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seasons greetings and happy holidays! pages 7 and 8 VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 217, No. 50

Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, December 18, 2025

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Cherry Valley Health Center Expected To Come in Under Town Budget for the Year By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

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CHERRY VALLEY he Cherry Valley Community Health Center, though facing financial challenges, is set to come in under its town-allotted budget for the year. The town, which owns and operates the center while leasing staffing and other services from Bassett Healthcare Network, had budgeted around $800,000.00 toward the health center. At the December 11 town board meeting, officials reported it had only required approxi-

mately $236,000.00 out of the town’s budget, likely to land around $250,000.00 by year end. “I feel good,” Town Supervisor Tom Garretson told AllOtsego after the meeting, saying he is particularly hopeful for the town’s recently created oversight board for the health center. The board has been identifying cost-cutting measures and grant opportunities. The news comes after a November 7 New York State comptroller report warned the town could deplete its fund balance as a result of “unrealistically low” expenContinued on page 13

Coop Trustees Talk Trolley Contract, Dog Park Location By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

COOPERSTOWN he Cooperstown Village Board of Trustees discussed the village’s trolley agreement with the county, a possible site for a new dog park, grants, watershed inspection fees and more at its Monday, December 15 regular meeting. The board also passed a local law allowing an expedited process for minor lot line adjustments. On December 10, the board received letters from the presidents and chief executive officers of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Fenimore Art Museum and Fenimore Farm, and the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce expressing concern about the potential loss of trolley service. At the prior board meeting, officials had said the village’s arrangement with the county was financially burdensome. “We had advised the county, through vote, that we did not encourage entering into a five-year fixed contract in response to their RFP,” Deputy Mayor Cynthia Falk said. Continued on page 13 INSIDE ► ai pROJECT bUSINESS PLAN, page 2 ► RILEY GIVES NYSEG A SHOCK, page 3 ► MORATORIUM ON SOLAR, WIND, page 3 ► FAITH LEADERS PAN 287(G), page 4 ► CCS WINTER SPORTS UPDATE, page 6 ► FRIENDS OF CHRISTMAS SERVE DINNER, page 7 ► DRUG STRIKES VS. DRONE STRIKES, page 12 ► HOLIDAY FUN! page 14 Follow Breaking News On

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Ralston Remembrance Roll Out COOPERSTOWN—On Sunday, December 7, Cooperstown Friends of the Parks volunteers gathered to roll out the Badger Park skating rink for the season. This year’s event was dedicated to the memory of longtime Friends of the Parks board member Bill Ralston, who passed away unexpectedly on July 5. Supporters ages 8-84 assisted with the roll out. A special thanks was extended to the Leo Club crew, who came out in force. Friends of the Parks is seeking volunteers to assist throughout the season with upkeep of the skate shack and ice maintenance. Those willing to donate an afternoon or two this winter are asked to contact Bruce Miller at millerbu@yahoo.com.

Program Makes Local Woman’s Dream Come True By MARIA GRISWOLD

NEW BERLIN veryone has dreams they want to accomplish in life, but some just don’t work out as planned. At Oneonta’s Heritage at The Plains at Parish Homestead senior care center, there is a program specifically to address this. And earlier this month, one of these previously unrealized dreams finally came true. The “Tree of Dreams” is a program facilitated through the staff at The Plains to provide those living in their care an opportunity to live their dream. “There is a committee of staff members, management

Photo by Heather Anderson

Emma Golden looks on as Eileen Crowell samples products at Golden’s paint bar on her “Tree of Dreams Day” outing.

and aides. We decide on an idea and brainstorm what we can do with them,” explained Heather Anderson, director of Magnolia Trails at The Plains, “Eileen Crowell loves to paint, but put her painting aside to raise her family. I thought, can we try to do something for her?” “We try every quarter to make someone’s dream come true,” Anderson shared. “Eileen said she would know she made it as an artist if her paintings were on display.” Crowell’s dream came true on the morning of Wednesday, December 3. She began her day with a private VIP tour of Golden Artist Colors in New Berlin. Continued on page 13

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

A-2 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

Eco-Yotta Presents Business Plan to Oneonta Board, Criticizes Process Community Resistance Grows More Organized Ahead of New Board Swearing-in By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL

ONEONTA co-Yotta Inc. executives Prashanth Gorantala and Tirusha Dave offered their most comprehensive presentation yet to Oneonta’s town board last Tuesday, December 9, hoping to earn requisite support for their controversial proposed artificial intelligence research center. Some board members expressed appreciation for the new depth of detail. The specially scheduled meeting for the presentation, which did not include public comment and lasted around two hours, covered some site plans, cash flow estimates, electricity and water usage, technologies that will be used, local partnerships, changes over the proposal’s history, and more. The presentation came after more than half a year of community resistance, exchanges between the town and developers, and several project revisions. The following day’s regularly scheduled town board meeting—the last of the year— was canceled due to snow. The same day, December 10, Eco-Yotta wrote to the board requesting they schedule a special meeting before the end of the year to take the next procedural step, noting “serious concern” of “bias” from January’s incoming town supervisor, Will Rivera, who has advocated against data centers coming to the area. At press time, a town board special meeting agenda for December 17 did not include the Eco-Yotta project. “I work for the people of

Oneonta, not developers,” Rivera said in a statement to AllOtsego. “I am open to all presentations related to economic development but as I have said from the beginning, I am against any harmful industrial project and illegal spot zoning. If EY wants to call that bias—then sure, it’s bias in favor of the town I was elected to represent.” “We have a simple and sincere vision to build a modern agricultural project that supports local farming, keeps jobs, collaborates with SUNY and other schools, and contributes to the long term economic health of the community,” Dave said in opening the presentation. In additional presentation statements shared only in writing with the board, EcoYotta laced into the “fairness and integrity of this process,” criticizing a petition circulated against the project and statements from Rivera describing the project as a “massive data center.” (At the time of the cited July 31 Facebook post, EcoYotta’s application documents referred to their project as a “data center,” language also used in a memorandum of understanding with SUNY Oneonta recently published by AllOtsego.) The company’s attorney, TJ Ruane of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, also submitted a letter alleging their application “is not being reviewed or considered in compliance with New York State Law or Town Code.” Eco-Yotta’s project aims to turn the approximately 10,000square-foot barn at 357 County Highway 9 into an AI research facility that uses the heat of computers to grow hydroponic

Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel

Eco-Yotta representatives gave a two-hour presentation to the Oneonta Town Board on December 9. It included a floor plan of the barn, pictured, with the green representing space to be used for hydroponics.

crops. They told the board that their project aims to cancel out wasted expenses through the combination, making hydroponic farming profitable by eliminating winter heating costs. The Planned Development District rezoning application for about 153 acres filed on October 3, Eco-Yotta’s third project version, said it would use 3,000,000 kWh of electricity per year. Gorantala told AllOtsego that number was a maximum, and a closer estimate is 584,000 kWh per year. At the presentation, Gorantala said the AI server cluster would use a maximum of 70 KW, likely closer to 30 or 40 KW on average. Gorantala also addressed water usage concerns, saying “there is no issue.” “We have well water here that’s more than sufficient. And because [the project] is a closed loop, everything, we are not using a lot of water,”

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Gorantala said. Gorantala and Dave said they will no longer be doing the first phase of the project, which would have tested heat output in the property’s home garage, because of lost time and their recent consultation with a company that already had the answers they would have been searching for. In response to concerns that the application would allow expansion across the large property, the married couple also said they would be amenable to formally restricting the project scope to the property’s existing buildings. A site plan they presented showed the hydroponic farming would take up a majority of space in the barn. By year five, Eco-Yotta’s business plan estimated 22 to 28 full-time jobs and more than 100 student internships. They estimated $4.5M+ in capital expenditures, building 1 MW+ in solar power, and a payback

period of 4.8 to 6.4 years. “I wish we had this months ago,” outgoing Democratic board member Kim Fierke said after the presentation. “We could have avoided a lot.” Resistance to the project has grown more organized. A community meeting was held to oppose data centers at the Oneonta First United Methodist Church on December 3 and a petition against the Eco-Yotta proposal, according to organizer Georgia Smith, reached 574 total signatures as of Monday, December 15. CooperstownOneonta Indivisible has also shared information about upcoming meetings on the proposal with its members. The petition calls for the town board to deny the project, reject “spot zoning,” implement a moratorium on similar projects, update town code “to address harmful industrial projects,” and ban “data centers and AI-related server facilities.”

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

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-3

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

Riley Introduces Bill to Limit Utility Executive Pay Bonuses By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

WASHINGTON, D.C. ep. Josh Riley, a Democrat representing upstate New York including Otsego County, has paired up with Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey to introduce legislation that would set new restrictions on pay bonuses for utility company CEOs. The brief bill, titled the “No Bonuses for Utility Executives Act,” would prohibit utility company executives from receiving bonuses when rates rise faster than inflation. It would also require that, when rates remain stable in a given year, bonuses cannot exceed 25 percent of the median compensation earned by non-executive employees. To assess this, the bill would require utility companies to submit wage and rate cost information to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission every fiscal year. “We have folks across upstate New

Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel

Rep. Josh Riley has made opposition to NYSEG’s proposed rate hike a top priority of his. He spoke at a public hearing held by the Public Service Commission in Oneonta on October 15.

York who are getting crushed with the NYSEG bill,” Riley told AllOtsego in an interview. “I’ve talked to parents

who have to cut back on the Christmas presents this year because they can barely keep things together with these

rising utility costs. And meanwhile, while we’re getting crushed, the corporate executives in Spain who own NYSEG are getting rich. “We’re not going to allow people to get rewarded for ripping us off anymore,” Riley said. Rep. Van Drew, who left the Democratic Party to join the GOP in 2020, said, “People are getting hit with higher and higher utility bills, and they are tired of seeing executives get big bonuses while they struggle to pay,” in a statement. “This bill is about basic fairness. In no world should executives be getting big bonuses if they are raising rates faster than inflation. This bill will make these companies think about the families they serve before they decide to jack up prices. I am proud to be a colead on this effort.” A press release for the bill called out the CEO of Avangrid, the owner of NYSEG, receiving a $10.6 million Continued on page 8

Cherry Valley Passes One-year Moratorium on Large-Scale Solar, Wind By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL

CHERRY VALLEY he Town of Cherry Valley’s board unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on large-scale solar farm and wind turbine projects at their meeting last Thursday, December 11.

Officials cited a need for more clarity in town law after ambiguities led to a lawsuit. “This Moratorium is intended to provide a temporary stop-gap measure that will temporarily prohibit the review and approval…of certain solar energy systems and wind energy conversion

systems,” the legislation’s “Purpose” section reads in part. The law says the town will use the year to draft amendments to existing town solar and wind laws, hold public hearings for them, and then adopt and file them. In 2024, East Springfield Solar LLC

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Garretson, who has served as supervisor for around two decades, said he could recall only one other instance of an applicable project being proposed. The moratorium does not impact small wind and solar projects as defined by current town laws, or projects which may have been approved prior to passage. The moratorium will end next December.

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Solar LLC discontinued its suit. An attorney who represented East Springfield Solar LLC did not respond to inquiries by press time. Town Supervisor Tom Garretson told AllOtsego the company eventually walked away from the project. “That gave us the perfect opportunity to put the moratorium in place,” Garretson said.

