Home
HOMETOWN
18
nta eo
wn on to
th anniversary
20
08 - 2026
ONEONTA
& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
subscribe to hometown oneonta today! CALL 607-547-6103 VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Newsstand Price $1
Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, July 9, 2026
Volume 18, No. 37
Community Packs OCSD Board Meeting, Calling for Transparency, Accountability
BACK TO VICE! E SER TABLE-SID
By JOSHUA YOUNGQUIST
N
ONEONTA early 100 people crowded into a sweltering room—“over 100 degrees with no AC,” as Kaytee Lipari Shue described it—during the July 1 Oneonta City School District Board of Education meeting. Despite the heat, attendees stayed for the entire session, determined to witness the board’s deliberations and decision‑making. The meeting was also livestreamed on Facebook, where additional staff,
-1782 607-432 q.com b brooksb
faculty and community members watched. According to Lipari Shue, “Many people, both in person and online, criticized the district’s lack of transparency and called on the board to improve it.” Lipari Shue, an Oneonta High School graduate, OCSD parent, 39‑year Oneonta resident, district employee, and president of the Oneonta City Schools’ Clerical Association, said the turnout reflected deep concern about how the school district communicates and makes decisions. “There was an amazing show of solidarity,” she said, Continued on page 11
Board Finances New Projects, Honors Former Rep. Koutnik By BILL BELLEN
P
OTSEGO COUNTY rior to a relatively brief public meeting of the Otsego County Board of Representatives on July 1, the Public Works and Public Safety and Legal Affairs Committees met for special sessions to vote on new expenses dipping into the county’s contingency fund. Highway Superintendent Richard Brimmer presented to the Public Works Committee via Zoom, requesting funds to award the construction bid for the Town of Milford’s County Route 58A bridge to ING Civil, Inc. at a cost not to exceed $2,684,400.00. Brimmer explained that the final total came out to be higher than initial estimates and that $350,000.00 would be needed from contingency to cover the bill. Brimmer noted that the county already spent between $50,000.00-$70,000.00 last year to temporarily reopen the bridge INSIDE
► FCVCA HAS grave goals, page 3 ► GOODBYE TO GRAHAM, page 4
after it had failed inspection, but that it was already rapidly deteriorating and would likely fail to pass again this year. During the PSLA Committee meeting, Emergency Services Director Victor Jones Zoomed in to discuss the local states of emergency in Pittsfield and Laurens. After an update on service restoration, Jones shared that the New York State Department of Health delivered the framework for the newly-required county EMS comprehensive plan. He said the plan will officially dictate what agency responds when a 911 ambulance call is made and what happens if an ambulance is unable to respond to a call. To draft the plan, Jones requested $18,250.00 from contingency to cover the costs of consultant fees, which he said had to come from local funds due to the state funds not being allocated to support municipalities in constructing their plans. He highlighted that the plan will Continued on page 11
Photo by Teresa Winchester
Let Freedom Ring, America! GILBERTSVILLE—A reenactment of the Declaration of Independence took place in Gilbertsville on July 4. Impersonating signers were, from left, Aidan Woishnis (Lyman Hall), Liam Herbert (John Adams), Mike Birdsall (John Hancock) and Bruce Giuda (Roger Sherman). Story on page 7.
The Rabbit Hole: Family Business, Community Mission By PEYTON CARTER
F
COOPERSTOWN or many residents of the Village of Cooperstown, ► TAKING WALDO TO TASK, in recent years a quick page 4 trip to pick up a gallon of milk or a carton of eggs once meant ► ITHACA GOT IT RIGHT, driving across town to the page 5 grocery store. Today, thanks to ► YOUR NEIGHBORS IN THE The Rabbit Hole on Main Street, NEWS, page 6 those everyday errands can be completed with a short walk. ► JOHN HANCOCK LIVE! The family-owned market page 7 has quickly become a favorite ► THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO among locals by offering convePhoto by Peyton Carter GO, page 12 nience, affordable prices and a Convenience, affordable prices and a welcoming atmosphere are hallmarks welcoming atmosphere that of The Rabbit Hole on Cooperstown’s Main Street. reflects the values of its owners. The Rabbit Hole is operated by Brown, and their four children, business. Although the Browns 1 98715 21709 4 Erika Brown, her husband, Vince making it a true family-run carefully planned their opening,
they ended up launching earlier than planned during last year’s Hall of Fame Weekend. “We were still setting up,” Erika Brown recalled. “People kept walking in asking if they could buy water, so we figured we might as well open.” What began as an unexpected opening has grown into one of Main Street’s most unique small businesses. The idea for The Rabbit Hole was born from a simple everyday inconvenience. With only one family vehicle, the Browns found that whoever stayed home often faced a long walk to Price Chopper just to pick up basic necessities. Continued on page 8
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S AWARD-WINNING WEEKLIES 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
& GUIDE TO
THE GOOD LIFE IN
COOPERSTOWN
ONEONTA
STD PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ONEONTA PERMIT NO. 890
607-547-6103
Pick yours uP next week in local stores!