Keith Gulla, Jim Hill, Kevyn Hill, Veronica Pokorny, Mallory Randall, Larissa Ryan and Jeff Schneider
Alex Webster 1962-2025 COOPERSTOWN—
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Alex Webster, a well-known and respected restaurateur in Cooperstown and Cherry Valley, passed away unexpectedly at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 63. Born Alexander Law Webster on February 4, 1962 at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, he was the youngest son of David James Webster and Lucy Ann Law Webster.
Raised in London, British boarding schools, and the gift shop of the United Nations in New York City, Alex lived an adventure-filled life. After graduating from art college in London, he purchased the John Deere farm machinery showroom in Roseboom as an artist’s studio. Before settling permanently in the area, his eclectic journey included working at Café Flore in San Francisco, NYU film school, a stint as a fashion photographer, driving a NYC yellow taxi and living on a sailboat in Key West.
A madly creative soul, he fell in love with food, taught himself to cook, and eventually opened a restaurant, Alex & Ika, in the old bowling alley in Cherry Valley, serving whatever wild notion came to him. For 10 years, he and his wife, Ika, worked very hard, building a restaurant that gained critical acclaim, while raising their two young sons, largely in the kitchen. He would later move Alex & Ika to Cooperstown, along with parts of the old bowling alley, which he fashioned into tables and the
FOIL System Is Broken
The New York Coalition for Open Government is speaking out against a proposal by Assemblymember Chris Burdick that would impose criminal and civil penalties on individuals who submit so-called “bad faith” or “malicious” FOIL requests.
New York’s transparency crisis isn’t caused by ordinary people filing requests for information. It’s caused by government agencies that ignore, delay or deny FOIL requests without consequence. Penalizing requestors targets the wrong side of the equation.
Instead of punishing citizens, we urge lawmakers to:
1. Increase funding for the Committee on Open Government.
2. Provide technical support to local governments.
3. Impose real penalties on officials who violate transparency laws.
4. Strengthen—not restrict—public access to information.
New Yorkers shouldn’t have to hire a lawyer to get information that already belongs to them.
bar. He repurchased his original Cherry Valley space, opening Cantina de Salsa, and later, Alex. Through the years, Alex changed the food offerings and names of his restaurant at 149 Main Street in Cooperstown to include Cantina de Salsa and Alex’s World Bistro. All were a perfect distillation of his unique personality and wonderful wild artist’s heart. His restaurants, decorated in his own eclectic and bohemian way, reflected him, and were always the place to gather with family and friends in comfortable surroundings and partake of great food and drink. He fed the hearts and souls of this community.
Alex lived his life authentically, unapologetically and with a creative spirit. He had vision for every ripe tomato, every spice, every piece of driftwood or rusty metal he encountered. He loved his family fiercely and built with his wife, Jeannine, a life centered around community, amazing food, endless curiosity and constant debate.
Beneath the sometimes-blustery exterior, he had a gentle soul and cared deeply about the environment and inhabitants of planet Earth.
In recent years, Alex was employed by Otsego 2000 as the market manager for the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, a job he loved with people he loved.
The world has lost a bit of magic and is much blander now that he is gone. Rest easy, Chef.
Alex is survived by his wife, Jeannine R.
Despite a $254 billion state budget, the Committee on Open Government has just four employees—compared to:
• Inspector General’s Office: 92
• Joint Commission on Public Ethics: 50
• Authorities Budget Office: 11
This chronic underfunding sends a clear message: Transparency is not a priority in New
Webster of Cooperstown; his children, Oskar and Lukas Webster, Melissa Mistry, and Alex and Cate Bohler; his mother, Lucy Webster; his brother, Daniel Webster; his stepmother, Elizabeth Drew; and a circle of dear friends and family. He was predeceased by his father, David Webster, and his beloved nanny, Pat Clark.
A gathering in celebration of Alex’s life will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market.
As a way to honor a remarkable and unique life, please consider a memorial donation to the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market or Lions Club SNAP match program. Checks can be made out to Otsego 2000 with “Farmers’ Market” or “Lions SNAP Match” in the memo line. Donations can be mailed to Otsego 2000, PO Box 1130, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or made online at otsego2000. org. Designation of funds can be made in the comment line.
Arrangements are with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
York. That must change. The New York Coalition for Open Government, www. nyopengov.org, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog group working to strengthen transparency and accountability at every level of government.