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proposed a 2.5 MW, 15-acre solar project in the town. Disputes over the meaning of language in existing town law governing such projects culminated in the company filing an Article 78 lawsuit. Early this year, court documents show, the town and company agreed to a temporary adjournment while the company pursued a variance. In April, East Springfield

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Perspectives

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

A-4 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL Editorial

LIFE SKETCHES

Christmas Hope

iven the deadly, antisemitic attack on Australia’s Bondi Beach this past Sunday as Jews gathered to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, the Islamic State ambush in Syria on Saturday that killed three Americans and injured three others, and the violent, hatefilled rhetoric being spewed here in the U.S. by both sides of the aisle that many say may well be leading to a second Civil War, we reprint this famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. According to the website Poem Analysis, “Christmas Bells,” written in 1863, contrasts war’s despair with Christmas hope, reflecting a longing for peace amid the Civil War’s discord. Andrew Walker writes: “One of the most significant events that [Longfellow] would have experienced during his lifetime was the severe division of his home country, in the form of the American Civil War. Longfellow himself supported the abolitionist cause, but reportedly wished for peace above all in his home...” Christmas Bells I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men! It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.” We, too, pray for peace and good will this holiday season. It’s not too late for a meeting of the minds here in the U.S. Longfellow reminds us what’s at stake if we cannot come together as a nation. From Flower-de-Luce (George Routledge and Sons, 1867) by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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

TERRY BERKSON

Not Far from the Tree...

’ve been thinking a lot about my daughter Elizabeth lately—mainly in connection with bicycles. I’ve always had a thing for the bicycle and the freedom it offered me as a kid in Brooklyn which, for the most part, is as flat as Holland. Up here in Richfield on the hill, it’s easy to leave and hard to peddle back but worth the effort. In the city, riding was a breeze and a threespeed touring bike was all you needed to get around. In recent years I grew to appreciate that it was good exercise, and with the absence of a motor, a silent, easy peddle down Ocean Parkway was almost like flying. Naturally I wanted to pass on my love of riding to my kids, so I bought my daughter a little twowheeler for her fourth birthday and, to my delight, she mastered it almost immediately. Later, her brother Jonathan would inherit the bike with a crossbar installed. On the Christmas of her tenth year, I went to Sears and bought Elizabeth a full size, 26-inch, candy-apple red touring bike and stood it under the tree. As a family, we had already done a lot of riding and I thought she’d be delighted to get a full-size bike like Alice’s. To my chagrin, she was disappointed because it wasn’t a 10-speed with one of those minimal seats and raked handle bars. “I want a bike like Shari’s across the street,” Elizabeth complained. “Does she know how to shift it?” I asked. I’d always see people having trouble with the chains and sprockets on those bikes. “No,” my daughter admitted. “Then she only has a one-speed and you have three,” I reasoned. “A three-speed’s for old people,” Liz countered. At my insistence, we went for several outings—not without a lot of complaints. After a while, Liz stopped riding altogether. I held to my guns knowing that, in Brooklyn, a mountain bike or a 10-speed was overkill, a kind

of fad. In my mind, the world was being taken over by gimmicks and gadgetry. Just to tune into a radio station in our “new” car now required studying the owner’s manual. The candy-apple red Raleigh remained in the basement for several years, gathering dust. Eventually, Elizabeth got her 10speed as a gift from a sympathetic boyfriend. Occasionally we’d go for a ride together. Ironically, she struggled with the gears and complained that the seat wasn’t comfortable. In that stage of her life she never conceded on many matters upon which we disagreed. For a long time we didn’t seem to like each other. Once, while we were living in temporary quarters during the transition to Richfield Springs, Liz accompanied me to the post office in Coney Island where I was mailing out a manuscript. In Brooklyn, you can’t enter a store and leave your bike outside and expect it to be there when you get back, so I left my daughter standing on the sidewalk with the bikes. Minutes later, from the postal line, I looked out the window to see a man push the bikes off the sidewalk, making them crash into the gutter as Liz stood by in shock. Then the man, while yelling that bikes are not supposed to be Continued on page 9

Letters to the editor … In their opinION

Local Faith Communities Address 287(g) Agreement As leaders from diverse faith communities across Otsego County, we write to share our concern regarding the agreement between the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [a warrant service agreement as part of the 287(g) program with ICE on October 17, 2025]. We come from many different traditions and backgrounds, but we all share a commitment to uphold the dignity of all people and a moral imperative to protect the vulnerable. It is our shared values that guide our response to this policy. We recognize the importance of public safety; however, we believe that this agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and ICE raises ethical, communal and humanitarian concerns. We share a concern that this agreement risks increasing fear and mistrust directed at our immigrant and refugee communities. While the announced agreement applies to people already held in custody, the impact is clear: Partnerships between local law enforcement and ICE discourage immigrants (both documented and undocumented) from reporting crimes, seeking help, or cooperating with authorities. We cannot work to create a safe community when members of our community fear local law enforcement. We believe that this policy blurs the line between local policing and federal immigration enforcement. Our county’s law enforcement officers are trained and entrusted to protect the local community. Expanding their role into

federal immigration functions, in any capacity, undermines the perception of impartiality that is essential for effective community policing. Additionally, we worry that families and individuals who are already living in the margins are placed at greater risk. Detaining individuals for up to 48 hours, solely for the purpose of immigration transfer, can have devastating consequences for households who depend on that individual for income, care or stability. Our faith traditions call on us to consider the human impact of policy decisions, especially on those who are least able to bear the burdens. Finally, we believe that this agreement does not reflect the values of welcome, justice and compassion that many in our community hold dear. Otsego County has long been a place that values community, cooperation and mutual support. Policies that separate families and increase the vulnerability of already marginalized residents stand in tension with those values. We respectfully ask the Sheriff’s Office to reconsider participation in this program, or at the very least, to engage in transparent public dialogue about its implications. We urge you to meet with community leaders, immigrant advocates and local residents to better understand the broad concerns that have been raised. As faith community leaders, we pledge to continue to work for the wellbeing of all our neighbors. We stand with those who are afraid and unseen. We continue to advocate for policies that build trust, strengthen relationships and ensure that every person in Otsego County is treated with dignity. Continued on page 11

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL A-5

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025 news from the noteworthy

OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTSEGO

‘Safety Is Not a Luxury—It’s a Right’

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

160 YEARS AGO New York Freedman’s Relief Association—A few ladies in Cooperstown have done something through this organization for the relief of suffering in the South. One barrel containing 75 substantial new garments for women’s wear, and one barrel of secondhand clothing and shoes, have been forwarded. This has required an outlay of only $30. A collection on Thanksgiving Day, taken at the united service in the Presbyterian Church, produced $65, for which, double the amount in material for garments will be secured from the Association in New York. Ladies willing to make up this material can be furnished with it on and after Monday next, the 18th inst. at the residence of Mrs. C.K. McHarg, where any second-hand clothing, blankets, bedding, &c., may be sent. These articles are earnestly solicited from those having them to spare. Contributions in money will also be forwarded, or used as directed. Mrs. C.K. McHarg, Associate Member for Otsego County. December 15, 1865

110 YEARS AGO Within the next week or two the floor of the new garage in the rear of the First National Bank building will be flooded and an ice skating rink will be maintained there during the remainder of the winter. Waldo C. Johnston informed a representative of The Freeman’s Journal Tuesday that as soon as the machine shop is completed that the work of flooding the rink will begin and rushed as much as possible that the village skaters may enjoy this sport during the Christmas holidays. During the day an admission of 10 cents will be charged and in the evening 25 cents will be the price. The hours will probably be from 9 to 12, from 2 to 6 and from 7 to 10 or 11. Hockey will not be permitted on the rink in the afternoon or evening. Boys and girls under 18 will not be permitted in the evening. December 15, 1915

60 YEARS AGO Seaman Radioman Robert K. Murdock, U.S. Coast Guard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Murdock of Hartwick, has completed the six-month Radioman School at the Coast Guard Training Center, Groton, Connecticut. He received training in the operation, maintenance and repair of radio receivers and transmitters, radio direction finders, tele-typewriters, telephone and telegraph circuits and communication antennas. He also became familiar with distress procedures and the Merchant Vessel Reporting System Communications. He has been assigned to a Coast Guard unit for further training. December 15, 1965

35 YEARS AGO Gallery 53 Artworks of Cooperstown has taken an unprecedented step toward expanding the audience for contemporary art by naming two local students to its Board of Directors. Elizabeth Cunningham, a senior, and Christina Ives, a junior, both of Cooperstown High School joined the board at its annual meeting in July. Student members were added to the board so the local student community could become more aware of the Gallery’s offerings. December 12, 1990

20 YEARS AGO Following a tumultuous year of angry accusations, heated meetings, and legal battles, leadership of the Fly Creek Fire District Board changed hands without incident on Tuesday night, December 13, as a new slate of Commissioners was elected. Although the sudden resignation on Monday of board secretary Yvonne Chandler Colby, guardian of the election petitions, threatened to throw a wrench into the works, board Chair Julie Pernat took control, making certain the proper procedures were followed, and that the election went smoothly. December 16, 2005 Solution: “American Portrait” (December 11)

he holiday season arrives each year wrapped in warm lights, cheerful music and families gathered around a table. But beneath the festive surface of celebration lies a quieter, more painful reality for many—one that rarely makes it into the greeting cards. For countless individuals, December’s cheer is overshadowed by fear. Domestic violence, already a widespread crisis, often intensifies during the very season that promises peace. It’s not hard to understand why. The holidays compress emotional, financial and social pressures into a matter of weeks. Budgets stretch, expectations skyrocket, schedules overflow and unresolved family tensions resurface. For people in abusive relationships, these stressors can ignite explosive situations. More time spent at home, often in cramped spaces or under tight financial strain, can increase opportunities for control, conflict or violence. Yet the holiday season also has a way of silencing victims. When social narratives insist that this is “the happiest time of the year,” admitting abuse can feel like breaking an unwritten rule. Many survivors report staying quiet to avoid “ruining the holidays” for their children or extended family. Others find themselves isolated as schools close, workplaces slow down and support networks are traveling. Data collected by

the National Domestic Violence Hotline shows that over the past several years the volume of hotline calls drastically decrease during the holidays. For example, incoming calls drop by roughly half on Thanksgiving and decrease by an average of 53 percent on Christmas Day. Complicating matters further is the cultural emphasis on togetherness. Even well-intentioned loved ones may encourage victims to “keep the peace” or “just get through the holidays,” not realizing that these suggestions can deepen danger. Abuse thrives in secrecy and shame, and both tend to spike when the world is busy celebrating. But the story doesn’t have to end there. The holidays can also be a time of noticing, checking in and extending compassion. Friends and relatives who see someone withdrawing, making excuses for a partner, or showing signs of fear can gently open the door to conversation. A simple “I’m here if you need me,” offered without judgment or pressure, can be more powerful than it sounds. Perhaps the most important message we can send during this season is that no one is obligated to endure harm for the sake of holiday harmony. Safety is not a luxury—it is a right. The glow of the season means little if it leaves some in the shadows. So as we exchange gifts and gather around Continued on page 9

By MERL REAGLE

2/3 Decaf, 1/3 Caf… Wake me when it’s over NOTE: There seems to be no official—or even slangy—name for my favorite hot drink— “mostly decaf with a smidge of caf,” for those of us who want just a mini-boost in the morning. Hence, some suggestions to remedy this travesty. ACROSS 1 Notable no-show 6 B anco de Mexico concern 10 Over-50 org. 14 Alley org. 17 First name in David Copperfield 18 “... against ___ of troubles” (Shak.) 19 River through Berlin 20 Bro. or sis, e.g. 21 “Decaf with a bit of regular” 23 See 21 Across 25 Dave’s electronic problem 26 Fearsome fight 27 Coronets 29 Ill-mannered sort 30 King of Crete 32 See 21 Across 36 See 21 Across 38 Of insect wings 39 Dispenser candy 40 Nautical term 41 Nicosia’s island 44 Newton need 47 “Babalu” singer 49 See 21 Across 53 See 21 Across 56 Beach, in Baja 57 George W., e.g. 58 Crater output 59 Regret 60 El stop: abbr. 61 “You don’t know the half ___” 64 Believed 65 See 21 Across 69 Pricey ride 72 School with housemasters 73 Caesar’s first 74 Negative vote 75 Bravo or Lobo intro 78 Warrior constellation 80 Kingly 82 See 21 Across 84 See 21 Across 88 Bread boxes? 89 “We’re after the same rainbow’s ___” (“Moon River”) 90 1960s dance 91 Crunch, for one 94 Hyde’s creator: init.

