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Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, July 3, 2025
Volume 17, No. 36
Oneonta Job Corp Will Remain Open During Legal Battle with the Department of Labor By MONICA CALZOLARI IvISIon StemS D y S n Io t a Inform
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ONEONTA neonta is one of seven Job Corps sites in New York and one of the more than 120 sites across the United States and Puerto Rico. Job Corps has been in national headlines since April 2025. The Department of Labor tried to close down all of these residential, educational campuses as of
June 30, 2025. Job Corps was created by Congress 60 years ago in 1964. On June 26, a federal court ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by contractors who run Job Corps centers. A national preliminary injunction against the closure of Job Corps campuses was granted by the judge. This ruling allows all campuses to remain open while the litigation process continues. This may take a long time.
Job Corps provides free career training and education for lowincome 16- through 24-year-olds. It is a residential program that provides shelter, food, mental health counseling, medical treatment and clothing to wear to job interviews. On April 25, the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration released the firstever Job Corps Transparency Continued on page 9
Susquehanna Basin Water Trail Team Celebrates Grand Opening By BILL BELLEN
W
COOPERSTOWN ith lake foam lapping against the shore and rain pelting down from above, the morning of Thursday, June 26 dawned dreary and damp. However, as one approached the water and looked out across Otsego Lake from Council Rock Park, a string of objects appeared to part the mist. From the haze began to emerge a group of… canoes? This gathering of intrepid paddlers of all ages braved the waves in order to take part in the grand opening of the New York Susquehanna Basin Water Trail. The culmination of years of efforts from a myriad of organizations, this marks the fourth and newest organization of New York’s waterways into demarcated and navigable sources of recreation for tourists and locals alike. Following in the footsteps of the New York State Canalway Water Trail and the Hudson River Greenway Water INSIDE ► prestigious bassett award goes to dr. anush patel, page 3
Photo by Maria Griswold
Brent Baysinger victoriously lifts his paddle as the ribbon signifying the grand opening of the Susquehanna Basin Water Trail drapes across him and his canoe.
Trail, this new route traverses eight counties and covers 190 miles of river from its headwaters in Cooperstown to its final destination in Corning. Selfdescribed as having 43 designated river
communities along the way, 50 official access sites, and 11 preformed itineraries to guide travelers, the SBWT is touted as an ideal experience for both novice and masterful river goers.
Cassandra Harrington, team captain of the new water trail and president and chief executive officer of Destination Marketing Corporation, shared her Continued on page 11
Milford Graduate Receives CRF Mayne Scholarship
J
COOPERSTOWN eremy Velasco, a 2025 graduate of Milford ► stronger patent laws Central School and ONC needed to win tech BOCES, received a $1,000.00 race, page 4 Michael L. Mayne Scholarship ► TWO MARKETS SERVE funded by the Cooperstown CHERRY VALLEY AREA, Rotary Foundation at the Rotary page 7 Club of Cooperstown luncheon meeting on Tuesday, June 24. ► groundbreaking human cell DISCOVERED, The scholarship is awarded page 8 annually by CRF in memory of U.S. Army Corporal Michael L. ► green takes up baton Mayne, a 2006 graduate of BOCES from kenyon, page 9 and Edmeston Central School. Cpl. ► PLACES TO GO AND THINGS Mayne served with the 1st Stryker TO DO, page 14 Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division from Fort Wainwright, Photo by Patricia Fiorent Slater Alaska. He died on February 23, Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh, chair of the Cooperstown Rotary 2009 while serving in Iraq. Foundation, presents the $1,000.00 Michael L. Mayne Scholarship to In March 2009, Rotarian Lyn Jeremy Velasco, a 2025 graduate of MCS and ONC BOCES. 1 98715 21709 4
Edinger organized the very first donation by the newly established Cooperstown Rotary Foundation to a scholarship in memory of Cpl. Mayne. Jeremy Velasco, the son of Jeremy Velasco and Jennifer Smith, studied automotive mechanics at BOCES and chose to enter the Marines. His high score on the Armed Services Vocation Aptitude Battery test qualified him for the highest level of training, officials said. He chose aircraft mechanics and will be working on jets. Jeremy reported to Parris Island, South Carolina for 13 weeks of basic training on Monday, June 30. Following basic training and a two-week break, he will begin his aircraft mechanics studies.
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S AWARD-WINNING WEEKLIES 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
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