Paul Wolf, Esq. President Emeritus, New York Coalition for Open Government
25 Main Releases Calendar
CHERRY VALLEY—25 Main Collective’s fall exhibition, “Highlight,” will be on display through Sunday, November 2. It features extra work by artists who participated in the Cherry Valley Art Trail on October 4-5. 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 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. Cherry Valley’s Farm Toy Show will be held at Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 8. A memorial for the Cherry Valley Massacre will be held in the cemetery at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 9. 25 Main will have an open house for its annual Holiday Marketplace during the next First Friday, from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, December 5. Cherry Valley’s Holiday Weekend will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7.
Photo provided SUE ANN JENKINS
Photo provided
ALEX WEBSTER
that they don’t even know about, like mail call,” Kirnan continued. “So we’ve reached out to all the family members [and] said write a letter to your veteran, thanking him or her for their service. So you’ll see, we call them ‘Hudson Valley Honor Flight allergies.’ That’s when the tears start, because you become emotional, seeing these guys reading the mail… So the welcome home is really one of the best [parts], because they will not expect it.”
Among the people attending Mission 37 were numerous Vietnam and Cold War-era veterans, as well as a handful of Korean War veterans and even a 100-year-old vet from World War II who simply went by “Bud.”
Among the Vietnam veterans present was Bill Bellen, a Marine Corps sergeant who served from 1962-1969. Bellen has been a longtime resident of Otsego County and, during his time in the service, saw deployment at Guantanamo Bay, Okinawa, and in the early stages of the conflict in Vietnam.
Bellen recounted that the main speaker on the flight announced, “We have a person from Otsego County who’s traveled the farthest to get here. He said, and in our midst, we have a person who was bitten by a snake in Vietnam. He says, we’ve had wounded, but we’ve never had anyone on our Honor Flight bitten by a snake. Both of those were me…Later on at the dinner, he [said] they want to let you know that the first Americans officially in Vietnam [were] 3,000 Marines that made an amphibious landing. Well, that was me. And then he said the first major combat operation of Vietnam was Operation Starlite. That was me. And I told him afterward. He said, ‘boy, that really is a coincidence.”
After touching down in Washington, the veterans were taken by bus throughout the city. Their destinations included, but were not limited to: the Marine Corps Memorial;
Arlington Cemetery, to view the changing of the guard; the Washington Monument; the Vietnam Women’s Memorial; and the memorials for each of the major conflicts of the 20th century. Each stop allowed time for the veterans to get out and take photos, and in some cases find the names of their fallen comrades on the many plaques adorning each memorial.
By 8 p.m., back at Stewart Airport, a crowd that filled the entire baggage claim area and beyond had gathered to welcome the veterans upon their return. People of all ages held flags, made signs, and sprinkled red, white, and blue decorations of every variety throughout the space.
As families gathered near the aisles down which the veterans would be making their triumphant returns, Cardenal Johnson—son of 92year-old Korean War veteran, Army medic, and Air Force strategic air command member Donald Johnson— shared what the event meant to him.
“You should have been here this morning. It was beautiful…It’s something to endure because back then, World War I and World War II, they gave them a celebration down in New York City…but they never did that to my father,” Cardenal recounted. “When he came home, off with the uniform, work…But just
the experience [for] him and the chartered buses, it was beautiful. I teared [up] a little bit because my father’s still alive.”
Cardenal went on to explain some of his father’s visceral combat experiences, and said that he hoped the flight and memorial visits would help to give his father some closure.
Finally, the moment arrived and veterans began their walk through the baggage claim to pick up their final mail parcels. Chants of “U.S.A.” echoed throughout the room as smiles and tears covered the faces of the honorable men and women entering. Each veteran walked down an entry aisle flanked on either side by dozens of applauding onlookers to pick up their last pieces of mail. Afterward, they ventured down the exit aisle and out to the front of the baggage terminal, where family members and buses awaited the veterans to either take them home or to a hotel for the evening.
Bellen was surprised by 11 members of his family who greeted him as he was brought into the baggage claim by his guardian, Louis Cascino Jr. He thanked Cascino for pushing his wheelchair throughout Washington and keeping pace with the rest of the group.
“I’m not a very emotional person, but you could have knocked me over with a feather because I had no idea.
You know, maybe one or two, not the whole darn family.”
As the event wrapped up for the night, veterans who had become newfound friends parted ways with firm handshakes and passionate hugs. Honor Flight staff considered the night a resounding success, speaking of their continued gratitude to the veterans they volunteered to serve.