95 Go on a tirade 96 See 21 Across 99 See 21 Across 105 Actor George 106 Trumpet, e.g. 107 Vaqueros’ ropes 109 Where a hurler hurts 110 Pose (as) 113 See 21 Across 117 See 21 Across 120 Old covert org. 121 Actor James 122 Concerning 123 Perrier rival 124 After all this time 125 Staying power 126 Slick-road peril 127 Sugar ___ DOWN 1 Talk effusively 2 Sea predator 3 Ivory rival 4 Pole for propulsion 5 Diana Ross musical 6 Employee list 7 Key to get out? 8 Driver’s ___ 9 Loutlike 10 Imitative 11 Sandy’s assent 12 Play critic? 13 Site of sermon squirmin’ 14 Previous 15 Make obscure 16 Actress Woodard 19 Type of beetle or party

22 See 112 Down 23 ___ Lanka 24 Girder type 28 Different: abbr. 30 Elevator sounds 31 Seven, in Seville 33 Wyndham Lewis novel 34 Muddy footprint, maybe 35 Attacks 36 Bus stop amenity 37 Metro maker 39 Yanks or Mets, e.g. 41 Dance piece? 42 Went up and down on a diet 43 B ig name in sewing machines 44 Prix ___ 45 Slanted, as writing: abbr. 46 Ibsen character 47 Coach Parseghian 48 Nothing 50 ___-date (current) 51 O f a word group, in grammar 52 Departed 54 I t may get stuck in your head 55 Dry run 60 Source of strength 62 Region of S Morocco 63 Stool sitter? 65 Excellent, in a way 66 Greek island 67 Window feature 68 Toast choices

69 Ore source 70 Ore content 71 Balmy 75 NRA member? 76 Frosts 77 Green-lights 79 “Out of the question” 81 Moo goo ___ pan 82 Tiffs 83 Former Pope’s real name 85 Glass form 86 S chool bus driver on The Simpsons 87 Mo. in which Houdini died 92 Happy 93 Actress Pola 95 Actor Santoni 96 Allow 97 Gulf War side 98 Stuck, in a way 99 “Rapture!” 100 Hopeless 101 Painter Max 102 Gives the goadahead 103 Fish by the foot 104 Styron’s Turner 108 Doomed 110 ___ reflux 111 African nation 112 With 22 Down, Taxi costar 114 Night predator 115 Future trout 116 Park exercise 118 Jackie’s second 119 Blastoderm sites

A-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

NEWS BRIEFS

CCS Winter Sports Kick Off COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown boys basketball opened the season with a 74-63 non-division victory over Utica Academy of Science on Thursday, December 4. Miles Nelen led the Hawkeyes with 33 points, followed by Jackson Crisman with 19 points and 19 rebounds. Brody Murdock recorded 19 points. The game was tied at 37 at the half, but Cooperstown went 20-7 in the third quarter. Nelen once again led the way with 33 points in Cooperstown’s 75-60 victory over Mount Academy on Saturday, December 13. Christian Lawson scored 11 points, followed by Murdock’s 10. Crisman recorded eight points and 14 rebounds. Crisman put together a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in Cooperstown’s 73-41 win over Waterville on Monday, December 15. Nelen scored 28 points, followed by Murdock with 13 and Cooper Coleman with five. Lawson put away five points and had four assists and four steals. Cooperstown moved to 3-0 for the season and will face Sherburne-Earlville on Thursday, December 17. The girls basketball team dropped their season opener 70-32 to Delaware Academy at the Dick Alwine Tournament on Friday, December 5. Lanie Nelen led the Hawkeyes with 18 points, followed by Deanna Wolfe with nine and Sophia Johnson with five. Cooperstown defeated the Bulldogs in last year’s regional championship game. The Hawkeyes fell 74-34 to Unatego in the second round of the Alwine Tournament on Saturday, December 6. Nelen scored 14 points and made the All-Tournament Team. Eighth-grader Layla Zylinski scored 10 points in her varsity debut. Cooperstown lost a non-division game to Dolgeville 67-42 on Monday, December 8. Nelen set a new personal record of 24 points. Wolfe and Johnson scored six points each. Nelen broke her record the next game, putting away 27 points in Cooperstown’s 74-44 loss to Jefferson/Stamford. She also had eight steals. Britten Hill added nine points for the Hawkeyes. Cooperstown volleyball shut out Westmoreland 3-0 in their division season opener on Thursday, December 4. Jensen Merwin recorded nine aces and 10 digs. Chloe Jubar had five kills. Hayden Merwin had 15 assists. Joey Paterno bowled 629 to lead Cooperstown bowling to a 5-0 shutout of Clinton on Thursday, December 4. He recorded a 172-225-232 series, followed by Theo Ritter with 575 and Wyatt Butts with 571. The Hawkeyes had a total of 2,931 pins to Clinton’s 1,531. Paterno and Kaden Card each bowled a 584 in Cooperstown’s 5-0 sweep of New York Mills on Tuesday, December 9. The Hawkeyes totaled 2,873 pins to New York Mills’ 1,995. Cooperstown/Milford wrestling defeated Canajoharie/Fort Plain 60-24 and fell 47-35 to Little Falls in a tri-meet on Wednesday, December 3. Kaleb Chase, Max Koffer and Andrew Spaulding got double wins. Thomas Geertgens, Matt Duszynski and Adam Cole beat their opponents from Canajoharie/Fort Plain, and Alissa Stone, Max Pelcer, Emma Lamont, and Mathias Pawlowski got forfeit wins. Pelcer, Chase, Koffer and Spaulding got wins against Little Falls. Pawlowski and Duszynski got forfeit wins. Pelcer and Rowan Brown each placed second for Cooperstown/Milford at the Captain Tony Bailey Memorial Tournament in Boonville on Saturday, December 6. Pelcer went 4-1 at 132 pounds and lost in the final to Jake Burton of Marcellus. Brown went 4-1 at 118 pounds and dropped the final to Adirondack’s Seth Strain.

Anti-bullying Work Continues LAURENS—Josiah McKeon of youth leadership team Sweethearts and Heroes returned to Laurens Central School for the second round of antibullying work on October 29 and 30. For the past 16 years, Sweethearts and Heroes has presented its “stop, drop and roll of bullying” to more than 2.5 million students across the U.S. and Canada. It aims to prevent hopelessness, bullying, and suicide by providing dynamic, inspiring content that promotes social skills like empathy and teamwork. For more information or a complete list of services, visit linktr.ee/sweetheartsandheroes.

Artists Featured at Open House MIDDLEFIELD—The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Road, will host a holiday open house for its “Something Old, Something New” show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 20. Artists-inresidence Enrique Bayron Perez and Ada Yonenaka will display some of their work from the show and discuss their technique. Festive refreshments will be served. The show is open each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and other days by appointment until January 17. For more information or to schedule a viewing, contact leartgarage@gmail.com or (607) 547-5327.

BCBS Names Award Winners ROCHESTER—Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced its 2025 Health Equity Innovation Awards, an annual funding opportunity that supports Upstate New York nonprofit organizations working to eliminate health disparities and improve outcomes, on December 2. Twenty-two organizations in the Rochester, Central New York, Southern Tier and North Country regions were

selected from a pool of nearly 300 applicants. Local recipients include Bassett Medical Center’s Bassett Cancer Institute Partnership, the Madison County Rural Health Council, the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees and the St. Lawrence Health Foundation. For more information, visit ExcellusBCBS.com/community.

Holiday Market, Stroll is Tues. COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market will hold a special Holiday Market with more than 20 local vendors from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23. It will feature free hot cider, a makeand-take craft station for children, gift wrapping and live music. Alongside the farmers’ market, many Main Street retailers will have extended hours until 7 p.m. for the annual Cooperstown Stroll. Cooperstown Art Association will have extra hours for its Holiday Show and Sale and will offer prosecco and treats. Santa’s Cottage will be open from 3-5 p.m. A caroling group will leave Pioneer Park at 5:30.

NYS Gas Prices Keep Sliding UTICA—The average price of a gallon of gasoline in New York State dropped two cents to $3.09 over the week ending Monday, December 15, AAA Northeast announced. Crude oil prices dropped to seven-month lows over warnings of serious oversupply in the new year, overshadowing price increases due to tensions between the Trump administration and Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven petroleum reserves. Domestic inventories increased by 6.4 million barrels for a total growth of 15.75 million over the last month, placing significant downward pressure on prices. Demand ticked up slightly but remains nearly five percent below comparable periods in 2024 and 2023. Gas prices nationwide are flirting with their lowest point since 2021. Today’s New York price is four cents lower than a month ago and five cents lower than this week last year. To view the full report, visit gasprices.aaa.com.

RAG Announces Art Program STAMFORD—The Roxbury Arts Group’s Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main Street in Stamford, will host a free weekly creative project from 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from January 14 to April 8. Intended to dispel winter doldrums, the program will teach participants to explore their creativity and practice mindfulness. All materials are provided and no registration is necessary. For more information, visit roxburyartsgroup.org.

State Celebrates Local Mural ALBANY—New York State celebrated Mural Day statewide on December 12, highlighting 50 public works of art across the state. The celebration was a program of Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals, or CHARM, a program of the governor’s office supported by the state legislature. Among the works recognized was a West Oneonta mural by local tattoo artist James McIlroy.

Grant Assistance Available EARLVILLE—Wave Farm’s Media Arts Assistance Fund for Artists, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, is open for application through January 15. MAAF provides up to $7,500.00 in support for the completion or public presentation of new or recent artwork in all genres of sound and moving image art, including emergent technologies. There is no application fee. For more information or to apply, visit wavefarm.org/grantsservices/nysca-regrants/maaf-artists/about.

Concession Volunteers Needed COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Sports Booster Club seeks concession stand volunteers for junior varsity and varsity boys basketball and volleyball home games, as well as for three major annual tournaments. The Varsity Wrestling Invitational will be held on Saturday, December 27, followed by the Dick White Holiday Madness Basketball Tournament on Monday and Tuesday, December 29 and 30. Students are encouraged to work tournament shifts, which count toward Leadership Training for Athletes community service hours. Beyond volunteering, there will be food donation opportunities from December 26-30. For more information or to sign up, contact an LTA member or visit tinyurl. com/CCSSnackShack.

‘Miracle on Ice’ Honored WASHINGTON, DC—President Donald Trump and North Country U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik formally ordered three Congressional Gold Medals for the “Miracle on Ice” hockey team. This team of underdogs, mostly amateur undergraduates, scored a stunning upset 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics, at the height of late Cold War tensions and the USSR’s 20-year dominance of Olympic hockey. The Americans secured the gold medal four days later with a 4-2 victory against Finland. A majority of surviving team members attended the White House signing ceremony. The Congressional medals will be displayed at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado, and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Minnesota. According to a release, Stefanik first

introduced this legislation in September 2024, and her reintroduced bill passed with bipartisan support in September.

NYSEG Adds Mobile Substations BINGHAMTON—New York State Electric and Gas announced it has commissioned two new mobile substations, bringing the fleet it shares with its sister company, Rochester Gas and Electric, to 24 active vehicles. The extra capacity will further enhance safety and reliability for nearly 1.3 million electric customers across the state. Mobile substations are used to bypass permanent ones during maintenance or unplanned outages. For more information, visit nyseg.com.

