Hometown Oneonta 05-14-26

By BILL BELLEN

COUNTY

OTSEGO

Following brief special meetings of the Public Works and Administration committees, the May 6 session of the Otsego County Board of Representatives began with a public hearing on the eight-year review of Agricultural District #1. Agricultural districts offer property owners with agriculturally viable land potential tax benefits and promote the land’s continued use for farming or its preservation for potential future use. The review found that Agricultural District #1—which contains all agricultural parcels in Otsego County—currently contains roughly

188,864 acres. During the eight-year review, there were requests from seven land owners of 14 parcels to add 399.93 acres to the district, while 33 land owners of 36 parcels requested to remove 581.73 acres. During the annual 30-day open enrollment period for landowners to request inclusion in the district, five land owners of 14 parcels requested 570.57 acres of land to be added. With this information shared and no public comments to be heard, the hearing was closed.

Personnel Officer Penney Gentile congratulated three new county retirees, beginning with James McGregor, who worked in the highway department for 21-and-ahalf years. Though not present, Martha Quackenbush

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Supporters of Fired Coach Challenge Board at Heated Meeting

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL

SPRINGS

RICHFIELD

Tensions were bubbling at a Richfield Springs Central School District Board of Education meeting last Wednesday, May 6. Supporters of coach Chris Butler showed up in force to oppose the district’s decisions to remove him from coaching roles, first as a volunteer assistant softball coach and now also as a modified baseball coach. District officials declined to specify the reason for his termination, citing personnel issue confidentiality.

AllOtsego was not able to independently verify the circumstances leading to the end of Butler’s coaching for the district.

“We stand here tonight angry, disappointed and demanding answers,” Toni Butler said into the microphone, husband Chris Butler sitting feet away.

Around a dozen people wearing matching T-shirts supporting the 40-plus-year coach sat in the rows behind him.

“You may avoid questions tonight, but you cannot avoid the loss of trust your silence has created and the

►18th-century morris, page 2

►one store to serve them all? page 2

►hernandez on his candidacy, page 3

►big grant for west end planning, page 3

►let the ‘sun’ shine in, page 4

►area happenings in brief, page 6

►kuzminski talks impeachment, page 9

division of the community as a whole,” Toni Butler said, demanding an explanation for the decisions.

The saga has been escalating for more than a month, playing out online, at board meetings and on the field. Many relationships have been strained in the small community, and law enforcement has at times been involved to mediate and prevent disputes.

“As an administrator, if I were to evaluate Mr. Butler, I would rate him highly effective,” said former dean of students, teacher and coach F.J.

Wadnola. “I am also here to respectfully advocate for a fair and thorough process as any concerns and allegations are reviewed.”

Supporters alleged that a player award decision and parents’ complaints, including false allegations, were part of the reason for Chris Butler being let go. Other allegations included favoritism, nepotism and that he had been criticized for “embarrassing” a player in comments about their performance. Tying supporters together was a demand for the district to provide an explanation for the decisions, potentially in school board executive session just to Butler himself.

Responding to public commenters’ demands to receive an explanation, School Board President Nancy Duevel said, “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I’m sorry, under the law, we cannot discuss matters which are intended— which the law says we must keep confidential.”

“Much of what is being claimed by the public is not accurate,” Superintendent Tom Piatti said in an interview after the meeting. “And unfortunately, I’m not able to publicly respond to that,” he said, citing

Continued on page 9

Memorial Marker Honors Revolutionary War Soldier

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL COOPERSTOWN

Just in time for America250, a new memorial marker at the intersection of Red House Hill Road and State Highway 80 honors Private John Davidson, whose gravesite is in the nearby Hickory Grove Cemetery. The marker was arranged by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation with assistance from the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, according to a press release for the event.

“These patriot burial markers are part of our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution,” Peter Sheppard, the president of the Oriskany Battle Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, said in a speech. “Through this program, the Empire State SAR along with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation work to ensure that the Revolutionary War patriots buried here in New York are never forgotten.”

Around a dozen locals braved the rainy day to mark the occasion, hearing speeches on Davidson’s life and the enduring impact of the American Revolution. Davidson, whose name is also spelled other

Continued on page

Museum Exhibit Evokes Morris During Revolutionary War Era

By T ERESA W INCHESTER

MORRIS

ANew Settlement, A New Nation” is the current exhibit at the Morris Historical Museum, 89 Broad Street in Morris. Conceived to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the exhibit may be seen during regular museum hours—Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through November 28. Longtime Morris residents and museum founders Stacia Norman and Gary Norman combined talents to mount the exhibit, with Stacia working as curator and Gary as preparator.

“It was Stacia’s brainchild,” Gary said.

Stacia recalled that when a historical society board member suggested doing a commemorative exhibit, she did not initially think the museum had enough materials to put anything together.

“Our collection doesn’t have a wealth of objects from the 18th century, but once I started doing research on early settlement and the Morris family, I realized we could rely on the written record,” Stacia said, adding that accounts sourced were “all from the settlers’ point of view.” Other primary sources also provided models for depicting 18th-century clothing, buildings and even cattle.

Authenticity was an important factor to Stacia in putting the exhibit together.

“Heritage breeds of cattle looked different from cattle today,” Stacia noted, in reference to one of the paintings exhibited.

She also made an effort to ensure that both Native American and colonial dress were accurately represented and even went so far as to grow the corn on exhibit from heirloom seeds.

As part of the museum offerings, four original paintings by Butternut Valley artists depict scenes described in “The Lull Book,” a local history compiled in 1926 by Hilah Violet Eddy. Featured artists are Timothy Atticus of Gilbertsville, Julie Koch and Marilyn Roveland, both of Morris, and Glen Noto of New Lisbon.

“Each artist rose to the challenge of painting in a different medium or style and of treating a subject matter different from what they normally do,” Stacia said.

Atticus, normally an abstract artist, used acrylic on canvas to portray a family forging through the wilderness, headed toward Morris, along what is now known as the Butternut Creek, an ox-drawn cart behind them.

Koch’s acrylic is an early spring rendering of a settler’s cabin, no longer standing. Koch derived her image from “The Lull Book” description of how

early settlers built log cabins and from research done by Stacia herself.

Noto used house paint and acrylics on Masonite to portray a 1777 incident during which a company of British soldiers arriving in the area demanded the men of the settlement to vow they would not take up arms against King George III. This painting recalls the style of the well-known American folk artist “Grandma Moses.”

Roveland’s work—acrylic on Masonite—depicts an encounter at the Lull home between settlers and the Oneida and Tuscarora Indians. Roveland generally prefers to work in watercolors.

On the wall opposite the paintings are 17 framed portraits and silhouettes, accompanied by brief biographical information, making up the Morris family tree. Besides other early families settling in Morris—the Knapps, the Thurstons and the Lulls— the Morrises were influential during the colonization of New York, as well as New Jersey.

During the Revolutionary War years, loyalties were divided between the Patriots (those supporting independence from England) and the Loyalists (those wishing to remain under English rule). As with the

American Civil War, families were often aligned with opposing factions. For the exhibit, frames of the portraits are color-coded—red representing Loyalists, blue Patriots and white unknown loyalties.

One of the framed portraits is of Lewis Morris III, signer of the Declaration of Independence who, before signing, was warned by his brother Staats of potential retaliation by the British.

“Damn the consequences. Give me the pen,” insisted Lewis, whose home, Morrisania, had been destroyed by the British.

Both the town and the village of Morris derive their names from General Jacob Morris, son of Lewis Morris III, who came to the Butternut Valley in 1787 to settle on the tract of land known as the Morris Patent—30,000 acres in what is now Otsego County. Representing his father and his uncle, Jacob came to manage the property and sell off parcels. Upon reaching the Butternut Creek, he declared it “the handsomest navigable creek I ever lay my eyes upon.”

Four females are displayed among the family tree members—one of them Anne Elliott Morris (17521848), wife of Lewis Morris IV. She was known as “the Beautiful Rebel” and, as portrayed in the exhibit, wore a bonnet with 13 small plumes to demonstrate her loyalty to the patriot cause.

The wall on which these images are hung was cleverly constructed by Roman Norman (son of Stacia and Gary), using double parlor doors salvaged from a dumpster to temporarily and imperceptibly cover up one side of a piece making up part of the museum’s permanent collection—a double-sided cupboard manufactured by the Benjamin Chair Factory, which operated in Morris from 1856-1942.

Present at the exhibit was Lull family descendant Pat Lull Matteson, who indicated that the Lulls migrated to what is now the United States from Mallorca. The name, she said, was originally spelled “Lully.” Matteson said that she is familiar with her family history and is “proud to be a Lull,” adding that her mother was the last Lull to live in the Village of Morris.

“Gary and Stacia did a wonderful job. I plan to come again,” she said.

Carla Hall, a direct descendant of General Jacob Morris, was present at the event. She currently lives in Morris in a stately home built by the general himself. Taking in the family tree, Hall seemed as impressed as the less-connected visitor.

“It blows my mind how much research they’ve done. It’s the first time I’ve seen the family tree visually depicted. I’m so happy for the residents of Morris—that they can really celebrate and learn about this country in this way. These are the foun-

Continued on page 6

As Tourism Season Approaches, One Grocery Store To Serve Central Otsego

By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL

COOPERSTOWN

In January of this year, Grand Union announced the March closure of its supermarkets in Norwich and Hartwick Seminary. As the tourism season and the thousands of visitors and youth baseball families it brings begins to kick into gear, that leaves one full-size supermarket to serve central

Otsego County: the Price Chopper at 113 Chestnut Street in Cooperstown.

“It was definitely the first stop of many Dreams Park families,” Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh said of the 5 Commons Drive Grand Union grocery store. “I think where it’s going to hit us, and I’ve heard this from Cooperstown residents, if that store is gone on those changeover days, our Price Chopper is going to be, we think,

inundated.”

The Grand Union was a short drive from the Cooperstown Dreams Park baseball fields, where hundreds of youth baseball teams compete each year. Families would often shop at the Grand Union while their players competed for multiple days. The Cooperstown Dreams Park website lists 14 tournaments that occurred from the end of May to mid-August

in 2025.

According to New York State Department of Transportation traffic count data measured in June 2024, the NY-28 entrance to the shopping plaza with the Grand Union saw 9,980 in annual average daily traffic flow, mostly from personal vehicles.

Ryan Geraghty, the marketing and communications director for the nonprofit Destination Marketing Corporation, said the organization anticipated these challenges and created a guide for incoming visitors. DMC serves as the county’s official tourism

promotion agency.

“We do have a grocery store in Cooperstown, but, you know, it’s definitely not going to be able to fill the capacity,” Geraghty said, so the organization’s guide points to other options in addition to the Price Chopper. Those options include the Dollar General on Route 28, the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market when open, and the small businesses throughout the area. Geraghty also encouraged visitors to use the rest of the stores and restaurants in the shopping plaza where Grand Union was located.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is currently accepting applications for:

Part-time/Seasonal, Membership & Visitor Services Associate $16.00/hr.

Working at the National Baseball Hall of Fame is a career experience unlike any other. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our team and help welcome fans to the home of baseball.

“Our honest advice: Shop before you get here,” reads bold text in the DMC guide. The blog post encourages utilizing options in Oneonta if on the way. Of the Price Chopper, it says: “It can help in a pinch, but it is not equipped to serve the full grocery needs of several hundred visiting families simultaneously,” referencing its size and limited parking availability.

Tillapaugh hoped that over the long run, improvements to the walkability of the area near the Price Chopper will ease any potential issues. After Labor Day, an approximately $2.5 million project funded by the NYSDOT is planned to “construct a new sidewalk from Walnut Street down Route 28 to connect to our Linden Avenue extension,” including pedestrian signals and crosswalks.

That still leaves a space right at the Price Chopper, which Tillapaugh said “is something we’re really focused on.”

