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ONEONTA
& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
subscribe to hometown oneonta TODAY! call 607-547-6103 VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Oneonta, N.Y., Thursday, September 18, 2025
Volume 17, No. 47
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Otsego Democrats Concerned About Federal Budget Cuts that May Impact Local Budgets By MONICA CALZOLARI
4 • 6 pmBar . t c O , y a d Saturpen at 5 pm • Cash Doors o neonta.com tedxo
ONEONTA t’s budget season. “There’s a lot we don’t know,” said Adrienne Martini, a member of the Otsego County Board of Representatives, to a group of about 15 people gathered in the community room at Green Earth Health Market on the morning of Saturday, September 13.
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Martini led an informal discussion about the potential financial impacts of the passage of the federal government’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act on local residents and programs. She is a resident of the City of Oneonta and represents District No. 12 and Wards Three and Four on the county board. Valerie Cole is a member of the Steering Committee for the Otsego County Democrats. She announced
a number of opportunities for folks to get involved, including a dance party on Saturday, September 27 at 6 p.m., free canvasing training, an upcoming meet and greet at Wise Guy Sammy’s, and a second No Kings event on the lawn by the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center on Wednesday, October 15, among others. Continued on page 11
High-Flying Dogs Visit Garrattsville for Toss, Fetch Competition MARIA GRISWOLD
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GARRATTSVILLE n September 10, one of 40 regional K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch Worldwide Championships was held right here in Otsego County. The competition originated with Mark Vitullo, an Ohio native. Vitullo’s passion for the sport began in 1977 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was there that he witnessed his first Frisbee competition for dogs, which sparked his interest in the sport. Over the years, Vitullo entered his dogs in multiple competitions. The K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch Worldwide Championship was created in 2015 as INSIDE ► TEDx oNEONTA LINEUP RELEASED, page 2
Vitullo’s way of making K9 disc sports accessible all around the world.
determined by how far the Frisbee is thrown and caught.
The annual worldwide championship competitions took place from Saturday, September 6 through Saturday September 13. This competition brings together more than 1,500 teams from 40 regional locations across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.
“We had 47 teams compete, which is almost double what we had attend last year,” Galley shared. “Teams played steadily through the afternoon and the last few dogs finished their rounds in the dark, with car headlights lighting the field.”
The local event was held on Garrattsville K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch Captain Sonja Galley’s property and included teams from the Garrattsville, Bainbridge, and Adirondack clubs. Entrants competed in three rounds of 60second play beginning at 3 p.m. Team scores are
Guiry Named VP of Operations at A.O. Fox Hospital
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ONEONTA assett Healthcare Network and A.O. Fox Hospital’s ► KELSEY TO RUN FOR Board of Directors have HARTWICK BOARD, page 3 announced the appointment of Michael Guiry, ► AGAINST POLITICAL PA-C, MBA, as vice presVIOLENCE, page 4 ident of operations at A.O. ► ERIE ECONOMY, page 4 Fox Hospital in Oneonta. Guiry, a healthcare ► acclaimed artists join administrator with more CSO saturday, page 5 than 25 years of expe► HARTWICK COLLEGE rience leading patient HONORS INTERCULTURAL service operations and PIONEER, page 6 practicing as a physician ► CALENDAR, page 12 assistant in cardiology, began his tenure at Fox on September 8, officials said in a press release 1 98715 21709 4 issued on Thursday, ► OCCA BATTLES INVASIVE SPECIES, page 3
In the K9 Frisbee Clubs Worldwide ranking, Adirondack placed 96th, Garrattsville placed 37th, and Bainbridge placed 19th. Individually at the Photo provided Garrattsville event, there Marmite, Toast and Wonder won the Master Division in last week’s K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch were winners in each Worldwide Championship competition. of the Expert, Handler, Junior, and Master divi- Toast and Wonder, all Handler Division, the Sherman and Storm, sions. Expert Division competing with handler winners were Nanci and Ivan Golovin and Continued on page 8 winners were Marmite, Jim Delaney. In the Miller and Bo, Ashley
Photo provided
Effective September 8, Michael Guiry is the new vice president of operations at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta.
September 11. In his new role at A.O. Fox Hospital, Guiry will oversee day-today operations of A.O.
Fox Hospital, A.O. Fox Hospital’s Tri-Town Campus in Sidney, FoxCare Center and A.O. Fox Nursing Home.
According to officials, he will work closely with clinical leaders, nursing, ancillary services, and leaders across Bassett Healthcare Network to strengthen Fox’s position in the health system, build its business strategy and operations, and grow the institution as a key healthcare provider in the region. “Fox is at a pivotal point right now, with immense growth opportunity,” said Guiry. “I knew right away when I became acquainted with the leaders and caregivers here that Fox is a special
place with extremely dedicated people. I am excited to work alongside them to continue building on the organization’s solid foundation and grow services.” Guiry arrives at Bassett Healthcare Network with more than 25 years of leadership experience in healthcare operations, business development and physician practice management. Most recently, he served as associate vice president of the physician enterprise at Richmond University Continued on page 11
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S AWARD-WINNING WEEKLIES 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
Featuring Follow the Muse with Loren & LJ Barrigar STD PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ONEONTA PERMIT NO. 890