“Any veteran out there, please sign on board,” Kirnan said. “Right now, there’s about a year-anda-half to two-year wait, but we do give priority to those that served previous to the others. So even though we’re accepting now up through Vietnam era, if you [are] World War II, you’re going to get priority…Anybody can come. If you’ve got medical issues with IVs, we can make it work. So if you’re incapacitated in a wheelchair, we’ll make it work. You talk to our safety team and they’ll make it work. I don’t know if anybody has ever been turned away for a medical reason.”
Those interested in reaching out to the Hudson Valley Honor Flight about potential veteran or guardian participants can do so at https://hvhonorflight.com/.
Reporter William Bellen is the grandson of Vietnam veteran USMC Sgt. Bill Bellen. Both are residents of the Goodyear Lake community in the Town of Milford.
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comment.
A request to allow a four unit apartment building at 26 Walnut Street faced opposition from an adjacent property owner.
“It’s going to house eight cars in the back of the building,” said Barbara Curran. “That’s a lot of coming and going on a very busy street. I do have concerns,” she said.
Another neighbor submitted a letter requesting the board permit the project under the condition it bars shortterm rentals and smoking. The board approved the request with the condition that it would bar short-term rentals, questioning whether they had the authority to prevent smoking on private property.
The board also approved a budget agreement with the Town of Middlefield, which is served by the Cooperstown Fire District, to fund the purchase of a new fire truck. Middlefield will contribute $29,569.00, after officials previously said a request from Cooperstown of more than $100,000.00 was too much for the town’s small budget.
During committee reports, Trustee George Fasanelli spoke on behalf of the Public Safety Committee. He shared that in the prior reporting period, the Emergency Squad “was summoned 59 times; unfortunately in 20 instances they were unable to raise a crew,” he said. Fasanelli added that when a crew cannot be raised, other agencies will handle a call. He further shared that the EMS will soon be equipped with Starlink satellite service, allowing faster communication with hospitals to prepare for their arrival.
The board accepted Trustee Hanna Joy Bauer’s resignation. Bauer cited growing responsibilities as an entrepreneur dividing her attention in her September 30 resignation letter. The village “will be best served by someone who can fully commit to
the important work of the board,” she wrote in her resignation letter, which was included in meeting documents. Bauer wrote that serving has been an “absolute privilege” and “truly inspirational,” saying she is “proud to have had the opportunity to be a voice for our local businesses and to contribute to the ongoing growth and vitality of our community.”
France
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Doug Bauer, “she’s been a reliable presence as a scorekeeper and a referee, always stepping up to support our community.”
Bauer added that “France embodies the spirit of service, sportsmanship and leadership, making her a true pillar of local athletics and certainly worthy of this year’s Fetterman award.” France, among the many attendees tearing up throughout the ceremony, said she was “truly honored” by the “extremely humbling” award. She said she couldn’t have done it alone, and that she is “very much a product of my environment, shaped by my family, my mentors, fellow coaches, teammates, friends and community members, and from all the experience and opportunities that surrounded me as a young athlete.”
A former coach, family members, colleagues, and former Fetterman winners gave remarks, universally applauding what they described as France’s unwavering commitment to youth sports and the kids participating in them.
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
Photo by
Photo by Maria Griswold
Bill Bellen and wife Rose stand together outside Stewart Airport with Rose’s homemade welcome sign.
►Fri., Nov. 7
HOLIDAY 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. “Joyful Traditions Holiday Bazaar.” Continues 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 11/8. The Major’s Inn, 118 Marion Avenue, Gilbertsville. (607) 7832967.
GENTLE YOGA
10 a.m. Held each Friday. Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 3977309.
QUILTING 1-4 p.m.
“Beginning Quilting.”
Beginners make a small quilt. Fees apply; registration required. Continues 11/14, 11/21 and 12/5. Leatherstocking Quilts, 155 Main Street, Suite B, Oneonta. (607) 4413111.
FARMERS’ MARKET
3-6 p.m. Held Fridays at the Four Corners, Hartwick. (607) 2937530.
OPENING RECEPTION 5-8 p.m. “Inspired by a Book.” First Friday event. Exhibits by local artists based on books. Show runs through 11/30. 25 Main Collective, 21 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 2645340.
FILM 6 p.m. “Dr. Strangelove: Or—How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb.” Featuring a talk from Dmitri Kasterine on his photography and work with Stanley Kubrick. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344.
OPEN MIC 6 p.m.
Poems, songs, dance, stories, comedy and more. Register at the door to perform. Donations appreciated. Held first Friday of each month. Presented by The Telegraph School at the Limestone Mansion, 33 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 2643785.