This is a seasonal position running from May through August, with some potential opportunities to continue into the fall. As the face of the Museum, you will focus on providing Hall of Fame caliber customer service to visitors throughout the Museum, at the ticket booth and at the information desk.

A flexible schedule is required, including some evenings, weekends and holidays.

If interested, please visit baseballhall.org/careers to complete an application.

Extending the sidewalk up to the Price Chopper will require navigating infrastructure like the railroad tracks present there and working with property owners, including NYSEG and Price Chopper, Tillapaugh said.

AllOtsego called the Cooperstown Price Chopper seeking an interview, and was directed to Price Chopper’s corporate media relations team. Price Chopper acknowledged but did not return the request for comment by press time.

Joseph Hernandez Elaborates on His Run for GOP Comptroller

By ERIC SANTOMAUROSTENZEL

COOPERSTOWN

Joseph Hernandez, the presumptive GOP nominee for the New York State Comptroller race, says it is his business background that motivated him to seek the office.

“I know the dealings of Wall Street and how to do that well, which is part of the role,” Hernandez said in an interview last week at AllOtsego’s offices.

The state comptroller since 2007, Democrat Tom DiNapoli, faces a primary from Raj Goyle and Drew Warshaw. The winner is expected to face Hernandez in the November election.

Raised in Florida after he and his family left Cuba as refugees, Hernandez earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, a master’s degree in molecular genetics and microbiology, and an MBA in finance and entrepreneurship from the University

of Florida, according to his campaign site. He also earned a chronic disease epidemiology and biostatistics master’s at Yale University and is currently pursuing a global healthcare leadership master’s at the University of Oxford. Professionally, he said, he has invested and founded more than a dozen biotechnology, healthcare, and technology companies.

Hernandez sees some of the main issues facing New York’s finances as fraud, waste and abuse.

Using the powers of the office, he said, he would audit Medicaid funds and the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Hernandez alleged that as much as 10 to 15 percent of the state’s Medicaid budget is “fraudulent,” and that “that’s probably $20 billion of theft that we’re doing nothing about.”

“We have let the MTA run amok, and that’s going to stop when I become comptroller,” he

said.

Hernandez argued that the Comptroller’s Office investments should not be made with any political goal, either with new

investments or divesting from existing ones.

“I think that’s why I contrast myself to the folks running on the Democratic side;

investing is an apolitical exercise,” he said, referencing calls from some comptroller candidates for the state to divest from Israel bonds, digital surveillance company Palantir and the fossil fuel industry. He cited the comptroller’s “fiduciary duty” to “get the highest internal rate of return for the pensioners.”

Hernandez said he would not invest in “things that kill humans,” adding, “I can’t give you any examples of what I would and wouldn’t do, because I think you need to analyze these things holistically.”

Supporting upstate investment is a priority, Hernandez said.

Regarding NVIDIA’s partnership with Corning Inc. to expand manufacturing of components required for AI data centers, Hernandez said, “The headquarters of Corning is in New York. Why don’t we invest in New York? Why don’t we facilitate an invest-

ment?” He also pointed to the Micron project near Syracuse, saying he would use the state’s pension fund to invest “as an equity holder” in tech companies, including startups, building materials for the project.

Though highly critical of Comptroller DiNapoli’s leadership, Hernandez highlighted one area of agreement: opposing a proposed provision in the state budget that would increase the threshold for state contracts to receive comptroller review from its current number of $50,000.00 to $300,000.00. Hernandez has threatened to file a lawsuit if the proposal makes it into the adopted state budget.

“That number matters because it’s six times the current threshold, but more importantly, it lets about $4 billion of taxpayer dollars go without audit, without review,” Hernandez said.

Town of Oneonta Awarded $40K for West End Development, Planning

On May 7, offi-

cials announced the Town of Oneonta has been awarded a $40,000.00 grant from Empire State Development to help plan the future of the West End corridor. The award comes through the state’s Strategic Planning and Feasibility Studies Program and supports the Town of Oneonta West End Development Plan, officials said.

The West End is a mixed commercial and residential corridor and

one of the main gateways into Oneonta. According to a press release, the planning work will examine current conditions, evaluate development options and identify practical next steps for the area, guided by a professional planning consultant.

“This planning work is the foundation for something bigger,” said Town Supervisor Will Rivera. “The West End deserves decisions made with the community, not just for it. Forty thousand dollars in feasibility

work today puts us in a much stronger position to compete for millions tomorrow.”

The Town of Oneonta is a certified ProHousing Community under Governor Kathy Hochul’s program, which has directed more than $1.4 billion in state investment to downtown revitalization across New York. Certification makes the town eligible to compete for the state’s largest downtown investment programs, including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative

and NY Forward. According to officials, the feasibility work funded by this award is intended to position the town for future applications to those programs and other Empire State Development funding.

The town will hold information sessions for West End property owners as part of the planning process. Property

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HOMETOWN Views

American Education: a 125-Year-Old Failure?

It’s all screwed up.”

Watever side of the aisle you fall on, we hear it from parents, experts and policymakers alike: The American education system is “broken.”

It feels like we’re all seated on a giant gondola, swinging back and forth on a carnival ride no one is really enjoying. We’ve now gone from sweeping reform movements to a nostalgic yearning to “get it back to what it was.”

But what if this “golden age” of education we’re trying to reclaim is more recent, and the system itself far younger, than we typically consider? What if the trend to “shake up” the system wasn’t a failed experiment but simply growing pains in a relatively new societal endeavor?

It Didn’t Start That Long Ago

The loudest voices currently declaring the system’s failures often come from the generations who experienced the post-World War II flurry of acts, court cases and reforms that shaped 20thcentury education in America. Our current leaders (the Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, and Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980) grew up in this “peak” of what we’d consider mainstream education.

Before this, the Greatest Generation (born between 1901 and 1927) and the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945) struggled to live in a world still coming into the modern age. Few attended universities or post-secondary educational pursuits, let alone completed a comprehensive

THE PARTIAL OBSERVER

primary curriculum.

When putting the debate on a “broken” education system into context, perhaps the most vital point to realize is that this system has only been around for four to five generational cohorts, or roughly 125 years. In the grand scheme of recorded history, let alone the existence of human civilizations, that’s a blink of an eye!

The British monarchy has persisted in one form or another for almost 1,000 years.

The Roman Empire endured for nearly five centuries in the West, and more than a thousand years in the East.

Greece’s classical ideals stretch across 2,500 years of philosophy, politics and art.

Ancient Egypt’s dynasties thrived for over 3,000 years along the Nile.

Can something as young as the American education system even be considered a catastrophic failure at such an early stage?

Unifying Around Grace… for the Human Race

If we’re being honest, this whole “failed” system is barely an adult, let alone an ancient, crumbling edifice. We’re criticizing a 125-year-old experiment when, in the lifespan of major civilizations and societal institutions, that’s remarkably young.

The point is, perhaps it’s time we reframe the “it’s all screwed up” statement that seeks to blame and demonize one form or another. If the system is, relatively speaking, still in its adolescence, perhaps we shouldn’t judge it or each other too harshly. Perhaps

LWV Observer Corps: Helping To Let

The mission of the League of Women Voters is “defending democracy and empowering voters.” One crucial way we accomplish that mission is through our Observer Corps. Observers are LWV members who attend the meetings of area towns, villages, school boards and other municipal agencies. Observers do not participate in the meetings; rather they observe how well, if at all, the agency complies with New York State’s Open Meeting Laws. This law (also known as the “Sunshine” Law) outlines in detail actions that may be taken by a public body and how the public should be informed. For example:

• The law requires that notice of the time and place of all meetings be given prior to every meeting.

• The law sets requirements regarding how and why an “executive” or closed session may be called.

• The law notes that minutes of open meetings must be made available within two weeks of the

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

we should step back and realize the early stage of development we’re in and offer both ourselves and those on opposing viewpoints some grace.

We’re all just trying to figure this thing out together. It’s not wrong to have high expectations of what schooling should look like in an ideal society, especially when we’re trying to ensure the best future for our children.

However, instead of looking at this whole thing like a colossal collapse, perhaps we need to reframe our recent stewardship of this young system and curb our rapidly evolving timeframe of what “success” looks like.

Perhaps we’re not in an irreversible decline, but just another early step in the development of a brighter future.

And even if everything really is “all screwed up,” look at the bright side—it’s only been about 125 years! So let’s make the next 125 count!

Tom Murphy, founder of Sweethearts & Heroes and an alumnus of Cooperstown Central School, is a nationally recognized speaker and leader in youth development, resilience, and social change. A former All-American wrestler, UFC competitor, and successful entrepreneur, Tom transitioned from a corporate career to full-time advocacy, bringing his message of empathy, H.O.P.E. (Hold On, Possibilities Exist), and action to millions of people nationwide. Through engaging workshops and powerful storytelling, he empowers communities to create lasting cultures of belonging and support.

the ‘Sun’ Shine on Democracy

meeting; minutes of executive sessions must be made available within one week of the executive session. Minutes that have not been approved should be marked “draft” or “unapproved.”

The League understands that board meetings are working meetings of elected representatives, not (except in the case of a public hearing) an opportunity for citizens to speak directly to their representatives. However, Observers do note whether there is a specific time set aside for public comment.

The League strives to have Observers come to all meetings of local government entities; the primary constraint is the number of available volunteers. All Observers use the same brief checklist of items to confirm compliance with the Open Meeting Law and general observations on how the meeting is conducted:

• Is business handled efficiently?

• Are members polite to the public and to each other?

“Hometown Oneonta” welcomes letters to the editor that reflect the writer’s thoughts on an article or other item appearing in the paper, or on topics of general local interest. They must include the writer’s name, address, e-mail and telephone/mobile number; the opinions expressed must be the writer’s own. Hostile, offensive, factually incorrect or excessively inflammatory content will not be published. Maximum length is 300 words; however, the editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit letters for clarity and space. Please send letters to: info@allotsego.com.

• Have board members come prepared to conduct business?

• Does the leader of the meeting manage the meeting?

Finally, the Observers note any items that relate to a League’s position; for example, recycling, natural resources or voting rights.

If an observer identifies an issue, the chair of the Observer Corps reviews it and contacts the board in question in writing. Observers in the past have noted a variety of items, including: board members not being clearly identified by nameplates (or not at all); an overuse of acronyms; members of the public not being able to hear the board members; minutes of the meeting are not posted in a timely manner (two weeks after the meeting); and agendas are not made available 24 hours before the meeting.

These issues impact all citizens. If people cannot hear, if they do not know what will be on

Continued on page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR … IN THEIR OPINION

Dowd Seeking To Serve on Board

My name is Margaret Dowd. I am a physician, the mother of three children at Cooperstown Central Schools, and I am running for the Board of Education.

HOMETOWN ONEONTA

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I love living in and serving this community. As an invested parent, I have volunteered extensively at our school, including founding and overseeing our first elementary school newspaper, the “Walnut Street Journal,” and fundraising for and volunteering in the Kid Garden.

As a doctor with a background in finance, I have been able to work closely with hospital leadership, members of our school board, and school leaders to collaborate on showcasing our amazing school and enhancing our enrichment offerings.

One result is a new student research pilot program pairing Cooperstown high-school students with mentors at Bassett Research Institute, which is scheduled to launch this month and, we hope, will ultimately become an elective at the high school. Another

result is successfully retaining a dedicated communications director, a position wholly funded by Bassett Healthcare and The Clark Foundation, to celebrate our students’ accomplishments with the community. These successful collaborations between the hospital, local foundations and the school demonstrate ways to enhance offerings for students without any impact on the school budget.

In working directly with school leaders and teachers, it has become abundantly clear to me how special our school and teachers are—as well as how many opportunities there are for growth.

Our teachers are the foundation of our school, and we need to support them entirely. I have a demonstrated interest in building our school into the best it can be, but I believe I can do even more from a position on the school board.

