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RSS TO HOLD MOUNTAIN VIEW OPEN HOUSE, page 11 VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE
Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, May 16, 2024
Volume 16, No. 29
COMPLIMENTARY
Oneonta’s Main Street Offers a Variety of Shopping Options By EMILY HILBERT ONEONTA neonta: the City of the Hills, and the city with a bustling main street. Much like our article on Cooperstown’s business district a few weeks ago, we once again ventured out of the newsroom to check in with some local business owners. What’s their business like? Anything in the shop they really enjoy? Any deals or events readers should be anticipating? All this and more will be revealed as we take a trip to downtown O-Town. Craving a sweet treat? Recently opening in the center of activity, at 179 Main Street, Freestyle Confections is run by Vincent and Rebekah Hopkins. A husband-and-wife duo ready to bake the city by storm, the pair run a home
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bakery for now, as they work on securing a commercial kitchen. Vincent does the baking while Rebekah runs the business and gift shop side of the bakery. The pair enjoy everything about the store, but the baking is where the passion really is. Currently, Vincent is enjoying testing out different bread recipes. Want to stop by? Freestyle Confections is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Can’t make it to the physical location? Don’t worry, they deliver. Rebekah remarked that they make deliveries to SUNY Oneonta campus almost daily and are very grateful for the support of the school. Subscription deliveries can also be arranged. If one bakery isn’t enough, try this one out. The Sugar Beat, at 281 on upper Main Street, specializes in French Continued on page 11
Photo provided
Devin Sailer (left), a junior at Oneonta High School, met with Congressman Marc Molinaro in March in Washington, D.C., asking him to lobby for the allergy community.
Photo by Emily Hilbert
Oneonta’s Main Street offers a plethora of dining and retail options.
LaCombe Set To Deliver Inaugural Svahn Lecture
INSIDE ► BVA Successful in bid for new bank, page 2 ► Nelson, Broughton are ‘life trustees,’ page 3 ► scenic roads ain’t what they used to be, page 4 ► more thoughts on brookwood, page 4 ► happy birthday, carrie! page 6 ► dog charmer back with more advice, page 6 ► annual uuva plant sale is this saturday, page 9 ► calendar, page 12 Follow Breaking News On
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COOPERSTOWN assett Healthcare Network will host the inaugural David S. Svahn Humanities in Medicine Memorial Lecture at Bassett Medical Center at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, May 24. Cardiologist and storyteller Dr. Michael LaCombe will deliver the lecture, which is available in person or via Zoom at bassett.org/Lacombe-lecture. The event honors the late Dr. David Svahn, a longtime Bassett physician who passed away in July 2023. Dr. LaCombe is the author of more than 100 peerreviewed stories of medicine and more than a dozen books, including “Bedside: The Art of Medicine,” a collection of fictional stories drawn from his experiences. In addition to readings and lectures, theatrical performances of his stories have been recorded for use in medical ethics and humanism training. “It is a great honor to host Dr. LaCombe,” said Dr. Continued on page 9
Local Teen Reports on Trip to U.S. Capitol for Allergy Fly-In By MONICA CALZOLARI
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ONEONTA evin Sailer, age 16, recalls going to the emergency room once a month as a child. He has 31 allergies, any one of which can be fatal. Sailer was one of more than 170 advocates making their voices heard at FARE’s Courage at Congress 2024: Advocate for a Cure legislative fly-in, March 4-6. FARE stands for Food Allergy Research & Education. It is the leading non-profit in the U.S. engaged in food allergy advocacy and the largest private funder of food allergy research. Sailer is an active member of this organization. FARE has organized this event annually for the past five years. The 2024 fly-in was the largest one to date. Sailer had to apply for this opportunity, was chosen and received a stipend to help with expenses. He took three days off from Oneonta High School
and flew to Washington, D.C. to visit the Capitol and meet New York State representatives. Frances Sailer, his mother, accompanied him on the trip. One of his goals for this trip was to meet Congressman Marc Molinaro, the U.S. representative for New York’s District 19, which includes part of Otsego County. Sailer explained that advocates from 42 states were divided up by state and met with 41 elected officials. He said, “I did not meet many young people like myself. It was mostly adults at this event.” “We are very honored to have the opportunity to meet Congressman Molinaro in person. Our visit took place just three days before the State of the Union address. The congressmen were very busy,” Sailer said. Sailer and the New York State delegation were given a tour of Congress by Paul Tonko’s office. Tonko is the U.S. representative for New York’s Continued on page 11
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER EDDM PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ONEONTA PERMIT NO. 890