PLANETARIUM 7 p.m.
“Journey Through The Solar System.” Familyfriendly show open to the public. Fees apply. SUNY Oneonta Planetarium, Perna Science Building,
Things To Do In and Around Otsego County
Room 018A, Oneonta. (607) 436-2011. FILM 7 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m. “The Power to Move.” Presented by the Mobility Independence Foundation. Includes a Q&A session at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4312080.
DANCE
7:30-10:30 p.m. Contradance. Community dance featuring live music. Presented by the Otsego Dance Society. Featuring Garry Aney, caller, and music by the Contrasonics. First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, 25 Church Street, Cooperstown. (607) 433-6613.
►Sat., Nov. 8
RECYCLING 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Recycling Education at the Hartwick Municipal Drop-off Center.” Presented by the Hartwick Conservation Advisory Committee. Free. Hartwick Municipal Dropoff Center, Town Hall, 103 Town Drive, Hartwick. (607) 434-2946.
HOLIDAY 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Firemen Auxiliary Farm Toy Show and Basket Raffle.” Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, 597 County Road 54, Cherry Valley. SHOW 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Oneonta Gun and Knife Show.” 40+ dealers for guns, swords, military souvenirs of any kind/condition. Admission fees apply. Presented by Midstate Arms Collectors. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta.
LIBRARY SWAP
10 a.m. to noon. “Homemaker Swap.” Bring five homemade items, take home five items. Refreshments provided. RSVP required. Edmeston Free Library, West Street, Edmeston. (845) 325-5848.
OPPORTUNITY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Hiring Event at Bassett Medical Center.” Seeking CNAs,
Time OuT OTsegO
Things To Do In and Around Otsego County
LPNs, medical office assistants, housekeepers and more. Bassett Medical Center, Clinic Building Lobby, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-3456.
LIBRARY 10 a.m. to noon. Friends of the Village Library book collection for the annual winter book sale. Held at the Fair Street entrance. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (202) 271-7619.
MAKERS MARKET
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Shop Local Holiday Market.” Markets held 2nd Saturday of each month. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 432-4401.
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. “Cultures in the Cosmos.”
• 11:30 a.m. “The Sky Tonight.”
DIA DE MUERTOS
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Family program to celebrate the memories of loved ones who have passed. Includes crafts, games and calavera (sugar skull) mask making. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5478344.
WORKSHOP 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Crafting Your Creature: Masks and Costumes.” Prepare for the Cherry Valley Koliada, to be held 2/6 and 2/7. Presented by The Telegraph School at the Cherry Valley Old School Café, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-3785.
VETERANS Noon; registration starts at 10 a.m. “Whiteman-Hull-Snyder American Legion Post 1360 Veterans’ Weekend
Run/Walk 5K.” Fees apply. Cherry Valley Community Center, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley.
SEWING CLASS
1:30-3 p.m. All experience levels welcome. Held every Saturday. The Green Giraffe, 179 Main Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3234.
AGRICULTURE
2:30-4 p.m. “Upper Susquehanna Farm Forum.” Explore opportunities for your farm with the Otsego Land Trust. 101 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 4226181.
FUNDRAISER
4:30-6:30 p.m. “Donation Spaghetti Dinner.” Honoring veterans and in support of the West Edmeston Volunteer Fire Department. Held at the Parish House, First Baptist Church of West Edmeston, 134 West Edmeston Road, West Edmeston. (315) 855-4404.
POTLUCK 6:30 p.m. Good food, fellowship, and maybe a game! Bring a dish to share and a friend. Come and join us! Fly Creek United Methodist Church, 852 County Highway 26, Fly Creek.
►SuN., Nov. 9
YOGA 8 a.m. “Hatha Yoga Class with Mira.” Suggested donation applies. All levels welcome. Held each Sunday. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111.
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.
MEMORIAL 1 p.m.
Memorial ceremony for the Cherry Valley Mas-
sacre. Cemetery, Cherry Valley.
WORKSHOP 1 p.m.
“Intuitive Interspecies Communication.” Prepare for the Cherry Valley Koliada, to be held 2/6 and 2/7. Presented online by The Telegraph School, Cherry Valley. (607) 2643785.
WORKSHOP 1-3 p.m.
“Making Fire Cider.” Presented by Jessica Capeci of Windswept Farm and Apothecary. Fees apply; registration required. 25 Main Collective, 21 Main Street, Cherry Valley. 25maincollective@gmail. com.
COMMUNITY 1-5 p.m.
Free concerts, workshops and art on the second Sunday of each month.