USPS Issues Safety Reminders NEW YORK STATE—The U.S. Postal Service reminds all customers and communities to carefully observe winter safety guidelines so they can ensure prompt and safe delivery. Residents should carefully remove enough snow from roadside boxes to allow couriers to approach, access and leave without needing to back up or exit the vehicle. Walkways, steps, and handrails must be kept clear and in good condition, and overhangs should be free of ice and snow. For more information, visit USPS.com.

No-wake Buoys Removed COOPERSTOWN—Divers and researchers from SUNY Oneonta’s Biological Field Station officially declared Otsego Lake closed for the season on Sunday, December 14. Teams of BFS volunteers removed the last remaining no-wake zone buoys from Springfield Public Landing and Cooperstown’s Lakefront, noting the recent appearance of autumn ice. The dives went well despite 17 degree temperatures and 10 mph winds.

Virtual Senior Center Is Free ALBANY—The New York State Office for the Aging and Selfhelp Community Services announced free access to Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center for all individuals age 60 and up in New York. The VSC includes more than 400 monthly live programs, events, and features that help foster connections for older adults who are homebound or simply wish to explore a wider community. Access is available at vscm.selfhelp.net; register as a participant by calling (718) 559-4370.

Drum Circle, Church Partner ONEONTA—Oneonta Drum Circle, Body and Soul Dance, and the First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta announced a new set of collaborative programs to support local food pantries and bring the community together. Beginning on January 10, Drum Circle will meet from 2-5 p.m. on every other Saturday at the church, 296 Main Street. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring cash or non-perishable food donations. Body and Soul Dance will hold weekly dance gatherings at the church from 2-4 p.m. on Saturdays, starting on January 3. Admission is also by donation to the church’s food program.

Buck, Hoynes To Be Inducted COOPERSTOWN—The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced that Joe Buck, who called more World Series and All-Star Games than any other broadcaster in television history, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. He is the 50th winner of this highest award in baseball broadcasting and joins his father, 1987 winner Jack Buck, as the only father/son duo to win. At 56 years old, he is the second-youngest recipient in the history of the award. Paul Hoynes was named the 77th winner of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Career Excellence Award. He has covered more than 6,000 games and is still at work deep into his fifth decade as a beat writer. Buck and Hoynes will be honored during Induction Weekend, July 24-27. For more information, visit baseballhall. org/our-stories.

Badalian Elected IUGA Chair COOPERSTOWN—Dr. Samuel Badalian, Bassett Healthcare Network’s Chief of Women’s Health, was elected chair of the Membership Committee of the International Urogynecology Association on December 9, effective January 1. He was named to his current position in 2019 and has demonstrated leadership in expanding access to urogynecological services in rural areas. Badalian earned a prestigious Fulbright Award in 2021 for his work establishing urogynecology fellowships in Armenia, helping to establish the discipline as an official subspecialty in that country.

CAA Holiday Sale Ends Dec. 23 COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown Art Association’s annual Holiday Show and Sale will close after Tuesday, December 23, although it will be open until 7 p.m. on its final night in conjunction with the Cooperstown Holiday Stroll. The evening will feature festive treats, prosecco for visitors 21 and older, and a raffle for a 2026 CAA Family Membership. The gallery is open for regular hours, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, until then. Following the show, CAA will close for the season until February 7.

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-7

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

Friends of Christmas To Host 38th Community Christmas Dinner for individuals and families across the region. The annual event provides free holiday meals—served in person, via pick-up, or delivered to homes—for anyone who is alone, food-insecure or simply in need of connection during the Christmas season. The Friends of Christmas organization also announced that it has received a $10,000.00 charitable contribution from Chobani, helping to cover ingredients and meal production costs, a warm winter hat for each guest, and additional funds designated local

a warm meal and a sense of belonging during the holidays. Moments like these remind us that when we come together, we all grow stronger.” This contribution reflects Chobani’s continued commitment to fighting food insecurity and strengthening communities across Central New York, officials said. Meal deliveries will begin at 10 a.m. on

December 20. Pick-up meals will be ready at 11:30 a.m., with inperson dining from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Vegan options are available. Those interested can RSVP at www.friendsofchristmas.org or by calling (607) 431-8025. Volunteers are needed December 17-20 for meal preparation, packaging, deliveries, set-up, serving and clean-up.

By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL

D CAIRO

emocrat Mary Finneran, a retired educator, artist, union member, and community organizer, has announced her candidacy for the 102nd District for the New York State Assembly. The seat is being vacated by Republican Assemblyman Chris Tague, who is running for State Senate District 51. Finneran lost the 2024 primary for the Democratic nomination by 77 votes to Janet Tweed, a former Oneonta city councilmember who also recently announced her candidacy for the seat.

Tim Smith, Commercial Sales; Charlene Donnell, Finance Manager/Sales; Stephen Huffman, Manager/Sales; Not pictured: Tanner Huffman, Owner/Installer

“I will bring a fresh perspective to the New York State Legislature,” Finneran said in a press release. “I will fight for issues pertinent to rural and Upstate New Yorkers. As an assembly member some of my concerns will be food insecurity, inadequate health care services, and lack of affordable housing. I will work to strengthen our agricultural sector, road and highway infrastructure, and will advocate for those most in need.” Finneran said she has served five years on the Cairo Library Board and 11 years on the executive committee of the CoxsackieAthens Teachers Association, where she was an art teacher. The release also said she was elected to serve five years on the

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Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, and currently serves as the environmental committee chair for New York Progressive Action Network. She also said she is a dues-paying member of the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. “I’ve lobbied for years in Albany for the NY Health Act (Medicare for All), to protect funding for public libraries and education, as well as for bills related to protecting the people from climate change, pollution, and toxins, such as PFAS from sewage sludge spreading in our farm fields and elsewhere,” she said. “I will bring a local voice to local issues including on renewContinued on page 9

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Individuals, families and workplace teams are welcome, officials said. Founded at St. Mary’s Church in 1987 and now presented by Saturday’s Bread, the Friends of Christmas Community Dinner has served as a beacon of hope and compassion for nearly four decades. Learn more, volunteer or donate at www.friendsofchristmas.org.

Finneran Launches 102nd District Assembly Campaign

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from your friends at Carpets Plus!

for food pantries. “Community is at the heart of everything we do at Chobani, and the Friends of Christmas Community Dinner represents the very best of what it means to take care of one another,” said Don Brown, senior community manager at Chobani. “We’re grateful to support this cherished Oneonta tradition and help ensure everyone has

ONEONTA his year’s Friends of Christmas Community Dinner presented by Saturday’s Bread, a longstanding Oneonta tradition that ensures no one spends the holidays alone or without a warm, festive meal, will take place on Saturday, December 20 at the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut Street. In-person dining will be offered for this year’s Italian-themed dinner from 12:30-2:30 p.m., with pick-up and meal deliveries available throughout the morning

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A-8 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Riley Continued from page 3 bonus last year. The proposed legislation comes amid NYSEG’s request to increase its monthly bill by around

23.7 percent for a typical ratepayer, according to the New York State Department of Public Service. At public hearings hosted by the New York State Public Service Commission, the body

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

responsible for deciding whether to approve the rate hike, Riley has spoken against it. The rate hike proposal has drawn bipartisan opposition from many elected officials and community members in the area,

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including Republican State Senator Peter Oberacker, who is challenging Riley for the NY-19 seat. Riley doubted how much of ratepayers’ money is actually going to upgrades. “Where are the upgrades? Seems like every time the wind blows, the lights go out. You can’t just keep coming to us and saying you need money for the same thing over and over when we’re not seeing results.” Riley argued the model of electricity cooperatives, where consumers are shareholders in a utility, is “a model that we should seriously look at.” “This is a case of cherry picking facts for effect,” NYSEG and RG&E spokesperson Shelby Cohen said in a statement, “targeting NYSEG to score political points rather than dealing with the real drivers of utility bill increases: unregulated supply prices, passthrough costs from the state for policies and

programs that get socialized to all ratepayers, and the very real need to upgrade an aging grid (as inflation drives up the cost of materials and parts).” Cohen said that the company’s rate increases only happen through the PSC process and that “65% of charges on our customers’ bills are passthrough costs that go directly to suppliers and statewide programs.” Cohen said the portion that goes to NYSEG is invested in “long overdue” grid upgrades. She added that statements about sending profits overseas are “not accurate” and that the “fact is that from 2015-2024, NYSEG received a net $990 million in capital contributions from our corporate parent, not the other way around. “Without that support, we simply would not be able to sustain daily operations,” Cohen wrote. Riley hopes that the growing national concern over electricity prices and the bipartisan

nature of the bill will bring it support. At the same time, he said, “I think we are up against an entrenched machine that is run by special interests.” The “big utility monopolies” make “hundreds of millions of dollars in profits off of us” and then “shove it in the pockets of politicians with corporate PAC [Political Action Committee] checks.” Riley said he does not take any corporate PAC money. Asked whether the bill’s bonus limits being tied to worker pay was a policy he would consider more broadly to combat wealth inequality, Riley told AllOtsego “all options need to be on the table. “We are living in an economy right now where the top 1 percent have more wealth than the entire middle class combined, and the economy is rigged against people, because the political system is rigged against people,” he said.

Foods Recalled for Peanut Contamination NEW YORK STATE—Lion of Judah African Foods Wholesale of Mount Vernon issued a recall for its 700g plastic packages of “Lion of Judah Tom Brown Breakfast Cereal” due to contamination with undeclared peanuts. People with allergies risk serious or life-threatening reactions if they consume this product. No illnesses have been reported. The affected product was sold under batch number TB 012/25 BEST BEFORE April 2028. Customers who purchased this item should return it to the place of sale for a full refund. South Asian Food Inc. of Maspeth, Queens issued a similar recall for its 12.34 oz. packages of Bengal King Jhal Chanachur food treats. Affected products were in lot B No. HCNCU1205/24, with an expiration date of June 2026 and UPC code 8941153046243. They should be returned to the point of purchase for a full refund.

We wish you all the very best for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2026! The staff of The Freeman’s Journal, Hometown Oneonta and www.AllOTSEGO.com

May your holidays be filled with good news and joy!

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025 24/7 at Opportunities for Otsego at (607) 432-4855 or via e-mail at vip@ ofoinc.org. Tanya Shalor is the chief executive officer of Opportunities for Otsego.

Years before, in high school, Liz told me about something that Continued from page 5 had occurred in her art tables, may we class. The teacher had remember those for given an assignment. whom this time is They were supposed hardest. May we listen to draw something and without judgment, offer then scribe a theme help without hesitabelow the picture. tion, and work toward a She couldn’t think of world where the holianything to draw and Continued from page 4 days—and every day— just kept looking out on the sidewalk, began are safe for all. the window or watching This year our commu- to push Liz toward the what a boy in the next curb. Instinctively, I left row was doing. nity has witnessed the the line, went outside effects of domestic “He was as busy as a and swift-kicked the violence during the beaver and suggested I man in the butt! Twice! holiday season firstget to work,” Liz said. A hefty Black woman hand. With the tragic Toward the end of who was getting out of loss of SUNY Oneonta the period, with only her car and had seen the minutes to spare, she freshman Emily whole thing declared, Finn the day before thought of a song we “Right on, brother!” as Thanksgiving, I urge used to sing in the car you all to do your part in the attacker, stripped of on trips. That was before shining the light on those his dignity, walked away there were iPods and rubbing his rump. being left in the dark. headphones. Liz drew a “Dad, the bikes are If you or someone palm tree with several okay!” Liz said to me you know feels unsafe, coconuts lying on the when she saw how reaching out to a trusted ground below. Then she excited I was, but of individual or a professubtitled the drawing course it wasn’t the bikes “I’ve Got A Lovely sional resource is an act I was concerned about. of courage, not disrupBunch Of Coconuts!” I couldn’t believe how tion. Abuse does not The teacher loved it protective I felt for this pause for the holidays, and gave her an A. The kid with whom I was and neither should kid in the next row, who support. Help is available always knocking heads. was working hard for the

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whole session, looked at Liz’s mark incredulously while holding a B in his hand. Liz had had an eleventh hour stroke of creativity. Now, 20 Christmases later, my daughter lives with her husband Jay in Pinehurst, North Carolina. When they were about to move down there, I went to the basement to dig out the red Raleigh but, sadly, it was gone, probably given away some time when I wasn’t around. The terrain in Pinehurst is mostly flat, like in Brooklyn, and they often go bike riding. My daughter calls us at the drop of a hat on yet another gadget, the cell phone. Even I have abandoned the typewriter for a temperamental computer. Today, in the eleventh hour of hope for a simpler world, my daughter called me with what amounted to my first Christmas gift. It made my mind bend an adage that a good friend once

quoted to me in regard to my children: “The coconut doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Liz was out riding with her husband and just called to say, “Dad, I just love my old three-speed!” 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.”