As a board member, I would be uniquely positioned to foster partnerships between the hospital and leaders of local organizations to create opportunities to support our school. I would likewise promote greater transparency

between school leaders, the school board, and the community, which is imperative for an environment of trust and collaboration.

I would encourage our board to establish a policy for more intentional use of educational technology in our classrooms; one that favors hands-on learning and teacherled instruction, especially for our youngest students.

And I will fight to maintain robust offerings in academics and the arts, because I believe our students are the future of this region. If we can develop critical thinkers and doers who love our community and are loved by our community, they will go on to serve our community in the future.

Dr. Margaret Dowd CCS BOE Candidate Cooperstown

‘Franck for Three More Years’

I’m Chris Franck, and I’m running for re-election to a second term on the Cooperstown Central School Board of Education. I’m writing to share a summary of Continued on page 8

by Tom HeiTz/SHARoN STUART

110 YEARS AGO

Roscoe C. Briggs is now driving a Cadillac eight, he having exchanged his old car with J.A. Dewar for a 1915 touring car, the latter recently taken in exchange from George N. White of Cooperstown for a new model 1916 Cadillac eight, which was built on a longer wheel base for Mr. White.

Owing to advancing prices in material it has become impossible to deliver single quarts of ice cream at the former prices. Commencing today, Laskaris and the Boston Candy Kitchen will be obliged to charge 50 cents for single quarts delivered. Two quarts will be delivered at 80 cents and prices at stores will remain.

May 1916

70 YEARS AGO

The fashion designers are up to their usual trick of attempting to confine the female form divine to a straight and narrow line. This year some of them are making matters worse by topping milady with a species of hat comparable to a peck basket. This accentuates the greatly-to-be desired string bean effect for which most of the designers seem to be striving. It is all quite troublesome to the lady whose figure retains some of the characteristics that nature, if not the dress designers, considers appropriate. To ladies so troubled, a word of consolation: Studies, statistical and otherwise, have shown conclusively that in a contest between nature and fashion, the male vote runs heavily to nature.

May 1956

50 YEARS AGO

Four Democratic presidential contenders striving for support at the Black Democratic Caucus refused to say flatly they would push for a black as a vice presidential candidate. Former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, Sen. Frank Church of Idaho, Rep. Morris K. Udall of Arizona and California Governor Edmund G. Brown appeared together. The candidates were asked by Richard Hatcher, mayor of Gary, Indiana whether they would encourage the selection of a black as the party’s vice presidential candidate. Udall responded “America is ready for a black vice president,” but said he would make no flat commitment. The other candidates endorse Udall’s view but also stopped short of saying they would push for a black on the ticket.

May 1976

30 YEARS AGO

May 1996

20 YEARS AGO

Several state legislators expressed concern Tuesday about a proposed $1 billion 400-kilovolt direct current power line that would run from Marcy in Oneida County to New Windsor in Orange County. The project has been proposed by New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI), a group of anonymous investors based in Albany. NYRI has been holding meetings about the project in affected towns and many people have expressed their opposition to it. State Senator John Bonacic (R-Mount Hope) said he opposes the project and so do many of his constituents. “They don’t want this power line,” he said. May 2006

Glimmerglass Expands Summer Programs

There is no summer experience like The Glimmerglass Festival. Yes, audiences come each season for world-class opera, musical theater and internationally acclaimed artists. But what makes Glimmerglass truly special is that the experience extends far beyond the mainstage. Every summer, our campus becomes a place alive with music, celebration, discovery, and community—and this year is no different!

Inspired by America’s 250th anniversary, our 2026 season explores through song and story what it means to build, question, and carry forward the American Dream. But just as importantly, we’ve created opportunities for people to gather, celebrate and experience Glimmerglass in entirely new ways. In fact, most of what I’m most excited about this summer is not taking place on the mainstage at all.

Before the season officially begins, we’ll host two free outdoor movie nights on our campus. On June 5, in anticipation of our own youth version of the Robin Hood legend (opening August 2), audiences can enjoy the classic Hollywood interpretation with “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.” Then, on June 26, we’ll screen “National Treasure,” a lighthearted Disney treasure-hunting adventure that feels especially fitting in a season centered on American history and mythology.

These evenings are intentionally simple. Bring a blanket. Bring your kids. Buy some popcorn. Crack open a beer and sit outside with your neighbors as the sun goes down. Because Glimmerglass is more than a theater, we are a gathering place. So come gather on our breathtaking campus for one of our free Lyrics on the Lawn concerts,

By MERL REAGLE

featuring numbers from the Great American Songbook. Experience not only the artistry that defines Glimmerglass, but also the casual outdoor setting that sets it apart. These pop-up concerts will be announced on the fly throughout the season. Whether you step inside the legendary Alice Busch Opera Theater for a big, splashy production of “Oklahoma!” or stop by for a Lyrics on the Lawn concert, you are part of the Glimmerglass experience.

We’ve also made it easier than ever to join us. This season, thanks to generous donor support, we’re proud to offer free trolley service between downtown Cooperstown and the festival grounds for all mainstage performances. The trolley not only removes practical barriers; it strengthens the connection between the village and the festival, reinforcing how deeply intertwined Glimmerglass is with this community.

As summer continues, we’ll close the season with two lively community celebrations. On August 14, Glimmerglass After Hours will transform the campus into a post-show party featuring food trucks, a silent disco and outdoor social spaces. It’s free to attend this late-night shindig, but be sure to bring cash for those food trucks and the bar. The following day, our Summer Send-Off picnic will feature lawn games, music, and dinner from Brooks’ House of Bar-B-Q (tickets $20.00), with proceeds supporting the festival’s artistic and educational programs.

And these are only part of what makes a summer at Glimmerglass so special. Every season, audiences also enjoy free Backstage

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Potsdam Recognizes Grads

POTSDAM—SUNY Potsdam will recognize the Class of 2026 in its 206th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 16. Local degree candidates include Nicholas Chase of Schenevus, graduating with distinction with a master’s degree in childhood education, Jo Hanna Lindeyer of West Oneonta, graduating with distinction with a certificate of advanced study in inclusive and special education, and Chloe Munro of Milford, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English. For more information, visit potsdam.edu/commencement.

CCE Auction, Plant Sale Open

OTSEGO COUNTY—The “Spring into Giving” online benefit auction for Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties is open for bidding through 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. Visit cceschoharieotsegocounties.betterworld. org/auctions/cce-auction to learn more. The CCE Master Gardener Plant Sale will be held in the Fenimore Farm’s Louis C. Jones Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. More information is available at cceschoharie-otsego.org.

Rain Garden Cleanup Slated

COOPERSTOWN—The Village of Cooperstown seeks volunteers for a Main Street rain garden cleanup starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. Volunteers should meet at the Doubleday Field Main Street entrance and are encouraged to bring gloves, trash bags, and tools if possible. For more information, contact cfalk@cooperstownny.gov.

A.O. Fox To Test Water Flow

ONEONTA—A.O. Fox Hospital will conduct a water flow test of its sprinkler system at about 5 a.m. on Thursday, May 21. The test will last one to two hours. Nearby residents may notice a drop in water pressure or discoloration during and after the test period, although water safety will not be compromised. Direct any questions to Fox Facilities Manager Amanda Schubert at (607) 431-5405.

‘Mariposa/Butterfly’

Staged

MARGARETVILLE—The Open Eye Theater, 960 Main Street in Margaretville, will present the play “Mariposa/Butterfly” by José Casas and Sandra Fenichel Asher at 2 p.m. on May 23 and July 18, 19, 25, and 26. Intended for children ages 4 and up, the bilingual play follows a pair of neighbors in Texas. Each performance begins with a butterfly puppetmaking workshop, immediately followed by the 30-minute production. For more information, visit theopeneyetheater.org.

Popular Tag Sale Returns

COOPERSTOWN—Rotary Club of Cooperstown will hold its annual Vintage Tag Sale at Christ Church Parish Hall, 69 Fair Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 30. There will be a wide selection of donated vintage items, including jewelry and original work by local artists. All proceeds support Rotary’s charitable work around the community.

Cherry Valley Plans Sale Days

CHERRY VALLEY—Cherry Valley’s Memorial Day community yard sales will once again run throughout the “Spring into Summer” Festival, May 23-25. Sale maps will be available at village businesses and online at cherryvalley.com. To add a sale to the map, send details and a suggested $5.00 American Legion donation to (607) 264-3129. The Whiteman-Hull-Snyder American Legion and Auxiliary will also accept donations for its 44 Main Street sale. Large furniture, clothing and books will not be accepted. For more information or to schedule a drop-off, call (607) 435-1658.

Blood Drives Scheduled

OTSEGO COUNTY—The American Red Cross issued an urgent appeal for blood and platelet donations. Donors who give between May 1-17 will receive a $20.00 Amazon gift card. Appointments may be made at RedCrossBlood.org, by calling 1-800RED-CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Walk-ins are also welcome. Upcoming blood drives include: Quality Inn, 5206 State Route 23 in Oneonta, from 1-6 p.m. on May 14; Deposit Central

Exhibit

Continued from page 2

dation stones on which this country was built,” she said.

Equally pleased with the exhibit was Kathleen Stroh of Morris.

“I’m delighted that we have such incredible, professional curators for this small museum. It’s amazing. I didn’t think I’d learned anything, but I did,” she said.

Rick O’Keefe, who divides his time between

School, 171 Second Street, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 15; Margaretville Fire Department, 77 Church Street, from 1:30-5:30 p.m. on May 15; Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, from 1:305:30 p.m. on May 18; Bassett Hall, 31 Beaver Street in Cooperstown, from 12:30-5:30 p.m. on May 19; American Legion Post 183, 22 Union Street in Sidney, from 1-6 p.m. on May 19; Springbrook Community Campus, 5588 State Route 7 in Oneonta, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 21; Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street in Oneonta, from 16 p.m. on May 21; Delhi United Ministry, 1 Church Street, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 22; Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52 in Cooperstown, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 22; 1 Bridge Street in Sidney from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 23; Schenevus Central School, 159 Main Street, from 1-5:30 p.m. on May 26; Roxbury Town Hall, 56 Hillcrest Drive, from 1-5 p.m. on May 29; and Southside Mall, 5006 State Route 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 30.

James Ivory To Speak Locally

COOPERSTOWN—Hyde Hall will open its 2026 lecture series with a talk by famed film director, writer and producer James Ivory, half of the legendary Merchant Ivory Productions, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 23. Ivory will speak about his extraordinary career and introduce a special screening of the 1993 film, “The Remains of the Day,” based on the 1989 novel by Nobel-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro. Tickets are available at hydehall.org or via EventBrite.

Trolley History To Be Discussed

FLY CREEK—The Fly Creek Area Historical Society will hold its next monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27. Les Sittler will give a history and tour of the Fly Creek Trolley Station. The program will begin at the station site, 187 Cemetery Road, and proceed to the Grange Building at 208 Cemetery Road for refreshments and the business meeting. FCAHS non-members are asked to make a small donation if they attend the program.

Hazard Mitigation Draft Avail.

OTSEGO COUNTY—Otsego County’s Draft 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan is available for public review and comment. All chapters may be viewed at otsegocountyny.gov/departments/planning_department/index.php.

Pancake

Breakfasts Start Sat.

MIDDLEFIELD—The Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department’s Fly-In Pancake Breakfasts will resume for the 2026 season on Saturday, May 16 from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Held at the Cooperstown/ Westville Airport on State Route 166, it offers allyou-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, beverages and real maple syrup. Admission is $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for children under 12.

Garden Club To Host Plant Sale

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Garden Club of Richfield Springs will hold its annual plant sale in the library parking lot, 102 West Main Street, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 6. It will feature a bake sale, a raffle, a make-and-take herb bag workshop, and a presentation by “The Mustard Seed” from Little Falls.

Hermitage Trio Performs 5/17

STAMFORD—The Friends of Music of Stamford will host a concert by internationally acclaimed Hermitage Piano Trio at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. Held at the First Presbyterian Church, 96 Main Street in Stamford, the concert will have admission by donation at the door. For more information, visit friendsmusic.org.

Herb Garden, Workshops Set

COOPERSTOWN—Herbalist Gert Coleman will host an herb gardening workshop at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Grow Garden, 123 Lake Street in Cooperstown, from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 21. Space is limited and registration is required by Wednesday, May 20. Visit cceschoharieotsego.org for more information. Otsego Master Gardener volunteers will lead a family gardening program at the Grow Garden from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20 and Wednesday, July 15. Registration is required in advance.

Music Festival Seeking Vols

SIDNEY—The Southern Tier Music Festival, held at the Sidney Municipal Airport on Saturday, July 4, seeks volunteers. There are three available three-hour shifts, from 12:30-3:30, 3:30-6:30 and 6:30-9:30 p.m. Volunteers will receive a general admission ticket, a parking pass and a T-shirt for their efforts. For more information or to volunteer, contact Bill at southerntiermusicfest@aol.com or (607) 761-4875.

Craft Vendors Wanted for Fairs

RICHFIELD SPRINGS—The Church of Christ Uniting seeks craft vendors for two popular annual fairs. The 45th Annual Friendship Craft Festival will be held in Spring Park on Saturday, June 13 and the 6th Annual Fall Craft Fair will be at 587 Cullen Road on Saturday, October 3. For more information or application materials, contact friendshipcraftfestival@yahoo.com or fallcraftfair@yahoo.com, respectively.

Tennis Falls in Quarterfinals

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown tennis swept Little Falls 5-0 in a Division I match on Friday, May 8. Henry Ayers, Alfred Hom and Hayden Spencer each swept their opponents 10-0 in the singles flights. Bianca Adam and Micah Raffo took first doubles 10-3 and the second doubles team of Rigzin Gazan and Deanna Wolfe won 10-0.

Six-seeded Manlius-Pebble Hill eliminated threeseeded Cooperstown from the Section III Class D quarterfinals on Monday, May 11. MPH swept the Hawkeyes 5-0 at the Clark Sports Center.

Baseball Rolling, Softball Falls

COOPERSTOWN—After picking up a forfeit win against New York Mills on Friday, May 8, Cooperstown baseball fought its way to a 5-4 victory over Sauquoit Valley on Monday, May 11. Joey Paterno struck out nine batters and gave up six hits and a walk over the complete game. The Hawkeyes racked up their entire score for the night in the first frame. Paterno, Braden Rawitch and Elijah McCaffrey recorded RBI and Ty Burkhart had two. The Hawkeyes will host Frankfort-Schuyler for a non-division Senior Night game after press time on Wednesday, May 13. The softball team dropped a Division II game to Sauquoit Valley 11-2 at home on Monday, May 11. Carlotta Falso was stuck with the loss, striking out seven batters and giving up five hits and seven walks over the complete seven innings. Lanie Nelen had an RBI and Sophia Johnson and Scarlett Bong scored runs. The Hawkeyes will travel to Frankfort-Schuyler for another non-division game after press time on Wednesday, May 13.

Track and Field Starts Strong

COOPERSTOWN—Cooperstown’s girls and boys track and field teams both took second place in the Don Howard Invitational on Saturday, May 2, each finishing behind Cobleskill-Richmondville in fields of 11 and nine teams, respectively. Jameson Gable was named Male Track Athlete of the meet for his first-place finishes in the 100m, 200m and 400m relay. Jacob Johnson won the 400m, Owen Flannigan took third in the 3,200m and the boys 3,200m relay team took second. Kyle Patton and Joey De Sanno finished third and fourth in the long jump. Dakota Alabach finished third in triple jump, Brody Murdock took second in high jump, and Theo Spinosa, Patton, and Evan Price took first, second, and third in the pole vault. On the girls’ side, Mia Pelcer and Mia Stenzel finished second and third in the 100m hurdles. The 1,600m relay team took third, and Claire Baldo and Eleanor Walker finished second and third in the 400m. Baldo, Walker, and Olivia Temp took second place in the 200m, 800m, and 3,200m, respectively. The 400m relay finished second and the 3,200m relay was third. Full results may be found at milesplit. live/meets/740821/team-scores.

Savino Earns Master’s Degree

EAST STROUDSBURG, PA—East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania honored nearly 1,200 students at its Commencement Ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9. Among the graduates was Tiana Savino of Sidney, who earned a master’s of science in health education.

Morris and New York City, found the exhibit “exceptional.”

“It makes the history of Morris accessible. It brings us together in these times when people are so divided,” he said.

Other museum activities conducted in conjunction with the 250th anniversary will include summer workshops for cleaning and repairing gravestones of Revolutionary War soldiers. These will take place at Harmony Cemetery, 136 Pegg Road on May 22, June 19,

July 11, August 28, and September 19—all from 10 a.m. to noon. Also at Harmony Cemetery, on August 2 from 3-5 p.m., volunteers will recount stories of Revolutionary War soldiers.

For the Butternut Valley Alliance’s annual “On the Trail of Art” open-air art show, to be held July 13-14 at General Jacob Morris State Forest, MHS will mount a display explaining the history of the region, as well as how Revolutionary

War gravestones are preserved in Morris.

The last commemorative event, sponsored by the historical society and the Daughters of the American Revolution, will be a Liberty Tea Party, held at the Gatehouse Coffee Shop, 129 Main Street in Morris, on October 8 from 3-5 p.m.

Information on the Morris Historical Society and its activities is available on Facebook at Morris, NY—Historically Speaking or by calling (607) 263-5965.

Oneonta

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The grant application was prepared by Deputy Town Supervisor and Councilwoman Patricia Riddell-Kent, former Councilwoman Kim Fierke, and Caroline Williams of SUNY Oneonta.

“Working alongside our neighbors to grow Oneonta in ways that are economically sound and socially significant will benefit the entire

community today and into the future,” said SUNY President Alberto Cardelle. “We are proud of the strong relationships we have developed with local leaders and look forward to collaborating with Supervisor Rivera, town board members, and the community as planning efforts begin in the West End.”

Officials said the town will share details on the planning timeline and information session dates in the coming weeks.

NEWS FROM COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL

Created by Sophia Johnson, Grace McLean and Kayleigh Butler, assisted by CCS Librarian Michelle Hitchcock

Leadership Training Gets Students involved in the Community

By SOPHiA JOHNSON

COOPERSTOWN

Leadership Training for Athletes is a high-achieving reward offered to Cooperstown Central School sophomores through seniors who play three sports and show aspects of leadership traits who are recommended by their coaches. For me, it is one of the best things i achieved during high school so far.

i play three sports—soccer, basketball and softball—all of which i have played since i was 4 years old. Athletics have always been a huge part of my life, from motivating me to show up to school, to do well academically, and to have the privilege to continue competing.

When i found out there was a club highlighting athletes and getting them involved within their community while teaching them to further their leadership skills, i knew it was something i was interested in. When i got invited in my sophomore year, i was introduced to opportunities i never knew existed before. The club highlights athletes who involve themselves within their community, show leadership qualities, and perform acts of service for the betterment of their peers—all while maintaining high academic standards and performing in their sports.

Personally, i found LTA to give me motivation to show up for my peers and learn how to be a better individual. Throughout the school year, each sports team is encouraged to do service projects which involve the community. For example, girls varsity volleyball and basketball raise money for the Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at home games, as well as for events such as Coaches against Cancer and Walk for Autism.

Outside of sports team events, LTA runs a middle-school dodgeball tournament as well as a high-school and faculty volleyball tournament, both of which raise money for the American Heart Association. These help to involve athletes with their community while also raising money for a good cause. LTA taught me there was more to contribute to my community than just sports and attending school. Living in such a small town has shown me the importance of community and helping people and businesses in times of need.

LTA recognizes these opportunities, and opens a pathway for studentathletes to become more involved. This allows them to build their transcript and resume to provide a better path for their future. On top of teaching responsibilities and leadership, LTA allows you to meet new people and grow

bonds while learning responsibility and consistency. The club is a privilege to be included in and has helped me become a better peer for my family, friends, and teammates.

Being in LTA for two years has only made me more comfortable with getting involved. i have learned new skills which are helping me be a better

teammate and friend. i believe that LTA is something student-athletes should aim to be invited to because it will help them to learn leadership skills that impact and follow them for the rest of their lives.

Sophia Johnson is a junior at Cooperstown Jr.-Sr. High School.

CCS Library Club Members Seek To Foster Community Growth

By G RACE M C L EAN

COOPERSTOWN

Giving back to your community is one of the most fulfilling experiences, as community service teaches young individuals the value of empathy and caring for others, especially if you do not know them personally. Small actions, such

as setting up book collections at the library or managing a room at the annual Parents as Reading Partners event can alter someone’s life for the better, even if you are blissfully unaware of the effect.

Most volunteer work done by the Library Club is to help make the lives of community members easier. Whether the action consists of lifting

heavy boxes full of books or staying late after an event to help clean up so others can go home earlier, we aim to make a difference in the lives of those around us. Change comes from just one person doing one thing, no matter how grand or seemingly insignificant. Through small acts of kindness, the Library Club focuses on preparing young adults to

lead a life full of empathy for the world around them and act within their community

Currently, as president of Library Club, my main goal is to establish all members as active participants in the community. Whether they help set up and clean up committees at the several book collections at the library, or volunteer to help make events such as

the annual Crayon Carnival or PARP Sleep Under run smoothly, volunteer service in all forms is beneficial to our community. Moreover, not only do we aim to assist the Village of Cooperstown, but also the community we are actively a part of in school. The Library Club hosts a drawing at the

Conference Goal is To Celebrate, Educate Student-Athletes

By K AYLE i GH B UTLER COOPERSTOWN

The 11th Annual Athletic Leadership Conference was held at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown on March 5. The theme of the 2026 conference was “Motivate from Within: Sportsmanship, Determination, initiative.” Sixty-four school districts

were represented from three out of 11 sections in New York State.

This conference was an opportunity given to four special student-athlete leaders per school and showcased powerful presentations throughout the day on topics including leadership, nutrition, officials, and ways to achieve your dreams and goals as a student-athlete. i was given the incred

ible opportunity to be the assistant conference manager for the Leadership Training for Athletes program at Cooperstown High School, alongside the unbelievable Monica Wolfe.

Once a week, every single week leading up to the conference, Mrs. Wolfe and i met to work on conference preparations. We started by opening the sign-ups to schools who have attended

previously, and some new schools who have not attended before. We then had to line up who was going to be speaking at the conference, or running the event activities. Then we organized the sponsorships, food, and deliveries upon deliveries of shirts and various items, as well as gifts for the speakers. Planning this conference was a lot

what I’ve worked on over the past three years and what I’ll stay focused on if voters return me to the board.

1. I serve on the Facilities and Finance Committee with Dr. William Streck. We advise the board and school leaders on annual budgets, the 2025 Capital Plan, and monitor the financial performance of the school. 2026-2027 promises to be a challenging year for many schools, including Cooperstown.

2. As a member of the Strategic Planning Committee, I work with school leaders to target areas and deploy resources to improve how we serve our students. We are deep in the process of finalizing a new Strategic Plan for the school district.

3. I represent our board on the ONC BOCES Regionalization Steering Committee along with superintendents and board representatives from all 19 ONC BOCES school districts. Together we are exploring opportunities for schools to collaborate, share resources and enhance our students’ educational experience.

4. This past summer, I facilitated meetings between school leaders and educators from the Baseball Hall of Fame, Fenimore Art Museum, Fenimore Farm, and Bassett Healthcare to introduce new academic and cultural enrichment programs for our students.

5. Finally, I brought together CCS and Bassett leaders to discuss how the school district can support Bassett’s critical recruiting and retention efforts. Strong schools help attract families to the Cooperstown area, so we’re working with Bassett to communicate more clearly what CCS offers students and families.

Cooperstown is already one of the highest performing school districts in New York State. As a proud CCS graduate, I’m committed to making our school district even better while operating under tight fiscal constraints. I hope I can count on your support at the polls on May 19 and promise to work as hard for our school district in the next three years as I have in the last three years.

Chris Franck

CCS BOE Candidate Cooperstown

Former Teacher Runs for Board

My name is Nicholas Marcantonio and I am a candidate for the Cooperstown Central School Board of Education.

I am a recently retired math teacher at CCS (18 years), who brings corporate experience from Verizon (16 years) following over 20 years of active and reserve service in the U.S. Navy. I am still an

adjunct professor of mathematics at SUNY Oneonta.

I am running for the Board of Education to stay involved in the Cooperstown district and community. When I taught here, I was very active with the school and its students, as an educator and also as the senior class advisor. I know the district, its policies and its incredible strengths. I worked closely with fellow educators on curriculum, committees and planning educational opportunities for students. As an advisor, I worked closely with parent, village, and student groups to organize events like the senior trip, prom, and graduation.

As a member of the board, I would bring all of my experience and knowledge to the job. My military background gave me the discipline and stamina to do a job and do it right. That means working with others and creating a team-like atmosphere. Corporate experience from Verizon taught me to always be prepared for the known, to try to anticipate the unknown and to communicate with various stakeholders. Finally, as a teacher I learned how to take complex topics and explain them to a wide audience.

Fiscal pressure combined with state requirements requires due diligence by district administration and the board. The need to work collaboratively is paramount to maintain standards of excellence. This can only be accomplished through the teamwork of the superintendent, the board, faculty members and the community. I want to be a part of that team.

I ask for your vote on May 19.

Nicholas Marcantonio CCS BOE Candidate Cooperstown

Trump Supporters

‘Got

Conned’

Gas has hit $4.00 a gallon way down here in Texas, where oil was invented. Way back in the summer of 2024, I distinctly remember seeing a Trump/Vance campaign sign on Route 166 that promised lower prices. Another sign promised that Trump would keep America out of war.

And so, almost two whole years later, here we are. At war again in the Middle East, with war and tariff-driven inflation, but the red hats are still looking the other way, because, as long as ICE is arresting and deporting Mexicans, they can be placated.

LBJ explained it this way: “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”

Whoever emptied their pockets for those signs on Highway 166 wasn’t betrayed. They got conned. But at least

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

Trump has provided them with people and countries and religions to look down on. So they have that cold consolation when they groan at the gas pump.

Chip Northrup Cooperstown

Trump and the Mentally Deranged

As he has stated previously, Trump wants “to get nuclear weapons away from people who are mentally deranged.” It makes me wonder, who will take over our stockpile?

Jerry Townsend Cooperstown

My Vote on CCS Budget is a ‘No’

What’s your stand in regard to the Cooperstown school and responsibility?

We recently learned that the Cooperstown school district is proposing a 4.7 percent budget increase resulting in a 2.7 percent tax levy increase. This is like a runaway freight train when our enrollment has, over the years, greatly decreased.

On my farm is a one-room school built in 1804 to educate and make responsible citizens of children who would someday lead the future of our great country. Just a little over one score years before, our ancestors had put all they had on the line and had fought a great Revolutionary War against tyranny and high taxes. My grandfather, who went to this school through grade six, received a well-balanced, basic education where he could dance circles in math around most of our students of today. He learned to be a responsible young man who lived within his means and paid his bills.

Today in this country we have, for the most part, created a generation that lives on credit and is in debt with little thought of any responsibility for their actions. They don’t understand that sometimes when you live within your means there may be no money for steak so you may have to eat potatoes or rice. Some of our parents went through the Great Depression and World War II and understood well this concept.

Last fall, several of us were told by a reliable source that $3 million had been stolen from the Cooperstown school district. It later came out in a local paper that it was $500,000.00. The question now arises—who do we believe?

Since then, very little has been said and it has been swept under the carpet. The school administration and board said this would not affect the education of our students. At that time, I commented that of course it won’t, they will just raise the taxes to cover the loss. Was I right?

How do we teach our young people to be responsible citizens when our whole school administration and all members of the school board are so irresponsible and reckless in the

Festival

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Tours, Preview Talks, Changeover Talks, and the beloved Springfield Appreciation Concert on June 28, where proceeds from $5.00 tickets support the Springfield Center Fourth of July Committee.

For more than five decades, Glimmerglass has earned an international reputation for artistic excellence while remaining

way they handle money? I will be voting “no” on the school budget on May l9. I would encourage you all to do the same.

David Petri Hartwick

Cutting the Nuclear ‘Gordian Knot’

As a result of the military attacks on Iran initiated by the U.S. and Israel, the U.S. and the world are faced with two seemingly unrelated conditions in the Middle East: (1) The concern about Iran’s potential development of nuclear weapons; and (2) The need to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Resolution of both may require cutting the nuclear Gordian Knot by introducing a previously unstated condition into the discussion.

The Middle East presently is free of housing a nuclear weapons state, except for Israel. For its part, Israel has engaged in what observers characterize as “nuclear ambiguity.” That is to say, Israel neither confirms nor denies that it possesses nuclear weapons. On the other hand, Iran may believe that it does. Thus, some of Iran’s perceived motivation to acquire such weapons may be to have a counter to those held by Israel. What may be needed, therefore, to induce Iran to abandon its nuclear aspirations to the world’s satisfaction, is to have Israel do likewise. In return, Iran would have reason to revert to its prewar position and refrain from impeding traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

In light of what it and others have seen recently of the changes in U.S. policies and attitudes regarding foreign commitments, Israel may be justified in concluding that its continued exclusive reliance upon the military and economic support of the U.S. needs re-thinking.

A complete nuclear-free Middle East with ironclad security guarantees given by all parties to all in the region may offer the prospect of a less violent future for Israel and its neighbors.

Such an outcome may also provide President Trump with the face-saving off-ramp he needs to extricate the U.S. from the “diversion” he pursued at the behest of Prime Minister Netanyahu.

It is worth a try. To date, nothing else seems to have worked.

John A. Rudy Cooperstown

Observers

Continued from page 4

the agenda, if they don’t have access to minutes, if they cannot tell who is speaking, the meeting is not “open.” For the most part, the League has found that our local governmental agencies are welcoming and open to their constituents.

The League of Women Voters is grateful to those in our community who serve on these boards. These

deeply rooted in this region. That combination is rare. Great performances may first bring audiences to Cooperstown—but the warmth, excitement and sense of belonging they find here are what inspire them to return year after year. Offering these many free events is our small way of saying thank you to this wonderful community for its unwavering support.

Rob Ainsley is the artistic and general director of The Glimmerglass Festival.

board members are also “Democracy Defenders” by sharing their time and talents with their fellow citizens. The LWV strives to empower voters by ensuring that governments respond to citizens’ needs.

Christina Bourgeois and Hudi Podolsky are co-presidents of the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area.

Club

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end of each month where a winner is selected to receive a gift card to the Green Toad Bookstore in Oneonta.

Additionally, members have worked together to brainstorm other ways to increase library attraction, which has led to the idea of a “book tasting” event. Here, students can explore different genres of books and learn of titles they were previously unfamiliar with. Through these events, we aim to strengthen a sense of community throughout the school, as well as invite students to pick up a book more often.

The work we do as members of Library Club aims to foster growth in community pride among young adults and prepare them to become active citizens in their communities for the future, whether here in Cooperstown or wherever they may find themselves.

Grace McLean is a senior at Cooperstown Jr.-Sr. High School.

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of work. Fortunately, it was a well-oiled machine, all because of Mrs. Wolfe. She is the brains behind the operation. Watching her singlehandedly plan this incredible conference for leaders across New York State is so inspiring. She puts her heart and soul into this conference in hopes that it will make a positive impact on high-school athletics. And it certainly does.

This day for student-athletes not only recognizes and celebrates their current leadership qualities but also gives them even more tools to take back to their schools. Hopefully, the experience creates a ripple effect throughout their schools’ athletics as well.

Helping plan this leadership conference and working to run the event made me realize the importance of hard work. I gained a deep appreciation for the people in this world who selflessly invest their time in helping others and the community around them. I am lucky enough to have experienced the impact of this conference on student-athletes at Cooperstown, as well as every other school district that is represented at the event. This conference shapes the way high-school athletics are played for years to come, and it all starts with the students who participate in athletics. Being able to invest the time and hard work into something worthwhile is powerful. Overall, planning and getting to experience the annual student athlete leadership conference in Cooperstown is something that I will never forget. The memories I created and the lessons learned through this experience speak volumes to how impactful it truly is. Thank you again, Mrs. Wolfe, for this opportunity, and thank you for giving your entire heart to an amazing cause. You are helping to create the future leaders of high-school athletics.

Kayleigh Butler is a senior at Cooperstown Jr.-Sr. High School.

Sunshine and Starshine: Exploring How Stars, Planets Differ

Hey, NASA girl!”

It was a warm summer night, and the man’s voice rang out clearly across the field where we’d all gathered. Even though I’ve never worked at NASA, I knew he was calling out for me.

I’d been leading a tour of sorts, pointing out how to hopscotch across the celestial dome studded with constellations. A midwestern summer abundance of mosquitoes joined the 100 or so humans who stood with heads craned upward to gaze into the star-filled night sky.

The man went on to say, “This might be a stupid question, but…” He paused. “What’s the difference between a star and a planet? They both shine pretty bright.”

Definitely not a stupid question.

And as we talked through a few basic criteria, more people wanted to know: What’s the difference between an asteroid and a comet? A galaxy and a nebula? All these things are visible in the night sky, sometimes to the naked eye. They all shine. So how do astronomers classify these objects?

So let’s start with this man’s question.

You might hear responses like, “A star is a gas, but a planet is solid.” That’s a reasonable place to start; however, the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) are all gaseous with no solid surface. How about, “A star gives off energy, and a planet doesn’t,” then? Now we’re heading in a good direction, but several planets—including Earth—generate a substantial amount of energy. There’s a kernel of truth in there, though, because

stars shine due to the energy they produce, whereas planets only reflect light from their sun.

Another common suggestion is, “A star doesn’t move around, but planets orbit around their star.”

In my mind, one of the most mind-boggling concepts in astronomy is the fact that everything in space is moving, in all directions, all the time. There’s no such thing as “standing still” in space. Even stars move.

The simplest difference between a star and a planet, then, is that a star shines by generating its own energy through fusing hydrogen into helium in its core. A planet may generate lots of energy— like Earth does—but nuclear fusion is a whole different ballgame in terms of energy production. A planet just won’t be able to do that.

Combustion, meaning the chemical burning of fuel in the presence of oxygen, is a type of reaction that humankind has put to tremendous use. Any time you light a match, click the gas starter of a stove or grill, or turn the key in your (gaspowered) car, you’re starting up a combustion process. Rockets launch with combustion. But because it’s chemical in nature, combustion relies only on reactions that involve the electrons of atoms and molecules. Those electrons exist on the far outskirts of an atom, and even though they can be held quite tightly they’re still relatively easy to manipulate under the right conditions.

Nuclear reactions, in contrast, involve the protons and/or neutrons of an atom. These subatomic particles are deep, deep inside an atom and are held together with a force that is literally

the strongest force in the universe. (It’s actually called the strong nuclear force.) By their nature, nuclear reactions involve overcoming these ridiculously powerful forces, thus the energies released are similarly enormous. We’re talking E = mc2 territory, here.

A star becomes a star when it’s able to sustain nuclear reactions in its core. Fusion, which is what stars do, refers to combining two or more lighter elements into a slightly heavier element. Most stars fuse hydrogen into helium for the vast majority of their lifetimes. As a star begins to run out of hydrogen, it can begin to move up the Periodic Table to fuse helium, lithium, carbon and so on. Fission, which is what nuclear power plants do, is what happens when a very heavy element decays into two or more lighter elements. (Nuclear processes truly transform one element into another. Chemical processes do not.)

The man who shouted out this seemingly simple question—What’s the difference between a star and a planet?—lit the spark for a cascade of profoundly curious questions about the cosmos. What we see in the sky reveals the tiniest glimpse of the science churning within.

Look deeper. And keep asking questions.

Trisha Muro is a freelance science writer specializing in physics and astronomy and, although she’s never worked for NASA, she’s been a space nerd for as long as she can remember. Her first book, “It’s (Just) Rocket Science,” will be published this spring by Johns Hopkins University Press.

Who Will Lead the Charge To Impeach President Trump?

There is one person in our region who is in a unique position to take direct action to impeach President Trump, and that is our Congressman Josh Riley.

Trump’s unconstitutional attack on Iran and his genocidal threat to destroy Iran are war crimes more than sufficient to disqualify him from office. On April 7, Trump posted on his Truth Social account with regard to Iran all the evidence anyone needs to justify his impeachment: “A whole civilization will die tonight,” he threatened, “never to be brought back again.”

The Democratic leadership eagerly impeached Trump twice, in 2019 and 2021. The first impeachment charged Trump with trying to get the Ukrainian government to interfere in U.S. elections, and the second charged him with inciting the riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. His unconstitutional war mongering today is even more egregious and blatant, yet the Democratic Party leadership has sidestepped the impeachment issue this time around. They are in the minority in Congress, to be sure, but they have an opportunity to use the mid-term election to rally the country to restore the basic principles of constitutional rule. Yet, instead of leading on the main issue of our time, they are waiting to be led by the electorate, hoping that voter rage against Trump will

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legal confidentiality on personnel matters.

Piatti did say Butler had not been accused of harming students and was “absolutely not” accused of sexual harassment when asked.

Chris Butler, who until early last week remained a coach for the district’s modified baseball team, said in an interview that he was given a couple of “silly” reasons for being let go from that role. It “had to do with canceling the practice” and “supposedly being on a GoPro swearing at the new coaches. And that’s not my nature. It’s not my nature. I’m not that guy.”

Some alleged during public comment that another coach engaged in an altercation with Butler earlier that week.

“I got confronted when I walked through the door Monday [May 4], and I went upstairs to find somebody, some administration. There was nobody here,” Butler told AllOtsego, adding that he chose to call state troopers

to address the situation. He declined to say who the other coach was.

Toni Butler alleged in an interview that the other coach was angry because Chris Butler had wiped a tear from his wife’s face. Police

“talked to both parties, and next thing we know, Chris gets done the next day. They fired him the next day for that.”

The controversy has created a sharp divide in the community drawn on the decades of relationships Butler, a graduate of the district himself, has held. Community members’ outrage has been visible both in Facebook comments and the frequent disruptions in the school board meeting.

“Hm, really?” one person interjected in an unrelated reelection speech from current board member Brad Smith when he said he makes “my own decision based on the facts.” Also during public comment, one person approached district officials with large poster boards bearing messages in support of Butler, at times holding the boards inches from

somehow carry them to victory. That may be a mistake.

With his illegal war-mongering, Trump has betrayed his own supporters, many of whom held their noses and voted for him because of his campaign pledge of “no more wars.” By coming out for impeachment over illegal foreign wars, Riley would give disaffected Trump voters and independents a powerful reason to vote for him. He would force his opponent to defend Trump’s crimes. He would offer our largely disillusioned youth a reason to go to the polls. He would inspire countless people hungry for inspiring leadership in defense of moral and constitutional principles in this dark time.

This is a path to victory for Riley in a narrow election, if he’s bold enough to seize it. The alternative is to play it safe, avoid talk of impeachment and structural reform, and offer more of the status quo almost no one is satisfied with. It’s not just about Trump’s war crimes. It’s his vulgarity and self-aggrandizement. It’s his corrupt financial dealings. It’s his assault on environmental protections and public health. It’s his racism and antiimmigrant prejudice. It’s his violations of civil liberties with ICE. Where is the outrage? Riley and the Democrats might still win, but he and his party would not have the mandate they really need not

officials’ faces.

“As you could see by the behavior in this board meeting,” Piatti told AllOtsego, “we have people that are scared, and therefore we’ve increased security for the safety and well-being of the people on this campus.”

Law enforcement was present at a recent softball game. Some of Butler’s supporters were angered by what they described as district staff being strategically positioned near fans at the game.

As supporters left the meeting unsatisfied, many said they would return at the next meeting to continue applying pressure to the school board.

“There’s nothing good that’s come of this at all, nothing,” Chris Butler told AllOtsego. “The only people that have lost out are the kids.”

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ways in historical documents, served for five years in the Continental Army, according to materials cited during the ceremony, including pension petitions.

Davidson fought in the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey and participated in the Sullivan Expedition and a range of skirmishes. Davidson was honorably discharged in New Windsor, New York in 1783. He had earlier met his wife, Elizabeth, there. The two were married in Fishkill, New York in 1781. Davidson died in 1834.

Research was conducted by Deb Mackenzie, who until recently was the county historian for Otsego County. Mackenzie initiated contact with many municipalities last year to begin America250 preparations.

“Briefly, he lived in Cherry Valley,” Mackenzie said. He started out in Danube on the Mohawk River, where he enlisted. “And I’m not

just to impeach Trump, but to restore the integrity of the American government and address the deeper ills haunting our society.

Trump is not the cause but the symptom of our ills. We need fundamental reform to restore government to public accountability. We need to end the control of the oligarchs and super-rich over our government. We need to stop the undue influence of foreign governments over American foreign policy. We need to end the monopoly of the two corrupt political parties over the electoral system. We need to end the power of the military-industrial complex. We need to regulate the monopolistic corporations which dominate our lives. We need to give up our overseas wars and our global empire whose costs are bankrupting us. We need to spend our money instead on healthcare and social services and education and rebuilding our domestic industrial economy. We need to end the abuse of our civil liberties.

There is much that needs to be done. We need inspiring leadership to do it. So far it has been lacking, but this writer remains optimistic that the dire challenges of our time, as with difficult periods in our earlier history, will yet call out that leadership.

Adrian Kuzminski lives in Fly Creek.

sure how he ended up on the top of our hill.”

“America250 is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the uniqueness of the United States, a nation formed by ‘We the People,’” Cooperstown

Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh said in a speech, “where ordinary people like John Davidson fought for our nation’s creation, and came home to a simple life and worked to raise a family.”

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY:

The name of the limited liability company is: Boundless Courage, LLC (the “Company”).

The date of filing of the Articles of Organization of the Company with the Secretary of State was April 2, 2026. 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: Christina J. Graziadei, Binghamton, NY 13901.

The purpose of the business of the Company is any lawful business purpose.

6LegalMay.14

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N OTICE OF FORMATION OF 92 MAIN ST COOP LLC

Articles of Organization filed with the SSNY on 2/25/2026.

Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY Designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copies of process to 92 Main St Coop LLC, 6098 St. Hwy. 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalMay.14

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF

NOM NOM ENTERPRISES LLC

Article of Organizations filed with the SSNY on 2/14/2026.

Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY Designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copies of process to Member, 6098 State Hwy 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalMay.14

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N OTICE OF FORMATION OF

PIONEER PROP-

MANAGEMENT LLC

Article of Organization filed with the SSNY on 3/5/2026.

Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copies of process to The LLC, 29 Pioneer St., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalMay.14

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N OTICE OF F ORMATION OF KTR Construction LLC, filed with the Secretary of State on April 2, 2026. Office location is in Otsego County. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to 639 Green Road, Otego, New York 13825. Purpose: any lawful activity.

6LegalMay.14

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF HARBOR PHYSICIAN SERVICES, PLLC.

Art. of Org. filed with NY Secretary of State (SSNY) 04/02/2026. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 48 Monroe Ave., Oneonta, NY 13820 Purpose: To practice the profession of medicine.

6LegalMay.28

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF TALBOT PROPERTIES LLC.

Filed with SSNY on 04/13/2026. Office: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to: 2187 CNTY. HWY. 4, GILBERTSVILLE, NY 13776. Purpose: Any Lawful. 6LegalMay.28

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Hill City Hitting Center, LLC, a limited liability company (the “LLC”).

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (the “SSNY”) on 4/15/2026. Office location:

Otsego County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC, upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to the LLC, 253 Southside Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purposes: any lawful activity.

6LegalMay.28

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N OTICE OF F ORMATION OF Grounded Minds Mental Health Counseling, PLLC.

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on May 6, 2025. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to: 29 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: to practice mental health counseling and any lawful act or activity for which a professional limited liability company may be organized under the laws of New York.

6LegalMay.28

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N OTICE OF F ORMATION OF DESIGNING OTHERWISE, LLC.

Articles of Organization filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/9/2026. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at 107 Haggerty Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalMay.28

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N OTICE OF F ORMATION OF Reborn Hope LLC

Articles of Org. filed with the SSNY on 4/7/2026. Office loc: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 140 Sanly Rd., Unadilla, NY 13849. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 6LegalJun.4

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N OTICE OF F ORMATION OF

LEGALS

SUNFLOWER SLG LLC

filed with the Secretary of State on April 26, 2026. Office Location is in Otsego County. The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail process to P.O. Box 21, Springfield Center, NY 13468. Purpose: any lawful activity.

6LegalJun.4

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NOTICE OF COLLECTION OF VILLAGE TAXES

VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN

PLEASE TAKE

NOTICE, That the Village of Cooperstown, New York have received the tax roll and warrant for the collection of the General Village Tax of the Village of Cooperstown for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2026 and ending May 31, 2027. Taxes will be collected in two equal installments by mailing to the Village Treasurer’s Office, Village of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, N. Y. or may be paid online at www.cooperstownny.gov under the payment tab at the top of the page from June 1, 2026 and by November 1, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The first installment to be collected from June 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026 without additional charges.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that on the first installment of all such taxes remaining unpaid on July 1, 2026 (5%) five percent will be added for the first month and an additional (1%) one percent for each month and fraction thereafter, until paid or returned to Otsego County Treasurer.

CHRISTY COOK, VILLAGE TREASURER VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN 22 MAIN STREET, PO BOX 346 VILLAGE OF COOPERSTOWN, N. Y. 2LegalMay.14

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF OTSEGO

SUMMONS AND NOTICE

Index No. EF2025-1093

Date Filed: 12/22/2025

Equity Prime Mortgage LLC, Plaintiff, -against-

Daryl Kiel; Deborah Allen; Any unknown heirs, devisees, distributees or successors in interest of the late Jared Kiel, if they be living or, if they be dead, their spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the Plaintiff; and “JOHN DOE”, said name being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, and any parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest or lien upon the mortgaged premises, Defendants.

PROPERTY AD-

DRESS: 0 County Highway 3A, Unadilla, NY 13849

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFEN-

DANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFEN-

DANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Brian D. Burns, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Otsego County, entered April 22, 2026 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Otsego County Clerk’s Office.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $194,250.00 and interest, recorded in the Otsego County Clerk’s Office on August 13, 2024, in Instrument Number 20243099 covering premises known as 0 County Highway 3A, Unadilla, NY 13849 a/k/a Section 323.00, Block 1, Lots 23.00 and 21.32.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Otsego County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is situated.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME.

SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY.