This month features Holland Belle performing at 2 p.m. West Kortright Center, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith. (607) 278-5454.
VETERANS 2 p.m.
“Veterans’ Day Ceremony.” Presented by the Gilbertsville American Legion Auxiliary. Featuring a proclamation, keynote speaker Gary Flaherty of the Oneonta Veterans Outreach Center, music and more. Butternut Valley Grange Hall, 7 Bloom Street, Gilbertsville. (607) 783-2232.
FOOD DRIVE 2-4 p.m.
Support the food pantries of Milford and Worcester with the Otsego Firecrackers 4-H Club. Non-perishable items only. East Worcester Firehouse, 36 Church Street, Worcester. (607) 435-4274.
RELIGION 2 p.m.
Service of word and prayer to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. Presented by local Lutheran and Orthodox congregations. Reception to follow. Atonement Lutheran Church, 1 Center Street, Oneonta. Micah.Breland@ stots.edu
VETERANS 3 p.m.
“Salute to Veterans” Concert. Free and open to the public. Presented by the Oneonta Community Concert Band at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4312080.
POTLUCK 3-6 p.m.
Milford Community Potluck. Bring a dish to pass and share memories of the Greater Milford area. Presented by the Greater Milford Historical Association at the David Sayre House, 77 North Main Street, Milford. ►MoN., Nov. 10
EXERCISE CLASS
9 a.m. Free; all welcome. Held each Monday and Thursday. Strawberry Hall, Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 3977309.
CONNECTIONS
12:30 p.m. “Painting with Marjorie: The ‘Giving’ Santa Plate.” Fees apply; registration required. Continues 11/24. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail. com.
CONNECTIONS
12:45 p.m. Bluegrass Circle Jam Session. Meets 2nd Monday of each month. In the Community Room with Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com.
GARDEN CLUB
6:30 p.m. “Inspiration for the Holiday Season.”
Talk by Michelle Peters from Ambiance Florist of Albany. Presented by the Oneonta Garden Club. Creative and practical tips on how to incorporate seasonal flowers into holiday and home decorating. Refreshments included. St. James Episcopal Church, 305 Main Street, Oneonta.
COMEDY 9 p.m. “Chuck’s Comedy Club:
Kenny Mock.” Fees apply. Hunt Union Waterfront, 68 Bugbee Road, Oneonta. (607) 4363730.
►tueS., Nov. 11 veteraNS DaY
FREE FISHING DAY All day. Anyone aged 16+ is welcome to fish New York State waterways. No license required. Other fishing regulations apply. dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/ freshwater-fishing/learnto-fish#Days
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS 8-9 a.m. Local community members gather to chat about what’s happening around Oneonta. Held each Tuesday. Green Earth Health Market, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-6600.
COMMUNITY HIKE 9:45 a.m. Hike with the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Bring appropriate equipment/water and be aware of your level of fitness. This week’s hike will be at the SUNY Delhi Outdoor Education Center, 19692 State Highway 28, Delhi. Contact hike leader Don Thomases, (607) 287-9690.
VETERANS 11 a.m. Cooperstown Veterans Day Parade. Veterans march up Main Street to the World War I memorial on Pine Street. Starts at The Veterans Club, 60 Main Street, Cooperstown. SERVICES 2-4 p.m. Q&A with the Otsego County Office for the Aging on programs, services, Medicare and Medicaid insurance, and more. Held 2nd Tuesday of each month. Springfield Library, 129 County Highway 29A, Springfield Center. (607) 547-4232. FIGURE DRAWING 6:30 p.m. Held each Tuesday. Green Earth Health Market, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 483-8432.
MUSIC 7:30 p.m.
“Instrumental Chamber Ensembles Concert.” Anderson Theater, Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta.
►WeD., Nov. 12
STORY TIME 10 a.m. Free. Held each Wednesday. Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 3977309.
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 baked fish with dill sauce, au gratin potatoes, spinach 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. FREE DINNER
5-7 p.m. All welcome. Held 2nd Wednesday of each month. Unatego Community Church, 290 Main Street, Otego. (607) 369-7425. LECTURE 6 p.m.
“Legendary Creatures of New York and Beyond.” Rescheduled from 10/23. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344.
ART CLASS
6-9 p.m. “Figure This! Open Studio Life Drawing.” Non-instructional workshop with nude models for sketching. Hosted by a Cooperstown Art Association member. Fees apply, cash. Held each Wednesday. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-9777.
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Visit allotsego.com/ otsego-county-events-calendar/ for the full calendar