Campaign Continued from page 7 ables siting and eminent domain; I believe this issue can be resolved while finding ways to satisfy the energy needs of all. Joni Mitchell said, ‘Pave paradise put in a parking lot’ decades ago; I say ‘Take that parking lot, put in a solar field.’” The release said the Cairo Democratic Committee, of which

Finneran is chair, has endorsed her candidacy. “I’ve rallied and lobbied so often at the capitol complex that it feels like a second home; I look forward to making it my work home when elected to the assembly,” Finneran said. In a statement to AllOtsego, Tweed welcomed Finneran to the race and said she looks “forward to sharing our visions with the voters of the 102nd assembly district. People I’ve spoken with are concerned about healthcare access, daily affordability, and economic opportunity, among many other things. There are so many steps we can take here in New York to protect our residents and prioritize people over corporate profits.” The 102nd District includes Schoharie and Greene counties and parts of Delaware, Otsego, and Albany counties. The district includes northeastern parts of Otsego County, including Cooperstown.

OBITUARIES Herbert James Kozak 1942-2025 COOPERSTOWN— Herbert James Kozak (Jim), 83, of Cooperstown, New York passed away at Bassett Medical Center on Thursday, December 4, 2025. Jim was born March 25, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois to Herbert James and Therese Marie (Fischer) Kozak. After high school, Jim attended art school and worked in the hotel business. He worked his way up the ladder at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois and later went on to be catering manager at Sawmill Creek Resort in Sandusky, Ohio and finally became the director of conference services at The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, New

Photo provided

herbert james kozak

York, where he worked until retirement. Jim’s hobby was sketching and painting, and his house was decorated with some of his artwork. His family home

in Des Plaines, Illinois contained a lovely scenic mural covering a living room wall painted by Jim. In the words of his gracious employer, Jane Forbes Clark, “Jim was incredibly kind and a gentleman to the core.” He enjoyed cherished time with former coworker and dear friend, Josie Bliss, whose family also embraced him. Matthew Boyles became his healthcare proxy in his final aging years. Several others in the Cooperstown area who are not named here are appreciated for their kindness toward him.

leWiS, HurleY & pietrobono

“Unable are the Loved to die/ For Love is Immortality.”

Jim is survived by his brother-in-law, Jack Dellorto, nephews Jack (Kumi) Dellorto and Mike (Janet) Dellorto, his niece, Mary (Rey) Elizondo, all of Aurora, Illinois; and his nephew, Dan (Gail) Dellorto of Bryant, Arkansas; as well as nine great nieces and nephews and seven great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Barbara Dellorto and nephew Jim Dellorto. His remains will be interred with those of his parents at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Sarasota, Florida.

Heller & Skinner

Funeral Home

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

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

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

— Emily Dickinson, Poem 809

Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar. Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home will take the time to find out what made your loved one special. Whether it’s finding just the right flowers, or finding a musician to play her favorite tunes on her old guitar, we’ll do what’s necessary to make her service as unique as she was.

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

Funeral Home

Dignity, Respect, Tradition

Dignified and Caring Service since 1925

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

Peter A. Deysenroth

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

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88 Cortland St. | Norwich

More than a café, our location provides a place for people to enjoy our fresh-made food, a cup of Chris’ Coffee, and visit with friends close to home. Internet access and free clothing closet upstairs.

3097 County Highway 11, Hartwick • 607-293-3040 Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Located beLow My Neighbor’s cLoset aNd NeXt to the hartwicK Post oFFice

Parking is available in the front and the rear of the building.

A-10 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Legal

Legal nOtice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY:

Notice of Formation of

Nordholm Brewing Company LLC,

Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/04/2025. 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 24 Leatherstocking St., Cooperstown NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.25

Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of the State of New York (SSNY) on 10/31/2025. Office Location: Otsego County. United States Corporation Agents, INC has designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202, Brooklyn, NY, 11228, USA. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalDec.18 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of C&C’S REST NEST LLC. Filed 9/4/25. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: c/o Zenbusiness Inc., 41 State St, Ste 112, Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: General. 6LegalDec.18 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF GATHERING GRATITUDE FARM, LLC Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/09/2025. 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 Gathering Gratitude Farm, LLC, 1609 County Highway 13, New Berlin, NY 13411 Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.18 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of 23 West Pizza Company LLC Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/5/2025. Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to 27 West End Ave., Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.25

Debloat LLC

Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of

Legal

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 17 November 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 209 VanDerwerker Rd, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws. 6LegalJan.1 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of Bruin Forest Publishing LLC

Legal

LEGALS

Little Nuthouse LLC Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 9/26/2025. 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 151 Kinney Rd., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalJan.1 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Coffee & Crumb CV, LLC Art. Of Org. filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) 11/25/2025. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served & shall mail a copy of process to 21 Main Street, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalJan.8

Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/10/2025. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY Desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 297 County Rd. 9, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.25

Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on Oct. 2, 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 725 State Highway 205, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalJan.1

Legal nOtice

Notice of Formation of

Tallickson, LLC, a Limited Liability Company (LLC)

COOPERSTOWN HOLSTEIN HOLDINGS, LLC

LZRBCORP LLC

filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on November 25, 2025. NY Office Location: OTSEGO County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served upon him/her to: Tallickson, LLC, 1133 County Hwy. 26, Fly Creek, NY 13337. General Purposes. 6LegalJan.8

Farmhouse & Fields LLC

Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 1/23/20. Office in Otsego Co. SSNY desig. agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 426 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.25 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of DMC SNACKS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/12/25. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 2390 Moss Hollow Road, Chillicothe, OH 45601. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalDec.25 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of a NY Limited Liability Company. Name: SULPHUR SPRINGS SANITATION LLC.

Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/24/25. 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 the LLC, 277 Rendering Works Rd., Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalJan.1 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of TC Adventures Oneonta LLC. Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/17/25. Office location : Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to TC Advevtures Oneonta LLC: 5-7 South Main Street Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 6LegalJan.1 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

Legal nOtice

Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY: The name of the limited liability company is: GFVC Holding Company, LLC (the “Company”). The date of filing of the Articles of Organization of the Company with the Secretary of State was October 3, 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 Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP, Attn: Thomas A. Conlon, Jr.,

Legal

Esq., 80 Exchange Street, Ste. 700, Binghamton, NY 13905. The purpose of the business of the Company is any lawful business purpose. 6LegalJan.8

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.

for non-payment of monies due and owing under a Loan and Security Agreements and Disclosure dated June 14, 2021.

design commenced on or after January 1, 2020 and for any contracts over $5,000 for the work of construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any State building, a responsible and reliable NYS-certified Minority or Women-Owned Business Enterprise that submits a bid within ten percent of the lowest bid will be deemed the apparent low bidder provided that the bid is $1,680,923 or less, adjusted annually for inflation as of March 1, 2025. If more than one responsible and reliable MWBE firm meets these requirements, the MWBE firm with the lowest bid will be deemed the apparent low bidder.

public procurement by certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (“SDVOBs”). Bidders are expected to consider SDVOBs in the fulfillment of the requirements of the Contract. Such participation may be as subcontractors or suppliers, as protégés, or in other partnering or supporting roles. OGS hereby establishes overall goals for SDVOBs’ participation under this contract as follows: 6% for the E trade contractor, based on the current availability of qualified SDVOBs. Trades with 0% goals are encouraged to make “good faith efforts” to promote and assist in the participation of SDVOBs on the Contract for the provision of services and materials.

Legal nOtice Notice to Bidders Sealed bids will be received as set forth in instructions to bidders until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 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

Please call (518)457-2124 if a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the letting. Region 09: New York State Department of Transportation 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901 D265640, PIN 9TBP26, FA Proj , Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga Cos., BRIDGE PAINTING - Various Locations, Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $750,000.00), Goals: DBE: 0.00% 2LegalDec.18 Legal nOtice SUMMONS WITH NOTICE: SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK: COUNTY OF OTSEGO; Index No. EF2025-761: SIDNEY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, -vsARIANA L. BROWN, Defendant. TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear in this action by serving a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorney within thirty (30) days after service of this summons is complete and in case of your failure to appear, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Brian D. Burns, J.S.C., signed and filed in the Otsego County Clerk’s office on December 4, 2025 under the Index Number EF2025761. The object of this action is for breach of contract

Dated: December 5, 2025, Amanda C Shaw, Esq., Riehlman, Shafer & Shaw, LLC, Attorneys for Plaintiff, 7693 Route 281, P.O. Box 544, Tully, NY 131590544, (315) 696-6347 4LegalJan.1 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 10-14 HIGH ST LLC. Filed 11/26/25. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: 224 N Queens Ave, Massapequa, NY 11758. Purpose: General. 6LegalJan.15 Legal nOtice ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids for Project No. 47814E, comprising of a contract for Electrical Work, Provide Security Improvements Central Region, Office of Parks, Recreation / Historic Preservation, Various Locations (Various Counties), NY, will be received by the Office of General Services (OGS), Design & Construction Group (D&C), Division of Contract Management, 35th Fl., Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242, on behalf of the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation , until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2025, when they will be publicly opened and read. Each bid must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders and must be accompanied by a bid security (i.e. certified check, bank check, or bid bond in the amount $157,700 for E). All successful bidders will be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Labor and Material Bond pursuant to Sections 136 and 137 of the State Finance Law, each for 100% of the amount of the Contract estimated to be between $6,000,000 and $7,000,000 for E. Designated staff are Catherine Skaczkowski, Jessica Hoffman, and Pierre Alric in the Division of Contract Management, telephone (518) 474-0203, fax (518) 473-7862. Pursuant to Public Buildings Law § 8(6), effective January 11, 2020, for any projects where the project

___Project commenced design before January 1, 2020. Not subject to provision. XX Project commenced design on or after January 1, 2020. Subject to provision. No pre-bid site visits have been scheduled for this project and prospective bidders are not allowed to visit the project site or facility buildings and grounds to take measurements or examine existing conditions. Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Article 15-A and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, OGS is required to promote opportunities for the maximum feasible participation of New York State-certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (“MWBEs”) and the employment of minority group members and women in the performance of OGS contracts. All bidders are expected to cooperate in implementing this policy. OGS hereby establishes an overall goal of 30% for MWBE participation, 15% for MinorityOwned Business Enterprises (“MBE”) participation and 15% for Women-Owned Business Enterprises (“WBE”) participation (based on the current availability of qualified MBEs and WBEs). The total contract goal can be obtained by utilizing any combination of MBE and /or WBE participation for subcontracting and supplies acquired under this Contract. Trades with 0% goals are encouraged to make “good faith efforts” to promote and assist in the participation of MWBEs on the Contract for the provision of services and materials. Article 3 of the Veteran’s Services Law provides for more meaningful participation in

The Bidding and Contract Documents for this Project are available for viewing, downloading, and Electronic Bidding from OGS Design & Construction’s Electronic Bidding service, Bid Express. Registration along with viewing, downloading, and electronic bidding can be accessed at the following link: http://www. bidexpress.com For questions about downloading of bid documents, please send an e-mail to support@bidexpress.com, or call the Bid Express toll-free number at (888) 352-2439. For all other questions, please send an email to DCPlans@ogs. ny.gov, or call (518) 474-0203. For additional information on this project, please use the link below and then click on the project number: https://online. ogs.ny.gov/dnc/ contractorConsultant/esb/ESBPlansAvailableIndex.asp. OGS Design & Construction Group 1LegalDec.18 Legal nOtice Notice of Formation of La Maison Keto Bakery & More LLC Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/12/2025. 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 228 Park Ave. S. PMB 805442 New York, New York 10003-1502. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. continued pg. 11

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-11

Letters

Deborah Dickinson Clerk, Butternuts Monthly Meeting (Quakers)

Rev. Randy Palada Retired, American Baptist Church clergy

Ron Feldstein President, Temple Beth El, Oneonta Jewish Community

Rev. Craig Schwalenberg Unitarian Universalist Community Minister, Oneonta

Cantor David Green Temple Beth El, Oneonta

Consuelo Kraham Velez Sisters of Charity of New York, Associate

Rev. Fred Albrecht Retired, United Methodist Church clergy

Fr. Paul E. C. Hamilton Rector, St. James Episcopal Church, Oneonta

Deacon Randy Velez Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany

CRE Jo Ann Aymar Pastor, Laurens Presbyterian Church

Timothy Iverson Moderator, First Baptist Church of Cooperstown

Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Walton-Leavitt Pastor, First United Presbyterian Church, Oneonta

Rev. Casey Bradley Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Oneonta

Fr. Dean Kellerhouse Episcopal priest

Fr. Chris Welch Pastor, St. Mary’s, Oneonta

John Buddle Pastor, Elm Park Oneonta & Otego United Methodist Churches

Rev. Jess Lambert Lead Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown

Sid Chase Chair of Trustees of Second Baptist Church, Worcester

Rev. Mark Montfort Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Oneonta

Continued from page 4 We appreciate your willingness to hear the concerns of the community you serve. May our shared commitment to justice and the common good guide our path forward. Respectfully,

Rev. LaDana Clark Outreach Pastor of Church-N-The Hood, Oneonta Frederic (Ric) Chrislip

Laura Palada Lay Pastor, Garrattsville and Gilbertsville Presbyterian Churches and Gilbertsville Baptist Church

We Don’t Have To Put Up With This Nonsense

I went to Brown and our son graduated there summa cum laude from the engineering school, which was one of the birthplaces of the “World Wide Web,” aka the Internet. Our son went on to become a technical director at PIXAR based on his connections from Brown. It was at the engineering school building where the shooting occurred. At least two of the traumatized Brown survivors had survived similar mass shootings in elementary school. Having lived in England and walked sleepless in Tokyo and Rome at night, I assure you that we don’t have to put up with this nonsense. Other countries with high gun ownership per capita do not have daily mass shootings because they require gun owners Continued on page 13

In a religion that was born in a barn, an open door goes without saying.

The “Red Door” Church (First United Presbyterian)

Welcomes You Join us for Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Our church invites you to join us in the worship and fellowship of Jesus Christ. The door is always open.

Our Schedule for Christmas Eve . Services:

7p.m. p.m. Tuesday Dec. 24th p.m. Dec. 24 24 pm-Wednesday -4BUVSEBZ, 4BUVSEBZ, December 777:00 Tuesday Dec. 24 7:00 pm December 24 Inperson person In MainStreet Streetand andWalling WallingAvenue Avenue Oneonta Or Oneonta Or Main join us online: join us online: Link: meet.google.com/viu-hpxa-mjg Link: meet.google.com/viu-hpxa-mjg Phone: 1 301-857-2390 // PIN: 931769968 Phone: 1Church 301-857-2390 // PIN: 931769968 Office: 607-432-7520 Church Office: 607-432-7520 reddoorchurch@stny.rr.com reddoorchurch@stny.rr.com The Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Walton-Leavitt The Rev.reddoorchurch.info Dr. Cynthia L. Walton-Leavitt

Family Eucharist 6 pm Service of Carols 10:30 pm Festival Choral Eucharist 11 pm Father Hamilton Preaching

Join us here at St. James’ Church as we celebrate the Coming of the Christ Child

St. James Episcopal Church

Our 186th Anniversary Year Serving God & Community since 1839 305 Main Street, Oneonta • 607-432-1458 www.stjamesoneonta.org • Like us on facebook

Legal

from pg. 10 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York at a meeting thereof held on the 15th day of December 2025, duly adopted pursuant to section 6-C of the General Municipal Law, a

Legal

resolution subject to permissive referendum, the purpose and effect of which is to authorize an appropriation of $3,500 from Building Reserves to line A-1620-480 for the repair of the marble sill at 22 Main Street. BY ORDER OF THE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street

Legal

Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) 1LegalDec.18 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York at a meeting thereof

Legal

LEGALS

held on the 15th day of December 2025, duly adopted pursuant to section 6-C of the General Municipal Law, a resolution subject to permissive referendum, the purpose and effect of which is to authorize an appropriation of $40,000 from Water System Improvement Reserves to line F-8340-420 for Mill Street Water Plant Electric Bill (NEXAMP). BY ORDER OF THE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN,

Legal

OF THE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM

HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York at a meeting thereof held on the 15th day of December 2025, duly adopted pursuant to section 6-C of the General Municipal Law, a resolution subject to permissive referendum, the purpose and effect of which is to authorize an appropriation of $38,000 from Sewer Plant Reserves to line G-8110-440 for Hemlock Hill Water Service contract.

NOTICE IS

BY ORDER

NEW YORK Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) 1LegalDec.18 Legal nOtice

Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) 1LegalDec.18 Legal nOtice NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF

Legal

RESOLUTION SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM

ment Reserves to line G-8130-480 for a trickling filter repair.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York at a meeting thereof held on the 15th day of December 2025, duly adopted pursuant to section 6-C of the General Municipal Law, a resolution subject to permissive referendum, the purpose and effect of which is to authorize an appropriation of $25,000 from Sewer Plant Equip-

BY ORDER OF THE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK Jenna L. Utter, RMC Village Clerk Village of Cooperstown 22 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 (607) 547-2411 (phone) jutter@cooperstownny.org (email) 1LegalDec.18

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

A-12 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

THE PARTIAL OBSERVER

FRANCIS P. sEMPA

Critics of Trump’s Drug Strikes were Silent about Obama’s Drone Strikes

During his eight years as president, Obama ordered 542 drone strikes that killed more than 3,700 people, including more than 300 civilians, according to a Council on Foreign Relations report.

he members of Congress now referred to by some as the “Seditious Six,” after attempting to form doubts in the minds of our service members and intelligence officers as to the lawfulness of President Trump’s orders, were and are strangely silent about President Barack Obama’s drone strikes against suspected terrorists abroad. During his eight years as president, Obama ordered 542 drone strikes that killed more than 3,700 people, including more than 300 civilians, according to a Council on Foreign Relations report. That report quotes Obama telling his senior aides: “Turns out I’m really good at killing people. Didn’t know that was going to be a strong suit of mine.” Yet, none of the “Seditious Six” made a video urging our military and intelligence services to disobey any of Obama’s orders. Under President Trump during the first year of his second term, the military has launched strikes against 23 suspected drug boats, killing 87 suspected drug traffickers. Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, after failing in the video to identify specific Trump orders that were unlawful and that should be disobeyed, have latched on to Trump’s drug boat strikes as potentially unlawful. Slotkin accused Trump of waging a “secret war” in Latin America, while Kelly has called for an inves-

tigation into the drug boat strikes, citing the Law of the Sea and the Geneva Conventions. All this does is to further suggest to our service members that the orders of the president and secretary of defense may be unlawful. All this does is to reinforce the shameful video that encouraged service members and intelligence officers to commit acts of insubordination. Slotkin, Kelly and others who participated in the social media video claim that the video merely stated what the Uniform Code of Military Justice says. That is true, but context is everything. In the video, before Slotkin, Kelly, and the others told our service members and intelligence officers to refuse unlawful orders, they said that the Trump administration is pitting the U.S. military and intelligence officials against the American

reading recommendations

Burdette Is Glimmerglass Festival Artist-in-Residence, Don Alfonso

ANNIKA MURRAY

Finding the Right Gift Book

people, and the threats to our country are coming from right here at home, e.g., from Trump. The message was clear: Think twice before you obey an order from the commander-in-chief. Yet, none of the participants in the video made a similar video to protest Obama’s drone strikes against suspected terrorists—which were much more numerous and much more lethal than Trump’s drug boat strikes. The drug cartels that bring fentanyl to our streets have killed far more Americans than Islamic terrorists. Every president since Richard Nixon has pledged to wage a war against deadly drugs and the traffickers who peddle them, yet Trump is the first president to actually wage that war. Trump has closed the southern border to narco-traffickers and is now stopping them at sea. Congress passes laws that are mostly ignored by drug traffickers, while Trump takes concrete steps to protect the American people. Francis P. Sempa is the author of the books “Geopolitics: From the Cold War to the 21st Century” and “America’s Global Role.” He is a contributing editor to “The American Spectator” and writes a regular column for “Real Clear Defense.”

COOPERSTOWN humorous coming-of-age adventure cclaimed Ameriwhich is a joy to read. can bass Kevin 4. “Anne of Green Gables” by Burdette is The Lucy Maud Montgomery. This series Glimmerglass Festival’s is a timeless classic for kids who 2026 Artist-in-Residence, prefer a more pastoral setting. Follow officials have announced. Anne through the charming world “Known for his comic of Green Gables and Avonlea in this brilliance, commanding adorable coming-of-age series. voice, and captivating 5. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by stage presence, Burdette Jeff Kinney. This graphic novel will appear as Don series is great for middle readers and Alfonso in the festival’s anyone looking for a good laugh new production of “Così,” this holiday season. The author has anchoring a season that just published the 20th book in this invites audiences to reflect series. Follow “wimpy kid” Greg on personal and national on his hilarious journey through his ideals,” festival officials disastrous middle school years. said in a press release. These books are an excellent Hailed by “The starting point for young readers, but New York Times” as they can be enjoyed by people of all “the Robin Williams ages.OCTOBER I have curled up with one of 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2020of opera,” Burdette these books in front of my fireplace has earned acclaim for on many a cold winter’s night. I his distinctive blend hope the recipients of these books of humor, intelligence love them as much as I do. and vocal mastery. An Happy reading and Merry alumnus of the Juilliard Christmas! Opera Theater and the a Annika Murray is currently University of Tennessee, student at CCS1 High School. She OCTOBER – DECEMBER 31, 2020 Burdette is a former loves books and her job at the member of the Opéra Village Library of Cooperstown. National de Paris Young Artists’ Program and

uring the Christmas season, parents often have a difficult time choosing the right gift for their child. A book is always a great gift for curious children of all ages, but the massive quantities of children’s books in circulation can make that special gift hard to find. Here are my top book series suggestions for this holiday season, to make the search a little easier: 1. “Wings of Fire” by Tui T. Sutherland. This fantasy series is an excellent choice for kids who love dragons, a classic adventure and close-knit friendships. Join Clay and his friends on a journey through the draconic world of Pyrrhia, which will captivate the heart of any reader. 2. “Warriors” by Erin Hunter. This series is a long-standing adventure/fiction set which features wildcats who live in clans. It stars aspirational young Firepaw, a very loveable character, who must prove himself to the ThunderClan. 3. “Percy Jackson” by Rick Riordan. This mythological fantasy tale is engaging for children who are enamored of mythology (particularly Greek gods). Join Percy, a young demigod, as he embarks on a

