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LEAF TO TAKE OVER TEEN CENTER OPERATIONS, page 6 VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 217, No. 12
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, March 20, 2025
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Crankshaw Named Director of Clark Scholarship Program Kuch Retires after 12 Years of Service
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COOPERSTOWN Area Occupational arlier this week, Center; administraJane Forbes tive assistant/building Clark, president administrator for the of The Clark Foundation, Milford Central School; announced the appointand school psycholoment of Dr. William gist/director of student Crankshaw as director services for the Milford of The Clark Foundation Central School. Scholarship Program. His deep involveCrankshaw succeeds ment in the community Gary Kuch, who is includes terms as acting retiring after 12 years at Photo provided village justice for the the helm of the scholar- DR. WILLIAM CRANKSHAW Village of Cooperstown ship program. and town justice for the “The Board of Directors of the foun- Town of Otsego. He has also been dation and I are delighted that Bill has fire chief of the Cooperstown Fire agreed to be the director of The Clark Department; a trustee for the Village Foundation Scholarship Program,” said of Cooperstown; and a supervisor for Clark. “His extensive school admin- the Town of Otsego. Kuch has also istrative experience, at the highest of served on the boards of several local levels, and his knowledge of the region nonprofits, including the Cooperstown Foundation, United and its students, will be of tremendous Community benefit as he manages the work of one Methodist Church of Cooperstown and Rotary International of Cooperstown. of our most important programs. “It has been a privilege to serve these “We also want to thank Gary for his many years of service and dedication, past 12 years as a steward of The Clark not only to the scholarship program but Foundation Scholarship Program,” to Cooperstown and Otsego County,” Kuch said in an e-mail. “The impact that Jane Clark and her family has had Clark said. Kuch concludes his tenure at The on the young people of northern Otsego Clark Foundation after a distin- County is truly remarkable. She and guished career as a school adminis- her family have made it possible for so trator. Immediately prior to joining The many to pursue their dreams. “I’m honored to have played a small Clark Foundation, Kuch was superinpart of this 64-year-old scholarship tendent of schools for the Worcester program.” Central School District. He also Crankshaw is currently the superserved as principal of the Cooperstown Central School; supervisor, Innovative intendent of the Greater Johnstown Programs and principal for the Otsego Continued on page 9 INSIDE ► apprenticeships offered by fenimore farm, page 2 ► free tax prep available at SUNY O, page 3 ► four key bills would increase government transparency, page 4 ► summer offerings at cano target kids, page 5 ► bellen studies impact of social media on news, page 6 ► book club to focus on indigenous peoples, page 8 Follow Breaking News On
Photo by Teresa Winchester
Repair Café coaches Neal Newman, Patrick Sherry, and Joel Morain apply their skills to fixing lamps and a CD player at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market on Saturday, March 15.
Repair Café Adds New Dimension to Cooperstown Farmers’ Market By TERESA WINCHESTER
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COOPERSTOWN n any given Saturday, the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market at 101 Main Street in Pioneer Alley is a happening place. Regular customers are familiar with its plenteous produce, high-quality artisanal fare and baked goods, while first-time shoppers are most likely pleasantly surprised by its offerings. In February, The Repair
Café, a collaborative effort of Otsego 2000, Otsego County Conservation Association and Otsego Land Trust, was introduced to the market. “It’s a great way to help people and spread good will. It’s been successful because these good folks volunteer their time,” said Peg Odell, program and communications manager for Otsego 2000, at the March 15 market. The first Repair Café took place on Continued on page 8
GMU Announces Second Plastic Recyclables Collection
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GILBERTSVILLE ilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School will hold its second collection for Otsego County Conservation Association’s 2025 “Plastic Film Recycling Challenge!” on Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students and community members may bring recyclable plastic film on this date. Acceptable items are restricted to the following: grocery bags, bread bags, case overwrap, dry-cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, wood pellet bags, Ziploc and other re-sealable bags, produce bags, salt bags, and cereal bags. All items delivered should be clean and dry. Forms of plastic not on the list are not acceptable. Plastics should not be sent with students on school days. The goal of the GMU challenge is to educate the community on proper recycling of plastic grocery bags and other plastic film items, which cannot be recycled through regular curbside recycling programs. Grades will be competing against one another to collect the most plastic film in order to earn a prize. GMU is also Continued on page 9
Photo provided
Gilbertsville-Mount Upton middle-schoolers Logan Panek and Peyton Nelson hold bags of plastic recylables collected in February for the Otsego County Conservation Association’s 2025 “Plastic Film Recycling Challenge!” A second GMU collection will take place Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S AWARD-WINNING WEEKLIES 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD