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cherry valley ‘first friday’ events, page 3 VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 218, No. 23
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, June 4, 2026
Newsstand Price $1
Susan B. Anthony ‘Returns’ to Cooperstown
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COOPERSTOWN n February 9, 1855, Cooperstown area residents gathered at the First Presbyterian Church to hear suffragist Susan B. Anthony speak. A little more than a month before, Anthony had embarked on a tour of New York. The particular goal of her journey in the midst of perilous winter weather was to gain sufficient signatures to petition the New York Legislature for a law to secure woman’s right to own property.
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area has invited “Susan B. Anthony” to return to Cooperstown. On Saturday, June 27 from 2-4 p.m., Anthony, as portrayed by historic re-enactor Linda McKenney, will once again address local citizens. The LWVCA invites everyone to gather on the lawn outside of the First Presbyterian Church chapel to
await Anthony’s 2 p.m. arrival, and stay to hear her message supporting democracy for all. Along with the Susan B. Anthony presentation, an exhibit of Christine Heller’s “Women Vote!: Fifteen New York State Suffragists” will be on display in the chapel. Heller will also speak briefly about “Women Vote!” Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) was one of the preeminent leaders of the woman’s suffrage movement. With her colleague, Elizabeth Cady Continued on page 8
New Convenient Care Serving Cooperstown Area Open Seven Days
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MILFORD assett Healthcare Network has opened a new Convenient Care location, serving patients in the Cooperstown area seeking same-day, walk-in care for non-emergencies. The clinic saw its first patients on June 1. The location will now be open seven days a week. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration was held on Friday, May 29. The new Convenient Care is located at 4580 State Highway 28 in Milford, inside the existing Bassett Hartwick Seminary Specialty Services facility. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Convenient Care is a critical point of access for patients to receive timely care for non-emergent illnesses and injuries, including but not limited to coughs, colds, flu, fevers, sprains, rashes, and insect bites. According to a press release, the clinic space has been renovated to include six exam rooms, a reception and waiting area, an X-ray INSIDE
► locals work it out at area gym, page 2 ► 1974 song gets new life, page 3 ► toxic exposure in our veterans, page 4 ► remembering the ‘hay days,’ page 4 ► legacies help sustain oCCA, page 5 ► cFD receives grant from spectrum, page 7 ► budding reporter joins the team, page 9 Follow Breaking News On
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From left, Dr. Matthew Kleinmaier, chief of emergency and trauma services for Bassett Healthcare Network; Robert Hanft, chair of the Board of Directors for Bassett Healthcare Network; Mickee Pomeisl-Spencer, service line director for Bassett Healthcare Network; Staci Thompson, MHA, FACMPE, president and chief executive officer of Bassett Healthcare Network; Deanna Charles, MHA, chief ambulatory officer for Bassett Healthcare Network; and Alan Leist III, CEO of Strategic Financial Services, participate in a formal ribbon cutting at the new Convenient Care clinic’s nurses station.
room, and a nurses’ station. “Bassett is taking strategic and deliberate steps to grow services and improve access—and this means connecting people with the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Walk-in convenient care serves a specific purpose and Cooperstown has felt this gap for some time. This new location near the village and adjacent to Cooperstown Dreams Park will offer accessible care to both full-time residents and visitors alike,” said Staci Thompson, MHA, FACMPE, president and chief executive officer of Bassett Healthcare Network. “The opening of this new Convenient Care clinic was made possible through the vision, collaboration, and over a year of hard work that involved so many leaders, experts, caregivers, and team members across Bassett Healthcare Network,” said Deanna Charles, MHA, senior vice president, chief ambulatory officer for Bassett Healthcare Network. “We are grateful for the contribuContinued on page 10
Farmers Market Opens Outdoor Season, Marks 50th Year By BRIANNA FERGUSON SUNY Institute for Local News ONEONTA he Oneonta Farmers Market returned to the outdoors on Saturday, May 2, kicking off its 2026 season at Huntington Park while marking a milestone 50th anniversary year. The market, which relocated last year from Muller Plaza to the park location along Dietz Street, will continue to run every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon through October 31. Organizers say plans are underway for a special anniversary celebration Photo by Brianna Ferguson later this season, though details have The Oneonta Farmers Market is open rain or shine on Saturdays in Huntington Parl. not yet been finalized. Tanya Moyer, treasurer of the member for the past decade, said preparaOneonta Farmers Market and a board tions for the outdoor season begin months
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in advance and involve a range of behind-the-scenes efforts. Those preparations include managing vendor applications, coordinating live music and working with community organizations that participate in weekly tabling events. The move to Huntington Park in 2025 has proven successful, offering both convenience and atmosphere, Moyer said. “It’s been a great relationship with the library,” referring to the Huntington Memorial Library, the city’s public library that is situated in Huntington Park. “There’s wonderful parking, a beautiful, green, open space,” Moyer described. Despite the picturesque setting, Moyer—who also operates the 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
BROOKS’ BBQ IS BACK TO TABLE-SIDE SERVICE!
The Family Restaurant for Over 75 Years I-88 Exit 16, Rt. 7 Oneonta • 607-432-1782 • brooksbbq.com