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KEVIN BURDETTE

San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program. Burdette has performed with many of the world’s most prestigious opera companies and symphony orchestras, including Teatro alla Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Santa Fe Opera, Teatro Colón, Opéra de Montréal, Washington National Opera, Dallas Opera, Seattle Opera, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and National Symphony Orchestra. MANY COMPANIES. MANY OPTIONS. Known for his dramatic Lifetime Income Strategies Bieritz insurance agency characterizations, he has Tax & Planning Services Real people who truly care... created more than a dozen your hometown insurance agency! roles in world premieres ? Kelly Edge All-Season ? Assurance WeatherReady ? WinterCommand Ultra ? Assurance All-Season ? Kelly Edge HT Investment advisory services, offered through Cooperstown ? Assurance CT Touring SCT) Main Street, ? Kelly Edge All-Season Perf. ? Kelly Edgeand ? 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Rebates paid by Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard or Visa® Prepaid Card. “We are honored to Management Corporation and Donald Benson welcome Kevin Burdette CPA are not affiliated.ASK AN ASSOCIATE ABOUT THE GOODYEAR 30-DAY PLEDGE † Don Benson, CPA/CFP® as our 2026 Artist(607) 432-3775 • 28 Oneida Street, Oneonta ? Assurance All-Season ? Kelly Edge All-Season ? Assurance WeatherReady ? WinterCommand Ultra ? Kelly Edgein-Residence,” HT said OFFERS AVAILABLE ATTHE THE FOLLOWING ? Assurance CT Touring Sport All-Season Family (inc. ROFLOCATIONS: & SCT) ? Kelly Edge All-Season Perf. ? Kelly EdgeGlimmerglass ? Wrangler DuraTrac ? EagleAT MT OFFERS AVAILABLE FOLLOWING LOCATION: Festival ? Wrangler AT Adventure w/Kevlar ? Kelly Winter Access ? Assurance MaxLife ? Winter Maxx 2 ? Kelly Edge AT Artistic and General ? Eagle Exhilarate ? Kelly Edge HP ? Kelly Safari TSR ? Wrangler Fortitude HT , excludes C-Type ? Winter Maxx SJ8 ? WinterCommand ? 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Get a $75 Prepaid Cardcommunity, with purchase or $150 Prepaid and connec, Assurance ComforTred Touring, Assurance MaxLife , Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar , Wrangler DuraTrac , Wrangler Fortitude HT (excluding C-Type), Wrangler TrailRunner AT , Eagle Exhilarate , WinterCommand , WinterCommand Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of:offering Assurance WeatherReadylong-term in Cooperstown, LT and WinterCommand Ultra. Get a $50 Prepaid Card with purchase or $100 Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance All-Season, Eagle Sport All-Season Family (including ROF & SCT), Winter Maxx 2 and Winter Maxx SJ8. Get a $25 Prepaid Card with purchase or $50 Prepaid Card with tion. Audiences are in for and Kelly Winter Access . purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Kelly Edge HT, Kelly Edge AT , Kelly Edge MT , Kelly Safari TSR, Kelly Edge HP , Kelly Edge All-Season , Kelly Edge All-Season Performance 155 ERIE BLVD c 'MDLA &AF= (=O .AJ= =9D=J c &G? -CA<<=J .AJ=K Residential Living, short-term Respite Care, If you receive a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard , then the following applies: Rebates paid in the form of a Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard . This Prepaid Card is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles an unforgettable “Così” c .AJ= ,=H9AJ c ?JA;MDLMJ9D design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. This card may be used everywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted. Registration, activation, acceptance, or use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Prepaid.AJ=K Card Agreement. Prepaid Cards will not have cash access and will and a Social Day Program. We provide a warm, CANAJOHARIE , NY 13317 expire after 6 months from date of issuance - other terms, conditions, and fees may apply. c &9OF 9F< !9J<=F .AJ=K c .AJ= @9AFK and a vibrant season full of If you receive a Goodyear Visa Prepaid Card, then the following applies: Visa Prepaid Card is issued by MetaBank , N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit family-focused environment c .0 /.0 .AJ=K518-673-5399 c ,M::=J .J9;CK after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply. MetaBank does not endorsewhere or sponsor the Goodyear Credit Card offer. music and storytelling.” Offers available only at participating U.S. Goodyear retailers and websites. Offers valid only for U.S. residents who are individual consumers with mailing addresses in the U.S. and.J9AD=J U.S. territories. Commercial fleets are not eligiblecfor ? these 9?K rebates. Not 9D= valid on previous c -=EA .J9;LGJ purchases. Cannot be combined with other Goodyear residents safe, supported andBasetruly home. tire rebatefeel offers. Rebate forms must be postmarked no later than 1/31/21. portion of rebateat offered by Goodyear, and bonus portion of rebate offered by Citibank, N.A. Goodyear is not affiliated with Mastercard. Additional terms, conditions, and fees apply. See participating retailer for complete details and rebate forms. As the 2026 Artistc GEHML=J 1@==D 9D9F;AF? (=L 1J9H THETIRESHOP.BIZ Goodyear Credit Card is issued by Citibank, N.A. Our team offers daily activities, are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont dehome-cooked Nemours and Company used under license by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and affiliates. DuPont and Kevlar c .AJ= -=JNA;= ,=;9HHAF? c )AD @9F?=K in-Residence, Burdette †Terms and conditions apply. See store associate for details, or for more information, visit https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tire-warranty/30-day-pledge. c !GG<Q=9J (9LAGF9D ;;GMFLK c MKLGE 1@==DK meals and meaningful companionship— will work closely with ©2020 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. All rights reserved. -L9L= GFLJ9;L *JA;AF? c MLG ;;=KKGJA=K *Get up to $75 back by online or mail-in rebate on a qualifying purchase of a set of 4 select Goodyear tires with any form of payment method; plus get an added rebate of up to $75 more when the purchase is made on the Goodyear Credit Card. Subject to credit approval. 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for talented opera singers, musical theater singers and dancers, coaches and accompanists, conductors, and stage directors at the beginning of their professional careers. “I am deeply moved to have been asked to serve as the 2026 Artistin-Residence at The Glimmerglass Festival, an opera company that shaped who I am as an artist and as a person,” Burdette said. “I can think of no more meaningful way to return to this world-class company—this innovative company, this company that is deeply part of who I am—than in the capacity of working with the inspiring and top-tier Resident Artists. “I look forward to investing in these talented artists, the future of our art form, helping to guide them, just as Glimmerglass guided me decades ago, to become the genesis of the stories they will tell throughout their careers—stories that will resonate with audiences, as they recognize their own uniqueness and commonalities taking shape on stage,” he said. In addition to “Così,” the 2026 festival will feature a new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” directed by Francesca Zambello; Puccini, Illica, and Giacosa’s “Madame Butterfly”; Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce’s “Fellow Travelers”; and the youth opera “Robin Hood” by Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke. The season will also include special pavilion events, including “Vignettes: Ellis Island,” a powerful song cycle inspired by real stories of early 20th-century immigrants, and Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s “Happy End,” presented as part of a new collaborative partnership with Opera Saratoga. The 2026 Glimmerglass Festival runs July 10 through August 17. For tickets and more information, visit glimmerglass. org or call the Box Office at (607) 547-2255.

THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA A-13

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

to deliver newspapers to hightraffic spots in the Cooperstown/Richfield Springs area every Wednesday afternoon. Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, registration and insurance. Approximately 4 hours per week. Rate of pay $15.50 plus mileage.

finding a way to work together with you guys to make this work for the whole village.” Rawitch’s letter to the board said losing the trolley would have a “significant negative impact” on visitors that are “critical to the survival of our institution.” The board also agreed to contact Cooperstown Central School District officials to discuss the potential site of a new dog park at Badger Park, near the schools. The board agreed to implement a $150.00 watershed inspection fee, which is estimated would produce more than $18,000.00 in revenue per year. The village recently hired a full-time watershed inspector.

Letters Continued from page 11 to be licensed—like a driver’s license—with a written test, a proficiency test and annual liability insurance. That does not “infringe on ownership.” It regulates the use of the gun as if it were a hazardous machine that could be used by an irresponsible operator to kill and wound a dozen people in a few seconds. Like countries, states with stricter gun laws have lower rates of gun violence. The alleged Brown University shooter flew in from Wisconsin, which has loose gun laws, to Rhode Island, which has strict gun laws. This is one time you can be glad you’re in New York. Happy Holidays. Chip Northrup Cooperstown

The

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

CLINICAL LAB TECHNOLOGIST I

Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial Hospital Society seeks Clinical Lab Technologist I for Oneonta, NY. Bach or equiv dgr in Chem, Bio, Med Tech, or Med Lab Sci. 1 yr clinical lab exp. License from NYSED as Clinical Lab Technologist, or licensure eligible w/ lmtd permit or lmtd license as Clinical Lab Technologist. 1st, 2nd, 3rd shifts and weekends as required. Salary range is $72,051.20-$108,056. Resume to https://jobs.bassett.org/jobs/ 14680?lang=en-us

Woodside Hall “Woodside Hall Adult Home – long term & short term – Residential, Respite, Day Programs. Come Live with US, Come Work with US. In the Heart of The Cooperstown Community.” Contact Heather Short Executive Director at 607-547-0600 or by e-mail HeatherShort@WoodsideHall.net for more info.

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There, she had the opportunity to explore the facility in its entirety, guided by Emma Golden, granddaughter of founders Sam and Adele Golden. Crowell was accompanied by

Falk added that the county’s legal counsel advised they would need to reissue a request for proposal to operate the trolley service, and after she attended a recent meeting, they agreed to do so. The RFP is for one year, with annual renewals up to five years. Josh Rawitch, president of the NBHoF, came to speak at the meeting. “Our goal is just to learn about this process, but also just to make sure that everyone here recognizes how important we think it is for the village in general,” he said. Rawitch said he looks “forward to hopefully

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diture estimates for the center. Garretson had previously disputed the findings, saying the report did not account for incoming revenue. “If you add the revenue to the expense, you’ve got over a million dollars,” which is around what it costs to run the center for a year, Garretson told AllOtsego in a prior interview. Officials have also been working to get the health center onto a less expensive patient management software system than the one utilized by Bassett. Earlier this year, charges to the center for the service jumped from around $25,000.00 per year to around $150,000.00 per year. “Cherry Valley Health Center is a gem, and many are to be commended for their dedication to its 40year legacy,” Henry Weil, MD, chief clinical and academic officer of Bassett Healthcare Network and president of Bassett Medical Center said in a statement. “Bassett has partnered with the Town of Cherry Valley for many years and helped provide practitioners and other resources through a contract we have maintained with the Town. “Arrangements between healthcare providers–like Bassett’s collaboration with Cherry Valley Health Center–require a contract that is governed by a complex set of federal and state laws and regulations,” Weil wrote. “These laws and regulations require regular assessment of our arrangement to ensure compliance and alignment with the services delivered and costs involved. “As the overall cost of healthcare has increased, we have had to make necessary adjustments for the services we provide as part of our agreement to maintain compliance for both Bassett and the Town of Cherry Valley,” Weil explained. Weil said Bassett “will continue to help them however we can within the constraints of federal and state laws and regulations.” Cherry Valley officials have also set up a nonprofit to support the center, Friends of the CherryValley Community Health Center, and are seeking donations.

least two per year. Other dreams that have been fulfilled through the program include the following: • One resident wanted her whole family together for a meal, and she was surprised with her entire family visiting her for a meal catered by Sloan’s New York Grill. • One gentleman wanted to ride a sports car around Oneonta for a day, and he had his dream come true while traversing the city in his dream car. • Another woman dreamed of being a librarian, and Huntington Memorial Library gave her the opportunity to be the children’s librarian for a day. • And one resident simply wanted to treat everyone in assisted living to a meal from Brooks’ House of Bar-B-Q. Brooks’ happily catered her dream day, and The Plains even arranged for 12 of her family members to be there. The Tree of Dreams Program has changed the lives of residents at The Heritage at The Plains at Parish Homestead for the better. It will continue to do so as staff members begin to brainstorm their next dream-come-true in January.