SENDING A PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: December 19, 2025

V. Melanie Rajaphoumy, Esq. Associate Attorney LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (585) 247-9000 Fax: (585) 2477380 our File No. 25-100401 #102945 4LegalMay.28

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SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF OTSEGO

Index No.: EF2026-156

SUMMONS Original Filed with Clerk on: 2/25/2026

Plaintiff Designates Otsego

County as the Place of Trial

The Basis of Venue is that the Subject Action is Situated in Otsego County

Subject Property: 244 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, Plaintiff(s), -againstDEBRA L. CHRISTIANCE F/K/A DEBRA L. CARR AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF JAMES A. CHRISTIANCE JR.; JENNIFER REGG AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF JAMES A. CHRISTIANCE JR. AND JAMES A. CHRISTIANCE JR.’S UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTERST AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING UNDER, BY OR THROUGH SAID DEFENDANT WHO MAY BE DECEASED, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN; UNITED STATES OF AMERICAINTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, Defendant(s).

TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiffs Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); the United States of America may appear or answer within 60 days of service hereof; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, Judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Brian D. Burns, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Otsego County, entered April 22, 2026 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Otsego County Clerk’s Office.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to compel a determination of claims and to foreclose the right of redemption which Defendants may claim to certain real property in connection with the foreclosure of mortgage held by Plaintiff recorded in the County of Otsego on May 5, 2008 in Instrument No. 2008-00063432 covering premises known as 244 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Dated: Uniondale, New York February 23, 2026

Respectfully submitted, PINCUS & TARAB, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, PLLC By: /s/ Linda P. Manfredl, Esq. Attorney for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza Uniondale, NY 11556 (516) 699-8902

TO: Debra L. Christiance A/K/A Debra L. Carr as Heir 1250 Russell Drive Ocoee, FL 34761 Jennifer Regg as Ileir 2 Club Avenue Oneonta, NY 13820 United States of America-Internal Revenue Service 86 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007 #102949 4LegalMay.28

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS Village of Milford

N OTICE IS H EREBY G IVEN that sealed bids will be received until May 18, 2026 at 2 p.m. at 64 South Main Street Milford, NY, by the Village Clerk and must be marked “Att: MFL Construction Bid.” The scope of the project includes moving the library front wall out 6 feet and replacing the windows. Plans may be picked up at the Milford Free Library during open hours Tuesday and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by calling (607) 286-9076.

Sealed bids must be submitted in an envelope addressed to the Village Clerk, Village of Milford, 64 South Main St., Milford, NY 13807. Att: MFL Construction Bid. Faxed Bid proposals will not be accepted.

A public hearing on the MFL Construction Bids will be held at 3 p.m. on May 18, 2026 at the Milford Free Library, 64 South Main Street, Milford, NY.

Dated: 7 May, 2026

Milford Village Clerk 64 South Main St. Milford NY 13807 (607) 286-9076 mi.ill@4cls.org 2LegalMay14

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NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A NY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Balanced Living Studio LLC

Articles of Organization filing date with the Department of State (SSNY) April 28, 2026. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as the agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to: 145 Collins Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820. Purpose: to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalJun.18

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N OTICE OF F ORMATION OF MADE BY MADS LLC

Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/04/2026. Office Location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of any process to the LLC, 40 Main Street, PO Box 1036, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose: Any lawful activity 6LegalJun.18

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ELECTRIC 7 TATTOO LLC. Filed 4/13/26. Office: Otsego Co. SSNY desig. as agent for process & shall mail to: c/o Christopher Hotchkin, 3067 Merrickville Rd., Franklin, NY 13775. continued pg. 11

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was honored next, retiring as the business office manager after 26 years in the Community Services Department. Finally, Gentile praised Robert Satriano for 23and-a-half years as homeland security coordinator. Each retiree received a round of applause and congratulations from board members.

Rep. Nora Mendez and Chairman Edwin Frazier Jr. were both absent, leaving the meeting’s direction to Vice-Chair Margaret Kennedy. No members of the audience chose to speak during privilege of the floor.

Moving along to committee reports, Rep. McCarty shared that County Highway Superintendent Richard Brimmer requested to have $22,000.00 in funds initially intended for the County Route 59 bridge project to be reallocated toward heat and light costs, for which he noted funding had been reduced during last year’s budget process. Brimmer felt comfortable using the funds because construction on the bridge will not move forward this year, though Rep. Daniel Wilber mentioned that he would be checking with Brimmer to see where things stood financially later in the year because of the need for that money for the bridge project later on. McCarty recalled that Brimmer also requested an increase to the funding for county highway paving from $3.5 million

to $4.5 million, which he explained was possible due to this year’s crop of plow trucks being purchased with local money.

Rep. Andrew Marietta spoke for the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, beginning by summarizing his committee’s discussion with America250 Commission Chair Michelle Catan and Destination Marketing Corporation for Otsego and Schoharie Counties President and Chief Executive Officer Cassandra Majestic about the America250 event grants. The application window for the grants closed April 17, with the maximum award being up to $1,250.00. Organizers of events funded in part by the grants must submit a post-event narrative by August 21 via an online form, as well as submit their events to appear on the I Love New York America250 events page and local tourism websites. All events funded by the grants will be free to the public.

Marietta shared that the committee had positive takeaways from Mohawk Valley Economic Development District Executive Director Stephen Smith and Deputy Director Heather Devitt. The conversation consisted of an overview of the role of the economic development district in serving Otsego County and its neighbors. Marietta said that the county would benefit from federal funding accessible through the district aimed at closing

After the conclusion of committee reports, Wilber shared that he attended a meeting to discuss improving traffic flow near Cooperstown All Star Village, sharing that there was a proposal to construct a pedestrian bridge over State Route 205 to reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety.

no-coverage gaps for broadband across the county, which he was optimistic would have a positive impact on constituents. He also noted a proposed resolution, which minutes clarify was put forth by Rep. Eamonn Hinchey, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of data centers in Otsego County. Marietta said this was a conversation that would be continued at the next meeting, and that any board input on the matter was welcome.

Rep. Adrienne Martini spoke briefly for the Human Services Committee, emphasizing that the flu season was “astronomical” this year compared to last year, part of which was attributed to a mismatch in vaccines with investigations into lapses in effectiveness ongoing.

Rep. James Powers represented the Solid Waste and Environmental Concerns Committee, beginning by discussing continued efforts to bring the negative impacts of an extended holiday hunting season on snowmobilers to the attention of state officials. Powers explained that one landowner can shut down an entire trail should they choose

to not allow snowmobiling that transits their property during hunting season, disrupting entire networks. He also pointed to the potential economic impact less snowmobiling would have with fewer returns from the purchase of fuel.

Powers also detailed his concerns with Senate Bill S.4408A and Assembly Bill A.10483. Minutes elaborate that Shelby MacLeish, director of the Otsego County Conservation Association, came to the committee meeting to give an overview of the bill. If passed into law, the bill would permit the construction of new electrical transmission infrastructure on state reforestation areas, a category that much of Otsego County’s state forest land falls within. Powers said the committee approved the drafting of a resolution in support of protecting New York forests and wildlife and in opposition to the bills in question.

Kennedy represented the Administration Committee, entertaining a lengthy discussion with Gentile and County Treasurer Allen Ruffles about Tyler Technologies time and attendance services. Ruffles explained that

LEGALS

from pg. 10

Purpose: General.

6LegalJun.18

LegaL nOtice

Notice of f ormatio N of Sacred Ojas Wellness, LLC.

Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 04/14/2026.

Office location: Otsego County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Sacred Ojas Wellness, LLC, P.O. Box 36, Springfield Center, NY 13468. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

6LegalJun.18

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Notice of f ormatio N of Artificers Almanac LLC

filed articles of organization with SSNY on April 15, 2026.

Office Location: Otsego County. Alison Dossick is designated as agent upon whom process against

the LLC may be served and shall mail process to 21 Marion Lane, Otego, NY 13825. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 6LegalJun.18

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Notice of formatio N of Faithful Friends, LLC.

Articles of Organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 04/23/2026. The office of the LLC is to be located in Otsego County.

The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon it to: The LLC, 1977 New York State Highway 23, Morris, NY 13808. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act.

6LegalJun.18

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Notice of formatio N of

11 Sisson Hill Rd, LLC.

Articles of Organization were filed with the NY Secretary of State on 05/06/2026. The office of the LLC is to be located in Otsego County.

The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon it to: The LLC, 1 Spruce Street, Garnerville, NY 10923. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act.

6LegalJun.18

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V i LL a G e of mi L for D N otice of re QU e S t for P ro P o S a L

Notice is hereby given that The Village of Milford will accept sealed bids for: Water Operator for the Village water system. General responsibilities include but not limited to,

monitoring system components, and effectiveness of treatment. Preparing and maintaining records of meter readings, tests, equipment, chemical use, correspondence, and logs.

Contract will be awarded based upon the lowest qualified bid.

Bids must be received in a sealed envelope labeled “Water Operator” at the Village Office, 64 S. Main St., Milford, NY 13807, by 10:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday 5/27/2026, at which time they will be publicly opened.

Dated: May 5, 2026

Michelle Weigel Village Clerk Village of Milford 64 S. Main St. Milford, NY 13807

1LegalMay14

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N otice of formatio N of

ARC REFRIGERATION LLC A Limited Liability Company.

the system—which is an additional module within the already-utilized larger MUNIS platform—would create a far more efficient mechanism for employee time keeping. Ruffles said that the implementation process would likely take between six and nine months, with an implementation cost of $36,900.00 and an annual fee of $17,700.00. He noted there are more than 20 other modules with MUNIS already used by the county that run at about $300,000.00 combined, and that this new module could be easily added to that bill. Hinchey was concerned that there may be potential for job loss, but Gentile clarified much of the current time keeping is done outside of work hours, meaning this will only save time and increase efficiency. She and Ruffles said that it would take time to begin the implementation process, but that the system could probably be fully implemented and live between mid-2027 and early 2028. The board agreed it was best to send final approval through the regular committee process, meaning a final proposal on adoption will be presented to the board in June.

After the conclusion of committee reports, Wilber shared that he attended a meeting to discuss improving traffic flow near Cooperstown All Star Village, sharing that there was a proposal to construct a pedestrian bridge over State Route 205 to reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety. He encouraged colleagues at the New

York State Department of Transportation to expedite the permitting process for the project in hopes of providing the infrastructure as soon as possible. Wilber closed by emphasizing the importance of this need for pedestrian safety on increasingly busy highways, referencing that All Star Village leadership is hoping to have doubled attendance by next year, when compared to 2023. Rep. Leslie Berliant spoke about a conversation she, Kennedy, and Planning and Solid Waste Director Tammie Harris have been having with state legislators about limitations on funding for public transportation. Berliant said they are hoping to pursue smaller, more flexible vehicles that could bring prices down and possibly create the potential for the opening of new routes. She said that current regulations for funding make this difficult, but that their persistence had surfaced agreement on the issue and that progress is being made. The mortgage tax report was presented and approved, followed by all resolutions on the consent agenda being unanimously approved by all board members present. With no further business to attend to, the board was adjourned. The next meeting of the Otsego County Board of Representatives will be held on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. The May 6 meeting can be viewed in full at https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=mometvKUSdg.

Articles of Organization were filed with the New York State Secretary of State on February 22, 2026. The office of the LLC is to be located in Otsego County. The Secretary of State has been designated as the agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon hirn/her to: The LLC, 6 Raymond Ave., # 1, Oneonta, NY 13820. The purpose of the LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.

6LegalJun.18

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Notice of f ormatio N of a NY Limite D Liabi L it Y c om Pa NY

Name: WELCOME CABIN PROPERTIES LLC.

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 1 May 2026. 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 192 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalJun.18

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Notice of f ormatio N of a NY Limite D Liabi L it Y c om Pa NY

Name: WELCOME CABIN RENTALS LLC.

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 1 May 2026. 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 192 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to en-

gage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalJun.18

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Notice of f ormatio N of a NY Limite D Liabi L it Y c om Pa NY.

Name: 111 FAITH HOLDINGS LLC.