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Anderson, as well as driver Stacy Laragione, and even a surprise guest—her son, Dan Crowell. With the tour concluded, Crowell visited Golden’s paint bar, where she was able to experiment with all of the available paints. This experience is described by Golden Paints Inc. as being “like a kid in a candy store—you want to sink your teeth (your brush in this case) into one of each kind you see.” At the end of the tour, Emma Golden surprised Crowell with her own goodie bag, filled with watercolor paints, tubes, canvases, paint charts, and even her own special apron—the same one employees wear when creating paints. There was also a bag of goodies for her grandchildren. However, Crowell’s special day did not end there. She and her entourage traveled to The Nook coffee house, a cozy artistic café in New Berlin where they were set to have lunch. As Crowell walked through the door, Anderson reminded her, “You told me that you always wanted your pictures on the wall someplace to show people, and if you had that you would know you were truly an artist.” Continuing into the café, Crowell was met with her paintings—hung on display. Unbeknownst to her, when Crowell’s son visited her at The Plains on Thanksgiving, he stealthily removed her paintings from the room and transferred them to Anderson’s office. Once there, Anderson took them to The Nook, where owner Rich Anderson proudly put the paintings on view, making Crowell the featured artist for the month of December. This “Tree of Dreams Day” is the fifth such experience that has come to fruition since the program’s inception. Anderson said that The Plains staff try to make someone’s dream come true each quarter, or at

Center

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

Things To Do In and Around Otsego County _________

A-14 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA

►Fri., Dec. 19 FREE DAY—8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “December Free Day Pass Day.” Cooperstown Coworks, 6 Doubleday Court, Cooperstown. (607) 6432256. YOGA—9 a.m. Moving meditation with Alyx Braunius. Fees apply. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111. WRITERS MEETING— Noon. “Worcester Writers Meeting.” Current and aspiring writers invited. Moderated by award-winning writer Chris Keefer. Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 3977309. THINGS—1-3 p.m. “Library of Things—Meet the Collection!” Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980. BLOOD DRIVE— 1-6 p.m. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. RedCrossBlood. org HOLIDAYS—3-5 p.m. Visit with Santa. Christmas Cottage, Pioneer Park, Main Street, Cooperstown. HOLIDAYS—4-7 p.m. “An Evening of Candlelight Shopping.” Sharon Springs Fine Dried Florals and Gifts, 200 Main Street, Sharon Springs. (518) 424-3668. VETERANS—5-7 p.m. “Chicken and Biscuit Dinner.” Fees apply. All welcome. American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-0494. HOLIDAYS—5-7 p.m. Visit with Santa at his cottage. Muller Plaza, Main Street, Oneonta. HOLIDAYS— 4:30-8 p.m. “Glimmer Nights.” Featuring the new Holiday Tree Decorating Contest. Continues Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings through 1/4/26. Fenimore Farm and Country Village, 5775 State Highway 80,

Cooperstown. (607) 5471450. FLOWERS—5-7 p.m. “Flowers After Hours: Holiday Edition.” Flowers, fun and holiday cheer. Mohican Flowers, 207 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8822. FILM—7 p.m. “Dogma Resurrected: A 25th Anniversary Screening.” Worcester Wieting Theatre, 168 Main Street, Worcester. worcesterwieting@gmail.com.

►Sat., Dec. 20 HOLIDAYS—10 a.m. to noon. Visit with Santa at his cottage. Muller Plaza, Main Street, Oneonta. ART EXHIBIT—11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Something Old, Something New: Holiday Open House III with Artists-In-Residence.” Group show of cyanotypes, paper earrings, woodblock natural world prints and more. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5327. FOOD—11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Saturday’s Bread.” Sit-down meal served hot. Take-out available. Held each Saturday. First United Methodist Church, 66 Church Street Oneonta. ART EXHIBIT—11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Something Old, Something New: The Holiday Show.” Group show of cyanotypes, paper earrings, woodblock natural world prints and more. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5327. HOLIDAYS—11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Pictures with Santa!” Fees apply. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 4324401. HOLIDAYS— 1-3:30 p.m. “Holiday with Horses.” Pony rides, reindeer games, hot cocoa and cookies. Tally Ho Equestrian LLC, 243 Jones Road, West Winfield. (315) 750-6785. OPERA—1 p.m.; discussion starts 45 minutes prior. “The Magic Flute.” Live HD broadcast from

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Time OuT OTsegO Things To Do In and Around Otsego County

The Metropolitan Opera. Tickets required Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 4312080. HOLIDAYS—1-6 p.m. “Interskate 88 Christmas Party.” Fees apply. Interskate 88, 5185 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 432-0366. SEWING CLASS— 1:30-3 p.m. All experience levels welcome. Held every Saturday. The Green Giraffe, 179 Main Street, Unadilla. (607) 369-3234. HOLIDAYS—2-4 p.m. Visit with Santa. Christmas Cottage, Pioneer Park, Main Street, Cooperstown. OPEN MIC—5-8 p.m. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111. HOLIDAYS— 5:30-7 p.m. “Gingerbread House Making.” Free; donations appreciated. Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, 12 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. (607) 432-3491.

►Sunday, Dec. 21 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. Samye New York, 412 Glimmerglen Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5051. CASUAL TEA HOUR— 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Held Sundays. The Sugar Beat, 281 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 2674374. HOLIDAYS—11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Pictures with Santa!” Fees apply. Southside

Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 4324401. MEDITATION— 11 a.m. “Sundays at Samye: The Practical Bodhisattva—How to Be a Spiritual Hero in Everyday Life.” Meditation, study and discussion. Samye New York, 412 Glimmerglen Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5051. CHRISTMAS—1 p.m. “Blue Christmas Service.” A gentle, contemplative service for those carrying pain or loss during this season of celebration. United Methodist Church, 84 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 237-9376. MUSIC—1-3 p.m. “Sunday Sessions with Khalil Jade.” The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 285-4111. HOLIDAYS—1-6 p.m. “Linda Leverock’s 4th Annual Snowflake Dance.” Fees apply; reservations appreciated. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (917) 6124054. HOLIDAYS—2-4 p.m. Visit with Santa. Christmas Cottage, Pioneer Park, Main Street, Cooperstown. SOLSTICE— 3:30-6:30 p.m. “2025 Winter Solstice Event.” Yoga class, sound bath, guided meditation and light refreshments. Fees apply; pre-registration required. Dunderberg Gallery, 118 Marion Avenue, Gilbertsville. (607) 2875699. SOLSTICE—6-9 p.m. “Night Market!” DIY screen printing, holiday drinks, vendors and more. The Local Bird, 139 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 282-4166.

►Mon., Dec. 22 STORY TIME— 9:30 a.m. Staff share stories, activities and play. Held Mondays through

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025

Thursdays. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980. CONNECTIONS— 11 a.m. to noon. Senior Walk/Cornhole. Held Mondays and Thursdays. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com. HOLIDAYS—Noon to 2 p.m. “Holiday Break Art Program: Nature and Art.” For kids ages 6-10. Fees apply; registration required. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. canoneonta.org CONNECTIONS— 12:15 p.m. Beginner Tai Chi. Held Mondays and Thursdays. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com. LIBRARY—1 p.m. “Home School Hangout.” Stories, activities, crafts and learning for home school families. Held each Monday. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1980. TECH HELP—2-3 p.m. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661. HOLIDAYS—2-4 p.m. Visit with Santa. Christmas Cottage, Pioneer Park, Main Street, Cooperstown. YOGA—4:30 p.m. Moving meditation with Alyx Braunius. Fees apply. The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111. HOLIDAYS—5-9 p.m. “Free Present Wrapping.” Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, Richfield Springs. (315) 858-3200.

►Tues., Dec. 23 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 COFFEE HOUR—9:30-11 a.m. Grace Church, 24 Montgomery Street, Cherry Valley. 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 Neahwa Park holiday display, Oneonta. Contact hike leader Sarah Patterson, (607) 2677427. HOLIDAYS—11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Pictures with Santa!” Fees apply. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 4324401. SENIOR MEALS— 11:30 a.m. Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal Monday-Friday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $11 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of baked fish in dill sauce, confetti rice, spinach and pudding. (607) 547-6454. • Each Monday-Friday. Nader Towers Housing, 2 Mitchell Street, Oneonta. • Each Tuesday and Thursday. Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, Richfield Springs. SENIORS—Noon. “Senior Citizen Holiday Luncheon.” Reservation required. GilbertsvilleMount Upton Central School District Cafeteria, 693 State Highway 51, Gilbertsville. (607) 7832207 ext. 140. HOLIDAYS—3-5 p.m. Visit with Santa. Christmas Cottage, Pioneer Park, Main Street, Cooperstown. FOOD—4-5:30 p.m. Take-out only starting at 5:15 p.m. “Your Safe

Haven.” Free food each Monday through Friday. Bring your own Tupperware. One-story building behind St. James Episcopal Church, corner of Elm and Main streets, Oneonta. HOLIDAYS—5:30 p.m. “Rock The Halls.” Classic rock spin ride. Fees apply. Oneonta Family YMCA, 20-26 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. (607) 4320010. FIGURE DRAWING— 6:30 p.m. Held each Tuesday. Green Earth Health Market, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 483-8432.

►Wed., Dec. 24 Christmas Eve BLOOD DRIVE— 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. RedCrossBlood.org STORY TIME— 10 a.m. Held each Wednesday. Springfield Library, 129 County Road 29A, Springfield Center. (315) 858-5802. STORY HOUR—10 a.m. Open to children aged 2-5 plus caregivers. Held each Wednesday. Cherry Valley Memorial Library, 61 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-8214. STORY TIME—10 a.m. Free. Held each Wednesday. Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 3977309. SENIOR MEALS—Seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious meal MondayFriday. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors, $11 for guests accompanying a senior. Today, enjoy a lunch of roast pork dinner, sweet potatoes, country-blend vegetables and cookies. (607) 5476454. • 11:30 a.m. Each Monday-Friday. Nader Towers Housing, 2 Mitchell Street, Oneonta. • Noon. Each Monday and Wednesday. Cherry Valley Facilities Corporation Café, 2 Genesee Street, Cherry Valley. CHRISTMAS—6 p.m. “Christmas Eve Service.” Starts with Christmas dinner and followed at 7 p.m. with the Christmas Eve Service. All welcome. Otsego Christian Academy, 353 Main Street, Otego. pastor@christpresbyterian-church.org. 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. CHRISTMAS— 6:30 p.m. “Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.” Childcare available. Refreshments served following the service. Main Street Baptist Church, 333 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 4325712.

►Thurs. Dec. 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS! ►Fri. Dec. 26 SENIOR COFFEE HOUR—10 a.m. Coffee, tea, pastries, games, puzzles, special events and good conversation. Held each Friday. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Highway 11, Hartwick. (607) 2936600. COFFEE & PUZZLES— 10 a.m. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661. GENTLE YOGA— 10 a.m. Held each Friday. Worcester-Schenevus Library, 170 Main Street, Worcester. (607) 3977309. ►Visit allotsego.com/ otsego-county-events-calendar/ for the full calendar