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 1 May 2026. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to PO Box 1042, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalJun.18

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Notice of f ormatio N of a NY Limite D Liabi L it Y c om Pa NY

Name: PLEASANT HEARTH LLC

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 1 May 2026. 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 13 Spencer Meadow, Hartland, VT 05048. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

6LegalJun.18

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Notice of f ormatio N of a NY Limite D Liabi L it Y c om Pa NY

Name: TAYLORTOWN EQUINE LLC

6LegalJun.18

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Notice of f ormatio N of a NY Limite D Liabi L it Y c om Pa NY

Name: LLGG18 LLC

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 1 May 2026. Office location: Otsego County. SSNY has been designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and SSNY shall mail copy of process to 15 Hill St., Cooperstown, NY 13326. Purpose is to engage

Articles of Organization filing date with Secretary of State (SSNY) was 1 May 2026. 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 1486 County Highway 26, Fly Creek, NY 13337. Purpose is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under NYS laws.

►Friday, May 15

DEADLINE Last day to register for Special Long-Pose Pop-Up session of the “Figure This!” drawing program. Held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 5/20. Fees apply. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-9777.

DEADLINE Last day to sign up to be included on the Cherry Valley Community Yard Sales map. Fees apply. Sales will be Memorial Day weekend during the “Spring Into Summer” Festival. Whiteman-Hull-Snyder American Legion and Auxiliary, Cherry Valley. (607) 2643129.

DEADLINE Last day for artists to submit work for the 91st Annual National Juried Art Exhibition. Online submissions only. Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown. (607) 547-9777.

COFFEE & PUZZLES

10 a.m. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.

EMPLOYMENT

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Unadilla Valley Career Fair. Unadilla Valley High School, 4238 State Highway 8, New Berlin. (888) 469-7365.

OPENING RECEP-

TION 5-7 p.m. CANO Mansion Show: “Precipice.” Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. canoneonta.org

OPENING RECEP-

TION 5-7 p.m. “Otsego Dreams.” Exhibit by Leatherstocking Brush and Palette Club, on view through 6/17; “Essential Art” by artists from across New York State, on view through 6/25; “Everything is a Part of Everything Else,” watercolor and oil paintings by Emily Falco, on view through 6/25. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown.

LECTURE 7:30 p.m.

“All Roads Lead to Rome: Lessons from a Medical School Mentor…and the Italian Renaissance Artists.” The Third Annual David S. Svahn Humanities in Medicine Memo-

Things To Do In and Around Otsego County

rial Lecture presented by Michael P. Flanagan, MD. Clark Auditorium, Fieldstone Building, Bassett Medical Center, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown. www. bassett.org/svahn-lecture

WRITERS SALON

7:30 p.m. Drama with the Catskill Community Players. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Avenue, Oneonta. canoneonta.org

BIRDING PRESENTATION 7:30 p.m. “Program: Wild Wonders of New Zealand.” Presented online or in person by the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society at Elm Park United Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 397-3815.

CONCERT 7:30 p.m.

“Julieta Eugenio Trio.” Presented by the Oneonta Concert Association. Tickets required. First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. (607) 267-6968.

THEATER 8 p.m.

“Twelve Angry Men.” Presented by Bigger Dreams Productions. Tickets required. Also showing at 8 p.m. on 5/16, 5/21, 5/22, and 5/23 and at 2 p.m. on 5/17 and 5/24. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 431-2080.

►Saturday, May 16

BIG DAY BIRD

COUNT All day. Birders locate as many bird species as possible in a single fun day, then report on their efforts to Coordinator Charlie Scheim. All welcome. Held by Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society. Beginners should contact Scheim at (607) 434-4880.

SATURDAY HIKE All day. Scenic excursion with the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Bring a packed lunch, snacks and water. Dress appropriately and bring equipment for the weather/trail conditions. Pre-registration required. This week’s hike will be at the Pharsalia Woods State Forest, South Plymouth. (607) 431-8010.

Time OuT OTsegO

Things To Do In and Around Otsego County

FUNDRAISER

7:30-11:30 a.m. Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department Fly-In Pancake Breakfast. All-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, real maple syrup, sausage and beverages. Fees apply. Cooperstown/Westville Airport, 866 State Highway 166, Cooperstown. (607) 547-9007.

SPRING CLEANING

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Richfield Springs Village Dump Day.” Residents dispose of waste at no charge. Proof of village residency required. No contractors. Check the list online for accepted items, items with fees and items not accepted. DPW Garage, 37 Bronner Street, Richfield Springs.

OTEGO DAYS 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Book Sale. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.

MAIN STREET 9 a.m. Rain Garden Clean-up. Volunteers prepare Main Street gardens for spring planting. Bring gloves, a trash bag/bucket, rake, hoe, and/or a small shovel. Other tools available. Meet at the entrance to Doubleday Field, Main Street, Cooperstown. cfalk@cooperstownny.gov

FESTIVAL 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. “13th Annual Splash Path 5K and Fun Walk.” Fees apply. Pathfinder Village, 3 Chenango Road, Edmeston. (607) 965-8377 ext. 147.

JOB FAIR 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food Service and Housekeeping Job Fair. Bassett Medical Center, Clinic Lobby, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-4775.

GARDENING 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Otsego Master Gardener Plant Sale.” Fenimore Farm and Country Village, Louis C. Jones Center, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 547-2536.283

POLITICS 10 a.m. May meeting of the Oneonta Democratic Club, featuring discussion of The NY Health Act and

the history of healthcare in the state. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. garymaffei@gmail.com

POTTERY—10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Studio Skills: Making Portable Damp Boxes.” Fees apply; registration required. Continues 5/23. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@SmithyArts.org.

GARDENING

10 a.m. to noon. Annual Plant Sale. Hosted by the Upper Unadilla Valley Association. Featuring locally-grown perennials at reasonable prices. Also includes a duck derby at 11:30 a.m. Town of Winfield Park, State Highway 20, West Winfield. (315) 855-4368.

BENEFIT Noon to 4 p.m. Chicken and Biscuit Fundraiser and Benefit Auction for Tyler Wilfeard. Help a stay-athome mom of three in her battle against cancer. Fees apply. Hartwick American Legion Post 1567, 3099 County Route 11, Hartwick. (607) 293-7511.

EXERCISE Noon. “Let’s Move: Come Play Capoeira.” Unique Brazilian practice that blends martial arts, dance, music and culture. All welcome. Held each Saturday. Green Earth Health Market, 4 Market Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-6600.

WORKSHOP 1-4 p.m.

“Print Making with Barb.” Learn to make unique artwork with a gelli plate and real plant materials. Fees apply; registration required. Main View Gallery and Studios, 77 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-1890.

BLOOD DRIVE

1:30-5:30 p.m. Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, Richfield Springs. RedCrossBlood. org

EXERCISE 2 p.m. Full Body Stretches and Balance. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County

Highway 11, Hartwick. (607) 293-6600.

OPEN HOUSE

2-4 p.m. Unadilla Food Pantry, 172 Main Street, Unadilla.

OPENING PARTY

6-10 p.m. “2026 Tap House Patio Opening Party.” Free; all welcome. Food truck, music and table service. Ommegang Tap House, 656 County Highway 33, Cooperstown. info@ ommegang.com.

COMEDY 7 p.m.

“Improv & Sketch Comedy Night with Special Guest Angela Cobb.” Suggested donation applies. Worcester Wieting Theatre, 168 Main Street, Worcester. worcesterwieting@gmail. com.

►Sunday, May 17

FUNDRAISER

7:30-11 a.m. Morris EMS Breakfast Buffet. Pancakes, sausage, bacon, beverages and more. By donation only. Proceeds support the local EMS squad. Morris Fire Department, 117 Main Street, Morris. morrisems1391@ gmail.com.

PLOW DAY 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tractors, plows, crawlers and more are welcome for a showcase of local iron at work. Bring your own for plowing or display. Includes food and more. The Fields at 777 Chestnut Street, Sharon Springs. (518) 231-8080.

POLITICS Noon to 3 p.m. “Mike Stalter for Sheriff Picnic.” Oaks Creek Farm and Market, 4970 State Highway 28, Cooperstown.

CAR SHOW Noon to 4 p.m. Fees apply to enter your vehicle. Free to view entries. Ommegang Tap House, 656 County Highway 33, Cooperstown. info@ommegang.com.

FUNDRAISER Noon brunch; 1 p.m. Bingo. “Be Kind to Animals Month Bingo!” Fun prizes and raffles to support the Super Heroes Humane Society. Fees apply. Brew U, 99 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 441-3227.

LIVE MUSIC 1-3 p.m. “Sunday Sessions with The Turnaround.” The Gatehouse, 129 Main Street, Morris. (607) 2854111.

DISCUSSION 2 p.m. “Shakespeare Discussion Group: Richard III.” Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. (607) 547-8344.

ENDING 8 p.m. Last chance to bid on 40+ items in the “Spring Into Giving Online Auction” to support Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties. ►Monday, May 18

BREAKFAST WITH THE BOARD 8-9 a.m. Casual meet and greet with Village of Cooperstown trustees to discuss local projects, agenda items, more. All welcome. Held fourth Monday of each month. Village Board Room, Village Hall, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown.

ADULT EDUCATION

10 a.m. “John Burroughs’ Woodchuck Lodge.” Presented by Snapper Petta. Fees may apply; registration required. Center for Continuing Adult Learning, Oneonta. (607) 441-7370.

CONNECTIONS

11 a.m. Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group. Connections at Clark Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail. com.

ADULT EDUCATION

11:30 a.m. “Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program.” Presented by Kelly Morrisey. Fees may apply; registration required. Center for Continuing Adult Learning, Oneonta. (607) 441-7370.

CONNECTIONS Noon. Tech Support with Eric. Connections at Clark

Sports Center, 124 County Highway 52, Cooperstown. connectionsatcsc@gmail.com.

BLOOD DRIVE

1:30-5:30 p.m. Richfield Springs Community Center, 6 Ann Street, Richfield Springs. RedCrossBlood. org

WORKSHOP

5:30 p.m. “Canva Class Series: Creating Flyers.” Free; registration required. Bring your own laptop/tablet for hands-on learning. Kinney Memorial Library, 3140 County Road 11, Hartwick. (607) 2936600.

FORUM 6 p.m. “Open Forum: School Referendum Library Ballot Initiative.” Followed by Library Board meeting. Open to all Otego community members. Harris Memorial Library, 334 Main Street, Otego. (607) 988-6661.

COOKBOOK CLUB 6 p.m. Edmeston Free Library, 26 East Street, Edmeston. (607) 9658208.

HISTORY 6:30 p.m. “Archaeology and Excavation of Otego.” Presented by Dave Moyer with the Otego Historical Association. Otego Town Hall, 3526 State Highway 7, Otego. (607) 287-4095.

►tueSday, May 19

DEADLINE Last day to register for the family gardening program at CCESO Grow Garden. 2-part series on beginner gardening topics for the whole family. Ideal for families with children ages 3-11. Held 4:306:30 p.m. on 5/20 and 7/15. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Grow Garden, 123 Lake Street, Cooperstown. (607) 5472536 ext. 235. 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 Bulldog Run Loop, Delhi. (607) 4318010.

PRESCHOOL TUESDAY 10 a.m. “Look at

Photography Art Cart.” Toddlers make sun prints. Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 State Highway 80, Cooperstown. (607) 5471400. TRANSPORTATION

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Open house for the Southside Oneonta Safety and Mobility Project. All welcome to view/discuss projects. Community Room, Southside Mall, 5006 State Highway 23, Oneonta. (607) 7218258.

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 coconut pineapple curry on chicken, rice, green beans and sugar cookies. (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.

BLOOD DRIVE 12:30-5:30 p.m. Bassett Hall, 31 Beaver Street, Cooperstown. RedCrossBlood.org

ADULT EDUCATION

1 p.m. “The CCAL Mystery Series Presents Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.” Presented by Todd Jones. Fees may apply; registration required. Continues 5/26. Center for Continuing Adult Learning, Oneonta. (607) 441-7370.